This bill proposes amendments to the penalties associated with the offense of disobeying an officer, as requested by the Department of Safety. It modifies RSA 265:4 by adding new legal language and deleting existing provisions. Specifically, it introduces a new paragraph III, which outlines that individuals violating certain subparagraphs will face a class A misdemeanor, while those violating subparagraph I(c) will be charged with a class B felony. Additionally, if a violation of subparagraph I(c) results in injury or death to another person during a motor vehicle accident, the offender will be guilty of a class A felony. The previous language regarding fines for a class A misdemeanor has been removed.

The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local governments due to potential changes in judicial and correctional costs associated with the new penalties. The bill does not anticipate any revenue generation but may influence expenditures related to prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole. Various agencies, including the Judicial Branch and the Department of Justice, have been consulted regarding the implications of these changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265:4
HB1238 text: 265:4