Bill Text: NH HB614 | 2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Making an appropriation to the department of health and human services to fund the Merrimack, New Hampshire Kidney Cancer Incidence Phase 3 Feasibility study.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-5)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-09-05 - Division III Work Session: 10/03/2023 10:00 am Legislative Office Building 210-211 House Calendar 36 [HB614 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2023-HB614-Amended.html
HB 614-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
22Feb2023... 0533h
2023 SESSION
23-0256
08/05
HOUSE BILL 614-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. N. Murphy, Hills. 12; Rep. Dunn, Rock. 16; Rep. Meuse, Rock. 37; Rep. W. Thomas, Hills. 12; Rep. Rung, Hills. 12; Rep. Lascelles, Hills. 14; Rep. K. Perez, Rock. 16; Rep. Rombeau, Hills. 2; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services to fund the Merrimack, New Hampshire Kidney Incidence Phase 3 Feasibility Study.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22Feb2023... 0533h 23-0256
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Findings. The general court finds that given the statistically significant excess in the number of cases of kidney cancer in Merrimack, New Hampshire found by the department of health and human services, the known detection of environmental contaminants that have been associated with kidney cancer, and a trend of increasing incidence of kidney cancer over time, the department recommends that a feasibility study as determined by the New Hampshire Cancer Concern Investigation Protocol, Phase 3 be conducted. The general court further finds that a Phase 3 feasibility study would determine if an epidemiological study (Phase 4) is warranted and would identify appropriate cancers and health outcomes for inclusion in such study.
2 Appropriation; Department of Health and Humans Services; Phase 3 Feasibility Study.
I. There is hereby appropriated the sum of $500,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, to the department of health and human services to enter into a contract with an academic or research organization to complete a New Hampshire Kidney Cancer Incidence Phase 3 Feasibility Study for the town of Merrimack to further understand potential exposures that may contribute to the excess of kidney cancer incidence in Merrimack and identify any next steps warranted. Such funds shall be nonlapsing and appropriated to the department for the purposes of this act. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
II. In order to provide funding for said appropriation, and subject to prior review by the joint legislative oversight committee on health and human services established in RSA 126-A:13, the department shall first use any available grant funding or any other non-state funds which may be used for this purpose.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.
23-0256
Revised 1/25/23
HB 614-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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STATE: | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | |||
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METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a voluntary health outcomes repository to collect information relative to adverse human health effects in areas impacted by per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) air emissions and areas impacted by PFAS contaminated drinking water.
The Department assumes that in order to maintain the privacy and security of the information submitted to the repository, a secure portal will need to be designed for submittal and retrieval of information. The Department states that although it could leverage the existing Salesforce platform, it does not have the resource to customize the platform for web-based reporting. As a result, the Department expects an IT contract will be needed to build and implement the portal, at a cost of $650,000. The time frame for completing a request for proposal (RFP), vendor selection, and contract completion is estimated to be 12 months. Once a contract is established, the Department anticipates another 12-month time frame from development to implementation. The Department estimates ongoing system and data maintenance costs of $200,000 per year. In addition, staff licenses are estimated at $840 per person annually; if three people are necessary, the cost will be $2,520 annually. The Department further states that because it is unclear how many people will enroll in the repository, there are indeterminable costs related to infrastructure needs.
The Department states that, because participation in the repository is voluntary, to make it more complete the Department will need to conduct community outreach to encourage impacted individuals to voluntarily enroll. Costs associated with education and outreach activities is anticipated to be $25,000 to $50,000 and will likely be administered through a contract with a support services vendor.
Finally, the Department anticipates needing three additional staff to carry out the work related to the registry: one Business Systems Analyst II position (LG 30, Step 7) for continuity of operations; one Program Planner III (LG 25, Step 5) for data analysis; and one Program Planner III (LG 25, Step 5) for communication purposes (communication with enrollees and community members). The costs of these positions are as follows:
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
Program Planner III |
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Salary | $ 61,900 | $ 61,900 | $ 64,700 |
Benefits | $ 34,800 | $ 36,300 | $ 36,900 |
Other | $ 13,900 | $ 10,900 | $ 10,900 |
Total | $ 110,600 | $ 109,100 | $ 112,500 |
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Program Planner III |
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Salary | $ 61,900 | $ 61,900 | $ 64,700 |
Benefits | $ 34,800 | $ 36,300 | $ 36,900 |
Other | $ 13,900 | $ 10,900 | $ 10,900 |
Total | $ 110,600 | $ 109,100 | $ 112,500 |
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Business Systems Analyst II |
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Salary | $ 84,800 | $ 84,800 | $ 88,700 |
Benefits | $ 39,800 | $ 41,300 | $ 42,100 |
Other | $ 10,000 | $ 7,000 | $ 7,000 |
Total | $ 134,600 | $ 133,100 | $ 137,800 |
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Positions Grand Total: | $ 355,800 | $ 351,300 | $ 362,800 |
This bill does not contain an appropriation or establish new positions. It is assumed that any fiscal impact will begin in FY 2024.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services
