1 New Section; Commission to Study the Establishment of a State Department of Energy. Amend RSA 162-H by inserting after section 22 the following new section:

162-H:23 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study establishing a state department of energy.

I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the majority party, and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Two members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the majority party, and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) The commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources, or designee.

(d) The commissioner of business and economic affairs, or designee.

(e) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.

(f) The commissioner of the department of administrative services, or designee.

(g) One representative of the office of strategic initiatives, energy division, appointed by the governor.

(h) One representative of the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association, appointed by the association.

(i) One representative of the public utilities commission, appointed by the chairman.

(j) One representative of the New Hampshire Clean Tech Council, appointed by the council.

(k) One representative of utilities, appointed by the governor.

(l) One representative of the New Hampshire High Tech Council, appointed by the council.

(m) The consumer advocate, or designee.

(n) The commissioner of safety, or designee.

II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

III. The commission shall:

(a) Review existing state programs related to energy.

(b) Review the departments of energy that have been established by other states.

(c) Consider the feasibility of creating a new department, including the costs and savings, taking into consideration transfers from other state agencies.

IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The commission shall make an interim report on or before November 1, 2018, with a final report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation on or before November 1, 2019 to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library.

2 Repeal. RSA 162-H:23, relative to the commission to study the establishment of a state department of energy, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2019.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 New Section; Commission to Study the Establishment of a State Department of Energy. Amend RSA 162-H by inserting after section 22 the following new section:

162-H:23 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study establishing a state department of energy.

I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the majority party, and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Two members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the majority party, and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) The commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources, or designee.

(d) The commissioner of business and economic affairs, or designee.

(e) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.

(f) The commissioner of the department of administrative services, or designee.

(g) One representative of the office of strategic initiatives, energy division, appointed by the governor.

(h) One representative of the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association, appointed by the association.

(i) One representative of the public utilities commission, appointed by the chairman.

(j) One representative of the New Hampshire Clean Tech Council, appointed by the council.

(k) One representative of utilities, appointed by the governor.

(l) One representative of the New Hampshire High Tech Council, appointed by the council.

(m) The consumer advocate, or designee.

(n) The commissioner of safety, or designee.

II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

III. The commission shall:

(a) Review existing state programs related to energy.

(b) Review the departments of energy that have been established by other states.

(c) Consider the feasibility of creating a new department, including the costs and savings, taking into consideration transfers from other state agencies.

IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

V. The commission shall make an interim report on or before November 1, 2018, with a final report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation on or before November 1, 2019 to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library.

2 Repeal. RSA 162-H:23, relative to the commission to study the establishment of a state department of energy, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2019.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.