CHAPTER 174

SB 38 – FINAL VERSION

01/29/2015 0050s

15Apr2015… 1239h

05/21/2015 1940EBA

2015 SESSION

15-0516

08/04

SENATE BILL 38

AN ACT establishing a commission to develop a land conservation plan.

SPONSORS: Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Little, Dist 8; Sen. Forrester, Dist 2; Rep. Spang, Straf 6; Rep. Suzanne Smith, Graf 8

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to develop a land conservation plan.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

01/29/2015 0050s

15Apr2015… 1239h

05/21/2015 1940EBA

15-0516

08/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT establishing a commission to develop a land conservation plan.

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

174:1 New Subdivision; Commission to Develop a Land Conservation Plan. Amend RSA 162-C by inserting after section 11 the following new subdivision:

Commission to Develop a Land Conservation Plan

162-C:12 Commission Established.

I. The general court finds that adequate protection of New Hampshire’s natural assets is essential to maintaining and safeguarding the state’s economy and character for today’s population and for future generations. Continued and increased state investment in land and natural resource protection is not a luxury item in the state budget but is essential to our state’s continued prosperity. To further this objective, there is established a commission to develop a long-term New Hampshire state conservation plan. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) One member of the resources, recreation and development committee of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) One member from the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions to represent municipal conservation interests, appointed by that association.

(d) Three representatives of statewide or regional conservation organizations, appointed by the governor.

(e) One person representing business and industry, appointed by the Business and Industry Association.

(f) One person representing hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation, appointed by the fish and game commission.

(g) One person representing real estate interests, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Realtors.

(h) One member of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation, appointed by that organization.

(i) One person representing the forest products industry, appointed by the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association.

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

III. The commission shall develop an implementation plan based in part on the findings and future next steps contained in the SB 388 (2014, 148) report. In developing this plan, the commission shall:

(a) Review the final report of the SB 388 (2014, 148) study committee, and any additional reports and studies it deems appropriate on the status of voluntary land conservation and the protection of New Hampshire’s natural resources.

(b) Solicit input from state agencies, including but not limited to, the department of resources and economic development, the department of environmental services, the fish and game department, the department of agriculture, markets, and foods, and the department of revenue administration.

(c) Solicit input from the public, nonprofit organizations, the land and community heritage investment program, regional planning commissions, the university of New Hampshire cooperative extension service, businesses and other stakeholders, and from representatives of land conservation initiatives in other states.

IV. The commission’s final report shall identify specific natural resource protection priorities requiring further state investment over the next 5 years, a process for reviewing and revising priorities on a periodic basis, and a strategy for collaboration and funding among federal, state, regional, municipal, and nongovernmental partners to achieve the commission’s stated conservation goals. In developing these priorities, the commission shall ensure:

(a) Adequate quality and quantity of current and future water supplies for domestic, industrial, and recreational uses;

(b) Protection of adequate areas of productive soils to support current and future agricultural activities;

(c) The maintenance of an adequate forest land base to enable sustainable production of forest products for present and future generations;

(d) The protection of adequate core habitat and linkage areas to maintain the state’s diverse native plant and animal populations.

(e) The maintenance of an adequate land base to support motorized and non-motorized recreational activities;

(f) The protection of scenic vistas and land with unique physical features that support the state’s quality of life and a strong tourism economy; and

(g) Any other conservation benefits that the commission deems appropriate.

V. The chairperson shall be the senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the chairperson and shall be held within 60 days of the effective date of this section. Appropriate legislative research entities shall provide assistance and support to the commission as necessary. Eight members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

VI. The commission may accept financial support and other resources in the development of its work and reports.

VII. The commission may form subcommittees or appoint technical committees composed of commission members and nonmembers to advance the goals of this section.

VIII. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, the chairperson of the house resources, recreation and development committee, the chairperson of the house finance committee, the chairperson of the senate energy and natural resources committee, the chairperson of the senate finance committee, and the state library on or before September 15, 2016.

174:2 Repeal. RSA 162-C:12, relative to the commission to develop a land conservation plan, is repealed.

174:3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect December 31, 2016.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: June 26, 2015

Effective Date: I. Section 2 shall take effect December 31, 2016

II. Remainder shall take effect June 26, 2015