HB532: prohibiting persons who desecrate the American or New Hampshire state flag from receiving financial assistance.

HB 532-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2017 SESSION

17-0532

05/01

HOUSE BILL 532-FN

AN ACT prohibiting persons who desecrate the American or New Hampshire state flag from receiving financial assistance.

SPONSORS: Rep. L'Heureux, Hills. 21; Rep. LeBrun, Hills. 32; Rep. Panasiti, Hills. 22; Rep. Morrison, Rock. 9; Rep. M. McCarthy, Hills. 29

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill prohibits a person who desecrates a United States flag or state flag from receiving financial assistance from the state of New Hampshire.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0532

05/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

AN ACT prohibiting persons who desecrate the American or New Hampshire state flag from receiving financial assistance.

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

1 New Section; Desecration of Flag; Financial Assistance Eligibility. Amend RSA 3-E by inserting after section 3 the following new section:

3-E:4 Desecration of Flag; Financial Assistance Prohibited. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person who desecrates a United States flag or New Hampshire flag by any means whatsoever, or disposes of the flag in a manner contrary to the United States flag code, shall be eligible for any type of financial assistance from the state of New Hampshire, including, but not limited to, financial assistance to needy families, food stamps, and tuition assistance.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2018.

LBAO 17-0532

1/11/17

HB 532-FN- FISCAL NOTE

as Introduced

AN ACT prohibiting persons who desecrate the American or New Hampshire state flag from receiving financial assistance.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Funding Source:

[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Federal Funds

METHODOLOGY:

This bill prohibits a person who desecrates or disposes of the United States flag or New Hampshire flag contrary to the United States flag code from receiving any type of financial assistance from the State. The Department of Health and Human Services assumes disqualification of eligibility would only apply to the individual who undertook the prohibited action and not to the other members of the assistance group household. The Department states costs would be associated with developing procedures to determine if an individual undertook such prohibited action and carrying out investigations, but it is currently unaware of any past instances in which the proposed legislation would be applicable. Based on the information provided, the Department cannot estimate the fiscal impact on expenditures. However, it is assumed there will be a one-time cost of $360,000 associated with software upgrades and staffing in order to automate this type of ineligibility.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services