HB634

Absolute waste of taxpayer funds. Totally illegal to count remote disabled people as in person. More rule breaking. Not ok,

Good Morning Committee for Health and Human Services, My name is Moira Ryan and I am writing to the committee to oppose HB634. I further suggest that HB634 be amended to disband the Autism Committee. I am a parent of an autistic person and have seen the autism committee as a dysfunctional body. They fail to follow 91-a regulations, they hold illegal meetings because they don't comply with the guidelines for remote meetings. In addition, while I believe this committee had a positive purpose initially, it has been completely wayward and failed in its stated goals. Not only has the committee failed to file a report since 2019, The majority of the committee are state employees and not autistic people or their parents who either get paid or receive comp time to attend meetings which really is waste. In addition, I have received complaints from parents who have pushed accountability for this committee and have been denied information to attend meetings and denied access to communications. This is not appropriate of a government committee which should listen to constituents and not try to bar them from public meetings. There are other departments which are more critical and I don't feel that this committee should exist since it can't seem to follow the rules and is not welcoming to constituents. I regret that I am unable to testify in person but we've had some bad weather. Thank you.

Really I began attending the meetings myself since they came back after a hiatus over issues or a maternity leave from member of the council. Once the council resumed by Zoom starting in June. remotely. They’ve held meetings and with agendas that were voted on yet nothing has been happening to make any difference. Appears they attend once are discouraged with the way it appears to be not figured out. Every month council voting members are dwindling. it is said that the NHCASD is just starting. It has been holding monthly meetings for close to eight months. I observed a lot of public interest attendance yet every month it’s as if it’s just new community members attend yet they act as if it’s brand new. Every month it’s just word salad meetings that are doing nothing. They have only six out of twenty plus attendees as being able to vote. I can’t understand that there hasn’t been a way to fill even one board position. The quality council is covering the same objectives as the NHCASD does and commitment to fulfilling its obligations. It is also important to note that the NH Autism Spectrum Disorder Council is an agency-led body, distinct from the NH Quality Council, though many of the same individuals serve on both councils. This overlap further complicates the council's ability to function independently and fulfill its intended purpose. This has been almost eight months of meetings with same outcome none! Given all these reasons I cannot support and strongly oppose the bill. We can use this opportunity to Repeal the NHCASD and strengthen the quality council. Many of the same individuals serve on both councils. This overlap further complicates the council's ability to function independently and fulfill its intended purpose. Thank you for considering. commitment to fulfilling its obligations. Sincerely, Shannon Bouchard Sandown NH 03873

I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB634, which revises the membership and duties of the New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NHCASD). While the bill intends to provide more structure to the council, I believe that these changes will not address the critical issues surrounding its lack of action and the unnecessary duplication of efforts already being provided by other state entities. The NHCASD has consistently failed to meet its statutory obligations. The council has not provided an annual report since 2017, and there has been little to no public involvement or accountability in the years that followed. The inability of the council to provide even basic resources, such as an online listing of services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is particularly troubling, as families rely on these resources to navigate services and supports. Moreover, the council has not met since 2019, and there has been no substantive work on the 2014 NH Statewide Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Needs Assessment or the critical issues facing individuals with autism and their families. [https://nhfv.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Needs-Assessment-2014-Final-Draft.pdf] These ongoing gaps, particularly during the pandemic, highlight the council's failure to take meaningful action. The council has attempted to restart meetings since June 2024, but none of these meetings have met the NH RSA 91-A meeting requirements. The revised membership and expanded duties proposed in HB634 duplicate the efforts already being addressed by other established bodies. Specifically, the New Hampshire Developmental Services Quality Council, created in 2007, already oversees the quality assurance and improvement of services for individuals with disabilities, including those with ASD. This council ensures that at least 51% of its members are individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals served by the system, providing essential oversight with direct input from those most affected. It is concerning that, despite the existing work of the Developmental Services Quality Council, HB634 proposes to revise the membership and duties of the NHCASD with overlapping responsibilities. This creates another layer of bureaucracy and duplication without addressing the real, ongoing challenges that families face in accessing timely and effective support. As a parent of a loved one with autism, I respectfully urge you to reconsider the changes proposed in HB634. Rather than revising the makeup of a council that has already proven ineffective, I strongly advocate for a more focused approach. Strengthening the Developmental Services Quality Council would allow the state to continue addressing many of the concerns outlined in HB634, while ensuring that resources are concentrated on improving services for individuals with ASD, with direct input from those most impacted. We cannot afford to waste more time and resources on a council that has repeatedly failed to meet its responsibilities. Repealing the NHCASD and strengthening the Developmental Services Quality Council will ensure that efforts and resources are directed toward providing meaningful support to families and individuals living with autism. Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, Tracy Walbridge Rochester, NH

Position recorded without written comment.

Position recorded without written comment.

Position recorded without written comment.

Position recorded without written comment.