HB 1708-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED
2018 SESSION
18-2045
08/06
HOUSE BILL 1708-FN-A
AN ACT requiring the state to remove standing deadwood trees and making an appropriation therefor.
SPONSORS: Rep. Fedolfi, Hills. 1
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development to make rules relative to the removal of certain standing deadwood trees.
This bill also makes an appropriation to the department of resources and economic development for the clearing of certain deadwood trees.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
18-2045
08/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen
AN ACT requiring the state to remove standing deadwood trees and making an appropriation therefor.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Rulemaking for Commissioner of Department of Resources and Economic Development; Hazardous Trees. Amend RSA 227-G:4 by inserting after paragraph X-a the following new paragraph:
X-b. Clearing deadwood trees on property borders with developed land and authorized recreational trails.
2 Appropriation. The sum of $50,000 is appropriated to the department of resources and economic development for each year of the biennium ending June 30, 2019 for the purpose of clearing deadwood trees on property borders with developed land and authorized recreational trails under RSA 227-G:4, X-b. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
18-2045
11/15/17
HB 1708-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT requiring the state to remove standing deadwood trees and making an appropriation therefor.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2019 | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 |
Appropriation | $50,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | |||
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METHODOLOGY:
This bill would require the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to develop administrative rules concerning removal of standing dead trees along developed boundaries and recreational trails.
The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources states this bill would increase state expenditures by an indeterminable amount because the standards or requirements for removal of dead trees are not yet known. The Department indicates the cost of the tree removal would depend on many factors. The cost to remove trees only upon the request of a neighbor would be far less than if the Department’s Division of Forests and Lands hired tree removal crews to canvas all property boundaries and trails and remove all standing deadwood. The Department provided the following assumptions concerning the potential number of dead trees and the fiscal impact:
• Total boundary miles = 1,224.
• Miles of developed boundary = 208.
• Number of intersections of a developed lot and state boundary > 2,000.
• Average number of standing deadwood trees >5” diameter = 28.5/acre (USFS data).
• State properties with recreational trails = 137.
• Miles of trails on Department property = 781.
• Distance from a boundary to remove dead trees = 100’.
• Distance from trails to remove = 50’ on either side.
• Average State contract cost for tree removal = $500.
• Cost per tree for removal along recreational trails by a 2-person seasonal crew = $12.
Based on the assumptions above, the Department estimates the total number of dead trees could be as high as 341,600, 71,848 within 100’ of a developed state boundary and 268,809 within 50’ of a developed state boundary.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2018 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 30, 2018 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| Feb. 7, 2018 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 8, 2018: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/08/2018 HJ 3 P. 6
: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 18-0; CC)
Feb. 7, 2018: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for 02/07/2018 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 5 P. 8
Jan. 30, 2018: Executive Session: 01/30/2018 10:00 AM LOB 306
Jan. 23, 2018: Public Hearing: 01/23/2018 10:00 AM LOB 306
Jan. 3, 2018: Introduced 01/03/2018 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 1 P. 20