Bill > HB194

This bill modifies the crime of interference with custody by adding new provisions that criminalize certain actions taken with the intent to disrupt a lawful court order regarding a child's custody or to prevent a court from exercising its authority over a child. Specifically, it makes it a class B felony for someone to knowingly interfere with or obstruct a parent's court-ordered parenting time, or to entice a child to leave that parent, or to take or keep a child in violation of a custody order, including temporary orders. Additionally, it creates a new offense for someone who, without court-awarded custody and knowing a custody case is pending, takes a child out of state or county with the intent to deprive the court of jurisdiction; this offense is a violation for a first or second offense, but a class B felony for a third or subsequent offense. The bill also establishes an affirmative defense if the person taking or keeping the child was entitled to parenting time or access, or was acting in good faith to protect the child from immediate danger or abuse, or fleeing domestic violence, and subsequently filed a petition to modify the custody order.

Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=179&inflect=2