CHAPTER 250
SB 92 – FINAL VERSION
03/30/11 1209s
03/30/11 1234s
27Apr2011… 1513h
06/22/11 2292CofC
2011 SESSION
09/10
SENATE BILL 92
AN ACT establishing an economic strategic commission to review the relationship between business and government.
SPONSORS: Sen. Sanborn, Dist 7; Sen. Forsythe, Dist 4; Sen. White, Dist 9; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Groen, Dist 6; Sen. De Blois, Dist 18; Sen. Bragdon, Dist 11; Sen. Luther, Dist 12; Rep. O'Brien, Hills 4; Rep. Bettencourt, Rock 4; Rep. T. Keane, Merr 13; Rep. Kurk, Hills 7; Rep. D. McGuire, Merr 8
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
This bill establishes an economic strategic commission to review the relationship between business and government.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/30/11 1209s
03/30/11 1234s
27Apr2011… 1513h
06/22/11 2292CofC
11-0781
09/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven
AN ACT establishing an economic strategic commission to review the relationship between business and government.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
250:1 New Chapter; Commission to Review the Relationship Between Business and Government. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 359-J the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 359-K
ECONOMIC STRATEGIC COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT
359-K:1 Statement of Purpose.
I. The general court finds that public policies are urgently required to restore the strength and sustain growth of the New Hampshire economy, in order to create new job opportunities, reduce under-employment, and enhance the opportunity to re-establish the philosophy that the New Hampshire advantage is predicated on a belief that the business to government relationship is best served when government embraces responsible business success and nurtures good behavior. This belief is meant to increase the prosperity and enhance the opportunities of the people of New Hampshire. The general court finds that such public policies must be pursued in a coherent, consistent, and comprehensive manner, both to meet the immediate economic and social challenges and to serve as the foundation for future interests of the state and its people. The general court charges the commission established in this chapter to examine all aspects of the business to government relationship and establish measures to further economic development, capital formation, business assistance, infrastructure development, physical and intellectual protections, and equal due process in conflict resolution through legislative initiatives.
II. The general court finds that a paramount responsibility of government is to foster conditions favorable to the creation of employment and wealth opportunities for all its residents, in order to ensure that the people of New Hampshire maintain enjoyment of the highest possible standard of living and quality of life. The general court further finds that the government can contribute to strengthening and enhancing conditions which favor economic opportunities, physical and intellectual protections, productivity, and profitability of private enterprise through encouraging the growth and success of the entrepreneurial spirit.
III. Therefore, the general court addresses these aspects of public policy through establishment of the commission in this chapter, charged with the duty of establishing programs to revive and sustain economic growth in New Hampshire. Legislation recommended by this commission will result in New Hampshire re-establishing national dominance as the place in America where responsible economic opportunities are encouraged, protected, and rewarded, and where modern technology will project the front- and back-end operations of state government to new, cutting edge levels.
359-K:2 Commission Established. There is established an economic strategic commission to study the relationship between New Hampshire businesses and state government.
359-K:3 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) Twelve members of the business community, 4 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president, 4 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and 4 of whom shall be appointed by the governor.
(d) Nine members specializing in business law, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and 3 of whom shall be appointed by the governor.
(e) Three commissioners of New Hampshire departments or their designees, one of whom shall be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be appointed by the senate president, and one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
359-K:4 Duties; Research.
I. The commission and any subcommittees therein shall study and review all aspects of public policy, front- and back-end data interchange, coordination, technology requirements, legislative initiatives, streamlining, and such causal requirements to create a plan to project New Hampshire into a “one-door” front-end operational facility to assist in the ease of economic opportunities in the establishment, support, maintenance, education, and monitoring of the business community.
II. The commission shall prepare a short-term and long-term strategic plan for economic development which shall include recommendations for the necessary legislative and regulatory actions required to meet these goals. The commission shall also review and make recommendations relative to the ability of designing and implementing new structures, technology, and methods, including but not limited to, the ability to efficiently manage, maintain, and process the technology required to meet these goals in the twenty-first century.
III. The commission shall:
(a) Examine the business-to-government relationship within all agencies, with a resultant structure to provide a technologic and or physical process to provide “one-stop” ability for business, in order to efficiently establish, manage, monitor, educate, and report all ordinary course of business processes electronically, efficiently, and affordably. The commission shall determine how to vertically integrate all aspects of the business-to-government relationship, at a level to exceed all other states.
(b) Examine existing New Hampshire laws, in comparison to the laws of other states, to determine New Hampshire’s competitiveness and recommend legislation to re-position New Hampshire as the preeminent state in America to start and operate a business.
(c) Study the feasibility of establishing a new adjudicatory conflict resolution center to manage business to government conflicts. This center shall manage, hear, and adjudicate conflicts when administrative hearings are unresolved, or where the business community remains aggrieved.
(d) Consider changing the name of the department of resources and economic development to the department of business advancement-NH or any other name that conveys New Hampshire’s desire to promote economic growth and prosperity.
IV. The commission may enlist any faculty and students from postsecondary institutions in New Hampshire to provide research services to the commission.
359-K:5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Thirteen members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
359-K:6 Report. The commission shall make status reports on its findings and recommendations on or before December 1, 2011 and August 1, 2012, a preliminary report of its findings and recommendations on or before October 1, 2012, and a final report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before December 1, 2012.
250:2 Repeal. RSA 359-K, relative to the economic strategic commission to review the relationship between business and government, is repealed.
250:3 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect December 1, 2012.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: July 13, 2011
Effective Date: I. Section 2 shall take effect December 1, 2012.
II. Remainder shall take effect July 13, 2011.