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Panel recommends bill to align psychological evaluations for delinquency and CHINS cases with child-protection standards
Summary
In executive session the Senate Children and Family Law Committee recommended that SB 77 ought to pass; the bill extends the same qualified‑psychologist evaluation standards used in child‑protection cases to children in delinquency and CHINS proceedings.
The Senate Children and Family Law Committee, in executive session, voted to recommend that Senate Bill 77 "ought to pass," a measure designed to ensure children in delinquency and children-in-need-of-services (CHINS) cases receive the same type of psychological evaluations that statutory changes last year provided for children in abuse-and-neglect proceedings.
Senator David Altschauer, sponsor of SB 77, told the committee the bill corrects an oversight from 2024’s SB 417 by extending uniform standards for psychological evaluations to children in delinquency and CHINS cases, which are often multisystem‑involved and experience similar trauma. "This bill ensures fidelity across all of our child welfare statutes," Altschauer said.
Lisa Wolford, executive director of the Children's Law Center of New Hampshire, testified in strong support. She said children in RSA 169‑B (CHINS), RSA 169‑C (delinquency) and RSA 169‑D (abuse and neglect) often present the same needs and that judges reviewing residential placements are already required by RSA 169‑F:8 to prioritize recent assessments done by qualified psychologists. Wolford characterized SB 77 as a "housekeeping measure" that aligns statutory text with the protections the legislature intended last year.
Lisonbee Maschio of the Office of the Child Advocate said the OCA strongly supports SB 77 and explained the original SB 417 language defining required evaluator qualifications was drafted with input from Dr. Cassie Yackley (written testimony on file). Maschio and Wolford said the change ensures children across systems are evaluated by clinicians with the higher qualifications now required in child‑protection matters.
Committee members moved SB 77 to an executive session vote. One senator described the language as cut-and-paste from existing RSA text and "probably the easiest bill to be drafted." The motion to recommend "ought to pass" was made and seconded in executive session; members voted by voice and recorded unanimous consent.
The committee included the bill on its recommended list, and a member volunteered to carry it forward when the committee reports its recommendations. The committee record shows the change was framed as technical but important for consistent protections for children placed in state residential facilities.
Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 77 — Committee recommendation: Ought to pass (voice vote, unanimous in executive session).
