01/30/03 0046s

10apr03... 0858h

2003 SESSION

03-0273

10/09

SENATE BILL 14

COMMITTEE: Internal Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill provides that the members of the county convention shall fill vacancies in county offices.

The bill also allows the Belknap County Recreation Area Commission to receive and expend certain funds.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

01/30/03 0046s

10apr03... 0858h

03-0273

10/09

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:

3:1 Expense of Bonds; Appointed Officers. Amend RSA 27:4 to read as follows:

27:4 Expense of Bonds. The several counties shall pay the premiums on the bonds of their respective treasurers, registers and deputy registers of deeds, county attorneys, sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, and county officers elected by the members of the county convention or appointed by the superior court under RSA 661:9.

3:2 Vacancies Among County Officers; Election by Members of County Convention. Amend RSA 661:9, I-II to read as follows:

I. If a vacancy occurs in the office of county sheriff, county attorney, register of deeds, or county treasurer, the [superior court] members of the county convention shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term by majority vote.

II.(a) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a county commissioner, the [superior court] members of the county convention shall fill the vacancy by majority vote until the next biennial election of county officers. If the term filled is less than the unexpired term, then notwithstanding any provisions of RSA 653:1, VI, the commissioner district filled pursuant to this paragraph shall be added to the next biennial election ballot to be chosen by the inhabitants of the county for a 2-year term.

(b) The provisions of subparagraph (a) shall apply only where the vacancy occurred no later than 30 days preceding the printing of the ballots for the primary election.

(c) The provisions of RSA 655:32 and RSA 655:37 relating to nominations by appropriate party committees for vacancies in an office on a primary or general election ballot, respectively, shall apply to vacancies to be filled under this paragraph.

3:3 Belknap County Recreation Area; Powers of the Commission. Amend 1959, 399:10(m) to read as follows:

(m) To solicit, receive, hold, and expend any gifts, grants, or donations from any source made for any purpose set forth in this act.

(n) To do all other lawful acts necessary or incidental to the foregoing powers.

3:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: April 11, 2003)

(Effective Date: April 11, 2003)