Bill Text - HB1334 (2010)

Relative to penalties for unpaid fines concerning hazardous materials accidents.


Revision: Dec. 10, 2009, midnight

HB 1334 – AS INTRODUCED

2010 SESSION

10-2083

08/05

HOUSE BILL 1334

AN ACT relative to penalties for unpaid fines concerning hazardous materials accidents.

SPONSORS: Rep. DeJoie, Merr 11

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a penalty for unpaid fines concerning hazardous materials and accidents.

This bill is a request of the state fire marshal.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

10-2083

08/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten

AN ACT relative to penalties for unpaid fines concerning hazardous materials accidents.

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

1 New Subparagraph; Penalty for Non-Payment; Hazardous Materials Accidents. Amend RSA 154:8-a, II-a by inserting after subparagraph (g) the following new subparagraph:

(h) A nonpayment penalty of $1,000 plus 10 percent of the amount billed shall be assessed for each day of nonpayment starting the 15th day after the due date and continuing up to 30 days followed by an increase to 25 percent of the amount billed per day for each day until the payment is received. If the responsible party is not readily identifiable the cost shall be the responsibility of the operator of the hazardous materials’ firm.

2 Liability Concerning Hazardous Materials Accidents. Amend RSA 154:8-a. II-a(b) to read as follows:

(b) Any person whose act or omission caused the actual or threatened discharge of hazardous materials or toxic wastes which resulted in the reasonable and proportionate response of police, fire, emergency preparedness, or emergency response equipment shall be responsible for payment of the personnel costs of police, fire, public safety, and municipal personnel, including mutual aid standby personnel, directly involved in the emergency response[, except that costs for on-duty paid personnel who have responded to the emergency involving the discharge of hazardous materials during their assigned duty shift shall not be costs eligible for reimbursement].

3 Liability Concerning Hazardous Material Accidents. Amend RSA 154:8-a, II-a(f) to read as follows:

(f) If no appeal is filed within 30 days after receipt of the bill, the person responsible for the [equipment contamination] hazardous materials response shall be deemed to have waived all rights to appeal and shall be liable to the municipality, organization, or mutual aid district for the total amount billed.

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