Floor Amendment to HB 551-FN
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT
relative to computer access by the legislative budget
assistant and relative to designating areas
of expression at public buildings.
Amend the bill by replacing section 3 with the following:
3 Designation of Areas; Licenses. Amend RSA 21-I by inserting after section 14 the following new section:
21-I:14-a Designation of Areas of Expression.
I. In this section:
(a) "Expression" means any demonstration, protest, dissemination of information or solicitation of funds or support. This definition shall not include activity conducted during and incidental to the carrying on of business with the state in the public building.
(b) "Public building" means any building owned or leased by the state.
II. The commissioner of administrative services shall, upon the request of the head of any of the state agencies occupying a public building, designate areas in or around such public building which may be used by individuals or groups who desire to conduct political, religious, or charitable expression. Such expression shall be limited to these areas. In his designation of these areas, the commissioner shall advance the dual interests of protecting the safety and convenience of the public using the building, and providing the expressing individual or group with ample opportunity to communicate with the public.
III. Use of these areas shall be limited to individuals or groups who obtain a license for such use from the commissioner of administrative [SJ 696] services. The commissioner may establish procedures for obtaining these licenses, which procedures shall provide, at a minimum, that:
(a) No regard be given to the content of the information to be conveyed or the thoughts, beliefs, opinions or goals of the apphcant;
(b) The licenses shall be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
IV. Notwithstanding RSA 21-I:14-a, III, the license shall be valid only so long as the licensee complies with all applicable statutes, rules, or court orders.
V. The designation of areas and licensing procedures for religious, political or charitable expression at public buildings shall not be subject to the provisions of RSA 541-A.
VI. Any person who conducts expression as defined in this section in an area designated by the commissioner of administrative services without having a license to do so shall be guilty of a violation for the first offense and a misdemeanor for any subsequent offense.
4 Exemption. Amend RSA 541-A:10, 1, by inserting after subparagraph (m) the following new subparagraph:
(n) RSA 21-I:14-a, relative to the designation of areas and licensing for religious, political, or charitable expression at public buildings.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
AMENDED ANALYSIS
The bill, as amended, allows the legislative budget assistant access to the integrated financial system.
The bill, as amended, also provides that the commissioner of administrative services shall issue licenses to persons wishing to conduct political, charitable or religious expression. The bill exempts the designations of areas of expression and the procedures for licensing from the administrative procedure act.