This bill amends the existing law regarding the termination of parental rights by including qualifying convictions from other states as valid grounds for such petitions. Specifically, it modifies RSA 170-C:5, VII to incorporate language that recognizes equivalent convictions from courts of competent jurisdiction outside the state. The bill outlines specific offenses that, if committed by a parent, can lead to the termination of their parental rights, including murder, manslaughter, attempts or conspiracies to commit these offenses, and felony assaults that result in injury to the child or related individuals.

The new legal language inserted into the bill clarifies that convictions for the aforementioned offenses from other states will be treated the same as those from New Hampshire, thereby broadening the scope of the law. The bill does not retain any deletions from the current law, as it solely adds new provisions. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 170-C:5
Version adopted by both bodies: 170-C:5
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 170-C:5