New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

New Hampshire Senate Bill SB185 Compare Versions

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Old	New	Differences
1	1	SB 185-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
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5	5	03/06/2025 0512s
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7	7	2025 SESSION
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9	9	25-0964
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11	11	09/05
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15	15	SENATE BILL185-FN
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19	19	AN ACTrelative to office of professional licensure and certification investigations.
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23	23	SPONSORS:Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Reardon, Dist 15; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Rep. C. McGuire, Merr. 27; Rep. Grote, Rock. 24; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. See, Merr. 26; Rep. Cambrils, Merr. 4
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27	27	COMMITTEE:Executive Departments and Administration
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35	35	ANALYSIS
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39	39	This bill puts time limitations on investigations conducted by the office of professional licensure and certification in response to allegations of professional misconduct.
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47	47	Explanation:Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
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49	49	Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
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51	51	Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
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53	53	03/06/2025 0512s25-0964
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55	55	09/05
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59	59	STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
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63	63	In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
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67	67	AN ACTrelative to office of professional licensure and certification investigations.
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71	71	Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
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75	75	1 Office of Professional Licensure and Certification; Complaints and Investigations. Amend RSA 310:9, II through III to read as follows:
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77	77	II. Upon receipt of an allegation of professional misconduct, within 30 days, the office shall determine whether the allegation states a claim of professional misconduct on its face.
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79	79	(a) If the office determines that the allegation does not state a claim, it shall make a recommendation to the board at its next regularly scheduled meeting for dismissal. The board shall review the office's recommendation and dismiss the allegation if it agrees with the office's recommendation. Each board shall dismiss a complaint if the board concludes that the allegations do not state a claim of professional misconduct.
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81	81	(b) If the office determines that the allegation does state a claim on its face, the office shall proceed under paragraph III.
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83	83	III. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the office shall investigate allegations of misconduct by licensees (a) upon its own initiative or (b) upon confirmation that a written complaint alleging misconduct of a licensed or unlicensed individual or entity of a profession regulated under the office should be investigated. The office shall have 90 days to complete the investigation and report to the board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. If the investigation is incomplete, the board at its own discretion may either instruct the office to continue with its investigation or make a final determination on the claim within 60 days of receipt.
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85	85	2 Effective Date.
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87	87	I. RSA 310:9, III as inserted by section 1 of this act shall take effect March 1, 2026.
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89	89	II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
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93	93	LBA
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95	95	25-0964
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97	97	12/19/24
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101	101	SB 185-FN- FISCAL NOTE
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103	103	AS INTRODUCED
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107	107	AN ACTrelative to office of professional licensure and certification investigations.
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111	111	FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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114	114	Estimated State Impact
115	115	FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
116	116	Revenue $0 Indeterminable Increase in excess of $1,000,000 Indeterminable Increase in excess of $1,000,000 Indeterminable Increase in excess of $1,000,000
117	117	Revenue Fund(s) Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Fund
118	118	Expenditures* $0 Indeterminable Increase in excess of $1,000,000 Indeterminable Increase in excess of $1,000,000 Indeterminable Increase in excess of$1,000,000
119	119	Funding Source(s) Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Fund
120	120	Appropriations* $0 $0 $0 $0
121	121	Funding Source(s) None
122	122	Expenditure = Cost of bill Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
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128	128	Estimated State Impact
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132	132	FY 2025
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134	134	FY 2026
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136	136	FY 2027
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138	138	FY 2028
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140	140	Revenue
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142	142	$0
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144	144	Indeterminable Increase in excess of $1,000,000
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146	146	Indeterminable Increase in excess of $1,000,000
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148	148	Indeterminable Increase in excess of $1,000,000
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150	150	Revenue Fund(s)
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152	152	Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Fund
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154	154	Expenditures*
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156	156	$0
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158	158	Indeterminable Increase in excess of $1,000,000
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160	160	Indeterminable Increase in excess of $1,000,000
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162	162	Indeterminable Increase in excess of
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164	164	$1,000,000
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166	166	Funding Source(s)
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168	168	Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Fund
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170	170	Appropriations*
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172	172	$0
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174	174	$0
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176	176	$0
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178	178	$0
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180	180	Funding Source(s)
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182	182	None
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184	184	Expenditure = Cost of bill Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
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188	188	METHODOLOGY:
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190	190	This bill puts time limitations on investigations conducted by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) in response to allegations of professional misconduct. Within 30 days of receiving an allegation of professional misconduct, the OPLC shall determine whether the allegation constitutes a claim of professional misconduct. If the Board agrees it does constitute a claim, the OPLC has 60 days to complete an investigation and report to the Board it's findings by the Board's next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board has the ability to make a final determination or extend the investigation if the investigation is incomplete after the 60 days.
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194	194	The OPLC indicates that in order to comply with the statutory time limits in this legislation they would need to add five new investigative paralegals, two compliance officers, one paralegal, and an off-schedule physician investigator for the Board of Medicine. The position salaries are estimated as follows with the additional cost of $50,000 total for equipment and other office supplies.
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198	198	ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT (ROUNDED)
199	199	FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
200	200	Investigative Paralegals Salary and Benefits (5 positions) $585,000 $590,000 $615,000
201	201	Compliance Officer I Salary and Benefits (1 position) $106,000 $107,000 $111,000
202	202	Compliance Officer II Salary and Benefits (1 position) $117,000 $118,000 $123,000
203	203	Paralegal II Salary and Benefits (1 position) $96,000 $98,000 $101,000
204	204	Off Schedule Physician Investigator Salary and Benefits (1 position) $140,000 $147,000 $154,000
205	205	Computers, office equipment and other supplies $50,000 $0 $0
206	206	Total Estimated Cost $1,094,000 $1,060,000 $1,104,000
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208	208	ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT (ROUNDED)
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212	212	FY 2026
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214	214	FY 2027
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216	216	FY 2028
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218	218	Investigative Paralegals Salary and Benefits (5 positions)
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220	220	$585,000
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222	222	$590,000
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224	224	$615,000
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226	226	Compliance Officer I Salary and Benefits (1 position)
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228	228	$106,000
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230	230	$107,000
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232	232	$111,000
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234	234	Compliance Officer II Salary and Benefits (1 position)
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236	236	$117,000
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238	238	$118,000
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240	240	$123,000
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242	242	Paralegal II Salary and Benefits (1 position)
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244	244	$96,000
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246	246	$98,000
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248	248	$101,000
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250	250	Off Schedule Physician Investigator Salary and Benefits (1 position)
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252	252	$140,000
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254	254	$147,000
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256	256	$154,000
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258	258	Computers, office equipment and other supplies
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260	260	$50,000
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262	262	$0
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264	264	$0
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266	266	Total Estimated Cost
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268	268	$1,094,000
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270	270	$1,060,000
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272	272	$1,104,000
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276	276	Additionally, the OPLC anticipates having to raise fees for all boards by an indeterminable increase to offset the costs of the new positions.
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280	280	However, this bill does not provide funding nor does it authorize new positions.
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284	284	It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2025.
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290	290	AGENCIES CONTACTED:
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292	292	Office of Professional Licensure and Certification