I. There shall be a general court administrative office in the state house under a director of the administrative office. The director may employ and contract for such additional professional, technical, clerical, or other employees necessary to perform the functions and duties of the office.
II. The director shall designate a person as the independent human resources professional. The director shall ensure the person designated has had or will receive training or certification in sexual harassment investigations. In addition to the procedure in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 14-B:3, I(d), the designated person shall carry out obligations as set forth in the general court’s sexual harassment policy, including but not limited to, the receipt, investigation, and processing of verbal or written complaints from legislative staff, members of the public, or other members of the general court concerning current members of the general court, or members of the general court whose service ceased within 2 years prior to the complaint. Neither the office of the senate president nor the office of the speaker of the house of representatives shall have any oversight or responsibility for any complaints involving sexual harassment.

Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 14:52

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies corporate and politic as well as to individuals. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:9
  • state: when applied to different parts of the United States, may extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall include said district and territories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:4

III. A sexual harassment complaint filed with the general court administrative office shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure to any third party, including but not limited to the attorney general’s office; provided that the complainant may waive such confidentiality protections with informed, written consent. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the independent human resources professional from consulting with any person reasonably necessary to conduct an investigation.