This bill introduces a 5 percent public safety surcharge on all paid parking transactions at state park facilities, which will be collected through existing parking infrastructure managed by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The collected surcharge revenues will be deposited into a newly established Public Safety Parking Surcharge Fund, which is designed to provide financial support to municipalities hosting state parks. The funds will be distributed quarterly and must be used exclusively for public safety services related to state park visitation, such as police, fire, and emergency medical services. The bill also ensures that no new criminal penalties will be created for enforcement, and mandates transparency through signage, audits, and annual reporting.

Additionally, the bill amends RSA 6:12 to include the Public Safety Parking Surcharge Fund as a new funding source. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2026. The estimated fiscal impact suggests that the surcharge could generate between $150,000 to $200,000 annually, while also potentially limiting future increases in parking fees due to the added surcharge. The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources anticipates some operational costs associated with implementing the surcharge, including signage and system updates, which could range from $5,000 to $50,000 per year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6:12
HB1751 text: 6:12