HB 234 – AS INTRODUCED
2007 SESSION
08/10
HOUSE BILL 234
AN ACT establishing a committee to study state environmental laboratory fees and services.
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
This bill establishes a committee to study state environmental laboratory fees and services.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
07-0890
08/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT establishing a committee to study state environmental laboratory fees and services.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study whether the current schedule of laboratory services and fees established in RSA 131:3-a should be revised, or whether the statutory fees should be replaced, and the department of environmental services authorized to adopt the laboratory fees in administrative rules.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, one each from the environment and agriculture committee, the ways and means committee, and the finance committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Three members of the senate, one each from the environment committee, the ways and means committee, and the finance committee, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
3 Duties. The committee shall:
I. Determine whether RSA 131:3-a should be amended to add new laboratory tests performed by the department of environmental services.
II. Determine whether RSA 131:3-a should be amended to raise or lower the fees based on such factors as the cost to perform the analysis, laboratory overhead, prices charged by private sector laboratories, and the importance of providing low cost laboratory services to municipal and other suppliers of potable water to the public.
III. Recommend whether RSA 131:3-a should be repealed, in whole or in part, and replaced with a statutory authorization for the department of environmental services to establish fees for laboratory services by administrative rule pursuant to RSA 541-A.
IV. Study other related issues deemed relevant to the committee’s purpose.
V. Solicit relevant information and testimony from the following organizations:
(a) An organization representing laboratory associations of New Hampshire.
(b) The New Hampshire Municipal Association.
(c) The New Hampshire Water Works Association.
(d) The Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire.
(e) The American Council of Engineering Companies-New Hampshire Chapter.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2007.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.