541-A:25 Unfunded State Mandates. –
I. A state agency to which rulemaking authority has been granted, including those agencies, the rulemaking authority of which was granted prior to May 6, 1992, shall not mandate or assign any new, expanded, or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in such a way as to necessitate further expenditures by the political subdivision unless such programs or responsibilities are approved for funding by a vote of the local legislative body of the political subdivision. Such programs include those functions of a nature customarily undertaken by municipalities whether or not performance of such functions is required by statute.
II. Such programs also include, but are not limited to, functions such as police, fire and rescue, roads and bridges, solid waste, sewer and water, and construction and maintenance of buildings and other municipal facilities or other facilities or functions undertaken by a political subdivision.
III. Included in the scope and nature of such programs are those municipal functions which might be undertaken by a municipality or by a private entity and those functions which a municipality may legally choose not to undertake.