2026 SESSION
26-2460
09/08
HOUSE BILL 1051
AN ACT establishing a commission to study the creation of a statewide fingerprinting and background check database in New Hampshire.
SPONSORS: Rep. Layon, Rock. 13
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to study the creation of a statewide fingerprinting and background check database in New Hampshire.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2460
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT establishing a commission to study the creation of a statewide fingerprinting and background check database in New Hampshire.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Commission to Study the Creation of a Statewide Fingerprinting and Background Check Database. Amend RSA 106-B by inserting after section 18-a the following new section:
106-B:18-b Commission to Study the Creation of a Statewide Fingerprinting and Background Check Database.
I. ?There is established a commission to study the creation of a statewide fingerprinting and background check database in New Hampshire.
II. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) ?Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.
(e) The commissioner of the department of safety, or designee.
(f) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
III. ?Members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
IV. The commission shall:
(a) Consider the feasibility of creating a centralized statewide fingerprinting and background check database.
(b) Review the current practices and procedures for professions requiring multiple fingerprinting and background checks to determine if barriers exist within professions.
(c) Explore fingerprinting and background check procedures in other states.
(d) Determine what, if any, costs would be associated with moving to a centralized database for fingerprinting and background checks.
(e) Determine which executive department would be in the best position to house such a database to ensure information is aggregated and protected.
V. ?The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. ?The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. ?A simple majority of the appointed members shall constitute a quorum.
VI. ?The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.
2 Prospective Repeal. RSA 106-B:18-b, relative to the commission to study the creation of a statewide fingerprinting and background check database in New Hampshire, is repealed.
3 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 30, 2026.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.