DERRY — A bill named after a motorcycle passenger who was killed in Derry in April 2023 would, if passed into law, make it easier for State Police oversight on certain investigations.
House Bill 1566, which is to be known as Katina’s Law, is being introduced at the Statehouse on Friday at 9:30 a.m.
The law would add a paragraph to the code regarding the Attorney General’s office to allow municipal governing bodies such as county attorneys and sheriff departments to request an independent review of local police investigations, which would prompt a State Police investigation.
“This bill provides a method for local and county governmental bodies to request an independent investigation by the Division of State Police of a local police department investigation,” the legislators wrote in the methodology section of the bill. “Upon receipt and review, the NH Office of the Solicitor General shall direct the State Police to conduct a separate and independent investigation and to issue a separate and independent report.”
The bill is being proposed by Ralph Boehm (R- Hillsborough 14) and Terry Roy (R-Rockingham 31) after the investigation into the death of motorcyclist Adam Platania, 21, of Derry, and his passenger and girlfriend, Katina Skotis, 20, of Litchfield.
Platania died at the scene. Skotis, for whom the law is named, died at the hospital.
The vehicle driver, a 76-year-old woman from Derry, was turning onto North Main Street as Platania and Skotis were traveling on North Main Street with a group of other motorcyclists at the time of the accident.
After an investigation, Derry Police and the Rockingham County Attorney both said in a press release published in August 2023 that they would not bring charges against the woman.
MaryAnne Savani-Skotis, the woman’s mother, has been vocal about her belief that the driver should have been charged with something.
“Almost 10 months since my world was shattered and I still wake up several times a night horrified that NOT EVEN A TICKET was given to the woman for failing to yield a stop sign,” Savani-Skotis wrote on her Facebook page.
If the bill were to pass into law, it would become effective 60 days after being signed. Katina’s Law would be her daughter’s legacy, Savani-Skotis said in a comment on one of her Facebook posts.
“I appreciate state Rep. Ralph Boehm for really hearing my concerns during a time of doubt in governance,” Savani-Skotis wrote. “Authentic leaders like himself and collaborators like Rep. Roy give hope.”
By Katelyn Sahagian | [email protected]
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