#HB1342 bill text attached--motion that each section to be voted individually #nhhouse

HB 1342-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-2097

10/01

HOUSE BILL 1342-FN

AN ACT prohibiting state and local governments from using funds to employ a lobbyist.

SPONSORS: Rep. Vaillancourt, Hills 15; Rep. Hoell, Merr 13

COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government

ANALYSIS

This bill prohibits state departments, towns, and, cities from expending funds for the purpose of employing a person as a lobbyist.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-2097

10/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT prohibiting state and local governments from using funds to employ a lobbyist.

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

1 New Section; Budget and Appropriations; Departments; Lobbying Prohibited. Amend RSA 9 by inserting after section 28 the following new section:

9:29 Lobbying Prohibited. A department, as defined in RSA 9:1, may not use state funds to employ, as a regular full-time or part-time or contract employee, a person who is required to register as a lobbyist under RSA 15. A department may not use state funds to pay, on behalf of the department or an officer or employee of the department, membership dues to an organization that pays part or all of the salary of a person who is required to register as a lobbyist under RSA 15.

2 Powers of Towns; Lobbying Prohibited. Amend RSA 31:9 to read as follows:

31:9 Legislative Counsel; Lobbying Prohibited.

I. Towns may at any legal meeting authorize the employment by the selectmen of counsel in legislative matters in which the town is directly or indirectly interested, or may ratify the previous employment by the selectmen of such counsel and may grant and vote money therefor.

II. Towns shall not appropriate or authorize the expenditure of any tax revenues to employ, as a regular full-time or part-time or contract employee, a person who is required to register as a lobbyist under RSA 15, or to pay, on behalf of the town or an officer or employee of the town, membership dues to an organization that pays part or all of the salary of a person who is required to register as a lobbyist under RSA 15.

3 New Section; Powers of Cites; Lobbying Prohibited. Amend RSA 47 by inserting after section 1-c the following new section:

47:1-d Lobbying Prohibited. A city shall not appropriate or authorize the expenditure of any tax revenues to employ, as a regular full-time or part-time or contract employee, a person who is required to register as a lobbyist under RSA 15, or to pay, on behalf of the city or an officer or employee of the city, membership dues to an organization that pays part or all of the salary of a person who is required to register as a lobbyist under RSA 15.

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

LBAO

12-2097

11/09/11

HB 1342-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT prohibiting state and local governments from using funds to employ a lobbyist.

FISCAL IMPACT:

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  The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill will have an indeterminable impact on local expenditures in FY 2012 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on state, county, and local revenues, or state and county expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill prohibits cities and towns from expending tax revenue to employ a lobbyist or pay membership dues to an organization that pays part, or all, of the salary of a lobbyist. The Association states all municipalities currently pay compensation, in one form or another, to one or more lobbyists or organizations that employ lobbyists and depending on the interpretation of this bill, some of those arrangements may be prohibited. The Association states this bill may lead to an indeterminable decrease in local expenditures in the short-term, but is uncertain as to the long-term fiscal impact this bill may have on municipalities.

The Department of Administrative Services states this bill will have no impact on state revenues or expenditures.