Revision: May 17, 2023, 10:17 a.m.
Senate Executive Departments and Administration
May 17, 2023
2023-1908s
06/10
Amendment to HB 337-FN
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT relative to directing the office of professional licensure and certification to provide notice of public meetings and an opportunity for comment from the public, and creating a new attorney II position.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 New Paragraphs; Office of Professional Licensure and Certification; Notifications. Amend RSA 310-A:1-d by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraphs:
VI. All boards, councils, and commissions within the office of professional licensure and certification shall notify the public of any public meeting no less than 14 calendar days prior to the meeting. All governmental records, as defined in RSA 91-A:1-a, III, distributed to the board, council, or commission for the meeting shall be available to the public no less than 7 calendar days prior to the meeting, provided the governmental records do not contain information exempt from disclosure under RSA 91-A:5 or other applicable law. The chair of the board, council, or commission shall add items to the agenda within 7 calendar days of a meeting if, at the chair’s discretion, the public’s interest in the board addressing the matter outweighs the public’s interest in timely access to governmental records associated with the new agenda item. In such circumstances, governmental records shall be available to the public as soon as reasonably practicable. If it is not practicable to make available to the public at least one day prior to a meeting, then paper copies of governmental records associated with the new agenda item shall be available at the meeting location upon request, provided the governmental records to be considered have undergone legal review to identify information exempt from disclosure. In such instances, materials associated with the new agenda item shall undergo legal review and be made available to the public with 7 calendar days of the public meeting. This section shall not apply to emergency meetings conducted pursuant to RSA 91-A:2; emergency hearings conducted pursuant to RSA 541-A:30, III; and disciplinary and non-disciplinary adjudicative or remedial proceedings conducted by boards, councils, and commissions within the office of professional licensure and certification.
VII. All boards, councils, and commissions within the office of professional licensure and certification shall provide an opportunity for comment from the public, virtually or in person, at public meetings, in a manner established by the board, council, or commission chair. This section shall not apply to emergency hearings conducted pursuant to RSA 541-A:30, III; and disciplinary and non-disciplinary remedial proceedings conducted by boards, councils, and commissions within the office of professional licensure and certification.
VIII. All boards, councils, and commissions within the office of professional licensure and certification shall provide an opportunity for the public to submit written comments on matters before the board, council, or commission. This section shall not apply to emergency hearings conducted pursuant to RSA 541-A:30, III; and disciplinary and non-disciplinary remedial proceedings conducted by boards, councils, and commissions within the office of professional licensure and certification.
2 Office of Professional Licensure and Certification; New Classified Position; Appropriation
I. One attorney II position, labor grade 28, is hereby established as a classified position in the office of professional licensure and certification.
II. The amount necessary to pay for the position established in paragraph I is hereby appropriated to the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification. Salaries and necessary expenses shall be a charge against the office of professional licensure and certification fund.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
2023-1908s
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill directs the office of professional licensure and certification to provide to the public notice of its meetings and an opportunity to comment in such meetings. This bill also establishes an attorney II position for the office of professional licensure and certification.