137-K:2 Advisory Council. –
I. There is established the New Hampshire brain and spinal cord injury advisory council in the department.
II. (a) The advisory council shall consist of the following voting members:
(1) One member of the Spinal Cord Injury Association, appointed by such association.
(2) One member of the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, appointed by such association.
(3) One member of the professional community, appointed by the governor.
(4) One brain and spinal cord injury survivor, appointed by the governor.
(5) One family member or caregiver, appointed by the governor.
(6) One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(7) One member of the senate, appointed by the senate president.
(8) One vocational rehabilitation instructor, appointed by the commissioner of the department of education.
(b) The following persons or their designees shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the council:
(1) The commissioner of the department of health and human services.
(2) The administrator of the division of vocational rehabilitation services of the department of education.
(3) The president or executive director of the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire.
(4) The administrator of brain injury services, division of developmental services, department of health and human services.
(5) The president or executive director of Granite State Independent Living.
(6) Representatives of other related agencies or organizations as approved by the council.
III. Advisory council appointments shall be for 3 years. Terms shall be staggered so that 1/3 of the positions are elected each year. Upon the completion of 2 consecutive 3-year terms, a council member shall be ineligible to serve on the council for one year. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Such appointment shall complete the original member's term.
IV. The advisory council shall have the authority to draft and adopt by-laws addressing concerns such as attendance, presentations, and notice of council meetings.
V. The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly. At the last meeting of the state fiscal year, the regular meetings of the following state fiscal year shall be scheduled. Special meetings may be held if necessary at the call of the advisory council chair.
VI. The advisory council shall:
(a) Identify unmet needs which should be considered for support.
(b) Investigate the needs of citizens with brain and spinal cord injuries, identifying the gaps in services to these citizens, and issue an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house, the senate president, and the commissioner of health and human services by October 1 of each year.
(c) Hold at least 2 public hearings annually, in different regions of the state, to generate input from the public on unmet needs and gaps in services and supports for individuals with brain and spinal cord injuries, for inclusion in the advisory council's annual report.
(d) Consider the feasibility of establishing a brain and spinal cord injury trust fund.
(e) Review the status of the brain injury program, established under RSA 137-K:9, and recommend to the commissioner priorities for new programs and services to address the unmet needs and gaps in services and supports for individuals with brain and spinal cord injuries.
Source. 1997, 262:2. 1999, 349:3. 2002, 245:1. 2006, 184:1, eff. May 25, 2006. 2022, 100:2, eff. July 19, 2022.