HOUSE BILL No. 674
INTRODUCED BY: Rep. Packard of Merrimack Dist. 4; Rep. Eaton of Cheshire Dist. 11
REFERRED TO: Judiciary
AN ACT relative to the confidentiality of law enforcement investigative files.
ANALYSIS
This bill, requested by the attorney general's office, exempts pending criminal litigation records and certain investigatory records from the right to know law.
HB 674
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine
AN ACT
relative to the confidentiality of law enforcement investigative files.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Criminal Records. Amend RSA 91-A:5 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraphs:
V. Records pertaining to pending criminal litigation or any criminal litigation which can reasonably be anticipated until such litigation is finally adjudicated or otherwise settled.
VI. Investigatory records, other than records subject to RSA 91-A:5, V, compiled for law enforcement purposes to the extent that the production of such records would constitute an invasion of privacy, might adversely affect the reputation of any person, substantially inhibit the cooperation of any person with the state in law enforcement matters, disclose the identity of a confidential source or confidential information furnished by such a source, disclose investigative techniques or procedures or endanger the life or physical safety of any person. If the custodian of the investigatory records establishes reasonable grounds that such records come within the above exceptions, they shall not be disclosed.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.