7Mar2012… 0815h

2012 SESSION

                                                                                                                                    12-2283

                                                                                                                                    01/03

HOUSE BILL               1495-FN

AN ACT                establishing a Purple Heart Trail along U. S. Route 3.

SPONSORS:         Rep. Jennifer Coffey, Merr 6; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock 3; Rep. Swinford, Belk 5; Rep. T. Smith, Merr 9; Rep. Merrick, Coos 2; Rep. K. Roberts, Ches 3; Rep. Theberge, Coos 4; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr 10; Rep. Tamburello, Rock 3; Rep. C. McGuire, Merr 8; Sen. Forsythe, Dist 4; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Lambert, Dist 13

COMMITTEE:       Resources, Recreation and Development

AMENDED ANALYSIS

      This bill designates a Purple Heart Trail along U. S. Route 3 from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border.

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                                    Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

7Mar2012… 0815h

                                                                                                                                    12-2283

                                                                                                                                    01/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT                establishing a Purple Heart Trail along U. S. Route 3.

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

      ­1  Purple Heart Trail Extended.  The portion of U.S. Route 3 from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border is hereby designated as the Purple Heart Trail.  The department of transportation shall place at least 200 appropriate markers indicating the designation of this portion of U.S. Route 3 as being the Purple Heart Trail.  There shall be no maximum number of markers.  The families of the veterans who are living and deceased who are holders of the Purple Heart  medal may purchase such markers.

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

                                                                                                                        LBAO

                                                                                                                        12-2283

                                                                                                                        Amended 03/13/12

HB 1495 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT                establishing a Purple Heart Trail along U.S. Route 3.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Transportation states this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2012-0815h), will increase state highway fund expenditures by $22,500 in FY 2012, $9,000 in FY 2013, and $4,500 in FY 2014 and each year thereafter.  There is no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department of Transportation states when it was involved with establishing the Purple Heart Trail along US Route 4, the NH Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart was responsible for the design and manufacture of the signs.  The Department installed the signs at mutually agreed upon locations along the trail.  The Department assumes the same process would be used to place signs for a Purple Heart Trail along US Route 3.  The proposed legislation requires a minimum of 200 signs be installed with no upper limit.  The Department assumes 300 signs will be installed at a cost of $150 per sign for installation (total cost: $45,000).  The Department assumes approximately 50 percent of the signs would be installed in FY 2012, 20 percent would be installed in FY 2013, and 10 percent would be installed in FY 2014 through FY 2016.  Based on this assumption, state highway fund expenditures will increase by $22,500 in FY 2012, $9,000 in FY 2013 and $4,500 in FY 2014 through FY 2016.  In addition, a supervisor would need to contribute approximately 100 hours of time to coordinate where the signs would be installed.  This cost would be absorbed by the Department.