SB256: establishing a committee to study the feasibility of replacing the site evaluation committee.

CHAPTER 128

SB 256 - FINAL VERSION

2022 SESSION

22-2851

12/04

SENATE BILL 256

AN ACT establishing a committee to study the feasibility of replacing the site evaluation committee.

SPONSORS: Sen. Giuda, Dist 2; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Rep. Leishman, Hills. 24; Rep. Vose, Rock. 9; Rep. Harrington, Straf. 3

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to study the feasibility of replacing the site evaluation committee.

This bill is a request of the committee to study necessary revisions to the site evaluation committee pursuant to 2021, 91:228.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-2851

12/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT establishing a committee to study the feasibility of replacing the site evaluation committee.

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

128:1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the feasibility of replacing the site evaluation committee.

128:2 Membership and Compensation.

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

(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Three members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the house science, technology and energy committee and one of whom shall be a member of the house finance committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, appointed by the leader of the minority party.

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

128:3 Duties. The committee shall study:

I. The feasibility of replacing the site evaluation committee with an office of energy siting, within the New Hampshire department of energy, to handle all preliminary siting activities and authorizing the public utilities commission to act as a final adjudicative body.

II. The current structure, process, authority, funding, and functions of the site evaluation committee.

III. The structure, process, authority, funding, and function of public bodies that oversee energy siting in other states.

IV. The role of the New Hampshire department of energy in any future energy siting process in New Hampshire.

V. The ability of the public utilities commission to assume the adjudicative functions of energy siting in New Hampshire.

128:4 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 senate member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

128:5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before October 15, 2022.

128:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: May 27, 2022

Effective Date: May 27, 2022