14feb02...2462h

4/10/02 3346s

2002 SESSION

01-2106

09/01

HOUSE BILL 1236-FN

AN ACT establishing a committee to study the adjudication of divorces pursuant to part 2, article 76 of the New Hampshire constitution.

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to study the adjudication of divorce cases pursuant to part 2, article 76 of the New Hampshire constitution.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14feb02...2462h

4/10/02 3346s

01-2106

09/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Two

AN ACT establishing a committee to study the adjudication of divorces pursuant to part 2, article 76 of the New Hampshire constitution.

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

193:1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the adjudication of divorces pursuant to part 2, article 76 of the New Hampshire constitution. Part 2, article 76 of the New Hampshire constitution states that "All causes of marriage, divorce and alimony; and all appeals from the respective judges of probate shall be heard and tried by the superior court until the legislature shall by law make other provisions."

193:2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be 6 members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

193:3 Duties. The committee shall study the adjudication of divorce cases, pursuant to part 2, article 76 of the New Hampshire constitution. In making its study and recommendations, the committee shall consider:

I. The caseload of each court and the effect shifting divorce cases between courts would have on each court's caseload.

II. The allocation of resources to each court, including but not limited to:

(a) Financial resources.

(b) Physical space.

(c) Personnel.

193:4 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 member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

193:5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before December 4, 2002.

193:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: May 15, 2002)

(Effective Date: May 15, 2002)