HB1327: relative to allowing persons to be bonded for search and rescue costs in hiking and climbing in New Hampshire.

HB 1327-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2003 SESSION

03-2281

10/01

HOUSE BILL 1327-FN

AN ACT relative to allowing persons to be bonded for search and rescue costs in hiking and climbing in New Hampshire.

SPONSORS: Rep. L. Christiansen, Hills 66

COMMITTEE: Fish and Game

ANALYSIS

This bill allows persons who hike, mountain climb, and rock climb in the state, to be bonded by the fish and game department for the costs of search and rescue operations.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-2281

10/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

AN ACT relative to allowing persons to be bonded for search and rescue costs in hiking and climbing in New Hampshire.

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

1 New Section; Fish and Game Search and Rescue Fund. Amend RSA 206 by inserting after section 42 the following new section:

206:43 Bonding Authorized. The executive director shall establish a program for persons hiking, mountain climbing, and rock climbing in the state to give a bond with sufficient surety for the benefit of the state, for the purpose of providing search and rescue operations administered by the fish and game department. Bonds shall be valid for one year. Any fees, expenses, or penalties assessed to the person related to search and rescue operations shall be recovered from the bond. The executive director shall adopt rules, under RSA 541-A, for the establishment and administration of the program.

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

LBAO

03-2281

7/14/03

HB 1327-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to allowing persons to be bonded for search and rescue costs in hiking and climbing in New Hampshire.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Fish and Game Department has determined this bill will increase state fish and game restricted expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2004 and each year thereafter. There is no fiscal impact on state, county and local revenue or county and local expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department is unable to determine the increase in state fish and game restricted expenditures as a result of this bill, but the increase is expected to be significant. This bill calls for establishing a program for persons hiking, mountain climbing and rock climbing in the state, but does not have any limitation on the level or area where these activities would occur. The Department states that administrative costs would be very high to enforce this type of program, as well as having to arrange for a company to assume the bonding responsibilities required by this bill.