HB 1267 – AS INTRODUCED

2014 SESSION

14-2322

01/03

HOUSE BILL 1267

AN ACT relative to removing public officials for cause.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bailey, Graf 14

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

ANALYSIS

This bill provides that a public official may be removed for the failure to perform assigned duties. The bill also permits the majority of any standing committee of the general court to petition the governor and council for the official's removal.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14-2322

01/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen

AN ACT relative to removing public officials for cause.

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

1 Removal of Public Officials for Cause. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 4:1 and RSA 4:1, I to read as follows:

4:1 Removal of Public Officials for Cause. No state official who is not a classified employee shall be discharged or removed except for malfeasance, misfeasance, inefficiency in office, incapacity or unfitness or failure to perform assigned duties, or for the good of the department, agency, or institution to which such official is assigned, according to the procedures set out in this section, unless otherwise provided by law.

I. The attorney general, the governor, any member of the executive council, the majority of any standing committee of the house of representatives or senate, or the appointing authority of such official, may petition the governor and council for the removal of such official setting forth the grounds and reasons therefor.

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