Revision: March 7, 2024, 1:47 p.m.
SB 418-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/07/2024 0865s
2024 SESSION
24-2977
09/08
SENATE BILL 418-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Gendreau, Dist 1; Rep. Hobson, Rock. 14
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill modifies periods of suspension under different circumstances stemming from a refusal of consent to testing to determine alcohol concentration. This bill further modifies the penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/07/2024 0865s 24-2977
09/08
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 Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Refusal of Consent. Amend RSA 265-A:14, I-II to read as follows:
I. If a person under arrest for any violation or misdemeanor under RSA 265 or RSA 215-A refuses upon the request of a law enforcement officer, authorized agent, or peace officer to submit to physical tests or to a test of blood, urine, or breath designated by the law enforcement officer, authorized agent, or peace officer to as provided in RSA 265-A:4, none shall be given, but:
(a) If this is the first refusal with no prior driving or operating while intoxicated or aggravated driving or operating while intoxicated convictions:
(1) The director shall suspend his or her license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of [180 days] one year; or
(2) If the person is a resident without a license or permit to drive a motor vehicle in this state, the director shall deny to the person the privilege to drive and the issuance of a license for a period of [180 days] one year after the date of the alleged violation.
(b) If the person has one or more prior convictions under RSA 265-A:2, I, RSA 265-A:3, RSA 630:3, II, or under a reasonably equivalent offense in an out-of-state jurisdiction as defined in RSA 265-A:18, VI(b) [a prior driving or operating while intoxicated or aggravated driving or operating while intoxicated conviction] or a prior refusal of consent under this section or under a reasonably equivalent law in an out-of-state jurisdiction as defined in RSA 265-A:18, VI(b):
(1) The director shall suspend his or her license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of [2] 3 years; or
(2) If the person is a resident without a license or permit to drive a motor vehicle in this state, the director shall deny to the person the privilege to drive and the issuance of a license for a period of [2] 3 years after the date of the alleged violation.
II. Except as provided in paragraph VI, the [180-day] one-year or [2-year] 3-year suspension period or denial of issuance period imposed pursuant to this section shall not run concurrently with any other penalty imposed under the provision of this title. Any such suspension or denial of a license or privilege to drive shall be imposed in addition to any other penalty provided by law, subject to review as provided in RSA 265-A:31.
2 New Paragraph; Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Refusal of Consent. Amend RSA 265-A:14 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:
VII. In conjunction with a plea of guilty or nolo contendre to an offense resulting in a conviction under RSA 265-A:2 or RSA 265-A:3, the court may suspend up to 180 days of the license suspension imposed pursuant to this section.
3 Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Penalties for Intoxication or Under Influence of Drugs Offenses. Amend the introductory paragraph in RSA 265-A:18, I(b) to read as follows:
(b) Any person who is convicted of any aggravated DWI offense under RSA 265-A:3, except as provided in subparagraph (c) or (d), shall be:
4 New Subparagraph; Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Penalties for Intoxication or Under Influence of Drugs Offenses. Amend RSA 265-A:18, I by inserting after subparagraph (c) the following new subparagraph:
(d) Any person who is convicted of aggravated DWI under RSA 265-A:3, III shall be:
(1) Guilty of a class A misdemeanor;
(2) Fined not less than $750;
(3) Sentenced to a mandatory sentence of not less than 17 consecutive days in the county correctional facility, all of which may be suspended. The court shall refer the person to an IDCMP to schedule a full substance use disorder evaluation. A condition of the suspension shall be that upon release from serving any sentence in the county correctional facility, the person shall schedule a substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days of release, complete the required substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, and comply with the service plan developed. The IDCMP shall administer the substance use disorder evaluation and shall develop the service plan from that substance use disorder evaluation. Any portion of the suspended sentence to the county correctional facility may be imposed if the defendant does not comply with all of the requirements of this subparagraph or becomes non-compliant with the service plan during the suspension period;
(4) Ordered to install an interlock device in accordance with RSA 265-A:36; and
(5) Subject to the following:
(A) The person's driver's license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than 18 months and, at the discretion of the court, such revocation may be extended for a period not to exceed 2 years. Upon confirmation from the IDCMP that the person is in full compliance with the service plan, the court may suspend up to 6 months of this sentence, with the condition that an interlock device be installed for the period of the suspended sentence in addition to any period required in accordance with RSA 265-A:36 and provided that all fees have been paid; and
(B) The sentencing court may require the person to submit to random urinalysis or such other tests as the court may deem appropriate.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.
24-2977
11/24/23
SB 418-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to THC concentrations for driving offenses.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund | None | |||||
Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
Funding Source | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source | None | |||||
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
County Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association