RSA 12-J:4 · Meetings and Reports

12-J:4 Meetings and Reports. –

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I.

The commission shall meet at least 4 times each year and may convene public hearings as necessary to promote the goals of the commission.

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II.

The commission shall submit an annual report to the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, president of the senate, chairpersons of the house and senate finance committees, chairperson of the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, the chairperson of the senate health and human services committee, and the chairperson of the fiscal committee of the general court by October 1 of each year regarding the activities of the commission. The annual report shall:

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(a)

Identify alcohol and other drug misuse and problem gambling prevention as a leading state initiative, treatment including reduction of societal and individual harm, and recovery services and programs provided by state departments and agencies or funded in whole or in part by state or federal funds;

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(b)

Indicate the progress made during the prior year toward the implementation of the statewide plan developed by the commission pursuant to RSA 12-J:3, I;

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(c)

Recommend any revisions to the statewide plan developed pursuant to RSA 12-J:3, I;

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(d)

Identify and prioritize unmet needs for prevention, treatment including reduction of societal and individual harm, and recovery;

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(e)

Indicate the progress, or lack thereof, in addressing the unmet needs;

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(f)

Recommend initiatives and/or policy considerations to the governor and the general court to address the unmet needs;

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(g)

Specify the resources and any legislation necessary to support existing programs for prevention, treatment including reduction of societal and individual harm, and recovery and to develop, implement, support, and evaluate the initiatives recommended by the commission;

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(h)

In even-numbered years the report may include specific recommendations for funds to be included in the next state biennial budget to support alcohol and other drug misuse and problem gambling prevention, treatment including reduction of societal and individual harm, and recovery services and programs; and

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(i)

Incorporate the findings and recommendations of the report required under paragraph II-a and make specific findings and recommendations regarding public awareness, education, and legislation to address the dangers of synthetic drugs.

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(j)

Specify and itemize funds spent on prevention, treatment and reduction of societal and individual harm, recovery, and program monitoring and evaluation services and programs. II-a. The commission shall prepare a report, including recommendations for policies to be implemented for coordinating public awareness of and education in the importance of prevention and health promotion, as well as the dangers of synthetic drugs and other emerging or designer synthetic drug substances. The report shall include substantive input from the commission's member agencies, including the department of health and human services, bureau of drug and alcohol services, the attorney general, the department of safety, and the department of education. The commission shall submit its initial report, including recommendations, to the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor no later than 3 months after the effective date of this paragraph. The commission shall submit subsequent reports, including recommendations, to the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor annually thereafter.

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III.

(a) To assist the commission in the timely completion of its annual report, each commission member representing an executive branch department or entity shall provide the information specified in paragraph II for its department or entity to the commission on or before August 1 of each year.

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(b)

The commission shall submit a mid-year report to the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, president of the senate, chairpersons of the house and senate finance committees, chairperson of the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, chairperson of the senate health and human services committee, and chairperson of the fiscal committee of the general court by March 1 of each year regarding the current state of drug misuse, prevention, treatment including reduction of societal and individual harm, and recovery. The commission shall include a dashboard of the following, both in the interim and the annual report as required in RSA 12-J:4, II, that includes but is not limited to:

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(1)

A summary of known prevention programs to include the general type and approaches being followed. (1-a) The number of known drug overdoses, broken out by drug involved.

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(2)

The number of deaths attributable to overdoses, as reported by the chief medical examiner, broken out by drug involved.

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(3)

The number of people known to be in treatment or recovery programs supported by commission funding.

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(4)

The accessibility and availability of treatment programs, including waitlists.

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(5)

The number of individuals in drug court programs, as reported by the judicial branch.

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(6)

The number of individuals in diversion programs, as reported by the judicial branch.

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(7)

The number of convictions for drug related offenses, as reported by the judicial branch.

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(8)

The number of persons incarcerated for drug related offenses as reported by the department of corrections.

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(9)

Funds expended and balances remaining, programs and strategies created or sustained by the funds, and an estimate of the number of individuals served by these funds.

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(10)

Barriers to data access and availability, with proposed strategies to develop or enhance data capacity.

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(11)

Performance outcomes pursuant to National Outcomes Measurement Standards (NOMS) as required with federal funding sources.

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(12)

Any other information requested by the governor or general court.

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(c)

All data required in subparagraph (b) shall be presented in the aggregate to protect the privacy of the individual. The commission shall delete any data required in those paragraphs that enables the personal identification of an individual.

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IV.

In the reports submitted by the commission to the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, president of the senate, chairpersons of the house and senate finance committees, chairperson of the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, chairperson of the senate health and human services committee, and chairperson of the fiscal committee of the general court, the report shall include outcome data and/or research citations about the efficacy of funded programs based upon evidence of program results. Source. 2000, 204:2. 2008, 312:3, eff. July 2, 2008. 2014, 18:2, eff. July 22, 2014. 2015, 204:1, 2, eff. July 6, 2015. 2016, 330:6, 7, eff. June 24, 2016. 2025, 41:1, eff. June 28, 2025; 141:299, eff. July 1, 2025.

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