NH HB191

Transporting an unemancipated minor within New Hampshire for a surgical procedure without express written parental or guardian consent constitutes a class A misdemeanor, escalating to a class B felony after two or more prior convictions

Exemptions apply to parents/legal guardians, persons with written notarized parental consent, common carriers operating in normal business, and ambulance drivers/emergency medical personnel acting within their duties

Minor's consent to being transported is not a valid defense against prosecution

Creates a private right of action allowing parents/guardians to sue violators, or allowing the minor to sue within 7 years of turning 18, with recoverable damages including economic losses, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and attorney's fees

Takes effect 60 days after passage; fiscal impact on state and local expenditures is indeterminable due to potential judicial and correctional system costs