CHAPTER 148

SB 388 – FINAL VERSION

2014 SESSION

14-2686

08/01

SENATE BILL 388

AN ACT establishing a committee to study the current status of land conservation in New Hampshire and the state’s role in encouraging voluntary protection of land in the future.

SPONSORS: Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Forrester, Dist 2; Sen. Odell, Dist 8; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Rep. Wallner, Merr 10

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to study the current status of land conservation in New Hampshire and the state’s role in encouraging voluntary protection of land in the future.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14-2686

08/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen

AN ACT establishing a committee to study the current status of land conservation in New Hampshire and the state’s role in encouraging voluntary protection of land in the future.

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

148:1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the current status of land conservation in New Hampshire and the state’s role in encouraging the voluntary protection of land in the future.

148:2 Membership and Compensation.

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

(a) Two members of the senate, one appointed by the minority leader and one appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Three members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the minority leader and 2 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

148:3 Duties. The committee shall:

I. Survey the current composition of conservation lands in New Hampshire including, but not limited to, the number of acres in conservation, how these lands are distributed geographically, the purposes for which land is being protected, and what entities hold conservation lands.

II. Solicit input from appropriate state agencies and nonprofit organizations.

III. Study the economic impact of land conservation on the state, including the financial return on state investments in land conservation.

IV. Gather information on how land conservation is currently funded, and what changes to conservation funding may be expected in coming years.

V. Review land conservation programs in other New England states.

VI. Identify strengths and weaknesses of New Hampshire’s current portfolio of public and private conservation lands, and study whether the state’s approach to land conservation is appropriate to meet future challenges including, but not limited to, securing current and future drinking water supplies, maintaining a land base for farming and forestry, protecting fish and wildlife habitat, and providing outdoor recreation opportunities.

VII. Recommend relative to encouraging, through policy and/or financial support, effective voluntary land protection in the next decade.

148:4 Support. The committee may accept financial support and other resources in the development of its work and reports.

148:5 Chairperson. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.

148:6 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the governor, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the chair of the senate energy and natural resources committee, the chair of the house resources, recreation and development committee, the chair of the house municipal and county government committee, and the chair of the house environment and agricultural committee, and the state library on or before November 1, 2014.

148:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: June 16, 2014

Effective Date: June 16, 2014