HB 99 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

24Feb2021... 0203h

04/22/2021   1122s

 

2021 SESSION

21-0108

11/08

 

HOUSE BILL 99

 

AN ACT relative to seasonal platforms on public waters of the state.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. J. MacDonald, Carr. 6; Rep. Marsh, Carr. 8; Rep. Crawford, Carr. 4; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Rep. Deshaies, Carr. 6

 

COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires that any person seeking to anchor a floating dock, seasonal platform, inflatable platform or float on public waters of the state adhere to requirements specified by the department of safety, division of marine patrol.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24Feb2021... 0203h

04/22/2021   1122s 21-0108

11/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One

 

AN ACT relative to seasonal platforms on public waters of the state.

 

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

 

1  New Subdivision; Anchored Seasonal Platforms.  Amend RSA 270 by inserting after section 72-a the following new subdivision:

Anchored Seasonal Platforms

270:72-b  Definitions.  In this subdivision:

I.  "Anchored seasonal platform" means a seasonal platform, inflatable platform, float, or device attached to such platform, inflatable platform, or float, that is attached by chains, cables, ropes, or related equipment to a fixed object or stationary point, or that is attached to an anchor or weight which is designed to rest on the bed or to be buried in the bed of a navigable body of water.

II.  "Director" means the director, division of state police, department of safety.

III.  "Division" means the division of state police, department of safety.

IV.  "Shorefront property" means any property abutting public waters of the state.  "Shorefront property" shall include:

(a)  A lot on the public waters that is divided by a road so that the lot is on the opposite side of the road from the public waters or divided by an exclusive right-of-way which has been acquired as a result of an eminent domain proceeding which resulted in the break or loss of property between the property owner's residence and shore frontage.

(b)  A lot of record with not less than 25 feet of frontage.  

(c)  Shorefront property shall not mean a deeded right-of-way, nor shall it mean lots not contiguous to the shore with any other type of legal shorefront access. Property owned in common by associations and other groups shall be deemed owned by the group and shall not convey any rights to individual members of such group.

270:72-c  Anchored Seasonal Platform; Limitations.  

I. No person shall erect, install, maintain, or exercise control over an anchored seasonal platform on the public waters of the state who is not the legal owner of the adjacent shorefront property except as authorized in paragraph III below.

II. Any person erecting, installing, maintaining, or exercising control over an anchored seasonal platform on any public body of water shall attach his or her name and contact information to any such seasonal platform as provided in this subdivision and in accordance with rules established under RSA 270:72-g.

III. Seasonal platforms installed on public waters that support a local, state, or federal government agency, an agency's sub-contractors, or a conservation group engaged in the non-recreational activities may be installed provided the platform meets the minimum requirements established in RSA 270:72-d.

270:72-d  Anchored Seasonal Platform Location.  

I.  No anchored seasonal platform shall be located:

(a)  In such a manner that it constitutes a hazard to the public safety because it interferes with or impedes, or could potentially interfere with or impede, navigation; or

(b)  In such proximity to moorings or to other anchored seasonal platforms as to constitute a hazard to public safety; or

(c)  In such a manner that it presents an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment, including but not limited to water quality, wildlife habitats, or natural areas; or

(d)  In such a manner that it unreasonably interferes with other recreational uses of the water and adjacent land.

II.  The director shall develop rules for the purposes of this subdivision pursuant to RSA 541-A and 270:72-g.

270:72-e  Removal of Anchored Seasonal Platforms; Powers of Director.  

I.  The director or his or her agents shall remove or cause the removal of, or shall move or cause the moving of, any anchored seasonal platform, which:

(a)  Is in violation of RSA 270:72-d; or

(b)  Does not bear the legible owner's name and legible contact information as required under RSA 270:72-c; or

(c)  Constitutes a hazard to public safety because of the manner in which it is constructed or maintained.

II.  The owner of record of anchored seasonal platform, if known, shall be notified by the director or his or her agents of the removal or relocation, by certified mail with return receipt requested, within 10 days of removal or relocation.  

III. Any anchored seasonal platform which is removed pursuant to paragraph I or is found adrift shall be stored in a safe place and the owner shall be notified.  The owner shall reimburse the state or agent of the state for any costs incurred including the cost of removal, relocation, transporting, storing and disposal the platform.

IV.  If a seasonal platform is removed or found adrift and the owner cannot be determined it shall be stored for a period of at least 4 weeks to allow the owner the opportunity to reclaim the platform. The owner is responsible for reimbursing the state for all costs identified in paragraph III above.

270:72-f  Liability.  Nothing in this subdivision shall relieve the owner or installer of an anchored seasonal platform from liability relating to water pollution, accidents, or other liabilities associated with ownership of an anchored seasonal platform.

270:72-g  Rulemaking.  

I.  The director of the division shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to:

(a)  The use, design, weight or size, construction, labeling, lighting, placement including safe spacing, and required maintenance of individual anchored seasonal platforms.

(b)  The enforcement of this subdivision.

(c)  Controls of seasonal platforms of any local, state, or federal government agency, such an agency's sub-contractors, or to any conservation groups engaged in the non-recreational execution of their duties including, but not limited to, work related to law enforcement, bridge and road work, pollution control, the protection of fish and wildlife, or environmental studies.

270:72-h  Penalty.  Any person violating the provisions of this subdivision shall be guilty of a violation for the first offense and guilty of a misdemeanor for any additional offenses.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2022.