SB457: waiving initial licensure fees for indigent applicants for certain professions.

SB 457-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2018 SESSION

18-2778

10/08

SENATE BILL 457-FN

AN ACT waiving initial licensure fees for indigent applicants for certain professions.

SPONSORS: Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Cavanaugh, Dist 16; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. French, Dist 7; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5; Sen. Lasky, Dist 13; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

ANALYSIS

This bill requires that the boards of nursing, mental health practice, and licensing for alcohol and other drug use professionals waive the initial license fee for an applicant whose income is less than the federal poverty level.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18-2778

10/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

AN ACT waiving initial licensure fees for indigent applicants for certain professions.

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

1 New Section; General Administration of Occupations and Professions; Waiver of Initial Fee. Amend RSA 332-G by inserting after section 2 the following new section:

332-G:2-a Waiver of Initial Fee; Nursing; Mental Health Practice; Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals. Notwithstanding RSA 310-A:1-e or any statutory fee authorized for initial licensure or certification by a board, an applicant for initial licensure by the board of nursing in RSA 326-B, the board of mental health practice in RSA 330-A, or the board of licensing for alcohol and other drug use professionals in RSA 330-C, shall have his or her fees waived if the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the respective board or to the office of professional licensure or certification if delegated by the board, that he or she had reported income for the past calendar year which did not exceed the federal poverty level, published annually as the federal poverty guidelines in the federal register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

18-2778

11/28/17

SB 457-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT waiving initial licensure fees for indigent applicants for certain professions.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue

Indeterminable Decrease

Indeterminable Decrease

Indeterminable Decrease

Indeterminable Decrease

Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the waiver of an initial license fee by the Boards of Nursing, Mental Health Practice, and Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals for an applicant who proves to the respective board or to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification that the applicant's income does not exceed the federal poverty level. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification states the number of potential applicants who may meet the standards outlined in the bill is unknown and the lost revenue associated with waiving the initial license fee is indeterminable. An additional staff person may be needed to comply with the requirement for verifying the financial eligibility of each applicant, but the cost of such staff is indeterminable at this time.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Office of Professional Licensure and Certification