Bill Text: NH HB1303 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishing a commission to study expanding public testimony opportunities to remote locations statewide.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-11 - Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Voice Vote 03/11/2020 House Journal 7 P. 48 [HB1303 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2020-HB1303-Introduced.html
HB 1303 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2183
10/05
HOUSE BILL 1303
SPONSORS: Rep. Hatch, Coos 6; Rep. P. Schmidt, Straf. 19; Sen. Dietsch, Dist 9
COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to study expanding public testimony opportunities to remote locations statewide.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-2183
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Purpose. The general court finds that as a geographically diverse state, New Hampshire poses challenges for residents of Coos County and other select regions to actively participate in the legislative process by testifying in person in committee hearings. Currently, members of the public must attend committee hearings in-person to offer oral testimony. For residents of Coos County and other regions, it can be costly, time-consuming, and logistically challenging to attend committee hearings in-person at the state capitol.
2 New Section; Legislative Officers and Proceedings; Commission Established. Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 13 the following new section:
14:13-a Commission Established; Public Testimony.
I. There is established a commission to study expanding public testimony opportunities to remote locations statewide. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one of whom represents Coos County and one of whom represents Cheshire County.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The commissioner of the department of information technology, or designee.
(d) The clerk of the New Hampshire house of representatives, or designee.
(e) The clerk of the New Hampshire senate, or designee.
(f) The attorney general, or designee.
(g) The chancellor of the community college system of New Hampshire, or designee.
(h) The chancellor of the university system of New Hampshire, or designee.
(i) A representative of the New Hampshire Disability Rights Center, appointed by the center.
(j) A representative of New Futures, appointed by the organization.
(k) A representative of a regional planning commission, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Regional Planning Commissions.
(l) A resident or organization representing Coos County or other remote regions, appointed by the governor.
(m) A public member, appointed by the governor.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
III.(a) The commission shall:
(1) Review laws and programs enacted in other states, counties, or municipalities authorizing remote testimony to legislative committees.
(2) Make recommendations regarding the technologies, formats, policies, and procedures used for remote testimony.
(3) Determine the administrative costs anticipated to establish and sustain remote testimony procedures.
(4) Make recommendations regarding administrative oversight of remote testimony programs.
(5) Study any other issue that the committee determines is relevant to its objective.
(b) The commission may solicit information from any person or entity the commission deems relevant to the commission's objective.
IV. 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 house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Eight members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
V. The commission shall submit a report of its findings and any 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, and the state library on or before November 1, 2021.
3 Repeal. RSA 14:13-a, relative to a commission to study the expansion of public testimony to remote locations, is repealed.
I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2021.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
