This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.

RSA 21-M:11 · Bureau of Civil Law

Title: I: THE STATE AND ITS GOVERNMENT
Chapter: 21-M · DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Status: current
Official source linked: Yes

Official source Copy section link

21-M:11 Bureau of Civil Law. –

Copy link

There is established within the division of legal counsel a bureau of civil law. The bureau shall be supervised by a senior assistant attorney general who shall be appointed by the attorney general in accordance with the provisions of RSA 21-M:3 and who shall carry out the duties imposed by this section under the supervision of the attorney general and do such other work as the attorney general may assign. The attorney general shall appoint such other assistant attorneys general pursuant to the provisions of RSA 21-M:3 and such additional clerical, stenographic, and other staff as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section within the limits of the appropriations made for the bureau.

Copy link

II.

The duties of the bureau shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Copy link

(a)

Providing advice and legal representation in civil matters for all executive branch agencies;

Copy link

(b)

Providing advice and legal representation for the state in land acquisition matters;

Copy link

(c)

[Repealed.]

Copy link

III.

The department of justice shall have the authority to hire a full-time attorney assigned to the bureau, who shall act as legal counsel for state executive agencies in the procurement, negotiation, and development of contracts as determined by the attorney general. Each agency shall notify the department of justice of its intent to procure a contract or enter into any agreement that may materially impact the state, according to criteria established by the department of justice, including but not limited to, contract value, complexity, and performance obligations.

Copy link

IV.

To assist the attorney general in his or her duty to exercise supervision of campaign finance, election law, inaugural committee oversight, and lobbying matters, the department of justice may hire:

Copy link

(a)

An unclassified full-time investigator assigned to the bureau, who shall work exclusively on, campaign finance, election law, inaugural committee oversight, and lobbying matters. Notwithstanding RSA 14:14-c, the salary for the full-time investigator position shall be established as a salary grade BB.

Copy link

(b)

A classified full-time investigative paralegal assigned to the bureau, who shall work exclusively on campaign finance, election law, inaugural committee oversight, and lobbying matter. The classification shall be a paralegal II, labor grade 19. Source. 1985, 300:1, eff. July 1, 1985. 2015, 276:19, eff. July 1, 2015. 2019, 346:267, eff. July 1, 2019. 2025, 141:75, eff. July 1, 2025.

Copy link

Source note

Source. 1985, 300:1, eff. July 1, 1985. 2015, 276:19, eff. July 1, 2015. 2019, 346:267, eff. July 1, 2019. 2025, 141:75, eff. July 1, 2025.

Source history

1985, 300:1, eff. July 1, 1985
2015, 276:19, eff. July 1, 2015
2019, 346:267, eff. July 1, 2019
2025, 141:75, eff. July 1, 2025

Related materials

Bill relationships

2026 HB1595 amend · effective 2027-01-01
new subparagraph: (e) Screening the victim for risk of lethality pursuant to the guidance established under RSA 21-M:8-n. 12 New Section; Lethality Assessment Program. Amend RSA 21-M by inserting after section 8-m the following new section: 21-M:8-n Lethality Assessment Program. I. There is established a lethality assessment program to be administered by the department of justice. II. The depa
2026 HB1595-FN amend · effective 2027-01-01
new subparagraph: (e) Screening the victim for risk of lethality pursuant to the guidance established under RSA 21-M:8-n. 12 New Section; Lethality Assessment Program. Amend RSA 21-M by inserting after section 8-m the following new section: 21-M:8-n Lethality Assessment Program. I. There is established a lethality assessment program to be administered by the department of justice. II. The depa
2026 HB1633 reference
uthorized funding to cover cost of bill METHODOLOGY: This bill expands the information that must be provided to sexual assault survivors regarding their existing rights under RSA 21-M, revises and broadens the definition of “sexual assault survivor,” requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prominently post specific sexual-assault-related rights and evidence-handling information on its website, an
2026 HB1633-FN reference
uthorized funding to cover cost of bill METHODOLOGY: This bill expands the information that must be provided to sexual assault survivors regarding their existing rights under RSA 21-M, revises and broadens the definition of “sexual assault survivor,” requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prominently post specific sexual-assault-related rights and evidence-handling information on its website, an
2026 HB1675 amend
and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Subdivision; Commission to Investigate the New Hampshire Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. Amend RSA 21-M by inserting after section 19 the following new subdivision: Commission to Investigate the New Hampshire Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence 21-M:20 Commission to Investigate the New Hampshire Coalition Ag
2026 HB1684 amend
the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; The State and Its Government; Department of Justice; Free Speech Advisory Commission. Amend RSA 21-M by inserting after section 16-a the following new section: 21-M:16-b Free Speech Advisory Commission. I. There is established a standing commission to receive complaints, conduct preliminary reviews, and refer p
2026 SB558 amend · effective 2026-07-01
t center claims administrator. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Youth Development Center Claims Administrator. Amend RSA 21-M:11-a, III to read as follows: III. There is further established in the [executive] judicial branch a temporary full-time or part-time position known as the youth development center claims administrator, to be appointed by
2026 SB621 amend
lished under RSA 21-M:8-n. The commission may also assist with communication with the public concerning the status of any cold case. 2 New Section; Cold Case Commission. Amend RSA 21-M by inserting after section 8-m the following new section: 21-M:8-n Cold Case Commission. I. There is established a cold case commission to handle communications with family members of any victim whose case is un
2026 SB621-FN amend
lished under RSA 21-M:8-n. The commission may also assist with communication with the public concerning the status of any cold case. 2 New Section; Cold Case Commission. Amend RSA 21-M by inserting after section 8-m the following new section: 21-M:8-n Cold Case Commission. I. There is established a cold case commission to handle communications with family members of any victim whose case is un
2025 HB2 amend
withdrawn, and the claimant shall retain the right to pursue their claim in a judicial or other forum. 141:440 Youth Development Center Claims Administration and Settlement Fund; Reporting Requirements. Amend RSA 21-M:11-a, XVI to read as follows: XVI. The administrator, in consultation with the attorney general, shall [quarterly] submit [a] an itemized report each month to the speaker of the house of representatives, the presid
2025 HB2 repeal
also be responsible for administering the duties assigned to the attorney general regarding charitable trusts under RSA 7:19 through 32-a.] 141:75 Repeal; Bureau of Civil Law; Regulation of Charitable Trusts. RSA 21-M:11, II(c), relative to responsibility for the regulation of charitable trusts by the bureau of civil law, is repealed. 141:76 Department of Justice; Private Practice Prohibited. Amend RSA 7:6-d to read as follows