HB 1242  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2024 SESSION

24-2198

02/05

 

HOUSE BILL 1242

 

AN ACT relative to the establishment of county-wide communication districts.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Rep. D. Ford, Hills. 40;  Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33

 

COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill allows counties to initiate the establishment of county-wide communications districts.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2198

02/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

 

AN ACT relative to the establishment of county-wide communication districts.

 

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

 

1  Communications Districts; Definitions.  Amend RSA 53-G:1, II to read as follows:

II. "District" means a communications district of 2 or more municipalities, or one county, established under this chapter.

2  Definitions.  Amend RSA 53-G:1, VII to read as follows:

VII. "Member" means any city, town, unincorporated town, [or] unorganized place, or county that elects to form or join a communications district under this chapter.

3  Communications District Planning Committee; Formation and Responsibilities.  Amend RSA 53-G:2, I to read as follows:

I. The governing bodies of 2 or more municipalities, or one county, may at their discretion create a special unpaid committee to be known as a communications district planning committee, consisting of at least 2 persons, or one person if the district is county-wide, from each municipality appointed by the respective governing bodies. Governing bodies of municipalities located within county-wide districts may vote to exclude themselves from this committee, and may join later pursuant to RSA 53-G:7.  The committee shall elect a chairperson, clerk, and treasurer. Members may be reimbursed by the committee for costs of performing duties directly related to the committee.

4  Communications District Planning Committee.  Amend RSA 53-G:2, IV to read as follows:

IV. If the committee determines that the formation of a district is desirable, it shall prepare a proposed district agreement in accordance with RSA 53-G:4 and hold a public information session in each municipality which is named in the district agreement as a site. Copies of the proposed agreement and of RSA 53-G shall be made available at and prior to any hearing. Notice of any hearing shall be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the proposed district or posted on the website of each member municipality and on the county website, if applicable, and posted in one public place in each member municipality, and sent to the governing bodies of participating municipalities.

5  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.