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 revenues generated from this surcharge 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, including 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.

In terms of legal amendments, the bill adds new sections to RSA 216-A, specifically sections 216-A:3-q and 216-A:3-r, which outline the establishment of the surcharge and the fund, respectively. Additionally, it amends RSA 6:12, I(b) to include the new funding source from the Public Safety Parking Surcharge Fund. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and is projected to generate between $150,000 to $200,000 annually for the fund, while also potentially impacting future parking fee adjustments and expenditures related to the implementation of the surcharge.

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