This bill amends current law to expand the responsibilities of the Department of Transportation (DOT) by including the maintenance of traffic signal preemption technology systems, specifically for emergency vehicles such as the Opticom traffic control system. The legal language in RSA 21-L:10, II is updated to reflect this new responsibility with the insertion of "and traffic signal preemption technology systems used for emergency vehicles, including the Opticom traffic control system." The bill also includes an appropriation of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, to fund the maintenance of these systems, while requiring the DOT to include funding for administrative costs related to this maintenance in its biennial budget requests.

The fiscal impact of the bill indicates that while it appropriates only $1, the estimated costs for maintaining the traffic signal preemption systems will be significant, with expenditures projected to reach $419,000 in FY 2026, $313,000 in FY 2027, and $257,000 in FY 2028. The bill does not authorize new positions or provide sufficient funding to cover these costs, which raises concerns about the DOT's ability to fulfill its new responsibilities effectively. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and the requirement for the DOT to include funding for administrative costs will not apply until the FY 2028 – FY 2029 biennium.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-L:10