Rep. Alicia Gregg

Maddy summaryHB 762 allocates $30,000 to the judicial branch to hire an independent contractor for a manual review of domestic violence and stalking cases, along with related criminal cases. The contractor will analyze existing court records to compile data on court-ordered programs, firearm relinquishment, temporary orders, and other specific case details for the judicial branch and the governor’s commission on domestic violence. This data collection aims to improve understanding of case outcomes without disclosing any personal information about individuals involved. The funding covers the 2025-2027 biennium, with priority given to non-state funds if available.

Maddy summaryHB 1005 proposes creating a new Judicial Training Coordinator position to oversee professional development for judges and court staff. The bill mandates that all new judges and non-judicial employees hired after July 1, 2025, complete an initial orientation covering court procedures, legal skills, and specific topics like ethics and implicit bias. It also establishes annual continuing education requirements, such as 24 hours for supreme and superior court justices and 12 to 16 hours for various clerks and administrative roles. Although the legislation outlines these specific training hours and responsibilities, the bill was ultimately laid on the table and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes stricter rules for placing children in state care into residential facilities, prioritizing placement with relatives or in foster homes as the first options. It mandates that residential care be used only as a last resort for children aged 12 and older, unless there is a specific medical or therapeutic need, and requires all such facilities to meet new state certification standards before receiving funding. To enforce these standards, the Department of Health and Human Services will create a team to inspect and certify programs, conduct regular unannounced visits, and report quarterly on their oversight activities and spending. Additionally, the bill requires special approval from the state director before placing any child in a facility outside of New England.

Maddy summaryThis law creates a new committee to investigate ways to improve access to mental health services and ensure providers meet network standards in New Hampshire. The committee will examine barriers to provider accreditation, review enforcement methods for service availability, and gather public input before submitting a report with recommendations by November 2024. Additionally, the bill requires that any candidate for a mental health license must sign a written agreement stating that their supervisor assumes full professional, ethical, and legal responsibility for the services they provide. These changes aim to increase accountability and expand the availability of mental health care for residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the scope of who can legally provide psychotherapy services in New Hampshire by clarifying the requirements for exemption from stricter licensing rules. It specifically allows individuals working as employees or consultants for various mental health facilities to practice if their employers offer clinical supervision and assume full professional and legal responsibility for the care provided. The change applies to a wide range of settings, including outpatient private practices and nonprofit agencies, ensuring that qualified staff in these environments can deliver mental health services under the organization's oversight. The law takes effect on September 1, 2024, sixty days after its official passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legislative committee to study how restorative justice models could be used as an alternative accountability system for juveniles under eighteen who commit misdemeanor offenses or hate crimes. The committee, composed of four state legislators, will gather evidence-based best practices and collaborate with state agencies and advocates to develop specific recommendations for new laws. By November 1, 2024, the group must submit a report detailing its findings and proposed legislation to state officials and the governor. The bill does not change current laws or create new programs immediately but instead sets up a process to evaluate and potentially implement restorative justice practices in the future.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new committee to study foster care families and the foster care system in New Hampshire. The committee will be made up of members from the state Senate and House of Representatives who will meet to gather information from foster parents and government officials. Their main task is to identify challenges within the current system and offer recommendations to improve how foster care is managed. The group must submit their findings and any suggested laws to state leaders by November 1, 2024.