NH HB1510

County departments of corrections assume legal custody and control of defendants immediately upon court order to a county house of corrections, rather than when physically delivered to the facility

Law enforcement officers are only responsible for transporting defendants to county correctional facilities as ordered, not for ongoing custody or control after the court issues a detention order

Allows correctional facilities to enter agreements with law enforcement agencies for assistance with custody, with assisting officers acting as agents of the holding facility

The bill takes effect 60 days after passage

Fiscal impact estimated as an indeterminable increase in county expenditures starting FY 2027, with the New Hampshire Association of Counties citing a Strafford County example where one week of inmate supervision and healthcare transport to Boston exceeded $30,000