Revision: Dec. 14, 2011, midnight
HB 1435 – AS INTRODUCED
2012 SESSION
08/05
HOUSE BILL 1435
AN ACT establishing a committee to oversee the department of environmental services.
SPONSORS: Rep. Renzullo, Hills 27; Rep. Rappaport, Coos 1
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
This bill establishes a committee to oversee the department of environmental services.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12-2200
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
AN ACT establishing a committee to oversee the department of environmental services.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Sections; Department of Environmental Services Oversight Committee. Amend RSA 21-O by inserting after section 22 the following new sections:
21-O:23 Oversight Committee; Establishment; Purpose.
I. There shall be an oversight committee on environmental services consisting of 8 members as follows:
(a) Three members of the senate, at least one of whom shall be a member of the senate energy and natural resources committee and one of whom shall be a member of the senate finance committee, appointed by the president of the senate; and
(b) Five members of the house of representatives, 4 of whom shall be from the resources, recreation and development committee and one of whom shall be from the house finance committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
II. Membership on the oversight committee shall be for the biennium and shall be coterminous with membership in the general court.
III. The oversight committee on environmental services shall provide legislative oversight of the department to support a cost effective, comprehensive, coordinated system of environmental services.
21-O:24 Organization and Compensation. The oversight committee shall have a chairperson who shall be chosen by vote from among the committee membership. The chairperson’s term of office shall be for the biennium. The committee shall have a clerk who shall be chosen by vote by the members of the committee. The clerk’s term of office shall be for the biennium. The members of the committee shall receive legislative mileage when in performance of their duties.
21-O:25 Duties of Oversight Committee.
I. The committee shall periodically review the statutes under which the department operates to ensure they are current and shall identify areas where adjustment may be necessary to meet New Hampshire’s needs. The committee shall provide legislative oversight of and informational meetings on the programs, policies, and rules of the department as brought to its attention by committee members, legislators, department personnel, or others. The committee shall monitor the efficiency of operation and the quality of service provided by the department’s programs. The committee’s work may include, but is not limited to, analyzing the efficacy of selected programs, researching trends affecting program costs and participation, and reviewing alternate approaches to programmatic and administrative concerns. The committee may make recommendations to the commissioner and recommendations for legislation as indicated by its findings. The committee shall maintain communications with the department, and any other departments, as necessary to accomplish its work.
II. The oversight committee shall review the effectiveness of subcommittees, councils, task forces, or other ancillary bodies of the department of environmental services, including but not limited to the wetlands council, the water resources council, the division of water, water council, the division of waste management, waste management council, the division of air resources, and the air resources council.
III. The committee shall meet at the call of the chair but in no case less than every 2 months.
IV. The committee shall make a report no later than the first day of November of the second year of the biennium as to its activities and recommendations to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.