This bill introduces new provisions regarding the prosecution of misdemeanor sexual assault cases involving victims under the age of 16. It requires defendants charged with such offenses to choose between two options: they can either appeal to the superior court for a jury trial within 30 days after arraignment or proceed with a trial in the circuit court, which would waive their right to a jury trial and the right to appeal for a jury trial. The bill also mandates that the circuit court must conduct a colloquy with the defendant to ensure that the waiver of the jury trial is made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently.

Additionally, the bill amends existing legal language by replacing references to "District Court Rule 2.14" with "Rule of Criminal Procedure 21(a)" and clarifies the appeal process for misdemeanor convictions in circuit court. It specifies that appeals from circuit court convictions must follow the new provisions outlined in RSA 632-A:9-a, which pertains specifically to cases involving misdemeanor sexual assaults against minors. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to have a minimal fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each fiscal year from 2025 to 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 502-A:12, 599:1