SB 232-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED
2023 SESSION
23-0944
04/08
SENATE BILL 232-FN-A
SPONSORS: Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24
COMMITTEE: Finance
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ANALYSIS
This bill makes an appropriation to the internet crimes against children fund to support the work of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23-0944
04/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
I. The general court finds that the use of online platforms has led to a burgeoning of child abuse, sexual abuse exploitation, and endangerment to New Hampshire's children. The New Hampshire Internet crimes against children task force (NHICAC) has been a key component in the identification of exploited children and prosecution of the perpetrators of this particularly insidious method of abuse. Recognizing the critical work of the NHICAC, in 2017 the general court made appropriations for forensic shield for salary, benefits, training, and equipment related to the investigation of Internet crimes against children, and to expand educational efforts to interested groups, schools, and parents. Since then, the funds have been disbursed every 2 years in the amount of $500,000.
II. As recently as 2018, NHICAC was receiving about 35 to 50 cybertips per month and assisted with conducting 352 total investigations. In 2021, NHICAC received 1,107 cybertips, an average of 92 per month, and assisted with investigating 848 total investigations. Currently in 2022, NHICAC has averaged 153 cybertips per month. This dramatic increase in a relative short amount of time, has put a tremendous strain on NHICAC’s capabilities.
2 New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; Appropriation. The sum of $400,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 and the sum of $400,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 are hereby appropriated to the New Hampshire internet crimes against children fund established in RSA 21-M:17 for the purpose of hiring of hiring a cybertip manager, increasing hours dedicated to the task force's mission for the investigators who are also employed by affiliate agencies, adding an investigator to cover Grafton and Coos counties, and an investigator to cover Cheshire and Sullivan counties, including equipment necessary to outfit some of the added affiliate agencies with computer and software equipment so they may contribute to NHICAC’s overall mission. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.
23-0944
Revised 2/21/23
SB 232-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
Appropriation | $0 | $400,000 | $400,000 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Up to $400,000 | Up to $400,000 | $0 |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Internet Crimes Against Children Fund | |||
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LOCAL: |
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Revenue | $0 | Up to $400,000 | Up to $400,000 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill makes a general fund appropriation of $400,000 in FY 2024 and $400,000 in FY 2025 to the nonlapsing Internet crimes against children fund to support the work of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The Department of Justice indicates the Governor's recommended operating budget for the FY 2024-25 biennium includes an appropriation to the Internet crimes against children fund in the amount of $250,000 for FY 2024 and $250,000 for FY 2025. The Department assumes the bill is intended to increase the annual appropriation to the fund by $150,000 up to $400,000. If the amounts in the operating budget remain the same, the Department assumes the additional appropriations would only need to be $150,000 in each year. The Department states it would not need additional administrative resources to distribute the additional funds.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Justice