Versions of HB623:
From 1971 House Journal, Senate Journal, and Laws of 1971
House Index
[HJ 2003] Right to know law extended
to general court committees, executive session ........ HB 623
inquiry as to applicability ....................... 135, 136-137, 148
[HJ 2077] HB 623 Extending
the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees.
(Cobleigh of Hil. 15)
466,
ext 926,
am 1130-1132,
psd 1145,
conc S am 1610,
enr 1680
(Chapter 327)
Senate Index
[SJ 2394] HB 623 Extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature
and all its committees.
773,
am 1461-1462,
psd 1477,
H conc 1484,
enr 1567
(Chapter 327)
Laws Index
[Laws 1010] Right to know law extended to general court committees, executive sessions 398-399
Tuesday, 26 Jan. 71
[HJ 135] PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
Rep. Bednar rose on a point of parliamentary inquiry as to whether or not the Right to Know law extended to executive sessions of committees.
The Speaker replied that upon receipt of the inquiry in writing and after research he would make a ruling.
Wednesday, 27 Jan. 71
[HJ 136] PETITION
January 27, 1971
Hon. Marshall Cobleigh
Speaker of the House
Honorable Sir:
As you requested Tuesday, I am herewith requesting a
ruling from the Chair relative to the applicability of the
[HJ 137] RIGHT TO KNOW LAW as it pertains to Executive sessions
of Committees of the General Court.
In 1967, the Right to Know Law specifically exempted Committees of the General Court. In 1969, the revised version omitted this exemption.
Page 110, section 110, of the Manual of the General Court (1969) states that "the decision of the committee regarding the contents of its report is always to be made in executive session" "Only members of the committee should be permitted in such executive sessions."
In your address to the legislature last week (page 6 of the prepared text, second to last paragraph) you made the following comment:
"I propose that we make the right-to-know law apply to all actions of this Legislature and its committees."
May I respectfully request a ruling from you if the present Right-to-Know applies to committees of the Legislature? Thank you.
Respectfully yours,
Rep. John M. Bednar, Hudson
Thursday, 28 Jan. 71
[HJ 148] Opinion of Deputy Director, office of Legislative Services, in answer to Rep. Bednar's inquiry relative to the applicability of the right-to-know law as it pertains to executive sessions of Committees of the General Court.
It is our opinion that the provisions of RSA 91-A do not apply to the General Court and, therefore, do not apply to executive sessions of the committees thereof.
"Public proceedings" are defined as transactions of any functions "by any board or commission of any state agency or authority." It is our opinion that the General Court was not intended to be included under either one of the terms agency or authority.
The Clerk read the ruling in full.
Wednesday, 24 March 71
[HJ 465] RESOLUTION Rep. Soule offered the following resolution:
Resolved, that in accordance with the list in the possession of the clerk, House Bills numbered 621 through 636 shall be by this resolution read a first and second time by the therein listed titles, laid on the table for printing and referred to the therein designated committees.
Adopted.
INTRODUCTION OF HOUSE BILLS
First, second reading & referral
[HJ 466] HB 623, extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees. (Cobleigh of Hillsborough Dist. 15 - To Statutory Revision.)
Wednesday, 4 May 71
[HJ 926] Rep. MacDonald requested a six day extension on HB 623, extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees.
Granted.
Thursday, 20 May 71
[HJ 1126] COMMITTEE REPORTS
[HJ 1130] HB 623
extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees. Ought to pass with amendment. Rep. MacDonald for Statutory Revision.
The committee unanimously felt the legislature should not exclude itself from a law it insists upon for all other governing bodies. The bill as amended would allow executive sessions for all of the current reasons allowed other bodies, and also allow an executive session upon a majority vote of a committee when matters are being discussed that in their opinion should not be made public.
AMENDMENT
Amend the bill by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the following:
[HJ 1132] Amendment adopted.
Ordered to third reading.
[HJ 1145] On motion of Rep. Harvell the rules of the House were so far suspended as to permit business in order at the late session to be in order at the present time, that third reading of bills be by title only, resolutions by caption only, and that when the House adjourns today it be to meet Monday at 11:00 o'clock.
LATE SESSION
Third reading and passage by House
[HJ 1146] HB 623, extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees.
Tuesday, 25 May 71
[SJ 772] HOUSE MESSAGES
INTRODUCTION OF HOUSE BILLS
First, second reading and referral
[SJ 773] HB 623, extending the application of the right to know law to the Legislature and all its committees. (Judiciary)
Friday, 18 June 71
[SJ 1461] HB 623
extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees. Ought to pass with amendment. Sen. Nixon for Judiciary.
AMENDMENT
Amend the bill by striking out section 3 and inserting in place thereof the following:
[SJ 1462] Sen. NIXON: Mr. President. HB 623, in original form, would have extended the right to know law to meetings of the Governor and Council and also to meetings of committees of the Senate and House, even in Executive Session, unless a majority of the committee voted that the Executive Session should be private. The amendment proposed by the Senate judiciary Committee would require that three-fifths of a legislative committee vote in Executive Session in favor of privacy before the right to know law provisions would be held inapplicable. With that amendment, the Committee recommends it ought to pass.
Amendment adopted. Ordered to third reading.
[SJ 1477] only and resolutions by captions only and that when the Senate adjourns today, it be until Monday at 1 o'clock. Adopted.
LATE SESSION
Sen. Foley moved that the following listed bills and resolutions be hereby each read a third time, bills by their titles only and resolutions by their captions only, and that each of said listed bills and resolutions be hereby passed:
Adopted.
Third reading & final passage
HB 623, extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees.
Monday, 21 June 71
[HJ 1609] CONCURRENCE ON HB WITH AMENDMENT
[HJ 1610] HB 623, extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees.
(Amendment printed in SJ 6-18-71)
[HB623 Senate Amendment]
Rep. MacDonald moved that the House concur with the Senate amendment.
Adopted.
[SJ 1484] HOUSE CONCURRENCE TO SENATE AMENDMENTS
HB 623, extending the application of the right to know law to the Legislature and all its committees.
Wednesday, 23 June 71
[HJ 1679] ENROLLED BILLS REPORT
[HJ 1680] HB 623, extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees.
Roxie A. Forbes For The Committee
[SJ 1566] ENROLLED BILLS REPORT
[SJ 1567] HB 623, extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees.
[Laws 399] Approved June 25, 1971.
Effective date August 24, 1971.