This bill eliminates the Commission on the Status of Health Coverage Markets for Individuals and Small Employers within the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The primary mechanism is the complete repeal of the existing statute that created this advisory commission, which was responsible for analyzing the health insurance market. By removing this entity, the state ends the commission's operations and ceases its specific duties related to monitoring health coverage markets. The law takes effect 60 days after passage, resulting in the immediate dissolution of the commission without creating new programs or changing eligibility rules for Medicaid.
SB 498 expands the types of care settings available for minors involved in the juvenile justice system or those in need of services within New Hampshire. The bill allows courts to place these children with fictive kin - individuals who are not biological relatives but have a close bond - as well as in various certified facilities like group homes and psychiatric treatment programs. Additionally, the legislation updates the schedule for when law enforcement facilities must share confidential detention logs with the Department of Health and Human Services, changing the reporting dates to October 1 and April 1 starting in 2024. These changes apply to both delinquent children and children in need of services, aiming to broaden placement options and improve oversight of juvenile detention records.
This bill, known as the Matthew Brown Act, requires public schools and charter schools in New Hampshire to print the phone number for the National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline on student identification cards. The law applies to cards issued for the first time or replaced after the bill takes effect, ensuring that students in grades 6 through 12 have immediate access to eating disorder support resources. Schools must also verify annually that the helpline number on these cards is accurate and up to date before each new school year. The legislation aims to integrate mental health resources directly into the daily materials students carry, rather than relying on them to find help information elsewhere.
This bill requires applicants seeking permits for solid waste management facilities in New Hampshire to undergo criminal background checks. Under the new rules, the Department of Environmental Services can request that the Attorney General investigate the criminal records and performance history of the applicant, its officers, directors, and any individuals with managerial or decision-making authority. The cost of these investigations will be paid by the facility applicants rather than the state. This change aims to ensure that those responsible for managing solid waste operations have no disqualifying criminal history before a permit is granted.
This law prohibits individuals convicted of specific crimes against children, such as sexual assault or possession of child sexual abuse images, from working or volunteering in roles that provide direct care or supervision to minors. The ban applies to various positions including teachers, coaches, camp counselors, and day care workers, and it also requires employers and organizations serving minors to conduct criminal background checks on all prospective employees and volunteers. Additionally, the legislation makes it a crime for these individuals to apply for initial teacher certification without disclosing their criminal history. These restrictions take effect on January 1, 2025.
This bill expands the definition of a school transportation vehicle to include private passenger cars used by contracted companies to transport students to public and private schools. It allows school districts and private schools to hire these providers, provided the vehicles are approved by the Department of Safety and driven by certified school bus operators. The legislation also requires stricter background checks for drivers, including criminal history reviews, and mandates that all drivers maintain specific qualification files accessible to the state department. Additionally, the state director gains the authority to inspect these vehicles before they are used to ensure they are fit for transporting children.
This bill establishes a legislative committee to examine how New Hampshire laws handle consent and confidentiality for adolescents and young adults seeking healthcare. The committee, composed of five legislators appointed by Senate and House leaders, will review existing rules regarding parental consent, assess current privacy protections for minors, and identify any gaps in medical care coverage. After gathering testimony from relevant experts and organizations, the group must submit its findings and any proposed legal changes to state officials by November 1, 2024.
This bill removes the requirement for lucky 7 ticket dispenser devices to print a physical paper ticket. Under the new rules, these machines must still be approved by the state commission, but their specifications will no longer mandate paper output. Instead, the outcome of a wager will be determined solely by the video monitor on the device. This change applies to licensed facilities that currently use these approved dispenser machines.
HB 1552 clarifies the definition of "superintendent" to include any staff members assigned to perform administrative duties, thereby extending certain legal responsibilities to these personnel. The bill mandates that local fire chiefs annually inspect school buildings during the school year and submit compliance reports to state officials and school leaders by December 15. It also updates regulations regarding the confidentiality of student records within specific case contexts and grants exemptions for single-district administrative units from most chapter requirements while maintaining superintendent service standards. Finally, the law allows superintendents in single school districts to qualify for alternative certification as principal instructional leaders through a rigorous competency process.
This law allows non-lawyer paraprofessionals to provide legal services in New Hampshire courts, removing previous restrictions that limited their practice to specific judicial settings. It establishes a pilot program that begins on January 1, 2030, during which the state Supreme Court must submit interim and final reports to legislative leaders assessing how well the program works. The legislation also sets the effective date for these changes to start immediately upon signing, ensuring the new rules are in place before the pilot program commences.
Signed by Governor Sununu 06/14/2024; Chapter 46; eff. 1/1/2025 HJ 16
This bill requires powerboat operators to wear an engine cut-off switch lanyard while operating specific vessels at speeds higher than the minimum needed to maintain steerage. The rule applies to powerboats that are at least 26 feet long or have outboard engines with more than 115 pounds of thrust or 3 horsepower, unless the boat has an enclosed cabin or was manufactured before 2020 without such a device. The law defines an engine cut-off switch as a safety device that disables the engine if the operator falls off the helm and sets the requirement to take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.
