HB 153 – VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
01/30/14 0050s
15May2014… 1817EBA
2014 SESSION
08/04
HOUSE BILL 153
AN ACT establishing a committee to study the growth and sale of industrial hemp in New?Hampshire.
SPONSORS: Rep. Michael Garcia, Hills 34; Rep. Warden, Hills 39; Rep. Jones, Straf 24
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
This bill establishes a committee to study the growth and sale of industrial hemp in New?Hampshire.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
01/30/14 0050s
15May2014… 1817EBA
13-0413
08/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen
AN ACT establishing a committee to study the growth and sale of industrial hemp in New?Hampshire.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the growth and sale of industrial hemp in New Hampshire. For the purposes of this act, “industrial hemp” means all parts and varieties of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not, that contain a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of 0.3 percent or less by weight.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the house environment and agriculture committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the house resources, recreation and development committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) One member of the house finance committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(d) One member of the house executive departments and administration committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(e) One member of the house criminal justice and public safety committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(f) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
3 Duties of the Committee. The committee shall:
I. Assess the potential viability of industrial hemp as an agronomic and economic crop for New Hampshire, including discussing whether locally grown hemp can compete on price and quality with hemp imported from Asia while realizing a profit for New Hampshire growers.
II. Determine production needs and technical guidance for the growth of industrial hemp, including climate and land resource suitability, length of production season, soil/fertility needs, planting and harvesting equipment needed, crop storage requirements, and processing equipment necessary.
III. Evaluate the potential markets for industrial hemp grown in New Hampshire, including identifying potential buyers and purposes for industrial hemp products and requirements for processing industrial hemp.
IV. Assess any fiscal impact on state and local law enforcement as well as the department of agriculture, markets, and food.
V. Develop policies and procedures for handling and destroying any hemp grown not in compliance with federal and state regulations.
VI. Recommend penalties for industrial hemp growers who cultivate a product containing too much THC.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2014.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.