HB 1716-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2006 SESSION

06-2525

06/04

HOUSE BILL 1716-FN

AN ACT relative to state reimbursement for public safety expenditures made by towns on behalf of public higher education residence halls.

SPONSORS: Rep. Naro, Graf 7; Rep. M. Cooney, Graf 7; Rep. DeJoie, Merr 11; Rep. Asselin, Rock 7; Sen. Larsen, Dist 15

COMMITTEE: Finance

ANALYSIS

This bill reimburses eligible towns for expenses related to public safety on behalf of public higher education residence halls.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

06-2525

06/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six

AN ACT relative to state reimbursement for public safety expenditures made by towns on behalf of public higher education residence halls.

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

1 New Section; Reimbursement for Public Safety Expenditures for University System Residence Halls. Amend RSA 187-A by inserting after section 2-b the following new section:

187-A:2-c Reimbursement for Public Safety Expenditures.

I. Upon application, the state shall reimburse a town which is the site of a university system residence hall for actual expenses related to public safety support of the school, calculated annually pursuant to the formula in paragraph II.

II. To determine the reimbursement in paragraph I, the annual expenditures for safety and the protection of life in the town shall be divided by the number of the total population in the town to achieve a per capita quotient. The per capita quotient shall be multiplied by the number of students who reside in state university residence halls located in the town, and the result shall be the amount to be reimbursed to the town.

2 Appropriation. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007 is hereby appropriated for the purpose of reimbursing the actual expenses related to public safety support of the residence halls of the schools in the university system of New Hampshire. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 New Section; Reimbursement for Public Safety Expenditures for Regional Community-Technical College Residence Halls. Amend RSA 188 by inserting after section 2-a the following new section:

188-F:2-b Reimbursement for Public Safety Expenditures.

I. Upon application, the state shall reimburse a town which is the site of a regional community-technical college residence hall for actual expenses related to public safety support of the school, calculated annually pursuant to the formula in paragraph II.

II. To determine the reimbursement in paragraph I, the annual expenditures for safety and the protection of life in the town shall be divided by the number of the total population in the town to achieve a per capita quotient. The per capita quotient shall be multiplied by the number of students who reside in regional community-technical college residence halls located in the town, and the result shall be the amount to be reimbursed to the town.

4 Appropriation. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007 is hereby appropriated for the purpose of reimbursing the actual expenses related to public safety support of the residence halls of the New Hampshire regional community-technical colleges. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

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

LBAO

06-2525

Revised 12/20/05

HB 1716 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to state reimbursement for public safety expenditures made by towns on behalf of public higher education residence halls.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The University System of New Hampshire and New Hampshire Community Technical College System state this bill will increase state expenditures and local revenue by $3,865,357 in FY 2007 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on state and county revenue or county and local expenditures.

This bill appropriates $1 from the state general fund in FY 2007 for reimbursing the actual expenses related to public safety support of the residence halls of the schools in the University System of New Hampshire, and appropriates $1 from the state general fund in FY 2007 for reimbursing the actual expenses related to public safety support of the residence halls of the New Hampshire Regional Community-Technical Colleges.

METHODOLOGY:

The University System of New Hampshire (USNH) states this bill would require the State to pay an amount to each of the host communities for USNH residential campuses based on the cost of providing public safety related services. The System states the total current (2006) per capita cost of public safety expenditures are estimated at $277 for Plymouth State University, $383 for Keene State College, and $360 for the University of New Hampshire (UNH) at Durham. The System estimates annual State payments for reimbursement as follows:

The New Hampshire Community Technical College System states the Technical Institute in Concord is the only facility that has residence halls, and it has approximately 328 students. The System estimates the per capita cost of public safety expenditures at $355, based on a population for the City of Concord of 42,440, and city public safety expenditures of $15,065,307. The System estimates annual State payments for reimbursements of $116,440 ($355 x 328 students) annually based on the available data.