HB1650: relative to mileage for members of the legislature.

CHAPTER 1

HB 1650 - FINAL VERSION

2022 SESSION

22-3120

07/08

HOUSE BILL 1650

AN ACT relative to mileage for members of the legislature.

SPONSORS: Rep. Steven Smith, Sull. 11; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 4; Rep. Doucette, Rock. 8; Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Cote, Hills. 31; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr. 11

COMMITTEE: [committee]

ANALYSIS

This bill broadens the locations where mileage for legislators can be calculated to include venues other than the state house where the house, senate, or both bodies joined meet, as well as the times in which these new locations will be eligible for such mileage.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-3120

07/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT relative to mileage for members of the legislature.

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

1:1 Legislative Officers and Proceedings; Travel Allowance for Members; Including Other Venues. Amend RSA 14:15-a to read as follows:

14:15-a Travel Allowance for Members. A member of the general court shall be allowed mileage by choosing the method in either paragraph I or II prior to the first mileage reimbursement payment in the term:

I.(a) In the computation of mileage under the provisions of this paragraph, the word "day" shall be deemed to be a calendar day; and, whenever a legislative session shall be continued beyond 12 o'clock midnight, the members present shall be entitled to additional mileage for another day's attendance; provided, however, that any member of the general court absent for any cause from such attendance shall not be allowed mileage for the day the member is so absent.

(b) A member of the general court shall be allowed mileage for the round trip to and from the member's home to the state house in Concord or, as of January 1, 2022, any location where the member's body convenes for each day of attendance at the following rates:

(1) For the first 45 miles, $.38 per mile; and

(2) For all miles in excess of 45 miles, $.19 per mile.

II. A member of the general court shall be allowed compensation for actual travel expenses of the round trip to and from the member's home to the state house in Concord or, as of January 1, 2022, any location where the member's body convenes. Mileage shall be paid at the maximum rate established in the United States Internal Revenue Code and Regulations for the number of miles traveled.

1:2 Legislative Officers and Proceedings; Computation of Distance; Any Convening Location Allowed. Amend RSA 14:15-b to read as follows:

14:15-b Computation of Distance.

I. Each member of the general court shall at the organizational session of the legislature furnish to the committee on mileage a statement of the distance from his home to the state house in Concord. The committee on mileage shall then compute the mileage allowance to be allowed said member and said committee shall be arbiters of all disputes and claims involving payment of mileage to members. Said committee may consult with the department of transportation relative to the distances as set forth in the statement furnished by the member but the establishment of the distance shall be made by the committee, from its study and investigation.

II. If a member's body convenes at a location other than the state house in Concord, the committee shall use that location in computing distance for that day.

1:3 Application of Alternate Mileage Location. Mileage for members shall be calculated and awarded based on the convening location of the member's body starting on January 1, 2022. This includes, but is not limited to, the house sessions at the Doubletree Hotel Exposition Center in Manchester, New Hampshire on January 5, 6, and 7, 2022.

1:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: January 06, 2022

Effective Date: January 06, 2022