HB1328: requiring the development of a plan for the elimination of county government by the year 2011.

HB 1328 - AS INTRODUCED

2003 SESSION

03-2308

10/09

HOUSE BILL 1328

AN ACT requiring the development of a plan for the elimination of county government by the year 2011.

SPONSORS: Rep. Buckley, Hills 56

COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government

ANALYSIS

This bill requires various state agencies and the judiciary to develop a plan for the transfer of county functions to state government. The plans shall be submitted by October 1, 2006 for proposals on implementation by the legislature by 2011.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-2308

10/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

AN ACT requiring the development of a plan for the elimination of county government by the year 2011.

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

1 County Government; Plans for Transfer of Functions. On or before October 1, 2006, the following agencies and branches of the state government shall develop and submit a plan for the transfer of the duties, operations, and administration of the respective county government functions and operations as listed, to the state agency or branch:

I. The department of justice: the county attorneys.

II. The department of state: the registers of deeds.

III. The supreme court: the registers of probate.

IV. The department of health and human services: the county nursing homes and other medical and long term care services provided by the counties.

V. The department of safety: the county sheriffs.

VI. The state treasurer: the county treasurers.

VII. The department of corrections: the county corrections departments and county farms.

VIII. The department of administrative services: the county buildings and other property, and any other functions of county government not designated in this section.

2 Submission of Plans.

I. The plans for transfer of county government functions to the state as described in section 1 shall identify all statutory provisions relating to the specific governmental functions involved, and shall recommend changes to the laws to address the continued provision of required services and the procedure for the elimination of the county department, except for county officers designated in the state constitution.

II. All plans submitted pursuant to this act shall be proposed with the intent that all actions by the legislature in eliminating separate county government shall be implemented by July 1, 2011.

III. Copies of all completed plans shall be submitted to the speaker of the house, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before October 1, 2006.

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