Overview
By Jeanie Holt - Policy Committee Co-Chair

If you are like I am, it is hard to think about much besides the disastrous House budget. And, if you are like I am, you feel frustrated, worried and discouraged. Last week while caring for my 3-year-old granddaughter I said I felt frustrated about something. She began to sing a little ditty from (I think) Daniel Tiger..."When you feel frustrated, take a deep breath. Count 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. Blow it away." So there you have it!

 

The budget is now in the Senate and they are in the process of educating themselves on the issues. This week various departments will present to the Finance Committee but the Senate's proposed budget will not come out for another week or so and the public hearings will not take place until May. We have time to take deep breaths, count to four and blow it away.

 

In the meantime, with superb help from Marie Mulroy, I have been reviewing our progress thus far. We have had some good public health wins.  HB 200 originally defined "farm stand" in such a way that made health officers overseeing farm markets and food safety experts cringe. The House amended the bill in ways that public health could support it. The amended version passed the House. The Senate committee gave it an "ought to pass" and the vote will be taken this week. Another victory is HB 411, which prohibits paying subminimum wages to people with disabilities which passed both chambers. A foot in the door on raising the minimum wage to a living wage for all? A bill we haven't been following but that looks like a public health win is SB 80, which establishes a committee to study and make recommendations for legislation regarding rail trails. Among other things, the committee will examine the department of transportation's policies that facilitate the process of converting rails to trails with the goal of making the process easier and less expensive for volunteer groups who engage in this process. Other bills have been wins or public health in one chamber but have not yet reached a vote in the other. Stay tuned.

 

One idea that has interested me is the important public health legislation that did not cross over. I hope we will have the capacity to review these bills over the summer and to consider if we want to put significant energy into resurrecting and pushing one of them in 2016. Join the Public Policy Committee to help with this on-going work.

Personal Choice versus Public Protection
By Jay Smith, MD, MPH - Policy Committee Co-Chair

Many people feel that the government has no business regulating their risk taking.  And many of our legislators feel that is the overwhelming desire of New Hampshire voters.  They can often be persuaded that children need special protection, but even that can be a tough sell when it is perceived that proposed laws might infringe on parental rights to make decisions for their children. . .
 
 

Read the full article on the NHPHA Blog

House Activities

Bill
Title/Synopsis
Status
NHPHA Position
Permitting New Hampshire Farmers to Sell Certain Farm Raised Animals Directly to The Public.

This bill defines "amenable species" for purposes of sale of meat and meat food products and exempts "amenable species" from certain licensing and inspection requirements.


House:
Retained Bill - 
Sub-Committee Work Session
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
10:00 AM LOB 303

Monitor and learn more.

Relative to Speed Limits On State Roads That Are Seasonally Congested By Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic.

This bill permits the department of transportation to establish seasonal speed limits on state roads under certain conditions

 

House:
Executive Session
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
1:00 PM LOB 203
Support 
Upcoming Senate Hearings

Bill
Title/Synopsis
Status
NHPHA Position
Relative to Possession and Administration Of An Opioid Antagonist For Opioid-related Overdoses.

This bill exempts from the provisions of the controlled drug act a health care professional or other person who prescribes, dispenses, distributes, or stores an opioid antagonist, or who administers it to an individual suffering from an apparent opioid-related overdose.
Senate Hearing:
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
1:00 PM, Room 101 LOB

Support

 

Relative to The Immunization/vaccination Registry.

This bill clarifies certain options relating to the immunization/vaccination registry and exempts the registry from the right-to-know law.
Senate Hearing:
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
2:00 PM, Room 101 LOB

Support As Ammended
Upcoming Senate Votes

Bill
Title/Synopsis
Senate Committee Report
NHPHA Position
Prohibiting Tanning Facilities From Tanning Persons Under 18 Years Of Age.

This bill makes it unlawful for a person under the age of 18 to use a tanning device at a registered tanning facility in this state.

Inexpedient to Legislate

Support

NOTE: unlikely to pass but you can call your Senator if you feel strongly about it.
(new Title) Allowing Homestead Food Operations Exempt From Licensure to Sell Homestead Food Products At Retail Food Stores.

 

Allows homestead food operations selling less than a maximum annual gross sales of $20,000 of food to sell from the homestead residence, at the owner's own farm stand, [or] at farmers' markets, or at retail food stores to be exempt from licensure and requires certain labeling of such products.

 

Ought to Pass
Support As Ammended