Senate Bill 495-FN, as amended, is a legislative proposal aimed at regulating substance use treatment facilities in New Hampshire. The bill amends the definition of "certified substance abuse treatment facility" to align with certification or licensing by the Department of Health and Human Services under rules set forth by RSA 541-A. It establishes a state substance use disorder services system, overseen by the commissioner, which may include direct operation or contracted programs and facilities. The bill introduces a certification process for these treatment programs and facilities and creates a nonlapsing substance use treatment certification fund to finance this process. It also requires that all substance use treatment programs and facilities be certified by the department and pay a certification fee. Furthermore, the bill adds a behavioral health specialist to the office of the ombudsman to address complaints about substance use and mental health treatment facilities and repeals certain definitions related to alcohol and drug abuse counselors.

Financially, the bill is projected to generate additional revenue for the state through certification fees, estimated at $342,000 in FY 2026 and $351,000 in FY 2027. However, it does not provide funding for the estimated expenditures, which include the cost of hiring four additional staff members for the certification process, starting at $333,000 in FY 2025 and increasing slightly thereafter. Initially, these positions will be funded by the general fund until the program becomes self-funded. Additionally, the bill anticipates an extra cost of $50,000 for training a behavioral health ombudsman, which is expected to be accommodated within the existing ombudsman's office. The bill also includes deletions of unspecified elements from the current law. The act will take effect upon its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 172:2-a, 172:2-c
As Amended by the Senate: 172:2-a, 172:2-c
As Amended by the Senate (2nd): 172:1, 172:2-a, 172:2-c, 126-A:4