This bill establishes a 3-year pilot program that provides state parks passes to community mental health centers registered with the Department of Health and Human Services. The new legal language inserted into RSA 216-A:3-g creates a new paragraph (IX) that mandates the Commissioner of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to include this pilot program in its fee package. The program aims to enhance access to state parks for participating mental health centers, which will receive one or more passes. The Commissioner is required to consult with the Department of Health and Human Services to identify eligible participants and evaluate the program's usage. Each center must submit an anonymized annual report detailing usage, impact, and recommendations for improvements. Funding for the program will come from state and federal grants, as well as donations.

Additionally, the bill includes a provision for the prospective repeal of the pilot program, which is set to take effect on July 1, 2029. The remainder of the act will take effect on July 1, 2026. The fiscal impact of the legislation is estimated to be less than $10,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2029, as determined by the Legislative Budget Assistant. The Departments of Health and Human Services and Natural and Cultural Resources have been contacted regarding this bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 216-A:3-g
As Amended by the Senate: 216-A:3-g
SB450 text: 216-A:3-g