3/14/02 2942s

21mar02...3152eba

2002 SESSION

01-2127

01/09

HOUSE BILL 1131

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to study increasing the number of physicians who are New Hampshire residents.

This bill also makes a technical change to a reference in the physicians and surgeons law.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

3/14/02 2942s

21mar02...3152eba

01-2127

01/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Two

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

37:1 Statement of Purpose. It is the intent of this act to assure, to the greatest extent possible, the admission of qualified New Hampshire residents to educational institutions providing programs of instruction leading to doctoral degrees in allopathic medicine. After a great deal of research, it is clear that New Hampshire needs at least 20 seats spread through 4 medical schools to give our residents equal opportunities to become physicians. Further, it is the intent of this act to decrease the loan obligation of new doctors who choose to work in rural areas, facilitating an increasing number of physicians in the northern part of New Hampshire. It is in the North Country that the New Hampshire Medical Society points to a serious physician shortage. Therefore, the general court establishes a committee to study ways to increase the number of physicians who are New Hampshire residents.

37:2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study increasing the number of physicians who are New Hampshire residents.

37:3 Membership and Compensation.

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

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house.

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

II. The members of the committee shall solicit information from the following:

(a) The dean of Dartmouth Medical School, or designee.

(b) The appropriate departments of the university of New Hampshire.

(c) The New Hampshire Medical Society.

(d) Any source the committee deems relevant to its study.

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

37:4 Duties. The committee shall study increasing the number of physicians who are New Hampshire residents. The committee may include a review of other states laws in its study of this issue.

37:5 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.

37:6 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, 2002.

37:7 Reference Change. Amend RSA 329:14, II to read as follows:

II. No application shall be granted unless the board finds that the applicant possesses the necessary educational, character and other professional qualifications to practice medicine, and that no circumstances exist which would be grounds for disciplinary action against a licensed physician pursuant to RSA 329:17, [II] I.

37:8 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: April 19, 2002)

(Effective Date: April 19, 2002)