HB 1569-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
9Mar2016... 0633h
2016 SESSION
\t16-2416
\t08/03
HOUSE BILL\t1569-FN
AN ACT\trelative to volunteers under the department of resources and economic development.
SPONSORS:\tRep. C. Christensen, Hills. 21; Rep. Gottling, Sull. 2; Rep. Russell, Belk. 5; Rep. Ford, Graf. 3; Rep. Emerick, Rock. 21; Rep. Infantine, Hills. 13; Sen. Kelly, Dist 10; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1
COMMITTEE:\tJudiciary
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
\tThis bill indemnifies volunteer organizations working for the department of resources and economic development.
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Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.
\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
9Mar2016... 0633h\t16-2416
\t08/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen
AN ACT\trelative to volunteers under the department of resources and economic development.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
\t1 Indemnification of Department of Resources and Economic Development Volunteers. Amend RSA 216-A:3-h to read as follows:
\t216-A:3-h Indemnification of Department of Resources and Economic Development Volunteers.
Any person recognized by the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development as a volunteer or, notwithstanding RSA 508:17, II, a corporation or other nonprofit legal entity that is recognized by the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development, and who is under the general supervision of authorized department of resources and economic development personnel, and is actually performing assigned volunteer duties or activities at a state park, forest, reservation, trail, or historic site, shall be considered as a state employee for the purpose of defense and indemnification from civil suits under RSA 99-D.
\t2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t16-2416
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t11/30/15
HB 1569-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT\trelative to volunteers under the department of resources and economic development.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Resources and Economic Development states this bill, as introduced, will have an indeterminable fiscal impact on state expenditures and revenue in FY 2017 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on county and local revenues or expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Resources and Economic Development states the total value of volunteer time for the Division of Parks and Recreation in calendar year 2014 was $240,279. This estimate is based on 10,456 hours of time at a $22.98, a rate established by The Independent Sector, a national organization which estimates the value of volunteer time. The amounts do not include the value of cash, equipment or materials provided by volunteer organizations. The Department states 90% of the volunteers on state reservations are associated with organizations. The Department assumes if the volunteer organizations are not able to obtain adequate protection from liability through statute or insurance, the number of volunteers could be reduced by up to 90%. The Department estimates the cost to obtain liability insurance coverage for the volunteer organizations would be about $40,000 per year and, if the bill becomes law, the Department would issue a request for proposals for insurance coverage. The Department indicates the bill authorizes it to charge volunteer organizations for a portion of the cost of insurance, but it is not known how much would be charged.
The Department of Justice state this bill addresses immunity from liability for corporations or nonprofit entities whose members perform volunteer work for the Department of Resources and Economic Development. The Department states, because it would not provide a defense to these entities in the event of a lawsuit, either under current law or under this bill, there would be no fiscal impact to the Department.