Revision: Dec. 2, 2019, 1:17 p.m.
HB 1250 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2532
05/04
HOUSE BILL 1250
AN ACT prohibiting corporal punishment of children in state agency programs.
SPONSORS: Rep. Berrien, Rock. 18; Rep. Altschiller, Rock. 19; Rep. Berch, Ches. 1; Rep. Coursin, Rock. 1; Rep. Murphy, Hills. 21; Rep. Grote, Rock. 24; Rep. Snow, Hills. 19; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires state agencies to provide in their policies and procedures related to children that all forms of corporal punishment are prohibited.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-2532
05/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
AN ACT prohibiting corporal punishment of children in state agency programs.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Statement of Findings. The general court makes the following findings:
I. The state of New Hampshire has a responsibility for the well-being of children.
II. All children require guidance regarding their behavior.
III. A significant number of children experience corporal punishment in early childhood with common usage into adolescence.
IV. There is no clear evidence of any benefit from the use of corporal punishment on children.
V. There is strong evidence that corporal punishment places children at risk for physical injury, poorer mental health, slower cognitive development, impaired relationships with parents, weaker internalization of moral values, antisocial behavior, poorer adult adjustment and tolerance of violence in adulthood.
VI. The conditions for which children who have experienced corporal punishment are at risk have a significant social cost.
VII. There exist many age appropriate non-violent methods of controlling children's behaviors which have no associated risk.
VIII. Prohibitions on physical punishment without criminal sanctions in other countries have significantly reduced the prevalence of its use.
2 New Section; Human Service; Use of Corporal Punishment Prohibited. Amend RSA 161 by inserting after section 13 the following new section:
161:14 Use of Corporal Punishment Prohibited. Each state agency shall provide in its policies and procedures related to children that all forms of corporal punishment are prohibited. In this section, "corporal punishment" means any punishment in which physical force is issued and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, and is exclusive of restraint as defined in RSA 126-U:1, IV or physical force used to protect self or others.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.