Bill Text: NH SB48 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishing a commission to study the efficiency and effectiveness of the fish and game departments operations, governance, and management structure.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-10-27 - Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2017-2474h (NT) [SB48 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2017-SB48-Introduced.html
SB 48 - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0298
10/09
SENATE BILL 48
AN ACT establishing a commission to study changes to the fish and game commission and department.
SPONSORS: Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to study changes to the fish and game commission and department.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0298
10/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT establishing a commission to study changes to the fish and game commission and department.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
I. At the request of the fiscal committee of the general court, a performance audit of the fish and game department was conducted to determine the department's efficiency and effectiveness. The audit report was released in January 2008. Among other conclusions, the audit found that the department's responsibilities have increased and the number of constituents has expanded. The audit determined that input from these expanded constituent groups has not been incorporated into the fish and game commission membership or the department name. At the same time, while still popular, hunting and fishing activities have declined, along with a decrease in revenue from traditional sources. The audit further found that as the department's responsibilities have increased, the fish and game commission's role has effectively diminished and its oversight authority has become inconsistent and unclear.
II. The first 3 of the performance audit observations addressed these changes by recommending the legislature consider establishing the fish and game commission as an advisory body, changing the name of the fish and game department, and broadening representation on the commission to include other groups with a vested interest in fish and game policy. While the department and commission concurred only in part with these audit recommendations, the department agreed to work with the legislature to address them. Implicit in evaluating changes to the fish and game commission membership and authority is the need to identify more stable and sustainable funding for the department to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.
2 New Section; Fish and Game; Study Commission Established. Amend RSA 206 by inserting after section 1-c the following new section:
206:1-d Commission Established.
I. There is established a commission to study changes to the fish and game commission and department.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate and one of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader.
(b) Three members of the house of representatives, at least one of whom shall be from the fish and game and marine resources committee, two of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader.
(c) The executive director of the fish and game department.
(d) One member of the fish and game commission, appointed by the chairperson of the fish and game commission.
(e) One person representing hunting, fishing, or trapping, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(f) One person representing non-game, wildlife watching, or non-hunting wildlife interests, appointed by the president of the senate.
(g) One person representing land conservation organizations, appointed by the governor.
(h) One member representing the general public, appointed by the governor.
III. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
IV. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
V. The commission shall consider recommendations for changes to the fish and game commission membership and authority, and the department name, and if a plan for implementing suggested changes, based in part on the findings and recommendations in observations 1, 2, and 3 of the 2008 fish and game department performance audit report, is in the best interests of the state. In considering these issues, the commission shall:
(a) Review the 2008 fish and game department performance audit and any additional reports and studies it deems appropriate to its purpose.
(b) Solicit input from the fish and game department, the fish and game commission, the public, stakeholder groups, nonprofit organizations, and other parties with an interest in the membership and authority of the fish and game commission, sustainable funding of department programs, and the department name.
(c) Gather information on governance structures and long-term funding mechanisms of other state's wildlife agencies to inform its work.
VI. Appropriate legislative research entities shall provide assistance and support to the commission as necessary and as requested by the chairperson.
VII. The commission may form subcommittees or appoint technical committees composed of commission members and nonmembers to advance the goals of this act.
VIII. The commission may accept financial support or other resources and expend such sums in the development of its work and reports.
IX. The commission shall report its findings and recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, the chairperson of the house fish and game and marine resources committee, the chairperson of the senate energy and natural resources committee, and the state library on or before October 1, 2018.
3 Repeal. RSA 206:1-d, relative to the commission to study changes to the fish and game commission and department, is repealed.
I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect October 1, 2018.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
