Revision: Jan. 30, 2017, 9:36 a.m.
HB 625-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0253
10/06
HOUSE BILL 625-FN-LOCAL
AN ACT establishing state holidays for elections.
SPONSORS: Rep. Read, Rock. 17; Rep. Oxenham, Sull. 1; Rep. Rand, Graf. 8
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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This bill makes the day of the biennial state primary election preceding a general election and the day of biennial state general election legal holidays of the state.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0253
10/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT establishing state holidays for elections.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 State Holidays; Primary and General Election Day. Amend RSA 288:1 to read as follows:
288:1 Holidays. January 1; the third Monday in January, known as Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Day; the third Monday in February, known as Washington's Birthday; the last Monday in May, known as Memorial Day or, on a date to coincide with the federal observance if it is held on a different day; July 4, known as Independence Day; the first Monday in September, known as Labor Day; the second Monday in October, known as Columbus Day; the day on which the state primary preceding a biennial election is held; the day on which the biennial election is held; November 11, known as Veterans Day; Thanksgiving Day, whenever appointed; and Christmas Day are legal holidays.
2 New Section; State Holidays; Biennial Primary and General Elections. Amend RSA 288 by inserting after section 1 the following new section:
288:1-a Biennial Primary and General Election Days. Any state office, city, town, school district, and community college or university which is supported by the state, shall not be open for regular purposes on the day of the biennial state primary election preceding a general election and the day of biennial state general election, as established in RSA 288:1. This shall not apply to employees of such governmental units necessary for the function of government or to carry out the primary and general elections.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
17-0253
Revised 1/26/17
HB 625-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT establishing state holidays for elections
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | ||||
STATE: | FY 2018 | FY 2019 | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Expenditures | Indeterminable Increase | $0 | Indterminable Increase | $0 | |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | ||||
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LOCAL: |
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Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Expenditures | Indeterminable | $0 | Indeterminable | $0 | |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill adds the day of the state primary in a biennial election year to the list of State holidays, and requires that State offices, cities, towns, school districts, and community college and university system which are supported by the state, shall not be open for regular purposes on that day or the day of the biennial state general election.
The Department of Administrative Services estimates there would be a statewide energy savings of approximately $5,000/day for having certain state buildings closed, totaling $10,000 in savings for the two holidays combined. There would be approximately $300,000 in additional overtime payable to state employees who work on a holiday for FY 2018 and FY 2020. Estimates were based on actual expenditures for the July 4th holiday in 2016.
The Department of State indicates any fiscal impact would relate to hours worked by employees and backlogs that may develop as a result of having two days off in an election year. Employees responsible for conducting the election do not receive the benefit of the additional holiday and it is unclear how they will be compensated. The fiscal impact is therefore indeterminable.
The Municipal Association states there may be an impact on municipal expenditures, as some municipalities would need to rearrange employee work schedules to accommodate the changes. Municipalities with collective bargaining agreements may be affected if their agreements contain provisions relative to working on legal holidays. Personnel policies and collective bargaining agreements vary significantly among municipalities, therefore the fiscal impact on expenditures is indeterminable. There is no effect on municipal revenues.
The University System of New Hampshire indicates mandatory observation of two additional holidays biennially would involve additional paid leave days for benefitted staff and faculty and only staff necessary to support students living on campus would report to work on those holidays. The System notes, while there would be no direct fiscal impact, there would be an indirect impact in terms of lost productivity estimated to be equivalent to $1.25 million in earnings per day.
The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) assumes that the seven colleges that are part of the system shall be officially closed on the day of the biennial State primary election preceding a general election and on the day of the biennial State election as such days will be mandated state holidays. CCSNH assumes no other changes to existing State holidays and that there will be no reduced tuition to students for these additional holidays. CCSNH estimates the additional paid leave will result in indeterminable payroll costs related to overtime pay for those positions that would be required to work on a State holiday, related to campus security, maintenance, and the provision of services to students living on campus. An indirect impact in terms of lost productivity is estimated to be equivalent to $455,000 in FY 2019 and $473,000 in FY 2019, based on 2016 calculated expense and projected to increase 2% annually.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Departments of State and Administrative Services, New Hampshire Municipal Association, University System of New Hampshire, and Community College System of New Hampshire