HB 1592-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

15Mar2022... 0474h

2022 SESSION

22-2320

07/04

HOUSE BILL 1592-FN

AN ACT allowing parties in family court cases to create their own recordings of the proceedings.

SPONSORS: Rep. Gay, Rock. 8; Rep. Hough, Belk. 3; Rep. Stapleton, Sull. 5; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 16; Rep. Greeson, Graf. 16; Rep. Langley, Hills. 8; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 4; Rep. Rung, Hills. 21; Rep. Weyler, Rock. 13; Rep. Post, Hills. 4

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill permits parties in family court to create their own recordings of the proceedings under certain conditions.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

15Mar2022... 0474h 22-2320

07/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT allowing parties in family court cases to create their own recordings of the proceedings.

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

1  New Section; Recordings of Proceedings.  Amend RSA 490-D by inserting after section 490-D:15 the following new section:

490-D:16  Recordings of Proceedings.  Each party to a proceeding in the family division of the circuit court shall have the right to make an audio recording of the proceeding provided that:

I.  The recording device used by the party does not interfere with the proceeding;

II.  The party notifies the court and the other parties present in advance of the proceeding that a recording will be made; and

III.  The recording is limited to the proceeding in which the party is participating.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2023.

LBA

22-2320

Amended 3/22/22

HB 1592-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2022-0474h)

AN ACT allowing parties in family court cases to create their own recordings of the proceedings.

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

METHODOLOGY:

This bill permits parties in family court to create their own recordings of the proceedings under

certain conditions.  The Judicial Branch assumes that the recording allowed under the amendment would not be the official record of the proceeding nor would it be the record for any appeals taken from the proceeding.  In 2021, there were approximately 40,600 hearings held in Family Division.  While the Branch anticipates the recordings allowed by this bill will result in the filing of additional pleadings and argument before the court, including requests for personal recordings of confidential proceedings, the fiscal impact is indeterminable.   

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch