1 New Section; Commission Established; Commission to Study the Delivery of Behavioral Crisis Services to Individuals with Mental Illness with an Impairment Primarily Caused by Intellectual Disability. Amend RSA 135-C by inserting after section 68 the following new section:

135-C:69 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study the delivery of behavioral crisis services to individuals with mental illness whose impairment is primarily due to intellectual disability.

I. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Four members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) Three members of the department of health and human services, one of whom is from the division of behavioral health, one whom is from the division of long term supports and services, and one of whom is from New Hampshire hospital or a similar department facility, appointed by the commissioner.

(d) One member from a community mental health center, appointed by the governor.

(e) One member from a disability care area agency, appointed by the governor.

(f) One member from a disability rights organization, appointed by the governor.

(g) One member from a family caring for an individual with mental illness primarily caused by an intellectual disability who has experienced a behavioral crisis, appointed by the governor.

II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

III. The commission shall:

(a) Study the gap in service delivery to individuals in behavioral crisis with mental illness whose impairment is primarily due to intellectual disability, created by the definition of mental illness in RSA 135-C:2, X.

(b) Create a plan consisting of necessary legislation and changes in regulatory policies and procedures to address the identified service deficiency. It shall address acute crisis care needs through termination and post-discharge services and expected costs.

IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The commission shall report its findings, including its assessment of the need to establish an acute crisis center in New Hampshire and any recommendations for proposed legislation and policy and procedures, to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the governor, the house clerk, the senate clerk, and the state library. The commission shall provide an interim report on or before November 1, 2025 and a final report on or before November 1, 2027.

2 Repeal. RSA 135-C:69, relative to the commission to study the delivery of behavioral crisis services to individuals with mental illness whose impairment is primarily due to intellectual disability, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2027.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 New Section; Commission Established; Commission to Study the Delivery of Behavioral Crisis Services to Individuals with Mental Illness with an Impairment Primarily Caused by Intellectual Disability. Amend RSA 135-C by inserting after section 68 the following new section:

135-C:69 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study the delivery of behavioral crisis services to individuals with mental illness whose impairment is primarily due to intellectual disability.

I. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Four members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) Three members of the department of health and human services, one of whom is from the division of behavioral health, one whom is from the division of long term supports and services, and one of whom is from New Hampshire hospital or a similar department facility, appointed by the commissioner.

(d) One member from a community mental health center, appointed by the governor.

(e) One member from a disability care area agency, appointed by the governor.

(f) One member from a disability rights organization, appointed by the governor.

(g) One member from a family caring for an individual with mental illness primarily caused by an intellectual disability who has experienced a behavioral crisis, appointed by the governor.

II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

III. The commission shall:

(a) Study the gap in service delivery to individuals in behavioral crisis with mental illness whose impairment is primarily due to intellectual disability, created by the definition of mental illness in RSA 135-C:2, X.

(b) Create a plan consisting of necessary legislation and changes in regulatory policies and procedures to address the identified service deficiency. It shall address acute crisis care needs through termination and post-discharge services and expected costs.

IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The commission shall report its findings, including its assessment of the need to establish an acute crisis center in New Hampshire and any recommendations for proposed legislation and policy and procedures, to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the governor, the house clerk, the senate clerk, and the state library. The commission shall provide an interim report on or before November 1, 2025 and a final report on or before November 1, 2027.

2 Repeal. RSA 135-C:69, relative to the commission to study the delivery of behavioral crisis services to individuals with mental illness whose impairment is primarily due to intellectual disability, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2027.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.