Revision: Jan. 26, 2017, 3:42 p.m.
HB 519 - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0684
03/04
HOUSE BILL 519
SPONSORS: Rep. Higgins, Graf. 12; Rep. Read, Rock. 17; Rep. Oxenham, Sull. 1
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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This bill establishes a commission to study the feasibility of implementing a clearinghouse model for tracking political expenditures and contributions.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0684
03/04
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; Expenditure and Contribution Clearinghouse Commission. Amend RSA 664 by inserting after section 5-c the following new section:
664:5-d Expenditure and Contribution Clearinghouse Commission.
I. There is established a commission to study the feasibility of implementing a clearinghouse model for tracking political expenditures and contributions.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The state treasurer, or designee.
(d) The attorney general, or designee.
(e) The secretary of state, or designee.
(f) One member representing Open Democracy, appointed by that organization.
(g) Two members representing the interests of political committees, appointed by the secretary of state.
III. Vacancies in the appointed membership of the commission shall be filled by the appointing authority.
IV. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
V. The commission shall study the feasibility of implementing a clearinghouse model for tracking political expenditures and contributions. The commission shall develop recommendations for legislation to be proposed during the 2019 session of the general court to be implemented, if technically feasible, before the 2020 election, otherwise before the 2022 election.
VI. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VII. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before July 1, 2018.
2 Repeal. RSA 664:5-d, relative to the expenditure and contribution clearinghouse commission, is repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.