Bill Text - HB563 (2020)

(New Title) relative to the fees for failing to register certain motor vehicles and establishing a commission to study the registration of trailers, semi-trailers, and other vehicles.


Revision: Feb. 4, 2020, 9:27 a.m.

HB 563-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

8Jan2020... 2858h

2019 SESSION

19-0477

11/01

 

HOUSE BILL 563-FN

 

AN ACT relative to the fees for failing to register certain motor vehicles and establishing a commission to study the registration of trailers, semi-trailers, and other vehicles.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Almy, Graf. 13; Rep. Herbert, Hills. 43; Rep. Malloy, Rock. 23

 

COMMITTEE: Ways and Means

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a per day fine imposed for failing to register a semi-trailer or trailer.  This bill also establishes a commission to study registration of trailers, semi-trailers, and other vehicles.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

8Jan2020... 2858h 19-0477

11/01

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

 

AN ACT relative to the fees for failing to register certain motor vehicles and establishing a commission to study the registration of trailers, semi-trailers, and other vehicles.

 

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

 

1  Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles; Registration Required.  Amend RSA 261:40 to read as follows:

261:40  Registration Required.

I. Except as otherwise provided, it is a violation for any person to drive or any owner or custodian to knowingly permit or cause to be driven on the ways of this state any vehicle which is not specifically exempt by statute or rule from the requirement of registration, unless the same has been registered and the appropriate fee paid in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

II.  The fine for a violation of this section shall be:

(a)  $10 per day for any vehicle meeting the definition of semi-trailer in RSA 259:98 provided, however, that any person required to register a semi-trailer shall have 60 days from the date a government official informs such person of the need to register before such fines are assessed.

(b)  $100 for any other vehicle.

III.  The director may reduce the amount of a fine assessed under paragraph II for good cause.

2  New Subdivision; Commission to Study Registration of Trailers, Semi-Trailers, and Other Vehicles.  Amend RSA 261 by inserting after section 182 the following new subdivision:

Commission to Study Registration of Trailers, Semi-Trailers, and Other Vehicles

266:183  Commission to Study Registration of Trailers, Semi-Trailers, and Other Vehicles.

I.  There is established a commission to study the registration of trailers, semi-trailers, and other vehicles.

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

(a)  Three members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be from the house ways and means committee and one of whom shall be from the house transportation committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

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

(c)  A representative of the New Hampshire City and Town Clerks' Association, appointed by the association.

(d)  A representative of the New Hampshire Motor Transport Association, appointed by the association.

(e)  The director of the division of motor vehicles, or designee.

(f)  A representative of the New Hampshire Tax Collectors' Association, appointed by the association.

(g)  A representative of the New Hampshire Municipal Association, appointed by the association.

(h)  A representative of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, appointed by the association.

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 study the registration of trailers, semi-trailers, and other vehicles.

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 chair of the house ways and means committee, the chair of the house transportation committee, the governor, and the state library on or before September 15, 2021.

3  Repeal.  RSA 266:183, relative to the commission to study the registration of trailers, sem-trailers, and other vehicles, is repealed.

4  Effective Date.  

I.  Section 3 of this act shall take effect September 15, 2021.

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

 

LBAO

19-0477

Amended 2/4/20

 

HB 563-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2019-2858h)

 

AN ACT relative to the fees for failing to register certain motor vehicles and establishing a commission to study the registration of trailers, semi-trailers, and other vehicles.

 

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

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

   Expenditures

$0

$131,000

$0

$0

Funding Source:

  [    ] General            [    ] Education            [ X ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Restricted - Cost of Collections/Administration*

*Pursuant to Part II, article 6-a of the New Hampshire constitution, any costs associated with the collection and administration of Highway Funds by the Department of Safety shall be deducted by the Department before such funds are credited to the Highway Fund as unrestricted revenue.

 

 

 

 

 

LOCAL:

 

 

 

 

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill establishes a daily fine for any vehicle meeting the definition of “semi-trailer” of $10 per day for failure to register, with the fines commencing 60-days after notification.  The Department of Safety states it cannot estimated this bill’s potential fine revenue increase to the highway fund as the number of infractions nor the duration of is unknown.  The Department states it would need to perform system programming changes to allow for a variable fine (currently all fines are a flat rate).  The Department estimates one-time system programing costs to total $128,000 and expects updating and printing the uniform fine schedule would cost $3,000, for a total of $131,000 (assumed in FY 2021).  The Department assumes municipalities would be responsible for identifying and issuing a notice to owners who have not registered and tracking the 60-day grace period.  This may result in an increase to local expenditures.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety