Section 171-A:1-d Improvements in Capacity of Service Delivery System. - New Hampshire Statutes

   I. To ensure that the service delivery system has the capability of recruiting and retaining a sufficient number of qualified personnel at all levels and to address related issues, the following shall occur:
      (a) The average salary of direct support staff employed by area agencies or providers with which area agencies contract shall increase by at least 2 percent beginning on July 1, 2007 and at least 2 percent on January 1, 2009.
      (b) The reimbursement rate for enhanced family care providers shall increase by at least 2 percent beginning on July 1, 2008.
   II. (a) Within 30 days of the effective date of this section, the department shall convene a committee which shall develop a plan to address long-term workforce and related human resources issues. The members of the committee shall be:
         (1) Two representatives from the department, appointed by the commissioner.
         (2) A representative of the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council, appointed by the council.
         (3) A representative of the Institute on Disability, university of New Hampshire, appointed by the institute.
         (4) A representative of the Disabilities Rights Center, appointed by the center.
         (5) A representative of the Community Support Network, appointed by the network.
         (6) A representative of the New Hampshire Brain Injury Association, appointed by the association.
         (7) A representative of a private provider network, appointed by the commissioner.
         (8) A representative of People First of New Hampshire, appointed by such organization.
         (9) Three representatives of local family support councils, appointed by the state Family Support Council.
         (10) Three representatives of area agency boards of directors, appointed by the Community Support Network.
      (b) The plan shall at a minimum:
         (1) Provide for annual or periodic salary increases and recommendations for salary differentials or increments based on amount of experience or other factors for all staff positions at the area agency and provider level, in addition to the salary increases for direct support staff positions required by subparagraph I(a). With respect to direct support staff, the plan shall provide for a method to increase their salaries so that they are at least at parity with the mental health worker I position at New Hampshire hospital by July 1, 2011, and remain so thereafter.
         (2) Provide for increased enhanced family care rates and rate structure, in addition to the rate increase specified in subparagraph I(b).
         (3) Address whether and how free college tuition programs should be made available or increased to help attract and retain a qualified workforce.
         (4) Address whether and how affordable health insurance should be made available to workers employed at the area agency or provider level as well as to enhanced family care providers.
      (c) The department shall submit the plan to the oversight committee established in RSA 171-A:1-c, by December 1, 2007. Any members of the committee may submit additional or dissenting comments and recommendations to the committee by December 15, 2007.
   III. (a) By November 1, 2008, the committee appointed in paragraph II shall develop a quality assurance and enhancement plan by building on, modifying, and improving upon the New Hampshire quality outcomes partnership process providing for:
         (1) Rigorous, and where possible, measurable standards of performance expected of area agencies and providers in accordance with the purposes and requirements of RSA 171-A.
         (2) Multiple procedures and processes in accordance with professionally recognized program evaluation and quality assurance standards to render determinations as to whether such standards of performance are being met.
         (3) Examination of the effects of an area agency as sole provider on service delivery.
         (4) Identification of the type and number of employed or contracted staff at the department and area agency level necessary to initiate and then carry out activities in subparagraph II(b), and if new staff are needed, whether they can be added through redeployment, reorganization, use of federal funding, information technology enhancements, or other initiatives without impairing other department responsibilities, and if not, the amount of new funding that will be needed.
         (5) Where such quality assurance and enhancement system capacity shall be located and report to in order to ensure maximum independence and effectiveness.
      (b) The department shall submit the plan to the oversight committee, established in RSA 171-A:1-c, by November 1, 2008. Any members of the committee may submit additional or dissenting comments and recommendations to the committee by November 15, 2008. The committee may choose to consult with an independent, nationally recognized organization in program evaluation and quality assurance to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the quality assurance and enhancement system.
   IV. The plans required by paragraphs II and III shall include a breakdown of all costs of implementation of and operation for each component and any recommendations for legislation or rules changes. The oversight committee established in RSA 171-A:1-c, shall review the plans, provide feedback to the department, and submit any proposals for legislation it deems necessary. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude the department from engaging in rulemaking or taking other initiatives within its authority to implement the components of the plan.

Source. 2007, 363:3, eff. July 1, 2007.