SB 132 – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

04/08/09 1280s

2009 SESSION

09-1006

05/01

SENATE BILL 132

AN ACT establishing a commission to develop implementation plans for merging state agencies and programs to enhance efficiency and lower costs.

SPONSORS: Sen. Hassan, Dist 23; Sen. Sgambati, Dist 4; Sen. Cilley, Dist 6; Sen. DeVries, Dist 18; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Rep. Schlachman, Rock 13; Rep. Nordgren, Graf 9; Rep. Lyons, Rock 8; Rep. J. Russell, Rock 13

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to develop implementation plans for merging state agencies and programs to enhance efficiency and lower costs.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

04/08/09 1280s

09-1006

05/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT establishing a commission to develop implementation plans for merging state agencies and programs to enhance efficiency and lower costs.

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

1 Commission Established. There is established a commission to develop implementation plans for merging state agencies and programs to enhance efficiency and lower costs.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

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

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

(c) Two at large members, appointed by the governor.

(d) The commissioner of administrative services, or designee.

(e) The commissioner of resources and economic development, or designee.

(f) The commissioner of the department of employment security, or designee.

(g) The commissioner of safety, or designee.

(h) The commissioner of cultural resources, or designee.

(i) The commissioner of agriculture, markets and food, or designee.

(j) The executive director of fish and game, or designee.

(k) The attorney general, or designee.

(l) Two members representing state employees, appointed by the governor.

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

3 Duties.

I. The commission shall develop implementation plans for, and identify necessary legislative and rules changes for:

(a) Merging the department of resources and economic development, excluding the division of parks and recreation and the division of forests and lands, with the department of employment security;

(b) Merging the department of cultural resources, the department of agriculture, markets and food, the department of fish and game, the division of parks and recreation, and the division of forests and lands into a newly established department of natural and cultural resources; and

(c) Merging all law enforcement functions under the department of safety.

II. The commission shall identify any additional state agencies and programs that could be combined or consolidated in order to enhance efficiency and lower costs.

III. The commission shall solicit information and testimony from such individuals, agencies, and organizations as may be of assistance to the commission in the performance of its duties.

IV. The commission may create subcommittees to develop implementation plans.

4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

5 Report. The commission shall report 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 governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2009.

6 Gifts.

I. The commissioner of the department of administrative services may apply for and accept gifts, donations of money, federal, municipal, or private grants, or other funds or incentives from any source for the purposes of this act. The funds accepted under this paragraph shall be continually appropriated to the department for the purposes of this act.

II. The commissioner may expend any funds received under paragraph I for the purposes of this act.

7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.