HB 1379 - AS INTRODUCED
2000 SESSION
HOUSE BILL 1379
AN ACT establishing a long-term care council.
SPONSORS: Rep. Garrish, Hills 37
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill establishes a long-term care council.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
00-2549
05/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand
AN ACT establishing a long-term care council.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Long-Term Care Council. Amend RSA 151-E by inserting after section 12 the following new section:
151-E:13 Long-Term Care Council.
I. There is established a long-term care council to address ongoing issues surrounding long-term health care.
II. The council shall consist of the following members:
(a) Two members of the house of representatives, at least one of which shall be selected from the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, appointed by the speaker of the house.
(b) Two members of the senate, to be selected from the senate insurance committee and the senate public institutions, health and human services committee, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(d) A representative of the Visiting Nurse Association of Manchester and Southern New Hampshire, appointed by the association.
(e) A representative of the nursing home industry, appointed by the governor.
(f) A representative of Hospice America of New Hampshire, Inc., appointed by such organization.
(g) A representative of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by the association.
(h) A representative of the New Hampshire Medical Society, appointed by such society.
II. The members in subparagraphs I(d) - (h) shall serve for 3 years. The remaining members shall serve terms coterminous with their terms of office. The members shall be appointed within 30 days of the effective date of this section. In the event of death or resignation of any member of the council, a successor shall be appointed by the person or entity that made the original appointment, and the successor appointed to the vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The members of the council shall serve without compensation; however, the legislative members shall receive mileage at the legislative rate for each day of actual attendance at called meetings.
III. The council shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its membership at its first meeting which shall be held not later than 45 days after the effective date of this section.
IV. The council shall:
(a) Assess the level of quality and sufficiency of care being provided in the state and make recommendations to affected organizations concerning areas requiring improvement.
(b) Develop long-term care organization staffing and training standards so that the care being administered is consistent and ample.
(c) Assess the current availability of long-term care for New Hampshire residents, the existing need for services, and to what extent those needs are being met.
(d) Monitor reports of abuse or neglect within the long-term care industry for significant trends.
(e) Advocate for accountability and regulations within the industry.
(f) Hold at least 2 public hearings annually, in different regions of the state, to generate input from the public on any unmet long-term care needs.
2 Report: The council shall provide a report of its activities and findings to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, and the governor on or before November 1 of each year.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.