This bill mandates the New Hampshire judicial branch, specifically the circuit court, to conduct a study on the current Domestic Violence Protocols, particularly Protocol 19-4, which pertains to the effectiveness of court-ordered batterers intervention programs, including both in-person and online formats. The study is to focus on aspects such as recidivism rates of offenders who have participated in these programs and the evaluation of the program providers to ensure that the curriculum meets the standards set by the court orders. The circuit court is instructed to collaborate with various organizations, including the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Crimes Against Children Research Center, for advisement during the review process. The findings of the study are to be reported by December 31, 2025, to the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the relevant senate and house committees.

The fiscal note attached to the bill indicates that there is no direct fiscal impact identified in terms of state, county, or local revenue or expenditures. However, the Judicial Branch has noted that it lacks the necessary in-house staff to carry out the study and would need to contract external expert services, the cost of which is indeterminable at this time. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and it is noted that the bill does not provide funding to cover the estimated expenditures nor does it authorize new positions for the implementation of the study. The Judicial Branch suggests that if the bill were amended to become a legislative study committee with court staff participation, there would still be an indeterminable cost associated with the staff time dedicated to the study.