Sen. Rosenwald introduces SB 140 to Senate HHS: State Sen. Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) introduced SB 140 to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. SB 140 makes two appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services – the first to increase homeless shelter case management services and the second for primary prevention services for families.

After the hearing, Rosenwald issued the following statement:

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, New Hampshire saw a 21% increase in people experiencing homelessness, including over 300 school aged children in Nashua. More than ever, we must make significant investments in our homeless shelter system by enhancing case management. SB 140 also appropriates funds to our family resource centers so that they can continue delivering essential primary prevention services and in turn, decrease the need for DCYF involvement. While SB 140 was originally intended to expand services, it is now a crucial funding measure as the Governor has zeroed out funding for our family resource centers in his budget proposal, gutting the facilitation and promotion of primary prevention and early intervention efforts.”

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Sen. Whitley introduces SB 161 to Senate ED&A

State Sen. Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) introduced SB 161 to the Senate Executive Departments & Administration Committee. SB 161 responds to the most pressing needs of Granite Staters by prohibiting the state from charging interest in the settlement of overpaid unemployment compensation where fraud is not an issue, collecting overpayments of unemployment compensation until a debtor has exhausted all administrative remedies, and collecting overpayments during the state of emergency due to COVID-19, including overpayments that occurred prior to the Governor’s emergency order.

After the hearing, Whitley issued the following statement:

“Too many Granite Staters are struggling right now and have been struggling for close to a year as the pandemic drags on. Notably, in the past year, New Hampshire women have lost more jobs than men, taken on more caregiving responsibilities, and served as the majority of essential workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. We should be supporting all Granite State workers right now – including those disproportionately feeling the impacts of the pandemic – to allow them to get back on their feet while also providing for their families. Right now, New Hampshire is one of only 15 states that applies interest on overpayments, placing an unnecessary and overly punitive burden on families during an ongoing pandemic and economic crisis. We owe it to our fellow Granite Staters to ensure they aren’t punished when trying to access benefits they need now more than ever.”

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Whitley introduces SB 157, advocates for children’s mental health services

State Sen. Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) introduced SB 157 to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. SB 157 extends a prior appropriation to DHHS for child welfare behavioral health services, requires that the New Hampshire 10-year mental health plan include a report on implementation of 2019, 44 (SB 14), relative to child welfare, and establishes funded positions in the DHHS contracts and procurement unit.

After the hearing, Whitley issued the following statement:

“Over the weekend, 51 children in mental health crisis were waiting in emergency rooms for care across the state. This crisis has been building for years and has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. Even one child waiting in an emergency room for care shows a failure of our system. In 2019, the legislature passed Senate Bill 14 which brought close to $20 million to the children’s system and much needed reforms. SB 157 is necessary to protect these reforms and further support children and families desperate to receive the right care at the right time and the right place.”

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