HB 122 – AS INTRODUCED

2011 SESSION

11-0668

04/03

HOUSE BILL 122

AN ACT establishing a commission to study the effectiveness of the sex offender registry.

SPONSORS: Rep. MacKay, Merr 11; Rep. Pilliod, Belk 5; Rep. Itse, Rock 9; Sen. Carson, Dist 14

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to study the effectiveness of the sex offender registry.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11-0668

04/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven

AN ACT establishing a commission to study the effectiveness of the sex offender registry.

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

1 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study the effectiveness of the sex offender registry.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

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

3 Duties.

I. The commission shall study:

(a) Whether the sexual offender registry serves a legitimate public purpose relative to prevention, control, punishment, and rehabilitation of sexual offenders.

(b) The characteristics of the people who are on the sex offender registry and what information is available from other states that evaluate their offenders clinically.

(c) The strengths and weaknesses of the current risk assessment instruments for sex offenders and which of those instruments are most predictive.

(d) The cost to state and local law enforcement agencies to maintain, update, and enforce the sex offender registry.

(e) The hardships, if any, imposed by the sex offender registry on sex offenders and their families.

(f) The experience of other states in complying with the requirements of the Adam Walsh Act.

(g) Whether evidence exists that vigilantism and school-based bullying is occurring against sex offenders and their families.

(h) The rates of homelessness and unemployment among sex offenders.

(i) Any other issue that the commission deems appropriate to study.

II. The members of the commission shall solicit information and testimony from the following individuals or organizations:

(a) The commissioner of the department of corrections, or designee.

(b) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(c) The commissioner of the department of safety, or designee.

(d) The attorney general, or designee.

(e) The New Hampshire Public Defender’s office.

(f) The New Hampshire Bar Association.

(g) The New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

(h) Citizens for Criminal Justice Reform.

(i) The New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union.

(j) The New Hampshire Mental Health Council.

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

4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

5 Report. The commission shall submit an interim report of its findings to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before December 1, 2011, and a final report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation on or before November 1, 2012.

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