Bill Text: NH SB345 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relative to state park fees for state residents.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-04-25 - Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study 04/24/2024 (Vote 19-1; Consent Calendar) [SB345 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2024-SB345-Amended.html
SB 345-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
02/08/2024 0576s
2024 SESSION
24-2823
10/05
SENATE BILL 345-FN
AN ACT relative to state park fees for state residents.
SPONSORS: Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Rep. J. Harvey-Bolia, Belk. 3; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12
COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires that the commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources set state park fees charged to residents of New Hampshire to be no more than 50 percent of the fees for entry for state parks charged to nonresidents, and allows the commissioner to set separate fee schedules for residents and nonresidents for specific uses within any state park.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
02/08/2024 0576s 24-2823
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to state park fees for state residents.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 State Park System; Fees for Park System; Residency. Amend RSA 216-A:3-g, I to read as follows:
I. Fees for the use of park areas shall be designed to recover a reasonable portion of budget expenses consistent with the purposes of RSA 216-A:1 and 216-A:3. Provided, however, that fees charged to New Hampshire residents to enter state parks collected via a website or by a person stationed within the park shall be no more than 50 percent of the entry fees charged to nonresidents. The commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources, or his or her designee, may elect to set separate fee schedules for residents and nonresidents for specific uses within any state park, including camping, facility rental, parking, or boat rental, provided that where separate fee schedules are created for any given service or product, residents shall be charged no more than 90 percent of the fee charged to nonresidents. Residency may be indicated by state-issued identification, utility or tax bills, vehicle registrations, student identification, or vehicle license plates. The general court does not intend that all park facilities be self-supporting.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect April 1, 2025.
24-2823
Revised 12/21/23
SB 345-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to state park fees for state residents.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | State Park Fund | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | State Park Fund | |||||
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 requires that the commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources set state park fees charged to residents of New Hampshire to be no more than 50 percent of the fees for entry for state parks charged to nonresidents, and allows the commissioner to set separate fee schedules for residents and nonresidents for specific uses within any state park.
The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources states the impact to the State Park Fund is indeterminable, but is expected to result in a decrease in revenue. This decrease is anticipated due to unrealized income from fee reductions for residents, reduced revenue from non-resident visitors choosing other recreational options, and the added cost of modifying the state park reservation and POS systems.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
