Revision: May 5, 2022, 7:05 a.m.
Sen. Hennessey, Dist 1
May 4, 2022
2022-1954s
08/05
Floor Amendment to HB 1584-FN
Amend RSA 425:19-b as inserted by section 1 of the bill by replacing it with the following:
425:19-b Capital Improvement Program Grant Fund. There is hereby established the capital improvement program grant fund to be used by the department to assist fairs in the manner provided by this chapter. Only the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee may approve applications and authorize disbursements from the fund. The fund shall be nonlapsing for the purpose of administering this chapter should future state appropriations become available. Effective July 1, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer into the capital improvement program grant fund from the state general fund the sum of $250,000.
Amend RSA 425:19-c, VIII as inserted by section 1 of the bill by replacing it with the following:
VIII. Contribute matching funds or in-kind services in an amount equal to 30 percent or more of the value of the grant.
Amend RSA 425:19-d, II as inserted by section 1 of the bill by replacing it with the following:
II. The commissioner shall allocate at least 95 percent of the capital improvement program grant fund, including fund interest, to eligible applicant fairs and distribute such funds according to merit as measured by a merit rating to be set by the commissioner. This merit rating shall take into account such factors as area and population served, youth participation, attendance, gate receipts, number and type of exhibits, community support, evidence of successful achievement of desired outcomes and purposes of the fair, extent of improvements made to grounds and facilities from year to year, rural and farming nature of the region served by the fair, and overall condition and appearance of grounds.
Amend RSA 425:19-e, I as inserted by section 1 of the bill by replacing it with the following:
I. Subject to the availability of funds, the department shall provide grant funds on a competitive basis, to support capital projects that make health and safety improvements to agricultural fairgrounds or fair facilities in order to benefit participants and the fair-going public. The rules of such competition shall be established by the department in accordance with RSA 541-A.
Amend RSA 425:19-e, IV as inserted by section 1 of the bill by replacing it with the following:
IV. The department may use the remaining funds from any general court appropriation to the state fair capital improvements for expenses incurred in the administration of the capital improvement grant program.
Amend RSA 425:19-g through 425:19-k as inserted by section 1 of the bill by replacing it with the following:
425:19-g Report of Grants. The commissioner shall compile an annual report detailing the number of disbursements from the fund, the amount of each disbursement, what entity received the disbursement, and the purpose of the disbursement, and shall submit such report to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the chairpersons of the house and senate ways and means committees, the house and senate finance committees, and the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over environmental and agricultural issues, by November 1 of each year or until such time that all funds within the capital improvement program grant fund have been disbursed and expended.
425:19-h Financial Records. Each capital improvement grant recipient shall use the calendar year as its fiscal year for keeping the books, records, and reports relative to the use of grant funds. All records such as invoices, contracts, or other documents supporting grant fund uses shall be preserved and available to the commissioner in accordance with rules pursuant to RSA 425:19-f.
425:19-i Failure to Keep Records. The failure to keep financial records shall be considered sufficient cause for the commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food to withhold the distribution of funds.