2003 SESSION

03-0105

05/09

HOUSE BILL 70

COMMITTEE: Commerce

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to study government actions that contribute to involuntary homelessness among people who are employed but who cannot afford housing.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-0105

05/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

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

1 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study government actions that contribute to involuntary homelessness.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) One real estate agent, appointed by the governor.

(d) One advocate for homeless people, appointed by the governor.

(e) One building inspector, appointed by the governor.

(f) One town or municipal planning board member, appointed by the governor.

(g) Three members of the public who have been involuntarily homeless.

II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

3 Duties. The commission shall study government actions that contribute to involuntary homelessness.

I. For purposes of the commission, involuntary homelessness means homelessness among people who are employed but who cannot afford housing.

II. The commission shall:

(a) Study changes in involuntary homelessness in New Hampshire over the years for which records can be obtained with as much regional specificity as possible.

(b) Identify changes in federal, state, and local building regulations, ordinances, and housing subsidies over the same period that may have contributed to a lack of affordable housing and thus to an increase in involuntary homelessness.

(c) Consider whether a reduction in low cost housing alternatives, such as boarding houses and rooming houses, has contributed to an increase in involuntary homelessness.

(d) Recommend changes to existing state laws, regulations, and ordinances to reduce involuntary homelessness and, where appropriate, allocate resources to accelerate the effects of those changes.

4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The commission shall hold at least 4 public hearings and one executive session. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 60 days of the effective date of this section.

5 Report. The commission 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, 2004.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.