SB375 (2016) Detail

Establishing the coastal marine natural resources and environment commission.


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CHAPTER 156

SB 375 - FINAL VERSION

02/11/2016   0398s

20Apr2016... 1204h

05/12/2016   1905EBA

2016 SESSION

\t16-2736

\t08/09

 

SENATE BILL\t375

 

AN ACT\testablishing the coastal marine natural resources and environment commission.

 

SPONSORS:\tSen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Rep. F. Rice, Rock. 21; Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Borden, Rock. 24; Rep. Schroadter, Rock. 17

 

COMMITTEE:\tEnergy And Natural Resources

 

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ANALYSIS

 

\tThis bill establishes the coastal marine natural resources and environment commission.

 

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\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/11/2016   0398s

20Apr2016... 1204h\t16-2736

05/12/2016   1905EBA\t08/09

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

 

AN ACT\testablishing the coastal marine natural resources and environment commission.

 

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

 

\t156:1  New Chapter; Coastal Marine Natural Resources and Environment Commission.  Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 485-F the following new chapter:

CHAPTER 485-G

COASTAL MARINE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION

\t485-G:1  Commission Established.  There is established a coastal marine natural resources and environment commission.

\t485-G:2  Membership and Compensation.

\t\tI.  The members of the commission shall be as follows:

\t\t\t(a)  Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

\t\t\t(b)  Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

\t\t\t(c)  The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.

\t\t\t(d)  The commissioner of the department of resources and economic development, or designee.

\t\t\t(e)  The executive director of fish and game, or designee.

\t\t\t(f)  The chair of the advisory committee on marine fisheries, or designee.

\t\t\t(g)  Two representatives of the acquaculture industry, appointed by the governor.

\t\t\t(h)  One commercial fisherman, appointed by the governor.

\t\t\t(i)  One recreational fisherman, appointed by the governor.

\t\t\t(j)  The Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper.

\t\t\t(k)  One representative of the cooperative extension in fisheries, appointed  by the dean of the cooperative extension.  

\t\t\t(l)  One environmental scientist from the University of New Hampshire, appointed by the president of the University of New Hampshire.

\t\t\t(m)  One representative of the New Hampshire Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, appointed by the director of the board of trustees of the New Hampshire chapter.

\t\tII.  Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

\t485-G:3  Duties.  The commission shall:

\t\tI.  Investigate, monitor, and propose prevention and mitigation strategies for emerging environmental threats in coastal and Great Bay waters, including but not limited to warming of waters, ocean acidification, sedimentation, and nutrient loading, which impact fish, shellfish, and the food chain thereof.

\t\tII.  Identify gaps and recommend improvements in water quality monitoring, including monitoring pH and evaluating its impact on the impaired waters designation of water bodies.

\t\tIII.  Recommend strategies for enhancing capacities for improving water quality.

\t\tIV.  Examine the Blue Carbon credit program for sea grass promotion and oyster bed restoration.

\t\tV.  Report annually on November 1 to the chairpersons of the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over issues affecting coastal marine resources and the environment, the president of the  senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor.

\t485-G:4  Chairperson; Quorum.  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 senate member.  The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.  Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

\t156:2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: May 27, 2016

Effective Date: July 26, 2016