Revision: March 24, 2017, 1:49 p.m.
HB 190 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
15Feb2017... 0022h
2017 SESSION
17-0493
10/04
HOUSE BILL 190
AN ACT relative to the wildlife habitat account and the fisheries habitat account.
SPONSORS: Rep. Chandler, Carr. 1; Rep. Goley, Hills. 8
COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources
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This bill provides for a portion of funds in the wildlife habitat account to be used for fish and game department boundary work, and limits expenditures from the wildlife habitat account and fisheries habitat account for equipment and materials. The bill also corrects references to legislative committees.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
15Feb2017... 0022h 17-0493
10/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT relative to the wildlife habitat account and the fisheries habitat account.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Fish and Game; Wildlife Habitat Account. Amend RSA 214:1-f, VII - X to read as follows:
VII. The wildlife habitat account is continually appropriated and may only be used for the following purposes within the state of New Hampshire:
(a) The development, management, preservation, conservation, restoration, and maintenance of wildlife habitat on both public and private lands, with at least:
(1) [50] 25 percent of the annual revenue from stamp and license sales dedicated to pay costs of labor and materials for direct physical land management activities, and
(2) 25 percent of the annual revenue from stamp and license sales dedicated to pay the cost of fish and game department boundary survey work and all necessary survey documents including the posting of any signage necessary to delineate the boundaries of fish and game department lands. The commission, with the assistance of department personnel, shall approve the necessary boundary signs and wording that shall appear on the boundary signs;
(b) Obtaining land access to wildlife habitat areas;
(c) The acquisition of easements upon private property for the purposes of subparagraphs (a) and (b);
(d) The acquisition of private land to protect critical wildlife habitat, provided that the governing body of any municipality, unincorporated town, or unorganized place in which the property is located approves;
(e) The promotion and production of the wildlife habitat stamp and artwork; and
(f) Providing information to the public on the location of properties managed by the fish and game department.
VIII. When stamp and license revenue is used to either obtain an easement under subparagraph VII(c) or purchase land under subparagraph VII(d), no condition shall be accepted which restricts hunting and trapping on the associated land. This requirement shall not apply to lands used for access purposes or if the executive director finds that it is in the interest of the hunting and trapping community to allow such a restriction. The executive director shall allow hunting and trapping on such lands, as is permissible, but may prohibit for any length of time the hunting or trapping on the whole or part of such lands when it is necessary for the protection or propagation of a wildlife species or for public safety reasons.
IX. The executive director, with the approval of the commission, shall expend the funds in the wildlife habitat account. Prior to the expenditure of any funds, the fish and game department shall analyze the proposed project and provide the executive director and the commission with recommendations as to the project's usefulness and feasibility. No funds in the wildlife habitat account shall be expended for the purchase of equipment or materials, with the exception of expenditures for necessary equipment purchases, leases, or rentals for the completion of projects authorized under subparagraphs VII(a)(1) and (2).
X. The executive director shall submit to the fiscal committee and the chairpersons of the house [wildlife and marine resources committee and the senate wildlife and recreation committee] and senate committees with jurisdiction over fish and game matters a detailed fiscal year report by October 1 of each year, beginning with fiscal year 2000, with sufficient information to be fully understood by the general court and the public, summarizing the receipts and disbursements from the wildlife habitat account and the public benefits derived from the disbursements from it. Every fifth year, beginning in 2003, the annual report shall provide an in-depth financial accounting and summary of work accomplished in the previous 5 years, outlining all projects that are completed, in process, and planned. All annual reports shall be made available to the public after submission to the general court.
2 Fish and Game; Fisheries Habitat Account. Amend RSA 214:1-g, VI and VII to read as follows:
VI. The executive director, with the approval of the commission, shall expend the funds in the fisheries habitat account. Prior to the expenditure of any funds, the fish and game department shall analyze the proposed project and provide the executive director and the commission with recommendations as to the project's usefulness and feasibility. No funds in the fisheries habitat account shall be expended for the purchase of equipment or materials, with the exception of expenditures for necessary equipment purchases, leases, or rentals for the completion of projects authorized under subparagraph IV(a).
VII. The executive director shall submit to the fiscal committee and the chairpersons of the house [wildlife and marine resources committee and the senate wildlife and recreation committee] and senate committees with jurisdiction over fish and game matters a detailed fiscal year report by October 1 of each year, beginning with fiscal year 2000, with sufficient information to be fully understood by the general court and the public, summarizing the receipts and disbursements from the fisheries habitat account and the public benefits derived from the disbursements from it. Every fifth year, beginning in 2005, the annual report shall provide an in-depth financial accounting and summary of work accomplished in the previous 5 years, outlining all projects that are completed, in process, and planned. All annual reports shall be made available to the public after submission to the general court.