New Law Strengthens Oversight and Abuse Reporting for Adults and Children with Disabilities
Download PDF of Press Release Here
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, July 13, 2026
Contact:
Déodonné Bhattarai, Communications Director, DRC-NH: mail@drcnh.org
Vanessa Blais, Director of Policy and Planning, NHCDD: vanessa.a.blais@ddc.nh.gov
New Law Strengthens Oversight and Abuse Reporting for Adults and Children with Disabilities
Concord, NH – Disability Rights Center – NH (DRC-NH) and the NH Council on Developmental Disabilities (NHCDD) applaud the passage of SB 670, an important first step towards addressing systemic issues long plaguing the developmental disabilities system. SB 670 was introduced as a late bill by Senator Rochefort (R-Littleton) in direct response to recent reports by the NH Bulletin regarding abuse and deaths within the system.
“The reports of abuse and neglect within New Hampshire’s developmental disability system made clear that stronger oversight and accountability are needed. This legislation takes meaningful steps to better protect our most vulnerable Granite Staters through targeted oversight, stronger reporting requirements, and greater transparency. I want to thank everyone who was involved in getting this bill across the finish line and to Governor Ayotte for her support,” Senator Rochefort said in a statement provided to DRC-NH.
In its A System of Harm series, the NH Bulletin reported on the lives, abuse, and deaths of people with disabilities who were supposed to be supported and served by New Hampshire’s developmental disabilities (DD) system. These articles brought long-overdue attention to serious, ongoing problems. We are especially grateful to Senator Rochefort for his leadership and swift action in working with DRC-NH and others to advance this legislation and to Governor Kelly Ayotte for signing this bill into law. By strengthening the reporting requirements for incidents involving the serious bodily injury or death of people receiving state-funded residential services, this law ensures these cases will receive greater scrutiny and accountability.
The newly established Oversight Commission will bring together people with disabilities who receive developmental services, family members, DRC-NH, service providers, state officials, and law makers, all of whom will now have timely access to the data necessary to examine the system and identify and recommend needed reforms. The law requires residential service providers to timely notify the Department of Health and Human Services, the bureau of licensing and certification, the attorney general’s office and DRC-NH of deaths and serious bodily injuries sustained by people with disabilities.
“This law ensures that we, as New Hampshire’s Protection and Advocacy agency, can do our job. We have the authority to investigate suspected abuse or neglect of people with disabilities, but we can only investigate incidents that we know about. For too long, the lack of reporting has been a significant barrier. By requiring incidents to be reported to DRC-NH, this law gives us the information we need to investigate and help prevent future harm,” said Stephanie Patrick Executive Director of Disability Rights Center -NH.
“As members of both the Incapacitated and Vulnerable Fatality Review Committee and the Quality Council, the NH Council on Developmental Disabilities believes that ongoing, rigorous assessment of supports and services is essential to protecting the right of people with disabilities to feel safe and valued in our communities. SB 670 creates an opportunity for collaboration, de-siloing, and collective action to strengthen our services system through a person-centered approach, upholding both safety and dignity. Families of people with disabilities deserve confidence that state leaders and providers are accepting responsibility and accountability, and are fulfilling the promise that every person in our state is valued and supported,” said Isadora Rodriguez-Legendre Executive Director of the NH Council on Developmental Disabilities.
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About Disability Rights Center-New Hampshire
DRC-NH is New Hampshire’s designated Protection and Advocacy system and is dedicated to eliminating barriers existing in New Hampshire to the full and equal enjoyment of civil and other legal rights by people with disabilities. More information about DRC-NH can be found at www.drcnh.org.
Please contact DRC-NH if you or a loved one has been seriously harmed while receiving services through the developmental disabilities system. To report abuse or neglect of a person with a disability, you can also contact Bureau of Adult and Aging Services or local law enforcement. To report abuse or neglect of a child, you can also contact Child Protective Services or local law enforcement.
About NH Council on Developmental Disabilities
NHCDD is dedicated to working alongside New Hampshire residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities to strengthen access and expand choices for all people in New Hampshire communities. More information about NHCDD can be found at www.nhcdd.nh.gov.
