Bill Text: NH HB1538 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Creating a commission to develop and implement environmental education, outreach, and training programs and initiatives for qualified health care professionals relative to environmental toxins and health.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-08-19 - Full Committee Work Session: 09/03/2020 02:00 pm Members of the public may attend using this link: https://www.zoom.us/j/93480617681 - Executive Session to Follow [HB1538 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2020-HB1538-Introduced.html
HB 1538 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2597
08/06
HOUSE BILL 1538
SPONSORS: Rep. Murphy, Hills. 21; Rep. Petrigno, Hills. 23; Rep. Salloway, Straf. 5; Rep. Meuse, Rock. 29; Rep. Diggs, Graf. 16; Rep. Edwards, Rock. 4; Rep. Woods, Merr. 23
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This bill creates a commission to develop and implement environmental education, outreach, and training programs and initiatives for qualified health care professionals relative to environmental toxins and health.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-2597
08/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Chapter; Environmental Education, Outreach, and Training Commission. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 149-Q the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 149-R
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND TRAINING COMMISSION
149-R:1 Environmental Education, Outreach, and Training Commission.
I. There is hereby established an environmental education, outreach, and training commission to develop and establish programs for qualified health care professionals (QHP), relative to health impacts from environmental toxin exposure. In this chapter, QHP means an individual who is qualified by education, training, licensure, regulation, and facility privileging who performs a professional service within his or her scope of practice and independently reports that professional service.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, who represent one or more of the communities of Portsmouth, Merrimack, Amherst, Bedford, Hampton, Rye, North Hampton, and Litchfield, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the senate president.
(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(d) The president of the New Hampshire medical society, or designee.
(e) One physician with experience in environmental public health, appointed by the New Hampshire Medical Society.
(f) One advanced practice registered nurse with experience in environmental public health appointed by the New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association.
(g) One physician assistant with experience in environmental public health appointed by the new Hampshire Society of Physician Assistants.
(h) Nine physicians certified by the New Hampshire board of medicine, one in each of the following areas: endocrinology, nephrology, hematology/oncology, immunology, maternal-child health, hepatology, gastroenterology, general pediatrics, and developmental pediatrics, each appointed by the board of medicine.
(i) One member of the New Hampshire Arsenic Consortium, appointed by the consortium.
(j) One member of the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program, appointed by the executive director of the program.
(k) One member who is an employee of a hospital in New Hampshire, appointed by the governor.
(l) One member of the New Hampshire board of medicine, appointed by the board.
(m) One member of the commission to study environmentally-triggered chronic illness established in 2019, 229:1, appointed by the chair of that commission.
(n) One member of the commission to investigate and analyze the environmental and public health impacts relating to releases of per fluorinated chemicals in the air, soil, and groundwater in Merrimack, Bedford and Litchfield established in 2019, 335:1, appointed by the chair of that commission.
(o) One member of the commission on the Seacoast cancer cluster investigation established in 2017, 197:1, appointed by the chair of that commission.
(p) A representative from each of the effected towns of Merrimack, Bedford, Litchfield, Portsmouth, Hampton, Rye, North Hampton, and Amherst, appointed by the governing body of each town or city.
III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
IV. The commission shall:
(a) Collect information, including:
(1) Citizen confidence and satisfaction with the level of knowledge held by physicians and other QHP relative to health impacts associated with toxin exposures in New Hampshire.
(2) Determinable effects of such training programs on physician or nursing regulatory boards or licenses.
(3) Best practices for medical monitoring programs relating to environmentally triggered disease for physicians and other health care providers.
(4) Best practices from other states to develop and provide training programs to physicians and other health care providers.
(5) Any research studies regarding health effects of environmental toxin exposures including but not limited to arsenic, lead, and perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
(6) The effectiveness of training programs for physicians and health care professionals relating to environmentally triggered disease.
(b) Assess the effectiveness of communication with physicians and other QHP relating to environmentally triggered disease, policy changes, and known environmental issues in New Hampshire.
(c) Assess the effectiveness of communication with the public relating to environmentally triggered disease, policy changes, and known environmental issues in New Hampshire.
(d) Develop a program to provided training for certified medical education (CME) credits to New Hampshire physicians and advanced practice registered nurses that is based upon current science, and designed to enhance knowledge, judgment, and skills relative to environmentally triggered disease.
(e) Develop a program to provide training contact hours (CEUs) for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses that is based upon current science, and designed to enhance knowledge, judgment, and skills relative to environmentally triggered disease.
(f) Develop a program to streamline and expand outreach to provide information and educate New Hampshire physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses about research relating to environmentally triggered disease.
(g) Make recommendations to the legislature and the department for any additions or revisions to the department rules or this chapter.
V. The commission may meet as often as is necessary to effectuate its goals. The named senator shall call the first meeting of the commission within 45 days of the effective date of this chapter. At the first meeting, the members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. A majority of the appointed members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VI. On or before January 1 of each year, the commission shall provide a report of its findings and suggestions for legislation to the department of health and human services, the board of medicine, the board of nursing, and the house and senate standing committees overseeing health and environmental issues. The initial report of the commission shall be filed no later than December 1, 2020 and the final report no later than November 1, 2024.
2 Repeal. RSA 149-R, relative to the commission to develop and implement education, outreach, and training programs and initiatives for qualified health care professionals relative to environmental toxins and health, is repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2024.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
