Good morning CSNI & Friends, 

Our weekly (sometimes more, sometimes less) legislative updates are back until June.

There is a bill tracking sheet (linked here) and attached to this email. The sheet contains links to the full bill text. We are currently tracking over 100 bills. (Note from Will Walker: The bill tracking sheet is not attached to this G-FAN email blast. I will work to keep the list of bills up to date on the bottom of the G-FAN Page. The list will be very dynamic. I will also send out separate G-FAN emails to notify you of opportunities for you to give testimony, much like I did for HB 1593 last week.). 

Community Integration/Recreation Services (HB 1593)

Last Wednesday, the Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs committee conducted a public hearing on HB 1593. Nine people testified in support of the legislation. The Department of Health and Human Services provided some comments but was neutral on the bill. DHHS anticipates needing an additional part-time employee to implement the fund, at a cost of $51,000 in FY25. The bill specifically states that the new fund shall be used to provide community integration and recreation services that are excluded from the Medicaid program. The bill contains a general fund appropriation of $1 million in FY25 for deposit into the fund. The next step is a full committee vote. Because of the fiscal impact/state budget impact, HB 1593 will need to be reviewed by the House Finance Committee before it can move over to the Senate. 

RTK Public Hearing Next Week

The House Judiciary committee will conduct a public hearing on HB 1069 on January 17 at 9:45am. This bill provides that preliminary drafts circulated to a quorum, or a majority of the public body shall be available for inspection following a public meeting.

Other CSNI High Priorities in 2024 Include:

• HB 1028, relative to the definition of mental illness for purposes of the New Hampshire mental health services system.
• HB 1168, establishing a committee to study the impact of the housing crisis on people with disabilities.
• HB 1291, relative to accessory dwelling unit uses allowed by right.             
• HB 1615, relative to the autism registry.
• SB 353, relative to insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome.
• SB 408, establishing a committee to study the effects of the housing crisis on the disability community.

Alex Koutroubas

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