HB603: establishing a task force on mental health costs and requiring the commissioner of the department of corrections to enroll any person being released from a correctional facility in any available free or reduced cost drug program.

HB 603-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2007 SESSION

07-1083

01/05

HOUSE BILL 603-FN

AN ACT establishing a task force on mental health costs and requiring the commissioner of the department of corrections to enroll any person being released from a correctional facility in any available free or reduced cost drug program.

SPONSORS: Rep. Wendelboe, Belk 1; Rep. Bleyler, Graf 9; Rep. Bettencourt, Rock 4

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a task force to study the costs incurred by mental illness as it relates to all areas of state services and requires the commissioner of the department of corrections to enroll any person being released from a correctional facility in any available free or reduced cost drug 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

07-1083

01/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

AN ACT establishing a task force on mental health costs and requiring the commissioner of the department of corrections to enroll any person being released from a correctional facility in any available free or reduced cost drug program.

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

1 Task Force Established. There is established a task force to make a comprehensive study of costs incurred by mental illness, including drug and alcohol addiction, as it relates to all areas of state services.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the task force shall be as follows:

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

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

(c) The administrative justice the of the district courts, or designee.

(d) A probation and parole officer, appointed by the commissioner of the department of corrections.

(e) An administrator of a nursing home, appointed by the governor.

(f) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.

(g) The commissioner of the department of corrections, or designee.

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

(i) The attorney general, or designee.

(j) The executive director of the governor’s commission on disability, or designee.

(k) The executive director of the governor’s council on drug and alcohol abuse, or designee.

(l) A public defender, appointed by the judicial council.

(m) The president of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, or designee.

II. The task force shall solicit information from any person or entity the task force deems relevant to its study.

III. Legislative members of the task force shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the task force.

3 Duties. The task force shall make a comprehensive study of costs incurred by mental illness, including drug and alcohol addiction, as it relates to all areas of state services.

4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the task force shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the task force shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the task force shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Nine members of the task force shall constitute a quorum.

5 Report. The task force 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, 2007.

6 New Section; Persons Released From Correctional Facility; Drug Programs. Amend RSA 21-H by inserting after section 12 the following new section:

21-H:12-a Persons Released From Correctional Facility; Drug Programs. The commissioner shall enroll any person being released from a correctional facility in any available free or reduced cost drug program.

7 Effective Date.

I. Section 6 of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

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

LBAO

07-1083

01/26/07

HB 603-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT establishing a task force on mental health costs and requiring the commissioner of the department of corrections to enroll any person being released from a correctional facility in any available free or reduced cost drug program.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill as it is awaiting information from the Department of Corrections. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office.