In rejecting bill, lawmakers cite significant progress on secure psychiatric hospital

A House committee feels the state’s progress on a long-stalled effort to transfer mental health patients from the state prison to a hospital is moving along so well, it killed a bill this week giving lawmakers a greater role in the project.

Prior to the 20-0 vote finding House Bill 1391 inexpedient to legislate, Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Pearson acknowledged the persistent advocacy of the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Renny Cushing, a Hampton Democrat.

“This will not be so much ‘the bill has failed’ as it will be ‘your hopes have triumphed,’” Pearson, a Hampstead Republican, said.

There is a second bill that would require the Department of Health and Human Services to operate and manage the hospital as opposed to a private contractor. However, Senate Bill 391 would allow the department to contract with a private medical provider for clinical services. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will take testimony on that bill Tuesday.

Read more: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/briefs/in-rejecting-bill-lawmakers-cite-significant-progress-on-secure-psychiatric-hospital/