Revision: Sept. 26, 2023, 9:11 a.m.
2024 SESSION
24-2024.0
05/08
HOUSE BILL [bill number]
SPONSORS: [sponsors]
COMMITTEE: [committee]
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes an exemption from prosecution for child endangerment if the individual's actions were based on certain parenting decisions.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2024.0
05/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Endangering the Welfare of a Child; Exception for Certain Parenting Decisions. Amend RSA 639:3 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:
VII. No parent or legal guardian of a child who makes a parenting decision shall be guilty of an offense under this section if:
(a) There is no actual injury or harm, or any actual injury or harm is the result of an unavoidable or unforeseen accident;
(b) The parenting decision made is not explicitly in violation of any other law;
(c) There is a reasoned approach to such decision-making that takes into consideration benefit versus risk; and
(d) The decision made is in keeping with the parent or guardian's family values.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.