The bill SB 142-FN establishes the Department of Children's Services and Juvenile Justice (DCSJJ) in New Hampshire, transferring various functions, powers, and duties from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), specifically from the Division for Children, Youth and Families and the Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health. This transition includes the transfer of all related personnel, records, property, programs, operations, and funds, with the aim of providing a unified administration of services for children and youth, including child protection, foster care, juvenile justice, and behavioral health services. The bill introduces new legal language that defines terms such as "near fatality" and outlines conditions for information disclosure in child abuse cases, while also establishing a quality early learning initiative for families with incomes between 190% and 250% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a Governor’s Commission on Children’s Services to ensure collaboration among departments serving youth and families, and it requires the commissioner of the new department to adopt rules for child welfare programs. The existing Division for Children, Youth and Families and the Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services will be abolished, with all functions and resources transferred to the DCSJJ. The bill also updates various references in existing laws, replacing mentions of the DHHS with the new department, and emphasizes the importance of rehabilitating juvenile delinquents and protecting children's interests. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and while it does not provide funding or authorize new positions, it is projected to incur significant expenditures exceeding $11 million in the first year of implementation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-V:2, 126-A:39, 161:2, 170-H:1, 28-B:3, 126-A:5, 186-C:14, 187-A:20-b, 490-C:2, 597:2, 6:12-c, 621-A:11, 651-E:2, 47:11-b, 170-G:4