HB 1705-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2393
06/07
HOUSE BILL 1705-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Selig, Straf. 10; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Drye, Sull. 7; Rep. Newell, Ches. 4; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a fund to cover the costs of enrolling first responders from small communities into the state-provided employee assistance program (EAP) and outlines eligibility, enrollment, and reporting requirements for the department of health and human services. This bill also makes an appropriation for the fund.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2393
06/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT establishing an employee assistance program for small town and volunteer first responders and making an appropriation therefor.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Sections; State-Funded Employee Assistance Program for Small Communities; Establishment of Fund. Amend RSA 281-A by inserting after section 17-f the following new sections:
281-A:17-g First Responders Support Fund. There is established a first responders support fund, which shall be administered by the department of health and human services. This fund shall be used for costs incurred in enrolling first responders from communities with first responders or with no more than 5 full-time paid first responders into the state-provided employee assistance program (EAP). All fees, monetary grants, gifts, donations, or interest generated by these funds shall be deposited with the state treasurer in a special nonlapsing fund to be known as the first responders support fund and shall be continually appropriated to the department for the administration of this section.
281-A:17-h Eligibility and Enrollment.
I. First responders eligible for the employee assistance program for small communities shall include those working in communities with first responders or with no more than 5 full-time paid first responders.
II. The department of health and human services shall ensure that these first responders are enrolled in the state-provided employee assistance program (EAP), which offers comprehensive support services, including those for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress (PTS).
III. The department of health and human services shall develop and implement guidelines for the administration of the fund, including the process for enrollment and provision of services.
IV. The department shall submit an annual report to the legislature detailing the usage of the fund, the number of first responders served, and the outcomes of the program.
2 Appropriation. The sum of $1 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services to provide coverage for first responders from communities with first responders or with no more than 5 full-time paid first responders through the state-provided employee assistance program (EAP). This sum is in addition to any other sums appropriated to the department of health and human services for the biennium. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
3 New Subparagraph; New Funding. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (410) the following new subparagraph:
(411) Moneys deposited in the first responders support fund as established in RSA 281-A:17-g.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
26-2393
12/10/25
HB 1705-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | Gifts, grants, donations, unidentified fee revenue | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $114,000+ | $119,000+ | $121,000+ | ||
Funding Source(s) | General funds and other sources deposited into the newly-established First Responders Support Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $1 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill makes community first responders eligible for participation in the state Employee Assistance Program (EAP) administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, and establishes a fund to cover the cost of supporting the new participants. The fund is authorized to accept various revenue sources, including gifts, grants, donations, and fees, although the type of fee revenue is not identified. In addition, the bill appropriates $1 to the fund for the FY26/27 biennium.
The Department of Health and Human Services states that it will need to create a new position to handle the estimated increase of EAP services to qualifying first responders, including eligible family members. The cost of this position is estimated to be $114,000 for FY 2027, $119,000 for FY 2028, and $121,000 for FY 2029. The remaining costs to the Department are indeterminable, as they will depend on the number of qualifying individuals who choose to utilize the services provided by the EAP.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services
Dec. 12, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services HJ 1