Bill Text - HB132 (2025)

(New Title) relative to liability for familial support under RSA chapter 165, aid to assisted persons.


Revision: Jan. 7, 2025, 11:28 a.m.

HB 132-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2025 SESSION

25-0224

11/02

 

HOUSE BILL 132-FN

 

AN ACT repealing liability for familial support under chapter 165, aid to assisted persons.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Ladd, Graf. 5

 

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill eliminates the requirement that a relative of certain family members must support any of those members who are poor.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

25-0224

11/02

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

 

AN ACT repealing liability for familial support under chapter 165, aid to assisted persons.

 

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

 

1  Repeal.  RSA 165:19, relative to liability of support, is repealed.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

25-0224

12/19/24

 

HB 132-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT repealing liability for familial support under chapter 165, aid to assisted persons.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      

 

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

 

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

County Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

County Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

Local Revenue

$0

 Indeterminable,  de minimus

Indeterminable,  de minimus

 Indeterminable,  de minimus

Local Expenditures

$0

 Indeterminable,  de minimus

Indeterminable,  de minimus

 Indeterminable,  de minimus

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill eliminates the requirement that a relative of certain family members must support any

of those members who are poor.

 

The New Hampshire Municipal Association states it is unaware of any statewide database or resource that tracks reimbursement for local support of indigent persons.  As such, the impact on revenue or expenditures is indeterminable. However, according to the Local Welfare Administrators Association, this provision is sometimes used, but infrequently.  New Hampshire Legal Assistance reports the same. As such, the Association believes that this provision’s use is likely de minimus.

 

The New Hampshire Association of Counties indicates this is a rarely used statute by the County Commissioners and the Association does not anticipate any fiscal impact to the counties.

 

The Department of Health and Human Services states it operates several programs of assistance to provide necessary food, medical care, or financial assistance to eligible residents of New Hampshire.  The Department’s assistance programs are not part of RSA 165 and are not supported by local authorities’ ability to require or recoup assistance from relatives pursuant to RSA 165:19.  Therefore, the Department does not expect the bill to impact state revenues or expenditures.

 

It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2025.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services, New Hampshire Association of Counties and New Hampshire Municipal Association