SB426: establishing an end-of-life choices study commission.

SB 426 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

11May2016... 1257h

2016 SESSION

16-2852

01/05

SENATE BILL 426

AN ACT establishing an end-of-life choices study commission.

SPONSORS: Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Sanborn, Dist 9; Sen. Kelly, Dist 10; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Rep. Phillips, Ches. 16; Rep. Butler, Carr. 7; Rep. Luneau, Merr. 10; Rep. Myler, Merr. 10; Rep. Kotowski, Merr. 24; Rep. J. Ward, Rock. 19; Rep. Lachance, Hills. 8; Rep. Kenison, Merr. 15

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to study end-of-life choices.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11May2016... 1257h 16-2852

01/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

AN ACT establishing an end-of-life choices study commission.

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

1 New Subdivision; Commission to Study End-of-Life Choices. Amend RSA 137-J by inserting after section 37 the following new subdivision:

Commission to Study End-of-Life Choices

137-J:38 Commission Established.

I.(a) There is established a commission to study end-of-life choices. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

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

(2) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

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

(4) A representative of the New Hampshire Medical Society, appointed by the society.

(5) A representative of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by the association.

(6) The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, or designee.

(7) The executive director of the Disabilities Rights Center of New Hampshire, or designee.

(8) The executive director of the New Hampshire Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, or designee.

(9) A New Hampshire attorney who specializes in senior and elder law, appointed by the New Hampshire chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

(10) A religious leader from a New Hampshire-based interfaith council, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(11) A religious leader from a New Hampshire-based interfaith council, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

II.(a) The commission’s study shall include, but not be limited to, reviewing RSA 137-J, investigating the positive and negative effects of potential legislation relating to end-of-life care and end-of-life choices, innovation practices of other states, how to encourage careful and responsible deliberation about this issue, and any other matter the commission deems relevant to its objective.

(b) The commission shall both seek and accept input and testimony from experts, interested stakeholders, and members of the public.

III. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the commissioner of the department of health and human services. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

IV. On or before December 1, 2016, the commission shall submit an interim report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library. The commission shall provide a final report of its findings and recommendations on or before December 15, 2017.

2 Repeal. RSA 137-J:38, relative to a commission to study end-of-life choices, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect December 15, 2017.

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