Legislature to debate bills to GUT Right to Know Law!

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These bills are being heard on January 14th, 2009. Two of them are very bad. There is no time to write LTEs or much else except spread the word via email and or Blogs.
These are some of the small but sneaky cuts being made to undermine the taxpayer revolt that is anticipated at town meetings.

HB 0072 would increase the number of people needed to request a secret vote at town meetings in some cases to as many as 50, from 5 as previous law provides. I can't see as anyone would have time to gather 50 signatures in the 5 minutes between voice and show of hand votes! I cannot imagine what Ms Patten (R) is thinking with this bill.
CNHT feels that the passage of this bill would not be in the best interest of the taxpayer.

Read the full text of the bill here:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/hb0072.html

Or below:

HB 72 – AS INTRODUCED
2009 SESSION
09-0243
06/03
HOUSE BILL 72
AN ACT relative to requesting a secret ballot at a town meeting.
SPONSORS: Rep. Patten, Carr 4
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
ANALYSIS
This bill increases the number of voters required to request secret balloting and secret ballot recounts at a town meeting.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and strikethrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
09-0243
06/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine
AN ACT relative to requesting a secret ballot at a town meeting.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Secret Ballot. Amend RSA 40:4-a to read as follows:
40:4-a Secret Ballot.
I.(a) At any meeting of a town with a population of more than 500, [5] 50 voters who are present may make a request in writing prior to a vote by voice vote or division vote that the vote be taken by secret written ballot. Upon receiving such a request, the moderator shall conduct the vote by secret “yes-no’‘ ballot.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on the request of [5] 25 voters who are present, the moderator shall conduct a recount on any vote taken by secret written ballot under subparagraph (a). The recount shall take place immediately following public announcement of the vote taken providing that the vote margin is not more than 10 percent of the total vote cast. There shall be no fee required for a recount under this section.
II. At any meeting of a town of a population 500 or less, [3] 10 voters who are present may request secret balloting or recounting as provided in paragraph I.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.


PLEASE ATTEND THIS HEARING TO EXPRESS YOUR OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL

HB0072 will be heard on January 14, 2009 at 11:30 AM in Room 301 of the Legislative Office Building.
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HB 0053 would exempt certain government agencies from having to release information under the RSA 91-A “Right to Know” law and that would just about prevent us from knowing ANYTHING.
CNHT feels that the passage of this bill would not be in the best interest of the taxpayer.

Read the full text of the bill here:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/hb0053.html

Or Below:
HB 53 – AS INTRODUCED
2009 SESSION
09-0090
01/10
HOUSE BILL 53
AN ACT relative to the definition of “public body” under the right-to-know law.
SPONSORS: Rep. Casey, Rock 11; Rep. J. Garrity, Rock 6
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
ANALYSIS
This bill clarifies the definition of “public body” for the purposes of the right-to-know law.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and strikethrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
09-0090
01/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine
AN ACT relative to the definition of “public body” under the right-to-know law.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Right-to-Know Law; Definition of “Public Body.” Amend RSA 91-A:1-a, VI(d) to read as follows:
(d) Any legislative body, governing body, board, commission[,] or committee[, agency, or authority] of any county, town, municipal corporation, school district, school administrative unit, chartered public school, or other political subdivision, or any committee, subcommittee, or subordinate body thereof, or advisory committee thereto.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

This bill removes "committee, agency, or authority from the original text!


PLEASE ATTEND THE HEARING TO EXPRESS YOUR OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.

HB0053 will be heard at 1:00 PM on January 14, 2009 in Room 208 of the Legislative Office Building.
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HB 0135 would make government accountable for not complying with 91-A Right to Know Laws, that is, if there is anything left of 91-A by that time.

CNHT feels that the passage of this bill would be beneficial to the taxpayer.

Read the full text of the bill here:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/hb0135.html

Or below:
HB 135 – AS INTRODUCED
2009 SESSION
09-0458
01/04
HOUSE BILL 135
AN ACT relative to remedies for violation of the state right-to-know law.
SPONSORS: Rep. W. O'Brien, Hills 4; Rep. Rowe, Hills 6; Rep. Splaine, Rock 16; Rep. L. Ober, Hills 27; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock 3
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
ANALYSIS
This bill requires a court to invalidate an action of a public body or agency taken at a meeting held in violation of the provisions of RSA 91-A. Current law does not mandate a court to invalidate such action.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and strikethrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
09-0458
01/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine
AN ACT relative to remedies for violation of the state right-to-know law.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Right-to-Know Law; Remedies. Amend RSA 91-A:8, II to read as follows:
II. The court [may] shall invalidate an action of a public body or agency taken at a meeting held in violation of the provisions of this chapter[, if the circumstances justify such invalidation].
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2010.



PLEASE ATTEND THIS HEARING TO EXPRESS YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL

HB0135 will be heard on January 14, 2009 at 2:00 PM in Room 208 of the Legislative Office Building.
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It is very important that you attend these hearings to express your opinions. Two of these bills would seriously change the way you interact with your local government. The other would make sure 91-A laws are enforced