HB 499 – AS INTRODUCED

2013 SESSION

13-0110

01/09

HOUSE BILL 499

AN ACT establishing a commission to study funding mechanisms for increasing the number of mental health beds statewide.

SPONSORS: Rep. Gidge, Hills 33

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to study funding mechanisms for increasing the number of mental health beds statewide.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

13-0110

01/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen

AN ACT establishing a commission to study funding mechanisms for increasing the number of mental health beds statewide.

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

1 New Chapter; Commission to Study Funding Mechanisms for Increasing the Number of Mental Health Beds Statewide. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 126-V the following new chapter:

CHAPTER 126-W

COMMISSION TO STUDY FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR

INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH BEDS STATEWIDE

126-W:1 Commission Established; Membership; Duties; Report.

I. There is established a commission to study funding mechanisms for increasing the number of mental health beds statewide. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

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

(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(d) A representative from the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, appointed by the association.

(e) Two public members, one of whom shall be in the business of selling guns at retail, 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 study funding mechanisms for increasing the number of mental health beds statewide. The commission’s study shall consider among its funding methods whether persons buying and selling guns may be required to pay a fee which would be transmitted to the department of health and human services to be used for the purposes of increasing mental health beds.

IV. The members of the 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 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2013.

2 Repeal. RSA 126-W, relative to a commission to study funding mechanisms for increasing the number of mental health beds statewide is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2013.

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