Bill Text - SB626 (2020)

(New Title) decreasing the fee to file a petition for a declaratory ruling with the site evaluation committee.


Revision: Jan. 14, 2020, 12:38 p.m.

SB 626-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2020 SESSION

20-2900

06/10

 

SENATE BILL 626-FN

 

AN ACT removing the fee to file certain administrative petitions with the site evaluation committee.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Giuda, Dist 2; Rep. Vose, Rock. 9

 

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

ANALYSIS

 

This bill deletes certain filing fees for energy facility siting administrative proceedings.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2900

06/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT removing the fee to file certain administrative petitions with the site evaluation committee.

 

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

 

1  Site Evaluation Committee; Application and Filing Fees.  Amend RSA 162-H:8-a, I to read as follows:

I.  [Except as provided in paragraph IV,] A person filing with the committee an application for a certificate for an energy facility, [a petition for jurisdiction,] a request for exemption, or any other petition or request for the committee to take action, shall pay to the committee at the time of filing a fee determined in accordance with the fee schedule described in paragraph II.  If an application for a certificate for an energy facility is deemed incomplete pursuant to RSA 162-H:7, VI, and a new application is submitted thereunder, the unearned portion of the initial application fee shall be refunded to the applicant or credited to the filing of the new application.  The committee may in its discretion provide for a credit or refund in other circumstances that are unforeseen by the applicant.

2  Site Evaluation Committee; Filing Fees.  Amend RSA 162-H:8-a, II(d) to read as follows:

(d)  Filing fees for administrative proceedings:

(1)  [Petition for committee jurisdiction: $10,500.

(2)  Petition for declaratory ruling: $10,500, or $3,000 if heard by a 3-member subcommittee.

(3)]  Certificate transfer of ownership: $10,500, or $3,000 if heard by a 3-member subcommittee.

[(4)] (2) Request for exemption: $10,500, or $3,000 if heard by a 3-member subcommittee.

[(5)] (3)  Request to modify a certificate: $10,500, or $3,000 if heard by a 3-member subcommittee.

3  Repeal.  RSA 162-H:8-a, IV, relative to fees for a petition for committee jurisdiction filed by certain petitioners for a certificate for an energy facility, is repealed.

4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBAO

20-2900

12/23/19

 

SB 626-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT removing the fee to file certain administrative petitions with the site evaluation committee.

 

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 Decrease

Indeterminable Decrease

Indeterminable Decrease

   Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source:

  [    ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Application and Filing Fees

 

 

 

 

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill deletes certain filing fees for energy facility siting administrative proceedings.  The Site Evaluation Committee indicates the filing fees, enacted in July 2015, are used to compensate the public members of the Committee; to pay certain legal and administrative costs of the proceeding; and to reimburse the State agencies represented on the Committee and the Department of Justice.  Expenses eligible for reimbursement include time spent in hearings and  meetings, and preparation and travel related to the petitions filed.  The Committee states these costs would still be incurred if no filing fees were collected.  The Committee indicates the fiscal impact of the bill cannot be determined because there is no way to estimate the number of petitions that will be filed in the future.  The Committee reports since the filing fees were enacted there have been no petitions for jurisdiction and three petitions for declaratory rulings filed with the committee.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Site Evaluation Committee