HB 1551-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
05/08/08 1526s
05/15/08 1826s
05/15/08 1875s
2008 SESSION
03/10
HOUSE BILL 1551-FN
AN ACT relative to lobbyist registration fees, relative to the secretary of state handling charge for electronic fee collection, and eliminating the prohibition on political contributions by insurance companies.
SPONSORS: Rep. Kjellman, Merr 5
This bill:
I. Modifies fees for lobbyist registration.
II. Requires that ½ of the lobbyist registration fees be deposited in the recount administrative and fee account, and authorizes funds in the account to be used for administration of the lobbyist laws.
III. Repeals the prospective repeal of the electronic fee handling charge of the secretary of state and the prohibition on political contributions by insurance companies.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/08/08 1526s
05/15/08 1826s
05/15/08 1875s
08-2616
03/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT relative to lobbyist registration fees, relative to the secretary of state handling charge for electronic fee collection, and eliminating the prohibition on political contributions by insurance companies.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Reference Added. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b)(41) to read as follows:
(41) The fees collected by the secretary of state under RSA 660:1 and the designated portion of fees collected under RSA 5:10 and RSA 15:4 which shall be credited to the recount administrative and fee account established under RSA 660:31.
2 Lobbyists; Registration Fee. Amend RSA 15:4 to read as follows:
15:4 Registration Fee.
I. The fee for registration as a lobbyist under RSA 15:1 for any one year shall be [$50 for each person lobbying] $200 for each reported client or employer, except that a lobbyist registering solely as a lobbyist for nonprofit entities qualified for exemption from federal taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code shall pay a $100 fee for each such entity. A fee shall be paid for each individual who acts as a lobbyist for each client or employer regardless of his or her affiliation with any other registered lobbyist.
II. One-half of the fees collected under this section shall be deposited into the fund established by RSA 660:31 for the use of the secretary of state and the attorney general as provided by RSA 455:17. One-half of the fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the general fund.
3 Reference Added. Amend the section heading of RSA 455:17 to read as follows:
455:17 Notary Public, Justice of the Peace Manual, Education, Lobbyist Registration, Enforcement.
4 New Paragraph; Lobbyist Registration. Amend RSA 455:17 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
III. The secretary of state may use the funds from the fees paid by applicants for lobbyist registrations deposited into the fund established in RSA 660:31 for the general administration of RSA 15, education initiatives related to the lobbyist statutes, and the acquisition, development, and maintenance of electronic records systems that will enhance the efficiency of the management of lobbyist records maintained by his or her office and to enhance the ease of submitting applications and renewals. The secretary of state shall enter into an agreement with the attorney general to provide funds from the fund established in RSA 660:31 for the use of the attorney general for legal services related to the enforcement of laws relating to lobbyist registrations.
5 Depositing Fees and Assessments; Lobbyist Registration Fees. Amend RSA 660:13 to read as follows:
660:31 Depositing Fees and Assessments. There is established in the state treasury a separate nonlapsing account to be known as the recount administrative and fee account. The account shall be used by the secretary of state for the administration of recounts under RSA 660 and to fulfill the duties established by RSA 455:17. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all fees which are paid to the secretary of state under RSA 660:1 and ½ of the fees paid to the secretary of state under RSA 15:4 and the portion of application fees for commissions as a notary public or justice of the peace under RSA 5:10 shall be credited to this account. All fees which are credited to this account shall be continually appropriated to the secretary of state.
6 Secretary of State Handling Charge for Electronic Fee Collection; Prospective Repeal Removed. 2004, 248:67, relative to the repeal of the electronic fee handling charge, is repealed.
7 Insurance Companies; Prohibition on Political Contributions Repealed. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 402:43 through RSA 402:45, relative to the prohibition on political contributions by insurance companies.
II. RSA 417:4, XI, relative to inclusion of political contributions by an insurance company as an unfair insurance trade practice.
8 Effective Date.
I. Sections 1-5 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2009.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
08-2616
11/14/07
HB 1551-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to fees for special number plates for veterans.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Safety states this bill will decrease state restricted revenue by $44,700 in FY 2009 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or state, county, and local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Safety indicates this bill will eliminate the one-time $25 administrative fee for special number plates for veterans. The Department estimates 1,788 sets of new veteran plates are issued each year. Revenue to the plate inventory fund, established by RSA 228:25, will decrease by $44,700 (1,788 sets of plates * $25) each fiscal year.