This bill proposes the repeal of the statutory requirement that certain relatives, including parents, spouses, and children, must provide support to indigent family members in need of public assistance. Specifically, it eliminates the provision that allows counties to recover costs for public assistance from these relatives, as well as from municipalities and the estates of deceased recipients. The bill amends RSA 165:20 to limit the recovery of expenses solely to the town or city that provided assistance, removing the ability to seek reimbursement from relatives. Additionally, it repeals several related statutes, including RSA 165:19, which pertains to liability for support, and RSA 166:12 and RSA 166:24, which address rights of action and recovery of expenses and court costs.

The effective date for this act is set for January 1, 2026. The fiscal impact of the bill is expected to be minimal, as the requirement for familial support is rarely enforced, and the New Hampshire Association of Counties does not anticipate any significant financial implications. The Department of Health and Human Services has indicated that its assistance programs operate independently of the provisions being repealed, suggesting that the bill will not affect state revenues or expenditures. Overall, the bill aims to alleviate the burden of financial support from family members of indigent individuals, thereby simplifying the public assistance framework.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 165:19
As Amended by the House: 165:19
As Amended by the Senate: 165:20