N.H. Rev. Stat. § 126-R:3 — NH Code / Title X / Chapter 126-R / Section 3
126-R:3 Membership of the Council.
Status: in_force

I. The members of the council shall be as follows: (a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate. (b) Two members of the house of representatives who shall be members of the health, human services and elderly affairs committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. (c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee, appointed by the commissioner. (d) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee. (e) The commissioner of the department of safety, or designee, appointed by the commissioner. (f) The commissioner of the department of corrections, or designee. (g) The chief medical examiner, or designee. (h) The adjutant general, or designee. (i) A representative of the Injury Prevention Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, appointed by the president of the medical center. (j) A representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, appointed by the alliance. (k) A representative of the New Hampshire Disability Rights Center, appointed by the center. (l) A member of the commission to develop a comprehensive state mental health plan, established by 2005, 175:15, appointed by the chairperson of the commission. (m) A representative of the Bi-State Primary Care Association, appointed by the association. (n) A representative of the Endowment for Health, appointed by the endowment. (o) A representative of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by the association. (p) A representative of the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association, appointed by the association. (q) A representative of New Futures, appointed by the organization. (r) A person representing families who have lost a loved one to suicide, appointed by the governor. (s) A person representing the youth community, appointed by the governor. (t) A person representing the older adult community, appointed by the governor. (u) A person representing the clergy, appointed by the governor. (v) A physician, appointed by the New Hampshire Medical Society. (w) A county corrections superintendent, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Counties. II. (a) The term of office for each member appointed under subparagraphs I(i)-(w) shall be 2 years, or until a successor is appointed and qualified in the case of a vacancy. The term of office for all other members shall be coterminous with the term of office for the position that qualifies that member to serve on the advisory council. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner, but only for the unexpired term. (b) The council shall, at its organizational meeting, elect a voting member to serve as chairperson for a 2-year term, or until a successor is elected and qualified. The council shall also elect a vice-chairperson and a clerk at the organizational meeting. (c) No member shall receive any compensation for serving on the council, provided that the legislative members shall receive legislative mileage when in performance of their duties. III. (a) To assist the council in the performance of its duties, the council chairperson shall create committees. The chairperson shall initially create committees to address the following issues: (1) Education and training. (2) Public policy. (3) Communication and media. (4) Professional practice. (5) Data committee. (6) Garrett Lee Smith advisory committee. (7) Other special projects and programs. (b) The chairperson shall appoint at least 2 council members to serve on each committee and shall designate a chairperson for each. (c) Based upon recommendations from each committee, the council chairperson may appoint as many individuals as necessary to serve as adjunct members of each for a term of one year. (d) Each committee shall: (1) Develop its goals and objectives based on the plan. (2) Identify program areas where improved coordination is needed. IV. The council shall be administratively attached to the department of health and human services. V. The first meeting of the council shall be called by the senate member. The first meeting of the council shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this chapter. Fourteen members of the council shall constitute a quorum. The council shall meet at least 4 times each year and may convene public hearings as necessary to promote the goals of the council. The council shall submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the senate by November 1 of each year regarding the activities of the council. The first annual report shall be due November 1, 2008. The annual report shall identify and prioritize unmet needs for prevention, intervention, and activities to prevent contagion and promote healing following a suicide death (postvention); indicate the progress, or lack thereof in addressing the plan; recommend initiatives to address the unmet needs in the plan; and specify the resources and any legislation necessary to support existing programs for prevention, intervention, and postvention and to develop, implement, support, and evaluate the initiatives recommended by the council.