HB 1005-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2012
10/05
HOUSE BILL 1005-FN
AN ACT relative to judicial training.
SPONSORS: Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. Ball, Rock. 25; Rep. Yokela, Rock. 32; Rep. Read, Rock. 10; Rep. K. Perez, Rock. 16; Rep. Manos, Rock. 12; Rep. M. Smith, Straf. 10; Rep. Gregg, Hills. 7; Rep. Grossman, Rock. 11; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill inserts a new chapter to establish a judicial training coordinator and provides responsibilities thereto. This bill further establishes initial and continuing training and educational requirements for judges.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2012
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to judicial training.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Chapter; Judicial Training. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 490-J the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 490-K
JUDICIAL TRAINING
490-K:1 Judicial Training Coordinator.
A judicial training coordinator position shall be created on or before January 1, 2025, to work under the direction of the chief justice of the supreme court. The judicial training coordinator shall develop high quality judicial branch training and continuing education programs and work to provide judges, administrators, and court staff with a reasonable opportunity to fulfill any mandatory orientation and initial required training as well as continuing educational requirements.
490-K:2 Initial Judicial Training Requirements.
Any person who holds the position of judge in this state, and all nonjudicial employees of the judicial branch with a hire date on or after July 1, 2025, shall complete a judicial orientation and training program within 3 months of hire, as directed by the chief justice of the supreme court. The minimum initial training for judges may be as follows:
I. Orientation for new judges on procedures and functions of the applicable court and relevant procedural and substantive law;
II. Education for new judges on major legal subjects and practical skills needed by them and appropriate to the jurisdiction of the court in which they serve;
III. At least one hour of training devoted to the topics of legal and judicial ethics, professionalism, preventing implicit bias, mental health, and domestic violence.
490-K:3 Judicial Continuing Education Requirements.
Any person who holds the position of judge, court administrator, clerk, or director of the administrative office of the court in this state, shall be required to complete continuing education as the chief justice of the supreme court directs:
I. Justices of the supreme court may complete a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education each year.
II. Justices of the superior court may complete a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education approved by the chief justice of the superior court each year.
III. All superior court clerks may complete a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education approved by the chief justice of the superior court each year.
IV. All circuit court judges may complete a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education approved by the administrative judge of the circuit court each year.
V. All circuit court clerks may complete a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education approved by the administrative judge of the circuit court each year.
VI. The director of the administrative office of the courts may a complete a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education approved by the chief justice of the supreme court each year.
I. RSA 490-K:1, as inserted by as section 1 of this act, shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
24-2012
10/5/23
HB 1005-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to judicial training.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
|
| |||||
Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None
| |||||
Expenditures | $0 | $156,000 | $151,000 | $157,000 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund
| |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None
| |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] Yes | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill inserts a new chapter to establish a judicial training coordinator and provides responsibilities thereto. This bill further establishes initial and continuing training and educational requirements for judges and certain Judicial Branch positions.
The Judicial Branch indicates costs of developing and operating an expanded educational program cannot be determined at this time. The Branch assumes the individual who fills the new training coordinator position authorized by the bill would create a programmatic proposal to comply with the bill's requirements and an appropriation for the funds necessary would be requested during the next biennial budget process. Assuming the new judicial training coordinator position would be created at the start of FY 2025, the Branch estimates the salary, benefits, and fit-up costs for the position would be $156,000 in FY 2025, $151,000 in FY 2026 and $157,000 in FY 2027. The Branch indicated it would not be able to absorb the additional costs within it's current operating budget.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch