Revision: March 22, 2013, midnight
SB 157-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/14/13 0773s
2013 SESSION
09/10
SENATE BILL 157-FN
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire disaster relief fund.
SPONSORS: Sen. Larsen, Dist 15
This bill establishes a New Hampshire disaster relief fund under the authority of the director of the division of homeland security and emergency management.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/14/13 0773s
13-0940
09/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire disaster relief fund.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Findings. The general court finds that:
I. New Hampshire has been severely impacted by several storms over the past few years resulting in the declaration of states of emergency throughout the state;
II. Homes, businesses, and personal property were damaged or destroyed in many areas across the state; and
III. It is in the interest of the citizens of the state to provide a means to distribute private donations to help people in need recover from the storms, particularly those persons whose disaster-related needs may not be adequately met by federal assistance.
2 New Subparagraph; Special Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (310) the following new subparagraph:
(311) Moneys designated for the New Hampshire disaster relief fund, established in RSA 21-P:46-a.
3 New Section; New Hampshire Disaster Relief Fund. Amend RSA 21-P by inserting after section 46 the following new section:
21-P:46-a New Hampshire Disaster Relief Fund.
I. There shall be established a fund that is to be accounted for separately from all other funds and which shall be designated as the New Hampshire disaster relief fund, which shall be credited and continually appropriated to the director for disaster relief. The moneys in 2 existing funds, one in the legislative branch known as the disaster fund, and one in the office of the state treasurer, known as the New Hampshire disaster relief fund 2011, shall lapse into the New Hampshire disaster relief fund on the effective date of this section.
II. Funds in the New Hampshire disaster relief fund shall be made available to individuals who suffer damage and loss as a result of a declared disaster. All disbursements from the fund shall be approved by the director of homeland security and emergency management, in consultation with the individual assistance committee appointed under paragraph III.
III. The director shall appoint an individual assistance committee to review, evaluate, and make recommendations on requests for individual assistance. The committee shall be comprised of representatives from the nonprofit community, human service organizations, disaster response organizations, the Community Action Programs, and volunteer organizations, who shall serve at the pleasure of the director. The director shall designate a committee chair.
IV. The director shall maintain complete records of all funds disbursed from the New Hampshire disaster relief fund and shall report all such disbursements to the individual assistance committee every 6 months following the effective date of this section.
4 Repeal. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 6:12, I(b)(311), relative to the New Hampshire disaster relief fund.
II. RSA 21-P:46-a, relative to the New Hampshire disaster relief fund.
5 Contingency. Section 4 of this act shall take effect on the date when all moneys in the New Hampshire disaster fund have been disbursed, as certified to the secretary of state and the director of legislative services by the director of homeland security and emergency management.
6 Effective Date.
I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect as provided in section 5 of this act.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
13-0940
Amended 03/21/13
SB 157 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire disaster relief fund.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill, as amended by the Senate (Amendment #2013-0773s), will have no impact on state, county, and local revenues or expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill establishes a New Hampshire Disaster Relief Fund under the Department of Safety’ Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Under this bill, two existing disaster relief funds maintained by the state will be made part of the newly established fund. As of June 30, 2012, the balances of the two existing funds are:
Fund |
Balance as of 06/30/12 |
Disaster Relief Fund |
$29,067 |
NH Disaster Relief Fund 2011 |
$125,220 |
TOTAL |
$154,287 |
There will be no impact on state, county and local revenues or expenditures.