New Futures' Legislative Priorities for 2012

The 2012 Legislative Session officially began on Wednesday, January 4^th when the House and Senate convened to finish the 2011 session with action on more than 100 retained bills and to the begin their work on the more than 800 bills introduced in 2012. 

To get a jump start on the session, the following is a list of bills of interest to New Futures - and you.  We will update this list as the session moves forward. To review the bills, use the links to access current information on hearings and other matters. Check back here regularly for updates and additional information.  Please do not hesitate to contact New Futures Advocacy Director Tricia Lucas (tlucas@new-futures.org; 225-9540, ext. 110) if you have questions. 

New Futures Legislative Priorities for 2012

Defeat Legislation to Expand the Distribution of Spirits (Liquor) to Grocery and Convenience Stores

• New Futures Opposes HB 1251 (permitting off premises licensees to sell liquor)
• HB 1251 would expand the sale of liquor from the 78 state stores operated by the Liquor Commission to more than 1400 grocery and convenience stores and dramatically increase access to this high risk product.
• HB 1251 will reduce state revenues from the sale of liquor, putting unnecessary additional pressure on the state budget.

Defeat Legislation to Lower the Drinking Age to 19 for Member of the Military

• New Futures Opposes HB 1610 (relative to lowering the legal drinking age for active members of the armed forces). Testimony

Defeat Legislation to Decriminalize Possession and Use of Marijuana

• New Futures Opposes All Legislation to Decriminalize Possession and Use of Marijuana.  Three bills related to decriminalization have been introduced:
  • New Futures Opposes HB 1526 (decriminalizing  possession of less than one ounce of marijuana)
  • New Futures Opposes HB 1527 (exempting cultivation of marijuana from manufacturing under the controlled drug act)
  • New Futures Opposes HB 1705 (allowing the purchase and use of marijuana by adults; regulating the purchase and use of marijuana; and imposing taxes on the wholesale and retail sales of marijuana)

Pass Legislation to Create a Controlled Drug Prescription Monitoring Program 

• New Futures Supports SB 286 (relative to a controlled drug prescription health and safety program).
• SB 286 would enable the establishment of a secure program to electronically collect controlled drug dispensing data from pharmacies and permit prescribers and dispensers to access information before writing or dispensing a prescription for controlled drugs.  New Hampshire is one of only two states that have not authorized the creation of such a program, which has been shown to be an effective tool in both improving patient care and reducing diversion of controlled substances. 

Support Efforts to Implement Healthcare Reform and to Improve Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Services.

•  New Futures Supports the Inclusion of a Comprehensive Substance Use Disorder Benefit in the State Medicaid Manage Care System to be Implemented July 1, 2012

In addition to the priorities identified above, we note the following additional bills of interest:

• Bills Related to Impaired Drivers.
  • HB 283 (relative to impaired drivers) makes changes to the penalty provisions of the DUI statutes to incentivize assessment, referral to, and the completion of treatment for individuals with an identified substance use disorder)
  • There are two House bills (HB 1694 and HB 1699) that are "relative to driving under the influence of drugs" and would change the prohibition on driving under the influence of a controlled drug to driving under the influence of a drug.

• Medical Marijuana.  LSR 2012 - S - 2994 (relative to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes). Text not yet available.
• HB 1665 (adopting the model drug offender accountability and treatment act) in support of the expansion of drug court programs.
• SB 251(prohibiting certain games and contests in premises licensed by the liquor commission). Testimony