This bill establishes a Cold Case Commission within the Department of Justice to facilitate communication between the department and the families of cold case homicide victims. The commission will handle inquiries regarding the status of cold case investigations and assist in public communications about these cases. The new legal language inserted into RSA 21-M includes the establishment of the commission under section 21-M:8-n, which outlines its composition, including members from the Department of Justice, family members of cold case victims, and a representative from the New Hampshire Coalition of Missing and Murdered Persons. The commission will not have investigatory powers but will be responsible for managing communications related to cold cases.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the Department of Justice must share sufficient information with the commission while protecting any information that is legally protected or could compromise ongoing investigations. The commission will not receive information about victims whose family members are part of the commission. The fiscal note indicates that while the bill does not provide funding or authorize new positions initially, it is expected to result in increased state expenditures starting in FY 2027, with an estimated cost of $261,000 in that year due to the need for additional staff to support the commission's activities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-M:8-m
SB621 text: 21-M:8-m