CHAPTER 237

HB 513 – FINAL VERSION

05/27/09 1698s

24Jun2009… 2168cofc

2009 SESSION

09-0792

03/09

HOUSE BILL 513

AN ACT establishing a citizen-funded election task force.

SPONSORS: Rep. Pierce, Graf 9

COMMITTEE: Election Law

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a citizen-funded election task force.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05/27/09 1698s

24Jun2009… 2168cofc

09-0792

03/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT establishing a citizen-funded election task force.

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

237:1 Citizen-Funded Election Task Force.

I. There is established a citizen-funded election task force. The members of the task force shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) Two members appointed by the governor.

(d) Two members representing organizations supporting public financing of campaigns, one appointed by the president of the senate and one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(e) Two members who served on the commission to study the feasibility of public funding of state election campaigns established by 2008, 55, one appointed by the president of the senate and one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

II. Legislative members of the task force shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the task force.

III. The task force shall:

(a) Review the report of the commission to study the feasibility of public funding of state election campaigns established by 2008, 55, and develop a detailed plan, including proposals for specific legislation, to implement the recommendations of the report.

(b) Solicit input from senators, representatives, the governor, executive councilors, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and any other persons deemed appropriate by the task force.

(c) Hold public hearings at times and at locations around the state that are likely to elicit substantive input from the general public.

(d) Make the schedule and minutes of meetings of the task force, and all testimony and materials presented to the task force, available to the public on a website.

IV. The members of the task force shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the task force shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the task force shall be held within 60 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the task force, including at least one member appointed under each subparagraph of paragraph I, shall constitute a quorum.

V. The task force shall submit an initial report on or before November 16, 2009 and a final report on or before November 15, 2010 of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the chairman of the senate election law and veterans’ affairs committee, the chairman of the house election law committee, the governor, and the state library.

237:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: July 16, 2009

Effective Date: July 16, 2009