This bill amends the existing recruitment and retention program within the New Hampshire community college system to include "public safety telecommunicators and dispatchers," thereby expanding the eligibility criteria for the program. It establishes a new police standards and training recruitment and retention fund, which will be administered by the Police Standards and Training Council (PSTC). The bill allocates $100,000 from the existing career development fund for reimbursement of training costs at the New Hampshire police academy and introduces a recruitment incentive program specifically for public safety communicators and dispatchers. The effective date for the implementation of this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Additionally, the bill appropriates $125,000 in general funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, to support the career development, recruitment, and retention of law enforcement officers, professional firefighters, public safety telecommunicators, dispatchers, and emergency medical technicians. The funds are intended to offset costs related to uniforms and equipment for recruits and to cover specialized training opportunities for certified officers to enhance retention. While the bill does not include any deletions from current law, it introduces new provisions aimed at bolstering recruitment efforts, with an estimated fiscal impact of up to $100,000 in increased revenue for the Community College System annually and projected expenditures of $125,000 in FY 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 188-F:70, 188-F:72, 6:12
As Amended by the Senate: 188-F:70, 188-F:72, 6:12