This bill mandates that county sheriffs oversee all federal law enforcement actions within their counties, granting them the authority to halt any unauthorized or improperly conducted actions. Specifically, the bill adds a new paragraph to RSA 104:5, which requires sheriffs and their deputies to maintain a nonparticipating presence during the execution of federal warrants and arrests. Additionally, sheriffs must receive advance notice from federal law enforcement agencies regarding any actions in their jurisdiction. If prior notice is not provided or if best practices for minimizing deadly force are not followed, sheriffs can deem such actions unauthorized and terminate them.

The fiscal impact of this bill is expected to be indeterminable, as it may lead to increased expenditures for county sheriffs' offices due to the requirement for personnel to be present during federal actions, potentially resulting in overtime costs. The New Hampshire Association of Counties has indicated that these duties fall outside the current scope of work for sheriffs, and the requirement for advance notice from federal agencies could lead to additional litigation, further complicating the financial implications for county governments. The Department of Justice does not anticipate any revenue or expenditure changes resulting from this bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 104:5