HOUSE RECORD First Year of the 164th General Court State of Calendar and Journal of the 2015 Session New Hampshire Web Site Address: gencourt.state.nh.us ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Vol. 37 Concord, NH Friday, December 18, 2015 No. 67 Contains: House Deadlines, Legislative Ethics Financial Disclosure Form, Legislative Ethics Committee Advisory Opinion 2015-4, Committee Reports, Amendments, Meetings and Notices ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ HOUSE CALENDAR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE: Pursuant to Part II, Article 3 of the New Hampshire Constitution, the House will meet on Wednesday, January 6, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. The House will also meet on Thursday, January 7th, and tentatively on Wednesday, January 13th. As most of you are aware, 2016 will mark the 100th anniversary of New Hampshire’s First-In-The-Nation Primary. In light of this major milestone, and as a courtesy to our candidates, I have extended invitations to all the major presidential candidates to address the General Court in January. Interested candidates will speak for 15 minutes at the beginning of a morning or afternoon session. The scheduling is in process, and members will be notified when candidates are confirmed. Committee reports on retained bills from 2015 are printed in this calendar so please save it for future reference. There will not be a calendar published next week. State offices will be closed Friday, December 25th for the Christmas holiday and Friday, January 1st, for the New Year’s holiday. The House will take a winter break the week of February 22-26, 2016. I wish all members and staff a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. Please stay safe and have a wonderful time with your families and friends. Shawn N. Jasper, Speaker NOTICE There will be a Republican caucus on Wednesday, January 6th at 9:00 a.m. in Representatives Hall. Rep. Dick Hinch NOTICE There will be a Democratic caucus on Wednesday, January 6th at 9:00 a.m. in LOB 305-307. Rep. Stephen Shurtleff 2 18 DECEMBER 2015 HOUSE RECORD NOTICE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMITTEE Required Disclosure Filing Copies of the "2016 Financial Disclosure Form," are being mailed to each member of the House. Members may fill out and file the paper form or file electronically with the Financial Disclosure E-Form available at the following link: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/ethics/Financial_Disclosure/disclosureEForm.aspx , where you will find instructions on how to fill out the form and how to return it. The PCs in the State House and LOB Cyber Rooms are available for you to use for filling out the forms. If you choose to use the hard copy, please return your form to Rich Lambert in Room 112 of the State House. All legislators and legislative officers are required to complete and file a hard copy or E-Form with the Legislative Ethics Committee no later than January 15, 2016. Richard M. Lambert, Executive Administrator Legislative Ethics Committee NOTICE The House Calendar closes at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesdays for scheduling and notices. It will close at NOON on Thursdays for Committee Reports. Please be sure to do your scheduling in order to meet that deadline. NOTE: There will be NO calendar the week of Christmas. CLOSES AT NOON ON WEDNESDAY: AVAILABLE THURSDAY: Wednesday, December 30, 2015 Thursday, December 31, 2015 CLOSES AT NOON ON THURSDAY: AVAILABLE FRIDAY: Thursday, January 7, 2016 Friday, January 8, 2016 Thursday, January 14, 2016 Friday, January 15, 2016 Paul C. Smith, Clerk of the House 2016 HOUSE DEADLINES Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Last day to introduce House Legislation Thursday, February 4, 2016 Last day to report House Bills going to a second committee Thursday, February 11, 2016 Last day to act on House Bills going to a second committee Thursday, March 3, 2016 Last day to report House Bills not in a second committee Thursday, March 10, 2016 Last day to act on House Bills not in a second committee Thursday, March 17, 2016 Last day to report all House Bills Thursday, March 24, 2016 *CROSSOVER* Last day to act on all House Bills Thursday, April 14, 2016 Last day to report Senate Bills going to a second committee Thursday, April 21, 2016 Last day to act on Senate Bills going to a second committee Thursday, May 5, 2016 Last day to report all remaining Senate Bills Thursday, May 12, 2016 Last day to act on all remaining Senate Bills Thursday, May 19, 2016 Last day to form Committees of Conference Thursday, May 26, 2016 Last day to sign Committee of Conference reports Thursday, June 2, 2016 Last day to act on Committee of Conference reports NOTICE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMITTEE The Legislative Ethics Committee has voted to issue the following advisory opinion, which is printed below in its entirety. 18 DECEMBER 2015 HOUSE RECORD 3 Advisory Opinion 2015-4 Response to a Request for an Advisory Opinion from Senate Legal Counsel Richard J. Lehmann on Behalf of Senator Gary L. Daniels (December 1, 2015) Senate Legal Counsel Richard J. Lehmann has submitted a request for an Advisory Opinion on behalf of Senator Gary L. Daniels about whether, consistent with applicable statutes and the Ethics Guidelines, Senator Daniels may accept payment of the costs of travel, lodging, and meals related to attendance at an event. According to the information submitted by Attorney Lehmann, Senator Daniels has been invited to attend an event in Philadelphia on December 11-13, 2015, which will be focused on policies that governments and corporations can use to attract and retain veterans of the United States armed forces as employees. The event will consist of seminars concerning these topics, as well as a tour of the Technology Lab at the Comcast Center. Based on the information provided by Attorney Lehmann about the event’s purpose and activities, the event, as described, qualifies as a bona fide conference, meeting, seminar or educational program. See Interpretive Ruling 2013-1. Accordingly, the Committee advises that acceptance of payment for expenses associated with attendance at the event qualifies for the exemption from the prohibition on “Gifts” under RSA 15-B:3, as “Expense Reimbursement” under RSA 15-B:5. Senator Daniels must report his acceptance of the complimentary travel, lodging, and meals in accordance with RSA 15-B:6. We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance. For the Committee Honorable Donna Sytek, Chairman [Vote: 7-0] WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6 CONSENT CALENDAR CHILDREN AND FAMILY LAW HB 211, establishing a commission to study domestic affairs. INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. Rep. Kimberly Rice for Children and Family Law. The concerns contained in this bill were incorporated into an amendment to HB 378, therefore making HB 211 unnecessary. Vote 14-1. HB 249, relative to the award of alimony and the enforcement of orders under RSA 458. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY. Rep. Debra DeSimone for Children and Family Law. After significant work on this bill, the committee believes that the proposed amendment is not ready for prime time and needs more input from stakeholders. Due to time constraints and recognizing that more work needs to be done on this important issue, the committee recommends interim study. Vote 16-0. HB 378, relative to shared residential responsibility and establishing a commission to study child support and related child care issues. OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. Rep. Debra DeSimone for Children and Family Law. The committee retained 3 study bills, including this bill. The proposed amendment to this bill incorporates issues from the other 2 bills. The amended bill studies the impact of the parental rights statute enacted 10 years ago. It also studies the child support guidelines enacted in 2013. Vote 15-0. HB 405-FN, requiring the department of health and human services to license supervised visitation centers. INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. Rep. Caroletta Alicea for Children and Family Law. Currently, the criteria to obtain licensing for supervised visitation centers have not yet been written and there is no designated entity to perform the licensing. The committee believes that funding, which is not available, would be necessary to institute licensing. Vote 16-0. 4 18 DECEMBER 2015 HOUSE RECORD COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS HB 114, relative to grocery sales by stores licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. Rep. Bart Fromuth for Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Originally, this bill repealed the requirement that grocery stores and convenience stores maintain a certain inventory of food in order to be licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. The bill’s sponsor felt that the food requirement was outdated, arbitrary, and led to a cost for store owners who wanted to sell beer only, with no discernable benefit to the state or the public. While many of the members of the committee agreed with the prime sponsor, it was felt that a specialty beer store license may be a more appropriate avenue to remedy the issue. Under the committee amendment to this legislation, any store owner who wishes to sell beer items without the food requirement may now do so, provided that they stock a variety of 400 or more beer labels. This amendment was supported by beer store owners, almost all committee members, and specialty beer drinkers everywhere. The only opponents were the NH Grocers Association and the NH Liquor Commission. They felt strongly that pairing alcohol with food items has been the law since Prohibition and was fundamental to the fabric of a stable society. It is of note that the state liquor stores do not have this requirement. Vote 18-2. HB 327, relative to investment crowdfunding. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY. Rep. Kermit Williams for Commerce and Consumer Affairs. This bill would allow New Hampshire-based business to raise equity funds via crowdfunding.