Rep. Jodi Nelson

Maddy summaryHB 553 amends New Hampshire's child abuse and neglect laws by updating definitions and establishing a rebuttable presumption that family unity is in a child's best interest. The bill requires courts to presume family unity is appropriate unless proven otherwise, while mandating removal only when a child's physical, emotional, or psychological welfare is at risk. It revises definitions of "abandoned" (excluding cases due to lack of mental health services) and "abuse" (including sexual abuse and intentional physical injury). The law also emphasizes trauma-informed care, prioritizes placing children with kin or in community settings, and requires frequent reviews to return children home as quickly as possible. This directly affects child welfare courts, families involved in abuse/neglect cases, and child protective services.

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 bill updates New Hampshire's safe haven laws to allow parents to anonymously surrender infants up to 61 days old, matching the age limits of other New England states. It expands the definition of safe haven devices to include containers installed in hospitals, police stations, and fire departments, provided they are staffed around the clock and have alarms. The legislation also clarifies that parents who surrender a baby cannot be prosecuted solely based on evidence found during that surrender, while still permitting investigations into other crimes not directly linked to the act of surrendering the child.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a specific legal process called a "family access motion" to help parents enforce court-ordered parenting time when the other parent denies or interferes with it. It requires courts to provide a simple form for parents to file these motions without a lawyer and mandates that the case be resolved within 60 days. If a parent is found to have violated the parenting plan without good cause, the court can order remedies such as making up the lost time, requiring counseling, imposing fines, or ordering the violator to pay the other parent's legal fees. The law takes effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1080 establishes a Legislative Youth Advisory Council in New Hampshire to allow young people to review and offer recommendations on laws affecting their lives. The council will consist of 17 members, including 13 youth aged 14 to 22 and four non-voting legislators, who will focus on issues like education, technology, transportation, labor, and substance misuse. Appointments are made by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President to ensure geographic diversity and representation from various schools and counties, with members serving terms aligned with the legislative cycle. The group is required to meet at least four times annually, conduct leadership training, and submit an annual report with policy suggestions to state officials. While the youth members are not paid, legislative members receive standard mileage reimbursement, and all council meetings and records are open to the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the state's child care scholarship program to prioritize applications from current child care employees and eliminate waiting periods for those who reapply after being denied due to missing information. It also mandates that child care providers contracted for preventive and protective services begin training in trauma-informed care starting July 1, 2021. Additionally, the law clarifies that child care services provided as preventive or protective measures are available to grandparents who serve as legal guardians or primary caretakers for their grandchildren. These changes aim to improve access to care for specific worker groups and caregivers while enhancing staff training standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for when child support payments must stop, extending the obligation for most children until they graduate high school or turn 19, whichever comes first. It clarifies that support ends automatically without needing a new court order once these conditions are met, unless the child has a disability. For children with disabilities, the law allows support to continue until age 21 or until they no longer qualify for special education services. The changes will officially take effect on January 1, 2025.