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HB200: relative to choice of counselor to evaluate a child in family court proceedings.

Bill details

Version history, amendments, and roll-call votes were not present in the imported local bill data.

Sponsors

Topics

Criminal justice and courts Children and family law

Official links

HB 200 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

14Feb2023... 0010h

2023 SESSION

23-0471

06/04

HOUSE BILL 200

AN ACT relative to choice of counselor to evaluate a child in family court proceedings.


ANALYSIS

This bill allows for parents to choose their counselor for counseling that is part of the parenting plan issued in a court order, as well as in any other counseling used in family court to evaluate a child. This bill also requires courts to select counselors that are participating providers in the parties' insurance networks.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14Feb2023... 0010h 23-0471

06/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

AN ACT relative to choice of counselor to evaluate a child in family court proceedings.

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

1 Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Parenting Plans; Contents; Establishing Right to Choice of Counselor. Amend RSA 461-A:4, III to read as follows:

III. If the parenting plan directs a child of the parties to participate in counseling, the parents shall have the right to choose the counselor. In cases where the parties are unable to agree on a counselor or in the event that a finding of abuse has been made, the court shall choose a participating provider in the parties' health insurance carrier network.

2 New Section; Judicial Branch Family Division; Counseling. Amend RSA 490-D by inserting after section 15 the following new section:

490-D:16 Counseling. In the event that a court proceeding under this chapter requires a child to be evaluated by a mental health practitioner, the parents of the child shall have the right to choose the practitioner. In cases where the parties are unable to agree on a practitioner or in the event that a finding of abuse has been made, the court shall choose a participating provider in the parties' health insurance carrier networks.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2024.