Bill Text: NH HB495 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Establishing a commission on drinking water.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-2)

Status: (Passed) 2019-08-21 - Signed by Governor Sununu 08/16/2019; Chapter 329; I. Sec. 2 Eff: 11/01/2029 II. Rem. Eff: 08/16/2019 [HB495 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2019-HB495-Introduced.html

HB 495 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2019 SESSION

19-0535

08/03

 

HOUSE BILL 495

 

AN ACT establishing a commission on drinking water.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Edgar, Rock. 21; Rep. Bushway, Rock. 21; Rep. Janvrin, Rock. 37; Rep. Loughman, Rock. 21; Rep. Meuse, Rock. 29; Rep. Berrien, Rock. 18; Rep. Altschiller, Rock. 19; Rep. Le, Rock. 31; Rep. Khan, Rock. 20; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21

 

COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes the long term seacoast commission on drinking water.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19-0535

08/03

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

 

AN ACT establishing a commission on drinking water.

 

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

 

1  New Section; Long Term Seacoast Commission on Drinking Water.  Amend RSA 485-F by inserting after section 5 the following new section:

485-F:6  Seacoast Commission on Long Term Goals and Requirements for Drinking Water.

I.  There is established a commission to plan for long term goals and requirements for drinking water on the seacoast.

II.  The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a)  Five members of the house of representatives, 3 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 2 appointed by the minority leader of the house.

(b)  The member of the senate representing district 21 and the member of the senate representing district 24.

(c)  A representative of the water company that serves the town of Hampton, appointed by that company, or its successor.

(d)  A representative of the drinking water source protection program in the department of environmental services, appointed by the commissioner.

(e)  A representative of the town of Rye water district, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(f)  A representative of the town of Rye, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(g)  A representative of the town of New Castle, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(h)  A representative of the town of North Hampton, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(i)  A representative of the city of Portsmouth, appointed by the governing body of that city.

(j)  The Rockingham county planning commissioner, or designee.

(k)  The Strafford county planning commissioner, or designee.

(l)  A representative of the town of Seabrook, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(m)  A representative of the town of Exeter, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(n)  A representative of the town of Greenland, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(o)  A representative of the town of Newington, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(p)  A representative of the town of Stratham, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(q)  A representative of the town of Hampton, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(r)  A representative of the city of Dover, appointed by the governing body of that city.

(s)  A representative of the town of Madbury, appointed by the governing body of that town.

(t)  Six community members with backgrounds in environmental science or with interest in water-related science, 3 each appointed by senators representing districts 21 and 24.

(u)  A hydrogeologist from the United States Geological Survey, appointed by that organization.

(v)  A hydrogeologist from the university of New Hampshire, appointed by the dean of the college of engineering and physical sciences.

(w)  A climate scientist from the university of New Hampshire, appointed by the dean of the college of engineering and physical sciences.

(x)  A representative from any other private water company, appointed by that company, or its successor, that serves a town or part of a town in Rockingham or Strafford counties that is not explicitly represented by subparagraphs (a) through (w), appointed by that organization.

III.  Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

IV.  The commission shall:

(a)  Continue the work of the RSA 485-F:5 seacoast commission on long-term goals and requirements for drinking water which was repealed on November 1, 2018.

(b)  Utilize and expand upon existing studies to plan for seasonal or drought supply issues.

(c)  Prepare and discuss mutual aid between seacoast towns for firefighting.

(d) Prepare and discuss mutual aid agreements for emergency or replacement drinking water supply where contaminated.

(e)  Create a centralized planning group to encourage coordination and support between towns and cities.

(f)  Evaluate threats to groundwater quality due to environmental issues.

(g)  Monitor possible new emerging contaminant threats to groundwater and drinking water quality.

V.  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.  Eleven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

VI.  The commission shall make annual interim reports of its findings on November 1 of each year, and a final report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2029.

2  Repeal.  RSA 485-F:6, relative to the seacoast commission on long term goals and requirements for drinking water, is repealed.

3  Effective Date.

I.  Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2029.

II.  The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

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