Revision: March 26, 2009, midnight
HB 690-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
24Mar2009… 0709h
2009 SESSION
04/03
HOUSE BILL 690-FN
AN ACT establishing a cold case homicide unit.
SPONSORS: Rep. Hinkle, Hills 19; Rep. Hinch, Hills 19; Rep. D. Reed, Merr 2; Rep. Ulery, Hills 27; Sen. Roberge, Dist 9
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
This bill establishes a cold case homicide unit to work on unsolved murder cases in the state until July 1, 2013.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24Mar2009… 0709h
09-0695
04/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine
AN ACT establishing a cold case homicide unit.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Cold Case Homicide Unit.
I. The attorney general and the commissioner of the department of safety shall collaborate to establish a cold case homicide unit to work exclusively on unsolved murders in the state. The unit shall consist of 2 state police detectives, a paralegal, and an attorney from the attorney general’s office who shall work part-time for the unit. The commissioner and the attorney general, or their designees, shall develop procedures for the operation of the unit. The 2 state police detective and the paralegal positions shall be funded from the general fund at a rate to be established by the commissioner of the department of safety. The part-time attorney position shall be funded from the general fund at a rate to be established by the attorney general.
II. The departments of justice and safety shall jointly provide administrative support as may be necessary to the cold case unit.
III. The commissioner of the department of safety and the attorney general, or their designees, shall jointly issue a report on the activities and results of the cold case unit by December 1, 2010 to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the senate.
2 Repeal. Section 1 of this act, relative to the establishment of a cold case homicide unit, is repealed.
3 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2013.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
09-0695
01/05/09
HB 690-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a cold case homicide unit.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Safety states this bill will increase state expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2010 and FY 2011. The Department of Justice states this bill will increase state expenditures by $62,602 in FY 2010 and $60,109 in FY 2011. This bill will have no fiscal impact on state, county, or local revenues and county or local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes a cold case homicide unit to work on unsolved New Hampshire murder cases in the state until July 1, 2011. The Department of Safety states this bill will increase state expenditures due to the additional personnel costs as well as; costs associated with any unique or contracted forensic examinations or tests that might be required on evidence gathered in a cold case; other tests that may be contracted out; and additional administrative costs associated with providing support to the cold case unit. The Department of Safety estimates that the additional costs associated with the employment of two additional state police detectives and one additional paralegal would increase state expenditures by $221,322 in FY 2010 and $229,152 in FY 2011. The remainder of costs associated with the implementation of the proposed legislation is indeterminable.
The Department of Justice states this bill will increase state expenditures by $62,602 in FY 2010 and $60,109 in FY 2011. The Department of Justice’s estimate is based on 50% of the full time employment costs of an attorney, 12.5% of the full time employment costs of an administrative assistant, and associated overhead such as computer software and hardware, office supplies, and travel reimbursement. The Department of Justice states that additional costs associated with additional homicide prosecutions and legal advice to the Department of Safety could be absorbed within their current budget.
This bill does not contain an appropriation or establish positions.