Revision: June 13, 2024, 4:17 p.m.
SB 499-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
02/15/2024 0563s
03/21/2024 1230s
23May2024... 1917h
23May2024... 2125h
06/13/2024 2271CofC
2024 SESSION
24-2907
05/10
SENATE BILL 499-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Rep. Bordes, Belk. 5; Rep. Brennan, Merr. 9; Rep. McMahon, Rock. 17; Rep. Simpson, Rock. 33; Rep. Wolf, Merr. 7
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill directs the department of health and human services to apply for and participate in the SNAP elderly simplified application project and makes an appropriation to the department for this purpose. The bill also makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services to begin participation in the Summer EBT program.
This bill also authorizes disaster relief aid for municipalities that suffer certain damage in natural disasters.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
02/15/2024 0563s
03/21/2024 1230s
23May2024... 1917h
23May2024... 2125h
06/13/2024 2271CofC 24-2907
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
24-2907
Amended 6/3/24
SB 499-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENTS #2024-1917h and #2024-2125h)
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | Approximately $1.1 million (DHHS); Indeterminable Disaster Relief Aid; $91,000 position cost (DOS) | Approximately $260,000 (DHHS); Indeterminable Disaster Relief Aid; $90,000 position cost (DOS) | Approximately $260,000 (DHHS); Indeterminable Disaster Relief Aid; $93,000 position cost (DOS) | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund; NH Emergency Response and Recovery Fund; NH Disaster Relief Fund | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $1,103,000 (DHHS) | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] Yes • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No | ||||||
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Local Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | ||||
Local Expenditures | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
METHODOLOGY:
Sections 1 and 2 of this bill require the Department of Health and Human Services to implement a summer electronic benefits transfer (EBT) program to provide assistance to families eligible for free and reduced price meals over the summer. The sections also directs the Department to participate in the elderly simplified application project within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to provide food assistance to older adults and people with disabilities. The Department expects there to be substantial startup costs for the systems changes necessary to implement a summer EBT program. In total, the Department expects the state share of the EBT-related costs to be $1,065,500 in FY25 and approximately $260,000 in each year thereafter. The bill contains general fund appropriations in FY24/25 totaling the projected amount for that year. In addition, the Department expects the state share of costs for the elderly simplified application project to be $37,500 in FY25 only. The bill contains an appropriation for this amount in the FY24/25 biennium.
Sections 3 through 6 of the bill:
o RSA 21-P:46-a, NH Disaster Relief Fund – Current Balance = $45,292
To the extent these sections provide no new funding, the number of requests approved cannot be predicted, and this bill’s fiscal impact relative to relief aid cannot be estimated. To administer the provisions of this bill, the Department of Safety states it would need one (1) supervisor III position for a total cost of $91,000 in FY 2025, $90,000 in FY 2026, and $93,000 in FY 2027 (assuming a start date of July 1, 2024). It should be noted this bill provides neither authorization nor funding for new personnel.
The Department has provided the following information from the most recent presidentially declared or sought after disasters.
FEMA Declared | Date(s) | Type of Incident | # Communities Involved | PDA Matrix |
Yes | 07/09/23 - 07/17/23 | Severe Storm/Flooding | 41 | $8,668,188 |
No | 04/01/23 - 05/01/23 | Severe Storm/Flooding | 15 | $2,115,071 |
No | 03/13/23 - 03/15/23 | Severe Storm/Winter | 18 | $1,871,295 |
Yes | 12/22/22 - 12/25/22 | Severe Storm/Flooding | 30 | $1,544,043 |
Yes | 07/29/21 - 08/02/21 | Severe Storm/Flooding | 17 | $3,260,518 |
Yes | 07/17/21 - 07/19/21 | Severe Storm/Flooding | 11 | $2,247,265 |
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| $19,706,380 | ||
Once an incident occurs, the State of New Hampshire completes the initial damage assessments (IDAs), and a determination is then made to request joint preliminary damage assessments (PDAs), which are cited in 44 CFR 206.33. Accurate and comprehensive PDAs are critical to enabling efficient response and recovery. The number of communities involved in each incident could each request up to $100,000 in funding under this bill. The Department states the goal of the PDA is to validate enough damages to document that the localized impacts are significant and financially exceeds the per capita indicators. It is important to note that not every local government or private nonprofit participates during the PDAs. Entities with the highest amount of known damages from the IDAs are prioritized. Documentation is received to support that work has either been completed or that work remains to be completed. Work to be completed is calculated utilizing cost estimates and typically is at a value less than market value and is not inclusive of all costs that a municipality has incurred due to the incident. In summary, the Department states financials gathered during the PDAs should be merely used as an assumption to the true scale and magnitude of damages.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Departments of Safety and Health and Human Services