Bill Text - HB1198 (2010)

Relative to public hearings on municipal budget preparation.


Revision: March 5, 2010, midnight

HB 1198-LOCAL – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

03Mar2010… 0536h

2010 SESSION

10-2297

06/03

HOUSE BILL 1198-LOCAL

AN ACT relative to public hearings on municipal budget preparation.

SPONSORS: Rep. Butterworth, Ches 4; Rep. Patten, Carr 4

COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government

ANALYSIS

This bill clarifies the notice requirement for supplemental public hearings on budgets.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03Mar2010… 0536h

10-2297

06/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten

AN ACT relative to public hearings on municipal budget preparation.

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

1 Budget Preparation. Amend RSA 32:5, I to read as follows:

I. The governing body, or the budget committee if there is one, shall hold at least one public hearing on each budget, not later than 25 days before each annual or special meeting, public notice of which shall be given at least 7 days in advance, and after the conclusion of public testimony shall finalize the budget to be submitted to the legislative body. One or more supplemental public hearings may be held at any time before the annual or special meeting, subject to the 7-day notice requirement. If the first hearing or any supplemental hearing is recessed to a later date or time, additional notice shall not be required for a supplemental session if the date, time, and place of the supplemental session are made known at the original hearing. Public hearings on bonds and notes in excess of $100,000 shall be held in accordance with RSA 33:8-a, I. Days shall be counted in accordance with RSA 21:35.

2 Use of Official Ballot; Budget Preparation in Towns with March Official Ballot Town Meeting. Amend RSA 40:13, II-a(c) to read as follows:

(c) Budget hearings under RSA 32:5 and RSA 195:12 and hearings under RSA 33:8-a and RSA 675:3 shall be held on or before the third Tuesday in January. One or more supplemental budget hearings may be held at any time before the first session of the annual meeting, subject to the 7-day notice requirement in RSA 32:5. If the first hearing or any supplemental hearing is recessed to a later date or time, additional notice shall not be required for a supplemental session if the date, time, and place of the supplemental session are made known at the original hearing.

3 Use of Official Ballot; Budget Preparation in Towns with April Official Ballot Town Meeting. Amend RSA 40:13, II-b(c) to read as follows:

(c) Budget hearings under RSA 32:5 and RSA 195:12 and hearings under RSA 33:8-a and RSA 675:3 shall be held on or before the third Tuesday in February. One or more supplemental budget hearings may be held at any time before the first session of the annual meeting, subject to the 7-day notice requirement in RSA 32:5. If the first hearing or any supplemental hearing is recessed to a later date or time, additional notice shall not be required for a supplemental session if the date, time, and place of the supplemental session are made known at the original hearing.

4 Use of Official Ballot; Budget Preparation in Towns with May Official Ballot Town Meeting. Amend RSA 40:13, II-c(c) to read as follows:

(c) Budget hearings under RSA 32:5 and RSA 195:12 and hearings under RSA 33:8-a and RSA 675:3 shall be held on or before the third Tuesday in March. One or more supplemental budget hearings may be held at any time before the first session of the annual meeting, subject to the 7-day notice requirement in RSA 32:5. If the first hearing or any supplemental hearing is recessed to a later date or time, additional notice shall not be required for a supplemental session if the date, time, and place of the supplemental session are made known at the original hearing.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.