HB 1231 - AS INTRODUCED
2000 SESSION
HOUSE BILL 1231
AN ACT requiring proposed legislation to be reviewed by a house or senate special committee to determine constitutionality prior to its introduction.
SPONSORS: Rep. Marple, Merr 11; Rep. L. Jean, Hills 17; Rep. Weyler, Rock 18; Rep. Brothers, Graf 6
COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration
This bill establishes a house special committee and a senate special committee on constitutionality to review proposed legislation prior to initial introduction.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
00-2070
10/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand
AN ACT requiring proposed legislation to be reviewed by a house or senate special committee to determine constitutionality prior to its introduction.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Review of Bills. Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 49 the following new subdivision:
Review of Bills
14:50 Review of Bills; Special Legislative Committees on Constitutionality.
I. Prior to the introduction of any bill in any session of the house or senate, respectively, a special committee of each body shall review the bill proposed for the body to determine if the contents of the bill violate any provision of the New Hampshire Constitution or the United States Constitution, or are not otherwise in conformity with constitutional requirements, principles, and interpretations.
II. For all house bills, the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint 3 house members as a special committee for the purposes stated in paragraph I. Such members shall serve for their term of office.
III. For all senate bills, the senate president shall appoint 3 senate members as a special committee for the purposes stated in paragraph I. Such members shall serve for their term of office.
IV. If any special committee under this section determines that the contents of proposed legislation violate the New Hampshire constitution or the United States Constitution, or are not otherwise in conformity with constitutional requirements, principles, and interpretations, the special committee shall recommend that the bill not be passed by the body. The special committee may propose an amendment to remove the constitutional infirmity.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.