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Rep. Merchant, Sull. 6
Rep. Nagel, Belk. 6
Rep. Palmer, Sull. 2
October 27, 2023
2023-2365h
08/05
Amendment to HB 322
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the New Hampshire board of medicine.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Four members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be from the health, human services, and elderly affairs committee and 2 from the executive departments and administration committee. Each set of 2 from each committee shall have one member form the majority party and one from the minority party.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, one from the majority party and one from the minority party.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
3 Duties.
I. The committee shall:
(a) Provide a forum within which stakeholders in the proceedings of the board of medicine have an opportunity to hear and review public comments on the operations of the board.
(b) To permit and facilitate organizations which are linked to the board of medicine such as hospitals, the medical association, the association of nurses, the association of nurse practitioners and others to hold regular meetings to share their views on the operation of the board of medicine.
(c) Offer reports to the oversight committee established in RSA 126-A:13 regarding suggested needs for legislation to guide the operations of the board of medicine.
(d) The committee's scope of inquiry as to the board of medicine and its operations shall include:
(1) Adequacy of staffing and funding to maintain the highest possible transparency for the public
(2) Appropriateness of procedures to ensure timely consideration of complaints and reporting to complainants of the disposition of those complaints.
(3) Construction and maintenance of means to make the decisions of the board of medicine accessible to public view in a timely manner.
(4) The maintenance of robust systems to investigate reports of lapses in physician practice as well as complaints of such lodged by professionals, organizations, or public citizens.
(e) To ensure a breadth of expertise the following shall be requested to be in regular attendance but shall not be voting members of the committee:
(1) The commissioner of the department of health and human services or a designee.
(2) A physician appointed by the New Hampshire Medical Society.
(3) The president of the board of medicine or a designee.
(4) A member of the New Hampshire Nurses' Association
(5) A member of the New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association.
(6) The president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association or designee.
(7) A lawyer experienced with malpractice rules and procedures appointed by the attorney general.
(8) The executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification or a designee.
(9) The president of the New Hampshire Osteopathic Association, or a designee.
(10) A medical ethicist to be named by the elected chair of the committee.
(11) A trial lawyer for the plaintiffs in malpractice cases to be named by the elected chair of the committee.
(12) A trial lawyer for the defense in malpractice cases to be named by the elected chair of the committee.
II. Legislative members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2024.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.