HB 614-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED
2003 SESSION
04/10
HOUSE BILL 614-FN-LOCAL
AN ACT requiring the state to pay the total expense of fighting forest and brush fires on any state-owned park or forest land.
SPONSORS: Rep. Rush, Merr 36; Rep. Davis, Merr 36; Rep. Stone, Rock 73; Rep. Stohl, Coos 1; Rep. P. Allen, Ches 27; Sen. Gallus, Dist 1; Sen. Odell, Dist 8
This bill provides that the state shall pay the full cost of presuppression and suppression of forest, woodland, or brush fires on state-owned park or forest land.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03-0131
04/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three
AN ACT requiring the state to pay the total expense of fighting forest and brush fires on any state-owned park or forest land.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Presuppression and Suppression of Fires; Expenses Borne by State. Amend RSA 227-L by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:
I-a. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I, the expenses of presuppression and suppression of fires on state park or state forest lands shall be borne fully by the state. Any expenses incurred by a municipality under this paragraph shall be reimbursed in full by the state.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
03-0131
Revised 1/31/03
HB 614 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT requiring the state to pay the total expense of fighting forest and brush fires on any state owned park or forest land.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Resources and Economic Development has determined this bill may increase state expenditures by $10,395 in FY 2004, $19,231 in FY 2005, $3,638 in FY 2006, and $8,316 in FY 2007. Local revenue will increase by $7,255 in FY 2004, $13,422 in FY 2005, $2,539 in FY 2006 and by $5,804 in FY 2007. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local expenditures or state and county revenues.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department states currently, the state shares the cost of fire suppression with towns on a 50/50 basis. This bill would require the state to pay the full cost of pre-suppression and suppression of forest, woodland, or brush fires on state owned park or forest land. In addition, the state would be responsible for the full cost of unclaimed and unreported fires in state owned parks or forests. The increase in state expenditures would include the reimbursement to municipalities for 50% of suppression costs which were formerly paid by the towns and full-time fire departments, and additional expenditures for unreported fire, supervisory, and administrative costs. Towns and full-time fire departments would receive reimbursement from the state to pay for such suppression costs (increase of 50%), and the full cost of unclaimed and unreported fires on state owned parks or forest lands. The Department estimates the costs in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007 to total 185%, 35%, and 80% of the FY 2004 estimates, respectively, based on the variations in fire seasons. The estimated fiscal impact is as follows:
FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007
State Expenditures $10,395 $19,231 $3,638 $8,316
Local Revenue $ 7,255 $13,422 $2,539 $5,804