reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NH Rev Stat § 170-C:9 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-C - Termination of Parental Rights|Section 170-C:9 - Social Study Prior to Disposition.

    170-C:9 Social Study Prior to Disposition. –||I. Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall direct that a social study be made by the department of health and human services or by any other authorized agency and that a report in writing of such study be submitted to the court prior to the hearing. The social study shall include the circumstances of the petition, the social history, the present condition of the child and parents, proposed plans for the child, and such other facts as may be pertinent to the parent-child relationship. The purpose of the social study is to aid the court in making disposition of the petition and shall be considered by the court prior thereto. Copies of the social study shall be made available to the parties' attorneys. The contents of said study shall be treated in a confidential manner so as not to injure any party.||II. If the petition is filed by one parent with respect to the other parent, the court may waive or limit the extent of the social study otherwise required by this section. In such cases, the age of the child shall be considered; as well as the alleged grounds for termination of parental rights; the length of time the child has lived with the stepparent, if any; and the wishes of the child, parents, and other persons found by the court to have an appropriate interest in the child.|||Source. 1973, 523:1. 1983, 291:1. 1986, 223:7. 1987, 174:4. 1994, 212:2. 1995, 310:181, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-C:9-a (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-C - Termination of Parental Rights|Section 170-C:9-a - Evaluations.

    170-C:9-a Evaluations. –||The court, at any time prior to the final decree, may order the child who is subject to the petition or the parents of such child or both the child and the parents to undergo a mental health evaluation. Such an evaluation shall be done at a mental health center or elsewhere by one or more psychiatrists or clinical psychologist or one of each acting together, as ordered by the court, who shall provide a written assessment of the subject evaluated to the court.|||Source. 1979, 332:2, eff. Aug. 21, 1979.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-C:10 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-C - Termination of Parental Rights|Section 170-C:10 - Hearing.

    170-C:10 Hearing. –||Cases under this chapter shall be heard by the court sitting without a jury. The hearing may be conducted in an informal manner and may be adjourned from time to time. The general public and any member of the news media shall be excluded, and only such persons admitted whose presence is requested by any person entitled to notice under RSA 170-C:7 or as the judge shall find to have a direct interest in the case or in the work of the court; provided that persons so admitted shall not disclose any information secured at the hearing which would identify an individual child or parent who is involved in the hearing. The court may require the presence of witnesses deemed necessary to the disposition of the petition. When termination of the parent-child relationship is sought, the parent shall be notified at the same time notice is given pursuant to RSA 170-C:7 of his or her right to counsel, and if counsel is requested and the parent is financially unable to employ counsel, counsel shall be provided by the court and shall be paid for by the judicial council in accordance with RSA 170-C:13, III. The court's finding with respect to grounds for termination shall be based upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt, provided that relevant and material information of any nature, including that contained in reports, studies or examinations, may be admitted and relied upon to the extent of its probative value. When information contained in a report, study or examination is admitted in evidence, the person making such a report, study or examination shall be subject to both direct and cross-examination if he or she is residing or working within the state, or if he or she is otherwise reasonably available.|||Source. 1973, 523:1. 2013, 104:1, eff. July 1, 2013. 2017, 85:1, eff. June 2, 2017.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-C:11 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-C - Termination of Parental Rights|Section 170-C:11 - Decree.

    170-C:11 Decree. –||I. Every order of the court terminating the parent-child relationship or transferring legal custody or guardianship of the person of the child shall be in writing and shall recite the findings upon which such order is based, including findings pertaining to the court's jurisdiction.||II. If the court finds grounds for the termination of the parent-child relationship, it shall terminate such relationship and appoint the department of health and human services or another authorized agency as guardian of the child's person and vest legal custody in such agency. The court shall also make an order fixing responsibility for the child's support.||III. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 170-C:11, II, the court may terminate the parent-child relationship with respect to one parent without affecting the relationship between the child and the other parent, and unless the court finds that the best interest of the child requires substitution or supplementation of parental care and supervision, it shall award guardianship and vest legal custody in the other parent.||IV. Where the court does not order termination of the parent-child relationship, it shall dismiss the petition; provided, however, that where the court finds that the best interest of the child requires substitution or supplementation of parental care and supervision, it shall make an order awarding guardianship with the department of health and human services or an authorized agency and fixing responsibility for temporary child support.||V. The court shall issue a decision which shall include a disposition not later than 60 days after the date of the final hearing.||VI. The status of all children for whom termination decrees have been issued and for whom guardianship for the purpose of adoption has been granted to the department of health and human services shall be reviewed at least once a year following the initial decree until the adoption decree has been finalized.|||Source. 1973, 523:1. 1975, 280:6, 7. 1979, 332:3. 1983, 291:1; 416:24. 1985, 367:3. 1986, 223:7. 1994, 212:2. 1995, 310:181, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-C:12 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-C - Termination of Parental Rights|Section 170-C:12 - Effect of Decree.

    170-C:12 Effect of Decree. –||An order terminating the parent-child relationship shall divest the parent and the child of all legal rights, privileges, duties and obligations. A guardian appointed under this chapter may give his consent to the adoption of such child in lieu of the parents whose parent-child relationship has been terminated by the decree of the court. The rights of inheritance of both the parent and the child shall not be divested until the adoption of said child.|||Source. 1973, 523:1, eff. Aug. 31, 1973.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-C:13 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-C - Termination of Parental Rights|Section 170-C:13 - Fees and Court Costs.

    170-C:13 Fees and Court Costs. –||I. The petitioner shall pay all entry fees and court costs including costs of giving notice, costs of advertising, and court-appointed guardian ad litem fees. The court, however, may waive entry fees and court costs where payment would work a hardship on the petitioner. Where the court waives payment by the petitioner, the state, through the court system, shall pay court costs. The judicial council shall pay the cost of a CASA guardian ad litem appointed for the child or other guardian ad litem in cases arising from an underlying abuse and neglect proceeding when the state is the moving party or in cases where payment would work a hardship on the petitioner. The cost of such appointment, including counsel and investigative, expert, or other services and expenses necessary to provide adequate representation, shall be paid from funds appropriated for indigent defense pursuant to RSA 604-A.||II. The department of health and human services is exempted from paying any entry fees and court costs.||III. When appointment of counsel is made by the court pursuant to RSA 170-C:10 for a parent determined to be financially unable to employ counsel, the court shall use a financial eligibility guideline established by the office of cost containment to determine if the party is indigent. Upon determination that the party is indigent, the court may appoint counsel, subject to an order of repayment through the office of cost containment. The judicial council shall bear the financial responsibility for the payment of costs for attorneys appointed pursuant to RSA 170-C:10 in accordance with the financial eligibility guideline established by the office of cost containment. The cost of such appointment, including counsel and investigative, expert, or other services and expenses necessary to provide adequate representation, shall be paid from funds appropriated for indigent defense pursuant to RSA 604-A. Counsel shall petition the court for investigative, expert, or other services necessary to provide adequate representation. If the court finds that such services are necessary and that the parent is financially unable to obtain them, the court shall authorize counsel to obtain the necessary services on behalf of the parent. Services authorized under this section shall not include the payment of expenses that are the responsibility of any other agency pursuant to RSA 169-C or this chapter.|||Source. 1973, 523:1. 1983, 291:1. 1986, 223:7. 1987, 333:1. 1994, 212:2. 1995, 310:181. 2002, 9:5. 2011, 224:78. 2013, 104:2, eff. July 1, 2013. 2021, 207:2, Pt. V, Sec. 1, eff. Oct. 9, 2021.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-C:14 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-C - Termination of Parental Rights|Section 170-C:14 - Confidentiality of Records.

    170-C:14 Confidentiality of Records. –||I. All hearings held in termination proceedings shall be in closed court without admittance of any person other than essential officers of the court, the parties, their witnesses, counsel, and representatives of the agencies present to perform their official duties.||II. All papers and records, including birth certificates, pertaining to the termination, whether part of the permanent record of the court or of a file in the department, in an agency or office of the town clerk, or in the division of vital records administration are subject to inspection only upon written consent of the court for good cause shown.||III. Notwithstanding paragraph II, if the New Hampshire department of health and human services has petitioned for termination of parental rights under this chapter and the child named in the petition resides with a foster parent who intends to adopt the child, the department may share information regarding the status of the case with the child's foster parent.||IV. If any person shall violate any of the provisions of this section, he or she shall be subject to the following penalty:||(a) If the offense occurs prior to November 1, 1973, he or she shall be fined $500 or be imprisoned for 6 months, or both.||(b) If the offense occurs on or after November 1, 1973, he or she shall if a natural person be guilty of a misdemeanor, and any other person shall be guilty of a felony.|||Source. 1973, 523:1. 1995, 310:175. 2003, 319:63, eff. July 1, 2003. 2015, 235:2, eff. Sept. 11, 2015.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-C:15 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-C - Termination of Parental Rights|Section 170-C:15 - Appeals.

    170-C:15 Appeals. –||Any party aggrieved by any order or decree of the court may appeal to the supreme court. The pendency of an appeal, or an application therefor, shall not suspend the order of the court regarding the child.|||Source. 1973, 523:1, eff. Aug. 31, 1973. 2020, 37:40, eff. Sept. 27, 2020.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-E:1 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-E - Child Day Care, Residential Care, and Child-Placing Agencies|Section 170-E:1 - Purpose.

    170-E:1 Purpose. –||The purpose of this subdivision is to provide for the licensing of child day care agencies.|||Source. 1990, 257:8, eff. Jan. 1, 1991.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-E:3 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-E - Child Day Care, Residential Care, and Child-Placing Agencies|Section 170-E:3 - Exemptions; Child Endangerment Prohibited.

    170-E:3 Exemptions;  Child Endangerment Prohibited. –||I. The definitions in RSA 170-E:2, IV shall not apply to the following:||(a) Kindergartens, nursery schools, or any other daytime programs operated by a public or private elementary or secondary school system or institution of higher learning.||(b) Programs offering instruction to children, including but not limited to athletics, crafts, music, or dance, the purpose of which is the teaching of a skill.||(c) Private homes in which any number of the provider's own children, whether related biologically or through adoption, and up to 3 additional children are cared for regularly for any part of the day, but less than 24 hours, unless the caregiver elects to comply with the provisions of this chapter and be licensed.||(d) Child care services offered in conjunction with religious services attended by the parent or offered solely for the purpose of religious instruction.||(e) Facilities operated as a complimentary and limited service for the benefit of the general public in connection with a shopping center, ski area, bowling alley, or other similar operation where the parents or custodians of the serviced children are on the premises or in the immediate vicinity and are readily available.||(f) Municipal recreation programs, including after-school and summer recreation programs.||(g) Any recreational program as defined in RSA 170-E:2, XI-a.||(h) Private homes in which the only children in care are the provider's own children, children related to the provider, and children residing with the provider.||II. Persons administering programs exempted from licensing pursuant to this section shall be subject to the provisions of RSA 170-E:4, II.||III. Whenever a child day care that is license exempt under subparagraphs I(c), (e), (f), or (g) accepts a new child into the program, the provider shall inform the child's parent or legal guardian that the program is not licensed and is operating as a legally license exempt program.||IV. If a licensed child day care agency ceases operating as a licensed program and continues to provide child care services as a legally license exempt provider, it shall notify the department of the date it ceased being licensed, return its license to the department, and notify the parent or legal guardian of all children in the program or who enroll in the program that it is no longer licensed by the department.|||Source. 1990, 257:8. 1994, 375:1. 1995, 114:1. 1998, 119:1. 2004, 235:1. 2005, 156:2, eff. Aug. 20, 2005. 2016, 161:6, eff. June 3, 2016.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-E:3-a (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-E - Child Day Care, Residential Care, and Child-Placing Agencies|Section 170-E:3-a - Criminal Records and Central Registry Check of Child Day Care Providers Exempt From Licensing.

    170-E:3-a Criminal Records and Central Registry Check of Child Day Care Providers Exempt From Licensing. –||Any child day care providers exempt from licensing under RSA 170-E:3 which receive state funds or subsidies in payment for the provision of child day care shall, as a condition of receiving state funds or subsidies, provide their names, birth names, birth dates and addresses, and the same information for any individual residing in the child day care provider's household who may be responsible for the care of, or is in regular contact with children, to the department prior to the receipt of state funds or subsidies on or before July 1, 1999, and every 3 years thereafter. The department shall conduct criminal records and central registry checks on these names in accordance with the provisions of RSA 170-E:7.|||Source. 1998, 147:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-E:4 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-E - Child Day Care, Residential Care, and Child-Placing Agencies|Section 170-E:4 - License Required; Prohibition Against Child Endangerment.

    170-E:4 License Required;  Prohibition Against Child Endangerment. –||I. No person shall establish, maintain, operate or conduct any child day care agency without a license or permit issued by the department under this subdivision. The requirements of this chapter applicable to licensed child day care agencies shall apply with equal force to any child day care agency required to be licensed under this chapter that is not so licensed.||II. No child care provider, whether licensed as a child day care agency, required to be licensed as a child day care agency under paragraph I, or exempted from licensing pursuant to RSA 170-E:3, I, shall care for a child in a manner which endangers the health, safety or welfare of the child. For purposes of this paragraph, endangerment shall mean the negligent violation of a duty of care or protection owed to such child or negligently inducing such child to engage in conduct which endangers his or her health or safety. Licensees in violation of this paragraph shall be subject to the provisions of RSA 170-E:12. Persons exempted from licensing who are in violation of this paragraph shall be enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of RSA 170-E:22 from caring for such child and may be enjoined, as the court may determine, from caring for other children. Persons operating a child day care agency without a license in violation of paragraph I who engage in negligent conduct that endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the children in their care shall be subject to the criminal penalties in RSA 170-E:21 and may be enjoined from caring for children in accordance with the provisions of RSA 170-E:22.|||Source. 1990, 257:8, eff. Jan. 1, 1991. 2016, 161:2, 9, eff. June 3, 2016.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-E:5 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-E - Child Day Care, Residential Care, and Child-Placing Agencies|Section 170-E:5 - Assistance From Department.

    170-E:5 Assistance From Department. –||The department, in applying the standards adopted by rule under this subdivision, shall offer consultation through employed staff or other qualified persons to assist applicants and licensees in meeting and maintaining minimum requirements for a license.|||Source. 1990, 257:8, eff. Jan. 1, 1991.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-E:5-a (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-E - Child Day Care, Residential Care, and Child-Placing Agencies|Section 170-E:5-a - Child Care Resource and Referral Services.

    170-E:5-a Child Care Resource and Referral Services. –||The department of health and human services shall develop and implement a plan, such plan to be fully funded by federal moneys for child care resource and referral services, which shall have the following responsibilities and duties to the public:||I. Provide referrals to a variety of licensed child care options which meet the parent's or guardian's child care needs.||II. Provide information on child care subsidies, including public and private program eligibility requirements and on tax credits and employer options.||III. Provide counselling on selecting quality child care and early childhood issues.||IV. Provide information on training opportunities for parents, guardians, and child care providers.||V. Provide assistance to state human service agencies in seeking child care for such agencies' clients.||VI. Provide information to parents, guardians and providers through workshops, provider groups, and library resources.||VII. Provide assistance in seeking funding for local providers to develop and improve child care services.||VIII. Provide start-up assistance to prospective center and family day care providers.||IX. Provide information on child care supply and demand data.||X. Provide technical assistance to employers and public and private sector decision-makers to support their efforts to expand and improve quality child care in New Hampshire.||XI. Establish a resource library for parents, providers, employers and the public which includes information on child development, child care options, licensing, model programs, employer options, and other related topics.||XII. Recruitment of, and technical assistance to, existing and prospective local child care providers to encourage the development of special needs child care, protective child care, subsidized child care, mildly ill child care and second-shift child care.|||Source. 1991, 327:2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-E:6 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-E - Child Day Care, Residential Care, and Child-Placing Agencies|Section 170-E:6 - Applications; Compliance With Local Codes Required.

    170-E:6 Applications;  Compliance With Local Codes Required. –||Any person who intends to operate a child day care agency as defined in RSA 170-E:2, IV, shall apply for a license to operate one or more types of child day care agencies. Application for a license to operate a child day care agency shall be made to the department in the manner and on forms prescribed by rules adopted by the commissioner pursuant to RSA 541-A. Such forms shall provide for the names, birth names, birth dates, and addresses of all persons having responsibility for care of or regular contact with children at the agency. The applicant shall obtain approvals in accordance with state and local requirements pertaining to health, safety and zoning, as applicable. School age programs located in currently operating public or private schools shall be exempt from the requirement to provide documentation of approval pertaining to fire, health, and zoning.|||Source. 1990, 257:8. 1999, 326:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-E:6-a (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-E - Child Day Care, Residential Care, and Child-Placing Agencies|Section 170-E:6-a - Registration of Day Care Providers Receiving State Funds.

    170-E:6-a Registration of Day Care Providers Receiving State Funds. –||I. Any person who provides child day care services and receives state funds for such services, but is not required to be licensed under RSA 170-E:4 as a child day care agency, shall register with the department of health and human services.||II. The department of health and human services shall maintain a registry of all providers of child day care services who are not required to be licensed under RSA 170-E:4, but who receive state funds for their services.|||Source. 1998, 256:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.|
NH Rev Stat § 170-E:6-b (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare|Title 170-E - Child Day Care, Residential Care, and Child-Placing Agencies|Section 170-E:6-b - Insurance Disclosures.

    170-E:6-b Insurance Disclosures. –||Every person required to be licensed as a child day care agency under RSA 170-E:4 and every child day care provider required to be registered under RSA 170-E:6-a shall either maintain liability insurance or provide a disclosure to parents that the facility is uninsured.|||Source. 1998, 256:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999. 2016, 161:3, eff. June 3, 2016.|