CHAPTER 234

HB 1602-FN - FINAL VERSION

17feb00.....3320h

2000 SESSION

00-2746

04/09

HOUSE BILL 1602-FN

AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire task force on deafness and hearing loss.

SPONSORS: Rep. Burnham, Ches 8

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes the New Hampshire task force on deafness and hearing loss to study the feasibility of implementing a center for deafness and hearing loss, and to study the creation of centralized programs and services for individuals who are deaf or who have a hearing loss.

This bill was requested by the study committee on issues relating to the deaf community in New Hampshire, established in 1999, 144.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17feb00.....3320h

00-2746

04/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand

AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire task force on deafness and hearing loss.

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

234:1 Statement of Findings. The general court finds that there is an urgent need for a statewide interpreter referral and resource center dedicated to people who are deaf or who have a hearing loss. Moreover, the general court finds that:

I. Improved interpreter referral services would benefit the business community, educational institutions, health care providers, law enforcement and court systems, state agencies, the general court, and others who require such services to effectively communicate with deaf persons and persons who are hard of hearing.

II. An information and referral service operated by and for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing would promote access of such persons to the community-based health care, educational, employment, and social services that are available to all citizens.

III. Development of peer counseling, job placement, and advocacy services would enhance the ability of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to contribute to their communities.

234:2 Task Force Established; Membership; Terms.

I. There is hereby established the New Hampshire task force on deafness and hearing loss. The task force shall consist of the following members:

(a) One member of the house of representatives who shall be from the health, human services and elderly affairs committee, appointed by the speaker of the house.

(b) One member of the senate who shall be from the public institutions, health and human services committee, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) One member from the governor's commission on disabilities, appointed by the governor.

(d) Two representatives of the department of health and human services, appointed by the commissioner.

(e) One representative of the department of employment security, appointed by the commissioner.

(f) Two representatives of the department of education, appointed by the commissioner.

(g) One representative of the administrative office of the courts, appointed by the chief justice of the New Hampshire superior court.

(h) The president of the New Hampshire Association of the Deaf, or designee.

(i) One representative of the New Hampshire Association of the Deaf, appointed by the president of the New Hampshire Association of the Deaf, or designee.

(j) The president of Self Help for the Hard of Hearing, or designee.

(k) One representative from Self Help for the Hard of Hearing, appointed by the president of Self Help for the Hard of Hearing, or designee.

(l) One representative of the New Hampshire Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, appointed by the president of the New Hampshire Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, or designee.

II. The task force members shall serve without compensation, except that legislative members of the task force shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the task force.

234:3 Organization; Meetings.

I. The task force shall be convened by the named member of the house of representatives, and shall hold its first meeting no later than 30 days after the effective date of this act. The task force shall meet in the facilities of the department of health and human services.

II. The task force shall meet with sufficient frequency to complete its duties, including recommendations for proposed legislation, within 4 months of the effective date of this act.

III. The department of education and health and human services shall provide administrative support, in equal measure, for the task force, including interpreter services for task force meetings.

234:4 Duties. The task force shall:

I. Review the structure of interpreter referral services in other states.

II. Identify the public agencies within New Hampshire that need interpreter referral services.

III. Identify potential funding sources, including user fees, public/private partnerships, and grant opportunities available from the departments of education and health and human services, that could be accessed to support an interpreter referral and resource center in New Hampshire.

IV. Facilitate the development of a private, not for profit organization to provide information, interpreter referral, and other related services.

V. Determine whether the department of education or the department of health and human services is the most appropriate agency for any requests for proposals which may be needed, and select such agency to be responsible for this process.

234:5 Report. The task force shall submit a report of its findings and actions, including proposals for legislation to the governor and council, the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, the chairperson of the house committee on health, human services and elderly affairs, and the chairperson of the senate committee on public institutions, health and human services no later than 4 months from the effective date of this act.

234:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: June 1, 2000)

(Effective Date: June 1, 2000)

LBAO

99-2746

Revised 12/27/99

HB 1602 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire task force on deafness and hearing loss.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2004.