CHAPTER 22
HB 730-FN - FINAL VERSION
5jan00.....2197h
2000 SESSION
HOUSE BILL 730-FN
AN ACT establishing a house committee to review methods for recording committee sessions, authorizing a request for proposals, and making an appropriation therefor.
SPONSORS: Rep. Copenhaver, Graf 10; Rep. Nichols, Merr 2; Rep. O'Keefe, Rock 21; Sen. Gordon, Dist 2
COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration
This bill establishes a house committee to determine the feasibility of recording legislative proceedings digitally, and to issue a request for proposals to begin a trial recording program of certain house committee proceedings. The bill makes an appropriation for the purpose of leasing or renting equipment.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
5jan00.....2197h
99-0733
10/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand
AN ACT establishing a house committee to review methods for recording committee sessions, authorizing a request for proposals, and making an appropriation therefor.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
22:1 Findings and Purpose. The general court finds that it is in the best interest of both the public and the legislature to maintain the best possible records of the public proceedings conducted by the legislature. Accurate records provide the public with a means for understanding the work performed by their legislative representatives and are vital in determining legislative intent. The general court recognizes that new developments in digital recording and storage may be the basis for new methods for recording legislative proceedings. In order to determine whether new technologies will improve the recordkeeping of the New Hampshire General Court, it is necessary to establish a research and development program to allow for experimentation with various methods of recording public proceedings.
22:2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to determine the feasibility of recording legislative proceedings digitally. If such recording is determined to be feasible, the committee is further charged with selecting the appropriate method for making and storing such recordings.
22:3 Membership; Chairperson; Meetings; Quorum. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint 5 members of the house to serve on the committee. The members of the committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
22:4 Duties; Request for Proposals.
I. The committee shall issue a request for proposals to companies that manufacture digital recording equipment. The committee shall select 3 to 5 proposals for recording and storing the records of legislative proceedings. The committee shall have the authority to lease or rent the appropriate equipment and the selected options shall be used to record house committee proceedings on a temporary basis. House standing committee chairpersons shall be asked to participate in the trial recording program and to assist the committee in assessing the equipment tested. The committee shall consult representatives from the office of the general court information systems, the division of information technology management, the records management and archives division of the department of state, and industry representatives in the development of the trial recording program.
II. If a digital recording program is determined to be feasible, the committee shall select the appropriate method for making and storing such recordings.
22:5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2000.
22:6 Appropriation. There is hereby appropriated the sum of $1,500 from the general fund for the purposes of leasing or renting digital recording equipment on a trial basis. These funds shall not be used to hire consultants. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
22:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
(Approved: March 29, 2000)
(Effective Date: March 29, 2000)
LBAO
99-0733
Amended 1/7/00
HB 730 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a house committee to review methods of recording committee sessions, authorizing a request for proposals, and making an appropriation therefor.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this bill, as amended by the House, will increase state general fund expenditures by $1,500 in FY 2000. There will be no impact on county and local expenditures or state, county and local revenue.
This bill appropriates $1,500 from the state general fund.
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes a committee to determine the feasibility of recording legislative proceedings daily, and appropriates $1,500 in FY 2000 from the general fund for the purposes of leasing or renting digital recording equipment on a trial basis.