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2001 SESSION

01-0351

01/10

HOUSE BILL 569

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to study the information, training, and support needs of family caregivers 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05apr01...0528h

5/17/01...1188s

01-0351

01/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

60:1 Statement of Purpose. The general court recognizes that the increasing number of elderly in New Hampshire necessitate more family caregivers. In an effort to provide the seniors in our state the best possible care, it is important to provide educational opportunities in both public and private educational institutions. Therefore, the general court hereby establishes a committee to investigate the potential for informative educational opportunities for family caregivers and to study other issues relative to caregiving.

60:2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the information, training, and support needs of and other issues relative to family caregivers.

60:3 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be from the health, human services and elderly affairs committee, appointed by the speaker of the house.

(b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. The committee shall solicit information from the following:

(a) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(b) The director of elderly and adult services, department of health and human services.

(c) A representative from the state council on aging.

(d) The director of developmental services, department of health and human services.

(e) The Foundation for Health Communities.

(f) The New Hampshire Medical Society.

(g) The Home Care Association of New Hampshire.

(h) The commissioner of regional community-technical colleges, or designee.

(i) The New Hampshire Nurses Association.

(j) The Alliance for the Mentally Ill of New Hampshire.

(k) The New Hampshire Association of Counties.

(l) The New Hampshire Health Care Association.

(m) A representative of consumers of health care.

(n) Any other person or entity the committee deems relevant.

III. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

60:4 Duties. The committee shall investigate ways to improve and educate family caregivers in New Hampshire. The committee's study shall include, but not be limited to, the feasibility of:

I. Offering informative educational opportunities for family caregivers.

II. Amending the state statutes to include family caregivers.

III. Establishing caregiver networks and support groups.

IV. Providing respite care for caregivers.

60:5 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.

60:6 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2001.

60:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: June 12, 2001)

(Effective Date: June 12, 2001)