HB669: (New Title)establishing a committee to study state laboratory water tests and fees for such tests collected by the department of environmental services.

HB 669-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

02Feb2006… 0316h

2005 SESSION

05-0638

06/01

HOUSE BILL 669-FN

AN ACT establishing a committee to study state laboratory water tests and fees for such tests collected by the department of environmental services.

SPONSORS: Rep. Gargasz, Hills 5; Rep. Ryder, Hills 5

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to study water tests conducted by the state laboratory of hygiene and water test fees collected by the department of environmental services.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02Feb2006… 0316h

05-0638

06/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five

AN ACT establishing a committee to study state laboratory water tests and fees for such tests collected by the department of environmental services.

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

1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study water tests conducted by the state laboratory of hygiene and water test fees collected by the department of environmental services.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Five members of the house of representatives, 2 from the resources, recreation and development committee, 2 from the ways and means committee, and one from the finance committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Five members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

3 Duties. The committee shall study water tests conducted by the state laboratory of hygiene and water test fees collected by the department of environmental services. The committee shall evaluate the need for future additions to existing laboratory tests and equipment and make recommendations for laboratory test fees and distributions to the laboratory equipment and replacement fund.

4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.

5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2006.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBAO

05-0638

2/1/05

HB 669-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT setting the laboratory fee schedule for certain environmental samples.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Environmental Services determined this bill will increase state general fund revenue by $160,686 in FY 2006 and each year thereafter, and state restricted revenue by $160,686 in FY 2006 and each year thereafter. State, county and local expenditures may increase by an indeterminable amount in FY 2006 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenue.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department of Environmental Services (DES) stated it does not know in advance what its sample volume or who its clients will be. Sample loads and the kinds of tests requested vary each year. Homeowners and public water systems, including towns and municipalities, can choose to send their samples to any New Hampshire accredited laboratory. As a result of the increased fees, the Department assumed a reduction in the number of samples received in FY 2006, and that the fee increase would take effect on July 1, 2005. The Department estimated the increased revenue as follows:

Anticipated

Revenue Revenue Net

FY 2004 FY 2006* Increase

Homeowners $181,312 $ 233,606 $ 52,294

Public Water Systems 565,786 783,539 217,753

Special Accounts 138,282 169,762 31,480

Agency 510,020 529,865 19,845

Total Increase $321,372

50% to the General Fund $160,686

50% to the Lab Equipment Fund $160,686

* assumes same number of tests in FY 2004 at new rate.

LBAO

05-0638

2/1/05

State agencies, counties or locals may have increased expenditures for federal Safe Drinking Water Act testing if they utilize the DES lab for testing services or another accredited lab. The DES is unable to determine this increased cost to state agencies and county and local governments.