HB523 (2005) Detail

Increasing the marriage license fee.


HB 523-FN-LOCAL – AS INTRODUCED

2005 SESSION

05-0574

05/01

HOUSE BILL 523-FN-LOCAL

AN ACT increasing the marriage license fee.

SPONSORS: Rep. D. Campbell, Hills 24

COMMITTEE: Ways and Means

ANALYSIS

This bill increases the marriage license fee to provide additional revenue for the domestic violence prevention fund.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05-0574

05/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five

AN ACT increasing the marriage license fee.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Marriage License Fee Increased. Amend RSA 457:29 to read as follows:

457:29 Marriage License Fee. The fee for the marriage license shall be $[45] 90 to be paid by the parties entering into the marriage. The clerk shall forward $[38] 75 from each fee to the department of health and human services for the purposes of RSA 173-B:15. The clerk shall retain the remaining $[7] 15 as the fee for making the records of notice, issuing the certificate of marriage, and forwarding the $[38] 75 portion of the marriage license fee.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2006.

LBAO

05-0574

1/26/05

HB 523-FN-LOCAL - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT increasing the marriage license fee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Department of Health and Human Services has determined this bill will increase state restricted revenue by $194,417 in FY 2006 and $388,833 in FY 2007 and each year thereafter. The Department of Health and Human Services and New Hampshire Municipal Association have also determined this bill will increase local revenue by $42,036 in FY 2006 and $84,072 in FY 2007 and each year thereafter. The Department of State states this bill may increase state expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2006 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county, and local expenditures or county revenue.

METHODOLOGY:

    The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill will increase the marriage license fee from $45 to $90. The portion of the fee that is forwarded to the Department of Health and Human Services to support the Domestic Violence Grant Program under RSA 173-B:15 will increase $37, from $38 to $75, and the portion of the fee that is retained locally will increase $8, from $7 to $15.

    The Department of Health and Human Services states the average number of marriage licenses issued annually from 2001 to 2004 was 10,509, and assumes the number of marriage licenses issued annually will remain stable. The Department calculated the annual increase in state restricted revenue by multiplying the increase in the portion of the fee that is forwarded to the state by the number of marriage licenses issued annually ($37 x 10,509 = $388,833). Due to the January 1, 2006 effective date included in this bill, the Department states this bill will increase state restricted revenue by $194,417 in FY 2006 and $388,833 in FY 2007 and each year thereafter.

    The Department calculated the annual increase in municipal revenue by multiplying the increase in the portion of the fee that is retained locally by the number of marriage licenses issued annually ($8 x 10,509 = $84,072). Due to the January 1, 2006 effective date included in this bill, the Department states this bill will increase local revenue by $42,036 in FY 2006 and

                      LBAO

                      05-0574

                      1/26/05

    $84,072 in FY 2007 and each year thereafter. The NH Municipal Association agrees with the Department of Health and Human Services’ calculation of the fiscal impact on municipalities.

    The Department of State states this bill may increase department expenditures to the extent any changes to software programs are required to keep track of changes to the marriage license revenues. The Department states the fiscal impact on the department would be minimal, and total under $10,000 per fiscal year.