The bill amends RSA 186-C:19-b, I to redefine the scope of financial responsibility of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for children receiving special education or related services. The amendment includes children whose placements were made pursuant to RSA 169-B, 169-C, 169-D, or 193:27, VII, with the exception of children at the youth development center and those at the youth services center maintained by DHHS while awaiting court disposition following arraignment pursuant to RSA 169-B:13. The bill specifies that in the case of an out-of-district placement or an episode of treatment, the appropriate court or the DHHS's Bureau for Children's Behavioral Health must notify the Department of Education when the court order is signed or the need for treatment is determined, including the initial length of time for the placement and any subsequent modifications.

The bill also includes a deletion and insertions in the legal language. The word "or" is deleted before the reference to RSA 193:27, and the phrase "or 193:27, VII," is inserted, expanding the range of court-ordered placements for which DHHS is financially responsible. Additionally, the phrase "or the department of health and human services, bureau for children's behavioral health," is inserted to clarify who is responsible for notifying the Department of Education about the placement or treatment. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2024, as stated in the effective date section of the bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 186-C:19-b
Version adopted by both bodies: 186-C:19-b