HB1177: relative to the electronic filing of domestic violence and stalking petitions in the circuit court family and district court divisions.

HB 1177-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2024 SESSION

24-2221

09/05

HOUSE BILL 1177-FN

AN ACT relative to the electronic filing of domestic violence and stalking petitions in the circuit court family and district court divisions.

SPONSORS: Rep. Manos, Rock. 12; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Gregg, Hills. 7; Rep. Ball, Rock. 25

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill mandates the electronic filing of any domestic violence and stalking petitions filed on or after July 1, 2025 in the circuit court family and district court divisions.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2221

09/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

AN ACT relative to the electronic filing of domestic violence and stalking petitions in the circuit court family and district court divisions.

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

1 New Paragraph; Protection of Persons from Domestic Violence; Commencement of Proceedings; Hearing. Amend RSA 173-B:3 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:

III-a. For all petitions filed on or after July 1, 2025, all filings in cases commenced under this section shall be filed using the court's electronic filing system. The court may fully excuse a party from electronic filing if extraordinary circumstances would render electronic filing such a hardship that the party would be denied access to the court.

2 New Paragraph; Interference with Freedom; Stalking. Amend RSA 633:3-a by inserting after paragraph III-d the following new paragraph:

III-e. For all petitions filed on or after July 1, 2025, all filings in cases commenced under this section shall be filed using the court's electronic filing system. The court may fully excuse a party from electronic filing if extraordinary circumstances would render electronic filing such a hardship that the party would be denied access to the court.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.

LBA

24-2221

11/26/23

HB 1177-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the electronic filing of domestic violence and stalking petitions in the circuit court family and district court divisions.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None

Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue Fund(s)

None

Expenditures

$0

$323,0870

$310,636

$310,636

Funding Source(s)

General Fund

Appropriations

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No

• Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No

METHODOLOGY:

This bill mandates the electronic filing of any domestic violence and stalking petitions filed on or

after July 1, 2025 in the circuit court family and district court divisions. The Judicial Branch indicates the bill would require upgrades to the e-filing system and three additional Court Navigator Service Coordinator positions. The Branch provided the following cost estimates:

FY 2025*

FY 2026

FY 2027

Court Navigator Service Coordinator Positions (3)

$147,087

$310,636

$310,636

E-filing upgrades, contract cost

$176,000

$0

$0

Total:

$323,087

$310,636

$310,636

*With an effective date of 1/1/2025, the position costs are for 1/2 of FY 2025.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch