SB700: adding autism to qualifying conditions for the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes law.

SB 700-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2020 SESSION

20-2902

01/04

SENATE BILL 700-FN

AN ACT adding autism to qualifying conditions for the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes law.

SPONSORS: Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. French, Dist 7; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Rep. McGuire, Merr. 29; Rep. Seaworth, Merr. 20; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Roy, Rock. 32

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill adds autism to qualifying medical conditions under therapeutic use of cannabis.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2902

01/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

AN ACT adding autism to qualifying conditions for the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes law.

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

1 Use of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposes; Definitions. Amend RSA 126-X:1,IX(a)(1) to read as follows:

(1) Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pancreatitis, spinal cord injury or disease, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, lupus, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, ulcerative colitis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, autism, or one or more injuries or conditions that has resulted in one or more qualifying symptoms under subparagraph (2); and

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

LBAO

20-2902

1/7/20

SB 700-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT adding autism to qualifying conditions for the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes law.

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

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Funding Source:

[ ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Therapeutic cannabis program application and registration fees.

The Judicial Branch was originally contacted for a fiscal note worksheet on November 13, 2019, which they have not provided as of January 7, 2020.

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds autism to the list of medical conditions that would qualify for the state’s therapeutic cannabis program. The Department of Health and Human Services assumes that the bill will potentially result in more patients utilizing the program, in which case: (1) there will be additional application fee revenue received by the Department, which, under the program’s statutorily established self-funding structure and the fee structure established in administrative rule, will result in lower annual registration fees for alternative treatment centers (ATC); and (2) there will be an increased number of applicants in need of processing by the Department. At some indeterminable threshold, this additional volume may result in the need for additional Department staff, which in turn would result in higher annual registration fees for the ATC. Should that threshold be reached as a result of this bill, the annual salary and benefit cost for a Program Assistant II (labor grade 15) would be approximately $60,000 - $70,000 per year.

The Judicial Council and Department of Justice state the bill will have no fiscal impact.

It is assumed any fiscal impact from this bill will not occur until FY 2021.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Judicial Branch, and Judicial Council