Bill Text - HB650 (2019)

Establishing a committee to study the economic challenges of employed persons serving in the New Hampshire legislature.


Revision: Jan. 16, 2019, 9:27 a.m.

HB 650 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2019 SESSION

19-0785

10/06

 

HOUSE BILL 650

 

AN ACT establishing a committee to study the economic challenges of employed persons serving in the New Hampshire legislature.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Loughman, Rock. 21; Rep. Josephson, Graf. 11; Rep. Piedra, Hills. 9; Rep. Chretien, Hills. 42; Rep. Wilhelm, Hills. 42; Rep. Griffith, Hills. 18; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 6; Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21

 

COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a committee to study the economic challenges of employed persons serving in the New Hampshire legislature.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19-0785

10/06

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

 

AN ACT establishing a committee to study the economic challenges of employed persons serving in the New Hampshire legislature.

 

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

 

1  Committee Established.  There is established a committee to study the economic challenges of employed persons serving in the New Hampshire legislature.

2  Membership and Compensation.

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

(a)  Five 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.

II.  Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

3  Duties.  

I.  The committee shall:

(a)  Study the changes in workload and time commitment of serving in the New Hampshire legislature and on standing and statutory committees from 1975 to present, to quantify how the time commitment of legislators has changed.

(b)  Study economic changes from 1975 to present, in particular wages, costs of living, and the growing need for childcare, with the goal of determining the economic impact and feasibility of the average New Hampshire citizen serving in the legislature over that period of time.

(c)  Determine if the above factors have resulted in changes to the average age and share of retired versus working members of the legislature and on standing and statutory committees from 1975 to present.

(d)  Study and recommend processes, tools, and technology that would bring efficiencies and innovations to the New Hampshire legislature and ensure equitable opportunities for New Hampshire citizens to serve in it and on its standing and statutory committees.

II.  The committee shall seek input and advice from:

(a)  The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy on economic trends affecting New Hampshire’s working families.

(b)  Harvard Kennedy School’s:

(1)  Executive Education Program on Creating Collaborative Solutions: Innovations in Governance.

(2)  Taubman Center for State and Local Government – Government Performance Lab.

(3)  Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation

(c)  University of New Hampshire's Carsey School of Public Policy.

(d) State Innovation Exchange and National Conference of State Legislatures – on approaches taken by other legislative bodies to efficient and productive collaboration.

(e) New Hampshire house committee staff on matters of New Hampshire legislature’s standing and statutory committee workload changes over time.

(f) Any other person or entity the committee deems relevant to its study.

4  Chairperson; Quorum.  The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members.  The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member.  The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.  Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

5  Report.  The committee 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.

6  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.