hb 0367

CHAPTER 35

HB 367-LOCAL - FINAL VERSION

AN ACT relative to the establishment of a town forest in the town of Randolph and relative to property of preexisting school districts.

SPONSORS: Rep. P. Bradley, Coos 6; Rep. Guay, Coos 6; Rep. Royce, Ches 9; Rep. Scanlan, Graf 11; Sen. Burns, Dist 1; Sen. Johnson, Dist 3

This bill enables the town of Randolph to assign the management of any town forest in Randolph to any management body as the town may designate or establish.

This bill enables the town of Randolph to establish a town forest management revolving fund, with all proceeds or income from the forest placed into the fund, and allows the town to place additional amounts from any source into the fund. The management body designated by the town shall have authority to make expenditures from the fund for purposes of town forest management, and shall make an annual report to the town showing information regarding fund receipts and expenditures.

This bill also determines the successor of school real property when the school district preexists the town.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

AN ACT relative to the establishment of a town forest in the town of Randolph and relative to property of preexisting school districts.

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

35:1 Town of Randolph Town Forest Management. Notwithstanding RSA 31:112, the town of Randolph may, by vote of any annual or special meeting, assign the management of any town forest established by the town to any board, commission, or other management body, or any combination or division of such bodies, as the town may vote to designate or establish. The designated management body shall have all powers as are necessary to carry out the purposes of RSA 31:110-113, or such purposes as may be added or modified by vote of the town meeting, consistent with any applicable covenants, easements, or restrictions affecting the forest land. Such management powers may include but are not limited to the power to make contracts, to enter into cooperative agreements with other municipalities, organizations or agencies, to make rules and regulations governing use of the forest, or of facilities located thereon, and to assess charges for such use.

35:2 Forest Management Revolving Fund. Notwithstanding RSA 31:113, the town of Randolph may, by vote of any annual or special meeting, establish a town forest management revolving fund. If the fund is established, all proceeds or income from the forest shall be placed in the fund, and shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year, unless otherwise voted by the town meeting. The town meeting may, from time to time, vote to place additional amounts from any source into the fund. The management body designated under section 1 of this act may accept gifts of money, and place such gifts into the fund, without further approval of the town meeting. All moneys in the fund shall be held and invested by the town treasurer, and shall be accounted for separately from other town funds. Notwithstanding RSA 41:29, the town treasurer shall pay out moneys from the fund upon order of the designated management body, which shall have authority to make expenditures from the fund for purposes of town forest management. The management body shall make an annual report to the town, showing the amount and source of all fund receipts, and the amount and purpose of all fund expenditures.

195:9-a Whenever a cooperative district is formed and assumes all of the functions of a preexisting school district but does not take over all of the property in a preexisting district, the school board of such preexisting district shall call a special school district meeting prior to the time of establishment of the cooperative district to see what action shall be taken relative to the remaining property. Where such special meeting neglects to dispose of remaining real property, the successor in interest to a preexisting school district that is coextensive with a city or town is the city or town.