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.

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.