Committee Summary for Fiscal Committee (02/21/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
Unclear 00:05:21.840 - 10:03:07 AM	General Working Session	Unclear

Unclear: Chairperson Information Only00:05:21.840 - 10:03:07 AM; The chairperson opened the fiscal committee meeting, accepted the minutes of the previous meeting, and moved through the consent calendar, adopting items as proposed except for item 2540, which was removed by the Department of Education, and item 25057, which required further discussion with the Department of Transportation.
Unclear: David Rodrig, Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer, Department of Transportation Information Only00:07:52.000 - 10:05:38 AM; David Rodrig explained the Department of Transportation's project, funded by a federal grant, which involves integrating multiple systems used in the process of planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure. The project aims to establish data standards to enhance efficiency and effectiveness across these systems. He highlighted that the $2.4 million allocated for consultants is necessary due to the specialized expertise required and the Department's current staffing limitations. The project is expected to increase operational efficiency and reduce long-term lifecycle costs of assets, although immediate dollar savings are difficult to quantify. The project duration is set for 3 to 4 years, with incremental benefits expected throughout this period.
Unclear: Senator Gray Information Only00:08:39.519 - 10:06:25 AM; Senator Gray questioned the allocation of $2.4 million for consultants within the project, expressing concern over the lack of immediate tangible savings. He emphasized the need for a clear return on investment, indicating difficulty in voting on the project without more detailed financial projections.
Unclear: Senator Carson Information Only00:18:04.840 - 10:15:50 AM; Senator Carson inquired about the priority and timeline of the project. David Rodrig confirmed it as a high priority, essential for documenting current practices and advancing the department's technological capabilities. The project is expected to start that year and last 3 to 4 years, with incremental improvements anticipated along the way.
Unclear: Rosenal Information Only00:20:34.039 - 10:18:20 AM; Rosenal discussed the nature of a competitive grant that was awarded, focusing on the expected efficiency improvements such as quicker project completion, fewer required personnel, and lower lifecycle costs of assets. This efficiency is anticipated to be demonstrated in the long term through better asset management and tracking.
Unclear: Senator Gray Information Only00:21:19.600 - 10:19:05 AM; Senator Gray expressed an intention to move for acceptance of the item 2557, emphasizing the need for additional information on savings during future budget presentations. The motion to approve item 2557 was seconded by Senator Ros, and subsequently adopted by the committee.
Unclear: Senator Rosenwald Information Only00:22:48.840 - 10:20:34 AM; Senator Rosenwald questioned Nathan White from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding a $16 million shortfall in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Nathan White, along with Henry Litman, explained that the shortfall was influenced by continuous enrollment during the pandemic and new federal policies. They assured that future budgets would more accurately reflect these costs, despite past distortions due to public health emergencies.
Unclear: Jorth, General Manager at Cannon Mountain, Franconia Information Only00:26:45.120 - 10:24:31 AM; Jorth presented on proposed changes to winter season pass pricing for Cannon Mountain, discussing a price freeze for the early bird tier, a slight increase for the off-season tier, and the introduction of an in-season tier. He explained the rationale behind these changes, aiming to encourage early purchase and align with industry standards. He also addressed concerns about clarity in pricing for New Hampshire residents and provided additional context on pass sales trends.
Unclear: Representative Lehman Information Only00:32:51.279 - 10:30:37 AM; Representative Lehman inquired about operating cost increases at Cannon Mountain. Jorth responded that costs had risen between 5-11%, but were somewhat mitigated by a renegotiated utility contract and other financial management practices. He also highlighted positive developments such as increased visitation and improved snow conditions, and shared positive feedback from post-visit surveys indicating high value for price paid at Cannon Mountain.
Unclear: Commissioner Helen Hanks, Department of Corrections Information Only00:35:54.359 - 10:33:40 AM; Commissioner Helen Hanks discussed staffing and retirement trends within the Department of Corrections. She noted a reduction in the number of staff eligible for retirement and shared positive recruitment trends. She also highlighted cost-saving measures such as reduced overtime hours and a decline in the incarceration rate, which she attributed to effective recruitment, treatment, and programming initiatives.
Unclear: Christine Young, Director of Audits for the LBA Information Only00:41:53.880 - 10:39:39 AM; Christine Young introduced the performance audit of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. She acknowledged the assistance of Katrina Taylor and Sean Lock in finalizing the report and handed over the presentation to John Clinch.
Unclear: John Clinch, Senior Audit Manager, Office of Legislative Budget Assistant Information Only00:42:53.800 - 10:40:39 AM; John Clinch presented the findings of the performance audit on the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. The audit found inefficiencies and ineffectiveness in the commission's handling of discrimination complaints, with significant delays in case processing. Key issues included expired administrative rules, lack of performance measures, and poor data management. The commission agreed with most recommendations, which included improving timeliness and management controls.
Unclear: Katrina Taylor, Acting Assistant Director Information Only00:50:11.040 - 10:47:57 AM; Katrina Taylor, the Acting Assistant Director, expressed gratitude towards the Legislative Budget Assistant (LBA) for their audit recommendations. She acknowledged the long-standing challenges in staffing and managing the commission's demands. Taylor expressed optimism about implementing the recommendations to enhance transparency and efficiency, particularly with the additional resources allocated in the past budget cycle. She mentioned the priority of addressing the administrative rules and resolving long-standing issues as outlined in the audit.
Unclear: Senator Gray Information Only00:51:42.599 - 10:49:28 AM; Senator Gray referenced Appendix D of the audit report, highlighting the long history of findings dating back to 2019 and earlier. He questioned the commitment to resolving these issues, particularly the issuance of rules. Katrina Taylor, in response, acknowledged her temporary role and inability to address past issues directly but affirmed the commission's commitment to moving forward, especially with administrative rules.
Unclear: Sean Information Only00:52:28.799 - 10:50:14 AM; Sean supported Katrina Taylor's statements, confirming that the commission has been prioritizing administrative rules. He noted that a staff member tasked with updating the rules had left during the process, but the commission is now working with OS and JAIL to present the rules to JAIL CAR.
Unclear: Senator Birdell Information Only00:53:14.079 - 10:51:00 AM; Senator Birdell did not have any questions at the time.
Unclear: Representative Lehman Information Only00:53:14.079 - 10:51:00 AM; Representative Lehman expressed sympathy for the Acting Director but raised concerns about the commission's long-term issues, including a backlog of 259 cases and a request for $3 million in general funds. He questioned the effectiveness of additional funding given the historical problems with case handling and backlog.
Unclear: Katrina Taylor, Acting Assistant Director Information Only00:53:59.319 - 10:51:45 AM; Katrina Taylor responded to Representative Lehman's concerns, stating she couldn't speak to past issues but has been with the commission for 11.5 years. She noted the long-existing backlog, which was 175 cases when she started, and mentioned working with the DOJ to better answer budget-related questions in the near future.
Unclear: Sean Information Only00:54:46.079 - 10:52:32 AM; Sean added to Katrina Taylor's comments, explaining that the commission had experienced a significant staffing cut around 2012, which was only addressed around 2020. He discussed the impact of staff turnover and the continuous increase in cases, despite the addition of new laws. He emphasized the commission's optimism about managing the caseload with new resources and implementing the audit's recommendations.
Unclear: Senator Waters Information Only00:58:47.079 - 10:56:33 AM; Senator Waters requested a precise schedule for rule submission to JAIL CAR and information on how the increased budget from the last session was applied. He suggested a follow-up mechanism to monitor the commission's progress in implementing the recommendations, expressing concern about the commission's capacity to do so effectively.
Unclear: Senator Carson Information Only01:00:19.520 - 10:58:05 AM; Senator Carson inquired about the impact of pro se litigants on the commission's processes and whether allowing paralegals to assist, similar to the Family Court model, could help. Katrina Taylor and Sean discussed the challenges posed by pro se litigants and the potential benefits of additional representation, though they noted it might not decrease the volume of filings.
Unclear: Senator Gray Information Only01:01:54.760 - 10:59:40 AM; Senator Gray sought more information on the potential legislative actions recommended by the audit, specifically recommendations 10 and 13. Katrina Taylor explained that additional statutory language could clarify the role of staff in the conciliation process, and while the commission did not agree with all statutory changes, they were open to discussing them with senators.
Unclear: Senator Gray Information Only01:03:27.920 - 11:01:13 AM; Senator Gray expressed appreciation for the audit division's work and committed to filing necessary legislation within three weeks to include in HB2. He also requested progress updates on the adoption of rules by the next meeting.
Unclear: Representative Walner Information Only01:05:10.079 - 11:02:56 AM; Representative Walner suggested that the House Judiciary Committee should be involved in monitoring the audit, and it was agreed that they would receive copies.
Unclear: Representative Griffin Information Only01:05:56.279 - 11:03:42 AM; Representative Griffin expressed concern about the lengthy time periods for case resolution at the commission, noting that delayed justice discourages petitioners. He emphasized the need to shorten these periods to maintain the commission's credibility.
Unclear: Unnamed Speaker Information Only01:06:41.359 - 11:04:27 AM; An unnamed speaker noted that the audit report had been accepted and placed on file for release in the usual manner. They emphasized the expectations for follow-up from the audit and praised the thoroughness of the audit division.
Unclear: Sean K, Partner with Price Waterhouse Coopers Information Only01:08:44.600 - 11:06:30 AM; Sean K, a partner at Price Waterhouse Coopers, presented audit results for the fiscal year ending September 30th, 2024. He highlighted that clean, unqualified opinions were issued for both structures on December 12th and December 19th. No control deficiencies rising to the level of material weakness or significant deficiency were found. The audit confirmed the existence and valuation of 100% of assets, and no material differences were noted in the profit and loss statements. He emphasized the cooperation received from service providers and confirmed the accuracy of fees received by the State of New Hampshire. He concluded by noting the firm's independence and the absence of fraud or disagreements with management.
Unclear: Unnamed Committee Member Information Only01:12:37.120 - 11:10:23 AM; An unnamed committee member acknowledged the quarterly reviews of accounts and expressed appreciation for the treasurer's diligent oversight. They confirmed that the audit report would be accepted, placed on file, and released in the usual manner. They also discussed scheduling the next meeting for March 21st at 11:00 AM, considering the availability of committee members.
Unclear: Senator Gray Information Only01:13:22.679 - 11:11:08 AM; Senator Gray mentioned a scheduling conflict due to a University System Board of Trustees meeting, indicating availability only in the afternoon of the proposed meeting date.
Unclear: Senator Carson Information Only01:14:09.320 - 11:11:55 AM; Senator Carson noted scheduling conflicts with the Children's Oversight Commission in the morning and the New Hampshire Ireland Trade Council in the afternoon but suggested that an 11:00 AM start time would work for them.
Unclear: Unnamed Committee Member Information Only01:14:56.080 - 11:12:42 AM; An unnamed committee member confirmed the scheduling of the next fiscal meeting on Friday, March 21st at 11:00 AM, with a potential pre-fiscal meeting at 10:00 AM.
Unclear: Representative Smith Information Only01:15:43.760 - 11:13:29 AM; Representative Smith expressed satisfaction with the audit results and highlighted the ongoing issues with the Human Rights Commission. They mentioned the involvement of the House Judiciary Committee since 2021 and the request for a performance audit in 2022. They also discussed plans for a meeting to address these issues and the potential for legislative action under existing House rules.
Unclear: Senator Waters Information Only01:18:53.560 - 11:16:39 AM; Senator Waters commended the House Judiciary Committee for taking on the Human Rights Commission issues and suggested that beyond the audit points, other areas might require legislative attention.
Unclear: Unnamed Committee Member Information Only01:19:39.239 - 11:17:25 AM; An unnamed committee member agreed with Senator Waters, highlighting procedural issues within the Human Rights Commission that need legislative attention and expressed appreciation for the performance audit's role in addressing these issues.