Revision: March 8, 2016, midnight
\t \t\tSB 375 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
02/11/2016 0398s
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\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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\t16-2736
\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:
\t1 New Chapter; Coastal Marine Natural Resources and Environment Commission. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 485-E the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 485-F
Coastal Marine Natural Resources and Environment Commission
\t485-F:1 Commission Established. There is established a coastal marine natural resources and environment commission.
\t485-F: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-F: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, and nutrient loading, which impact fish, shellfish, and the food chain thereof.
\t\tII. Identify gaps in, and make recommendations for, monitoring strategies and capacities for water quality, including pH, and evaluate pH in terms of impaired water designation.
\t\tIII. Make recommendations concerning "Blue Carbon" credit program revenues for sea grass promotion and oyster bed restoration.
\t\tIV. Report annually on November 1 to the chairs of the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over issues affecting coastal marine resources and the environment, the senate president, the speaker of the house, and the governor.
\t485-F: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.
\t2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.