This bill mandates that offenders convicted of certain impaired driving laws must participate in a "qualified online victim impact panel program." The bill introduces a new definition for this program, which includes requirements such as 24-hour accessibility, bilingual offerings, direct client support, and a minimum of 3.5 hours of content that includes personal stories from victims and offenders. Additionally, the program must provide a certificate of completion and follow-up communications to reinforce the lessons learned. The bill also specifies that participants who can afford the program must pay for it, while those deemed indigent by the court can access it at no charge.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws related to driving under the influence and reckless driving to include the requirement for offenders to complete the victim impact program. Specifically, it adds new subparagraphs to RSA 265-A:18 and RSA 265:79, stating that individuals pleading guilty to certain offenses must complete the program. The bill also establishes a new effective date of January 1, 2026, for these provisions. Notably, it deletes previous language that may have been related to the penalties for these offenses, streamlining the focus on the victim impact program requirement.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265-A:1, 265-A:18, 265:79, 265:79-b