Dave Solomon's State House Dome: 'Pedophile Protection Act' tabled, not killed

By Dave Solomon
UniLeader
March 11, 2017

http://www.unionleader.com/Dave-Solomons-State-House-Dome:-Pedophile-Protection-Act-tabled,-not-killed

Rep. Jess Edwards testifies in January before a packed house on a bill to require evidence beyond victim testimony in sexual assault cases.

IN THE MAD DASH to wrap up Thursday's marathon session of the House of Representatives, Speaker Shawn Jasper, R-Hudson, presided over a series of tabling motions that left questions about the fate of several bills, including the so-called "Pedophile Protection Act," HB 106.

That bill, which requires corroborating evidence in sexual assault prosecutions, was widely considered dead on arrival in the House, yet was tabled.

As evening approached, the House still had 22 bills to deal with, and Republican leadership was growing concerned about keeping enough Republicans in their seats.

Democrats had already tried once to revive a bill on civil rights protections for transgender individuals, and would likely try again if enough Republicans left the chamber, and enough Democrats stayed behind.With the prospect of having to recess for dinner, and lose some members in the process, Jasper began to entertain tabling motions on every bill that had been voted down in committee, a move that precludes debate.

HB 106, a bill that was opposed even by its own sponsors, was tabled on a voice vote.

"The House chose to table rather than outright kill a bill that says that a rapist can't be convicted unless he leaves behind DNA evidence or there is an eyewitness to his crime," said Amanda Grady Sexton, public affairs director for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

It will, however, take a two-thirds majority to bring the bill back to life for this session.

Food stamp bill

A bill that would tighten up on eligibility for food stamps, SB 7, moves to the Senate next week with an ought-to-pass recommendation, as expected, from the Republican majority on the Health and Human Services Committee.

"This bill works to strengthen our state's welfare system by ensuring that only those truly in need are eligible for SNAP or food stamp benefits in New Hampshire," said lead sponsor Sen. Kevin Avard, R-Nashua.

In addition to beefing up work requirements, the bill would require food stamp recipients to cooperate with the state Division of Child Support Services in enforcing a child support order.

According to Mary Weatherill, division director, most households receiving food stamps are also qualified for cash benefits through Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) and health care through Medicaid, both of which require cooperation in enforcement of child support orders. Of the 46,691 households that qualified for food stamps in 2016, only 2,182 were food-stamp only. Of those 2,182 potential cases, many already have child support orders in place.

"We really don't have the data available in our system to know of those 2,182, how many would actually be cases that are not already in our child support system," said Weatherill, "So the impact is really indeterminable."

The work requirements and asset tests the new law would impose, however, could have far-reaching impacts.

Humane award

The Humane Society of New Hampshire has named Katherine Rogers "Humane Legislator of the Year," according to Lindsay Hamrick, the New Hampshire State director.

Rogers was the prime sponsor on last year's HB 1547, which banned sexual assault of animals in New Hampshire, the so-called "Bestiality Bill."

"She worked with prosecutors, animal protection organizations, the police chiefs and the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to lead a strong argument around the need for this legislation," said Hamrick.

Rogers was also the prime sponsor on this year's HB 1381, which would add protections for native, free-roaming wildlife to the state's animal cruelty law.

Stay, work, play ... please

There have been several bills floated in the Legislature to address the issue of retaining young workers in the state, but few have actually gained any traction.

SB 41, sponsored by Sen. Dan Innis, R-New Castle, cleared the Senate on Thursday and should be well-received in the House.

If the bill becomes law, graduates who take New Hampshire jobs in the high-tech fields would be reimbursed for up to $5,000 of student loan debt.

"With an incredibly low unemployment rate and a growing tech industry in New Hampshire, we need to create an environment where STEM educated students are encouraged to stay in our state and fill the numerous, well-paying, tech jobs available to them," said Innis.