2002 SESSION

02-3153

01/09

SENATE BILL 400

COMMITTEE: Public Institutions, Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to study issues concerning the Poison Information and Control Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02-3153

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:

44:1 Statement of Intent. The general court finds that:

I. The New Hampshire Poison Information and Control Center has been providing poison information and emergency management of poisonings to the citizens of New Hampshire, pursuant to RSA 126-A:49, since 1981.

II. The 24-hour-a-day telephone triage of poison calls provides immediate assistance to New Hampshire citizens, effectively managing poison emergencies and in many cases, preventing unnecessary emergency hospitalizations.

III. The New Hampshire Poison Information and Control Center plays a critical role within the state's public health infrastructure, especially as greater attention is focused on potential biological and chemical threats.

IV. Additional investments must be made in the areas of clinical toxicology, education, and outreach in order to sustain high level services.

44:2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study issues concerning the Poison Information and Control Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

44:3 Membership and Compensation.

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

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

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

II. The committee shall seek input from the following:

(a) The department of health and human services.

(b) Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

(c) The New Hampshire Public Health Association.

(d) The New Hampshire Hospital Association.

(e) The New Hampshire chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

(f) The New Hampshire Pediatric Society.

(g) The division of emergency medical services, department of safety.

(h) 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.

44:4 Duties. The committee shall address issues confronting the Poison Information and Control Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. The study shall include, but not be limited to, whether to certify the poison center and whether a clinical toxicologist should be hired solely for the poison center. The committee's study shall also include an examination of sustainable funding mechanisms for the Center.

44:5 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 senate 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.

44:6 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2002.

44:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: April 22, 2002)

(Effective Date: April 22, 2002)