State of New Hampshire Governor's Commission on Disability

2006 NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Are We There Yet?

The 2006 Legislative Session is winding down. By the end of May, the House and Senate will have finished hearing the slate of 2006 legislation.

Facing the Issues

This session brought many disability-related bills to the forefront. Topics ranged from Polling place accessibility to electronic ballot counting machines, Medicaid reimbursement to penalties for Medicaid providers, and Reasonable Accommodations in the workplace.

During the 2006 Session, Commission Members and staff researched, attended and testified at various legislative hearings, including Bills which addressed rural transportation, stem cell research, TANF Reauthorization and Emergency plans for service animals to name a few.

NH STATE LEGISLATION ON DISABILITY
2006 Legislative Update

May, 2006

Below you will find a summary of the bills pertaining to disability that were followed by the Commission during the current session of the NH State Legislature. For more information on any of these bills, including bill and amendment text, you can access the NH Legislature website at www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/, click on “Quick Search” and enter the bill number or title. You can also call the Commission at 1-800-852-3405.

ACTIVE BILLS: The following bills have passed in the House and/or Senate, or have been signed by the Governor.

HB1118
Requiring paper ballots at all elections
Chapter 23

HB1185
Relative to Volunteer NH
Chapter 55

HB1201
Relative to child passenger restraints
Enrolled

HB1214
Establishing a task force to identify and assess community-based, educational and social/human services programs that serve families with children 8 years of age and younger
Passed/Adopted with Amendment

HB1231
Relative to the penalty for assaulting a firefighter, emergency medical technician, or law enforcement officer
Enrolled

HB1241
(New Title) extending the kindergarten construction aid program.
Passed/Adopted with Amendment

HB1265
Establishing a council on the relationship between public health and the environment
Passed/Adopted with Amendment

HB1331
Establishing a committee to study the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) reauthorization
Committee of Conference

HB1332
Establishing a commission to study health care in New Hampshire prisons
Committee of Conference

HB1346
Requiring certain persons to keep the contents of prescriptions confidential
Passed/Adopted with Amendment

HB1427
Relative to the principles for developmentally disabled services
Passed/Adopted with Amendment

HB1435
(2nd New Title) Relative to the emergency plan for service animals and establishing a commission to study the evacuation and housing of animals during an emergency.
Enrolled

HB1452
Requiring insurance to cover the cost of testing for bone marrow donation
Enrolled

HB1461
(New Title) AN ACT establishing a task force to study Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
Passed/Adopted with Amendment

HB1465
Relative to food stamp overpayment
Chapter 85

HB1512
(New Title) Establishing a committee to study volunteer activity related to transportation
Non concurred

HB1546
(New Title) Relative to patient information
Passed/Adopted

HB1611
Relative to reimbursement for personal care services
Enrolled

HB1626
(New Title) Relative to appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state.
Committee of Conference

HB1662
Establishing the crime of peonage
Passed/Adopted with Amendment

HB1673
Relative to the reduction of mercury emissions
Chapter 105

HB1709
Establishing an autism registry in the department of HHS
Chapter 106

HB1722
Relative to the New Hampshire council on developmental disabilities
Enrolled

HB1741
Relative to reporting requirements concerning infections in hospitals
Passed/Adopted w Amendment

HB1744
Authorizing the pari-mutual commission to regulate games of chance conducted by charitable organizations and relative to tournaments conducted by charitable organizations where chips hove no monetary face value
Committee of Conference

HB1745
Relative to methamphetamine-related crimes involving children and incapacitated adults
Enrolled

SB231
Relative to residency requirements to qualify for the elderly property tax exemption
Passed/Adopted w Amendment

SB233
Relative to motorcycle rider education
Enrolled

SB234
Including the International Residential Code in the definition of the state building code
Chapter 112

SB250
Relative to lead paint poisoning prevention
Committee of Conference

SB252
(New Title) Relative to certification of speech-language assistants for purposes of speech language pathology practice.
Passed/Adopted with Amendment

SB273
Relative to reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities
Enrolled

SB281
Establishing an organ and tissue donor registry
Passed/Adopted with Amendment

SB289
Relative to the brain and spinal cord advisory council
Enrolled

SB296
Relative to recovery of public assistance
Chapter 45

SB300
Exempting certain transfers of real estate between charitable organizations from the real estate transfer tax
Passed/Adopted with Amendment

SB306
Establishing a quality early learning opportunity initiative and making an appropriation therefore
Non concurred

SB318
Relative to the use of deadly force to protect oneself
Vetoed by Governor

SB358
Relative to an advanced registered nurse practitioners duty to warn of violent acts of patients
Committee of Conference

SB369
Relative to the portability, availability, and renew ability of health coverage
Chapter 125

SB370
Relative to multidisciplinary child protection teams
Chapter 118

SB374
Relative to the Healthy Kids corporation
Committee of Conference

SB403
Relative to verification of identity when a person registers or attempts to vote
Committee of Conference

INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE (ITL): The following Bills have been found ITL in either the House or Senate.

HB1123
Requiring equestrian helmets for first time riders

HB1136
Establishing a commission to study the care needs of medically fragile students in the school system

HB1145
Permitting vehicles to proceed straight through an intersection after stopping for a red light

HB1158
Relative to eligibility for the property tax exemption for the disabled

HB1160
Establishing a committee to study the effects of willful, habitual misconduct by individuals on their subsequent well-being which may impose a burden on public funds

HB1354
Relative to physical force in defense of a person

HB1366
Relative to a planning board’s authority to require public access to open space as a condition of subdivision approval

HB1489
Relative to school emergency response plans

HB1563
(New Title) Establishing a committee to study immigration.

SB241
Allowing municipalities to exclude certain retirement assets from consideration in qualifying for the elderly property tax exemption

SB242
Prohibiting a person charged with unlawfully killing a decedent from taking a decedent’s estate

SB361
(New Title) Relative to school district contingency funds.

SCR6
(New Title) Urging Congress to support stem cell research.
LAID ON TABLE (LOT): The following Bills have been LOT in either the House or Senate.

HB1166
Relative to electronic ballot counting machines

HB1198
Establishing a committee to study highway rest areas

HB1209
Relative to notification requirements for criminal offenders

HB1220
Establishing a committee to study a statewide review of all unanticipated fatalities and serious injury involving incapacitated adults and individuals 60 or older

HB1221
(New Title) Relative to recovery of medical assistance.

HB1409
Relative to organ and tissue donation

HB1506
Requiring children 12 and under to wear personal floatation devices

HB1539
Establishing a committee to study the shortage in speech and language services and the criteria for certification as a speech language specialist

HB1555
Establishing a commission to investigate cost drivers in providing health care.

HB1570
Relative to health insurance coverage for part-time college students

HB1578
To provide enhanced awareness of and education on methamphetamine to the citizens of New Hampshire

HB1597
Relative to municipal obligations for indigent medical expenses

HJR20
Supporting stem cell research

HJR24
Supporting efforts for commuter rail in New Hampshire

SB243
Establishing a commission to study rural transit in NH

SB316
Requiring interpretation services upon request for persons receiving medical treatment

SB338
Relative to insurance coverage for children’s early intervention therapy services

SB360
Establishing a surcharge on real estate transfers for deposit in the family stability fund and renaming the homeless prevention program the family stability program

SB401
Relative to the Hanover-Lebanon District Court
INTERIM STUDY: The following Bills have been placed in Interim Study Committees.

HB1186
Relative to the location of the Cheshire County Superior Court

HB1384
Relative to standardizing the format for special education budgets

HB1415
Establishing the office of corrections ombudsman

HB1476
Relative to electronic tracking and monitoring of sexual offenders.

HB1511
Relative to business replacement costs resulting from government program displacement

HB1532
Revising the special education statutes

HB1549
Excluding certain acts based on bona fide economic and public safety considerations form the prohibition against age discrimination in public accommodations

HB1601
(New Title) Relative to the funding of catastrophic special education aid and making an appropriation to the department of education to support the Laurent Clerc Academy

HB1621
(New Title) Prohibiting the overpricing of commodities during a declared state of emergency or a market emergency.

HB1680
Requiring law enforcement and corrections officers to complete training in appropriate techniques for dealing with persons with mental health conditions

SB268
(New Title) Raising the age of required attendance of children in school and establishing a 2-year pilot program for increasing vocational education opportunities in the Manchester and Nashua school districts and making an appropriation therefore.

Summer Fun

Accessible Outings in New Hampshire

From fishing to camping, reading to riding, swimming, gardening, or just sitting and enjoying the smells of summer, New Hampshire has so much to offer its residents and guests. This edition of The Blue Sheet will hopefully tempt you out and about to events, happenings, and attractions within the state.

Archery:

Camping:

White Mountain National Forest: Located in Northern New Hampshire and Southwestern Maine, the National Forest strives to make its facilities accessible to all. You can find more information on accessible day-use/overnight facilities, trails, and bodies of water by calling the Forest Service Office at 603-528-8721; TTY 603-528-8722, or by visiting their web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/recreation/accessible_recreation/.

New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation State Parks: The State offers many opportunities for camping at State Park Facilities. The following are a few accessible camp sites. These and more can be found by calling 603-271-3556, or by logging on to the State’s web page at http://www.nhstateparks.org/ParksPages/AccessGlncHM.html,

• Bear Brook State Park: Allenstown, NH 03275 Day-Use: 603-485-9874 Campground: 603-485-9869
• Coleman State Park:

Little Diamond Pond Road Stewartstown, NH 03597 Phone: 603-237-5382
• Ellacoya State Park:

Scenic Drive Gilford, NH 03246 Phone: 603-293-7821

• Hampton Beach State Park: Hampton, NH 03842 Hampton Beach: 603-926-3784

• Lake Francis State Park

Pittsburg, NH 03592 Phone: 603-538-6965

• Mollidgewock State Park Errol, NH 03579 Phone: 603-482-3373

Fishing: New Hampshire has many “fishing holes”, big and small, fresh and salt water, for both anglers and fly-fishers. The following is a brief list of accessible spots.

Archery Pond: Offered at Bear Brook State Park, Archery Pond is perfect for Fly-fishing and is universally accessible.

Hot Hole Pond: A local favorite with an accessible fishing pier located on Hot Hole Pond Road in Concord.

Merrimack River: This River offers three universally designed fishing piers, two of which are suitable for fly-fishing.

White Mountain National Forest: The White Mountain National Forest offers many accessible spots including Albany Covered Bridge on the Kancamagas Highway and the Russell Pond Fishing Pier and Boat Launch in Campton.

State Parks: The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation has a list of fully accessible State Parks on their web site http://www.nhstateparks.org/ParksPages/AccessGlncHM.html.

Out and About: New Hampshire has many attractions statewide to fit the needs of the “tourist” in all of us.

• Conway Scenic Railroad: Whether you choose one of the Valley routes to Conway or Bartlett, or the legendary Crawford Notch excursion, you'll experience the excitement of rail travel in the comfort of open or enclosed restored passenger cars which can accommodate wheelchairs up to 24” wide. For more information on trip schedules, and events (Including a visit by Thomas the Train!) you can call 603-356-5251 or use the link provided above to navigate to their web site.

• Tarbin Gardens: Located in Franklin, Tarbin Gardens is the fully accessible must-visit for nature lovers, bird and butterfly watchers, photographers and artists, and, of course, for garden enthusiasts. For more information call 603-934-3518.

• Canterbury Shaker Village: A non-profit educational institution and National Historic Landmark museum consisting of 25 original Shaker buildings, three reconstructed Shaker buildings set on 694 acres of gardens, natural trails, woods, ponds and meadows. What the brochure doesn’t say is that there is always something happening at the Village. Craftsmen are working on their wares, repairing buildings, building furniture, the kitchen is open and preparing wonderfully delicious meals and snacks, and everyone there is ready to make your visit educational and enjoyable. This is one of my personal favorite summer spots. I enjoy lunch sitting on a blanket by the pond at least a handful of times each year. Shaker Village offers a wide variety of workshops and events that can be found on their web site. More information can be found by clicking on the link provided above, or by calling (603) 783-9511.

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center: A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Squam Lake Natural Science Center’s mission is “to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world.” Filled with wonderful trails and gardens surrounding Squam Lake – the site of the film “On Golden Pond”, Squam is a relaxing day just waiting for you. The majority of trails are accessible, and electronic carts are available on a first-come basis. For more information, you can call 603-968-7194 or click on the link above.

• Strawbery Banke Museum: Strawbery Banke provides the opportunity to see how people lived for four centuries of American history, through restored furnished houses, historic gardens, and objects of everyday life. Although the grounds are not paved to preserve historical integrity, they are packed gravel and at a recreational grade for accessibility. For more information, you can call 603-433-1100, or use the link provided above.

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