HB 359 - AS INTRODUCED
1999 SESSION
HOUSE BILL 359
AN ACT establishing a committee to study the rights of a private citizen to pursue a criminal investigation if he or she believes it is not being pursued vigorously.
SPONSORS: Rep. Lyman, Carr 5; Rep. Hunter, Hills 7
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
This bill establishes a committee to study the rights of private citizens to pursue a criminal investigation if he or she believes it is not being pursued vigorously.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
99-0622
05/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine
AN ACT establishing a committee to study the rights of a private citizen to pursue a criminal investigation if he or she believes it is not being pursued vigorously.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study issues related to criminal investigations which are currently addressed under RSA 642:3, RSA 643:1, and RSA 21-M:8, II(a). The committee shall examine the need for changes in current law to allow a private citizen to force a criminal investigation if he or she firmly believes and appears to have good circumstantial evidence that a crime has been committed.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Four members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be from the criminal justice committee and one of whom shall be from the judiciary committee, appointed by the speaker of the house.
(b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
3 Duties. The committee shall review existing laws concerning the process of conducting criminal investigations, and shall examine the need for changes in existing laws to allow a private citizen to force a criminal investigation if he or she believes and appears to have good circumstantial evidence that a crime has been committed. The committee shall specifically study issues related to RSA 642:3, RSA 643:1 and RSA 21-M:8 II(a).
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 1999.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.