SB 111 - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0932
03/06
SENATE BILL 111
SPONSORS: Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5; Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Election Law and Internal Affairs
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This bill establishes a bipartisan commission to evaluate New Hampshire’s response to Russian interference in our democracy.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0932
03/06
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 Findings. The general court finds that:
I. In his 1809 letter to veterans gathered in Bennington, and signed with the revered words “Live Free or Die; Death is Not the Worst of Evils”, General John Stark stated: “As I was then, I am now—the friend of the equal rights of men, of representative democracy, of republicanism and the Declaration of Independence, the great charter of our national rights; and of course the friend of the indissoluble union and Constitution of the states. I am the enemy of all foreign influence, for all foreign influence is the influence of tyranny.”
II. Foreign interference in our elections only undermines our constitutional democracy, our electoral process, and our independence and sovereignty.
III. It is the uncontested conclusion within the intelligence community of the United States of America that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
IV. Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, both in the United States and here in New Hampshire, including our first-in-the-nation primary.
V. It is more than reasonable for New Hampshire to establish a bipartisan commission to at least evaluate whether and how to respond to Russian interference in our democracy.
2 New Subdivision; Bipartisan Commission to Evaluate New Hampshire’s Response to Russian Interference in our Democracy. Amend RSA 176 by inserting after section 19 the following new subdivision:
Bipartisan Commission to Evaluate New Hampshire’s Response to
Russian Interference in our Democracy
176:20 Commission Established.
I.(a) There is established a bipartisan commission to evaluate New Hampshire’s response to Russian interference in our democracy. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(1) Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader.
(2) Two members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader.
(3) The liquor commissioner, or designee.
(4) The secretary of state, or designee.
(5) The commissioner of the department of resources and economic development, or designee.
(6) The chairman of the board of trustees of the New Hampshire retirement system, or designee.
(7) A representative of the advisory committee on international trade, appointed by that committee.
(8) An election law expert, appointed by the governor.
(9) A representative of the business community, appointed by the governor.
(b) Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
II.(a) The commission shall evaluate whether and how to respond to Russian interference in our democracy, including, but not limited to, the temporary or long-term divestment of New Hampshire retirement system investments in some or all Russian-based companies or entities, the suspension or cessation of New Hampshire liquor commission purchases of Russian-made liquor, and requiring New Hampshire’s commemorative “Old Man on the Mountain” bottles to include liquor made in the United States of America, not in Russia.
(b) In undertaking subparagraph (a), the commission shall study and review prior examples of New Hampshire divestment as well as the suspension or cessation of certain liquor purchases, including any legal, practicable, or unintended consequences. The commission shall also review actions taken by other states and the federal government in response to the Russian interference in our democracy.
(c) The commission shall seek and accept input and testimony from experts, interested stakeholders, and members of the public in order to fulfill its duties under subparagraphs (a) and (b).
III. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the liquor commissioner. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
IV. On or before November 1, 2017, the commission shall submit a final report of 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.
3 Repeal. RSA 176:20, relative to a bipartisan commission to evaluate New Hampshire’s response to Russian interference in our democracy, is repealed.
I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2017.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 7, 2017 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 30, 2017 | Senate | Floor Vote |
March 30, 2017: Inexpedient to Legislate, RC 14Y-9N, MA === BILL KILLED ===; 03/30/2017; SJ 12
March 30, 2017: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 03/30/2017; SC 16
Feb. 7, 2017: Hearing: 02/07/2017, Room 102, LOB, 10:00 am; SC 9
Jan. 19, 2017: Introduced 01/19/2017 and Referred to Election Law and Internal Affairs; SJ 5