CHAPTER 166
SB 325 - FINAL VERSION
02/24/2022 0705s
2022 SESSION
22-3060
07/04
SENATE BILL 325
AN ACT relative to local organization for emergency management and first responders.
SPONSORS: Sen. Cavanaugh, Dist 16; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Rep. Edgar, Rock. 21; Rep. Buco, Carr. 2; Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Mullen, Hills. 7
COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill defines first responders and includes first responders in the definitions of emergency management and local organization for emergency management within the division of homeland security and emergency management.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
02/24/2022 0705s 22-3060
07/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT relative to local organization for emergency management and first responders.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
166:1 Department of Safety; Homeland Security and Emergency Management; First Responders. Amend RSA 21-P:35 to read as follows:
21-P:35 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of safety.
II. [Repealed.]
III. "Council" means the advisory council on emergency preparedness and security.
IV. "Director" means the director of the division of homeland security and emergency management.
V. "Emergency management" means the preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, including but not limited to emergency response, [and] training functions, or the utilization of first responders, in order to prepare for, prevent, minimize, and repair injury or damage resulting from the occurrence or threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or human cause, including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, windstorm, wave actions, technological incidents, oil or chemical spill, or water contamination requiring emergency action to avert danger or damage, epidemic, air contamination, blight, drought, infestation, explosion, terrorist act, or riot.
VI. "Local organization for emergency management" means an organization created in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision by state, county, or local authority to perform local emergency management functions, which may direct the utilization of first responders.
VII. "Political subdivision" means counties, cities, towns, and duly established village precincts.
VIII. "State of emergency" means that condition, situation, or set of circumstances deemed to be so extremely hazardous or dangerous to life or property that it is necessary and essential to invoke, require, or utilize extraordinary measures, actions, and procedures to lessen or mitigate possible harm.
IX. "First responders" means state, county, and local governmental and nongovernmental emergency public safety fire, law enforcement, public safety telecommunications or dispatcher, emergency response, emergency medical services providers including hospital emergency facilities, emergency management, public health, clinical care, public works, and other skilled support personnel, such as equipment operators, that provide immediate support services necessary to perform emergency management functions.
166:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: June 07, 2022
Effective Date: August 06, 2022