Text to be removed highlighted in red.
1 New Section; Legislator Compensation; Commission Established. Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 23 the following new section:
14:23-a Commission on Legislator Compensation. There is hereby established a commission to study legislator compensation.
I. The commission shall consist of the following members:
(a) Four 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) The commissioner of the department revenue administration, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of administrative services, or designee.
(e) One representative from the University of New Hampshire political science department, appointed by the governor.
(f) The representative from the National Conference of State Legislatures serving New Hampshire, or designee.
(g) Three members of the general public, appointed by the governor.
II. The commission shall study the following:
(a) Mileage reimbursement as it relates to overall compensation in comparison to legislators in other states, gas price averages in relation to per diem mileage compensation, and potential avenues in achieving equity amongst legislative compensation.
(b) Variance in state legislator salaries and performance across the United States, and potential avenues to estimate an appropriate salary for New Hampshire legislators.
(c) Socioeconomic background of New Hampshire legislators as it relates to attendance and legislative performance, and potential ways to increase participation via per diem and/or salary changes.
(d) Demographic composition of legislators in relation to the low pay, and avenues to diversify the composition of the legislature.
(e) Legislative salary in relation to the average salary in the state, and the potential for basing legislative salary on per capita days worked in relation to the average salary in the state.
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 first-named house member. Seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
IV. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. The commission shall hold public meetings at least once per month and shall solicit and consider from interested parties testimony, documents, and other information pertaining to the commission 's work.
V. The commission shall make interim reports to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate every 6 months 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 Prospective Repeal. RSA 14:23-a, relative to the commission to study legislator compensation, is repealed.
3 Effective Date.?
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2020.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 New Section; Legislator Compensation; Commission Established. Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 23 the following new section:
14:23-a Commission on Legislator Compensation. There is hereby established a commission to study legislator compensation.
I. The commission shall consist of the following members:
(a) Four 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) The commissioner of the department revenue administration, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of administrative services, or designee.
(e) One representative from the University of New Hampshire political science department, appointed by the governor.
(f) The representative from the National Conference of State Legislatures serving New Hampshire, or designee.
(g) Three members of the general public, appointed by the governor.
II. The commission shall study the following:
(a) Mileage reimbursement as it relates to overall compensation in comparison to legislators in other states, gas price averages in relation to per diem mileage compensation, and potential avenues in achieving equity amongst legislative compensation.
(b) Variance in state legislator salaries and performance across the United States, and potential avenues to estimate an appropriate salary for New Hampshire legislators.
(c) Socioeconomic background of New Hampshire legislators as it relates to attendance and legislative performance, and potential ways to increase participation via per diem and/or salary changes.
(d) Demographic composition of legislators in relation to the low pay, and avenues to diversify the composition of the legislature.
(e) Legislative salary in relation to the average salary in the state, and the potential for basing legislative salary on per capita days worked in relation to the average salary in the state.
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 first-named house member. Seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
IV. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. The commission shall hold public meetings at least once per month and shall solicit and consider from interested parties testimony, documents, and other information pertaining to the commission 's work.
V. The commission shall make interim reports to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate every 6 months 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 Prospective Repeal. RSA 14:23-a, relative to the commission to study legislator compensation, is repealed.
3 Effective Date.?
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2020.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.