Revision: Jan. 9, 2023, 3:09 p.m.
HB 337-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2023 SESSION
23-0077
06/04
HOUSE BILL 337-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Merchant, Sull. 6; Rep. Ulery, Hills. 13; Rep. C. McGuire, Merr. 27; Rep. Rochefort, Graf. 1; Rep. Cushman, Hills. 28; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill directs the office of professional licensure and certification to provide to the public notice of its meetings and an opportunity to comment in such meetings.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23-0077
06/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraphs; Office of Professional Licensure and Certification; Division of Licensing and Board Administration and Division of Enforcement Established. Amend RSA 310-A:1-l by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraphs:
VII. All boards, councils, and commissions within the office of professional licensure and certification shall notify the public of any public meeting no less than 14 days prior to the meeting. All materials shared during these meetings shall be available to the public no less than 7 days prior to the meeting. Materials not made available to the public shall not be discussed or acted upon unless discussed and acted upon during an emergency meeting as permitted under RSA 91-A:2, III.
VIII. All boards, councils, and commissions within the office of professional licensure and certification shall provide an opportunity for comment from the public in attendance of meetings both in-person or remote.
IX. All boards, councils, and commissions within the office of professional licensure and certification shall provide an opportunity for the public to submit written comments on pending decisions.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
23-0077
1/5/23
HB 337-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | In excess of $311,000 | In excess of $322,000 | In excess of $334,000 |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Fund | |||
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METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification to provide notice of public meetings no less than 14 days prior to meetings, material from the meetings to be shared no less than seven days prior to the meeting, as well as an opportunity for comments from the public and written comments on pending decisions from the public.
The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) states requiring OPLC, as an administrative service to boards, councils, and commissions, to review all materials before they are made public will require at least two additional attorneys, at the Attorney II level to ensure proper experience, costing around $198,000 in their first year of hiring, assuming the individuals are hired at labor grade 28, Step 1 with an assumed increase in steps and pay each year. Additional, staffing may be necessary in the role of Board Administrators with labor grade ranges from 19 to 23 depending on experience and responsibility The number of additional Board Administrators and their labor grades are unknown meaning costs are indeterminable. Lastly OPLC, may need to hire additional hearings examiners at a labor grade 31 step one, to ensure proceedings are handled in a timely fashion in accordance with statue and rules as this bill will likely result in significant time delays resolving public evidentiary hearings. The examiner positions cost starts at $112,968 and will increase each year based on step and pay increase.
It is assumed any fiscal impact from this bill will not occur until FY 2024.
This bill does not establish or provide an appropriation for new positions.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Office of Professional Licensure and Certification