HB 445 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0865
09/05
HOUSE BILL 445
SPONSORS: Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. D. Mannion, Rock. 25; Rep. Rhodes, Ches. 17; Rep. Tenczar, Hills. 1; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to study the causes of and ways to alleviate the shortage of law enforcement officers in New Hampshire, provides duties thereto, and provides for its repeal.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0865
09/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT establishing a study commission to examine the causes of and ways to alleviate the shortage of law enforcement officers in New Hampshire.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Commission on Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention; Commission Established. Amend RSA 105 by inserting after section 13-d the following new section:
105:13-e Commission on Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention; Commission Established.
I. There is established a commission to study the causes of and ways to alleviate the shortage of law enforcement officers in New Hampshire.
II. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) A representative from the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, appointed by the association.
(b) A representative from the attorney general’s office, appointed by the attorney general.
(c) A representative of the university system of New Hampshire, appointed by the chancellor.
(d) A representative from New Hampshire Municipal Association, appointed by the association.
(e) A representative from the New Hampshire house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house.
(f) A representative from the New Hampshire senate appointed by the president of the senate.
(g) A representative from the New Hampshire State Police Troopers Association, appointed by the association.
(h) A representative from the New Hampshire Police Association, appointed by the association.
(i) A representative from the New Hampshire retirement system board of trustees, appointed by the board.
(j) The director of the New Hampshire police standards and training council, or designee.
III. The commission's study shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) The current retirement system and how it compares to surrounding states.
(b) Possible modifications to make the retirement system more competitive.
(c) The possibility of a “class to cruiser” program with the university of New Hampshire where tuition waivers may be available for people who fulfill a commitment to serve for a specified number of years with a New Hampshire police department.
(d) A program that creates a partnership with the Department of Defense that would assist service members leaving the military in finding immediate employment in New Hampshire law enforcement.
(e) Any other suggestions the commission identifies that may assist in the retention or recruitment of officers in New Hampshire.
IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
V. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation 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 the date of the commission's repeal.
2 Repeal. RSA 105:13-e, relative to the commission on law enforcement recruitment and retention, is repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect 18 months after its passage.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.