Revision: April 7, 2021, 9:42 a.m.
HB 471 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
7Apr2021... 0386h
2021 SESSION
21-0627
08/04
HOUSE BILL 471
AN ACT relative to police disciplinary hearings.
SPONSORS: Rep. Roy, Rock. 32; Rep. M. King, Hills. 33; Rep. Stevens, Hills. 34; Rep. Potucek, Rock. 6; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Bixby, Straf. 17; Rep. Welch, Rock. 13; Rep. Bordenet, Ches. 5; Rep. Moran, Hills. 34; Rep. Frost, Straf. 16; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires police disciplinary hearings to be open to the public unless certain confidential information may be revealed.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
7Apr2021... 0386h 21-0627
08/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT relative to police disciplinary hearings.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Police Standards and Trainings; Hearings. Amend RSA 106-L:5, III to read as follows:
III. For the purposes of a disciplinary hearing, subpoena and examine witnesses under oath, take oaths or affirmations, and reduce to writing testimony given at any hearing. Any person whose rights or privileges may be affected at such a disciplinary hearing may appear with witnesses and be represented by counsel. A disciplinary hearing shall be public; however, a portion of the hearing may be closed to the public only if the party seeking closure can prove with specificity that the portion of the hearing will reveal confidential information that creates a compelling interest outweighing the public’s presumed right of access. The council may in a nonpublic session, hear and consider the request for closure and rule on such request.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.