Bill Text - SB570 (2024)

Establishing a misdemeanor for first-offense controlled drug possession.


Revision: Nov. 9, 2023, 11:27 a.m.

 

2024 SESSION

24-3107.0

09/08

 

SENATE BILL [bill number]

 

AN ACT establishing a misdemeanor for first-offense controlled drug possession.

 

SPONSORS: [sponsors]

 

COMMITTEE: [committee]

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill amends the penalty for obtaining, purchasing, transporting, possessing, or having under a person's control a controlled drug to a class A misdemeanor, and amends the penalty for a subsequent offense to a class B felony.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-3107.0

09/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

 

AN ACT establishing a misdemeanor for first-offense controlled drug possession.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Controlled Drug Act; Penalties.  Amend RSA 318-B:26, II(a) to read as follows:

(a) In the case of a controlled drug or its analog, classified in schedules I, II, III, [or] IV, or V, other than those specifically covered in this section, the person shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor for a first offense [B felony, except that notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 651:2, IV(a), a fine of not more than $25,000 may be imposed]. If any person commits such a violation after one or more prior offenses as defined in RSA 318-B:27, such person shall be guilty of a class B [A] felony[, except that notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 651:2, IV(a), a fine of up to $50,000 may be imposed].

2  Repeal.  RSA 318-B:26, II(b), relative to the penalty for the possession of a Class V controlled drug, is repealed.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.