Bill > HB1706

This bill repeals the refugee resettlement program within the department of health and human services and prohibits the use of any state funds for refugee resettlement efforts. The bill defines "refugee resettlement program" to include the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and any other federal, nonprofit, or grant-funded initiative aimed at settling, funding, or assisting refugees or asylees. Consequently, the department of health and human services will be required to terminate existing contracts related to this program, and no state government department, agency, or unit will be allowed to accept money for refugee resettlement or spend state money to support it, either directly or indirectly through payments to local governments or non-governmental organizations. The bill also repeals a specific section of existing law (RSA 161:2, XVIII) that pertains to the New Hampshire refugee resettlement program and includes a severability clause, meaning that if any part of the act is found invalid, the rest will remain in effect.