Bill Text: NH HB1183 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relative to access to the galleries in the general court.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2012-02-15 - House Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Division Vote 243-81; House Journal 16, PG. 944-945 [HB1183 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2012-HB1183-Introduced.html

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HB 1183 – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-2520

01/09

HOUSE BILL 1183

AN ACT relative to access to the galleries in the general court.

SPONSORS: Rep. Horrigan, Straf 7

COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration

ANALYSIS

This bill codifies part 2, article 8 of the New Hampshire constitution requiring the galleries of each house to be open to all persons except in certain circumstances.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-2520

01/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT relative to access to the galleries in the general court.

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

1 New Section; Open Sessions of Legislature. Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 14-c the following new section:

14:14-d Open Sessions of Legislature. Pursuant to part 2, article 8 of the New Hampshire constitution, the galleries of each house shall be open at all times during legislative sessions except when the welfare of the state requires secrecy. In the case of a disruption, disturbance, emergency, or other condition which makes it unsafe to keep the gallery open, the house or senate shall go into recess until it is safe to continue. Such a recess shall be as short as possible. The availability of live streaming video, television broadcast, or other audiovisual presentation shall not be deemed a substitute for opening the galleries. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing law enforcement officers or the sergeant at arms from excluding dangerous or disruptive individuals, or from preventing entrance to the galleries when they are filled to capacity.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.