Bill Text - HB137 (2019)

Establishing a commission to examine the effects of wake boats in the state of New Hampshire.


Revision: Dec. 3, 2019, 9:50 a.m.

CHAPTER 77

HB 137 - FINAL VERSION

 

19Mar2019... 0931h

05/02/2019   1651s

2019 SESSION

19-0065

08/01

 

HOUSE BILL 137

 

AN ACT establishing a commission to examine the effects of wake boats in the state of New Hampshire.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Suzanne Smith, Graf. 8; Rep. Wolf, Merr. 5; Rep. Tanner, Sull. 9; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21

 

COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a commission to examine the effects of wake boats in the state of New Hampshire.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19Mar2019... 0931h

05/02/2019   1651s 19-0065

08/01

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

 

AN ACT establishing a commission to examine the effects of wake boats in the state of New Hampshire.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

77:1  New Subdivision; Commission to Study Wake Boats.  Amend RSA 270 by inserting after section 132 the following new subdivision:

Commission to Study Wake Boats

270:133  Commission to Study Wake Boats.  There is established a commission to study the effects of wake boats in the state of New Hampshire.

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

(a)  Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b)  One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

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

(d)  The captain of the marine patrol division, department of safety, or designee.

(e)  A representative of the New Hampshire Marine Trades Association, appointed by that association.

(f)  A shorefront property owner from a lake smaller than 1,000 acres, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(g)  A shorefront property owner from a lake 1,000 acres or larger, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(h)  A representative from NH LAKES, appointed by that organization.

(i)  A representative from a local lake association, appointed by the governor.

(j)  A member of the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports New Hampshire club who is also a resident of New Hampshire, appointed by that club.

(k)  A representative of the Water Sports Industry Association, appointed by that association.

(l)  A representative of the New Hampshire Campground Owners Association, appointed by that association.

(m)  Two representatives of the wake boat recreational community, appointed by the president of the senate.

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 gather the appropriate data  and information on the positive and negative uses of wake boats, specifically regarding:

(a)  The spread of aquatic invasive species.

(b)  The relationship to shoreline erosion and impacts to private property.

(c)  The economic impact of recreational boating and the popularity of water sports among families in New Hampshire.

(d)  The safety of swimmers and other boaters.

IV.  The commission may solicit input from any person or entity the commission deems relevant to its study.

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

VI.  The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before June 30, 2020.

77:2  Repeal.  RSA 270:133, relative to the commission to study wake boats, is repealed.

77:3  Effective Date.  

I.  Section 2 of this act shall take effect June 30, 2020.

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

 

Approved: June 18, 2019

Effective Date:

I. Section 2 shall take effect June 30, 2020.

II. Remainder shall take effect June 18, 2019.