Legislative Alert: New Hampshire State Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services Program

Aug 16, 2018

On July 5, 2018, Governor Chris Sununu signed SB 487. Introduced last December by Dan Feltes with eight others, the bill is "Relative to requirements for certain alcohol and other drug use professionals and establishing a state substance use disorder treatment services program."

It establishes a state substance use disorder treatment services program in the Department of Health and Human Services, adds a certified recovery support worker on the board of licensing for alcohol and other drug use professionals, and modifies the requirements for licensure as a clinical social worker, clinical mental health counselor, or marriage and family therapist.

Kenneth Norton, the executive director of the New Hampshire branch of the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), testified in support of SB 487 on January 24, 2018, stating, "We all agree that we are in the midst of both an addiction and mental health crisis in our state. This makes it imperative that we look to improve the array of services available and think creatively about how to make changes which will have a direct benefit on people who need services. The changes proposed by SB 487 are positive steps in that direction."

All but Section 6-11 of the bill became effective upon signing, while Section 6-11 becomes effective on September 30, 2018.