a. HB 1, Particularly the Alcohol Fund.

Given the ongoing economic challenges everyone acknowledges that the House budget, because of time pressures and the difficulty of obtaining current revenue and federal stimulus numbers, will require significant additional work in the Senate. We expect to have to work very hard in the Senate to protect the level funding that the house included for the Alcohol Fund. Our advocacy got off to good start with spectacular testimony by a number of our partners at the Senate Finance Public hearings on April 14 - 16.

b. HB 2, Particularly Liquor Commission Operations

HB 2 contains a number of provisions that the Commission has indicated will improve both the efficiency of its operations and its profitability. We are paying close attention to these provisions and have publically stated our strong opposition to any efforts to expand access to distilled spirits (the NH Grocers Association has proposed that spirits should be sold by any grocery or convenience store that chooses to do so). We have also strongly publically opposed efforts to transfer the Commission's Bureau of Enforcement and Licensing to the Department of Safety because we (along with the NH Police Chiefs' Association, the Lodging and Restaurant Association, and numerous community groups) believe that to do so would significantly weaken the enforcement of the liquor laws.

c. HB 410 (relative to the licensure of licensed alcohol and drug counselors).

HB 410 would authorize appropriately qualified Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (MLADCs) to provide integrated treatment for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. This bill was retained for further work. New Futures supports this bill and will continue working with the committee to prepare for the 2010 session.

d. SB 146 (relative to liquor profits deposited into the alcohol abuse prevention and treatment fund).

SB 146 revises the formula for the Alcohol Fund, reducing the percentage of profits from the sale of liquor to be deposited into the Alcohol Fund from 5% to 3.5%. New Futures supported this bill as a strategy to reduce the likelihood that the Alcohol Fund provisions would be suspended as part of the budget process. After working its way through two committees, SB 146 was Tabled in the Senate. It is possible that as the budget process grinds on, there may be an opportunity to utilize SB 146 to help protect the Alcohol Fund.

e. SB 181 (the Liquor Commission Modernization Act).