HB 726-FN (2019): establishing a secure forensic psychiatric hospital advisory council and establishing a new forensic psychiatric hospital and making an appropriation therefor.

HB 726-FN (2019)

establishing a secure forensic psychiatric hospital advisory council and establishing a new forensic psychiatric hospital and making an appropriation therefor.

• Status: Died on the table
• Term: 2019-2020
• House committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
• Senate committee: Health and Human Services
• Subject: Public and Mental Health

The Story

It was introduced on January 3, 2019 and referred to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 12, 2019. The committee held a work session on February 20, 2019. The committee met in executive session on February 21, 2019 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted 18–1 to recommend that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2019-0633h), and the report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2019-0633h) was adopted on a voice vote on February 27, 2019, changing the text of the bill. On February 27, 2019 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. On February 27, 2019 the bill was referred to the Finance committee, whose chair waived the referral under House Rule 46(f). It crossed to the Senate on March 14, 2019 and was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 26, 2019. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2019-1344s). The committee's amendment (2019-1344s) was adopted on a voice vote on April 11, 2019, changing the text of the bill. A floor amendment (2019-1456s), offered by Sen. Bradley, was adopted on a roll call 23–0 on April 11, 2019, changing the text of the bill. On April 11, 2019 the Senate adopted the motion that it ought to pass with an amendment on a voice vote, but its third reading was left pending. On April 11, 2019 the Senate voted to lay it on the table, on a motion by Sen. Feltes. On April 11, 2019 the Senate failed “Remove From Table, RC 10Y-13N”, on a motion by Sen. Bradley. The bill died on the table under Senate Rule 3-23 at adjournment on September 25, 2019, having been set aside and never taken back up.

Sponsors

• Rep. Robert Renny Cushing (D - Rock 21) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Peter Schmidt (D - Straf 19)
• Rep. Kimberly Rice (R - Hills 37)
• Rep. Jerry Knirk (D - Carr 3)
• Rep. David Danielson (R - Hills 7)
• Rep. Linda Tanner (D - Sull 9)
• Rep. John Graham (R - Hills 7)
• Rep. Charles McMahon (R - Rock 7)
• Sen. Martha Hennessey (D - SD5)
• Sen. Tom Sherman (D - SD24)
• Sen. Melanie Levesque (D - SD12)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 12, 2019, 1:30 PM: public hearing, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
• February 20, 2019, 2:30 PM: subcommittee work session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
• February 21, 2019, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 204
• March 26, 2019, 1:45 PM: hearing, Senate Health and Human Services, LOB 101

Votes

• February 27, 2019, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-0633h (NT) — voice vote, passed
• April 11, 2019, Senate: Sen. Bradley Floor Amendment 1456s — yeas 23, nays 0, passed
• April 11, 2019, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment s 2019-1344s, and 2019-1456s — voice vote, passed
• April 11, 2019, Senate: Lay on Table — yeas 13, nays 10, passed
• April 11, 2019, Senate: Remove From Table — yeas 10, nays 13, failed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 622
• RSA 622:52-a

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 13, page 17
• SC 15
• SC 17