Henry Veilleux, Sheehan Phinney Capitol Group 

The House and Senate have hundreds of bills to vote on over the next few weeks to meet the deadline for acting on bills introduced in the originating body.  Here is a summary of some acted upon this past week and ones coming up next week:

Federal Health Care Reform and Health Care Exchanges:  The House voted 219-94 to pass HB 1297 with amendment.  As amended, the bill prohibits the State of New Hampshire from planning, creating, or participating in a health care exchange as required by the federal healthcare reform act (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009).  The bill now goes to the Senate, which tabled a bill earlier this Session that would have established a health care exchange.  It looks like a health care exchange will not be developed in New Hampshire anytime soon. 

Liquor in Grocery Stores:  An effort in the House to allow grocery stores to sell liquor fell short, and the House subsequently passed a bill to study the issue.  A floor amendment to allow grocery and convenient stores to sell liquor along-side beer and wine failed on a vote of 123-179.  The House then passed HB 1251 with an amendment to establish a committee to study the issue, including the possibility of taking wine and beer out of grocery stores and only allowing for the sale of all alcohol in state liquor stores.  The bill now goes to the Senate. 

Employee Lunch Period:  A majority of the House Labor Committee is recommending an increase in the number of hours an employer may require an employee to work before being granted a ½ hour lunch break.  Under current law, an employer may not require an employee to work more than 5 consecutive hours without granting the employee a ½ lunch or eating period, unless it is possible for the employee to eat during the performance of their work.  An amendment proposed to HB 1574 would increase the number of consecutive hours an employee may be required to work to 6.  The full House will vote on the bill next week.

Employer Safety Programs:  The House passed HB 1587 with amendment.  As amended, the bill would increase the employee threshold from 10 employees to 15 before requiring a safety program to be in place and on file with the NH Department of Labor.  Under New Hampshire's workers' compensation law, employers with 10 or more employees must have written safety programs on file with the Department of Labor.  The bill now goes to the Senate.

Employers Verifying Citizenship:  The House voted to kill HB 1620 which would have required employers to participate in the E-verify system of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.  E-Verify is an internet-based system that allows an employer, using information reported on an employee's Form I-9, to determine the eligibility of that employee to work in the United States.  It is currently a voluntary program available to employers.  Next week, the House is scheduled to vote on a bill of the same subject matter.  The House Executive Departments & Administration Committee has voted 11-1 to recommend passage of HB 1549, which would prohibit the state from requiring the use of the E-Verify System. 

Right to Work:  The House will vote on "right to work" legislation next week.  HB 1677 would prohibit collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join the labor union.  It is similar to "right to work" legislation passed last year and vetoed by the governor.  The House failed to override the Governor's veto.