HB 1273-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2720
05/01
HOUSE BILL 1273-FN
AN ACT waiving the admission fee to state parks for military dependents.
SPONSORS: Rep. Lang, Belk. 4; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock. 5; Rep. Notter, Hills. 21; Rep. Panasiti, Hills. 22; Rep. Pearl, Merr. 26; Rep. Levesque, Straf. 4; Rep. Kenney, Straf. 6; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ANALYSIS
This bill waives the admission fee to state parks for military dependents.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-2720
05/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
AN ACT waiving the admission fee to state parks for military dependents.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Fees for State Park System; Fee for Military Dependents Waived. Amend RSA 216-A:3-g, V(a) to read as follows:
(a) Upon presentation of military identification, any active member of the armed forces who meets the minimum requirements for satisfactory membership, and his or her dependents, as defined in federal regulations, shall not be charged a fee for admission to day-use areas of the state park system. In this section, "armed forces" means armed forces as defined in RSA 21:50, II and includes active and reserve members of the New Hampshire national guard.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
20-2720
Revised 1/28/20
HB 1273-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT waiving the admission fee to state parks for military dependents.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
|
| |||
| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Potential Decrease of $14,207 | Potential Decrease of $14,207 | Potential Decrease of $14,207 |
Funding Source: | [ ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - State Park Fund (RSA 216-A:3-i) | |||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill would provide an exemption from state park admission to day use areas for dependents of active duty military personnel and dependents of active and reserve members of the New Hampshire National Guard. The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, reports that for FY 2019, 1,668 active military and NH National Guard members received free admission to day use areas of state parks resulting in a decrease of approximately $7,535 in State Park Fund revenue.
In addition, the Division provided free parking for 1,334 active military and NH National Guard members at Hampton Beach South, Wallis Sand and Livermore Falls, resulting on a decrease in State Park Fund revenue of $19,970, This benefit includes all occupants of the vehicle and therefore would be unaffected by the proposal..
The Department assumes increased usage by military personnel and their families, but cannot determine the exact financial impact based on the unknown increase in attendance and utilization of the exemption. Assuming that each eligible military individual utilizing the state park day use areas attends with an adult and 2 children, the Department estimates State Park Fund revenue will decrease by an additional $14,207 each year (1 adult $7,535 + child 1 $3,336 + child 2 $3,336).
| Park Fee | Assumed Ave Annual Utilization | Assumed Ave Annual Loss of Revenue |
Adult | $4/$5 depending on park | 1,668 | $7,535 |
Child 1 | $2 | 1,668 | $3,336 |
Child 2 | $2 | 1,668 | $3,336 |
Children under age 6 are already admitted for free.
The Department anticipates, but is not able to estimate, the number of military members and their families utilizing the free admission to state park day use areas will continue to increase, thereby further reducing State Park Fund revenue.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 15, 2020 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 21, 2020 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 28, 2020 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| Feb. 19, 2020 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 19, 2020: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 221-123 02/19/2020 HJ 4 P. 70
: Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
Feb. 19, 2020: Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for 02/19/2020 (Vote 16-3; RC) HC 7 P. 24
: Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 16-3; RC)
Jan. 28, 2020: Executive Session: 01/28/2020 10:00 am LOB 305
Jan. 15, 2020: Public Hearing: 01/15/2020 10:45 am LOB 305
Jan. 21, 2020: Public Hearing: 01/21/2020 10:45 am LOB 305
Jan. 8, 2020: Introduced 01/08/2020 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 1 P. 16