Governor Ayotte Signs 12 Bills into Law

CONCORD, NH - This week, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the following bills into law:

• SB 27 - Relative to dwellings over water.
• SB 36 - Relative to the collection and reporting of abortion statistics by health care providers and medical facilities.
• SB 83 - Relative to licenses for primary and secondary game operators.
• SB 94 - Repealing municipal amendments to technical requirements of the state building code in certain circumstances.
• SB 134 - Relative to work requirements under the state Medicaid program.
• HB 529 - Relative to the liquor commission.
• HB 565 - Allowing persons under 21 into veterans' clubs, private clubs, and social clubs under certain conditions.
• HB 1025 - Relative to the designation of the chief financial officer as a civilian employee within the department of military affairs and veterans services.
• HB 1101 - Relative to the membership and governance of the state veterans council.
• HB 1152 - Designating the funds account for donations and bequests received by the department of military affairs and veterans services to be non-lapsing funds.
• HB 1162 - Extending the commission on Holocaust and genocide studies.
• HB 1815 - Relative to education financing.

Governor Ayotte also vetoed the following bill:

• HB 349 - Relative to the practice of optometry and authorization to perform ophthalmic laser procedures.

The Governor's veto statement for HB 349 is below:

"Access to quality and affordable healthcare is necessary and essential to our quality of life here in New Hampshire. Just as important is ensuring that Granite Staters receive care delivered by medical professionals trained to perform the full range of procedures that may be required for serious surgeries.

"Authorizing non-physician providers to perform eye surgeries has the potential to create unnecessary risks for patients, particularly if additional surgical intervention is necessary. This is no criticism of our eye care professionals, as optometrists are essential care providers for eye exams, lenses, and non-surgical care. The reality is that ophthalmologists, who complete a minimum three-year residency after medical school, receive far greater supervised clinical and surgical training than optometrists. Laser eye surgeries are not minor procedures. Complications or failure of such procedures can lead to permanent vision loss. Even if most of these procedures go as planned, complications can require the full spectrum of surgical skills and training that only ophthalmologists as physicians possess.

"There have been successful efforts, such as expansion of care in Berlin, to increase access to care in rural parts of our state. We can and should strive to expand access and availability without reducing the safety threshold of the care provided to patients.

"HB 349 would increase the level of risk to patients by permitting eye surgeries by non-physician practitioners. In order to preserve a high level of safety, eye surgeries should be performed by physicians. As such, I am vetoing this bill."