Bill > HB1706

This bill aims to completely terminate the refugee resettlement program within New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, the bill defines "refugee resettlement program" broadly as the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and any federal, nonprofit, or grant-based program designed to settle, fund, or assist refugees or asylees. Upon the bill's effective date (60 days after passage), the state department will be required to promptly terminate all existing refugee resettlement contracts. Moreover, the bill prohibits any state government department, agency, or administrative unit from: (1) accepting money from any source for refugee resettlement, and (2) spending money to settle, fund, or assist refugee resettlement, either directly or indirectly through payments to towns or non-governmental organizations. The bill also includes a standard severability clause, ensuring that if any part of the act is found invalid, the remainder of the act remains in effect, and it formally repeals the existing New Hampshire refugee resettlement program statute. According to the fiscal note, this would impact approximately $4.5 million in annual federal funds currently used for refugee resettlement programs.

Health and Social Services

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1704&inflect=2