Bill Text - HB515 (2019)

Establishing a commission to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of toll collection on the New Hampshire turnpike system.


Revision: Jan. 15, 2019, 11:50 a.m.

HB 515 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2019 SESSION

19-0230

06/10

 

HOUSE BILL 515

 

AN ACT establishing a commission to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of toll collection on the New Hampshire turnpike system.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Abramson, Rock. 20; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock. 5

 

COMMITTEE: Public Works and Highways

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a commission to evaluate whether the collection of tolls on the turnpike system is cost effective.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19-0230

06/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

 

AN ACT establishing a commission to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of toll collection on the New Hampshire turnpike system.

 

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

 

1  New Section; Turnpike System; Electronic Toll Collection; Commission Established.  Amend RSA 237 by inserting after section 16-g the following new section:

237:16-h  Commission Established.

I.  There is established a commission to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of toll collection on the New Hampshire turnpike system.

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

(a)  Four members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the majority leader of the house of representatives, and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.

(b)  Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be appointed by the majority leader of the senate and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

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

(d)  Three members of the public, one representing the road construction industry, one representing the tourism industry, and one representing the retail industry, appointed by the governor.

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

IV.  The commission shall evaluate the cost effectiveness of tolls on the turnpike system by considering unintended costs, including, but not limited to: traffic congestion on other roads caused by toll avoidance; loss of commercial property tax revenue from land taken by the state for widening the turnpike system; reduced retail sales in towns and cities in the vicinity of toll booths; lost revenue from the business enterprise tax, the business profits tax, and the tax on meals and rooms; reduced residential property tax revenue due to reduced quality of life; increased wear and tear on private, commercial, state, and municipal vehicles due to increased traffic congestion; car accidents and police response at the tolls; the need for state police to stand by at the toll booths; and the interest rate on bonds for the turnpike system.

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.  Six 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 November 1, 2019.

2  Repeal.  RSA 237:16-h, relative to commission to evaluate the cost effectiveness of toll collection on the turnpike system, 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.