Bill Text: NH HB1707 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Expanding the family-centered early supports and services (FCESS) program to children under the age of 3 who are born substance-exposed.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-06-16 - Vacated from Committee and Laid on Table, Motion Adopted, Voice Vote; 06/16/2020 Senate Journal 8 [HB1707 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2020-HB1707-Amended.html

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HB 1707-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

19Feb2020... 0447h

2020 SESSION

20-3107

05/06

 

HOUSE BILL 1707-FN

 

AN ACT expanding the family-centered early supports and services (FCESS) program to children under the age of 3 who are born substance-exposed.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Martin, Hills. 23; Rep. Wallner, Merr. 10; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr. 11; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 5; Rep. Berrien, Rock. 18; Rep. Mulligan, Graf. 12

 

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill directs the department of health and human services to administer a family-centered early supports and services program for children with developmental delays, including children under 3 with prenatal substance exposure.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19Feb2020... 0447h

20-3107

05/06

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT expanding the family-centered early supports and services (FCESS) program to children under the age of 3 who are born substance-exposed.

 

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

 

1  New Section; Services for the Developmentally Disabled; Family-Centered Early Supports and Services Program.  Amend RSA 171-A by inserting after section 18 the following new section:

171-A:18-a  Family-Centered Early Supports and Services Program.  The department shall administer a family-centered early supports and services (FCESS) program designed for children birth up to age 3 who have a diagnosed, established condition that has a high probability of resulting in delay, are experiencing developmental delays, or are at risk for substantial developmental delays if supports and services are not provided.  All children under the age of 3 who are born substance-exposed shall be considered at risk for substantial developmental delays and shall be referred to FCESS.  In this section, a "substance-exposed newborn" means a newborn who was exposed to alcohol, or other drugs in utero, which may have adverse effects, whether or not this exposure is detected at birth through a drug screen or withdrawal symptoms.  The department shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to the FCESS program, including application procedures, program administration, and eligibility criteria consistent with this section.

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

 

LBAO

20-3107

Revised 1/13/20

 

HB 1707-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT expanding the family-centered early supports and services (FCESS) program to children under the age of 3 who are born substance-exposed.

 

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

METHODOLOGY:

This bill establishes in statute a family-centered early supports and services (FCESS) program to provide services for children from birth to age three who: (1) have an established condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delays, (2) are experiencing developmental delays, (3) are at risk for substantial developmental delays if supports are not provided, or (4) were born with, and identified as being affected by, substance use or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.  The Department of Health and Human Services states that such a program is already established in the He-M 510 series administrative rules.  Specifically, with respect to children with substance use or withdrawal symptoms, the Department notes that He-M 510.02(1)(10) currently allows for services to children experiencing "developmental delay secondary to severe toxic exposure," which the Department has interpreted to include prenatal drug exposure or fetal alcohol syndrome.  Accordingly, the Department expects the bill to have no fiscal impact.   

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services