CHAPTER 261

HB 1531 - FINAL VERSION

04/21/2016   1391s

04/21/2016   1482s

1June2016... 2117EBA

2016 SESSION

16-2307

05/04

HOUSE BILL 1531

AN ACT permitting the legislature to open the state house to the public.

SPONSORS: Rep. Haefner, Hills. 37; Rep. Sad, Ches. 1; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr. 11; Rep. Rowe, Hills. 22; Rep. Weyler, Rock. 13; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Boutin, Dist 16; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill permits the general court to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a private entity to open the state house to the public.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

04/21/2016   1391s

04/21/2016   1482s

1June2016... 2117EBA

16-2307 05/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

AN ACT permitting the legislature to open the state house to the public.

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

261:1  New Subdivision; State House Operations Program.  Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 50 the following new subdivision:

State House Operations

14:51  State House Operations Program.

I.  The legislature may enter into a memorandum of understanding with a private entity to implement a program that will allow the state house to be open to the public.  The memorandum of understanding shall consider:

(a)  Guided tours of the state house provided by volunteer tour guides.

(b)  A security plan developed in consultation with legislative protective services which may include criminal background checks for volunteer tour guides.

(c)  A plan for visitor use of restrooms.

(d)  Appropriate signage, which may include signage on Interstate 93 developed in consultation with the department of transportation.

II.  Prior to the implementation of the program, the memorandum of understanding shall be reviewed and approved by the joint committee on legislative facilities, established under RSA 17-E:1.  Any costs to implement the approved memorandum of understanding shall not be a charge to the state.

261:2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: June 15, 2016

Effective Date: June 15, 2016