New Hampshire SB 420: relative to the state commission for human rights.

Bill Text

SB 420 - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2212

 07/05

SENATE BILL 420

AN ACT relative to the state commission for human rights.

SPONSORS: Sen. Ward, Dist 8

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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ANALYSIS

 This bill makes changes to the state commission for human rights.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2212

 07/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the state commission for human rights.

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

 1 Trade and Commerce; State Commission for Human Rights; General Powers and Duties of the Chair. Amend RSA 354-A:4 to read as follows: 

 354-A:4 General Powers and Duties of the Chair. The chair shall serve as the chief executive officer of the commission. [The chair shall be a licensed attorney admitted or eligible to practice law in this state.] The chair shall promote the efficient transaction of its business and the orderly handling of complaints and other matters before the commission. The chair shall designate commissioners to investigate and commissioners to hold hearings pursuant to RSA 354-A:21 and shall fix the times and places of public hearings. In the event of the chair's absence or inability to act, the vice-chair, or if no vice-chair has been designated, a commissioner designated by the chair shall act in the chair's stead. Otherwise a commissioner shall be designated by the governor to act as chair.

 2 New Paragraphs; Trade and Commerce; State Commission for Human Rights; General Powers and Duties of the Commission. Amend RSA 354-A:5 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraphs:

 III-a. To nominate an executive director and assistant executive director for appointment by the governor, with the consent of the council. The executive director shall serve a term of 5 years. The assistant executive director shall serve an initial term of as stated in paragraph III-b and then terms of 5 years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term. The executive director and assistant executive director shall be qualified to hold the position by reason of education and experience. The executive director, under the supervision of the commissioners, shall be responsible for the daily administration and management of the commission and execution of its duties, among other responsibilities. The assistant executive director shall operate under the supervision of the executive director and shall, among other duties, act as executive director whenever the latter is absent or unable to act from any cause, or whenever there is a vacancy in the office, provided that the assistant executive direction shall not so act when the commission has nominated and the governor and council have appointed an acting executive director.

 III-b. The commission shall nominate for appointment by the governor and executive council an assistant executive director for an initial term of 2 years. All subsequent terms shall be 5 years.

 3 Trade and Commerce; State Commission for Human Rights; General Powers and Duties of the Commission. Amend RSA 354-A:5, X-XI to read as follows:

 [X. To render annually to the governor, president of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, senate clerk, house clerk, legislative fiscal committee, and council a full written report of its activities and of its recommendations. The report shall include:

 (a) A detailed summary of actions taken to address and remediate findings identified in the most recent performance audit issued by the legislative budget assistant in February 2025, including but not limited to:

 (1) Timeliness of case investigations and resolutions, the number of cases resolved, the number of outstanding cases before the commission, whether the commission has a backlog of cases, and the average time it takes to close a case;

 (2) Implementation of a case management system;

 (3) Development of strategic planning, internal controls, and performance metrics;

 (4) Training and oversight of staff and commissioners;

 (5) Adoption and enforcement of administrative rules;

 (6) Correction of prior audit findings;

 (7) Confidentiality and data management improvements; and

 (8) Definitions and processes related to legal standards in investigations.

 (b) Quantitative performance measures including average time to assign and close cases, number of cases exceeding statutory time limits, and comparison to prior years.

 (c) Progress updates on administrative rulemaking, strategic plan implement