1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the issue of unmarried cohabitants, domestic partnerships, and common law marriage.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

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

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

3 Duties. The committee shall study issues associated with unmarried cohabitants, domestic partnerships, and common law marriage. The study shall include consideration of other states that recognize common law marriage, the fact that New Hampshire does not recognize the validity of common law marriages except to the limited extent provided by RSA 457:39, and whether as a matter of public policy broader recognition of common law marriage is warranted. The committee shall also study issues arising from accumulated assets during the course of a committed relationship as unmarried cohabitants, domestic partners, or those in a common law marriage arrangement. The committee may solicit information and testimony from any individual or entity the committee deems relevant to its study.

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 senate 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 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 November 1, 2020.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the issue of unmarried cohabitants, domestic partnerships, and common law marriage.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

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

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

3 Duties. The committee shall study issues associated with unmarried cohabitants, domestic partnerships, and common law marriage. The study shall include consideration of other states that recognize common law marriage, the fact that New Hampshire does not recognize the validity of common law marriages except to the limited extent provided by RSA 457:39, and whether as a matter of public policy broader recognition of common law marriage is warranted. The committee shall also study issues arising from accumulated assets during the course of a committed relationship as unmarried cohabitants, domestic partners, or those in a common law marriage arrangement. The committee may solicit information and testimony from any individual or entity the committee deems relevant to its study.

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 senate 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 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 November 1, 2020.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.