Revision: April 29, 2010, midnight
HB 1378-FN – VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
17Feb2010… 0286h
04/21/10 1407s
2010 SESSION
04/05
HOUSE BILL 1378-FN
AN ACT establishing an adopt-a-state park program in the state park system and establishing an adopt-a-forest fire tower program in the division of forests and lands.
SPONSORS: Rep. St. Cyr, Belk 5; Rep. Bettencourt, Rock 4
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
This bill establishes an adopt-a-state park program in the state park system. The bill also requires the director of the division of forests and lands to establish an adopt-a-forest fire tower program.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17Feb2010… 0286h
04/21/10 1407s
10-2475
04/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten
AN ACT establishing an adopt-a-state park program in the state park system and establishing an adopt-a-forest fire tower program in the division of forests and lands.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Expansion of State Park System; Adopt-a-State Park Program. Amend RSA 216-A by inserting after section 3-k the following new section:
216-A:3-l Adopt-a-State Park Program Established. The director of the division of parks and recreation, under the supervision of the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development:
I. Shall establish an adopt-a-state park program by directly involving citizens, groups, associations, municipalities, and the business community in the beautification of New Hampshire’s state parks.
II. May permit any interested citizen or group to provide ongoing maintenance on a voluntary basis to the state park system.
III. Shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, necessary to implement the adopt-a-state park program consistent with the provisions of this section. Such rules shall include an application and evaluation procedure to allow interested citizens or groups to adopt a state park, and a procedure for terminating an adopt-a-state park agreement. Such procedure shall require the citizens or group to provide information on how they plan to maintain the park and what specific projects they intend to undertake, how frequently the park will be visited for cleaning and maintenance, and any other responsibilities of the parties involved. The director of parks and recreation shall develop any forms necessary for the adopt-a-state park program.
IV. Shall determine an appropriate method of recognizing those who provide service to the state park system through participation in the adopt-a-park program.
2 Woodland Fire Control; Duties and Authority of Director of Division of Forests and Lands. Amend RSA 227-L:2, I(b) to read as follows:
(b) Maintain the present [mountain lookout stations] forest fire towers, establish and maintain additional [stations] towers connected by telephone lines or radio communication, and use aircraft and other available means for surveillance, detection, reporting, and control of forest fires and shall have the right to receive and hold, in the name of the state, gifts of land for observatory sites and rights of way for paths and telephone and electric lines.
3 New Subparagraph; Woodland Fire Control; Duties and Authority of Director of Division of Forests and Lands. Amend RSA 227-L:2, I by inserting after subparagraph (b) the following new subparagraph:
(c) Establish an adopt-a-forest fire tower program by directly involving interested citizens, groups, associations, municipalities and businesses in the maintenance of New Hampshire’s state fire forest towers. The director shall develop and recommend rules to be adopted by the commissioner, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to implementing the adopt-a-forest fire tower program, including an application and evaluation procedure to allow interested parties to adopt a forest fire tower, and a procedure for terminating an adopt-a-forest fire tower agreement.
4 Woodland Fire Control; Duties and Authority of Director of Division of Forests and Lands. Amend RSA 227-L:2, II(b) to read as follows:
(b) Cooperate with the forestry departments of the states of Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont in the establishment and maintenance jointly of [lookout stations] forest fire towers serving New Hampshire and any of such other states.
5 Woodland Fire Control; Taking Land. Amend RSA 227-L:3 to read as follows:
227-L:3 Taking Land. If sites or rights of way necessary for the maintenance and effective operation of [lookout stations] forest fire towers, fire trails, or lines cannot be acquired by gift or purchase, the department shall have the right to acquire the same under the power of eminent domain, and the value shall be determined as provided in RSA 227-H:3, II.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
10-2475
Amended 03/01/10
HB 1378 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing an adopt-a-state park program in the state park system and establishing an adopt-a-forest fire tower program in the division of forests and lands.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Resources and Economic Development states this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2010-0286h), will increase state general fund expenditures by $56,034 in FY 2011, $59,081 in FY 2012, $62,415 in FY 2013 and $65,865 in FY 2014. There is no fiscal impact on county and local expenditures or state, county and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Resources and Economic Development states this bill establishes an adopt-a-state park program in the state park system and an adopt-a-forest fire tower program in the division of forests and lands. The Department states it would need to hire a volunteer coordinator (Labor Grade 19) to manage the adopt-a-state park program and supervise the volunteers. The Department assumes it would not be able to fill the position until FY 2011; therefore there would be no costs in FY 2010. Additionally, any costs for the position beyond salary and benefits would be absorbed by the Department. The volunteer coordinator salary and benefits would be as follows:
FY 2011 |
FY 2012 |
FY 2013 |
FY 2014 | |
Salary (LG 19, step 1) |
$34,866 |
$36,290 |
$37,850 |
$39,390 |
Benefits |
21,168 |
22,791 |
24,565 |
26,475 |
Total |
$56,034 |
$59,081 |
$62,415 |
$65,865 |
The Department states the division of forest and lands will implement the adopt-a-forest fire tower program using existing resources.
This bill does not authorize or provide an additional appropriation for a position.