New Hampshire HB 652: relative to suicide prevention.

Bill Text

HB 652-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2025 SESSION

 25-0295

 09/11

HOUSE BILL 652-FN

AN ACT abolishing the family division, creating the office of family mediation, and reassigning the jurisdiction of the family division.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Sabourin, Rock. 30; Rep. DeRoy, Straf. 3; Rep. Post, Hills. 42

COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law

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ANALYSIS

 This bill abolishes the family division, creates the office of family mediation, and reassigns the jurisdiction of the family division.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 25-0295

 09/11

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT abolishing the family division, creating the office of family mediation, and reassigning the jurisdiction of the family division.

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

 1 New Paragraph; Office of Mediation and Arbitration; Duties. Amend RSA 490-E:2 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:

 VI. The duties in this section shall not apply to cases assigned to the office of family mediation pursuant to RSA 490-E:8.

 2 Office of Mediation and Arbitration. Amend RSA 490-E:3 through 490-E:6 to read as follows:

 490-E:3 Administration. 

 I. The office of mediation and arbitration shall be administered by the judicial branch administrative council. 

 II. The office of family mediation shall be administered by the board of family mediator certification.

 490-E:4 Mediation and Arbitration Fund. 

 I. There is hereby established in the state treasury a separate fund to be known as the mediation and arbitration fund, which shall be used to help fund paid mediation and arbitration in the judicial branch and support the operation of the office of mediation and arbitration and the office of family mediation. The fund shall consist of: 

 (a) All moneys collected pursuant to RSA 461-A:7, X, RSA 490:27, II, RSA 490-D:12, III, RSA 503:4, II, and RSA 502-A:28, III. 

 (b) Any moneys appropriated to the fund by the general court. 

 (c) Any moneys collected by the office of mediation and arbitration and the office of family mediation from fees, grants, and other contributions, gifts, bequests, and donations. 

 II. Moneys in the mediation and arbitration fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the office of mediation and arbitration for costs of mediation and arbitration programs and the office of family mediation for costs of family mediation. 

 III. Moneys in the fund shall be identifiable as those relating to the office of mediation and arbitration separately from the office of family mediation.

 490-E:5 Immunity From Civil Liability. No mediator from either office, arbitrator, or other neutral party involved in dispute resolution under contract with the New Hampshire judicial branch or qualified intern acting under the direct supervision of a supervisor under contract with the New Hampshire judicial branch shall be held liable for civil damages for any aspect of judicial branch dispute resolution processes, unless such person acted willfully. 

 490-E:6 Quality Assurance Program. 

 I. The office of mediation and arbitration and office of family mediation [may] shall establish a quality assurance program to support the administration of family mediation and alternative dispute resolution programs in all courts. The program may include, but is not limited to: 

 (a) Investigating and resolving complaints about family mediation and alternative dispute resolution programs in all courts, including services or assistance provided by the office of mediation and arbitration or a neutral party approved by the judicial branch; and 

 (b) Monitoring and evaluating the appropriateness of alternative dispute resolution services provided by [the] either office or a neutral party approved by the judicial branch so that problems or trends in the delivery of services are identified and steps to correct problems can be taken. 

 II. The office of family mediation or the office of mediation and arbitration may request information about an alternative dispute resolution program in the courts. Any information received by the office may be shared only within the judicial branch and such information shall otherwise be confidential and privileged as provided by law, rule, or order. 

 III. Records of [the] either office's quality assurance program, including records of interviews, internal reviews or investigations, reports, statements, minutes, and other documentation, shall be confidential and shall be protected from d