HB 1304-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED

2024 SESSION

24-2247

10/08

HOUSE BILL 1304-FN-LOCAL

AN ACT relative to vessel registration and boat fee decals.

SPONSORS: Rep. Creighton, Hills. 30; Rep. Sellers, Graf. 18; Rep. Baldwin, Graf. 4; Rep. Ames, Ches. 13; Rep. St. Clair, Belk. 5; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Ward, Dist 8

COMMITTEE: Transportation

-----------------------------------------------------------------

ANALYSIS

This bill modifies the procedure for registration of vessels by requiring the issuance and display of a boat fee decal for the payment of boat fees.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2247

10/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

AN ACT relative to vessel registration and boat fee decals.

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

1  Vessel Registration; Registration.  Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 270-E:3, III to read as follows:

III. Application for registration shall be in such form and contain such information as the commissioner shall determine. The fees required by RSA [270-E:5] 270-E:5, I shall accompany the application. The application shall request the principal use of the vessel and ask whether the vessel is to be registered for tidal and coastal waters. The application shall also contain the following statements:

2  Exemption from Registration.  Amend the section heading and introductory paragraph of RSA 270-E:4 to read as follows:

270-E:4 Exemptions From Registration and Boat Fee Decal. The following vessels shall be exempt from registration and display of a boat fee decal in this state:

3  Vessel Registration Fees.  Amend RSA 270-E:5, II to read as follows:

II. In addition to the fees required by paragraph I there shall be [the following registration fees:

(a) $9.50 for each registration specified in paragraph I. The fees collected under this subparagraph shall be paid into the lake restoration and preservation fund established under RSA 487:25.

(b) $1 for each registration required by this section. The fees collected under this subparagraph shall be paid into the fish and game search and rescue fund established under RSA 206:42.

(c)] $5 collected for each registration processed by an authorized agent of the department who is not an employee of the department. The fees collected under this [subparagraph] paragraph shall be collected and retained by the authorized agent as compensation for processing the registration.

[(d) $5 for each registration specified in paragraph I. The surcharge collected under this subparagraph shall be paid into the statewide public boat access fund established under RSA 233-A:13.

(e) $2 for each registration for tidal or coastal waters. The surcharge collected under this subparagraph shall be paid into the harbor dredging and pier maintenance fund established under RSA 12-G:46.]

4  New Section; Boat Fee Decal Required.  Amend RSA 270-E by inserting after section 5 the following new section:

270-E:5-a  Boat Fee Decal Required.

I.  No person shall put, place, or operate a vessel on any waters of the state, including tidal and coastal waters and all inland waters, unless the vessel displays a boat fee decal as required in this chapter or is exempt as provided in RSA 270-E:4.

II.  The cost of the boat fee decal for private and pleasure vessels, including rentals and airboats shall be as follows:

(a)  $9.50 for each decal specified in paragraph I.  The fees collected under this subparagraph shall be paid into the lake restoration and preservation fund established under RSA 487:25.

(b)  $1 for each decal required by this section.  The fees collected under this subparagraph shall be paid into the fish and game search and rescue fund established under RSA 206:42.

(c)  $5 for each decal specified in paragraph I.  The fees collected under this subparagraph shall be paid into the statewide public boat access fund established under RSA 233-A:13.

(d)  $2 for each decal for tidal or coastal waters.  The fees collected under this subparagraph shall be paid into the harbor dredging and pier maintenance fund established under RSA 12-G:46.

(e)  $3 decal fee for each decal specified in paragraph I.  The fees collected under this paragraph shall be paid into the navigation safety fund established under RSA 270-E:6-a.

5  Display of Numbers and Decals.  Amend RSA 270-E:8 to read as follows:

270-E:8  Display of Numbers and Decals Required.

I.  Every vessel required to be registered in this state shall display the boat fee decal under RSA 270-E:5-a and the vessel numbers issued to the vessel as part of the registration process, unless the vessel is exempt under the provisions of RSA 270-E:9.

II.  The owner shall paint on, attach or otherwise display to each side of the forward half of the vessel the numbers assigned by the department not less than 3 inches in height, with block letters of contrasting color, and they shall be clearly readable when the vessel is being operated.  The numbers shall be maintained in legible condition.  No numbers other than the numbers validly assigned to a vessel shall be painted, attached or otherwise displayed on either side of the forward half of such vessel.

III.  Any person who operates a vessel on the inland or tidal and coastal waters of this state without displaying the vessel numbers [and the], boat fee decal, or other decal required by this chapter in the manner required by this chapter, unless exempt under the provisions of RSA 270-E:9, shall be guilty of a violation for a first offense and a misdemeanor for a second offense.

6  New Paragraph; Rulemaking; Boat Fee Decal.  Amend RSA 270-E:12 by inserting after paragraph XII the following new paragraph:

XIII.  Boat fee decals.

7  Payment of Boat Fee.  Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 72-A:4, I to read as follows:

I.  For boats which are required to [be registered with the department of safety under the provisions of] display a boat fee decal as required in RSA [270-E] 270-E:5-a, the fee [shall] may be paid [prior to, or at the time of,] separately, or together with the vessel registration.  The fee may be paid to:

8  Boat Fee; Boats Under Federal Jurisdiction.  Amend RSA 72-A:8 to read as follows:

72-A:8 Boats Under Federal Jurisdiction.  Boats registered with the United States Coast Guard or Treasury Department shall be subject to the boat fee under RSA 72-A:4 if they are either within the state on January 1 or usually moored, docked, or kept in the state. Boat owners shall pay the boat fee to the town or city clerk or tax collector, authorized agent or the department of safety by July 1 of each year.

9  Repeal; Receipt.  RSA 270-E:3, IV, relative to the receipt for boat fee payment, is repealed.

10  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.

LBA

24-2247

11/24/23

HB 1304-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to vessel registration and boat fee decals.

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

METHODOLOGY:

This bill, effective July 1, 2024, modifies the procedure for registration of vessels by requiring the issuance and display of a boat fee decal for the payment of boat fees. The Department of Safety states traditionally boating fees have been collected at the time of registration. However, the Department states due to a Coast Guard audit finding, boating fees can no longer be collected at time of registration. This new method of boat fee collection will require a new, yearly decal, to accompany the current registration decal, thus requiring each boat registered in NH to display two (2) separate decals.

The Department states this bill will have no impact on state revenue, however, it will incur costs associated with the purchase of the decals.  The Department estimates the annual costs, beginning in FY 2025, will be $48,000 (120,000 stickers @ $0.40 per sticker). This cost would be a charge against the Navigation Safety Fund established in RSA 270-E:6-a.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety