The 2010 Legislative Session officially began on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. Approximately 1000 bills have been introduced for the 2010 session. Although text for all House bills is now available, we are still waiting to read a number of Senate bills. Committees began public hearings on January 7th and the House Calendar is very busy. The following represents a preliminary and partial list of bills that New Futures is following this session. 

HB 410 (relative to the licensing of alcohol and drug counselors). HB 410 was introduced in 2009 and retained for significant work over the summer. The committee unanimously recommended the bill Ought to Pass with Amendment. The bill will be on the House floor for a vote on 1/13/10. If it passes, it will move over to the Senate. New Futures supports this bill. 

HB 1664 makes a number of appropriation reductions for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2011 (which begins July 1, 2010), including reducing funding for the Alcohol Fund by $1 million, from $3.8 M to $2.8 M. HB 1664 is scheduled to have its initial public hearing on 1/19/10. New Futures will oppose this bill.

SB 331 directs the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment to establish a task force to research and make recommendations on how to use state funds to improve access to substance use disorder treatment for Medicaid eligible individuals. SB 331 was introduced at New Futures’ request and we will support it.

 LSR 2010 – S – 2921 repeals the transfer of the Bureau of Enforcement and Licensing from the Liquor Commission to the Department of Safety and creates a committee to study the administrative structure and adjudicative process at the Liquor Commission. New Futures supports this bill.

 SB 398 would revise the penalty structure for Liquor Commission licensees who sell alcohol to minors in the course of a compliance check. New Futures is waiting to see revised language for this bill before deciding whether to take a position on the bill.

LSR 2010 – S – 2903 would eliminate many restrictions on alcohol advertising. Because of the negative impact of increased exposure to alcohol advertising on underage youth, we are likely to strongly oppose this bill.

LSR 2010 - S - 2938 and LSR 2010 – S - 2939 are tandem bills related to the possible abolition of various statutorily created committees, commissions, and task forces. We are paying attention to this bill to ensure the continued existence of the Governor’s Commission. 

HB 1636 establishes the real time electronic controlled drug prescription monitoring program. HB 1636 is a complex, comprehensive and expensive bill and will continue the past legislative and policy discussions on the costs/benefits/impact on privacy rights of prescription monitoring programs. New Futures is studying this bill.

As Senate bills become available, you will see the LSR numbers replaced with bill numbers in future e-updates. We continue to follow other budget-related bills to protect against reductions to the Alcohol Fund and insurance-related bills as we work to stay abreast of developments in state and federal health reform discussions that may have an impact on access to treatment for substance use disorders.