By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – Despite pleas from Democrats that the poor who qualify for therapeutic cannabis should be able to grow up to eight ounces at home, Senate Republicans voted to table House Bill 53 on Thursday.
The 24-member body also voted to table adult recreational legalization of cannabis in HB 75. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte said she would not support it.
The Senate took other action and voted on a bipartisan basis to pass HB 231 which prevents school districts from transporting students to medical appointments, visits, or procedures without a parent’s knowledge or consent.
The vote was 21-3.
It also voted to significantly increase fines for those who have been found to be poaching game with the fine for illegally taking a deer going from $250 to $1,000 per animal.
CANNABIS
The House sent over to the Senate, HB 53 on a vote of 328-42 which would allow chronically ill patients to cultivate cannabis up to 8 ounces.
Sen. Daryl Abbas, R-Salem, opposed the bill and said there would be no way for law enforcement to enforce it. He said it would be impossible to know if the cannabis a person had was their product, and it would “open the flood gates” to something that would be unenforceable.
Sen. Debra Altschiller, D-Stratham, said all potential growing locations would have to be registered with the state allowing for proper oversight.
She said cannabis at dispensaries remains cost prohibitive for many and access is limited to a few therapeutic cannabis centers in the state.
She said it only allows growing by individuals who own their own property and have a way to lock it up.
Altschiller said people keep coming to the State House every year asking for relief.
“Let’s help who we can when we can,” she said. “This is not a recreational use. This is medical care for people who need it,” she stressed.
A roll call was requested and the vote was 12-12 meaning it failed. Four Republicans voted to support it.
It was then moved to table and there was a brief recess where both parties caucused.
Then, the vote to table was 16-8 along party lines.
Also coming to the same fate on a table vote was House Bill 75 legalizing cannabis for those 21 and older.
Sen. Donovan Fenton, D-Keene, said he supported the bill noting racial disparities and inequality in the way the law is applied.
The vote to table was 15-9.
TRANSPORTING STUDENTS
House Bill 231 passed. This would mean that for non-emergency situations, school staff cannot permit the transport of a child without parental permission, regardless of who would be transported.
The only current policy for emergency situations under student health requirements was made in 2008, requiring school staff to call a nurse.
The vote was 21-3 with Republicans being joined by Democratic Senators Sue Prentiss of Lebanon, Tara Reardon of Concord and Rebecca Perkins Kwoka of Portsmouth.
Sen. Dan Innis, R-Bradford, said this is one of those bills that he said must not possibly be happening, but he said he spoke to a school psychologist who told him it absolutely is happening, that students were being taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center without their parents knowing, with the cost of their care being borne by taxpayers.
This bill “requires school districts to create a policy prohibiting school district personnel from transporting any student who is a minor for any medical, mental health, or health-related procedures, appointments, or visits without knowledge and approval of a parent or guardian unless he or she is following a published school district emergency health or medical protocol or policy.”
Sen. Ruth Ward, R-Stoddard, released the following statement on passing HB 231:
“Parents should always be kept in the know about what is happening with their children. This bill prevents students from being transported to medical appointments without parental consent in non-emergency situations. This policy is in the best interest of both the student and school personnel. We do not want parents to be left out of decisions that directly impact their child and we also do not want school staff to get in trouble for not knowing this policy is in place. Passing this bill puts a clear set of rules for non-emergency medical situations and also updates the current emergency policy under student health services.”
INFORMED CONSENT SEARCHES
A bill relative to informed consent for law enforcement which would require signatures before searching houses or other property was killed in the Senate after passing the House on a voice vote.
House Bill 162 would have changed the relationship people have with their local law enforcement, said Sen. William Gannon, R-Sandown.
He said, “it would scare me,” if a local officer comes to the home for a wellness check and before he could come in would ask the occupant for a signature.
Gannon said it would lead to some to “lose a rapport,” which is important to public safety.
FISH AND GAME BILL AND OTHERS TAKEN OFF CONSENT CALENDAR
A fish and game bill https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=354&inflect=2 passed which would significantly increase fines for those who take wild game illegally.
HB 655 increases fines for fish and game poaching per animal from $250 to $1,000 for deer from $20 to $250 for raccoon, beaver and mink, from $200 to $500 for turkey among other increases.
An amendment was offered which would help protect a growing bait fishery for lobstering. It passed on a voice vote.
Also passed was HB 144 OTP relative to the practice of dental hygiene noting that a dental hygienist must be trained before administering anesthesia. A floor amendment was offered to clarify that one must hold a degree to practice dentistry.
Also passed was HB 99 which would give a $5,000 property tax credit instead of $4,000 for permanently disabled veterans.
ALARM SOUNDS
Just after the Senate completed its work for the day at lunchtime, there was a fire alarm that sounded off and emptied the State House.
Some said they smelled smoke on the third floor. Students touring the State House from Jaffrey’s fourth grade were just leaving the building when the alarms sounded.
There were no injuries.
All were allowed to return to the building in less than an hour. What caused the alarm was not immediately available.
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HOUSE
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SENATE
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