SB 148 - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0803
05/06
SENATE BILL 148
AN ACT establishing a commission to study grandfamilies in New Hampshire.
SPONSORS: Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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This bill establishes a commission to study families in which grandparents are raising their grandchildren in New Hampshire.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0803
05/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT establishing a commission to study grandfamilies in New Hampshire.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Commission to Study Grandfamilies in New Hampshire. Amend RSA 170-G by inserting after section 16 the following new subdivision:
Commission to Study Grandfamilies in New Hampshire
170-G:17 Commission to Study Grandfamilies in New Hampshire.
I. There is established a commission to study grandfamilies in New Hampshire. The membership of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the senate president.
(b) Three members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall serve on the health and human services and elderly affairs committee, one of whom shall serve on the committee responsible for children and family law, and one of whom shall serve on the finance committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(e) One representative of the division of family assistance, department of health and human services, appointed by that division.
(f) One representative of the division of children, youth & families, department of health and human services, appointed by that division.
(g) One representative of Every Child Matters in New Hampshire, appointed by that organization.
(h) One representative of the Family Assistance Advisory Council, appointed by that council.
(i) One representative of Child and Family Services of New Hampshire, appointed by that organization.
(j) One representative of Family Resource Centers of Quality, appointed by Family Support New Hampshire.
(k) One representative of Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Hampshire, appointed by that organization.
(l) One representative of New Futures, appointed by that organization.
(m) One representative of National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire, appointed by that organization.
(n) One representative of the Belknap-Merrimack Early Head Start, appointed by that organization.
(o) One public school principal, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of School Principals.
(p) One pediatrician licensed in New Hampshire, appointed by the New Hampshire Pediatric Society.
(q) One member of the New Hampshire Bar Association, appointed by that association.
(r) One representative of AARP, appointed by that organization.
(s) One representative of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, appointed by that association.
(t) Three grandparent caregivers, appointed by the Family Assistance Advisory Council.
II. The commission shall address issues related to grandfamilies in New Hampshire. The commission's duties shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Review of current data regarding grandfamilies in New Hampshire.
(b) Review of current barriers facing grandparents that are raising children in New Hampshire.
(c) Identification of causes of issues affecting New Hampshire grandfamilies.
(d) Development of corrective actions for addressing issues facing grandfamilies in New Hampshire.
(e) Identification of current actions being taken to address grandfamilies in New Hampshire and their effectiveness.
III. Members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The senate health and human services committee staff shall provide clerical, administrative, and research services to the commission as may be needed.
IV. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
V. The commission shall submit an interim report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2017 and shall submit a final report on or before September 1, 2018.
2 Repeal. RSA 170-G:17, establishing a commission to study grandfamilies in New Hampshire, is repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect September 1, 2018.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.