2018 CBHC Policy Summary

The NH Children's Behavioral Health Collaborative (CBHC) envisions Granite State children and their families have appropriate, effective, diverse, and integrated behavioral health services that they can access when and where they need them. During the 2018 legislative session, the CBHC advocated for and successfully supported legislation which will help New Hampshire reach that vision.

Health Access for Transgender Youth (HB 1341, HB 1532, HB 1560, SB 331)
CBHC OPPOSED | BILLS FAILED
These bills jeopardized access to medically necessary treatment options for children & youth and took away the ability of families and medical professionals to use supportive and gender-affirming treatment.

Medicaid Expansion Reauthorization (SB 313)
CBHC SUPPORTED | BILL PASSED
This bill reauthorized NH's Medicaid Expansion program, which provides health care to over 50,000 Granite Staters and is an important program to reach eligible but uninsured children. The CBHC was part of a large coalition which worked to pass SB 313.

Minors' Placement at the Sununu Center (HB 1275)
CBHC OPPOSED | BILL FAILED
HB 1275 would have created a procedure for youth who were revived with naloxone to be referred to the Sununu Youth Services Center, which is only appropriate for a certain level of care. A young person's level of care should be assessed by appropriate providers.

Sununu Youth Services Center (HB 1743)
CBHC SUPPORTED | BILL PASSED
A provision in theis bill took away any possibility that funds from New Hampshire's Alcohol Fund be diverted to operating costs at the Sununu Youth Services Center. It is widely-recognized that community-based treatment programs are a more effective response for youth with behavioral health needs.

Preventing Transgender Discrimination (HB 1319)
CBHC SUPPORTED | BILL PASSED
This bill prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. The CBHC joined a large coalition of advocates to support and pass HB 1319

State SUD Services Program (SB 487)
CBHC SUPPORTED | BILL PASSED
This bill establishes a state substance use disorder treatment services program and modifies license requirements to help increase access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

School Nurse Certification (HB 1217)
CBHC OPPOSED | BILL FAILED
HB 1217 would have repealed the necessity that school nurses be professional nurses certified by the state board of education. School nurses provide critical behavioral health supports to children.

Limiting Educational Assessments (HB 1369)
CBHC OPPOSED | BILL FAILED
This bill would have limited educational assessments to skills and knowledge, taking away professionals' ability to properly assess children's behavioral health in schools.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (SB 480, SB 584)
CBHC OPPOSED | BILL FAILED
These bills would have removed potentially medically-necessary and life-saving treatment options for children and youth. Families and medical professionals should have the ability to use individualized treatment approaches.

Non-Academic Surveys (SB 431)
CBHC SUPPORTED | BILL FAILED
This bill would have prevented the obstruction of children's behavioral health programs in schools from gathering critical information and reporting on outcomes to comply with federal grants.

Click here to download our 2018 Policy Summary!