Revision: Jan. 10, 2018, 8:57 a.m.
HB 287 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
9Jan2018... 2524h
2017 SESSION
17-0736
04/01
HOUSE BILL 287
AN ACT establishing a committee to study issues related to changing prostitution laws in New Hampshire.
SPONSORS: Rep. E. Edwards, Hills. 11; Rep. Bouldin, Hills. 12; Rep. McGuire, Merr. 29; Rep. Murray, Rock. 24
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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This bill establishes a committee to study issues related to changing prostitution laws in New Hampshire.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
9Jan2018... 2524h 17-0736
04/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT establishing a committee to study issues related to changing prostitution laws in New Hampshire.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study issues related to changing prostitution laws in New Hampshire.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three 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.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
I. The committee shall study:
(a) The scope and scale of engagement in the sex trade in New Hampshire.
(b) The mental and physical health and well-being of those engaged in the sex trade in New Hampshire.
(c) The experiences of law enforcement personnel with individuals engaged in the sex trade in New Hampshire.
(d) The experiences of individuals engaged in the sex trade in New Hampshire with law enforcement personnel.
(e) The needs of individuals engaged in the sex trade in New Hampshire and the availability of services in this state to meet those needs.
(f) The impacts of arrest, conviction, and incarceration on individuals who have been arrested on prostitution offenses.
(g) The costs to state and local law enforcement and corrections budgets of arresting, prosecuting, and incarcerating individuals for prostitution offenses.
(h) The potential costs and benefits of partial or full decriminalization of prostitution, including possible effects on rates of sex trafficking.
II. The committee may solicit advice and testimony from any interested party, including but not limited to:
(a) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(b) The commissioner of the department of safety, or designee.
(c) The New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police.
(d) The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
(e) The New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition
(f) Amnesty International.
(g) Child and Family Services.
(h) New Hampshire Legal Assistance.
(i) The Sex Workers Outreach Project.
(j) The American Civil Liberties Union.
(k) The Southern New Hampshire HIV/AIDS Task Force.
(l) Survivors of sex trafficking.
(m) Individuals who are or were engaged in consensual sex work in New Hampshire.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its 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, and the state library on or before November 1, 2018.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.