New Hampshire HB 1565: relative to the penalty for false reports of suspected abuse and neglect made to the division for children, youth, and families, relative to owner's project manager services for school building aid projects, and relative to long-term care eligibility and making an appropriation therefor.

Bill Text

HB 1565-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

05/14/2026 1972s

2026 SESSION

 26-2438

 12/09

HOUSE BILL 1565-FN

AN ACT relative to the penalty for false reports of suspected abuse and neglect made to the division for children, youth, and families, relative to owner's project manager services for school building aid projects, and relative to long-term care eligibility and making an appropriation therefor.

SPONSORS: Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Cole, Hills. 26; Rep. Aures, Merr. 13; Rep. McFarlane, Graf. 18; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32; Rep. Morton, Hills. 39; Rep. Ammon, Hills. 42; Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18

COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill:

 I. Provides that reports of suspected abuse and neglect may include the name of the person making the report and that a person who makes a false report maliciously or with the intent to cause harm shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. 

 II. Creates a private right of action for civil damages against a person who makes a false report of suspected abuse or neglect.

 III. Requires schools to have engaged the services of an owner's project manager at the time they apply for school building aid.

 IV. Establishes provisional eligibility for Medicaid nursing facility services as part of the long-term care application process and makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for this purpose.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05/14/2026 1972s 26-2438

 12/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the penalty for false reports of suspected abuse and neglect made to the division for children, youth, and families, relative to owner's project manager services for school building aid projects, and relative to long-term care eligibility and making an appropriation therefor.

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

 1 Child Protection Act; Reporting Law; Nature of Report; Liability. Amend RSA 169-C:30 and RSA 169-C:31 to read as follows: 

 169-C:30 Nature and Content of Report. An oral report shall be made immediately by telephone or otherwise, and followed within 48 hours by a report in writing, if so requested, to the department. Such report shall, if known, contain the name and address of the child suspected of being neglected or abused and the person responsible for the child's welfare, the specific information indicating neglect or the nature and extent of the child's injuries (including any evidence of previous injuries), the identity of the person or persons suspected of being responsible for such neglect or abuse, and any other information that might be helpful in establishing neglect or abuse or that may be required by the department. Reports made to the department may include the name, address, or phone number of the person or persons making the report of suspected abuse or neglect of a child under this chapter. 

 169-C:31 Immunity From Liability. 

 I. Anyone participating in good faith in the making of a report pursuant to this chapter or who provides information or assistance, including medical evaluations or consultations, in connection with a report, investigation, or legal intervention pursuant to a good faith report of child abuse or neglect, is immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. Any such participant has the same immunity with respect to participation in any investigation by the department or judicial proceeding resulting from such report.

 II. Nothing in this section shall provide civil or criminal immunity for a professional mandatory reporter who knowingly fails to make a report of suspected abuse or neglect under RSA 169-C:29 or for a person who knowingly files a false report of abuse or neglect.

 2 New Sections; Child Abuse; Intentional False Report; Civil Liability. Amend RSA 169-C by inserting after section 31 the following new sections: 

 169-C:31-a Intentional False Report of Abuse or Neglect. A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if he or she knowingly provides false information or causes another to provide false information of suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by RSA 169-C:3 to the department or to any professional mandatory reporter of suspected child abuse identified in RSA 169-C:29.

 169-C:31-b Civil Liability. Any person harmed by the intentional submission of a false report of abuse or neglect under RSA 169-C:31-a may bring a civil action against the responsible pa