HB 397 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0814
11/08
HOUSE BILL 397
AN ACT establishing a multi-agency task force chaired by the department of safety.
SPONSORS: Rep. Darby, Hills. 11; Rep. Rung, Hills. 12; Rep. J. MacDonald, Carr. 6; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a multi-agency task force to identify solutions to increase law enforcement presence and patrols on New Hampshire waterways.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0814
11/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT establishing a multi-agency task force chaired by the department of safety.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Waterway Presence and Patrols Task Force. Amend RSA 207 by inserting after section 3-e the following new section:
207:3-f Waterway Presence and Patrols Task Force Established.
I. There is established a multi-agency task force to identify solutions to increase law enforcement presence and patrols on New Hampshire waterways.
II. The task force shall consist of the following members:
(a) The commissioner of the department of safety, or designee.
(b) The executive director of the department of fish and game, or designee.
(c) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.
III. The task force shall:
(a) Conduct a review of the current coverage of New Hampshire water bodies by department of Safety marine patrol officers, including enforcement duties, water body coverage, expenses, funding sources, budgets, training requirements, and recruitment challenges.
(b) Conduct a review of the current coverage of New Hampshire water bodies by fish and game department conservation officers, including enforcement duties, water body coverage, expenses, funding sources, budgets, training requirements, and recruitment challenges.
(c) Conduct a review of current coverage of New Hampshire water bodies by county and municipal law enforcement organizations, including enforcement duties, water body coverage, and training requirements.
(d) Consult with other stakeholders such as NH Marine Trades Association, Water Sports Industry Association, NH Lakes, and the Loon Preservation Committee.
(e) Identify opportunities for cross-agency coordination to optimize water body patrol coverage.
(f) Identify opportunities to supplement law enforcement patrols on water bodies with officers outside of marine patrol.
(g) Identify opportunities to maximize the use of available federal funds for patrols of New Hampshire water bodies across agencies.
IV. The task force shall be chaired by the commissioner of the department of safety or designee. The first meeting of the task force shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Two members shall constitute a quorum.
V. The task force shall report its initial findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2025. The task force shall report its final findings and additional recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.
2 Repeal. RSA 207:3-f, relating to the waterway presence and patrols task force is repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect September 1, 2026.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.