New Hampshire House Bill HB230

New Hampshire 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/23
• Refer: 1/9/23
• Report Pass: 1/25/23
• Refer: 2/2/23
• Report DNP: 11/15/23

Caption

Directing the department of agriculture, markets, and food to employ an electronic data processing system for all registrations under its purview.

Impact

By directing the department to establish this electronic system, HB230 is poised to streamline current procedures prone to manual errors and delays. The electronic platform will allow for the handling of registrations to be carried out more swiftly, including the ability for authorized users to operate in offline mode. This shift will likely reduce paperwork and improve overall productivity within the department, facilitating better service delivery to the public and stakeholders involved in agricultural activities.

Summary

House Bill 230 (HB230) aims to modernize the operations of the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food by implementing an electronic data processing system for all registrations under its purview. This initiative seeks to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of processing various applications, including product registrations and license applications. The bill makes a specific appropriation of $360,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, to support this development, indicating a significant commitment to investing in technology for departmental operations.

Contention

While the bill is primarily technical in nature and focuses on efficiency, there may be concerns regarding budget allocations and the technological capabilities of the department to manage such a system effectively. Questions around data security and the potential costs associated with ongoing maintenance of the electronic system may arise in discussions among legislators. Additionally, the reliance on third-party contractors for implementation might lead to scrutiny over transparency and accountability in how funds are spent and managed.