358:1 New Paragraphs; Human Service; Summer EBT and Elderly Simplified Application. Amend RSA 161:2 by inserting after paragraph XIII-b the following new paragraphs:

XIII-c. Summer EBT. The department shall apply for and meet all deadlines to participate in the federal Summer EBT program so that families whose children are eligible for free and reduced price meals can receive benefits on an EBT card in the summer. The department shall include in its biennial budget request under RSA 9:4 funding for any administrative costs related to administering the federal Summer EBT program.

XIII-d. Elderly Simplified Application. The department shall apply for and participate in the elderly simplified application project within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The department shall include in its biennial budget request under RSA 9:4 funding for any administrative costs related to administering the SNAP elderly simplified application.

358:2 Appropriations.

I. The sum of $143,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding personnel costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act. The department may contract with external resources, fill unfunded positions, or take other appropriate actions to facilitate the administrative support required under the provisions of this bill. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

II. The sum of $55,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding systems and technology costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2024. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

III. The sum of $667,500 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding systems and technology costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2025. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

IV. The sum of $82,500 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding transaction fees in the issuance of EBT costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2024. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

V. The sum of $82,500 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding transaction fees in the issuance of EBT costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2025. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

VI. The sum of $10,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding one-time set-up costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2025. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

VII. The sum of $25,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding outreach costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2025. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

VIII. The sum of $37,500 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding technology costs associated with the SNAP elderly simplified application established by section 1 of this act. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

IX. In addition to the appropriations contained in paragraphs I through VIII of this section, the department of health and human services may accept and expend matching federal funds without prior approval of the fiscal committee of the general court for this purpose.

358:3 Purpose. The purpose of the emergency response and recovery fund is to provide immediate liquidity for towns suffering a disaster to allow time for the town to go through the steps necessary to petition for state or federal emergency funds. It is the intent that this grant would be reimbursable from state or federal or disaster relief programs.

358:4 Emergency Management Powers; Governor; Disaster Declaration. Amend RSA 4:47, III to read as follows:

III. The power to make, amend, suspend, and rescind necessary orders, rules, and regulations to carry out the provisions of this subdivision in the event of a disaster beyond local control; provided that civil liberties shall on no account be suspended, nor shall the United States Constitution or the New Hampshire Constitution be suspended.

358:5 New Section; Homeland Security and Emergency Management; Municipal Road and Bridge Disaster Relief Funding. Amend RSA 21-P by inserting after section 37-d the following new section:

21-P:37-e Disaster Relief Procedures.

A municipality may request infrastructural disaster relief more than once in a calendar year, but shall not receive more than $25,000 in grant money in a calendar year. Requests shall be filed with the joint legislative fiscal committee within 45 days after the governor's declaration. Moneys shall be distributed from the New Hampshire disaster relief fund established in RSA 21-P:46-a. The joint legislative fiscal committee may decide to appropriate a lesser amount to the request based on available funding.

358:6 Emergency Response and Recovery Fund; Disaster. Amend RSA 21-P:46 to read as follows:

21-P:46 New Hampshire Emergency Response and Recovery Fund. There is hereby established a New Hampshire emergency response and recovery fund. The fund shall provide a source for the matching funds required as a commitment to secure federal emergency management agency relief assistance grants for costs incurred in disasters declared by the President of the United States. The fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the department of safety.

358:7 Effective Date.

I. Sections 1-2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2024.

II. Sections 3-6 of this act shall take effect upon passage.

Approved: August 02, 2024

Effective Date:

I. Sections 1-2 effective July 1, 2024

II. Sections 3-6 effective August 2, 2024

358:1 New Paragraphs; Human Service; Summer EBT and Elderly Simplified Application. Amend RSA 161:2 by inserting after paragraph XIII-b the following new paragraphs:

XIII-c. Summer EBT. The department shall apply for and meet all deadlines to participate in the federal Summer EBT program so that families whose children are eligible for free and reduced price meals can receive benefits on an EBT card in the summer. The department shall include in its biennial budget request under RSA 9:4 funding for any administrative costs related to administering the federal Summer EBT program.

XIII-d. Elderly Simplified Application. The department shall apply for and participate in the elderly simplified application project within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The department shall include in its biennial budget request under RSA 9:4 funding for any administrative costs related to administering the SNAP elderly simplified application.

358:2 Appropriations.

I. The sum of $143,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding personnel costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act. The department may contract with external resources, fill unfunded positions, or take other appropriate actions to facilitate the administrative support required under the provisions of this bill. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

II. The sum of $55,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding systems and technology costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2024. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

III. The sum of $667,500 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding systems and technology costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2025. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

IV. The sum of $82,500 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding transaction fees in the issuance of EBT costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2024. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

V. The sum of $82,500 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding transaction fees in the issuance of EBT costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2025. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

VI. The sum of $10,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding one-time set-up costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2025. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

VII. The sum of $25,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding outreach costs associated with the summer EBT program established by section 1 of this act for the summer of 2025. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

VIII. The sum of $37,500 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding technology costs associated with the SNAP elderly simplified application established by section 1 of this act. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

IX. In addition to the appropriations contained in paragraphs I through VIII of this section, the department of health and human services may accept and expend matching federal funds without prior approval of the fiscal committee of the general court for this purpose.

358:3 Purpose. The purpose of the emergency response and recovery fund is to provide immediate liquidity for towns suffering a disaster to allow time for the town to go through the steps necessary to petition for state or federal emergency funds. It is the intent that this grant would be reimbursable from state or federal or disaster relief programs.

358:4 Emergency Management Powers; Governor; Disaster Declaration. Amend RSA 4:47, III to read as follows:

III. The power to make, amend, suspend, and rescind necessary orders, rules, and regulations to carry out the provisions of this subdivision in the event of a disaster beyond local control; provided that civil liberties shall on no account be suspended, nor shall the United States Constitution or the New Hampshire Constitution be suspended. The governor may declare a disaster in the event of a natural disaster or severe weather event in one or more municipalities.

358:5 New Section; Homeland Security and Emergency Management; Municipal Road and Bridge Disaster Relief Funding. Amend RSA 21-P by inserting after section 37-d the following new section:

21-P:37-e Disaster Relief Procedures.

A municipality may request infrastructural disaster relief more than once in a calendar year, but shall not receive more than $25,000 in grant money in a calendar year. Requests shall be filed with the joint legislative fiscal committee within 45 days after the governor's declaration. Moneys shall be distributed from the New Hampshire disaster relief fund established in RSA 21-P:46-a. The joint legislative fiscal committee may decide to appropriate a lesser amount to the request based on available funding.

358:6 Emergency Response and Recovery Fund; Disaster. Amend RSA 21-P:46 to read as follows:

21-P:46 New Hampshire Emergency Response and Recovery Fund. There is hereby established a New Hampshire emergency response and recovery fund. The fund shall provide a source for the matching funds required as a commitment to secure federal emergency management agency relief assistance grants for costs incurred in disasters declared by the President of the United States. The fund shall also provide a source for emergency funds to be dispersed to municipalities that have incurred damage from natural disasters. The fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the department of safety.

358:7 Effective Date.

I. Sections 1-2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2024.

II. Sections 3-6 of this act shall take effect upon passage.

Approved: August 02, 2024

Effective Date:

I. Sections 1-2 effective July 1, 2024

II. Sections 3-6 effective August 2, 2024