 Affordable Care Act Turns 2!
Healthcare reform, also known as the ACA or "Obama Cares", turns 2 this week. The Children's Alliance of NH has been involved in events all week to celebrate the benefits to NH's children. See the advantages for kids.
Become a healthcare supporter. Sign on here. Tell everyone about the benefits of ACA, it's the best way to protect children's healthcare.
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Accountability Project
As you no doubt recall, NH CAN Partners have been working on a project to help our Partners know more about how legislators vote on issues affecting children. We have developed a list of bills which affect the well being of children. We are currently finalizing this list. Once the list is final, it will be sent out to Partners with one final chance to comment on the selected bills.
At our June event, we will make these votes on these bills available to our Partners. Speaking of our June event, stay tuned for a big surprise at our June event. you won't want to miss it. Look for more information in hte next few weeks and mark teh week of June 18 on your calendar.
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Legislative Crossover
This upcoming week marks crossover in the state legislature. What is crossover? It is the halfway mark of the legislative session. By next week, all remaining House bills must be referred to the Senate for action and Senate bills to the House (there are a few exceptions, but these bills will not be acted on this session).
So how is NH CAN doing on our 2012 Priorities for NH's Children? NH CAN has been active for you at the State House and we have all been very successful. A complete status report will be completed and emailed to you after crossover. The remaining bills will be acted on over the next 10 weeks. We are now in the home stretch and it will be a very eventful couple of months. Stay tuned!
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Priority Update
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Health & Wellness legislative tracking (Excel)
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 Insurance Parity NH CAN's lead Priority for Economic Security.This Priority was intended to protect Connor's Law, which guarantees insurance parity for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. HB 309, as passed by the House, maintained coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders and Early Childhood insurance mandates. The hearing on HB 309 was well attended and witnesses testified against changes to insurance laws, and in support of this Priority. The committee recommended interim study of this bill, which the full Senate agreed to this week at their session. Interim Study means that this bill will not go any further this year. For the bill to pass, it will need to be re-introduced in the next legislative session. |
NH CAN Oral Health Access Priority (SB 284)
This Priority was deliberated by the Senate committee. Numerous NH CAN Partners worked on this bill to answer questions raised by Senators and witnesses. Through all of this work, NH CAN Partners were successful in keeping this important legislation moving forward to improve oral health access for NH's children. The bill now goes to the House. We will need the help of NH CAN Partners to make sure legislators know the support this bill has across NH. -return to top-
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Economic Security legislative tracking (Excel)
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Maintaining NH's Fiscal Options NH CAN's lead Priority for Economic Security.
CACR 6, originally a bill to cap increases in revenue, is now a bill which caps spending in NH. The House refused the Senate changes and the bill will be reviewed by a Committee of Conference.
While NH CAN continues attempts to defeat this legislation in the legislature, NH CAN is also working to prepare in case CACR 6 is on November's ballot. We will keep you apprised as we move forward. Please consider what role you might be able to play as we work to educate voters prior to November's election. Please contact me at johndejoie@yahoo.com with questions or to offer assistance.
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Education legislative tracking (Excel)
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Educational Opportunity for All Children
This is NH CAN's lead Priority for Education.Like CACR 6 above, CACR 12, is now in a legislative Committee of Conference. CACR 12, will amend the state constitution to allow the legislature to fund education as it sees fit. Additionally, there will be limited review offered by the Supreme Court under the amendment. NH CAN is attempting to educate legislators about the concerns with thsi legislation. At the same time, NH CAN is working with other partners in case this amendment makes it to the ballot. As with CACR 6, we will all need to be engaged if we are going to defeat this amendment. More information will be forthcoming as we work to develop a strategy to protect this vital right of NH's children. Please contact me at johndejoie@yahoo.com with questions or to offer assistance. -return to top-
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