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2002 SESSION

01-2114

05/09

HOUSE BILL 1299-FN

COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a study committee to assess the means of implementing, operating, and funding a marriage education program including premarital preparation courses.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

6mar02...2740h

4/11/02 3344s

2may02...3764eba

01-2114

05/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Two

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

273:1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the creation of a marriage education and enhancement program.

273:2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall consist of 6 members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

273:3 Duties.

I. The committee shall study the creation of a marriage education and enhancement program including:

(a) Curriculum and certification requirements for premarital preparation courses.

(b) The possibility of requiring a family and consumer education skills course as a public high school graduation requirement.

(c) Funding mechanisms for the administration and operation of the premarital preparation courses and family and consumer education skills courses.

(d) An assessment of premarital and marriage education programs in other states as a means of determining the best way to structure, operate, and fund a similar program in New Hampshire.

II. The committee may solicit information from individuals and organizations with expertise in various aspects of the committee's study, including but not limited to:

(a) Town clerks.

(b) The state board of education.

(c) The state department of education.

(d) The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

(e) The university of New Hampshire department of family studies, department of education, and cooperative extension.

(f) Potential premarital course providers, such as licensed psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, representatives of religious organizations, school counselors, qualified family-consumer science professionals, and lay marriage educators who have completed the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program, the Marriage Savers Program, or their equivalent.

(g) The department of health and human services.

273:4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

273:5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2002.

273:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: May 18, 2002)

(Effective Date: May 18, 2002)