Bill Text: NH HB252 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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

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Bill Title: Relative to pro se litigants under the right-to-know law.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-2)

Status: (Passed) 2018-06-26 - Signed by Governor Sununu 06/25/2018; Chapter 289; Eff. 1/1/2019 [HB252 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2018-HB252-Introduced.html

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HB 252 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2017 SESSION

17-0518

01/09

 

HOUSE BILL 252

 

AN ACT relative to pro se litigants under the right-to-know law.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. M. Smith, Straf. 6; Rep. Sylvia, Belk. 6; Rep. Berch, Ches. 1; Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 6; Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Hoell, Merr. 23; Rep. Backus, Hills. 19; Sen. Lasky, Dist 13

 

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill clarifies the procedure for pro se litigants under the right-to-know law.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0518

01/09

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT relative to pro se litigants under the right-to-know law.

 

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

 

1  Right-to-Know Law; Violations.  Amend RSA 91-A:7 to read as follows:

91-A:7  Violation.  Any person aggrieved by a violation of this chapter may petition the superior court for injunctive relief.  In order to satisfy the purposes of this chapter, the courts shall give proceedings under this chapter high priority on the court calendar.  Such a petitioner may appear with or without counsel.  The petition shall be deemed sufficient if it states facts constituting a violation of this chapter, and may be filed by the petitioner or his or her counsel with the clerk of court or any justice thereof.  Thereupon the clerk of court or any justice shall order service by copy of the petition on the person or persons charged.  Unless waived by the petitioner, the petition shall be considered a request for admission as evidence for all exhibits filed with the petition.  The answer to the petition and any responses to such request for admission shall  be provided to the petitioner or his or her counsel at least 3 days prior to a hearing on the merits.  When any justice shall find that time probably is of the essence, he or she may order notice by any reasonable means, and he or she shall have authority to issue an order ex parte when he or she shall reasonably deem such an order necessary to insure compliance with the provisions of this chapter.  

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2018.