SB 456 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2227
12/09
SENATE BILL 456
AN ACT establishing the commission for children's futures.
SPONSORS: Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Rep. Rice, Hills. 38; Rep. Nelson, Rock. 13; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to study issues related to the public health and safety of children in the state.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2227
12/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT establishing the commission for children's futures.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Study Commission for Children's Futures. Amend RSA 200 by inserting after section 63 the following new subdivision:
Study Commission for Children's Futures
200:64 Commission Established. There is a commission established to study the health and well-being of children in the state and to identify the gaps in mental and physical health services provided to children.
I. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate from the democratic party and one member of the senate from the republican party, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) Seventeen members appointed by the governor, including but not limited to the following groups:
(1) Health care professionals licensed in the state;
(2) Medical practitioners licensed in the state specializing in either traditional or holistic medicine;
(3) Child psychologists licensed in the state;
(4) Mental health care providers;
(5) Teachers certified by the department of education;
(6) Dietitians, as defined in RSA 326-H:3;
(7) Members of state or local law enforcement;
(8) State legislators; and
(9) Parents of children residing in the state.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
III. The commission shall study:
(a) The usage of individualized education programs (IEPs) in schools and trends within IEPs over time;
(b) The child usage rate of pharmaceuticals with psychoactive effects;
(c) Reports of diagnosed mental health issues in youth;
(d) The proportion of students that know of someone who has experienced a mental health crisis;
(e) Changes in the prevalence of childhood cancer and long-term diseases;
(f) Changes in autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit disorder diagnoses;
(g) The amount of mental health services provided to minors and associated trends with such services;
(h) The prevalence of criminal street gangs, as defined in RSA 651:6, I-a(c) in New Hampshire;
(i) The number of incidents of violence in public schools and the impact such incidents have on students;
(j) Truancy and attendance rates in public schools;
(k) The prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and the effect such experiences have on children;
(l) Childhood exposure to pornographic content; and
(m) Youth homelessness rates.
IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Eleven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
V. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library annually on November 1 of each year.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.