DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

RSA tit. I, ch. 21-H

in effect

RSA 21-H:1 Purpose.

21-H:1. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to improve the administration of state government by consolidating and providing unified direction of policies, procedures and programs in the field of corrections. It is the intent of the general court that this consolidation lead to improved integration of state corrections programs and increased efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of these programs. It is also the intent of the general court that the department of corrections provide for consistency and continuity in the collection, retention and analysis of management information and records and reduction in the administrative and operating costs of corrections agencies. Source. 1983, 461:1, eff. July 1, 1983.

RSA 21-H:2 Definitions.

21-H:2. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings: I. "Adult" means any person 18 years of age or older or any person under the age of 18 who has been certified as an adult pursuant to RSA 169-B:24. II. "Commissioner" means the individual in charge of the operations of the department of corrections, who is directly responsible to the governor. III. "Correctional facility", "facility", or "institution" means any building, enclosure, space, or structure used for the confinement of persons committed to the custody of the commissioner, or for any other matter related to such confinement. IV. "Delinquent" or "delinquent child" means a person who has committed an offense before reaching the age of 18 years which would be a felony or misdemeanor under the criminal code of this state if committed by an adult. V. "Department" means the department of corrections. VI. "Division" means a principal unit within the department, which is directly responsible to the commissioner. VII. "Inmate" means any adult committed by law to the custody of the commissioner. VIII. "Offender" means any adult person convicted of a crime or offense under the laws of this state. Source. 1983, 461:1. 1995, 308:97, 98, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. 2014, 215:1, 2, eff. July 1, 2015.

RSA 21-H:3 Establishment; General Functions.

21-H:3. Establishment; General Functions. I. There is hereby established a department of corrections, an agency of the state. II. The department of corrections, through its officials, shall be responsible for: (a) Providing for, maintaining and administering such state correctional facilities and programs as may be required for the custody, safekeeping, control, correctional treatment and rehabilitation of inmates. (b) Supervising persons placed on probation and persons released on parole and administering probation and parole services. (c) Acting in an advisory capacity in assisting law enforcement agencies and communities in the prevention of crime and delinquency. (d) Ensuring that victims of crime are treated in a manner consistent with RSA 21-M:8-k. Source. 1983, 461:1. 2009, 283:1, eff. Sept. 27, 2009.

RSA 21-H:4 Internal Organizational Units.

21-H:4. Internal Organizational Units. The department shall include the following internal organizational units performing the following major functions: I. The unclassified chief financial and operating officer shall, in accordance with applicable laws, be responsible for: (a) Accounting, purchasing, and budget control. (b) Property, contracts, and grant management. (c) Assistance to the commissioner with short and long range department-wide planning activities. (d) Logistics, facilities management, and food service. (e) Business information and technology. (f) Other duties assigned by the commissioner. I-a. The unclassified director of personnel and information shall be renamed the director of operations and project management and shall report directly to the chief financial and operating officer. II. The division of field services, under the supervision of an unclassified director of field services, who shall, in accordance with applicable laws, be responsible for: (a) Supervising adults placed on probation and inmates placed on parole. (b) Collection of restitution from individuals under the department's supervision. III. The division of medical and forensic services, under the joint supervision of a medical director and an unclassified non-medical director, who shall respectively have the duties and responsibilities provided in RSA 622:43, and who shall act in an advisory and coordinative capacity in assisting other agencies and activities in the provision of mental health and psychiatric services to persons involved in the criminal justice system. IV. The bureau of investigations and professional standards, under the supervision of an unclassified bureau chief of investigations of professional standards, who shall, in accordance with applicable laws: (a) Conduct and supervise investigations and audits relating to all aspects of the operations and programs of the department, including but not limited to, complaints and grievances. (b) Advise the commissioner concerning problems or deficiencies relating to the administration of departmental programs and operations, and provide advice on the necessity for, and progress of, correctional action. (c) Perform other duties as assigned by the commissioner. V. The human resources bureau under the direction of a classified human resources director, who shall, in accordance with applicable laws, be responsible for the following functions: (a) Personnel management, recruitment, and retention. The department shall develop a program for the recruitment, selection, placement, and retention of qualified applicants for the New Hampshire department of corrections. (1) The program may include expenditures for recruitment and retention activities and incentives, including but not limited to: (A) National Corrections Professionals Week recognition activities at all departmental sites to support employee retention, which may include a paid meal for the site during the week, physical awards and gift cards with a value of less than $25 as performance incentives based on departmental policies for employee recognition, and items issued to employees that are within the financial scope of the department's current expense appropriations in expenditure class 020. (B) Referral fees or bonuses for active employees or newly hired applicants who have not been employed by the state through a policy approved by the commissioner. (2) Any recruitment or retention incentives received by an employee pursuant to this subparagraph shall not be considered gifts under RSA 15-B. (3) Referral of applicants by current department employees for the purpose of receiving a referral fee pursuant to this subparagraph shall not be considered a misuse of position under RSA 21-G:23, provided that any rules adopted by the commissioner and any directives issued by the director regarding the referral program shall require that the benefits of the program shall be equally available to all department employees, except as specified in subparagraph (1)(B), and subject to uniform criteria established by the director. (4) Any expenditures made for recruitment or retention incentives pursuant to this subparagraph shall be considered a matter of legislatively-enacted public policy designed to benefit employees and the state, and that is confined exclusively to the public employer by statute as provided in RSA 273-A:1, XI, and which shall not be subject to collective bargaining. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to invalidate any portion of a collective bargaining agreement entered into by the state. (b) Other duties as assigned by the commissioner. VI. The division of rehabilitative services, under the supervision of an unclassified director of rehabilitative services, who shall, in accordance with applicable laws: (a) Direct and oversee departmental rehabilitative services for inmates to prepare them for release from institutional settings into the community. (b) Coordinate with community organizations to provide a continuity of rehabilitative services for individuals under probation or parole supervision in order to achieve stability within the community and reduce recidivism. (c) Operate and administer all transitional work and housing units where inmates are assigned for minimum security and work release. (d) Serve as the primary liaison between the department and community-based service providers, and municipal, county, and state entities with common issues and responsibilities, including educational and vocational or career-path opportunities. (e) Work with the department of justice and other state and federal agencies to identify, secure, and manage grant funds to supplement services available to individuals under departmental supervision, including but not limited to housing and employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, and medical and prescription services. VII. The division of communications and external affairs, under the supervision of an unclassified director of communications and external affairs, who shall, in accordance with applicable laws be responsible for: (a) Internal and external communications, including management of the department's public communications portals. (b) The victim-offender dialogue program, which shall be a victim-initiated, voluntary program to assist crime victims who seek access to restorative justice programs as provided under RSA 21-M:8-k, II(u), under the direction of the victim services coordinator, who shall: (1) Implement and oversee the program. (2) Advocate for the rights of crime victims. (3) Provide corrections-based victim services including but not limited to: (A) Notification of offender status changes. (B) Victim-initiated victim offender dialogue. (C) Advocacy, safety, and support for victims during reduced custody, offender re-entry, and hearings of the adult parole board. Participation in the program shall not affect the court's decision relative to sentencing, parole, or other types of supervised or unsupervised release programs. (c) Coordinate and recommend policies designed to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of the department, and to detect and prevent fraud and abuse in departmental programs and operations. (d) Provide legislative oversight for the department. (e) Other duties as assigned by the commissioner. VIII. The bureau of training under the direction of a classified training bureau chief, who shall, in accordance with applicable laws, be responsible for employee training and development. Source. 1983, 461:1. 1988, 170:1. 1993, 321:1, 2. 1996, 159:8. 1998, 270:1. 2008, 313:1, 2. 2009, 144:184, eff. July 1, 2009; 222:2, 8, eff. June 30, 2009; 283:2, eff. Sept. 27, 2009. 2022, 146:1, eff. June 7, 2022. 2023, 79:379, eff. July 1, 2023. 2026, 41:2, eff. April 28, 2026.

RSA 21-H:5 Internal Structure.

21-H:5. Internal Structure. I. For its internal structure the department shall adhere to the following standard terms: (a) The principal unit of the department shall be the division, and each division shall be headed by a director. (b) The principal unit of the division shall be the bureau, and each bureau shall be headed by an administrator. (c) The principal unit of the bureau shall be the section, and each section shall be headed by a supervisor. (d) If further subdivision is necessary, a section may be divided into units known as subsections, and each subsection shall be headed by a chief. II. Whenever the commissioner determines that the administration of the functions of the department may be more efficiently performed by eliminating, merging, or consolidating existing statutory internal units, or by establishing a new division, he shall present a plan to the general court for its consideration. Source. 1983, 461:1, eff. July 1, 1983.

RSA 21-H:6 Commissioner and Other Department Officials; Appointment; Term.

21-H:6. Commissioner and Other Department Officials; Appointment; Term. I. The commissioner of the department shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the council, and shall serve for a term of 4 years from the date of appointment and until a successor is appointed. II. There shall be established within the department the following unclassified positions: (a) The commissioner of the department shall nominate for appointment by the governor, with the consent of the council, 2 assistant commissioners who shall serve for a term of 4 years from the date of appointment and until a successor is appointed. (b) The commissioner shall appoint a person to each unclassified position authorized by the legislature. The annual salary of such unclassified employees shall be as prescribed in RSA 94:1-a and RSA 94:3-b, II. The provisions of RSA 21:33-a shall not apply to appointments made under this subparagraph. (c) Each person appointed under subparagraph (b) shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. III. Wardens, physicians, and dentists may be assigned to any correctional facility at the discretion of the commissioner. Source. 1983, 461:1. 1996, 159:3. 1999, 296:10. 2001, 179:1; 237:8, 9. 2007, 156:3. 2008, 313:3. 2009, 144:185, eff. July 1, 2009; 222:6, eff. June 30, 2009. 2022, 146:2, eff. June 7, 2022. 2026, 41:3, eff. April 28, 2026.

RSA 21-H:7 Qualifications and Compensation of Certain Officials.

21-H:7. Qualifications and Compensation of Certain Officials. I. The commissioner, assistant commissioner, division directors, deputy warden, and deputy directors of the department shall be qualified to hold such positions by reason of education and experience. II. The salaries of the commissioner, assistant commissioner, division directors, deputy warden, and deputy directors of the department shall be as specified in RSA 94:1-a. Source. 1983, 461:1. 2001, 237:10, 11. 2008, 313:4, 5, 10. 2009, 144:186, 187, eff. July 1, 2009; 222:3, 7, eff. June 30, 2009. 2022, 146:3, eff. June 7, 2022. 2023, 79:14, eff. July 1, 2023. 2025, 141:43, eff. July 1, 2025.

RSA 21-H:8 Powers and Duties of Commissioner.

21-H:8. Powers and Duties of Commissioner. The commissioner shall be the chief administrative officer of the department and shall have the following powers and duties: I. The commissioner shall manage all operations of the department and administer and enforce the laws with which he or the department is charged. He shall report directly to the governor. II. To perform his duties, the commissioner shall have every power enumerated in the laws, whether granted to the commissioner, the department or any administrative unit of the department. In accordance with these provisions, the commissioner shall: (a) Biennially compile a comprehensive program budget which reflects all fiscal matters related to the operation of the department and each program and activity of the department. (b) Adopt all rules of the department, pursuant to RSA 541-A, whether the rulemaking authority delegated by the legislature is granted to the commissioner, the department or any administrative unit or subordinate official of the department either by this chapter or by existing statutes. (c) Exercise general supervisory and appointing authority over all department employees, subject to applicable personnel statutes and rules. (d) Delegate authority to subordinates as the commissioner deems necessary and appropriate, except that rulemaking authority shall not be delegated. The commissioner shall provide by delegation for the assistant commissioner, warden, or a division director to exercise authority in the commissioner's absence. All such delegations shall be made in writing, shall be disseminated to all division directors, shall clearly delineate the authority delegated and the limitations thereto, and shall be kept on file in the commissioner's office. The assistant commissioner shall assume the duties of the commissioner in the event that the commissioner becomes incapacitated and is unable to perform such duties. (e) Adopt practices which will improve the efficiency of the department and the provision of services to the citizens of the state. (f) Provide cooperation, at the request of the heads of administratively attached agencies in order to: (1) Minimize or eliminate duplication of services and jurisdictional conflicts; (2) Coordinate activities and resolve problems of mutual concern; and (3) Resolve by agreement the manner and extent to which the department shall provide budgeting, recordkeeping and related clerical assistance to administratively attached agencies. (g) Give bond, and require division directors to give bond, to the state as specified in RSA 93-B. (h) Where functions of departments overlap or a function assigned to one department could better be performed by another department, recommend appropriate legislation to the next regular session of the general court. (i) Be responsible for the operation of the special school district established under RSA 194:60 for the purpose of providing appropriate education services to eligible offenders held in facilities operated by the department. III. The commissioner shall adopt such reasonable internal practices and procedures, which shall not be considered rules subject to the provisions of RSA 541-A, as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the department and its divisions, consistent with this chapter. These procedures shall include at least the following elements: (a) A comprehensive manual of procedures for the operation of the state prison and other adult correctional facilities of the department, including provisions for the humane treatment of inmates. (b) A classification system for evaluating probationers and parolees to establish the appropriate level of supervision. (c) Criteria used to determine when probationers will be reported to the court for violations of probation or when parolees shall be reported to the parole board for violation of the conditions of parole. (d) A policy on notification of law enforcement agencies for parolees who abscond from supervision. (e) Criteria for determining when a parolee who has absconded to another state shall be returned to this state. (f) A policy on and procedures for an internal clemency board to review each request for sentence modification pursuant to RSA 651:20 and to provide a recommendation on each request to the sentencing court. IV. [Repealed.] V. The commissioner shall have the authority to adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, necessary to assure the continuation or granting of federal funds or other assistance not otherwise provided for by law. VI. The commissioner may enter into contracts with the state's counties, the governments of other states, the federal government, or other appropriate government agencies or facilities and make proper and necessary arrangements with them for the transfer and reception of inmates and allow transfers to state prisons of any person. Any person who is confined awaiting trial on a felony charge may be transferred to the state prison from the county correctional facility, upon the recommendation of the superintendent of the county department of corrections, and with the approval of the county commissioners of said county. The superintendent may transfer a prisoner, without the approval of the county commissioners, if the superintendent determines the transfer is necessary for public safety or emergency reasons. The county commissioners shall review any such transfer at their next regular meeting. If the county commissioners reject the transfer, the prisoner shall be returned to the facility from which the prisoner came as soon as practicable. VII. (a) The commissioner may order the assignment and transfer of persons committed to his or her custody to correctional facilities of the department or correctional facilities operated by state governments in other jurisdictions, or public facilities under contract with the department. The commissioner shall not enter into a contract with a private or for-profit entity for the sole purpose of housing state prisoners. (b) Notwithstanding subparagraph (a), if the governor, upon recommendation of the commissioner, declares by executive order that a corrections emergency exists that requires the commissioner to enter into a temporary contract with a private or for-profit entity to secure provisional housing for displaced prisoners, the commissioner may enter into such a contract, pending approval of the governor and the council. Temporary contracts entered into under this section shall not permanently or indefinitely replace a correctional facility operated by the state of New Hampshire or a contract with another publicly-operated facility. VIII. The commissioner shall appoint probation-parole officers as provided in RSA 504-A:8 through RSA 504-A:12-a. IX. [Repealed.] X. The commissioner shall develop, publish, and periodically revise an annual comprehensive plan for the state's correctional system which shall indicate, among other things, the department's goals, objectives, resources, current conditions, and needs. The report shall contain information on any substantial modification of existing facilities, the progress on construction of new facilities, and whether such construction or modification is being undertaken by public or private entities. The commissioner shall annually submit such comprehensive plan to the governor and council, speaker of the house, president of the senate, and governing bodies of municipalities where state corrections facilities are located. XI. The commissioner and the commissioner of the department of health and human services shall jointly establish procedures for sharing data, at least in the aggregate, on delinquents and offenders for purposes of correctional planning and needs assessments. These procedures shall not be considered rules subject to RSA 541-A and shall be established so as to ensure compliance with state and federal confidentiality and privacy laws. XI-a. (a) The commissioner shall be the principal administrator of the secure psychiatric unit established pursuant to RSA 622:41. The commissioner shall establish the treatment standards for the unit after consultation with the commissioner of the department of health and human services. The commissioner shall: (1) Administer the unit; (2) [Repealed.] (3) Consult with the commissioner of the department of health and human services regarding transfers to the unit; (4) Transfer persons in his or her custody to the unit if treatment is needed for mental disturbance; (5) Discharge persons pursuant to RSA 622:48; (6) Review, at least annually, the mental health programs with the commissioner of the department of health and human services to determine what policies, standards, or practices should be revised to improve treatment; (7) Appoint qualified persons to positions established in RSA 622:43, I; (8) Administer the unit in such a manner as to meet accreditation standards; and (9) Perform other tasks necessary to carry out the administration of RSA 622:40-48. (b) The commissioner shall seek accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care to have the secure psychiatric unit accredited as a behavioral health facility. The accreditation process shall commence before January 1, 2019. The commissioner shall make all reasonable and good faith efforts to achieve accreditation in a timely manner. XI-b. Whenever it appears to the commissioner that a person who has been committed to the custody of the department of corrections is substantially deprived of his capacity to manage his own affairs and is as a result at risk of substantial harm to himself or his estate and such person does not have a legal guardian, the commissioner shall take such steps as are appropriate to safeguard such person as are consistent with RSA 464-A and RSA 547-B, including the nomination of a guardian when no less restrictive alternative is available. XI-c. The department of corrections shall have a direct and tangible interest in a limited data set of death, marriage and divorce information of individuals they are charged with collection of fees and control and supervision by the department pursuant to this chapter, RSA 504-A:12,VI, and RSA 504-A:13, limited to name of person, date of birth, social security number, date of vital event, place of vital event, cause of death, marital status, and name of spouse. The commissioner and the secretary of state shall enter into a memorandum of understanding for the purposes of delineating specific procedures and protections for access to this limited data set. XII. If this section conflicts with other powers and duties specifically granted by statute to the commissioner, the specific powers and duties shall control. If this section conflicts with other statutes specifically limiting the powers of the commissioner, the specific limitations shall control. XIII. The commissioner shall have discretionary authority to pay burial and wake expenses in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for an employee whose death occurs while on duty with the department of corrections and when the deceased employee's next of kin demonstrates an inability to afford the burial or wake expenses. Source. 1983, 291:1; 461:1. 1985, 337:2. 1988, 170:2, 3. 1992, 143:1. 1994, 212:2. 1995, 181:1; 310:66, 170, I, 182. 1996, 13:7; 232:1. 1998, 386:1, 2. 1999, 296:1, 4. 2008, 203:1; 313:6. 2009, 222:1. 2011, 65:3, eff. July 15, 2011. 2012, 247:40, II, eff. Aug. 17, 2012. 2015, 259:31, I, eff. July 1, 2015. 2018, 353:2, eff. July 2, 2018. 2020, 12:8, eff. July 16, 2020. 2021, 54:3, eff. July 24, 2021. 2023, 79:380, eff. July 1, 2023.

RSA 21-H:9 Site Visits by Commissioner.

21-H:9. Site Visits by Commissioner. To ensure that the programs of the department operate efficiently and effectively, and that persons committed to his custody are treated humanely, the commissioner shall frequently visit the institutions, units and field offices of the department. At least one such visit each year shall be unannounced. Source. 1983, 461:1, eff. July 1, 1983.

RSA 21-H:10 Commitment of Adults.

21-H:10. Commitment of Adults. I. All offenders committed by a court for a period of incarceration of more than one year shall be committed to the custody of the commissioner. The commissioner shall assign a newly committed inmate to an appropriate correctional facility. II. The sentence of imprisonment of any adult committed to the custody of the commissioner shall begin to run from the date on which the person is received at a correctional facility, except that if such a person is committed to a detention facility to await transportation to the appropriate correctional facility his sentence shall begin to run from the date on which he is received at that detention facility. Source. 1983, 461:1, eff. July 1, 1983.

RSA 21-H:11 Female Inmates.

21-H:11. Female Inmates. Females committed to the custody of the commissioner shall be housed in appropriate institutions or quarters which shall be separate from those for males. Source. 1983, 461:1, eff. July 1, 1983.

RSA 21-H:12 Transfer of Inmates.

21-H:12. Transfer of Inmates. I. The commissioner may transfer any inmate, provided that whenever a transfer involves a county facility, a contract specifying the conditions of that transfer shall have been executed in advance. II. A transfer may be made whenever the commissioner determines that an inmate cannot be properly or safely kept at the correctional facility at which he is confined or that such transfer is in the best public interest or furthers legitimate penological objectives. When any transfer involves a county facility, the commissioner of corrections shall obtain the approval of the appropriate county correctional administrator before making such a transfer. Source. 1983, 461:1, eff. July 1, 1983.

RSA 21-H:13 Rulemaking.

21-H:13. Rulemaking. The commissioner shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to: I. Standards for the management, and operation, of all state correctional facilities. II. The administration of the institutions and other facilities under his control. II-a. The administration of the secure psychiatric unit as required under RSA 622:44. III. Standards for the management and operation of rehabilitation related programs, including, but not limited to: (a) Classification; (b) Diagnosis; (c) Education; (d) Casework; (e) Counseling; (f) Therapy; (g) Vocational training; (h) Guidance; (i) Work, including the terms and conditions of work release; and (j) Library. IV. Standards for health and medical services provided at correctional facilities. V. Payment and collection of all fees for which the department is responsible. VI. The activities of visitors to all institutions and facilities of the department. Source. 1983, 461:1. 1985, 337:3, eff. July 1, 1985.

RSA 21-H:14 Behavior of Inmates.

21-H:14. Behavior of Inmates. The commissioner shall establish written standards regarding the behavior and responsibilities of inmates. These standards shall be made available to all such inmates and shall be considered public records. These standards shall not be considered rules subject to the provisions of RSA 541-A. Source. 1983, 461:1, eff. July 1, 1983.

RSA 21-H:14-b Administrator of Women Offenders and Family Services.

21-H:14-b. Administrator of Women Offenders and Family Services. I. There is hereby created the position of administrator of women offenders and family services within the department of corrections. The administrator shall be responsible for programming and services for women offenders in the state adult correctional system including probation, parole, and state correctional facilities. The administrator of women offenders and family services shall be a classified position. II. The administrator may: (a) Establish goals and objectives for state correctional systems within the framework of the department's philosophy, including planning, organizing, implementing, directing, and monitoring state gender-responsive programs and services, as well as developing policies, procedures, and standards for the provision of such programs and services. The administrator shall participate in the development, implementation, and review of all policies, directives, and standards that involve supervision of women offenders. The administrator shall also coordinate continuum and continuation of gender-responsive services to women offenders moving from one setting to another, and re-entering their communities. (b) Write standards for, execute, and monitor all non-clinical contracts with service providers who work exclusively with women offenders. The administrator shall review and provide feedback on an ongoing basis on all clinical contracts and services for women offenders regarding consistency with contract language and gender-responsive principles. (c) Establish and coordinate partnerships, and maintain working relationships within the department of health and human services, with other government agencies, with communities, and with community-based organizations, volunteers, advocacy groups, the academic community, and other external stakeholders. (d) Provide supervision and technical assistance to the women's facility warden and field managers regarding issues related to women offenders and gender-responsive programs, services, and practices. The administrator shall provide input into the evaluations of other facility wardens, field managers, and personnel relative to their roles in the supervision and provision of services for women offenders. (e) Provide input regarding necessary data collection and evaluation to measure effective programming and supervision of women offenders. The administrator shall consult with and provide input with other directors regarding appropriate levels of staffing in both the field and institutions responsible for the management of women offenders. The administrator shall also confer with and make recommendations to the commissioner regarding women offender supervision and services, oversee the planning, development, and implementation of training guidelines for staff working with women offenders, and recommend changes in duties assigned to casework and security staff who work with women offenders. (f) Act as a resource in cases of staff sexual misconduct involving women offenders and provide input into personnel actions for addressing misconduct involving staff who work with women offenders and misconduct involving women offenders. III. The administrator shall: (a) Prepare budget recommendations regarding women offenders' program services consistent with the departmental budget cycle. The administrator shall also engage in budget formation, grant applications, and resource allocation activities related to women offenders as assigned. (b) Act as liaison to the interagency coordinating council for women offenders and the department of corrections. Source. 2006, 269:1, eff. July 1, 2006.

RSA 21-H:14-d Transitional Housing Unit Maintenance Fund Established.

21-H:14-d. Transitional Housing Unit Maintenance Fund Established. There is established in the office of the commissioner a fund to be known as the transitional housing unit maintenance fund. This fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the commissioner for the purpose of the general care, maintenance, repair, and proper upkeep of transitional housing units. The commissioner shall collect funds as specified in RSA 651:25, V for deposit into the fund and may expend such funds as set forth in this section. The commissioner may also accept gifts, grants, and donations from any state or federal source for deposit into the fund. Source. 2015, 276:220, eff. July 1, 2015.

RSA 21-H:15 Severability.

21-H:15. Severability. This chapter shall be construed in all respects so as to meet all constitutional requirements. If any provision or clause of this chapter, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter, and to that end, the provisions of this chapter shall be separable from all other sections hereof and the nullification of any section from this chapter shall have no effect on the remaining sections of this chapter. Source. 1983, 461:1, eff. July 1, 1983.

RSA 21-H:16 Mental Health Training for Corrections Officers.

21-H:16. Mental Health Training for Corrections Officers. No person shall assume their role as a corrections officer unless such person has satisfactorily completed mental health training focusing on post-traumatic stress from a program developed and delivered by the New Hampshire police standards and training council. Subsequent to initial training, all corrections officers shall successfully complete annual online training. No current corrections officer shall be required to attend in-person training at the academy. Source. 2022, 331:4, eff. Sept. 6, 2022.

RSA 21-H:17 Department of Corrections; New Hampshire State Prison Fund Established.

21-H:17. Department of Corrections; New Hampshire State Prison Fund Established. There is hereby established in the state treasury a state prison fund, which shall be administered by the department of corrections. The fund shall not lapse. The fund is established for the purpose of design and construction of a new New Hampshire state prison. Source. 2023, 79:48, eff. June 30, 2023.

Source: New Hampshire General Court (gc.nh.gov)URL: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/NHTOC/NHTOC-I-21-H.htmFetched: 10/20/2026