HB 1714-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2018 SESSION
18-2475
04/08
HOUSE BILL 1714-FN
AN ACT relative to chemical analysis of fish in stocked waterways.
SPONSORS: Rep. Messmer, Rock. 24; Rep. McConnell, Ches. 12; Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Edgar, Rock. 21; Rep. H. Marsh, Rock. 22; Rep. T. Le, Rock. 31; Rep. Grassie, Straf. 11; Rep. P. Gordon, Rock. 29; Sen. Innis, Dist 24; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the executive director of fish and game to perform a chemical analysis of fish samples from stocked lakes, streams, and ponds.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
18-2475
04/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen
AN ACT relative to chemical analysis of fish in stocked waterways.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Fish and Game; Executive Director; Chemical Analysis of Fish. Amend RSA 206 by inserting after section 23-c the following new section:
206:23-d Chemical Analysis of Fish.
I. The executive director shall collect tissue samples from fish in every lake, stream, or pond stocked by fish and game and fish stock sources within 30 days prior to the stocking, and once every 3 years thereafter, and shall analyze fish tissue samples for perfluorinated chemicals, polychlorinated biphenyls, and mercury.
II. Fish sample analytical results shall be utilized to assess whether stocking activities should be discontinued, utilizing guidelines established by the department of environmental services.
III. The executive director shall post analytical results for fish tissue samples on the fish and game public Internet website. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall also post such results on the department's public Internet website.
IV. After reviewing analytical results, the executive director may post signage near lakes, streams, or ponds in which either perfluorinated chemicals, polychlorinated biphenyls, or mercury were detected in fish samples to inform the public about the chemical detections.
V. The executive director shall require fish farms to provide manufacturer information on concentrations of perfluorinated chemicals in fish food every 3 years or if the fish food supply is modified.
VI. The executive director shall require fish farms to report perfluorinated chemical concentrations in fish tissue every 3 years of if the fish food supply or water source is modified.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
18-2475
11/15/17
HB 1714-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to chemical analysis of fish in stocked waterways.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2019 | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Fish and Game Fund | |||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Fish and Game Department to perform tissue samples from fish in every lake, stream, or pond in which it stocks, once within 30 days of stocking and once every three years thereafter. In the program’s first year, this would require the sampling of approximately 2,000 stocking events and the lethal take of at least 2,000 fish, all of which would be existing fish living in the water body being tested, with a third, or approximately 667, being tested on an annual basis each year thereafter. While the Department has been unable to find a current program that replicates this level of testing in other states, a State of Michigan Department of Community Health’s United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Project (May 2015) details a process (validated by the EPA) that included taking 52 samples, performing the tests, and reducing the data obtained to a scientifically validated sample. The project included a budget of $187,000 for the 52 samples, or $3,596 per sample. For informational purposes, although the cost of this bill cannot be determined, based on a similar cost of $3,600 per sample, this bill could result in an increase in state expenditures of $7,200,000 (2,000 samples X $3,600) in FY 2019 and $2,400,000 (667 samples X $3,600) in FY 2020 and each year thereafter. It is assumed sampling and testing would be done by an outside contracted service and not with state personnel.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Fish and Game Department
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 2018 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 23, 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. 9
Jan. 23, 2018: Executive Session: 01/23/2018 10:00 AM LOB 307
Jan. 16, 2018: Public Hearing: 01/16/2018 11:00 AM LOB 307
Jan. 3, 2018: Introduced 01/03/2018 and referred to Fish and Game and Marine Resources HJ 1 P. 21