Bill Text: NH HB621 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Establishing the state commission on aging.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)
Status: (Passed) 2019-07-03 - Signed by Governor Sununu 07/01/2019; Chapter 152; Eff: 07/01/2019 [HB621 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2019-HB621-Enrolled.html
HB 621-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
14Mar2019... 0714h
2019 SESSION
19-0684
01/03
HOUSE BILL 621-FN
AN ACT establishing the state commission on aging.
SPONSORS: Rep. Campion, Graf. 12; Rep. Hennessey, Graf. 1; Rep. Sykes, Graf. 13; Rep. Rogers, Merr. 28; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Ward, Dist 8
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes the state commission on aging and repeals the current state committee on aging.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
14Mar2019... 0714h 19-0684
01/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT establishing the state commission on aging.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Legislative Intent and Purpose. The legislative intent and purpose of the act is to fully acknowledge and promote the value and importance of the state committee on aging (SCOA), established in RSA 161-F:7 in addressing the independence, health, and wellbeing of New Hampshire’s aging population. Building on the success of SCOA achieved over the past decades, this act would reconstitute the committee into a commission incorporating its original charge and duties yet expanding them to a statewide platform to gain a stronger voice in effectuating public policy for New Hampshire’s aging citizens. Bringing both their experience and dedication, it is also the legislative intent that current members serving on SCOA shall continue their membership and be appointed to serve on the state commission on aging coterminous with their remaining term on SCOA.
2 New Chapter; State Commission on Aging. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 19-O the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 19-P
STATE COMMISSION ON AGING
19-P:1 State Commission on Aging Established; Membership.
I. There is established a state commission on aging to advise the governor and the general court on policy and planning related to aging.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(c) The commissioner of the department of labor, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of employment security, or designee.
(e) The commissioner of the department of safety, or designee.
(f) The commissioner of the department of transportation, or designee.
(g) The attorney general, or designee.
(h) The executive director of the New Hampshire housing finance authority, or designee.
(i) The long-term care ombudsman, or designee.
(j) Fifteen members of the public, including at least one member from each county, including representatives of the business community, health care, technology and innovation, municipal leaders, the aging network, advocacy organizations, caregivers, and direct service providers focused on the older adult population, appointed by the governor.
III. The commission may solicit information and participation from other state agency representatives or members of the public as determined necessary by the commission.
IV. The members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (j) shall serve 2-year terms; provided that initially such members shall serve staggered terms and no such member shall serve more than 2 consecutive terms. Legislative members shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission. The first named member of the house of representatives shall convene the organizational meeting of the commission on or before 45 days of passage of this chapter for the purpose of electing officers serving on the commission. Thirteen members shall constitute a quorum. If any member is absent without previously being excused by the chairperson for 3 or more regular meetings, the member may be removed upon a majority vote of the commission.
V. The commission shall be authorized to select and hire select an executive director by a vote of a majority of the members. The executive director shall be in the classified service of the state and shall perform such duties as the commission may require. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for the amount necessary to pay for the executive director position and related office expenditures authorized in this paragraph out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. The commission shall hold no fewer than 9 regular meetings per year.
19-P:2 Duties. The commission's duties shall include, but not be limited to:
I. Reviewing and recommending proposals for rules, legislation, waivers, operations, and other policies.
II. Reviewing and providing input relative to state planning efforts across agencies, including the state plan on aging, the mental health plan, and transportation and safety.
III. Formulating or helping to formulate, reviewing, and evaluating policy proposals, considering fiscal, program, provider, and recipient impact, and making recommendations accordingly.
IV. Encouraging the development of coordinated interdepartmental goals and objectives and the coordinating programs, services, and facilities among all state departments and nongovernmental organizations as they relate to older adults.
V. Identifying and recommending ways in which the state can support local and community efforts, through educational programs or otherwise, to promote healthy aging.
VI. Identifying and recommending ways in which the state can partner with nongovernmental organizations to promote healthy aging.
VII. Promoting the skills, talents, and energy older Granite Staters can offer to make New Hampshire a better place to live for everyone.
VIII. Assisting in the implementation of the state plan on aging.
IX. Making a continuing assessment of problems relating to older adults.
X. Advocating solutions to provide better integration of older persons into the social and economic life of the state.
XI. Soliciting the cooperation and help of the various groups concerned with the problems facing older adults.
XII. Obtaining from such groups their views, experience, assistance, and recommendations in the preparation and direction of future planning and administrative and legislative action as the commission may from time to time deem necessary and advisable.
XIII. Requesting from governmental agencies within the state, subject to available resources, in making available such information, suggestions, and statistics to enable the commission to perform its functions.
XIV. Other matters the commission deems necessary related to aging.
19-P:3 Reports. 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 committees having jurisdiction over finance and health and human services, and chairperson of the fiscal committee of the general court by November 1 of each year, commencing on November 1, 2019, regarding the activities of the commission.
19-P:4 Establishment and Support of Programs by a Municipality. Any city, county, or town may establish programs for the aged, and such programs may be administered by appropriate existing offices or departments, or new offices or departments, of such governmental units. A city, county, or town may raise and appropriate funds for the administration of these programs. Any city, county, or town, with the advice of the state commission on aging, may raise the appropriate funds to assist or fund, in whole or in part, nonprofit corporations or agencies in administering programs for the aged.
3 Duties of the Oversight Committee; Cross Reference Changed. Amend RSA 126-A:15, IV to read as follows:
IV. Directly or through an ancillary body, the oversight committee shall serve as the legislative liaison for the state [committee] commission on aging, established under [RSA 161-F:7] RSA 19-P:1, and shall consider the major problems facing elderly citizens.
4 Repeal. The subdivision heading preceeding RSA 161-F:7, and RSA 161-F:7 through RSA 161-F:9, relative to the establishment of the state committee on aging, are repealed.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.
19-0684
Revised 5/22/19
Amended 3/18/19
HB 621-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2019-0714h)
AN ACT establishing the state commission on aging.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | ||||
STATE: | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | |
Appropriation | $145,000 | $144,000 | $150,000 | $152,000 | |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Expenditures | $145,000 | $144,000 | $150,000 | $152,000 | |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | ||||
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METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes an independent commission on aging comprising up to 26 members of various state agencies, committees, stakeholders, and members of the public, for the purpose of advising the Governor and Legislature on policies and planning related to aging. The bill authorizes the commission to hire an Executive Director to serve the commission and provides for an appropriation in the amount necessary to fund the position. The bill does not specify the labor grade associated with the classified position, but the Department of Health and Human Services previously provided estimated costs associated with a labor grade 35, step 5 to align with other Executive Director positions in the state. Estimated costs for FY 2020 include a one-time expenditure for equipment with the total position costs as follows:
Program Assistant II | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 |
Salary | $95,000 | $95,000 | $99,000 | $99,000 |
Benefits | $38,000 | $40,000 | $42,000 | $44,000 |
Office Space | $6,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 |
Other | $6,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
Total | $145,000 | $144,000 | $150,000 | $152,000 |
The Department of Administrative Services does not anticipate an additional increase to Department expenditures.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Administrative Services and Department of Health and Human Services
