NAMI NH Legislative Update
Week of May 3, 2021
The Senate Finance Committee’s public hearings on the state budget (HB 1 and HB 2) will be on Tuesday, May 4th (with sessions at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.). NAMI NH wants to connect with folks who are willing to testify (remotely) in support of mental health and suicide prevention. If you want to share your story, while advocating for mental health and suicide prevention, please contact advocacy@NAMINH.org.
These will be the final public hearings for the FY 2022/2023 budget. NAMI NH encourages advocates to sign in to OPPOSE the budget (HB 1 and HB 2) due to House cuts to mental health funding. NAMI NH will be calling for restoration of funding for mental health services as outlined in Governor Sununu’s budget.
NAMI NH encourages advocates to share their personal stories, and if applicable, include a call for ample funding to address:
- Emergency Department Boarding
- Children’s Mental Health
- Access to Mental Health Care for Self or Family Member
- 10-Year Mental Health Plan
- Statewide Mobile Crisis Response
-
Forensic Hospital (for people charged criminally and found not competent to stand trial/not guilty by reason of insanity or who are unable to be safely treated at New Hampshire Hospital)
- Mental Health Training for Law Enforcement and First Responders
Sign In/Request to Testify (select HB 1/plan on 2-3 minutes):
Email Written Testimony (written testimony is important and helpful, but please also sign up to speak (virtually) on May 4th if possible):
If you would like additional information, or assistance in drafting testimony, please contact advocacy@NAMINH.org.
Divisive Concepts (formerly HB 544)
NAMI NH OPPOSES the inclusion of language from this proposed bill in the HB 2 budget bill. Use the links above to testify in opposition to the divisive concepts content in HB 2.
In addition to critical concerns about funding for mental health and suicide prevention in the House version of the state budget, NAMI NH strongly opposes the incorporation of language that had been contained in HB 544 (relative to the propagation of divisive concepts) into the HB 2 budget bill against the wishes of Governor Sununu who opposed HB 544. If this language were to become law as part of the budget package, NAMI New Hampshire, as a vendor with numerous contracts with the State of NH, would be prohibited from discussing “divisive concepts” like systemic racism in the context of mental health and suicide prevention trainings. While preliminary 2020 suicide death data indicates a decrease in suicides for white individuals, there was a rise in suicide rates in the Black community, underscoring the importance of addressing the impact of systemic racism on Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC) and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) mental health, and fully recognizing systemic racism as a public health crisis.
HB 544: Relative to the propagation of divisive concepts.
(While HB 544 has been laid on the table (ostensibly killed), the language from the bill was added by the House to the budget in HB 2.)
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NAMI New Hampshire is tracking the following bills that have upcoming hearings. Members of the public can share their position and/or attend these hearings virtually using the links below. We encourage mental health and suicide prevention advocates to make your voices heard. It’s never been easier to do so, given the current flexibility of virtual participation.
It takes about one minute to sign in on a bill to show your support or opposition, or to request an opportunity to testify. You will need the date and time of hearing, bill number, and committee name. You may complete the form right now or at any time, but please sign in no later than 8:00 am on the hearing day:
For Bills with Hearings Before HOUSE Committees:
For Bills with Hearings Before SENATE Committees:
* Some bills have already crossed over, so the bill prefix (i.e. SB/HB) will not necessarily correspond to the body (Senate/House) in which the bill has a hearing.
NAMI NH will submit our official organizational position on legislation. Please be certain to make the following selections when completing the above form(s):
- I am: Member of the Public
- I’m representing: Myself
If you would like additional information, or assistance in drafting testimony, please contact advocacy@NAMINH.org.
Wednesday, May 5th, 9:30 a.m.
HB 187: Relative to the emergency powers of the commissioner of health and human services and relative to the membership of the oversight committee on health and human services.
(NAMI NH SUPPORTS AMENDMENT #2021-1242s)
NAMI NH specifically and strongly supports Amendment #2021-1242s to this bill, which would amend HB 187 to address credentialing, student loan repayment, and the mental health workforce shortage.
Committee: Senate Health and Human Services Committee
At present, the state’s digital system is not capable of differentiating between hearings on HB 187 (scheduled for May 5th, 9:15 a.m.) and the amendment (May 5th, 9:30 a.m.). It’s unclear if this will be resolved prior to May 5th. The Zoom host will work to guarantee all who wish to speak have the opportunity to do so at the appropriate time.
Sign in (anytime until May 5th at 8:00 a.m.) at:
