2002 SESSION

01-2275

01/09

HOUSE BILL 1337

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a study committee to review and determine steps to fully implement the infant deafness program.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

01-2275

01/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Two

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

22:1 Purpose. The general court commends the department of health and human services for developing a program for testing newborn infants for deafness. In particular, the general court notes the greatly expanded use of infant testing equipment in New Hampshire's hospitals and the establishment of an advisory council to oversee the implementation of the program.

22:2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study ways to fully implement the infant deafness program.

22:3 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be from the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, appointed by the speaker of the house.

(b) Three members of the senate, 2 of whom shall be from the senate public institutions, health and human services committee, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. The committee shall solicit information from any source the committee deems relevant to its study.

III. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

22:4 Duties. The committee shall study ways to fully implement the infant deafness program. The committee's study shall include, but not be limited to the following:

I. Whether insurance companies should pay for additional costs associated with the program, such as the cost of hearing aids for the deaf child.

II. Whether other costs should be absorbed by either the department of health and human services or the hospitals.

III. What rules or protocols should be established to ensure the deaf child receives medical treatment in order for he or she to live a full and productive life.

IV. The role of appropriate state and federal organizations.

V. Any other issue the committee deems relevant to the infant deafness program.

22:5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

22:6 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2002.

22:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: April 2, 2002)

(Effective Date: April 2, 2002)