Bill Text - HB1710 (2012)

Establishing a commission to identify issues for legislation related to strengthening the role of fathers in families with divorced or unmarried parents.


Revision: Jan. 9, 2012, midnight

HB 1710 – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-2344

05/04

HOUSE BILL 1710

AN ACT establishing a commission to identify issues for legislation related to strengthening the role of fathers in families with divorced or unmarried parents.

SPONSORS: Rep. W. Smith, Rock 18; Rep. Oligny, Rock 8; Sen. Groen, Dist 6

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to identify issues for legislation related to strengthening the role of fathers in families with divorced or unmarried parents.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-2344

05/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT establishing a commission to identify issues for legislation related to strengthening the role of fathers in families with divorced or unmarried parents.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Commission to Identify Issues for Legislation Related to Strengthening the Role of Fathers in Families with Divorced or Unmarried Parents. Amend RSA 461-A by inserting after section 20 the following new section:

461-A:21 Commission to Identify Issues for Legislation Related to Strengthening the Role of Fathers in Families with Divorced or Unmarried Parents.

I. There is established a commission to identify issues for legislation related to strengthening the role of fathers in families with divorced or unmarried parents.

II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) Six members of the public with expertise in family counseling or psychology, appointed by the governor, with approval of the executive council.

III. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except that legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission. The initial appointment of public members to the commission shall be offered to the current members of the commission on the status of men, established in RSA 19-I.

IV. The commission shall identify issues for legislation related to strengthening the role of fathers in families with divorced or unmarried parents. As part of its efforts, the commission shall review existing state laws, programs, and policies that affect the role of fathers in families with divorced or unmarried parents, including but not limited to law and practice related to visitation, child support, and wage assignment. The commission may solicit information from any person or entity the commission deems relevant to its study.

V. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

VI. On or before November 1, 2013, and annually thereafter, the commission shall report findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, the executive council, and the state library.

2 Repeal. RSA 461-A:21, relative to the commission to identify issues for legislation related to strengthening the father’s role in families with divorced or unmarried parents, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2017.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.