2007 SESSION

07-1330

05/09

HOUSE BILL 928

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

ANALYSIS

This bill repeals a provision which administratively attaches the Christa McAuliffe planetarium commission to the department of regional community-technical colleges. The bill also makes technical corrections to RSA 12-L, relative to the Christa McAuliffe planetarium and Alan B. Shepard discovery center.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

07-1330

05/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

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

39:1 Declaration of Purpose. Amend RSA 12-L:2 to read as follows:

12-L:2 Declaration of Purpose. The Christa McAuliffe planetarium is the official state memorial for Sharon Christa McAuliffe, the Concord, New Hampshire social studies teacher who was chosen to be America’s first teacher in space. The Alan B. Shepard discovery center is the official state memorial for Alan B. Shepard, the Derry, New Hampshire native who was the first American in space. The planetarium’s mission is to educate, incite, and entertain learners of all ages in the sciences and humanities by actively engaging them in the exploration of astronomy, aviation, and earth and space science.

39:2 Commission Members. Amend RSA 12-L:4 to read as follows:

12-L:4 Commission Members; Appointment; Terms. The members of the commission shall be appointed as follows:

I. Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house.

II. Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

III. [Six] Eight members from the private sector representing business, education, and the not-for-profit community, appointed by the governor with the consent of council for a term of 3 years.

IV. [Two members representing the education community, appointed by the governor with the consent of council for a term of 3 years.

V.] The commissioner of cultural resources and the president of the New Hampshire technical institute shall serve as ex officio members of the commission with voting rights.

[VI.] V. The chairperson of Touch the Future, or designee.

39:3 Offices and Compensation. Amend RSA 12-L:5 to read as follows:

12-L:5 Offices and Compensation. The commission shall annually elect one of its members as chairperson, one as vice chairperson, one as secretary, and one as treasurer. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services; however, legislative members [shall] may be paid mileage at the legislative rate and other reasonable expenses incurred by the members of the commission in the performance of their duties [shall] may be paid from available commission funds.

39:4 Commission; Powers and Duties. Amend RSA 12-L:7, I(e) to read as follows:

(e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, authorize the director of the planetarium to sell, lease, or trade specialized planetarium programs or equipment [subject to the approval of the commissioner of administrative services]. Proceeds from such transactions shall be used to support the operations of the planetarium.

39:5 Gifts, Grants and Donations. Amend RSA 12-L:9 to read as follows:

12-L:9 Gifts; Grants; Donations. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commission is authorized to institute promotional programs to solicit and receive gifts, grants, or donations, of any kind, made for the development or operation of the planetarium. The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations of money and property, other than real property, for use in institutional programs without the approval of the governor and council. All monetary grants, gifts, or donations shall be deposited in the Christa McAuliffe planetarium fund. Authority of the commission granted by this paragraph may be delegated to Touch the Future as the commission deems appropriate. Such delegation shall be reviewed from time to time and the commission shall have the authority to revoke or limit any such delegation.

39:6 Repeal. RSA 12-L:6, relative to administrative status, is repealed.

39:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

Approved: May 14, 2007

Effective: July 1, 2007