HB 1543-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2008 SESSION

08-2158

10/03

HOUSE BILL 1543-FN

AN ACT relative to the citizen’s petition for redress of grievances by the legislature.

SPONSORS: Rep. Itse, Rock 9; Rep. Ingbretson, Graf 5; Rep. Villeneuve, Hills 18; Rep. Dumaine, Rock 3; Rep. Hopfgarten, Rock 5

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a procedure for a member of the legislature to introduce a citizen’s petition for redress of grievances.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

08-2158

10/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

AN ACT relative to the citizen’s petition for redress of grievances by the legislature.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Subdivision; Citizen’s Petition for Redress of Grievances. Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 39-a the following new subdivision:

Citizen’s Petition for Redress of Grievances

14:39-b Petitions for Redress of Grievances.

I. Any Senator or Representative may file with the Director of legislative services a citizen’s petition for redress of grievances pursuant to part I, articles 31 and 32 of the New Hampshire Constitution that the legislator desires to introduce. The Director shall notify each Senator and Representative of the provisions of this section and of the drafting service available in the office of legislative services.

II. The clerks of the House and of the Senate, respectively, shall cause sufficient copies of each citizen’s petition for redress of grievances to be printed, and shall make copies available to persons who request them.

III.(a) When a petition affects rights or interests of any person, or private corporation, notice thereof shall be given by the House or Senate clerk by delivering a copy of the petition to the person or clerk, secretary, or agent of the corporation via registered U.S. Postal Service mail upon introduction of the petition into the General Court of New Hampshire and notice of any public hearing by the General Court of New Hampshire shall be given to such person 2 weeks prior to the public hearing by registered U.S. Postal Service mail.

(b) When a petition affects the right or interests of a town or city, notice shall be given by the House or Senate clerk by delivering a copy of the petition to the clerk, secretary, at least one selectman, or the Mayor, as appropriate, and notice of any public hearing by the General Court of New Hampshire shall be given to such person 2 weeks prior to the public hearing by registered U.S. Postal Service mail.

IV. Testimony or remonstance in a public hearing regarding any petition to the General Court of New Hampshire shall be given under pains and penalty of perjury, and an oath shall be taken to that effect before the testimony or remonstance.

2 New Paragraph; Office of Legislative Services; Duty Added. Amend RSA 17-A:1 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:

I-a. To draft citizens’ petitions for redress of grievances to be introduced by members pursuant to RSA 14:39-b, and to check and examine all citizens’ petitions for redress of grievances prior to final legislative adoption.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

08-2158

11/14/07

HB 1543-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to the citizen’s petition for redress of grievances by the legislature.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Office of Legislative Accounting states this bill may increase state expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2008 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local expenditures or state, county, and local revenue.

METHODOLOGY:

The Office of Legislative Accounting states this bill establishes a procedure for a legislator to introduce a citizen’s petition for redress of grievances. The Office has no information to predict the number of petitions that may be filed or the number of individuals whose rights or interests may be affected. To the extent petitions for redress of grievances are filed, the office would have increased expenditures related to office supplies, printing, postage and staff time.