CHAPTER 311
SB 235-FN - FINAL VERSION
03/14/2019 0857s
06/27/2019 2601CofC
2019 SESSION
19-1083
10/05
SENATE BILL 235-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes an independent human resources professional in the general court administrative office, who shall be responsible for complaints involving sexual harassment. The bill also allows the legislative facilities committee to propose rules for required training on harassment and discrimination.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/14/2019 0857s
06/27/2019 2601CofC 19-1083
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
311:1 New Subdivision; General Court Administrative Office. Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 51 the following new subdivision:
General Court Administrative Office
14:52 Administrative Office.
I. There shall be a general court administrative office in the state house under a director of the administrative office. The director may employ and contract for such additional professional, technical, clerical, or other employees necessary to perform the functions and duties of the office.
II. The director shall designate a person as the independent human resources professional. The director shall ensure the person designated has had or will receive training or certification in sexual harassment investigations. In addition to the procedure in RSA 14-B:3, I(d), the designated person shall carry out obligations as set forth in the general court’s sexual harassment policy, including but not limited to, the receipt, investigation, and processing of verbal or written complaints from legislative staff, members of the public, or other members of the general court concerning current members of the general court, or members of the general court whose service ceased within 2 years prior to the complaint. Neither the office of the senate president nor the office of the speaker of the house of representatives shall have any oversight or responsibility for any complaints involving sexual harassment.
III. A sexual harassment complaint filed with the general court administrative office shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure to any third party, including but not limited to the attorney general’s office; provided that the complainant may waive such confidentiality protections with informed, written consent. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the independent human resources professional from consulting with any person reasonably necessary to conduct an investigation.
311:2 New Paragraph; Joint Committee on Legislative Facilities; Duty Added. Amend RSA 17-E:5-a by inserting after paragraph X the following new paragraph:
XI. Prior to the beginning of each biennium, to review sexual harassment policies of other jurisdictions and legislatures and adopt a sexual harassment policy consistent with best practices, which shall include procedures for the independent human resources professional in the general court administrative office to address sexual harassment complaints and ensure independence from the office of the senate president and the office of the speaker of the house of representatives. Prior to the beginning of each biennium, the committee shall determine whether to propose to the senate and house of representatives that each body shall propose by rule that all legislators, legislative officers, and legislative staff shall attend in-person education and training regarding sexual and other unlawful discrimination and harassment. The sexual harassment policy shall be posted online and shall be included in the ethics guidelines, statutes, and procedural rules booklet.
311:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2020.
Approved: August 02, 2019
Effective Date: January 01, 2020
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 20, 2019 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 14, 2019 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 18, 2019 | House | Hearing |
| May 2, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| May 1, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| May 23, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| June 5, 2019 | House | Floor Vote |
| June 13, 2019 | House | Floor Vote |
| June 27, 2019 | House | Floor Vote |
| June 27, 2019 | Senate | Floor Vote |
Aug. 2, 2019: Signed by the Governor on 08/02/2019; Chapter 311; Effective 01/01/2020
June 27, 2019: Enrolled (In recess 06/27/2019); SJ 21
June 27, 2019: Enrolled 06/27/2019 HJ 20 P. 56
June 27, 2019: Conference Committee Report # 2019-2601c, Adopted, VV; 06/27/2019; SJ 21
June 27, 2019: Conference Committee Report 2601c: Adopted, VV 06/27/2019 HJ 20 P. 5
June 13, 2019: Conference Committee Report # 2019-2601c Filed 06/13/2019; Adopt New Amendment
June 19, 2019: Committee of Conference Meeting: 06/19/2019, 10:30 am, Room 103, SH
June 6, 2019: Speaker Appoints: Reps. Wall, Ley, Wilhelm, Nutting-Wong 06/06/2019 HJ 18 P. 45
June 6, 2019: House Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Wall): MA VV 06/06/2019 HJ 18 P. 45
June 6, 2019: President Appoints: Senators Carson, Cavanaugh, Rosenwald; (In Recess 06/06/2019); SJ 20
June 6, 2019: Sen. Carson Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 06/06/2019); SJ 20
June 5, 2019: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-2191h: MA RC 207-139 06/05/2019 HJ 17 P. 77
June 5, 2019: Amendment # 2019-2191h: AA VV 06/05/2019 HJ 17 P. 77
: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-2191h (Vote 8-4; RC)
June 5, 2019: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-2191h for 06/05/2019 (Vote 8-4; RC) HC 27 P. 18
May 23, 2019: Executive Session: 05/23/2019 12:00 pm LOB 303
May 21, 2019: ==TIME CHANGE== Full Committee Work Session: 05/21/2019 01:30 pm LOB 303
May 16, 2019: ==CANCELLED== Full Committee Work Session: 05/16/2019 10:30 am LOB 303
May 2, 2019: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 05/02/2019 10:15 am LOB 303
May 1, 2019: Executive Session: 05/01/2019 10:15 am LOB 303
May 2, 2019: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 05/02/2019 10:15 am LOB 303
May 1, 2019: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 05/01/2019 10:15 am LOB 303
April 18, 2019: Public Hearing: 04/18/2019 10:15 am LOB 303
March 20, 2019: Introduced 03/20/2019 and referred to Legislative Administration HJ 11 P. 71
March 14, 2019: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-0857s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/14/2019; SJ 8
March 14, 2019: Committee Amendment # 2019-0857s, AA, VV; 03/14/2019; SJ 8
March 14, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-0857s, 03/14/2019; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 13
Feb. 20, 2019: Hearing: 02/20/2019, Room 101, LOB, 09:00 am; SC 11
Jan. 3, 2019: Introduced 01/03/2019 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 4