04/17/03 1269s

04/17/03 1309s

2003 SESSION

03-1017

01/09

HOUSE BILL 831

AN ACT adding duties to the oversight committee on health and human services.

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill requires the oversight committee on health and human services to study end-of-life issues in addition to its other duties.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

04/17/03 1269s

04/17/03 1309s

03-1017

01/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

AN ACT adding duties to the oversight committee on health and human services.

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

78:1 Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services; Section Heading. Amend the section heading of RSA126-A:15 to read as follows:

126-A:15 [Duty] Duties of Oversight Committee.

78:2 New Paragraph; Duties Added. Amend RSA 126-A:15 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:

I-a. The committee shall also study the following issues:

(a) How to encourage the public to engage in advance care planning and ensure that advance care plans are honored by health providers, emergency medical providers, and other caregivers.

(b) How to increase understanding and access to palliative care services in all areas of the state.

(c) Identifying strategies to increase earlier participation in hospice services and remove barriers for those who desire hospice.

(d) Identifying the gaps in data collection or analysis that would provide an on-going means to assess access to good end-of-life care.

(e) Whether new educational programs are needed to train health professionals and other caregivers in end-of-life care needs.

(f) What are the priorities for improving end-of-life care in New Hampshire.

78:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: Enacted in accordance with Article 44, Part II, N.H. Constitution, without signature of Governor, May 28, 2003)

(Effective Date: May 28, 2003)