CHAPTER 126-A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Commission to Study Environmentally-Triggered Chronic Illness
Section 126-A:73-a
[RSA 126-A:73-a repealed by 2019, 229:6, effective November 1, 2024.]
126-A:73-a Commission to Study Environmentally-Triggered Chronic Illness Reestablished. –
I. There is established a commission to study environmentally-triggered chronic illness.
II. (a) The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(1) Five members of the house of representatives, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader.
(2) Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, appointed by the president of the senate.
(3) The program manager of the environmental public health tracking program, department of health and human services, or designee.
(4) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.
(5) The director of the university of New Hampshire institute for health policy and practice, or designee.
(6) The director of Boston University public health policy and practice, or designee.
(7) A representative from the New Hampshire Medical Society, appointed by the society.
(8) The chair of the board of trustees of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, or designee.
(9) An advanced practice registered nurse, appointed by the New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association.
(10) Two community members with backgrounds in environmental science and/ or public health, one of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate and one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
III. (a) The commission's study shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Determining which entities may report confirmed cases of chronic conditions or other health-related impacts to the public health oversight program.
(2) Recommending ways to alert public health officials regarding higher than expected rates of chronic disease or other health-related impacts which may be related to exposures of unrecognized environmental contaminants.
(3) Recommending a method to inform citizens regarding programs designed to manage chronic disease or other environmental exposure health-related impacts.
(4) Recommending data sources and a method to include data compiled by a public or private entity to the greatest extent possible in the development of the public health oversight program.
(5) Defining by codes, the health status indicators to be monitored, including chronic conditions, medical conditions, and poor health outcomes.
(6) Studying current health databases, including years available, potential for small area analysis, and privacy concerns.
(7) Researching currently existing health data reports by agency, bureau, or organization.
(8) Creating a model of desired data outputs and reports for chronic conditions and other health-related impacts.
(9) Identifying the gaps between what currently exists and the model output.
(10) Recommending the organizational structure responsible for the oversight function and mandatory reporting requirements.
(11) Reviewing results of stages 1, 2 and 3 of the pilot study recommended by the previous commission established by 2017, 166 and identifying changes to subparagraphs (8), and further identify items in (9) and (10).
(12) Identifying technology system changes necessary to carry out the charge of the commission.
(13) Collaborating with the National Institutes of Health, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop protocols for the department of health and human services to educate and provide guidelines for physicians and other advanced health care practitioners to identify and evaluate appropriate diagnostic screening tests to assess health effects from exposure to emerging contaminants.
(14) Collaborating with the National Institutes of Health, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop protocols for programs to streamline education and outreach to health care providers about how to implement the guidelines specified in subparagraph (13). The protocols shall include education relative to methods to reduce further exposures and to eliminate the contaminants, if effective methods are available.
(15) Recommending legislation, as necessary, to carry out the charge of the commission.
(b) The commission shall solicit information from any person or entity the commission deems relevant to its study.
(c) The commission may, with input from a state agency or agencies, decide whether additional appropriations are necessary to complete the work of the commission. The commission may recommend additional appropriations for approval by the general court.
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. Seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
V. The commission may form subcommittees or appoint technical committees composed of commission members and non-voting nonmembers to advance the goals of this section.
VI. The commission shall submit interim reports on November 1 of each year beginning November 1, 2020 containing its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation and a final report on or before November 1, 2024 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.