SB413: requiring an independent audit and needs assessment regarding COVID-19 preparedness at long term care facilities, nursing homes, and the New Hampshire veterans' home, and making an appropriation therefor.

SB 413-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

2022 SESSION

22-2861

05/04

SENATE BILL 413-FN-A

AN ACT requiring an independent audit and needs assessment regarding COVID-19 preparedness at long term care facilities, nursing homes, and the New Hampshire veterans' home, and making an appropriation therefor.

SPONSORS: Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Rep. Espitia, Hills. 31; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Cavanaugh, Dist 16; Rep. Klee, Hills. 30; Rep. Wilhelm, Hills. 42; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr. 11; Rep. Wallner, Merr. 10

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill requires an independent audit and needs assessment regarding COVID-19 preparedness at long term care facilities, nursing homes, and the New Hampshire veterans' home. The bill also makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for the purpose of hiring a qualified independent auditor.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-2861

05/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT requiring an independent audit and needs assessment regarding COVID-19 preparedness at long term care facilities, nursing homes, and the New Hampshire veterans' home, and making an appropriation therefor.

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

1 Short Title. This act shall be known as the Protect New Hampshire Veterans and Seniors Act of 2022.

2 New Subdivision; COVID-19 Nursing Home and Long-Term Care. Amend RSA 151-E by inserting after section 21 the following new subdivision:

COVID-19 Nursing Home and Long-Term Care

151-E:22 Independent COVID-19 Nursing Home and Long-Term Care Audit, Needs Assessment, and Recommendations. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall issue a request for proposals for a qualified grantee, with the approval of governor and council, to undertake an independent audit of the COVID-19 situation in long-term care and nursing homes in New Hampshire and provide a needs assessment to provide recommendations for further COVID-19 related funding, safety and public health upgrades, standards and rules for nursing homes, nursing facilities, residential care facilities, long-term care facilities, and the New Hampshire veterans' home, and to provide a preparedness plan for COVID-19 at such facilities, to be submitted to the governor, the chairpersons of the house and senate finance committees, the chairperson of the senate health and human services committee, and the chairperson of the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, no later than October 1, 2022. Neither the governor, the governor’s office, nor the commissioner shall direct this independent audit and needs assessment, but each shall respond to any requests for information from the grantee. The grantee shall include in the final report all such requests for information. The grantee shall also include in the final report a separate audit and needs assessment specifically for the New Hampshire veterans’ home.

3 Appropriation. The sum of $250,000, for the biennium ending June 30, 2023, is hereby appropriated to the commissioner of the department of health and human services from federal COVID relief funds for the purpose of hiring the qualified grantee under RSA 151-E:22. If such federal funds are unavailable, the governor shall draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBA

22-2861

Redraft 12/23/21

SB 413-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT requiring an independent audit and needs assessment regarding COVID-19 preparedness at long term care facilities, nursing homes, and the New Hampshire veterans' home, and making an appropriation therefor.

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

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2022

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

Appropriation

$0

$250,000

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

$0

$250,000

$0

$0

Funding Source:

[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Federal COVID relief funds.

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for an independent audit of the COVID-19 situation in long-term care and nursing homes in New Hampshire. The RFP will also include a needs assessment and COVID-19 preparedness plan relating to safety, public health upgrades, standards and rules for nursing homes, nursing facilities, residential care facilities, long-term care facilities, and the New Hampshire Veterans' Home. The recommendations will be submitted to the Governor and specified legislative committees no later than October 1, 2022. The bill appropriates $250,000 for the FY22/23 biennium to the Department from federal COVID-19 relief funds for the purpose of hiring a qualified grantee. If such funds are not available, state general funds shall be used for this purpose.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services