NH HB 0599 AN ACT relative to appointments and reappointments of marital masters.

HB 0599

HB 599 – AS INTRODUCED

2011 SESSION

11-0773

09/10

HOUSE BILL 599

AN ACT relative to appointments and reappointments of marital masters.

SPONSORS: Rep. Soltani, Merr 8; Rep. Itse, Rock 9; Rep. Ingbretson, Graf 5; Rep. Mirski, Graf 10

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

ANALYSIS

This bill changes the authority for recommending marital masters for appointment and reappointment from the administrative judge of the judicial branch family division to the supreme court or its designee.

The bill also requires marital masters to be reappointed for 5-year terms in the same manner in which they were appointed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11-0773

09/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven

AN ACT relative to appointments and reappointments of marital masters.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Reappointments of Marital Masters. Amend RSA 490-D:7 to read as follows:

490-D:7 Nominations and Appointments of Marital Masters.

I. The [administrative judge of the judicial branch family division, with the concurrence of the] supreme court or its designee, shall recommend persons to the governor and council for [initial] appointment and reappointment as marital masters. In recommending candidates for [initial] appointment and reappointment as marital masters under this chapter, the [division] court or designee shall utilize the procedures and standards described in the rules of the judicial branch family division, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

II. For appointments of new marital masters, [the administrative judge of the judicial branch family division, with the concurrence of] the supreme court[,] or its designee shall submit to the governor the name of a nominee. The governor may accept the candidate nominated by the [administrative judge] court and submit the candidate to the council for confirmation or may reject the candidate [submitted by the administrative judge,] and request a new nominee. If the council rejects a candidate for confirmation, the governor shall request a new nominee.

III. Marital masters shall serve an initial term of 3 years. Subsequent reappointments shall be for 5-year terms and shall be made in accordance with [judicial branch family division rules] the procedures for appointment of new marital masters established in paragraphs I and II. During appointment terms, the authority and responsibility to conduct annual performance reviews, and termination, if necessary, shall be with the [administrative judge of the judicial branch family division] supreme court or designee.

2 Applicability. Section 1 of this act shall apply to all marital masters appointed or reappointed on or after January 1, 2012.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2012.