Senator Carson Introduces Bills to Protect New Hampshire Children

CONCORD, NH –Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) issued the following statement today on her introduction of two bills that strengthen protections for New Hampshire children SB 459-FN and SB 463-FN:

“There is nothing more important than protecting our children. That is why I have introduced SB 463, expanding access to court-appointed counsel for children in dependency proceedings, and SB 459, relative to the presumption of harm under the child protection act.”

“Both of these bills seek to give children a voice and advocate for what is in their best interest. Children are the most vulnerable of our population, and they depend on us to take proactive steps like these to keep them safe.”

Background: SB 463-FN requires the court to appoint an attorney to represent the expressed interests of a child who is placed in a group home or childcare institution.

SB 459-FN adds the use of restraint or seclusion to the definition of institutional child abuse or neglect in the child protection act, updates the rebuttable presumption of harm, and updates the mandatory reporting law to protect youth.

Majority Leader Sharon Carson is the prime sponsor for both bills. They were introduced today in the Senate Judiciary hearing.