Bill Text: NH HB1256 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishing a committee to study the effectiveness of the Granite Hammer/Shield programs.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-09-23 - Died on Table [HB1256 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2020-HB1256-Introduced.html
HB 1256 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2574
08/01
HOUSE BILL 1256
AN ACT establishing a committee to study the effectiveness of the Granite Hammer/Shield programs.
SPONSORS: Rep. Amanda Bouldin, Hills. 12; Rep. Conley, Straf. 13; Rep. Andrew Bouldin, Hills. 12; Rep. Burt, Hills. 39; Rep. Sylvia, Belk. 6; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a committee to study the effectiveness of the Granite Hammer/Granite Shield Programs.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-2574
08/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
AN ACT establishing a committee to study the effectiveness of the Granite Hammer/Shield programs.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the effectiveness of the Granite Hammer/Shield Programs.
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 of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
I. The committee shall study the effectiveness of the series of substance abuse enforcement programs and cross border drug interdiction programs which have existed since 2014, commonly known as Granite Hammer or Granite Shield, including:
(a) Determining which entities have received funding through these programs, including the amounts and dates of each disbursement.
(b) Determining how many arrests have occurred which were funded in any part through these programs, including the names of those charged and all charges brought, including the name of the law enforcement agency executing the arrest and the date upon which the arrest occurred.
(c) Whether the majority of arrests to date have been focused on the investigation and apprehension of individuals or organizations that are involved in opioid related drug use and trafficking, per department of safety Rules Saf-C 2900.
(d) What other crimes, if any, were the focus of any arrests funded through these programs.
(e) Whether those arrested pursuant to these programs continued to offend after their initial arrest under these programs.
(f) Whether there have been improvements in rates of drug abuse in areas which received disbursements from these programs, and in the state at large.
(g) Whether these funds made a positive impact which warrants the cost of the funds being expended.
(h) Whether the funds which have been allocated to date might have been more effective at reducing rates of drug abuse had they been allocated to other programs, including but not limited to treatment programs.
(i) The purpose of the program’s name change from Granite Hammer to Granite Shield.
(j) Whether any funds were used for the “purchase of evidence” or for “confidential funds."
II. The committee shall solicit information from any individual or entity the committee deems relevant to its study, including but not limited to the department of justice, members of law enforcement, the New Hampshire Public Defenders, the New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the American Civil Liberties Union, members of the addiction treatment community, members of the mental health community, and members of the public.
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 and the future of the Granite Hammer/Shield programs to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2020.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
