Revision: June 15, 2014, midnight
HB 1559-FN – VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
05/01/14 1557s
15May2014… 1821EBA
2014 SESSION
05/10
HOUSE BILL 1559-FN
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire state house bicentennial commission and fund.
SPONSORS: Rep. Cushing, Rock 21; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen.?Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration
This bill establishes a New Hampshire state house bicentennial commission and fund to prepare for the 200th anniversary of the dedication of the New Hampshire state house on June 2, 2019.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/01/14 1557s
15May2014… 1821EBA
14-2456
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire state house bicentennial commission and fund.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Legislative Purpose. The historic New Hampshire state house is a symbol of the unique democratic traditions of our state. It is the oldest state house in the nation in which the legislature still occupies its original chambers. The building is a state, national, and international treasure where the democratically elected representatives of the people of our state have assembled to debate and enact laws and to self-govern since it opened on June 2, 1819. Beginning with people who were born before New Hampshire was a state and the United States a free nation, 10 generations of legislators have debated and voted in representatives hall on the great issues of the day. Two centuries is a milestone that is worthy of celebration and an opportunity to educate the people of our state about our legislature, government, and democracy.
2 New Hampshire State House Day. The governor shall proclaim June 2, 2019, as New?Hampshire State House Day in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the dedication of the New Hampshire state house. All citizens of the state are called upon to celebrate the bicentennial of the New Hampshire state house with appropriate educational, cultural, and commemorative activities and events.
3 New Chapter; New Hampshire State House Bicentennial Commission. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 17-Q the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 17-R
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE HOUSE BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION
17-R:1 New Hampshire State House Bicentennial Commission Established.
I. There is established a New Hampshire state house bicentennial commission whose purpose is to plan and organize educational, cultural, and commemorative events to celebrate the bicentennial of the New Hampshire state house.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) The governor, or designee.
(b) The speaker of the house of representatives, or designee.
(c) The house minority leader, or designee.
(d) The senate president, or designee.
(e) The senate minority leader, or designee.
(f) The chief justice of the supreme court, or designee.
(g) The secretary of state, or designee.
(h) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(i) The president of the New Hampshire Historical Society board of trustees, or designee.
(j) The chairman of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance board of directors, or designee.
(k) The mayor of the city of Concord, or designee.
(l) One member of the joint legislative historical committee, established under RSA 17-I, appointed by the committee.
(m) One member of the New Hampshire Supreme Court Society, appointed by the society.
(n) The commissioner of the department of cultural resources, or designee.
(o) The director of travel and tourism, department of resources and economic development, or designee.
(p) The commissioner of administrative services, or designee.
(q) Two members of the public, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(r) Two members of the public, appointed by the senate president.
(s) Two members of the public, appointed by the governor.
III. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except that legislative members shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
IV. The commission shall:
(a) Plan and organize educational, cultural, and commemorative events celebrating the bicentennial of the New?Hampshire state house on June 2, 2019.
(b) Initiate preservation and access programs related to the history of the general court and preservation of the New Hampshire state house.
(c) Solicit information and testimony from any individual or entity with information or expertise relevant to the commission’s charge.
V. The commission may accept any gifts, donations, or grants from any source provided. Said gifts, donations, or grants shall be deposited in the fund established in RSA 17-R:3 and used exclusively in the furtherance of the duties of the commission.
VI. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the member of the joint legislative historical committee. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Eleven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
17-R:2 Annual Report. Beginning November 1, 2014, the commission shall submit an annual report by November 1 of its activities and 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.
17-R:3 New Hampshire State House Bicentennial Education and Commemoration Fund Established. There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer a fund to be known as the New Hampshire state house bicentennial education and commemoration fund, which shall be kept distinct and separate from all other funds. The treasurer shall deposit all gifts, grants, and donations received by the commission in the New Hampshire state house bicentennial education and commemoration fund. All moneys in the fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the commission established in RSA 17-R:1 for the purposes of this chapter.
4 New Subparagraph; Dedicated Funds. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph I(b)(316) the following new subparagraph:
(317) Moneys deposited in the New Hampshire state house bicentennial education and commemoration fund established under RSA 17-R:3.
5 Repeal. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 17-R, relative to the New Hampshire state house bicentennial commission.
II. RSA 6:12, I(b)(317), relative to the funds in the state house bicentennial education and commemoration fund.
6 Effective Date.
I. Section 5 of this act shall take effect June 30, 2020.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
14-2456
Amended 05/02/14
HB 1559-FN FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire state house bicentennial commission and fund.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill, as amended by the Senate (Amendment #2014-1557s), may increase state restricted revenue and expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2014 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenue and expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill establishes a New Hampshire State House Bicentennial Education and Commemoration Fund, into which gifts, grants, and donations shall be deposited. The amounts in the fund shall be used exclusively for the furtherance of duties of the State House Bicentennial Commission created by the bill. The bill does not make an appropriation for the fund. Since the amount of any potential contributions is unknown, the bill’s impact on state restricted revenue and expenditures is indeterminable.