Social & Legislative Action Committee

Have a few minutes every now and then to speak your mind!!? That's all it will take to become an active member of the New Hampshire Chapter of NASW's Social & Legislative Action Committee (SLAC).

SLAC encourages you to advocate for key issues of concern to New Hampshire social workers by lobbying state legislators. If you give us your email address, we will contact you periodically with email Alerts that include:

• information about pending legislation
• email, postal addresses, and phone numbers for relevant legislators
• sample "cut and paste" texts or statements for your convenience in lobbying.

To make your voice heard, please email naswnh@worldpath.net and type SLAC Legislative Alerts' in the subject line. Be sure to include your name, address, day phone, and the names of both your State Senator and State Representative.To find out the names and contact information of your representatives, please follow this link: www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg

The SLAC committee meets on the third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the NASW Office to prioritize legislative issues and to develop strategies. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JOIN US! The committee offers an opportunity to take social action. We always welcome new members! To find out more about the committee, please contact Cynthia Moniz, Chair at 603- 535-2538 or email: cmoniz@.plymouth.edu or Stephen Gorin, Executive Director at the office.

NH-NASW LEGISLATIVE AGENDA UPDATE July 2010
 Cynthia Moniz, Ph.D., MSW, Chair SLAC

This was a difficult legislative year given the focus on the state budget and the need to find $295 million to fill the budget gap. Working with our lobbyist Stuart Trachy, the Social & Legislative Action Committee (SLAC) identified, monitored and weighed in on several bills of concern to social work.  We also participated in and supported legislative reform efforts through coalition work with the NH Mental Health Coalition, the NH Work and Family Sustainability Coalition, NH Health Care for America Now (HCAN), NH for Health Care, NH Voices Health, and the NH Citizens Alliance.
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MLADAC Bill (HB 410)
The chapter continued to oppose the section of the MLADAC bill that expanded the scope of practice of licensed drug and alcohol counselors to co-occurring mental health disorders. We tried to make it clear to the legislature that we recognized the value of improving access to treatment, but that we opposed the regulation of mental health practice through the LADAC Board instead of the Board of Mental Health Practice. We shared our concerns about the expectations for education, practice experience, and examinations for licensing in the bill, but were unsuccessful in opposing HB 410. The bill passed. Enrolled. Pending action by the Governor.

New Hampshire Work and Family Sustainability Coalition
The chapter joined the NH Work and Family Sustainability Coalition last year in support of the following bills.  The aim of these bills is to help families balance the demands of work and family:

HB 661           Family leave insurance
This bill creates a family leave insurance program to allow parents to take time off to care for a newborn or newly placed child or to allow persons to care for a family member with a serious health condition, including a wounded service member. January 6, 2009 - House sent the bill to Interim Study.

HB 662           Paid sick days for employees
This bill requires employers to provide paid sick leave for employees.  January 13,  2010 - House sent the bill to Interim Study.

HB 663           Working families' flexibility
This bill creates a process for employees to request flexibility regarding certain conditions of employment.  January 13, 2010 - House sent the bill to Interim Study.

New Hampshire Health Care for America Now (HCAN)
New Hampshire for Health Care
New Hampshire Voices for Health
The chapter participates in several health care reform coalition efforts (listed above), including the NH chapter of HCAN (NASW belongs to HCAN nationally).

SB505          Cost Containment
This bill establishes the commission on health care cost containment and establishes a one-time assessment on hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, and health carriers to fund the operation of the commission.  Bill passed June 28, 2010. Signed by the Governor. Ch. 224.

HB 380           Long Term Care
This bill would establish guidelines and standards for long term care and create a commission to study and oversee the long-term care system in New Hampshire. The bill was retained in committee with a report due Nov. 1. A new legislative Long Term Care Caucus (which meets monthly) was formed during these deliberations. According to Rep. Kate W Miller for Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs:  While a commission to respond to the demand for long term care services in New Hampshire may ultimately be necessary, the state is currently evaluating numerous proposals and pilot projects on the subject of long term care.  Several study committees and commissions are currently looking at various components of the long term care system, including the long term care legislative caucus which was created in response to this bill.  The federal health reform package will also likely include some components regarding the delivery of long term care.  The committee believes the creation of a commission now would preempt the work that is currently underway.  Vote 14-0.

Licensing  (SB 463)
This bill amended/corrected language in RSA 330 relative to the regulation of mental health practitioners by the Board of Mental Health Practice. Passed. Effective July 1, 2010. The primary changes/corrections are as follows:
No discipline’s representative and no individual public member shall serve as chairperson for [consecutive terms] more than 2 years consecutively.

I-a. The board shall create a professional conduct investigation committee for the purpose of assisting the board in its responsibilities under RSA 330-A:28 and RSA 330-A:29. A board investigator, appointed by the chairperson of the board with the advice of the board, shall serve as the chair of the professional conduct investigation committee. The balance of the membership of the professional conduct investigation committee shall be composed of one licensed psychologist, one licensed clinical social worker, one licensed clinical mental health counselor, and additional members from the professions licensed by the board to a maximum of 12 members.

II. [Advisory] Committee members other than the chair shall be appointed by the board and shall serve at the pleasure of the board for no more than [3] 2consecutive, [2-year] 3-year terms.

Clinical Social Workers; Examinations. Amend RSA 330-A:18, IV to read as follows:                                                 

IV. Has passed a national proctored examination approved by the board.                                         
13 Clinical Social Workers; Experience. Amend RSA 330-A:18, III to read as follows:                     

III. Has [had 2 years or] completed a minimum of 2 years of post-masters experience including completion of a minimum of 3,000 hours of [paid,] post-masters, supervised clinical experience.

Expirations [and], Renewals, Reinstatements, and Inactive Status.                                                                    

II. If a license is not renewed it may be reinstated not later than 6 months after the date of license expiration upon payment of the fee and compliance with rules adopted by the board. A license may be placed on inactive status pursuant to rules adopted by the board.

III. Upon the request of a person licensed by the board who is a member of any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the national guard and is called to active duty, the board shall place such person’s license on inactive status. The license may be reactivated, after notification to the board, within one year of the person’s release from active status by payment of the renewal fee and with proof of completion of the most current continuing education requirement unless still within the renewal period.
State Budget

The bill includes $50 million in reductions from state agencies, primarily impacting the Dept. of Health & Human Services. The Sununu Youth Services Center will lose 30 employees at the juvenile detention center.  Reimbursement rates for nursing homes will be reduced.  Hospitals will lose $3.4 million in catastrophic aid which mostly covers the neediest Medicaid patients. 

The already taxed community mental health system will receive an additional $1.1 million budget cut next year.  The system provides counseling, family visits, case management, and other services for about 19,000 low income children and adults.  The chapter co-sponsored a rally held at the State House that was organized by Riverbend in Concord to oppose these cuts.