New Hampshire Senate Tables Bill To Limit Hospital Executive Compensation In Coos County

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH

CONCORD, NH — A bill to temporarily limit increased compensation for hospital executives after a major layoff in areas like Coos County, which is an economically distressed area, was tabled at the call of state Sen. Sue Prentiss, D-Lebanon on Thursday.

House Bill 664-FN's sponsor Sen. David Rochefort, R-Littleton, said the vote to table won't kill the bill unless no action is taken by the end of the session to take it off the table. He called it more of a "long pause" on his way home after the session Thursday.

The bill would limit hospital executives in distressed areas from getting a raise after they have undertaken a large scale layoff. He told colleagues during the session that the the Charitable Trust Unit of the Attorney General's Office is investigating the matter, so he saw the vote as a "glass half full."

During a public hearing previously, the bill was opposed by the New Hampshire Hospital Association and hospital trustees as interference but supported by a number of North Country residents and lawmakers as necessary after major layoffs were announced at North Country Healthcare and it was revealed at the same time by InDepthNH.org that its CEO made over $700,000 year.

The Attorney General's Office is continuing an investigation into executive compensation and what is going on at the non-profit that operates three hospitals in Coos County.

Last year, the legislature designated Coos County as a distressed based economy with income averages lowest in the state. The effort was to help identify it as an area that needs help when possible.

The North Country Healthcare executive who operates hospitals in Berlin, Lancaster and Colebrook is making three times the state hospital CEO average, Rochefort told fellow senators. And it is undertaking a major layoff.

"What is at stake here is public money," Rochefort said, noting federal money through Medicaid pays most of the bills at these hospitals. He noted the bill if passed would only be a temporary pause on an increase in executive pay and that it gives the facility time to recalibrate resources and there is no claw back.

TEACHING DISCRIMINATION

The Senate did pass a change in the state language related to teaching discrimination in a classroom.

The bill would include an educator's state of mind if passed by the House.

State Sen. Daryl Abbas, R-Salem, said it would actually improve the statute to add "knowingly" and "intentionally" teaching discrimination to the language.

"The only thing we are doing is adding a mental state that is clearly defined in the laws," Abbas said.
Sen. Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton, asked if it would protect from a teacher instructing that one sex is better than another. Sen. Victoria Sullivan, R-Manchester confirmed it would.

But Democrats warned Senate Bill 431 would "put our hands in the classroom" and is so vague it could steer teachers away from certain subjects for fear of losing their license and livelihood, said Sen. Prentiss.

CYANOABACTERIA DISTRICTS SENT TO INTERIM STUDY

On a voice vote, the Senate voted to send to interim study a bill that would create districts which could apply for grants and be treated as a single entity to fight blue green algae or cyanobacteria. This material is in some cases a neurotoxin in water that can kill dogs, sicken people and may have a future impact on property values.

While the state invested in helping the issue, it is out of money. Sen. Mark McConkey, R-Freedom, said it is better to treat the problem as a statewide issue and noted there is SB 598 to create a cyanobacteria task force which has already passed the Senate.

LOCKING UTILITY RATE INCREASES TO CPI REJECTED

A measure intending to help rate payers with their utility bills which would tie any increases to the consumer price index was opposed on partisan lines.

Sen. Howard Pearl, R-Loudon, said energy costs "do not work that way" and are much more complicated and based on many factors. He said it would limit the Public Utilities Commission from establishing rates.

Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, D-Portsmouth, said ratepayers need relief now, particularly since the start of the war last week with Iran, and the bill was designed to incentivize utilities to invest in the infrastructure for the future.

TABLED BILLS WHICH WOULD REQUIRE MONEY

A number of bills were laid on the table.

They included SB 404 which would add revisions to the Economic Revitalization Zone Tax Credit Program, SB 446-FN, which would require animal care centers to notify the owner when their pet would be left unattended and a requirement to report injury and inspections as a biennial license requirement; SB 517 related to school meals program by increasing the access and allowing the state to pay half of the costs; SB 566 to provide a recruitment incentive for National Guard troops and is estimated to cost $125,000 a year; SB 583 which would provide data and transparency on education funding; SB 616 relative to the Right To Try Act; HB 246-FN which would help the state's agricultural community with added conservation funds to be distributed by the 10 county conservation districts totaling $100,000; and HB 704 related to the retired senior volunteer program funding.

REPORTING DISTRIBUTION AND COLLECTION OF DRUG PARAPHENALIA

A change in HB 549-FN which eliminated an age requirement of 21 to buy Kratom which was in the original bill but would ban the synthetic product was supported by the Senate.

Sen. Keith Murphy, R-Manchester, said there is a problem with spent hypodermic needles being left on streets and in parks, especially in Manchester.

He said one organization distributes 2,700 needles a day and they collect less than half the needles.

He offered an amendment to create reporting requirements that the distributors need to quantify how many needles they get back to qualify for public funds.

Sen. James Gray, R-Rochester, said he supported and sponsored the needle exchange bill when it passed and said there are provisions in that bill that have not been met including reporting requirements. He supported the measure. Democrats opposed the elimination of language in the original bill.

DRUG AFFORDABILITY

Senate Bill 464, a measure which would ensure that consumers get the lowest prices for all drugs was tabled.

DRONES

Senate Bill 519 passed unanimously. It establishes a civil cause of action for drones that violate a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Sen. Tara Reardon, D-Concord, offered an amendment and said this would require written permission to fly over ones property. She said the bill was seen by one media outlet, WMUR as acceptable.

Birdsell asked about realtor use and Reardon said they are accommodated by ownership approval.

BAN ON SYNTHETIC KRATOM PASSES

Senate Bill 557-FN-A was amended by Senator Abbas which would prohibit synthetic Kratom is "poisoning our state" and said he did not feel it is appropriate for this state, then offered an amendment which would create a complete ban on synthetic and semi synthetic Kratom.

In its natural form there, is no meaningful way to overdose on it, he said, but the synthetic product is not well regulated and is dangerous. He said the bill would schedule it as a drug as Schedule 2.

Altschiller opposed Abbas' amendment noting while it sounds tough, but what it does is takes out age restriction, labeling mandates and other language in the bill.

She said the amendment does not address the dangerous Kratom products out there which would prohibit Kratom products to those under 21 and requires regulation of the sale. It passed and was amended to include limits on synthetically and highly altered materials in the product.

The bill protects growers, Altschiller said. They fall completely outside the reach of this floor amendment...and remain completely unregulated," she said.

She said stopping synthetic Kratom is a laudable goal but when the most dangerous products on the shelves fall outside this bill it is the wrong direction.

RISK POOL BILL KILLED WITH ANOTHER IN THE WINGS

Senate Bill 605-FN related to pooled risk groups was killed on a voice vote with Senate Bill 661 still out there and the likely vehicle for change on the parameters for how much money the groups hold on to.

Senator Cindy Rosenwald, D-Nashua asked if it was likely that SB 661 was going to move forward and Senator Gray said that it "is all in the works." He said he is working as a mediator between the Secretary of State's office, which regulate pooled risk groups and the groups themselves.

Senator Perkins Kwoka said property taxpayers are impacted when these pool groups and Gray said the bill is important when risk pools pay out more than the actuary anticipated.

HISTORIC MARKER TO YDC VICTIMS NIXED

A bill which would have created a historic marker at the site of the former Youth Development Center in Manchester to acknowledge the abuse to children was killed.

Senator Denise Ricciardi, R-Manchester said it was found this would add more pain to the victims and the future of the property is unknown.

Senator Watters opposed the motion to kill the bill. He said a state is characterized also by what it refuses to remember about itself.

The YDC property does qualify for the federal register.
He said some victims and their families might feel it is important for the state to not forget what happened there.
There are perhaps 1,700 who suffered physical and sexual abuse at the former YDC.

There have been historic markers which label horrific incidents on those grounds.

"Should we have known?" he said. "We failed...legislative supervision was insufficient"

No one has ever officially apologized, he said. He offered his own apology.

"Let's say 'never again,'" Watters said.

But the bill was killed on a voice vote.

RIGHT TO KNOW TO NH RESIDENTS ONLY TABLED

Senate Bill 626-FN which would limit those who can file a right to know request to those who are residents in-state was tabled without discussion.

SAU STRUCTURE AND EFFICIENCY

Senate Bill 574 was passed, establishing a commission within the Department of Education to identify School Administrative Unit structures and efficiencies to reduce local property taxes.

PREVENTING ELECTION OFFICIALS FROM ALLOWING VOTERS THEY KNOW WITHOUT ID

Passed was House Bill 317 which would prevent any supervisor of the checklist in allowing a person to vote without identification even, though they may know the person personally.

BLOCK CHAIN CURRENCY/DIGITAL ASSETS

House Bill 639 which creates an act to protect block chain currency and create a committee passed on a voice vote.

POSESSION OF FIREARM WITHOUT A SERIAL NUMBER TABLED

ASSAULT OF EMERGENCY ROOM PERSONNEL TO A FELONY

A bill which would create a felony level offense for knowingly assaulting emergency room staff (SB 667) passed and now goes to the House for consideration.

HONORED AND GUESTS

The State Senate began its session, Thursday by extending an official congratulations on 125 of championing conservation and forestry in the state to the Society for the Protection of NH Forests.

Senator Ruth Ward, R-Stoddard offered a formal congratulations to the organization and noted she has been a voluntary land steward for SPNHF and highly recommended the experience.

She said they have helped in the protection of 1,128 properties statewide.

Jack Savage, president thanked the Senate and noted the organization is both proud and looking forward to the future, noting it has been around 125 years, exactly half of the time of the 250 years of the United States of America.

The Senate also honored Madison K. Duffy, a Junior at Concord High School who is the recipient of a Gold Award from Girl Scouts.

Duffy, a member of Troop 10162 did her project for this award on melanoma awareness for teens and created an Instagram account which is informative said her Senator Tara Reardon and also has provided sunscreen for all sports at her school which play outside, including her field hockey team.

Duffy thanked the body, her parents, her troop and Girl Scouts and provided Girl Scout Cookies for the 24 members and staff.
She said she hopes one day to be a nurse.

The day's page was announced as Marcus Hamilton, 17, of Landaff who is the student representative to the School Board and is involved in many sports and activities at his school.

NO SENATE SESSION NEXT WEEK BUT ITS MAPLE WEEK

Next Thursday, the Senate will not meet. But Senator Pearl, who is a maple producer, noted that it is Maple Week in New Hampshire and urged residents to visit and buy local maple.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.