HB581 (2006) Detail

Relative to approval and review of municipal charters.


CHAPTER 22

HB 581 – FINAL VERSION

04Jan2006… 0020h

2006 SESSION

05-0879

08/01

HOUSE BILL 581

AN ACT relative to approval and review of municipal charters.

SPONSORS: Rep. Kennedy, Merr 4

COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill changes certain dates relating to the organizational meeting of a municipal charter commission.

This bill also clarifies the procedure for review of a municipal charter.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

04Jan2006… 0020h

05-0879

08/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six

AN ACT relative to approval and review of municipal charters.

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

22:1 Municipal Charters; Charter Commission, Membership, Procedure. Amend RSA 49-B:4, V to read as follows:

V. Within 14 days after its organizational meeting, the charter commission shall hold a public meeting for the purpose of receiving information, views, comments and other pertinent material relative to its functions. Within [180] 170 days after its election, the charter commission shall prepare a preliminary report including the text of the charter or charter revision which the commission intends shall be submitted to the voters and any explanatory information the commission deems desirable, shall cause such report to be printed and circulated throughout the municipality, and shall provide sufficient copies of the preliminary report to the municipal clerk to permit its distribution to each voter requesting it. Within [225] 231 days after its election, the charter commission shall submit to the municipal officers its final report, which shall include the full text and explanation of the proposed new charter or charter revision, such comments as the commission deems desirable, an indication of the major differences between any current and proposed charters and a written opinion by an attorney admitted to the bar of this state that the proposed charter or charter revision is not in conflict with the constitution or the general laws. Minority reports if filed shall not exceed 1,000 words. All public hearings before a charter commission shall be held within the municipality at such times and places as may be specified in a notice published at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality, but hearings may be adjourned from time to time without further published notice.

22:2 Municipal Charters; Joint Review by State Agencies. Amend RSA 49-B:5-a, I to read as follows:

I. Within 10 days of the filing of the preliminary report relative to any new municipal charter, charter revision, or charter amendment, the municipal clerk shall file a certified copy of said report with the secretary of state, the attorney general and the commissioner of the department of revenue administration. Within [14] 30 days of the receipt of said report [by], the secretary of state, attorney general and commissioner of the department of revenue administration, [they] or their designees shall jointly review the proposed charter, charter revision, or charter amendment to insure that it is consistent with the general laws of this state.

22:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: March 31, 2006

Effective: May 30, 2006