HB256 (2014) Detail

(2nd New Title) relative to establishing a voluntary hike safe card for fish and game search and rescue operations, relative to deputy fish and game conservation officers, and relative to the commission on sustainability of the fish and game department.


HB 256-FN – VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES

08Jan2014… 2344h

05/01/14 1542s

4Jun2014… 1925CofC

2013 SESSION

13-0296

10/03

HOUSE BILL 256-FN

AN ACT relative to establishing a voluntary hike safe card for fish and game search and rescue operations, relative to deputy fish and game conservation officers, and relative to the commission on sustainability of the fish and game department.

SPONSORS: Rep. Chandler, Carr 1; Rep. Goley, Hills 8; Rep. Reed, Merr 2; Rep. Kappler, Rock?3; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources

AMENDED ANALYSIS

I. Establishes a voluntary hike safe card issued by the fish and game department for the purpose of funding search and rescue response operations.

II. Removes the requirement that deputy conservation officers of the fish and game department serve 8 hours per month without compensation.

III. Reestablishes the commission to study opportunities and options to improve the sustainability of the fish and game department.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

08Jan2014… 2344h

05/01/14 1542s

4Jun2014… 1925CofC

13-0296

10/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen

AN ACT relative to establishing a voluntary hike safe card for fish and game search and rescue operations, relative to deputy fish and game conservation officers, and relative to the commission on sustainability of the fish and game department.

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

1 Search and Rescue Response Expenses. Amend RSA 206:26-bb, I to read as follows:

I. Notwithstanding RSA 153-A:24, any person determined by the department to have acted negligently in requiring a search and rescue response by the department shall be liable to the department for the reasonable cost of the department’s expenses for such search and rescue response, unless the person shows proof of possessing a current version of any of the following:

(a) A hunting or fishing license issued by this state under title XVIII.

(b) An OHRV registration under RSA 215-A, a snowmobile registration under RSA 215-C, or a vessel registration under RSA 270-E.

(c) A voluntary hike safe card. The executive director shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A for the issuance to purchasers on the department’s Internet site, and subsequent annual renewals, of a hike safe card prior to a person’s need for a search and rescue response. The annual fee for a hike safe card shall be $25 for an individual or $35 for a family. A “family” shall consist of the purchaser, the purchaser’s spouse, and the purchaser’s minor children or stepchildren. A transaction fee determined by the department shall be for the Internet license agent as provided in RSA 214-A:2. The executive director shall forward to the state treasurer the sum collected from each individual hike safe card purchased and each family hike safe card purchased, less the amount of such transaction fee, for deposit in the fish and game search and rescue fund under RSA 206:42

I-a. The executive director shall bill the responsible person for such costs. Payment shall be made to the department within 30 days after the receipt of the bill, or by some other date determined by the executive director. If any person shall fail or refuse to pay the costs by the required date, the department may pursue payment by legal action, or by settlement or compromise, and the responsible person shall be liable for interest from the date that the bill is due and for legal fees and costs incurred by the department in obtaining and enforcing judgment under this paragraph. All amounts recovered, less the costs of collection and any percentage due pursuant to RSA 7:15-a, IV(b), shall be paid into the fish and game search and rescue fund established in RSA 206:42.

2 Fish and Game; Deputy Conservation Officers; Compensation. Amend RSA 206:27-h to read as follows:

206:27-h Compensation. All deputy conservation officers shall be compensated for their services while actively engaged in the performance of their official duties at rates as fixed by the executive director[; provided, however, all deputy conservation officers shall serve 8 hours per month without compensation]. This section shall not prohibit a deputy conservation officer from volunteering [more hours than the 8 hours per month] his or her service without compensation.

3 New Section; Commission to Study Opportunities and Options to Improve the Sustainability of the Fish and Game Department. Amend RSA 206 by inserting after section 1-a the following new section:

206:1-b Commission to Study Opportunities and Options to Improve the Sustainability of the Fish and Game Department.

I. There is established a commission to study opportunities and options to improve the sustainability of the fish and game department.

II.(a) The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(1) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(2) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(3) The director of the fish and game department, or designee.

(4) The chairman of the fish and game commission, or designee.

(5) Three public members appointed by the governor.

(b) Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

III. The commission shall study options and opportunities for ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of the fish and game department. The commission may solicit information and testimony from those with experience or expertise relevant to the study.

IV. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The commission 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.

4 Repeal. RSA 206:1-b, relative to the commission to study opportunities to improve the sustainability of the fish and game department, is repealed.

5 Effective Date.

I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2015.

II. Section 4 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2014.

III. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBAO

13-0296

Amended 05/05/14

HB 256-FN FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to establishing a voluntary hike safe card for fish and game search and rescue operations, relative to deputy fish and game conservation officers, and relative to the commission on sustainability of the fish and game department.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Fish and Game Department states this bill, as amended by the Senate (Amendment #2014-1542s), will have an indeterminable impact on state restricted revenues, and increase state restricted expenditures by $3,440 in FY 2015 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on county and local revenue or expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

      The Fish and Game Department states this bill creates a voluntary hike safe card offered online for an annual fee of $25 for an individual or $35 for a family. Under this bill the Department is to set a transaction fee, and total annual fee revenue collected less said transaction fees will be credited to the Fish and Game Search and Rescue Fund. The Department states this bill prevents it from seeking reasonable cost reimbursement for search and rescue responses from individuals who have a hunting or fishing license issued by the state, an OHRV, snowmobile, or vessel registration, or a voluntary safe hike card. The Department is unable to estimate the increase in revenue associated to issuing the safe hike cards, or the decrease in revenue associated with not being allowed to pursue certain costs reimbursement for search and rescue response.

    The Fish and Game Department also states this bill eliminates eight hours per month of volunteer service by deputy conservation officers. The Department assumes this service would still be performed, but compensated at an estimated hourly rate of $17.20. The Department assumes 25 days per year at 8 hours per day at $17.20 per hour for a total potential cost of $3,440 per year, which would be paid from the Fish and Game fund and OHRV dedicated fund.