Revision: March 27, 2014, midnight
HB 256-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
08Jan2014… 2344h
2013 SESSION
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, extending a commission on sustainability of the fish and game department, and establishing a committee to study funding of the fish and game search and rescue fund.
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
This bill:
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. Extends the reporting date of the commission to study opportunities and options to improve the sustainability of the fish and game department.
IV. Establishes a committee to study the funding of the fish and game search and rescue fund.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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
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, extending a commission on sustainability of the fish and game department, and establishing a committee to study funding of the fish and game search and rescue fund.
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:
(1) A hunting or fishing license issued by this state under title XVIII.
(2) An OHRV registration under RSA 215-A, a snowmobile registration under RSA 215-C, or a vessel registration under RSA 270-E.
(3) 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. The executive director shall forward to the state treasurer the amount of $22 from each individual hike safe card purchased and the amount of $32 from each family hike safe card purchased for deposit in the fish and game search and rescue fund under RSA 206:42. A transaction fee of $3 shall be for the Internet license agent under RSA 214-A:2.
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 Commission Extended; Sustainability of the Fish and Game Department. Amend RSA 206:1-a, V to read as follows:
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, [2013] 2014.
4 Commission Extended; Sustainability of the Fish and Game Department; Prospective Repeal. Amend 2013, 241:9, I to read as follows:
I. Section 8 of this act shall take effect November 1, [2013] 2014.
5 Committee Established.
I. There is established a committee to study the funding of the fish and game search and rescue fund.
II. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Four members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
III. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
IV. The committee shall study proposals for funding the search and rescue response operations conducted by the fish and game department.
V. 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.
VI. 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.
I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2015.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
13-0296
Amended 01/24/14
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, extending a commission on sustainability of the fish and game department, and establishing a committee to study funding of the fish and game search and rescue fund.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Fish and Game Department states this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2013-2344h), will increase state revenues by an indeterminable amount, and increase state expenditures by $3,440 in FY 2014 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 $22 from each individual card and $32 from each family card would be credited to the Fish and Game Department’s search and rescue fund, with the remaining $3 per transaction for the internet license agent under RSA 214-A:2. The Department further 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.