Revision: May 8, 2024, 9:28 a.m.
Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19
May 2, 2024
2024-1745s
05/08
Amendment to HB 1236
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT relative to repealing the commission on the status of health coverage markets for individuals and small employers and establishing a pilot recruitment and retention program within the department of health and human services.
Amend the bill by replacing all after section 1 with the following:
2 Department of Health and Human Services; Recruitment and Retention Program; Pilot.
I. The general court finds that the recruitment and retention of employees within the department of health and human services is necessary to maintaining a strong and vital workforce within the array of critical service deliveries within its jurisdiction including those administered through the department’s division for children, youth and families. The intent of this act is to proactively address vacancy rates, fluctuations experienced in census populations, acuity of care and reliance on contracted staff at the current Sununu youth services center (SYSC) and at the secured treatment facility to replace SYSC.
II. The department shall establish a pilot recruitment and retention program. The program may include:
(a) Any recruitment or retention incentives received by a department employee pursuant to this paragraph shall not be considered gifts under RSA 15-B.
(b) Any expenditures made for recruitment or retention incentives pursuant to this paragraph shall be considered a matter of legislatively enacted public policy that is designed to benefit certain department employees and the state, and that is confined exclusively to the public employer by statute as provided in RSA 273-A:1, XI, and which shall not be subject to collective bargaining. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to invalidate any portion of a collective bargaining agreement entered into by the state.
III. On or before December 31, 2024, the department shall provide a report on the effectiveness of the pilot established in paragraph II for possible inclusion in the state operating budget for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, to the senate health and human services committee, the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, the senate and house finance committees, the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor.
3 Repeal. Section 2 of this act, relative to a pilot recruitment and retention program within the department of health and human services, is repealed.
I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect September 15, 2025.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
2024-1745s
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill repeals the commission on the status of health coverage markets for individuals and small employers. The bill also establishes a pilot recruitment and retention program in the department of health and human services.