HB 1726-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2018 SESSION
18-2057
04/05
HOUSE BILL 1726-FN
AN ACT relative to reimbursement to municipalities for certain search and rescue operations.
SPONSORS: Rep. Buco, Carr. 2; Rep. Knirk, Carr. 3; Rep. McConkey, Carr. 3; Rep. Butler, Carr. 7; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3
COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires reimbursement from the fish and game search and rescue fund to municipalities or village districts which conduct search and rescue missions.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
18-2057
04/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen
AN ACT relative to reimbursement to municipalities for certain search and rescue operations.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Findings. The general court has requires the fish and game department to conduct search and rescue missions under RSA 206:26 XII. However, many of the search and rescue missions are conducted in whole or in part by local municipal first responders at the expense of the local taxpayers. Fish and game would not be able to conduct these missions without the help of the local first responder agencies. Failure of these local agencies to respond would result in increased fatalities, especially in the area of water rescue, as it is unreasonable to believe that fish and game could respond to every rescue in the state fast enough to save people in water rescue situations. For years, towns, cities, and village districts have been absorbing the costs of these search and rescue missions. The general court finds that the search and rescue fund should be used to reimburse the municipal agencies conducting these rescues.
2 New Section; Fish and Game Search and Rescue Fund; Reimbursement of Municipality or Village District. Amend RSA 206 by inserting after section 42 the following new section:
206:43 Reimbursement of a Municipality or Village District.
I. Any municipality or village district within the state that conducts search and rescue missions in the woodlands and inland waterways of the state may seek reimbursement pursuant to this section from the fish and game search and rescue fund for such missions.
II. To receive reimbursement, a municipality or village district shall submit a request for reimbursement to the fish and game department within 30 days after a search and rescue mission. A request shall be valid if it includes a copy of the incident report and documentation of the expenses incurred. For all valid requests, the fish and game department shall make payment to the municipality or village district within 30 days of receipt of a request for reimbursement. Reimbursements shall be made regardless of whether fish and game was involved in the search and rescue.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
18-2057
11/16/17
HB 1726-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to reimbursement to municipalities for certain search and rescue operations.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] 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 - Search and Rescue Fund | |||
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LOCAL: |
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Revenue | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Expenditures | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the fish and game department provide reimbursement from the search and rescue fund to municipalities for expenses associated with a search and rescue mission. It is unknown how many reimbursement requests would be submitted, and for what amounts, therefore this bill’s impact on state expenditures and local revenues is indeterminable.
Search and rescue fund revenues include a surcharge on boat, snowmobile, and off-highway recreational vehicle (OHRV) registrations and hike safe card sales. In total, the fund has estimated annual revenues of $290,000. In FY 2017, fund expenditures exceeded $350,000 and the cumulative deficit of the fund, as of June 30, 2017, was ($165,379). In the event of a search and rescue fund deficit, the fish and game fund is utilized to meet its obligations.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Fish and Game Department and New Hampshire Municipal Association
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2018 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 6, 2018 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| Feb. 22, 2018 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 22, 2018: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/22/2018 HJ 5 P. 12
: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 15-0; CC)
Feb. 22, 2018: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for 02/22/2018 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 7 P. 10
Feb. 6, 2018: Executive Session: 02/06/2018 LOB 307
Jan. 23, 2018: Public Hearing: 01/23/2018 01:00 PM LOB 307
Jan. 3, 2018: Introduced 01/03/2018 and referred to Fish and Game and Marine Resources HJ 1 P. 21