2/15/01...0147s

2001 SESSION

01-0797

04/01

SENATE BILL 44

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

ANALYSIS

This bill creates the class A misdemeanor of false academic documentation.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

2/15/01...0147s

01-0797

04/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One

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

46:1 New Section; Criminal Code; Fraud; False Academic Documentation. Amend RSA 638 by inserting after section 15 the following new section:

638:15-a False Academic Documentation.

I. A person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if such person knowingly does any of the following:

(a) Falsely creates, alters, or assists in the false creation or alteration of an academic degree.

(b) Solicits from another the false creation or alteration of an academic degree.

(c) Uses, offers, or presents as authentic a falsely created or altered academic degree.

(d) Sells, gives, purchases, or obtains, or assists in the selling, giving, purchasing, or obtaining of a false academic degree.

(e) Makes a false written representation relating to the person's academic degree, or makes a false written representation that the person has received an academic degree from a specific secondary, postsecondary, or professional institution, or governmental program, in the application for:

(1) Employment.

(2) Admission to any educational program.

(3) An award, honor, or other recognition.

(4) The issuance of an academic degree to the person himself or herself.

II. In this section, "academic degree" means a diploma, certificate, license, academic transcript, or other document which signifies or purports to signify the completion of the academic requirements of a secondary, postsecondary, professional, or governmental program of study.

46:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: June 8, 2001)

(Effective Date: June 8, 2001)