The New Hampshire Senate Children and Family Law Committee convened on January 30, 2025, to discuss Senate Bill 77, which aims to standardize psychological evaluations for children involved in delinquency and child protection cases. The meeting opened with a public hearing on the bill, introduced by Senator Altschauer, who emphasized the need for equal treatment of children across different welfare systems.

Senator Altschauer highlighted that children identified as needing services often face trauma and may be involved in multiple systems, such as delinquency and child protection. He pointed out that when these children are removed from their homes and placed in residential facilities, they should receive the same quality of mental health evaluations as those in abuse and neglect cases. The bill seeks to ensure consistency in the type of psychological evaluations provided, regardless of the nature of the welfare proceeding.

Lisa Wolford, the executive director of the Children's Law Center of New Hampshire, also provided testimony in support of SB 77. She described the center as the only legal services nonprofit in the state focused on children's interests and noted that many children in these systems share similar backgrounds, often experiencing poverty and trauma. Wolford argued that the bill serves as a necessary housekeeping measure to guarantee that all children, regardless of their specific circumstances, receive high-quality psychological evaluations.

Wolford further explained that the statutes governing child welfare cases have many identical provisions, reinforcing the need for uniformity in the treatment of children across different systems. She pointed out that children involved in abuse, neglect, and delinquency cases often share similar challenges and should not be differentiated in terms of the protections afforded to them.

The committee did not have any immediate questions following the testimonies, indicating a smooth progression for the bill. The meeting concluded with a call for the committee to recommend that Senate Bill 77 ought to pass, reflecting a consensus on the importance of equitable treatment for vulnerable children in New Hampshire's welfare system. The next steps will involve further discussions and potential voting on the bill in upcoming sessions.