Bill Text: NH SB590 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishing a committee to develop science-based emissions reduction goals for the state of New Hampshire.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-16 - Placed on Laid on Table Consent List and Laid on Table, Motion Adopted, Voice Vote; 06/16/2020; Senate Journal 8 [SB590 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2020-SB590-Introduced.html
SB 590 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-3046
08/05
SENATE BILL 590
SPONSORS: Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Morgan, Dist 23; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Rep. Knirk, Carr. 3; Rep. Woods, Merr. 23; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 5; Rep. Marsh, Carr. 8; Rep. Fothergill, Coos 1
COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a committee to develop science-based emissions reduction goals for the state of New Hampshire.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-3046
08/05
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 Findings. The general court finds that New Hampshire’s public health, economy, natural resources and quality of life are threatened by increased air pollution and emissions impacting climate change. New Hampshire should seek solutions that reduce emissions, protect public health, stimulate economic growth, protect the environment and communities, and retain New Hampshire’s competitive advantage.
2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to develop science-based emissions reduction goals for the state of New Hampshire.
3 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the senate president. One member shall be from the energy and natural resources committee, and one shall be from the health and human services committee.
(b) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. Of the 3, one member shall be from the science, technology and energy committee, and one shall be from the health and human services committee.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
III. The committee shall invite and receive public testimony, including from the following individuals and organizations:
(a) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.
(b) The director of the office of strategic initiatives, or designee.
(c) The director of the division of public health services, department of health and human services, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of transportation, or designee.
(e) The commissioner of the department of business and economic affairs, or designee.
(f) The chair of the public utilities commission, or designee.
(g) The New Hampshire Medical Society.
(h) The New Hampshire Public Health Association.
(i) The state’s regulated utilities.
(j) Representatives from the New Hampshire environmental community, including the Nature Conservancy and the Conservation Law Foundation.
(k) Clean Energy NH.
(l) Members of the New Hampshire business community.
(m) Stay Work Play New Hampshire.
(n) The New Hampshire Municipal Association.
(o) The New Hampshire Hospital Association.
4 Duties. The committee shall consider and make specific recommendations on the following items:
I. A science-based emissions reduction goal for the state to achieve by 2050.
II. Interim goals for emission reductions in 2030 and 2040, necessary to meet the 2050 goal.
III. The processes and timelines for developing implementation plans to achieve the science-based emissions reduction levels.
IV. Identify the state agencies responsible, including a lead agency, for developing, implementing and reporting on the emission reduction levels identified, as well as public health outcomes.
V. For purposes of this study committee:
(a) “Public health” means the health and well-being of people and their communities to be achieved by preventing disease and injury and improving quality of life. Public health includes the protection of people and communities from diseases or injury caused directly or indirectly by air pollution from emissions including, but not limited to, extreme weather related illness such as dehydration, heat stroke, and from increases in diseases of the heart and lung, allergy-related illness, cases of vector-borne disease such as Lyme disease, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and West Nile virus, and water borne illness.
(b) “Emissions” means any chemical or physical substance that is emitted into the air and that may reasonably be anticipated to cause or contribute to climate change, including its associated public health impacts. This includes, but is not limited to, carbon dioxide, mercury, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride and particulates.
5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
6 Report. The committee shall report 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 December 1, 2020. The report shall describe the activities and findings of the commission and recommendations for proposed legislation and rulemaking by relevant agencies.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
