Revision: March 31, 2021, 5:18 p.m.
Rep. McGhee, Hills. 27
March 31, 2021
2021-1089h
06/05
Floor Amendment to HB 2-FN-A-LOCAL
Amend the bill by inserting after section 372 the following new section:
373 Committee Established. There is established a committee to identify a clear mission statement for a New Hampshire department of energy.
374 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Five members of the house of representatives, 3 of whom shall be members of the majority party and 2 of whom shall be members of the minority party, all of whom shall be members of the house standing committee with jurisdiction over energy, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the majority party and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, 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.
375 Duties. The committee shall identify a clear mission statement for a New Hampshire department of energy by studying:
I. The compliment, composition, and qualifications of commissioner and staff.
II. The reporting structure and decision-making hierarchy.
III. Whether to incorporate existing government agencies to achieve economies of scale.
IV. Needed functional elements of the department of energy, to include but not be limited to:
(a) Policy and programs administration.
(b) State, federal, and regional planning/funding.
(c) Information technology and security needs.
(d) State energy infrastructure planning.
(e) Funding considerations and mechanisms.
(f) Maintaining the independence of the public utilities commission.
V. The committee shall interview members of relevant organizations and review the organization and workings of other state departments of energy and public utilities commissions in order to inform decisions for how the proposed merging of DOE and PUC can most efficiently be achieved, while securing the necessary protections for the public interest.
VI. The committee shall work with the governor’s office in discussion of specific objectives for issues that need to be solved and goals that need to be achieved in order to create a successful New Hampshire department of energy..
376 Chairperson; Quorum. The committee shall be co-chaired by one senator and one house member elected 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.
377 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, 2021.
378 Effective Date. Sections 373-377 shall take effect upon its passage.
2021-1089h
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a committee to study a prospective department of energy.