HB 1423-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2052
08/02
HOUSE BILL 1423-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Caplan, Merr. 8; Rep. Vail, Hills. 6
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources to identify all old growth and mature forests on public land in 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2052
08/02
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Forestry; Old Growth Forestland. Amend RSA 227-G:4 by inserting after paragraph XI the following new paragraph:
XII. Identification and mapping of all mature and old growth forestland, under public management in the state of New Hampshire, which may be used for the purposes of potential in situ forest carbon storage, flood and drought mitigation, water quality, and biodiversity protection pursuant to 227-G.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
24-2052
12/4/23
HB 1423-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | $931,000 | $644,000 | $665,000 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources to identify all old growth and mature forests on public land in the state of New Hampshire.
The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources states this bill would require them to inventory and map all mature and old growth forestland that is under public management in New Hampshire which would total over 1.5 million acres, assuming "under public management" meant all federal, state and locally owned land in New Hampshire. To achieve this, the DNCR anticipates the need for seven new Environmentalist III positions, each at a labor grade of 23, with an assumed start date of September 1, 2024.
Each position is estimated to cost approximately $133,000 in FY 2025, consisting of $75,000 in salary and benefits and $58,000 in additional expenses, encompassing startup costs and a vehicle. In subsequent years, the costs (salary, benefits, and other costs) would reduce to $92,000 in FY 2026 and $95,000 in FY 2027. The total fiscal impact to implement this bill with the seven positions would be $931,000 in FY 2025, $644,000 in FY 2026 and $665,000 in FY 2027.
This bill does not establish or provide an appropriation for new positions.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources