HB486: relative to access to child support enforcement records.

CHAPTER 198

HB 486 - FINAL VERSION

25mar03... 0294h

2003 SESSION

03-0842

05/10

HOUSE BILL 486

AN ACT relative to access to child support enforcement records.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bickford, Straf 68; Rep. Gargasz, Hills 46

COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill permits attorneys employed by the department of health and human services in abuse and neglect cases to access certain financial records and the repository of parent locator information maintained by the office of child support enforcement.

This bill is a request of the department of health and human services.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

25mar03... 0294h

03-0842

05/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

AN ACT relative to access to child support enforcement records.

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

198:1 Alternative Method of Child Support Enforcement for Dependent Children; Access to Financial Records by Department of Health and Human Services Attorneys in Abuse and Neglect Proceedings. Amend RSA 161-C:3-a, IV to read as follows:

IV. Any records established or information collected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be made available only to the commissioner and the attorney general and their authorized designees, attorneys employed by the office of child support, attorneys responsible for the administration of RSA 546-B, attorneys employed by the department in RSA 169-C proceedings, the client or the client's authorized representative and courts or agencies in other states engaged in the enforcement of support of minor children as authorized by the rules of the department. Such records and information shall be available and used only for purposes directly connected with the establishment, enforcement, or modification of child support, the location and notification of parents in RSA 169-C proceedings, and the administration of this chapter. The records and information made available to the client or the client's authorized representative shall not include information provided to the department that is prohibited from release by federal law, state statute, state case law, or by contract or agreement between the department and another entity if such contract or agreement prohibits release of such information.

198:2 Support of Dependent Children; Repository for Information Relative to Child Support Enforcement; Access by Department of Health and Human Services Attorneys in Abuse and Neglect Proceedings. Amend RSA 161-B:7, III to read as follows:

III. Any records established or information collected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be made available only to the commissioner and the attorney general and their authorized designees, attorneys employed by the office of child support, attorneys responsible for the administration of RSA 546-B, attorneys employed by the department in RSA 169-C proceedings, the client or the client's authorized representative, and courts or agencies in other states engaged in the enforcement of support of minor children as authorized by federal law or the rules of the department. Such records and information shall be available and used only for purposes directly connected with the establishment, enforcement, or modification of child support, the location and notification of parents in RSA 169-C proceedings, and the administration of this chapter. The records and information made available to the client or the client's authorized representative shall not include information provided to the department that is prohibited from release by federal law, state statute, state case law, or by contract or agreement between the department and another entity if such contract or agreement prohibits release of such information.

198:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

(Approved: June 30, 2003)

(Effective Date: August 29, 2003)