CHAPTER 115
SB 20-FN-LOCAL – FINAL VERSION
02/12/2015 0106s
02/12/2015 0249s
15Apr2015… 1129h
05/14/2015 1566EBA
2015 SESSION
SENATE BILL 20-FN-LOCAL
AN ACT establishing a commission on historic burial grounds and cemeteries.
SPONSORS: Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Public and Municipal Affairs
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes the commission on historic burial grounds and cemeteries.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
02/12/2015 0106s
02/12/2015 0249s
15Apr2015… 1129h
05/14/2015 1566EBA
15-0524
06/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT establishing a commission on historic burial grounds and cemeteries.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
115:1 New Subdivision; Historic Burying Grounds. Amend RSA 227-C by inserting after section 12 the following new subdivision:
Commission on Historic Burying Grounds
227-C:12-a Commission Established.
I. There is established a commission on historic burying grounds and cemeteries.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) One member of a historic district commission, appointed by the governor.
(d) One member of a local historical society, appointed by the governor.
(e) The chairperson of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, or designee.
(f) The chairperson of the New Hampshire Historical Society, or designee.
(g) The commissioner of the department of cultural resources, or designee.
(h) The director of the division of historic resources, or designee.
(i) One representative of the New Hampshire commission on Native American affairs, appointed by that commission.
(j) The executive director of the New Hampshire Municipal Association, or designee.
(k) The president of the New Hampshire Old Graveyard Association, or designee.
(l) A member of the New Hampshire State Organization Daughters of the American Revolution, appointed by the state regent of that organization.
(m) A member of the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association, appointed by the president of that association.
(n) A member of a cemetery commission or a cemetery trustee, appointed by the governor.
(o) The Roman Catholic bishop of Manchester, or designee.
III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
IV. The commission shall make recommendations:
(a) On the documentation and preservation of the state’s historic burying grounds and cemeteries.
(b) On the establishment and criteria for a New Hampshire state register of historic burying grounds and cemeteries, including their markers, walls, gates, and other associated and identifying features and artifacts that are meaningful to the history, historic landscape, cultural, religious, craft, and architectural traditions of the state.
(c) Concerning the protection of property owners, and owners of contiguous or surrounding properties, with respect to a listed property.
(d) On the persons permitted to nominate a state historic burying ground or cemetery for a state register in accordance with RSA 289.
(e) Concerning notice to potentially interested parties for proposals that affect burial grounds, and the adoption of a “public good” standard.
V. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VI. The commission shall file interim reports of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2015, November 1, 2016, and November 1, 2017, and a final report on or before November 1, 2018.
115:2 Repeal. RSA 227-C:12-a, relative to historic burying grounds and cemeteries, is repealed.
115:3 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2018.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: June 8, 2015
Effective Date: I. Section 2 shall take effect November 1, 2018
II. Remainder shall take effect June 8, 2015