Bill > HB1550

This bill requires marital masters, arbitrators, mediators, and judicial referees who work under contract with the New Hampshire judicial branch to be commissioned as justices of the peace as a qualification for their positions. Specifically, these professionals must first obtain a justice of the peace commission through RSA 455-A and renew it every five years by completing the same application process. Additionally, in their capacity as justices of the peace, they must take an oath or declaration as prescribed by part 2, article 84 of the New Hampshire constitution, and any individual who violates this oath will be immediately dismissed from their position. The bill applies to multiple professional groups involved in dispute resolution and judicial support roles, including marital masters, mediators, arbitrators, neutral parties, and judicial referees. The requirements aim to ensure a standardized level of accountability and commitment among these legal professionals. The bill will take effect on January 1, 2027, and while it does not provide direct funding, the Judicial Branch anticipates administrative costs between $10,000 and $50,000 for implementation, primarily related to verifying compliance, assisting with credentialing, and processing application fees.

Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=2007&inflect=2