This bill establishes the Hampton Beach State Park Pier Fund, which will be administered by the Division of Parks and Recreation. The fund is dedicated to the siting, permitting, designing, and constructing of a public pier at Hampton Beach. The bill includes a new section, RSA 216-J:6, which outlines the fund's purpose and stipulates that it will be continually appropriated to the Division for engineering services, construction, and ongoing maintenance of the pier. The Division is required to consider recommendations from the October 28, 2022, Hampton Beach New Pier Feasibility Study and the needs of individuals with disabilities during the design and construction process. Additionally, the Division may accept various forms of funding for the pier, and any remaining balance in the fund after July 1, 2035, will be transferred to the state park gifts and donations account for expanding access to state parks for disabled individuals.

The bill also includes a $1 appropriation for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, to be deposited into the Hampton Beach State Park Pier Fund. This appropriation is intended to cover initial costs associated with the construction of the accessible public pier. The estimated costs for the pier construction range from $21.7 million to $27.4 million, depending on the design, with additional indeterminable annual costs for project oversight and maintenance expected to be funded from the State Park Fund. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6:12
As Amended by the Senate: 6:12