Committee backs amendment to limit welfare—s civil-recovery leverage over relatives, approves HB 132 as amended

The House Judiciary Committee debated HB 132, a bill that would remove or narrow provisions in RSA chapter 165 that allow municipalities to seek reimbursement or civil recovery from relatives for public assistance, including burial expenses.

Several committee members and a witness, identified in the hearing as Mr. Sandoval, discussed how RSA 165:20 historically gave welfare offices leverage to contact relatives to assist an applicant. Sandoval said he had spoken with welfare directors who used the authority to call relatives but did not report abusive practices. "165:20 gives them that ability to call family members, and if that was repealed, they wouldn't have the ability to call," he said. Other members recounted testimony from community groups who urged repeal, saying the law was anachronistic and could force people with tenuous or severed relationships to provide aid.

Committee members worked through the scope of repeal across several RSA sections. Members agreed to keep language allowing welfare staff to contact relatives about assistance while removing civil-action language that authorizes courts to impose repayment and criminal contempt consequences. The committee adopted a committee amendment that keeps section RSA 165:20 up to a specified line but strikes the civil-action recovery language in subsequent sections.

The committee then moved and adopted a motion of "ought to pass as amended." The committee recorded the motion as passed; the record shows the committee adopted the amendment and then voted in favor of passage.

Members asked staff to circulate the revised draft to interested parties to ensure related collateral statutory references are updated.