Bill Text - HB474 (2017)

(New Title) regulating the use of a cell site simulator device.


Revision: Jan. 27, 2017, 9:01 a.m.

HB 474-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2017 SESSION

17-0101

08/03

 

HOUSE BILL 474-FN

 

AN ACT limiting the use of cell site simulator devices by law enforcement agencies.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Kurk, Hills. 2; Rep. Murotake, Hills. 32; Rep. King, Hills. 33

 

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

ANALYSIS

 

This bill limits the use of cell site simulator devices for the purposes of locating and tracking the movements of communications devices.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0101

08/03

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT limiting the use of cell site simulator devices by law enforcement agencies.

 

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

 

1  New Section; Cell Site Simulator Devices.  Amend RSA 570-A by inserting after section 2 the following new section:

570-A:2-a  Cell Site Simulator Devices.  

I.  A person is guilty of  a class B felony if, except as otherwise specifically provided in paragraph II, the person uses a cell site simulator device to locate and track the location of communications devices.  

II.  It shall not be unlawful under this section for a law enforcement officer to use a cell site simulator device so long as such officer has obtained a search warrant from a judge based on probable cause, or is acting under a judicially-recognized exception to the warrant requirement, for information to be collected by a cell site simulator device.

III.  In this section, "cell site simulator device" means a device that transmits or receives radio waves for the purpose of conducting one or more of the following operations:

(a)  Identifying, locating, or tracking the movements of a communications device.

(b)  Intercepting, obtaining, accessing, or forwarding the communications, sorted data, or metadata of a communications device.

(c)  Affecting the hardware or software operations or functions of a communications device.

(d)  Forcing transmissions from or connections to a communications device.

(e)  Denying a communications device access to other communications devices, communications protocols, or services.

(f)  Spoofing or simulating a communications device, cell tower, cell site, or service including, but not limited to, an international mobile subscriber identity catcher or other invasive cell phone or telephone surveillance or eavesdropping device that mimics a cell phone tower and sends out signals to cause cell phones in the area to transmit their locations, identifying information, and communications content, or a passive interception device or digital analyzer that does not send signals to a communications device under surveillance.

IV.  A cell site simulator device shall not include any device used or installed by an electric utility solely to the extent such device is used by such utility to measure electrical usage, to provide services to customers, or to operate the electric grid.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2018.

 

LBAO

17-0101

1/6/17

 

HB 474-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT limiting the use of cell site simulator devices by law enforcement agencies.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [ X ] County               [ X ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [ X ] Highway           [    ] Other

 

 

 

 

 

COUNTY:

 

 

 

 

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

 

 

 

 

 

LOCAL:

 

 

 

 

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill contains a penalty that may have an impact on the New Hampshire judicial and correctional systems.  There is no method to determine how many charges would be brought as a result of the changes contained in this bill to determine the fiscal impact on expenditures.  However, the entities impacted have provided the potential costs associated with these penalties below.

Judicial Branch

FY 2018

FY 2019

Request for a Search Warrant in the circuit court

$71

$72

Request for a Search Warrant in the superior court

$274

$279

Routine Criminal Felony Case

$451

$456

Appeals

Varies

Varies

It should be noted average case cost estimates for FY 2018 and FY 2019 are based on data that is more than ten years old and does not reflect changes to the courts over that same period of time or the impact these changes may have on processing the various case types.

Judicial Council

 

 

Public Defender Program

Has contract with State to provide services.

Has contract with State to provide services.

Contract Attorney – Felony

$756/Case

$756/Case

Assigned Counsel – Felony

$60/Hour up to $4,100

$60/Hour up to $4,100

It should be noted that a person needs to be found indigent and have the potential of being incarcerated to be eligible for indigent defense services. The majority of indigent cases (approximately 85%) are handled by the public defender program, with the remaining cases going to contract attorneys (14%) or assigned counsel (1%).

Department of Corrections

 

 

FY 2016 Average Cost of Incarcerating an Individual

$35,832

$35,832

FY 2016 Average Cost of Supervising an Individual on Parole/Probation

$573

$573

NH Association of Counties

 

 

County Prosecution Costs

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Estimated Average Daily Cost of Incarcerating an Individual

$85 to $110

$85 to $110

 

This bill limits the use of cell site simulator devices for the purpose of locating and tracking the movements of communications devices.  The Department of Safety assumes the requirement for law enforcement to obtain court authorized search warrants would result in additional labor costs to state, county and local law enforcement.  In order to obtain a search warrant, investigators would work additional hours to establish probable cause.  This cost cannot be determined and would vary depending on the investigation and the number of investigators assigned.  There would be no impact on state, county or local revenues.

 

The Department of Justice indicates this type of offense is typically prosecuted by county prosecutors.  The Department does not anticipate any fiscal impact from the creation of such an offense.  Appeals from any convictions would be handled by the Department and could be done within the current budget.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

The Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and the Departments of Justice, Corrections and Safety