Lawmakers in Concord continue to work to update child protection laws following the disappearance of a 7-year-old girl from Manchester. Investigators said Harmony Montgomery was not seen for two years before police became aware of her disappearance. Lawmakers said that while they try to be proactive with legislation, in many cases an event like Harmony’s disappearance is needed to move things forward. They said their legislation focuses on protecting children placed by child welfare services across state lines. Harmony was in custody in Massachusetts when a judge handed her over to her birth father before home school was complete. Officials with the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families said the current interstate custody treaty has several problems. “The current interstate treaty to protect children dates back to 1960,” said State Assemblyman William Marsh, D-Wolfeboro. “That’s when they started working on it. That’s about 60 years ago. The world has changed.” The current interstate compact will remain in effect until a new one is approved by 35 states, but the legislation is under review by New Hampshire legislatures and would go into effect without awaiting approval from the other states.
CONCORD, NH —
Lawmakers in Concord continue to work to update child protection laws following the disappearance of a 7-year-old girl from Manchester.
Investigators said Harmony Montgomery was not seen for two years before police learned of her disappearance.
Lawmakers said that while they try to be proactive with legislation, in many cases it takes an event like Harmony’s disappearance to move things forward. They said their legislation focuses on protecting children placed by child welfare services across state lines.
Harmony was in the custody of Massachusetts when a judge delivered her to her birth father before home school was complete.
Officials with the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families said the current interstate custody treaty has several problems.
“The current interstate covenant to protect children dates back to 1960,” said State Assemblyman William Marsh, D-Wolfeboro. “That’s when they started working on it. That’s about 60 years ago. The world has changed.”
The current interstate compact will remain in effect until a new treaty is approved by 35 states, but the laws being considered by New Hampshire lawmakers would go into effect without waiting for approval from the other states.
Comments are closed.