HB 371 – AS INTRODUCED
2015 SESSION
03/09
HOUSE BILL 371
AN ACT relative to assessing the consequences of the Citizens United decision.
SPONSORS: Rep. Elliott, Rock 8; Rep. L. Christiansen, Hills 37; Rep. Grenier, Sull 7; Rep. Kidder, Merr 5; Rep. Bixby, Straf 17; Rep. Cooney, Graf 8; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration
This bill requires legislative hearings assessing the consequences of the Citizens United decision evaluating related proposals to amend the United States Constitution and calls upon New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to support an amendment to the United States Constitution.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
15-0806
03/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT relative to assessing the consequences of the Citizens United decision.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Hearings Required; Report.
I. Acknowledging the necessity of an amendment to the United States Constitution that redresses the corrupting influence that money has in the electoral system due in large part to the consequences of Citizens United and other related Supreme Court decisions, the New Hampshire state legislature calls upon New Hampshire's congressional delegation to do all in its power to support and pass such an amendment to the Constitution, while ensuring individuals' constitutional rights as intended by the framers.
II. The senate public and municipal affairs committee and the house election law committee shall jointly conduct at least 4 public hearings at geographically diverse locations in order to obtain public input on the consequences of the United States Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010) and proposals to amend the United States Constitution in response to that decision.
III. The senate public and municipal affairs committee and the house election law committee shall jointly prepare a report summarizing the findings of the hearings conducted under paragraph I and evaluating the constitutional amendment proposals. The report may include recommended wording for a constitutional amendment to be forwarded to the New Hampshire congressional delegation. The committees shall submit the report to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2015.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.