2003 SESSION

03-0107

04/10

HOUSE BILL 71

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to study the potential uses and misuses of non-lethal weapons.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-0107

04/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

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

1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study regulations on the use and misuse of non-lethal weapons.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house.

(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. The committee shall seek information as needed from the attorney general, police officers, or any other individual with relevant expertise.

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

3 Duties. The committee shall:

I. Define what constitutes a non-lethal weapon.

II. Study the nature of non-lethal weapons and their potential uses and misuses in the law enforcement context.

III. Study the enactment of civil and criminal sanctions for the misuse of non-lethal weapons.

IV. Solicit advice and input from any individual with information or expertise relevant to the committee's purpose.

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. Three 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, 2003.

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