Bill Text - SB164 (2018)

(New Title) establishing a commission to study repealing the statute of limitations and limitations on actions for sexual assault.


Revision: Jan. 5, 2018, 1:51 p.m.

SB 164-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

01/03/2018   2545s

2017 SESSION

17-0778

04/10

 

SENATE BILL 164-FN

 

AN ACT establishing a commission to study repealing the statute of limitations and limitations on actions for sexual assault.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5; Sen. Innis, Dist 24; Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Sen. Lasky, Dist 13; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Rep. P. Long, Hills. 10; Rep. Wall, Straf. 6

 

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a commission to study repealing the statute of limitations and limitations on actions for sexual assault.  

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

01/03/2018   2545s 17-0778

04/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT establishing a commission to study repealing the statute of limitations and limitations on actions for sexual assault.

 

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

 

1  New Section; Sexual Assault and Related Offenses; Commission to Study Repealing the Statute of Limitations and Limitations on Actions for Sexual Assault.  Amend RSA 632-A by inserting after section 10-c the following new section:

632-A:10-d  Commission to Study Repealing the Statute of Limitations and Limitations on Actions for Sexual Assault.  

I.  There is established a commission to study repealing the statute of limitations and limitations on actions for sexual assault.

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

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

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

(c)  A representative from the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

(d)  One member of the New Hampshire Association of County Attorneys, appointed by that association.

(e)  One member of the New Hampshire Bar Association, appointed by that association.

(f)  One mental health professional, appointed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

III.  Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

IV.  The commission shall:

(a)  Review current statutes in New Hampshire relating to the statute of limitations and limitations on actions for sexual assault.

(b)  Identify current barriers facing victims of sexual assault accessing justice.

(c)  Identify current trends in reforming statutes of limitations and limitations on actions on sexual assault across the country.

(d)  Develop recommendations for future legislation.

(e)  Solicit information from any person or entity the commission deems relevant to its study.

V.  The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members.  The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member.  The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section.  Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

VI.  The commission shall issue an interim report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before September 1, 2018, and shall issue a final report on or before December 1, 2018.

2  Repeal.  RSA 632-A:10-d, relative to the commission to study repealing the statute of limitations and limitations on actions for sexual assault, is repealed.

3  Effective Date.  

I.  Section 2 of this act shall take effect December 1, 2018.

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

 

LBAO

17-0778

Amended 1/5/18

 

SB 164-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2017-2545s)

 

AN ACT (New Title) establishing a commission to study repealing the statute of limitations and limitations on actions for sexual assault.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:     

This bill, as amended, will have no impact on state, county or local revenues and expenditures.   

 

 

METHODOLOGY:

The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states the bill as amended only establishes a study commission and will have no fiscal impact.