HB 1299-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2227
12/10
HOUSE BILL 1299-FN
AN ACT relative to group II membership in the retirement system for certain firefighter educators.
SPONSORS: Rep. Trottier, Belk. 8; Rep. Bordes, Belk. 5
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill includes community college fire educators in those eligible for group II classification in the New Hampshire retirement system.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2227
12/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to group II membership in the retirement system for certain firefighter educators.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Hampshire Retirement System Membership. Amend RSA 100-A:3, III-c to read as follows:
III-c. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 100-A:1, VIII, any permanent fireman who has been a group II member and who has 10 years' fire service experience, or any person included in the definition of "fire service personnel" as defined in RSA 21-P:25, II(c) who has 10 years' fire service experience, who is or becomes the director of the division of fire safety, the director of the division of homeland security and emergency management, the director of the division of fire standards and training and emergency medical services, any fire instructor, fire educator for the community college system, supervisor, instructor, or other technical specialist who has hazardous materials, firefighting, or rescue training functions and who has as a job requirement satisfied the fire standards and training commission's entrance and certification requirements for physical condition, education, and training shall be construed to be a permanent fireman for the purposes of membership in group II and shall remain in the system for the duration of service in that capacity with the fire standards and training commission.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
24-2227
11/29/23
HB 1299-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to group II membership in the retirement system for certain firefighter educators.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | $13,100 to Indeterminable Increase | $13,100 to Indeterminable increase | $13,100 to Indeterminable increase | ||
Funding Source(s) | CCSNH Operating Budget | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] N/A • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] N/A |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill modifies RSA 100-A:3, III-c, by including "fire instructor for the community college system" among the eligible positions in Group II, provided that the individual in this role meets specific criteria such as prior fire service experience and the necessity for fire certification within the position.
The Community College System of NH (CCSNH) states this bill would reclassify eligible fire educators employed by CCSNH from Group I to Group II. Currently, employers, including CCSNH, for State of New Hampshire Group I employees, contribute 13.85% to the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS). For State of New Hampshire Group II Fire employees, the contribution rate is higher at 30.35%. If the proposed bill passes, there would be a 16.5% increase in NHRS employer contributions. This would lead to an estimated average spending increase of $13,100 per position at CCSNH, based on the current wages of full-time faculty with a 10-month appointment. Since NHRS contributions depend on employee pay, any salary adjustments would increase costs. The actual impact on expenses is dependent on whether a new hire in a fire educator role qualifies for Group II according to the rules in this legislation. Currently, CCSNH has one full-time fire educator on staff.
The New Hampshire Retirement System states this bill will have an indeterminable fiscal impact on State expenditures.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
New Hampshire Retirement System and Community College System of New Hampshire