Legislative Action Alert

Week of April 18, 2011

Jackie Cilley
jcilley@aol.com

For more years than I can recall, early in our marriage Bruceand I began
playing games at the outset of our day. Initially we played cribbage faithfully
over breakfast every morning and taught our children to count by playing
card games with them. Lately, we tend to play triple Yahtzee over breakfast
– probably because it taxes our aging brains less and doesn’t require as
much strategizing as the sun comes up. We still play plenty of cards,
especially cribbage, as we did last evening over pizza with our youngest son
and his wife.

We’re a competitive family. Whether it’s darts (yes, I play a bit), horseshoes,
basketball, card or board games, or simply trying to recall somebody’s name
(something that we seem to be playing more of these days), we’ll turn it into
a competition. We’ve taught our children to compete, to lose graciously and
to win more graciously.

Our family isn’t unique in this. I dare say that competitiveness is a core
characteristic of our culture and our society. We like winners in our sports
teams, but we love a lively competition (didn’t we all breath a collective sigh
of relief when our beloved Red Sox finally broke their 86 year losing
streak??). We compete in our jobs for better positions. We compete in ways
big and small and some so petty that none of us want to acknowledge it –
who brings the most tasty or prettiest dish to a social gathering, who has the
cleanest house (I’m most decidedly NOT competing on this one), who is the
wittiest and on and on.

The one area in which competition seems to be changing is in the political

arena. We -- both parties -- used to compete on ideas -- who could put
forward the most rational plan for solving society’s thorny problems. The
goals, even between the parties, were not so different such a short time ago.
There was general agreement on such things as don’t leave the elderly on a
street corner with a tin cup in their hand, don’t leave individuals with mental
illness, physical or developmental disabilities behind (yes, we did have our
dark period of warehousing these folks, but I thought we learned something
from our sorry mistakes), and educate our children well because they are our
future.

This spirit of competitiveness in ideas and solutions seems to be changing in

profound ways, not for the better, these days. Winning appears increasingly
to be the sole objective, regardless of positions on issues. Increasingly, we
don’t even want to hear one another’s ideas.
Of all of the disturbing things coming out of Concord these days one central
theme that is most disconcerting is the unwillingness of those who represent
us to listen to experts and citizens who come to testify on important
legislation. Increasingly and on a daily basis, I am receiving reports of e-
mails sent by legislators or discussions held with legislators in which they
actually say such things as “Save your breath. I already know how I’m
voting.” Or, they write back to constituents and say that while they may
want to vote differently, they have been told by leadership how to vote.
Those in the best position to know, say their facts and figures fall on the deaf
ears of those so ideologically driven that they refuse to allow in any
conflicting information.

What we are seeing is not the marketplace of ideas or competition for sound
solutions. Rather, we are witnessing, as other regions of the world have
before us, the iron-fisted will of a supermajority to impose a dogmatic
ideology in which divergent views are not welcome.

How do we fight this? Generate ideas. Insist on ideas that are fully
articulated. Don’t walk away from a conversation in which someone wants
to give you a sound bite (i.e., smaller government gives you more freedom).
Ask what is meant by smaller government (seriously, is anybody for BIGGER
government?). Ask how that will solve infrastructure problems. Ask how
that will address the needs of the elderly, of children in poverty, of
environmental issues, of those who cannot obtain healthcare, etc., etc. Have
an idea party over glasses of wine and platters of cheese and crackers. Hold
an idea flea market at your place to exchange them.

Silly, maybe. A soapbox definitely. I know you came to the Alert to see the
legislation that is coming up, to hear what your legislators are up to and of
course, for my witty overview of the just past week and the upcoming week.
That’s all below. However, if we don’t start a discussion of the two ton gorilla
in the room we will keep coming back to fight this beast over and over again.
We need a larger conversation, folks. We need some vision of what we want
our state to stand for and to look like and to act like. We need a genuine
conversation of how to get there (wherever “there” is). The alternative is to
keep ceding ground to only one rigid approach tied to the rhetoric of lower
taxes, less spending, smaller government, more gun ownership, fend for
yourself getting us no closer to solutions that benefit ALL of our citizens.

Thar’s my rant for the day. Now, on to the business at hand.

What follows is a summary of the activity for the upcoming week in the
Senate and in the House, followed by a look at the antics of individual
legislators (this section has been moved to follow a discussion of legislation
in response to those who asked for legislation to be more prominently
positioned) and, then, by the calendar listings.

As always, for the full details of House and Senate calendars, please visit the
General Court website at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/. You may also
want to download the Journals from that same site for each chamber. In
those you can read the remarks made by legislators during debates on
legislation – always good nighttime reading entertainment! Additionally, the
Journals contain the roll call votes of each legislator. You will be able to see
how your legislator voted on any bill of importance to you.

All Eyes are Now on the Senate

The Senate is receiving considerable attention these days as some of the

most high profile and controversial pieces of legislation are now in that
chamber. The infamous and misleadingly titled “Right to Work” bill comes to
the floor of the Senate this week, the repeal of the Regional Greenhouse Gas
Initiative will be heard in committee as will a bill to weaken the provisions of
New Hampshire’s recently passed anti-bullying bill and yet another bill to gut
collective bargaining. These are discussed in detail within this section.

As it continues to crank out the House bills that it has worked on in

respective committees, twenty-nine bills will come to the Senate floor for a
vote on Wednesday, April 20. Two of these bills received an ITL (inexpedient
to legislate/kill the bill) recommendation from the committee before which
they were heard. Otherwise, the Senate is wholly or at least nearly in
agreement with the House as illustrated by the OTP (ought to pass)
recommendations and OTPA (ought to pass with amendment)
recommendations from committees.

Despite some areas of agreement, the House is reportedly VERY unhappy

with their Senate counterparts. On the one hand, tensions between the
chambers, regardless of who is in the majority, are not uncommon. The
current interfamilial enmity, however, is rumored to be at historic highs. The
House wants THEIR budget bill passed without any changes. The Republican
Liberty Caucus of NH is pushing hard to get folks to call their Senators and
tell them “It is important that the Senate not amend the budget and undo
the hard work that was done in the house.” The RLCNH is also running radio
ads to let citizens know “how responsible” the House budget is – check out
“A New Day of Prosperity is Dawning” at http://rlcnh.org/news/rlcnh-begins-radio-
campaign-to-support-house-budget/ Hey New Hampshire – are you feeling
prosperous yet??

The House and the outside interest groups are bound to bring intense
pressure on the Senate to keep as many of the provisions in the House
budget as they can get. The rest they will come back for in a committee of
conference (a rather dangerous legislative activity that will be fully explained
in an upcoming issue of the Alert). Additionally, there is considerable
backroom wrangling over other high priority bills.

Perhaps the most controversial bill coming to the Senate floor with a
recommendation of OTPA (ought to pass with amendment) is HB 474-FN, the
perennial “Right to Work” legislation. Senate Commerce sends this bill to
the floor with a 4-1 recommendation for passage.

Predecessors to HB 474 have been taken up by the NH Legislature numerous

times prior to this year under both Republican and Democratic majorities. In
every instance previously, this legislation has been resoundingly defeated.
The policy is one that is a high priority of such groups as Cornerstone Policy
Research and the American Legislative Exchange Council, a group backed by
such formidable interests as Phillip Morris, Exxon Mobile, Coors Beer and the
Koch (pronounced coke) Industries.

Numerous examples from this legislative session provide ample evidence

that these groups heavily influence our current legislature. In fact, in a
recent issue of Cornerstone’s newsletter, the organization touted that: This
Legislature has put our money where their mouth was...And we
should thank them for it! [Emphasis Cornerstone’s.]

Opposing the Right to Work Act were organized labor groups as well as the
Commissioner of Labor and the Commissioner of the Department of
Resources and Economic Development. Each of the Commissioners testified
that in their extensive experience with established businesses and
businesses considering relocating to New Hampshire that Right to Work was
not a factor in job creation. Facts aren’t something allowed to get in the way
of a good argument. Advocates claim jobs will be created, so it must be so.

The volume of misinformation surrounding HB 474 has frustrated those in

opposition. Although advocates claim that it is a “worker freedom,”
suggesting that workers are now forced to join unions against their will,
current law already protects employees from such practices. Further,
current law prohibits union dues (as distinct from agency fees) from being
extracted against an employee’s will from his/her paycheck.

If an employee works in a unionized company or agency, s/he does pay an

“agency fee.” This fee covers expenses incurred by a union in negotiating
benefits for that employee. Under current law any benefits, including
increased wages, enhanced healthcare benefits and the like, must be
extended to non-union workers as well. The agency fee, then, is designed to
cover the negotiation work that the union does on behalf of all workers. This
money cannot be used for political activities.
It is unclear at this time whether there are sufficient votes to pass HB 474. If
it does pass, it almost certainly faces a gubernatorial veto. Should that
happen it does not appear currently that there would be the two-thirds
necessary, at least in the House, to override the veto. The bill passed the
House 221 – 131, falling just short of a veto-proof majority.

Although the bulk of the attention will be on the public hearing for the
budget and a number of presentations by state agencies (see details below)
before the Senate Finance Committee, some twenty-seven bills will be heard
before other committees of the Senate in the week ahead. Three of the
highest profile matters in the upcoming week include the repeal of the
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the dismantlement of collective
bargaining and the rollback of provisions in New Hampshire’s anti-bullying
law.

Driven by pure ideology, HB 519-FN will repeal New Hampshire’s regional

greenhouse gas initiative cap and trade program for controlling carbon
dioxide emissions. In the hearings in the House dozens of opponents turned
out to testify that the repeal of this program would harm New Hampshire in
myriad ways including costing approximately $26 million in grants to
residents and small businesses for energy efficiency projects, job creation
around new technologies and energy efficiency and increased air pollution.
There was also ample testimony that New Hampshire’s electric ratepayers
would not see a substantive decrease in their electric rates due to the fact
that New Hampshire participates in a ten-state grid on which rates are
based. Thus, ratepayers would continue paying the costs of the program in
which nine other states participate but would not be able to participate in the
upside from the sale of RGGI allowances.

Those testifying in favor of repeal were the typical climate change deniers
with all of the stock talking points put out by the American Legislative
Exchange Council. In fact, the sponsors of the bill were so intellectually lazy
that they adopted a canned bill from ALEC, changing only the name of the
state. After this came to light during the public hearing, the bill had to be
redrafted to conform to New Hampshire’s legal standards.

Supporters of the bill were in the clear minority of those testifying. Despite
the public plea to retain the program and re-work areas that might make the
program more equitable, the House voted for passage. Those opposing
repeal of RGGI will now make their case to the Senate. Rumor is currently
circulating that, although the Senate is likely to keep the program in place –
at least in name – changes being contemplated will lead to RGGI being
utterly ineffective. HB 519-FN will be heard before Senate Energy and
Natural Resources on Thursday, April 21 at 9 a.m. in Rm. 201-203,
LOB (Legislative Office Building).
An eleventh hour provision that was put into HB 2, the trailer bill to the
budget, and often referred to as the “Kurk Amendment” that could
effectively end collective bargaining in New Hampshire created a firestorm of
controversy. The NH Senate has indicated its intention to strip that section
out of HB 2. Little noticed on the day that the House passed HB 2 containing
that provision was HB 580 that was amended with the same provision. This
bill containing the collective bargaining changes as well as a number of
controversial changes to the New Hampshire Retirement System will be
heard this week. HB 580 will be heard before the Senate Executive
Departments and Administration on Thursday, April 21 at 10 a.m.in
Rm. 100, SH.

A bill that would roll back several provisions of New Hampshire’s recently
passed anti-bullying law, HB 370, will be heard before the Senate Education
Committee this week. Among the opponents of this bill is Governor John
Lynch. In a press release on April 4, Lynch cited his concerns with how the
bill would undo the progress in addressing cyber-bullying:

"Cyber-bullying is a relatively new phenomenon, but we must take action to

make it clear it will not be tolerated," Governor Lynch said. "Through the use
of cell phones, social networking sites and e-mail, bullying can be taken to a
whole new level - very often out of sight of adults, parents and teachers. We
need to be clear and send a strong message that we will not tolerate
bullying in any form - whether it is on the schoolyard or over the Internet."

"By undoing requirements to address cyber-bullying, the legislation that

passed the House sends the wrong message, allowing bullies to hide in the
shadows of cyber-space," Governor Lynch said.

Hearings in the house drew dozens of opponents who asked that the recently
established antip-bullying law be given an opportunity to be fully
implemented and assessed. The only two supporters for weakening
provisions of the current law were co-sponsors of the bill. Parents, educators
and school administrators testified against the bill. The House passed it over
those objections. HB 370 will be heard before the Senate Education
Committee on Tuesday, April 19 at 1 p.m. in Rm. 305-307, LOB
(Legislative Office Building).

No week would be complete in the current legislature without a couple of

firearms bills and in that, there is no disappointment in the upcoming week.
One, HB 544, is not so much a firearms bill as one that places knives in the
same category of state authority. The other, HB 330-FN permits any person
otherwise not prohibited to carry a firearm openly or concealed, loaded or
unloaded, on or about his or her person or upon or in a vehicle. It also
removes, under certain circumstances, the requirement that nonresidents
obtain a license to possess a firearm while in New Hampshire. Ironically, it
does prohibit the carrying of a firearm while hunting during hunting season
unless the bearer also holds a hunting permit. HB 330 will be heard
before the Senate Judiciary on Wednesday, April 20 at 1:15 in Rm.
100, SH (Statehouse).

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on the

budget bills on Thursday, April 21 from 2 – 4 p.m. and from 6 – 8
p.m. The schedule for each department is contained in the calendar list
below. Senate Finance meets in Rm. 103, SH (Statehouse)

In Their Own Words

While most of the comments received on this section are positive and
receptive, some readers have indicated that it is extraneous to the
discussion of upcoming legislation or to understanding legislation and/or the
process. Others merely see it as humorous and I certainly don’t do anything
to discourage that. Clearly it is my opportunity to poke a bit of fun in an
otherwise deadly serious game of “Chicken” with the future of our state.

There is, though, a far more important side to profiling the words and actions
of our legislators. These are the people who claim to represent you.
These are the stewards of our state at the moment. These are the people
who are crafting the laws that will affect our family, friends and neighbors for
years to come. Their words and actions are the most concrete evidence of
how and how well they represent you, whether they are credible, thoughtful
stewards of our future and what their underlying motivation is for the laws
that they are passing. To my mind, this information is every bit as important
as the legislation itself. I hope that you agree.

I would encourage you to have conversations with co-workers, neighbors,

and friends about the words and actions of those who represent you. Some
are satisfied with that representation. Many more are appalled. Too many
have no idea who they voted into office and they should be made aware.
You can have an impact in these conversations and you can help to educate
those around you.

A few priceless clips from the past week include the following:

• In response to a constituent’s questions about why he did not read the

budget bill he voted on, Rep. John Sytek, r, Salem explained: “HB 2,
which among many other provisions includes changes in collective
bargaining and pension benefits, is 146 pages long, not 16 as you
 state. The House budget runs over 900 pages. We received both the
weekend before the vote. These important bills were in addition to our
normal committee work, of course. I never said that I didn’t feel like
reading these bills. In fact, while I did not read them in their entirety
(something I did say), I did review key aspects regarding collective
bargaining and retirement.” So what’s a page or two or ten or
900 or so between friends?? We’re only talking about what
will become law in New Hampshire so I’m sure that our citizens
can understand that reading it all just isn’t necessary – NOT.
• In a moment of rare complete candor one State Representative Bob
Elliott, r, Salem, explained why he voted for HB 2 despite “disliking”
the bill. “Last November, the people threw those tax and spend people
OUT, and elected 153 brand new ,first time , ULTRA Conservative reps
who promised to change things and they meant it. I tried to warn my
constituents there were some horrific changes coming, but few could
imagine how drastic those changes would be. That's what I meant
when I said "There's a new sheriff in town", ( Speaker O'brien)( and
he's very determined to undo everything the Democrats did. I kid you
not. P.S. The Majority leader ( DJ) had a meeting this morning and
made PERFECTLY clear how we were to vote on HB2. 153 new reps will
agree with him. The bill will pass by a HUGH majority, which is what
they think the people want.” You’d think that a job that paid only
$100 per year ought to at least allow for having some integrity
to serve the folks who elected you!

The Found, The Partially Found and The Pretty Much Missing

Last week’s Alert contained a new section of profiling those who were
elected but who have failed to show up in Concord or whose attendance
record is dismal. Adding to that here we’ve uncovered some interesting
information.

• Found – Rep. Ronald Belanger, r, Salem, NH – but not at the

Statehouse. Despite being duly elected by the citizens of Rockingham,
District 4, Rep. Belanger has not been present for a single vote
that we can find. Despite that, he enjoys the privileges of legislative
license plates (reportedly on his Ford Taurus and his Ford Mustang).
Rep. Belanger was stopped recently for “Failure to Use Turn Signal,”
was rumored to be discourteous to the officer at the time, and filed a
complaint about the violation. He has been observed running a food
truck at the Salem Flea Market on weekends. There may be plenty of
valid reasons for not being able to serve once elected, but if it is not
possible to do so, then one should step down and allow the citizens of
his district to be represented by someone who can fulfill the duties of
office. Oddly, the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Committee, on which Rep. Belanger sits has designated a chair
 for him that they will not allow anyone else to occupy. Could
someone in Rockingham, District 4 suggest to Rep. Belanger
that it isn’t nice to use the perks of office and the check the
taxpayers paid for representation if they’re not going to
receive the benefit of that.

• Partially Found – Rep. Karen Hutchinson, r, Londonderry was none

too happy when a constituent both challenged her attendance record
(she’s missed 89 roll call votes thus far this year) and her voting record
when she did manage to make it to Concord. He suggested that she
might want to consider resigning. She fired back this response: “…My
vote does not represent everyone's views, so for many, I am sure I am
not their 'representative'….I am not resigning if for no other reason
than because you suggested it. Give me your list of accomplishments,
daily schedule and responsibilities so I will have an opportunity to
creteque that. We are a volunteer legislature. I am on the Education
committee which often meets twice a week, and I believe that we are
more effective killing legislation in committee that we are effective on
the floor of the House. We can decide not to like each other. That's
ok.” Could someone point out the esteemed Education
Committee member that “creteque” should be spelled
“critique?” Hey, we all make mistakes.

• Maybe Found – Rep. Thomas Beattie, r, Manchester hadn’t shown up

all session until March 30 on which he cast nine votes. He went
missing again on March 31, the day that the budget was voted upon.
On April 13 he resurfaced again. Perhaps someone showed him
the way to the Statehouse? Welcome aboard Rep. Beattie.

• Gone Missing Again - After having been reported as missing in action

by the Union Leader, Rep. Sean Coughlin, r, Amherst finally showed up
on February 23, but missed the first 5 roll call votes of the day. He
went missing again on March 2, March 16, March 17 and for the first
six votes of March 30. He’s missing again – nowhere to be found on
March 31 and April 13.

• Still Missing - Rep. Timothy Hogan, r, Nashua was also reported by

the UL as not having attended a session day this term. He didn’t cast
a roll call vote, nor was he excused, but he did surface on March 15.
Alas, he was gone again on March 30 and March 31. He was still
missing on April 13.
 • Surfaces Occasionally – Rep. Marie Sapienza seems to have difficulty
with consistency. She started off reasonably well in showing up on
February 9, 15 (for a while) and 16, missed a session day and returned
for March 2, then went missing for the boatload of important bills
including the budget and resurfaced on April 13.

• Odd Absence – Rep. Thomas Keane, r, Bow, NH generally has an

admirable attendance record. Rep. Keane sits on the House Finance
Committee, Division III. That Division has the distinction of having
included the most noxious provisions of the budget that ended up
drawing 5,000 protestors to the Statehouse lawn. Interestingly after
having helped to craft that controversial bill and after exhorting his
finance colleagues to vote for the budget, Rep. Keane did cast one
vote on either March 30 or March 31 on HB 1 or HB 2.

If one of the above individuals was elected to serve your district you may
wish to call to your neighbors attention that s/he doesn’t appear to be doing
his/her job.

In Case You Missed It

Sponsored by the New Hampshire Chapter of American for [Billionaire’s]

Prosperity, the Koch-funded special interest front group and local tea party
groups, a rally was held on the Statehouse plaza to protest tax day on
Friday, April 15. Everything that could be done to entice folks to come out
was done. Not one, not two, but four prospective presidential candidates,
including Rick Santorum, Tim Pawlenty, Herman Cain and Buddy Roemer,
were expected to be huge draws for the crowds. Local dignitaries such as
NH Senator Kelly Ayotte, Ovide Lamontagne, gubernatorial wannabe John
Stephen and our very own NH Speaker Bill O’Brien were added inspirations
for attendance. AFP pushed robo calls and e-mails trying to drum up
attendance in the days leading up to the event.

All of that work and the best objective estimate of the gathering was 400
(that from WMUR who has never been accused of leaning left). Most credible
sources put the number between 200 and 300. Once again, some folks
never let facts get in the way of a good story. Corey Lewandowski, youthful
and exuberant Executive Director of AFP, has learned early the art of
numerical manipulation. Throughout the day he kept ratcheting up his
rendition of the numbers, later in the day he thanked the 1,500 folks who
came to make this the “larget Taxpayer Tea Party Rall[y] in New Hampshire
history,” and by evening he was telling Fox Noise’ Greta Van Susteren that
2,000 attended the event.
Even House Majority Leader DJ Bettencourt couldn’t stop himself from saying
out loud and near others that attendance was “awful.”

New Hampshire was not unique in its tepid response to the rallying cry to
protest tax day. The inimitable Sarah Palin could only draw an estimated
6,000 in Wisconsin to celebrate Governor Scott Walker’s destruction of the
middle class. Even the 6,000 was said to include those who came to protest
her visit to the state.

Might it be that now that average citizens have a better grasp of

both the consequences of the no-government cabal’s ideology as
well as their tactics, voters are feeling buyer’s remorse?

HOUSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

MONDAY, APRIL 18
COMMISSION ON PRIMARY CARE WORKFORCE ISSUES (RSA 126-T:1), Room 305,
LOB

10:00 a.m. Organizational meeting.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSIONS REFORM, Rooms 306-308,

LOB

11:00 a.m. Full committee work session on SB 3-FN-A-L, making comprehensive

changes to the state retirement system, SB 75-FN, relative to clarification of
part-time service in the state retirement system.

TUESDAY, APRIL 19
COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS (BANKING/BUSINESS DIVISION), Room 302,
LOB

10:00 a.m. SB 160-FN, relative to the definition and regulation of installment loans.
10:45 a.m. SB 54, relative to the definition of declarant under the condominium act and
the duties of the committee to study laws relating to condominium and
homeowners’ associations.
2:00 p.m. SB 50, making various changes to laws regulating trusts and trust companies.
2:45 p.m. SB 156-FN-L, authorizing retail vehicle dealers to act as agents of the
division of motor vehicles for vehicle registrations and title applications.
Work sessions on these bills may follow the public hearings.

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW AND STATUTORY RECODIFICATION, Room 206, LOB

10:00 a.m. Full committee work session. The Secretary of State will give a presentation
on recodification.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 306, LOB

10:00 a.m. SB 92, establishing an economic strategic commission to review the

relationship between business and government.
10:45 a.m. SB 166, relative to medical benefits for beneficiaries of a police officer or
firefighter killed in the line of duty.
11:30 a.m. SB 170, relative to the New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting
Association.
1:00 p.m. HJR 4, prohibiting the implementation of certain rules of the board of
medicine.
Executive session may follow.
1:15 p.m. Executive session on SB 33-FN, relative to retired state employee
contributions for medical benefits costs, SB 40, making technical corrections
to meals and rooms tax laws, SB 68, relative to records of disciplinary actions
taken by the electricians' board, SB 76-FN, relative to the authority of the
department of revenue administration to adopt rules and to administer state
tax laws, SB 81-FN, relative to powers and duties of commissioners of
executive branch agencies, and relative to the extension of the expired term
of a commissioner or agency head, SB 92, establishing an economic strategic
commission to review the relationship between business and government, SB
152-FN, relative to participation in state employees' group insurance by
members of the general court, SB 153-FN, relative to the regulation of real
estate appraisers by the New Hampshire real estate appraiser board, SB 157-
FN, relative to the division of weights and measures and fees for licensing
weighing devices and the definition of service technician, SB 161-FN, relative
to procedures for adoption of agency rules under the administrative
procedures act, SB 166, relative to medical benefits for beneficiaries of a
police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty, SB 170, relative to the
New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association, SB 173,
proclaiming January 24, 2012 as Granny D. Day.

HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND ELDERLY AFFAIRS, Room 205, LOB

10:30 a.m. Subcommittee work session on SB 151-FN, relative to contracts of the

department of health and human services.

JUDICIARY, Room 208, LOB

10:00 a.m. SB 176, relative to marriage licenses.

10:30 a.m. SB 63, relative to the list of bail bondsmen and prohibiting law enforcement
and corrections officers from indicating preferences for bail bond companies.
Executive session may follow.

MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, Room 301, LOB

10:00 a.m. SB 104, relative to certain agricultural operations and certain bonds for
excavation and driveways.
11:00 a.m. SB 2, relative to adoption of spending caps by municipalities.
Executive session may follow.
RESOURCES, RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Room 305, LOB

10:15 a.m. Subcommittee work session on SB 154-FN, reforming and renaming the
comprehensive shoreland protection act.

TRANSPORTATION, Rooms 201-203, LOB

10:00 a.m. SB 27, relative to speed limitations for boats.

Executive session may follow.
2:00 p.m. Executive session on SB 98, revising the international registration plan, SB
99, relative to trailer brakes.

WAYS AND MEANS, Room 202, LOB

9:30 a.m. Agency revenue updates.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION FUNDING REFORM, Room 210-211, LOB

10:00 a.m. Full committee work session on SB 183-FN-L, amending the calculation and
distribution of adequate education grants, repealing fiscal capacity disparity
aid, and providing stabilization grants to certain municipalities.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21
COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, Room 302, LOB

10:00 a.m. Banking/Business Division subcommittee work session on SB 28, establishing

an exemption from the licensing requirements for nondepository first
mortgage bankers and brokers for persons providing loans for certain seller-
financed transactions, SB 57, relative to regulation of title loan lenders, SB
62, relative to persons participating in the return to work program, SB 116,
relative to the manufactured housing installation standards board.

Room 304, LOB

10:00 a.m. Insurance/Consumer subcommittee work session on SB 148-FN, relative to

health insurance coverage and declaring that the attorney general should join
the lawsuit challenging the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, SB
162-FN, relative to federal health care reform 2010, SB 122, establishing a
committee to study the laws relating to electronic prescriptions, SB 89,
establishing a study committee on the procurement of health insurance by
employee leasing companies.

Room 302, LOB

1:15 p.m. Executive session on SB 50, making various changes to laws regulating trusts
and trust companies, SB 54, relative to the definition of declarant under the
condominium act and the duties of the committee to study laws relating to
 condominium and homeowners’ associations, SB 148-FN, relative to health
insurance coverage and declaring that the attorney general should join the
lawsuit challenging the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, SB 156-
FN-L, authorizing retail vehicle dealers to act as agents of the division of
motor vehicles for vehicle registrations and title applications, SB 160-FN,
relative to the definition and regulation of installment loans, SB 28,
establishing an exemption from the licensing requirements for nondepository
first mortgage bankers and brokers for persons providing loans for certain
seller-financed transactions, SB 57, relative to regulation of title loan lenders,
SB 62, relative to persons participating in the return to work program, SB
116, relative to the manufactured housing installation standards board, SB
162-FN, relative to federal health care reform 2010, SB 122, establishing a
committee to study the laws relating to electronic prescriptions, SB 89,
establishing a study committee on the procurement of health insurance by
employee leasing companies.

COMMISSION TO STUDY REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE AND SECURE LANDFILLS (HB

672, Chapter 252:1, Laws of 2007), Room 304, LOB

2:00 p.m. Regular meeting.

EDUCATION, Room 207, LOB

10:00 a.m. SB 90, directing the legislative oversight committee to study the
consolidation of school administrative units.
10:15 a.m. Public hearing on proposed amendment to SB 90, directing the legislative
oversight committee to study the consolidation of school administrative units.
The proposed amendment (No. 1418h) suspends the 180 day school
attendance requirement for the 2010-2011 school year only. Copies of the
proposed amendment are available from the Sergeant-at-Arms office.
10:30 a.m. SB 194, transferring all real and personal property from the former
department of regional community-technical colleges to the board of trustees
of the community college system of New Hampshire.
11:00 a.m. SB 172, relative to performance-based school accountability criteria.
1:30 p.m. SB 67, establishing a committee to study school vouchers and school choice.
Executive session may follow.

MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, Room 301, LOB

10:00 a.m. Executive session on SB 104, relative to certain agricultural operations and
certain bonds for excavation and driveways, SB 2, relative to adoption of
spending caps by municipalities.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSIONS REFORM, Rooms 305-307,

LOB

10:00 a.m. Full committee work session on SB 3-FN-A-L, making comprehensive

changes to the state retirement system, SB 75-FN, relative to clarification of
part-time service in the state retirement system.
WAYS AND MEANS, Room 202, LOB

10:00 a.m. Continued public hearing on SB 53-FN, relative to the definition of nursing
and establishing a nursing assistant registry fund administered by the board
of nursing.
Executive session may follow.
12:30 p.m. Executive session on SB 42, relative to the declaration of consideration for
purposes of the real estate transfer tax, SB 56-FN, authorizing the
department of revenue administration to accept credit card and debit card
payments of taxes, SB 130-FN-A, repealing the tax on gambling winnings,
SB 147-FN, relative to Medicaid managed care, SB 58-FN-A, adding
qualified community development entities to the definition of "qualified
investment company" under the business profits tax and the business
enterprise tax.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22
ASSESSING STANDARDS BOARD (RSA 21-J:14-a), Room 301, LOB

9:00 a.m. Regular meeting.

NH-CANADIAN TRADE COUNCIL (RSA 12-A:2-g), Upham Walker House, Park Street,
Concord

1:00 p.m. Organizational meeting.

NEW HAMPSHIRE RAIL TRANSIT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS (RSA 238-A:2),

Room 201, LOB

10:00 a.m. Regular meeting.

MONDAY, APRIL 25
COMMISSION ON HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT (RSA 21-S:2), Room 307, LOB

9:30 a.m. Regular meeting.

HISTORICAL COMMITTEE (RSA 17-I), Room 208, LOB

10:00 a.m. Regular meeting.

OIL FUND DISBURSEMENT (RSA 146-D:4), Room 305, LOB

9:00 a.m. Regular meeting.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26
HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND ELDERLY AFFAIRS, Room 205, LOB

10:30 a.m. Executive session on SB 51, relative to the establishment of a state

 leadership team to address issues concerning certain adults with
developmental disabilities who may present a substantial risk to the
community, SB 72-FN, establishing a comprehensive cancer plan fund, SB
93, relative to pharmacist administration of vaccines, SB 151-FN, relative to
contracts of the department of health and human services.

PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS, Room 201, LOB

10:00 a.m. SB 195, naming the Manchester Airport Access Road for Raymond Wieczorek.
Executive session may follow.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY, Rooms 302-304, LOB

10:15 a.m. Full committee work session on retained HB 311-FN, relative to solar
renewable energy and HB 543-FN, relative to biomass combined heat and
electricity facilities and the renewable portfolio standard.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSIONS REFORM, Rooms 306-308,

LOB

10:00 a.m. Full committee work session on SB 3-FN-A-L, making comprehensive

changes to the state retirement system, SB 75-FN, relative to clarification of
part-time service in the state retirement system.
10:15 a.m. Executive session on SB 3-FN-A-L, making comprehensive changes to the
state retirement system, SB 75-FN, relative to clarification of part-time
service in the state retirement system.

WAYS AND MEANS, Room 202, LOB

10:00 a.m. Executive session on CACR 5, relating to the governor's power to reduce
appropriations. Providing that the governor shall have line item reduction
power of items in any bill making appropriations of money, SB 53-FN,
relative to the definition of nursing and establishing a nursing assistant
registry fund administered by the board of nursing, SB 125-FN-A, relative to
the business profits tax deduction for reasonable compensation.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28
COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS (INSURANCE/CONSUMER PROTECTION
DIVISION), Room 302, LOB

10:30 a.m. SB 171, relative to prescription drug benefits for the treatment of pain.
11:15 a.m. SB 179, relative to qualified purchasing alliances.
Work sessions on these bills may follow the public hearing.

EDUCATION, Room 207, LOB

10:00 a.m. Executive session on SB 82-FN, extending the state board of education's
authority to approve chartered public schools and relative to the funding of
 chartered public schools approved by a school district.
10:30 a.m. SB 96, relative to amending the charter of The Pinkerton Academy.
11:00 a.m. SB 192, establishing a commission to identify strategies needed for
delivering a 21st century education.
1:30 p.m. SB 196, relative to the renomination or reelection of teachers and prohibiting
assessing teacher performance based solely on assessment scores.
Executive session may follow.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION (RSA 14:14-c), Room 209, LOB

10:00 a.m. Regular meeting.

REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES, Room 104, LOB

10:00 a.m. Petition #4 – Petitioner Representative Dan Itse of Fremont, on behalf of

Vincent Milano.
11:00 a.m. Petition #2 – Petitioner Dan Itse of Fremont, on behalf of Elena Katz, Arnold
Goodman, and their daughter.
2:00 p.m. Petition #3 – Petitioner Representative Dan Itse of Fremont on behalf of
Michael Brewster.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29
WORKERS' COMPENSATION ADVISORY COUNCIL (RSA 281-A:62), Rooms 305-307,
LOB

9:00 a.m. Regular meeting.

MONDAY, MAY 2
FISCAL COMMITTEE (RSA 14:30-a), Rooms 210-211, LOB

10:00 a.m. Regular business.

TUESDAY, MAY 3
COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS (BANKING/BUSINESS DIVISION), Room 302,
LOB

10:00 a.m. SB 197, regulating guaranteed price plans and prepaid contracts for heating
oil, kerosene, or liquefied petroleum gas.
10:45 a.m. SB 189, relative to the definition of mortgage loan originator.
1:15 p.m. SB 111, relative to short sales of a homeowner's residence.
2:15 p.m. SB 120, relative to alcoholic beverage advertising restrictions.
Work sessions on these bills may follow the public hearings.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY, Room 304, LOB

10:15 a.m. Telecom market regulatory briefing from NH PUC.

1:15 p.m. SB 22, relative to alternative regulation of small incumbent local exchange
carriers.
Executive session may follow.
 Senate Hearings
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011

Monday, April 18:

ONDAY, APRIL 18, 2011
FINANCE, Room 103, SH
Sen. Morse (C), Sen. Odell (VC), Sen. Barnes, Sen. Bragdon, Sen. D’Allesandro, Sen.
Forrester, Sen. Gallus

AGENCY PRESENTATIONS ON THE BUDGET AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE

9:00 a.m. Community Technical College System

9:30 a.m. Public Utilities Commission with Consumer Advocate
10:00 a.m. Post Secondary Education
10:15 a.m. Community Development Finance Authority
11:00 a.m. University System of New Hampshire
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. BREAK
1:00 p.m. Liquor Commission
1:30 p.m. Department of Education
2:15 p.m. Department of Labor
2:30 p.m. McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
2:45 p.m. NH State Office of Veterans Services
3:00 p.m. Pease Development Authority
3:30 p.m. NH Retirement System
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

Tuesday, April 19:

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2011
COMMERCE, Room 102, LOB
Sen. Prescott (C), Sen. White (VC), Sen. De Blois, Sen. Houde, Sen. Sanborn

9:00 a.m. HB 424, relative to surplus lines tax collection.

9:20 a.m. HB 175, relative to technical changes in life, accident, and health insurance.
9:40 a.m. HB 31, relative to insurance payments for ambulance services.
10:00 a.m. HB 405, relative to dissolving corporations.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

EDUCATION, Rooms 305-307, LOB

Sen. Stiles (C), Sen. Forsythe (VC), Sen. Carson, Sen. Kelly, Sen. Prescott

1:00 p.m. HB 370, making changes to the pupil safety and violence prevention act.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, Room 101, LOB

Sen. Barnes (C), Sen. Forrester (VC), Sen. Boutin, Sen. Merrill, Sen. Stiles

9:00 a.m. HB 56, relative to proper observance of September 11, 2001.

9:15 a.m. HB 181, permitting the charter of a city, town, or school district which is in
statute to revert to the control of the voters.
9:35 a.m. HB 198, relative to the investment options for county funds.
9:55 a.m. HB 251, relative to absentee ballots.
10:30 a.m. HB 274-FN, relative to voting procedures.
10:45 a.m. HB 316, relative to penalties for failure to file a property tax inventory blank
or
for refusing inspection of property. (The previous hearing for H B 316
was recessed on A pril 12th in order for the C ommittee to hear
testimony on Amendment #1326s)
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

WAYS AND MEANS, Room 100, SH

Sen. Odell (C), Sen. Luther (VC), Sen. Boutin, Sen. D’Allesandro, Sen. Morse, Sen. Rausch

1:00 p.m. Revenue Information Briefing By Michael Kane (LBAO)

1:30 p.m. HB 209, establishing a study committee to recommend a continuing revenue
estimating process to produce revenue forecasts.
1:45 p.m. HB 579, exempting department of revenue administration guidelines from
the right-to-know law.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

Wednesday, April 20:

EDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2011
JUDICIARY, Room 100, SH
Sen. Houde (C), Sen. Carson (VC), Sen. Groen, Sen. Luther

1:00 p.m. HB 544, relative to state authority over firearms and ammunition.
1:15 p.m. HB 330-FN, relative to carrying firearms.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

Thursday, April 21:

HURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Rooms 201-203, LOB
Sen. Odell (C), Sen. Gallus (VC), Sen. Bradley, Sen. Lambert, Sen. Merrill

9:00 a.m. HB 519-FN, repealing New Hampshire’s regional greenhouse gas initiative
cap and trade program for controlling carbon dioxide emissions.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 100, SH

Sen. Carson (C), Sen. Groen (VC), Sen. Larsen, Sen. Luther, Sen. White

9:00 a.m. HB 331-FN, relative to posting agency expenditures on the state

transparency
website.
9:15 a.m. HB 418-FN, relative to the use of open source software and open data
formats by
state agencies and relative to the adoption of a statewide information policy
regarding open government data standards.
9:30 a.m. HB 450, relative to the regulatory authority of the board of barbering,
cosmetology, and esthetics.
(the previous hearing for H B 450 was recessed on A pril 14th)
10:00 a.m. HB 580-FN-L, relative to the New Hampshire retirement system, and relative
to
continuation of provisions of a collective bargaining agreement following the
end of the term of the agreement.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

FINANCE, Representatives’ Hall, SH

Sen. Morse (C), Sen. Odell (VC), Sen. Barnes, Sen. Bragdon, Sen. D’Allesandro, Sen.
Forrester, Sen. Gallus

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. HB 1-A, making appropriations for the expenses of certain
departments
of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013.
HB 2-FN-A-L, relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. HB 1-A, making appropriations for the expenses of certain
departments
of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013.
HB 2-FN-A-L, relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
Please note: the following hearing will be streamed live via the
internet at the following web address:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/houselivevideo.asx

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Room 102, LOB

Sen. Bradley (C), Sen. De Blois (VC), Sen. Kelly, Sen. Lambert, Sen. Sanborn

1:00 p.m. HB 284-FN, relative to contact lens prescriptions.

1:15 p.m. HB 504-FN, licensing reverse distributors of drugs and requiring
manufacturers,
wholesalers, distributors, service distributors, and brokers to report changes
in
ownership.
1:30 p.m. HB 479-FN, relative to receivership of nursing homes and other residential health
care facilities.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

JUDICIARY, Room 100, SH

Sen. Houde (C), Sen. Carson (VC), Sen. Groen, Sen. Luther

1:00 p.m. HB 431, relative to psychiatric evaluations.

1:15 p.m. HB 52, relative to grounds for modification of parental rights and
responsibilities.
1:30 p.m. HB 313, requiring parental consent for court referral of a minor to a juvenile
diversion program.
1:45 p.m. HB 329-FN, requiring parental notification before abortions may be
performed on unemancipated minors.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

Monday, April 25:monday , april 25, 2011

FINANCE, Room 103, SH
Sen. Morse (C), Sen. Odell (VC), Sen. Barnes, Sen. Bragdon, Sen. D’Allesandro, Sen.
Forrester, Sen. Gallus

AGENCY PRESENTATIONS ON THE BUDGET AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE

8:45 a.m. Secretary of State
9:00 a.m. Department of Safety
10:00 a.m. Police Standards and Training
10:30 am. Fish and Game
11:00 a.m. Department of Agriculture
11:30 a.m. Joint Board of Licensure and Certification
12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. BREAK
12:45 p.m. Human Rights Commission
1:00 p.m. Department of Environmental Services
1:30 p.m. Lottery Commission
2:00 p.m. Banking Commission
2:30 p.m. Employment Security
2:45 p.m. Department of Resources and Economic Development
3:15 p.m. Department of Information Technology
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

Tuesday, April 26:

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2011
EDUCATION, Room 103, LOB
Sen. Stiles (C), Sen. Forsythe (VC), Sen. Carson, Sen. Kelly, Sen. Prescott

1:00 p.m. HB 401, relative to postsecondary training for workers with disabilities.
1:20 p.m. HB 216, relative to the instructional authority of school boards.
1:40 p.m. HB 429, permitting a child 16 years of age or older to withdraw from school
with
parental permission.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

Thursday, April 28, 2011

HURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Room 102, LOB
Sen. Odell (C), Sen. Gallus (VC), Sen. Bradley, Sen. Lambert, Sen. Merrill

9:00 a.m. HB 205-FN, relative to notice to owners of upstream dams.

9:20 a.m. HB 468-FN, relative to assessments for aquatic resource compensatory
mitigation.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

JUDICIARY, Room 101, LOB

Sen. Houde (C), Sen. Carson (VC), Sen. Groen, Sen. Luther

1:00 p.m. HB 614, requiring a performance audit of the guardian ad litem board and
guardian ad litem services.
1:15 p.m. HB 634-FN, relative to payment of guardian ad litem and mediator fees in
marital
cases where the parties are indigent.
1:30 p.m. HB 490-FN, adopting the interstate compact for juveniles.
1:45 p.m. HB 597, revising the child support guidelines based on an income shares
model of calculating child support.
2:00 p.m. HB 225-FN, relative to the return of personal property confiscated by law
enforcement agencies from a person charged with a crime.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW