HB 1355-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

05/23/2024   2163s

2024 SESSION

24-2252

11/08

HOUSE BILL 1355-FN

AN ACT relative to the New Hampshire National Guard recruitment and reenlistment incentive program, and continuing a recruitment and retention incentive program and efforts within the department of transportation.

SPONSORS: Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. Massimilla, Graf. 1; Rep. Edwards, Rock. 31; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr. 15

COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill allows the New Hampshire National Guard to offer a reenlistment bonus of up to $6,000 to members of the New Hampshire National Guard who reenlist and are not eligible for a federal reenlistment bonus, and allows the department of transportation to continue its retention and recruitment efforts, especially regarding winter maintenance.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05/23/2024   2163s 24-2252

11/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

AN ACT relative to the New Hampshire National Guard recruitment and reenlistment incentive program, and continuing a recruitment and retention incentive program and efforts within the department of transportation.

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

1  Enlistment and Reenlistment Incentive.  Amend RSA 110-B:60 to read as follows:

110-B:60  New Hampshire National Guard Enlistment and Reenlistment Incentive Program Established.  For the purpose of encouraging enlistment and reenlistment in the national guard there is hereby established a New Hampshire national guard enlistment incentive program.  This program authorizes a cash incentive up to $1000 to current members of the New Hampshire national guard in the pay grades of E-1 to O-3 or any former member of the New Hampshire national guard for each new or prior service recruit that they bring into the New Hampshire national guard.  The program also authorizes a cash incentive up to $6,000 to current members of the New Hampshire national guard who are not eligible for a federal reenlistment bonus and who reenlist for service in the New Hampshire national guard.   

2  Fund.  Amend RSA 110-B:61, I to read as follows:

I.  There is hereby established a fund to be known as national guard enlistment and reenlistment incentive program fund.  Any appropriations received shall be deposited in the fund.  Moneys in the fund and any interest earned on the fund shall be used for the purpose of encouraging enlistment and reenlistment in the national guard and shall not be used for any other purpose.  The adjutant general shall oversee expenditures from the fund.  The moneys in the fund shall be continually appropriated and nonlapsing.

3  Oversight and Administration.  Amend RSA 110-B:62 to read as follows:

110-B:62  Oversight and Administration.  The adjutant general shall establish procedures necessary for the administration of the enlistment and reenlistment incentive program and relative to its execution by the New Hampshire Army and Air national guard recruiting offices in coordination with the department of military affairs and veterans services.

4  New Section; Continuation of Recruitment and Retention.  Amend RSA 228 by inserting after section 21 the following new section:

228:21-a  Continuation; Recruitment and Retention.

I.  The general court finds that the recruitment and retention of employees within the department of transportation is necessary to maintain a strong and vital workforce for transportation safety services, especially winter maintenance.  The intent of this act is to authorize the department to continue to proactively address vacancy rates through its recruitment and retention incentive program.

II.  The department is authorized to continue the department’s current winter maintenance recruitment and retention incentive program, as well as request that the fiscal committee transfer funds from the highway fund, turnpike fund, or other available funds for recruitment, selection, placement, and retention of qualified applications in the state service.  Requests by the department may be for, but need not be exclusively for, the following:

(a)  Financial incentives to current eligible employees, who provide critical winter maintenance services, to retain experienced employees, reduce turnover, and maintain or increase staffing levels;

(b)  Bonuses for newly hired applicants who have not been employed by the state for the past 12 months immediately preceding the date of hire; and

(c)  Referral fees for active employees of the state in good standing, excluding those employed in human resource jobs within their own agencies and hiring manager positions.

III.  Any recruitment or retention incentives received by a state employee pursuant to paragraph II shall not be considered gifts under RSA 15-B.

IV.  Referral of applicants by current employees of the state for the purpose of receiving a referral fee pursuant to this paragraph shall not be considered a misuse of position.

V.  Any expenditure made for recruitment or retention incentives pursuant to this paragraph shall be considered a matter of legislatively enacted public policy that is designed to benefit employees and the state, and that is confined exclusively to the public employee and shall not be subject to collective bargaining.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to invalidate any portion of collective bargaining agreement entered into by the state.

VI.  Any requested expenditure for recruitment, retention incentives or bonuses shall require the approval of the fiscal committee of the general court.

5  Effective Date.

I.  Section 4 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2024.

II.  The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBA

24-2252

11/1/23

HB 1355-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the New Hampshire National Guard recruitment and reenlistment incentive program.

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

METHODOLOGY:

This bill allows the New Hampshire National Guard to offer a reenlistment bonus of up to $6,000 to members of the New Hampshire National Guard who reenlist and are not eligible for a federal reenlistment bonus.

The Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services estimates the cash incentive of $6,000 in bill would result in additional annual expenditures of $50,000.  With an effective date of 60 days after passage, such additional expenditures would likely begin in fiscal year 2025.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services