TITLE X
PUBLIC HEALTH

Chapter 125-Q
NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING

Section 125-Q:1

    125-Q:1 Commission Established; Chairperson; Compensation. –
I. A commission, to be known as the New Hampshire commission for the deaf and hard of hearing is hereby created and established. The commission shall consist of the following members:
(a) Two members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be from the health, human services and elderly affairs committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members from the governor's commission on disability, one of whom shall be the executive director, or designee.
(c) Three representatives of the department of health and human services, appointed by the commissioner.
(d) One representative of the department of employment security, appointed by the commissioner.
(e) Three representatives of the department of education, 2 of whom shall be from the bureau of vocational rehabilitation and one of whom shall be from the bureau of special education, appointed by the commissioner.
(f) One representative of the administrative office of the courts, appointed by the director.
(g) Two members of the New Hampshire Association of the Deaf, one of whom shall be the president of the association, or designee, and one of whom shall be appointed by the president of the association.
(h) One representative of the New Hampshire Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, appointed by the president of the New Hampshire Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, or designee.
(i) Two members of the public with the lived experience of hearing loss, representing those who are deaf and those who are hard of hearing, nominated by the commission and appointed by the governor.
(j) Two members of the public representing parents of children who are deaf and children who are hard of hearing, nominated by the commission and appointed by the governor.
(k) The attorney general, or designee.
(l) The commissioner of the department of safety, or designee.
(m) The commissioner of the department of corrections, or designee.
(n) The commissioner of the department of transportation, or designee.
(o) The executive director of Granite State Independent Living, or designee.
(p) Two members of Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Inc., one of whom shall be the executive director, or designee, and one member appointed by the executive director.
(q) The executive director of the Disability Rights Center, or designee.
(r) One representative of the New Hampshire Academy of Audiology, appointed by the president of the academy.
(s) A mental health care provider experienced in working with members of the deaf and hard of hearing community, appointed by the governor.
(t) A representative from a private nursing facility appointed by the New Hampshire Health Care Association.
(u) A representative from a county nursing facility appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Counties.
(v) A representative from an assisted living facility appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Residential Care Homes (NHARCH).
(w) A representative from a continuing care retirement community appointed by LeadingAge Maine __ampersand__ New Hampshire.
II. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation except that legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
III. Legislative members of the commission shall serve a term which is coterminous with their elected office.
IV. The commission may solicit information from any person or entity the commission determines relevant to its duties.

Source. 2007, 294:1, eff. Sept. 11, 2007. 2017, 26:1, 2, eff. Apr. 25, 2017. 2021, 126:2, 3, eff. Sept. 21, 2021.

Section 125-Q:2

    125-Q:2 Organization; Meetings. –
I. The commission shall be convened by the first-named member of the house of representatives, and shall hold its first meeting no later than 30 days after the effective date of this chapter.
II. The department of education and the department of health and human services shall provide administrative support, in equal measure, for the commission, including interpreter services for commission meetings.

Source. 2007, 294:1, eff. Sept. 11, 2007.

Section 125-Q:3

    125-Q:3 Duties. –
The commission shall:
I. Recommend, where applicable, statutes, rules, policies, and education programs necessary to successfully provide New Hampshire citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing with access to competent interpreters at all levels of local and state government.
II. Investigate establishing an information and referral service operated by and for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing to promote access of such persons to the community-based health care, educational, employment, and social services that are available to all citizens.
III. Develop peer counseling, job placement, and advocacy services which would enhance the ability of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to contribute to their communities.
IV. Recommend legislation and identify funding sources by working in collaboration with the following agencies and organizations:
(a) The governor's commission on disability.
(b) The Disabilities Rights Center.
(c) Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Inc.
(d) The department of health and human services.
(e) The department of safety.
(f) The department of corrections.
(g) The department of education.
(h) The department of justice.
(i) Granite State Independent Living.

Source. 2007, 294:1, eff. Sept. 11, 2007.

Section 125-Q:4

    125-Q:4 Report. – The commission shall make an annual report commencing on November 1, 2008, together with any recommendations, to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the governor.

Source. 2007, 294:1, eff. Sept. 11, 2007.