CHAPTER 105
SB 87 - FINAL VERSION
03/11/2021 0584s
2021 SESSION
21-0870
11/10
SENATE BILL 87
AN ACT adopting omnibus legislation relative to municipal finance.
SPONSORS: Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19
COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill adopts legislation relative to:
I. The expenditure of water funds.
II. Uncollectible financial remittances to municipalities.
III. The use of capital reserve funds.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/11/2021 0584s 21-0870
11/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT adopting omnibus legislation relative to municipal finance.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
105:1 Sponsorship. This act consists of the following proposed legislation:
Part I. LSR 21-0870, relative to the expenditure of water funds, sponsored by Sen. Birdsell, Prime/Dist. 19.
Part II. LSR 21-0958, relative to uncollectible financial remittances to municipalities, sponsored by Sen. Carson, Prime/Dist. 14.
Part III. LSR 21-0983, relative to the use of capital reserve funds, sponsored by Sen. Bradley, Prime/Dist. 3.
105:2 Legislation Enacted. The general court hereby enacts the following legislation:
PART I
Relative to the Expenditure of Water Funds.
1 New Paragraph; Water Funds. Amend RSA 38:29 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:
I-a. The funds received from the collection of water wheeling charges, below the threshold for regulation by the public utilities commission, derived from intermunicipal agreements, by municipalities governed under RSA 49-D:3, I shall be dedicated to the maintenance and upkeep of the portions of the water system necessary to fulfill the intermunicipal agreement. In no case shall less than 50 percent of the funds received be expended for this purpose and pursuant to RSA 38:28. Upon the approval of the legislative body of the municipality, any remaining funds may be expended for the following purposes:
(a) Pursuant to RSA 38:28.
(b) For the acquisition, construction, payment of the interest on any debt incurred, management, maintenance, operation, and repair of sewer systems, or construction, enlargement, or improvement of such systems.
(c) Capital reserve funds of the water or sewer system.
(d) For the expansion or replacement of natural gas lines or systems, by a municipal gas system or gas provider regulated by the public utilities commission.
(e) For the purposes set forth in RSA 162-G:4.
(f) For the purposes set forth in RSA 162-K:6, III and RSA 162-K:8.
2 Effective Date. Part I of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
PART II
Relative to Uncollectible Financial Remittances to Municipalities.
1 Collection of Taxes; Uncollectible Remittances. Amend RSA 80:56 to read as follows:
80:56 Uncollectible [Checks] Remittances. Whenever any [check] remittance, whether by check or electronic means, issued to a city or town for the payment of taxes, permit fees, licenses, special assessments, water or sewer bills, for any combination of these or for any other municipal services is returned to the city or town official as uncollectible, the city or town shall charge a fee of $25 plus all protest, bank, and legal fees in addition to the amount of said [check] remittance to the person who [issued] made such [check] remittance to cover the cost of collecting the debt that the [check] remittance was [issued] to pay. The $25 fee together with any protest or legal fees collected shall be for the use of the city or town.
2 Effective Date. Part II of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
PART III
Relative to the Use of Capital Reserve Funds.
1 Capital Reserve Funds; Expenditures; Lease/Purchase Agreements. Amend RSA 35:15, III to read as follows:
III.(a) Notwithstanding the prohibition of debt retirement fund establishment in RSA 33:2, capital reserve funds may be used for multiple payments under a financing agreement for the purpose for which the capital reserve was established, including a lease/purchase agreement. [If the financing agreement is a lease/purchase agreement the following shall apply:
(1) The lease/purchase agreement does not contain an "escape clause" or "non-appropriation clause"; and
(2) The lease/purchase agreement has been ratified by the legislative body by a vote by ballot of 2/3 of all the voters present and voting at an annual or special meeting.]
(b) If agents have been named according to RSA 35:15, then no further vote is required to disburse funds following the initial vote which ratified the financing agreement.
2 Effective Date. Part III of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 01, 2021
Effective Date:
Part I shall take effect August 30, 2021
Part II shall take effect August 30, 2021
Part III shall take effect August 30, 2021
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2021 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 11, 2021 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| May 17, 2021 | House | Hearing |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| March 1, 2021 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 11, 2021 | Senate | Floor Vote |
: Part III Effective 08/30/2021
July 6, 2021: Part III Effective 08/30/2021
: Part II Effective 08/30/2021
July 6, 2021: Part II Effective 08/30/2021
July 6, 2021: Part I Effective 08/30/2021
: Part I Effective 08/30/2021
July 1, 2021: Signed by the Governor on 07/01/2021; Chapter 0105
July 6, 2021: Signed by the Governor on 07/01/2021; Chapter 0105
June 25, 2021: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/24/2021); SJ 20
June 24, 2021: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/24/2021); SJ 20
June 25, 2021: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/24/2021
June 24, 2021: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/24/2021
June 3, 2021: Ought to Pass: MA VV 06/03/2021 HJ 8 P. 81
June 3, 2021: Ought to Pass: MA VV 06/03/2021 HJ 8 P. 81
: Committee Report: Ought to Pass (Vote 19-0; CC) HC 26 P. 10
May 27, 2021: Committee Report: Ought to Pass (Vote 19-0; CC) HC 26 P. 10
May 17, 2021: Public Hearing: 05/17/2021 09:45 am Members of the public may attend using the following link: To join the webinar: https://www.zoom.us/j/91407870095 / Executive session on pending legislation may be held throughout the day (time permitting) from the time the committee is initially convened.
March 17, 2021: Introduced (in recess of) 02/25/2021 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 4 P. 50
Feb. 25, 2021: Introduced (in recess of) 02/25/2021 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 4 P. 50
March 11, 2021: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2021-0584s, RC 23Y-1N, MA; OT3rdg; 03/11/2021; SJ 7
March 11, 2021: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2021-0584s, RC 23Y-1N, MA; OT3rdg; 03/11/2021; SJ 7
March 11, 2021: Committee Amendment # 2021-0584s, RC 23Y-1N, AA; 03/11/2021; SJ 7
March 11, 2021: Committee Amendment # 2021-0584s, RC 23Y-1N, AA; 03/11/2021; SJ 7
March 11, 2021: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2021-0584s, 03/11/2021; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 14
March 3, 2021: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2021-0584s, 03/11/2021; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 14
Feb. 17, 2021: Remote Hearing: 03/01/2021, 09:00 am; Links to join the hearing can be found in the Senate Calendar; SC 12
March 1, 2021: Remote Hearing: 03/01/2021, 09:00 am; Links to join the hearing can be found in the Senate Calendar; SC 12
Jan. 26, 2021: Introduced 01/06/2021 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3
Jan. 6, 2021: Introduced 01/06/2021 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3