Effective August 30, 2022 the term length for Rockingham County sheriff and county attorney has been changed from 2 years to 4 years. The prime sponsors of HB1397 are Londonderry State Representative Doug Thomas and Tom Dolan.
Why did this bill only change the terms of office for Rockingham and not all other NH counties?
AN ACT relative to the length of terms for Rockingham county officers.
SPONSORS: Rep. Dolan, Rock. 5; Rep. Thomas, Rock. 5
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
AN ACT relative to the length of terms for Rockingham county officers.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
283:1 County Attorneys; Length of Term. Amend RSA 7:33 to read as follows:
7:33 Election; Temporary Vacancies. There shall be a county attorney for each county, who shall be a member of the New Hampshire bar, elected biennially by the voters of the county; provided that, at the 2022 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, the county attorney for Rockingham county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term. If the county attorney is absent at any term of court or unable to discharge the duties of the office, the superior court, acting as a body, shall appoint a county attorney, who shall be a member of the New Hampshire bar, for the time being and allow said appointee such compensation for his or her services as set by the county delegation.
283:2 Elected for 2-Year Term. Amend RSA 653:1, V to read as follows:
V. One sheriff, one county attorney, one county treasurer, one register of deeds, and one register of probate by the voters in each county; provided that, at the 2022 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, any such officer in Rockingham county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term;
283:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 01, 2022
Effective Date: August 30, 2022