Revision: Jan. 27, 2017, 11:56 a.m.
HB 431 - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0481
08/04
HOUSE BILL 431
SPONSORS: Rep. Messmer, Rock. 24; Rep. Bean, Rock. 21; Rep. Malloy, Rock. 23; Rep. T. Le, Rock. 31; Rep. R. Tilton, Rock. 37; Rep. H. Marsh, Rock. 22; Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Berrien, Rock. 18; Rep. P. Gordon, Rock. 29; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Innis, Dist 24
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This bill establishes a commission to study long term goals and requirements for drinking water in the seacoast area.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0481
08/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Seacoast Commission on Drinking Water. Amend RSA 485-F by inserting after section 4 the following new section:
485-F:5 Seacoast Commission on Long Term Goals and Requirements for Drinking Water.
I. There is established a commission to plan for long term goals and requirements for drinking water on the seacoast:
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Five members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) A representative of Aquarion Water Company, appointed by that company.
(d) A representative of the drinking water source protection program in the department of environmental services, appointed by the commissioner.
(e) A representative the water department of the town of Rye, appointed by the head of that department.
(f) A representative of the water department of the town of New Castle, appointed by the head of that department.
(g) A representative of the water department of the town of North Hampton, appointed by the head of that department.
(h) A representative of the water department of the city of Portsmouth, appointed by the head of that department.
(i) The Rockingham County Planning Commissioner, or designee.
(j) A representative of the water department of the town of Seabrook, appointed by the head of that department.
(k) A representative of the water department of the town of Exeter, appointed by the head of that department.
(l) The chairperson of the Greenland board of selectmen, or designee.
(m) The chairperson of the Newington board of selectmen, or designee.
(n) A hydrogeologist from the United States Geological Survey, appointed by that organization.
(o) A hydrogeologist from the University of New Hampshire, appointed by the dean of the college of engineering and physical sciences.
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:
(a) Utilize and expand upon existing studies to plan for seasonal or drought supply issues.
(b) Prepare for mutual aid between seacoast towns for firefighting.
(c) Prepare for mutual aid agreements for emergency or replacement drinking water supply where contaminated.
(d) Create a centralized planning group to encourage coordination and support between towns.
(e) Evaluate threats to groundwater quality due to environmental issues.
(f) Monitor possible new emerging contaminant threats to groundwater and drinking water quality.
V. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VI. The commission shall make 2 interim reports of its findings one, on November 1, 2017 and one on or before November 1, 2018, and a final report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2020.
2 Repeal. RSA 485-F:5, relative to the seacoast commission on long term goals and requirements for drinking water, is repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2020.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.