Bill Text: NH HB1718 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relative to judicial review of electoral districts.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-16 - Senate Refer to Interim Study, Motion Adopted, Voice Vote [HB1718 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2012-HB1718-Introduced.html

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HB 1718 – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-3039 03/09

HOUSE BILL 1718

AN ACT relative to judicial review of electoral districts.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bates, Rock 4

COMMITTEE: Special Committee on Redistricting

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes expedited judicial review of challenges to electoral districts.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-3039

03/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT relative to judicial review of electoral districts.

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

1 New Section; Elective Districts; Judicial Review. Amend RSA 662 by inserting after section 6 the following new section:

662:7 Judicial Review.

I. The superior court shall hear and rule on the merits of challenges to the validity of electoral districts as expeditiously as possible and, in any event, not later than 10 days following the commencement in the superior court of any such challenge. No decision of the superior court on the validity of electoral districts shall be subject to appeal unless filed with the supreme court within 5 days after the date of the decision. The supreme court shall give the appeal precedence over all other matters before it and may hold a special session to consider such appeal if it considers such action necessary. In any event, the supreme court shall issue its order and an opinion within 10 days of the filing of such appeal.

II. The house of representatives and the senate shall be full parties to any case involving a challenge to the validity of their electoral districts and may be represented by counsel chosen by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate respectively.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.