SB 21-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0196
02/06
SENATE BILL 21-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Rep. Rice, Hills. 38; Rep. Vose, Rock. 5; Rep. Weyler, Rock. 14; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. L. Walsh, Rock. 15
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes the New Hampshire state trooper school loan debt relief program.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0196
02/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; State Trooper Retention School Loan Debt Relief Program. Amend RSA 106-B by inserting after section 1 the following new section:
106-B:1-a State Trooper Retention School Loan Debt Relief Program.
I. There is hereby established the New Hampshire state trooper school loan debt relief program to address the state trooper shortage in New Hampshire. The program shall provide financial incentives to new state troopers, through student loan repayment assistance upon completion of a term of employment as a state trooper in the state of New Hampshire. The program shall be administered by the department of safety, division of state police.
II. Applicants shall be eligible for the program if they were hired as police employees on or after July 1, 2025 and owe at least $10,000 in student loans. Applicants deemed eligible shall, no later than 30 days after their anniversary of employment, receive a tax free disbursement towards their student loan debt in the amount of $10,000 for the first 5 years they remain police employees, up to a maximum total disbursement of $40,000. Applicants shall remain eligible for the program as long as they continue to hold student loan debt for their first 5 years as police employees. Applicants with less than $10,000 in student loan debt after their first anniversary of employment shall receive prorated disbursements based on their remaining student loan debt.
III. There is established in the treasury a fund to be known as the state trooper retention school loan debt relief fund. The fund shall include any sums appropriated for such purpose. In addition, the department of safety may accept public sector and private sector grants, gifts, or donations of any kind for the purpose of funding the provisions of this section. The moneys in this fund shall be nonlapsing and shall be continually appropriated to the department. The fund shall be expended by the department to administer the program and to award student loan repayment assistance in accordance with this section. The state treasurer may invest moneys in the fund as provided by law, with interest received on such investment credited to the fund.
IV. The commissioner shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A, relative to program administration, including application procedures, eligibility criteria, and fund disbursement.
2 New Subparagraph; Dedicated Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (399) the following new subparagraph:
(400) Moneys deposited in the state trooper retention school loan debt relief fund under RSA 106-B:1-a.
3 Appropriation. For the biennium ending June 30, 2027, the sum of $1 is appropriated to the department of safety for deposit in the state trooper retention school loan debt relief fund under RSA 106-B:1-a. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
25-0196
12/27/24
SB 21-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $100,000 - $500,000 | $100,000 - $500,000 | $500,000 - $1,000,000 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $1 | $0 | |||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill creates a New Hampshire state trooper recruitment loan debt relief program and provides a general fund appropriation of $1. The Department of Safety states the amount needed to fully fund this program is indeterminable, however reports that a candidate with no experience must have an associate degree or 60 credit hours from a recognized college; or a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, with two years of law enforcement and/or military experience. In reviewing the 61 state troopers hired over the past two years, the Department states 43 had a minimum of 60 college credits, however their school loan debt is unknown. The Department has provided an estimated range of $100,000 to $500,000 for the first two years, with a possible increase to $500,000 to $1,000,000 beginning in year three, all of which would be dependent on how many state troopers have school loan debt in years three through five of eligibility. The Department has identified no costs relative to administering this program.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 15, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
Jan. 9, 2025: Hearing: 01/15/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:45 am; SC 5
Dec. 30, 2024: Introduced 01/08/2025 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 2