[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6339893,"mediaKeyId","2260377-bf49d9c9ae53f4154a0a5912280ea793","parentId",2260377,"title","Senate considers pilot to speed sexual assault kit transfer to state lab; amendment would require 7‑day delivery","audioSeconds",635,"startMs",5793190,"endMs",6428750,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260377-bf49d9c9ae53f4154a0a5912280ea793&start=5793&end=6428","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260377-bf49d9c9ae53f4154a0a5912280ea793/thumbnail_5793190.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6339893/New-Hampshire/Senate-considers-pilot-to-speed-sexual-assault-kit-transfer-to-state-lab-amendment-would-require-7day-delivery","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339893-96a98e08ddc7d44790eb9bca5e8aa4ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174652&Signature=Yfr~sGlkGQNzERYusbPDoE4SeuDgRgmaMILkZ1nvqKIuA6t~QrXhLpIeIv61FtQLbIjuY~utgBjCGbNtjJkFMX6cXrTPaPxISGltHGBjRioZhZyaPGhfPdGiApepjVsDdqBS2Plkv2KqGzIqZbtvkQDlzjPncrWgvHhZzbMqNA9BqG-N~L9i0LybZScdjT8Bi~Bxb4BjdfTU76VxiML1r7X-Q0NNTLxTDKSK6Iu6D~k80mOSauGLJfK2Ogq0dx6mz-4jMEWM3QgFABhdpx3Shl5JWWZJOtchqEW5pekF~XKlSImlUBaaToMrA2NYfn3Z4gUorHrRqargJVZUCzs3sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Senate","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","Sen. Deborah Altschuler presented a replacement amendment to Senate Bill 145 that creates a pilot program to expedite transfer of sexual assault evidence collection kits to the state crime laboratory. The amendment would require law enforcement agencies to deliver hospital‑collected kits to the lab within seven business days or, if staffing prevents timely hand delivery, to use a tracked common carrier (such as FedEx or UPS) from a storefront drop‑off during lab business hours.

Altschuler said the amendment responds to long testing delays that existed when the state contracted analysis to an out‑of‑state lab and to ongoing challenges for small, rural police departments that lack staff to transport kits during business hours. She described a prior timeline in which kits were sent out of state, producing 16–18 week turnaround time; with new in‑state equipment online, the bottleneck shifted to transporting kits to Concord for testing.

Melissa Staples, director of the New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory, testified about scope and recommended clarifying language. She suggested specifying that the transfer requirement applies to “all evidence collected by medical personnel in a sexual assault case occurring in New Hampshire,” which would encompass the probative samples most important to prosecutions.

Pamela Kiley of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence said survivors have repeatedly told advocates it is important that their kits be tested promptly; the coalition supported the pilot and the amendment’s emphasis on timeliness and chain‑of‑custody safeguards. Committee members discussed reimbursement for common‑carrier costs and emphasized that deliveries must be logged to protect chain of custody. Altschuler said the pilot is “all carrot, no stick” — designed to help small departments comply, not to punish them.

The committee approved an amendment (0 2 6 5 s) and moved the bill forward as amended; staff will complete a fiscal note and implementation details for reimbursement during subsequent drafting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Judiciary (02/11/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Senate bill 145 (replace amendment) would require that sexual assault evidence collection kits be transferred to the state crime laboratory within seven business days; if local staffing prevents direct delivery, authorized common carriers (storefront drop‑off with tracking) may be used and agencies can seek reimbursement under a pilot program.","taxTitle","Judiciary, Senate , Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",29511,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339895,"Bill would codify domestic violence fatality review committee; DOJ urges passage",1247,4569350,5817255,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260377-bf49d9c9ae53f4154a0a5912280ea793&start=4569&end=5817","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260377-bf49d9c9ae53f4154a0a5912280ea793/thumbnail_4569350.jpg","/articles/6339895/New-Hampshire/Bill-would-codify-domestic-violence-fatality-review-committee-DOJ-urges-passage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339895-eaa09770dcc2842d96129fe4df2f6a6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174652&Signature=PEH5z6reh3AWFSrkoF-oJOdIZtygahVui7Em1obOFfVKaNW5G3K6SBvk3jC~8NxCHOFVjogvDZF6FhQb888dCoGNWoO1DTSeNF-5zZpNqBAlcg-v1ysGfxkbPsfMerHO1hKlp1-ZytWCTHaF8k-wGDhFJS8mdir7J5FnaVKo5lJRTsuypwUSQYo-uCWYVgCrTQkubQnPtKWdYVDgOyYZnxCE-GeMOPinEUKF98EA4ayy~xpfGpKWVbW63KZTfzapMUdWuDya36Rqc870vCHsox-yCvYVJgS9yZ87BPXanh2MVy6gyLme955dpbvdm6CRN8ClO2O9hkY75fe10zUS7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Regina Birdsall presented Senate Bill 140 on behalf of the Department of Justice. The bill would establish a statutory domestic violence fatality review committee within the New Hampshire Department of Justice to conduct multidisciplinary reviews of deaths related to domestic violence and recommend system improvements.

Matthew Brodhead, associate attorney general, said the bill reflects consensus among stakeholders and urged the committee to pass SB 140. “By way of background, one in two women and more than two in five men have reported experiencing intimate partner violence at some point in their lives,” Brodhead said, and then cited New Hampshire homicide data showing a substantial share of killings involve family or intimate partners. He noted the committee has operated under executive order since about 2001 and was designed to include broad‑based membership to study closed cases and identify prevention opportunities.

Judge Susan Carbon, a retired circuit court judge who helped establish New Hampshire’s original review effort, testified in support and described the work as “no‑blame, no‑shame” systemwide review that has produced annual reports and follow‑up tracking. She urged codification so the committee’s systemic reviews and recommendations are continued in statute.

Testimony emphasized the committee’s role in identifying gaps in services and response across agencies and in recommending interventions intended to reduce future fatalities. Brodhead said more than 30 states have adopted statutory fatality review laws and that SB 140 aligns with best practices.

The committee accepted testimony and written letters of support; the bill was recommended for further consideration by the Judiciary Committee.","The Department of Justice-backed bill would create a statutory domestic violence fatality review committee to analyze domestic violence–related deaths and recommend system improvements. Supporters said the committee has operated by executive order for years; advocates and a former judge described its preventative value.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339899,"Committee hears bills to legalize so‑called 'natural organic reduction' (human composting) as end‑of‑life option",736,2324535,3060720,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260377-bf49d9c9ae53f4154a0a5912280ea793&start=2324&end=3060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260377-bf49d9c9ae53f4154a0a5912280ea793/thumbnail_2324535.jpg","/articles/6339899/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-bills-to-legalize-socalled-natural-organic-reduction-human-composting-as-endoflife-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339899-87405eec145e1b925a1fa6b33c370ef1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174652&Signature=AMgb84QT88MfSG8YyZ~rKvrMGA-vvTKAFf3~h8BWEc--dYaFEj1umez~eRVIPT9-VBAwVZwJgr61vLndLUMXmPN3yn0EEXGi~w~oM2HcgBm00R4BeX8rofbz7RxapDQh8pENHS7AT1ssTFtCb2Rw2bRVrwftFRtl20W9milCmoKtJbMZh~A~mvdbCNW3bPaVfhU-wErrtdi3egKvGGqwEe8ge9SONQL07Alcx9SQ3ebrA0iBp-nW5AUxsnzVLbiVnpqrR6Mkr73Ce2DvHsDSCig7wHvhAQW0jl2XD0watNtPHzc6ErL~4c~fL2c4YcwMXpEhd2Y8qkGDM6djP3CKmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Dan Ennis introduced Senate Bill 53 to authorize natural organic reduction — a process sometimes described as “human composting” — as a lawful disposition option in New Hampshire. “Live free after you die,” Ennis said, framing the bill as an expansion of consumer choice.

Proponents, including representatives of Earth Funeral and several individuals, said the process is used elsewhere in the U.S., is strictly engineered, and can provide an environmentally preferable option that returns soil to families or to conservation projects. Mike Vlasic, testifying for Earth Funeral, said the company has served families in other states and described the process as “a safe, responsible, and dignified process of turning a body into a soil amendment.” Nora Shannon Plank, an industry supporter, said the process allows families to express values through disposition and praised neighboring states’ movement toward legalization.

Funeral industry witnesses and other skeptics urged caution. David Bryant, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, said demand in New Hampshire is uncertain and raised questions about the resulting material, regulatory oversight and potential contamination (including PFAS). The New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association asked that fee schedules and some operational details be placed in regulation rather than statute, and suggested additional study before implementation.

Several witnesses and the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) recommended technical amendments. Deanna Juris, OPLC executive director (pinch‑hitting for counsel), suggested aligning licensing terms, inspection schedules and fee authority with existing boards and statutes. Representatives of Earth Funeral said the bill is modeled after regulatory frameworks in other states and pledged to collaborate with local funeral directors and regulators.

Supporters emphasized safeguards in the bill, such as testing of the resulting soil, and said the process is not intended for food production. Opponents requested clearer rules on wastewater, pathogen control, bone handling and post‑process disposal. Several participants urged that alkaline hydrolysis (a different disposition process) not be folded into this bill.

The committee received written testimony and asked sponsors and regulatory staff to consider technical fixes and regulatory delegation for fees and inspections before advancing the bill.","Lawmakers heard testimony both for and against Senate Bill 53, which would authorize natural organic reduction (human composting). Supporters cited consumer choice and environmental benefits; funeral industry witnesses urged careful regulation and further study of health, environmental and disposal rules.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339904,"Senate committee hears proposal to remove required pre‑cremation medical examiner view",1790,607791,2398390,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260377-bf49d9c9ae53f4154a0a5912280ea793&start=607&end=2398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260377-bf49d9c9ae53f4154a0a5912280ea793/thumbnail_607791.jpg","/articles/6339904/New-Hampshire/Senate-committee-hears-proposal-to-remove-required-precremation-medical-examiner-view","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339904-d2084c0ae267c423f3c50e705ea6d661/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174652&Signature=Um30qBhUsHEGkCcYkczxeI-2XxSpylUGzA0pcUad6p~2b-ZtMAwbLvY-og7NqlAOVexBfSL0kQ8euNgOjEAAJ0-lAi-Jjh8qIMUwjDgcIT9i4leAQB9f9flwXV7osb9fz10qzphvcs7K175K2y-nL~v4pgBRYUKyZOs2X49r7kiD6UGBtUI5PjhLIxzXL3jQvwVL0g5c8phbWuAXRz6navlWgjIRbkN0tf9EwZBaUjYeipevzVlW9pqDol8NjdDwNZdyvtIBnDid148GZCfSDx5bxPec-IBz-Ad3Aji7OgR75tIhC~LnSAmVpNdOWyF2uYM2HrVaZ80rBolEDeR6Hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Sue Prentiss, sponsor of Senate Bill 146, told the Senate Judiciary Committee the bill would remove New Hampshire’s current requirement that an associate deputy medical examiner perform an in‑person view of a body before cremation. “As written, we are only talking here about eliminating the views prior to cremation,” Prentiss said.

The change would not alter the underlying death‑certification process, proponents said. Jenny Duval, the state chief medical examiner, said death certificates — including cause and manner of death — are produced through existing channels before a body is transferred to a funeral home. “We’re only trying to make the system more efficient for number one, for the families,” Duval said, adding that New Hampshire switched to a regional full‑time medical examiner system about two years ago.

Supporters said two developments prompted the bill: the shift to regional associate deputy medical examiners (ADMEs) and a steady rise in cremation rates, which together have lengthened delays between death and families receiving remains. Duval said roughly 12,000 deaths in the state are certified annually; about 2,000 of those are non‑natural deaths that fall to the medical examiner’s office and roughly 600 proceed to autopsy each year. She said the required pre‑cremation view occurs for a very small share of cases and that the death certificate process already includes multiple checks for accuracy.

Opponents and interested parties raised concerns about liability and missing evidence. Peter Morin, executive director of the New Hampshire Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, said funeral professionals have relied on ADME views before cremation because cremation is final. Morin urged consideration of legal protections or “hold harmless” language for funeral directors who may be the last persons to see a decedent before cremation. He described examples where follow‑up contacts with the medical examiner were needed after funeral staff raised questions about a decedent’s history.

Committee members asked how the change would affect discovery of unreported deaths and whether the ADME jurisdiction would still act in unexpected deaths found outside institutions. Duval and a second witness described existing reporting rules that require referral to the medical examiner for unexpected or traumatic deaths and said the proposal preserves ADME involvement where statute or circumstances require it.

No formal committee action was recorded during the hearing; senators asked staff and stakeholders to continue technical review. The bill’s proponents said they would work with funeral professionals and counsel to address liability language and implementation details.

The hearing included extended technical explanation from the chief medical examiner’s office and testimony from the funeral industry. The committee did not vote on SB 146 at the hearing.","A bill to eliminate the separate in‑person medical examiner view before cremation drew questions about investigation safeguards and funeral‑industry liability. Sponsors and the chief medical examiner said the change would speed family access to remains while preserving death‑certification safeguards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate considers pilot to speed sexual assault kit transfer to state lab; amendment would require 7‑day delivery

Bill would codify domestic violence fatality review committee; DOJ urges passage

Committee hears bills to legalize so‑called 'natural organic reduction' (human composting) as end‑of‑life option

Senate committee hears proposal to remove required pre‑cremation medical examiner view