Bill Text: NH HB1626 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relative to the role of the guardian ad litem in parenting cases in which domestic violence is suspected or alleged.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-11 - Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Voice Vote 03/11/2020 House Journal 7 P. 4 [HB1626 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2020-HB1626-Introduced.html
HB 1626 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2272
05/04
HOUSE BILL 1626
SPONSORS: Rep. Gay, Rock. 8; Rep. Marsh, Carr. 8; Rep. McNally, Straf. 10; Rep. Plumer, Belk. 6; Rep. Nutter-Upham, Hills. 33
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill provides that if domestic violence is an issue in a parenting case, the guardian ad litem shall refer the family to the local crisis center, comply with mandatory reporting requirements for child abuse, and determine whether a lethality assessment protocol was completed. The bill also provides that such cases shall not be assigned to the complex case docket.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-2272
05/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Guardians Ad Litem; Domestic Violence Screening. Amend RSA 461-A:16 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
II-a. When a guardian ad litem is appointed to a parenting case in which domestic violence is suspected or alleged, the guardian ad litem shall promptly refer the relevant party to a local crisis center and, in appropriate cases, comply with mandatory reporting requirements for child abuse under RSA 169-C:29. The guardian ad litem shall also determine whether law enforcement completed a lethality assessment protocol regarding any party to the proceeding. If domestic violence is identified as an issue, either between the parties or between one or both parties and the children, the case shall not be assigned to the complex case docket or high conflict docket.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
