HB 1285 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

12Mar2020... 0601h

2020 SESSION

20-2060

06/05

HOUSE BILL 1285

AN ACT relative to possession of firearms on school property.

SPONSORS: Rep. Heath, Hills. 14; Rep. Cornell, Hills. 18; Rep. Doherty, Merr. 20; Rep. Eisner, Rock. 6; Rep. Mulligan, Graf. 12; Rep. Van Houten, Hills. 45; Rep. Berch, Ches. 1; Rep. Levesque, Straf. 4; Rep. Towne, Straf. 4

COMMITTEE: Education

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ANALYSIS

This bill prohibits carrying a firearm on school property.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12Mar2020... 0601h 20-2060

06/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

AN ACT relative to possession of firearms on school property.

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

1 New Section; Possession of Firearms on School Property. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 159:19-a the following new section:

159:19-b Possession of a Firearm on School Property.

I. No person shall knowingly possess a firearm on public school property, including buildings, grounds, school buses, and vans. Any person who violates the provisions of this paragraph shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

II. This section shall not apply to:

(a) Any person or persons picking up or dropping off a student, provided the firearm remains in a motor vehicle.

(b) Any person specifically authorized by name and in writing by the school board to possess a firearm on school property. Any school board considering granting such authorization shall first hold at least one public hearing, noticed in the usual manner. At the hearing, the board shall consider whether any persons should be authorized to possess firearms on school property. Following the public hearing, the school board may decide, in a nonpublic session, to authorize specific persons to possess firearms on school property. Any specific authorizations adopted shall specify the weapon that has been authorized, the purpose and scope of the authorization, and the time period for which the authorization applies. Such authorization shall not be subject to RSA 91-A.

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