HB 129 – AS INTRODUCED
2013 SESSION
01/04
HOUSE BILL 129
AN ACT relative to access to galleries in the general court.
SPONSORS: Rep. Horrigan, Straf 6; Rep. P. Sullivan, Hills 10; Rep. Chase, Ches 8
COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration
This bill codifies part 2, article 8 of the New Hampshire constitution requiring the galleries of each house to be open to all persons except in certain circumstances.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
13-0232
01/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen
AN ACT relative to access to galleries in the general court.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Open Sessions of Legislature. Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 14-c the following new section:
14:14-d Open Sessions of Legislature. Pursuant to part 2, article 8 of the New Hampshire constitution, the galleries of each house shall be open at all times during legislative sessions except when the welfare of the state requires secrecy. In the case of a disruption, disturbance, emergency, or other condition which makes it unsafe to keep the gallery open, the house or senate shall go into recess until it is safe to continue. Such a recess shall be as short as possible. The availability of live streaming video, television broadcast, or other audiovisual presentation shall not be deemed a substitute for opening the galleries. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing law enforcement officers or the sergeant at arms from excluding dangerous or disruptive individuals, or from preventing entrance to the galleries when they are filled to capacity.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.