For Immediate Release: Contact: Pamela Walsh
Wednesday, July 6, 2005 (603) 271-2121
(603) 491-7124 (cell)
Governor Establishes Commission on Area Agencies, Charged With Recommending Best Ways To Improve Services, Improve Efficiency
CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch today established by Executive Order a commission on the state’s area agencies for the developmentally disabled, charging it with recommending ways to improve services to New Hampshire citizens and improve efficiency.
Legislation with a similar intent passed both bodies of the legislature with bipartisan support, only to die in conference committee because of a minor wording difference.
“New Hampshire’s system of services for the developmentally disabled is recognized as a national model. We must, however, continue to look for ways to improve those services and to examine whether we can make them more efficient for the people they serve and our taxpayers,” Gov. Lynch said.
“Those changes should be examined the right way, by bringing people with broad knowledge to the table to take a fresh look at our system of delivering services to the developmentally disabled. That is what the legislature clearly intended to do, and that is what this executive order will do,” Gov. Lynch said.
Gov. Lynch is charging the commission with identifying the essential operations and delivery systems of New Hampshire’s 12 area agencies and recommending ways the agencies can operate more efficiently and cost effectively without compromising services to New Hampshire citizens.
Under Gov. Lynch’s Executive Order, the commission will report its findings by Nov. 1.
The commission will be comprised of a chair appointed by the Governor, one member of the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate; one member of the House of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the House; the commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, or designee; one representative of the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council, nominated by the council and appointed by the Governor; two representatives of area agencies, nominated by the Community Support Network, Inc. and appointed by the Governor; two public members representing persons with developmental disabilities and acquired brain disorder and their families served by the area agencies nominated by the statewide family support council and appointed by the Governor; a representative of the Disabilities Rights Center, appointed by the Governor; two members of the public appointed by the Governor; and two representatives of the business community, neither of whom shall have any affiliations or interests in developmental disabilities, appointed by the Governor.
The Commission must hold its first meeting within 30 days of today.
Read Governor Lynch’s Executive Order
Read the Governor’s Commission Report
DRC-NH Letter to Legislative Waitlist Committee (May, 2006)
