This bill introduces new procedures for expedited court hearings regarding animals that have been confiscated due to allegations of animal cruelty. It amends RSA 644:8, IV(a)(3) to prioritize cases involving confiscated animals on the court calendar, requiring a status hearing to be held within 14 days of confiscation. The bill includes several key insertions: it establishes that the purpose of the hearing is to determine the lawfulness of the confiscation, allows the court to make temporary custody determinations in the best interest of the animal, and permits the transfer of custody to co-owners if appropriate. Additionally, it stipulates that if the accused fails to appear in court without proper notice, the hearing will proceed as scheduled.

The bill also specifies that the hearing may include the defendant's arraignment if requested, and that waiving the arraignment does not waive the 14-day hearing requirement. The effective date for this act is set for January 1, 2027. The fiscal impact of the legislation is estimated to be less than $10,000 for each fiscal year from 2027 to 2029, as determined by the Legislative Budget Assistant.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 644:8
As Amended by the Senate: 644:8
As Amended by the House: 644:8
Version adopted by both bodies: 644:8
SB619 text: 644:8