Bill Text: NH HB1567 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relative to zoning provisions concerning family and group family child care uses.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)

Status: (Passed) 2024-07-30 - Signed by Governor Sununu 07/26/2024; Chapter 271; eff. 09/24/2024 [HB1567 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2024-HB1567-Amended.html

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HB 1567-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

05/16/2024   1981s

2024 SESSION

24-2081

10/02

 

HOUSE BILL 1567-FN

 

AN ACT relative to zoning provisions concerning family and group family child care uses.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Grassie, Straf. 8; Rep. Wallner, Merr. 19; Rep. D. Paige, Carr. 1; Rep. Berry, Hills. 39; Rep. McWilliams, Merr. 30; Rep. N. Murphy, Hills. 12; Rep. Baroody, Hills. 39; Rep. C. McGuire, Merr. 27; Rep. Grote, Rock. 24; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15

 

COMMITTEE: Special Committee on Childcare

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill generally requires family and group family child care programs to be allowed as an accessory use to any primary residential use under local zoning and planning regulations.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05/16/2024   1981s 24-2081

10/02

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

 

AN ACT relative to zoning provisions concerning family and group family child care uses.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Planning and Zoning; General Provisions; Child Care Programs.  RSA 672:1, V-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

V-a. All families of the state benefit from a balanced and diverse supply of affordable child care in a setting conducive to each child’s and family's needs.  Establishment of child care which is safe and affordable is in the best interests of each community and the state of New Hampshire and serves a vital public need. Opportunity for development of all types of home-based care (family care and group family care) shall be allowed as long as all requirements for such programs adopted in rules of the department of health and human services (He-C 4002) are met. Family or group family child care shall be allowed as an accessory use to any primary residential use and shall not be subject to local site plan review regulations in any zone where a residential use is permitted; and

2  New Paragraph; Zoning; Powers.  Amend RSA 674:16 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:

VI.  In its exercise of the powers granted under this subdivision, the local legislative body of a city, town, or county in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places shall, as described in RSA 672:1, V-a, allow home-based care (family care and group family care) by right or pursuant to a conditional use permit as long as all requirements for such programs adopted in rules of the department of health and human services (He-C 4002) are met.  Family or group family child care shall be allowed as an accessory use to any primary residential use and shall not be subject to local site plan review in any zone where a primary residential use is permitted.  If all requirements of the department of health and human services are met, but an application for a conditional use permit is pending with the municipality in which the home-based child care facility is located, an applicant may begin operation during such time until the permit is granted or denied.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

24-2081

Revised 2/6/24

 

HB 1567-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to zoning provisions concerning family and group family child care uses.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [    ] State              [    ] County               [ X ] Local              [    ] None

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease)
	FY 2024		FY 2025	FY 2026	FY 2027
County Revenue	$0		$0	$0	$0
County Expenditures	$0		$0	$0	$0
Local Revenue	$0		Indeterminable Decrease	Indeterminable Decrease	Indeterminable Decrease
Local Expenditures	$0		Indeterminable Decrease	Indeterminable Decrease	Indeterminable Decrease

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires family and group family child care programs to be allowed as an accessory use to any primary residential use under local zoning and planning requirements.  The New Hampshire Municipal Association states that the bill require municipalities to allow what is already provided for under RSA 672:1, V-a.  However, the bill does decrease the administrative burden by eliminating local site plan review regulations relative to home-based childcare.  While this will decrease municipal revenue by some indeterminable amount (due to the lack of administrative fee collection associated with such review), it will also decrease municipal costs by some indeterminable amount (due to the lack of need for municipal staff processing the site plan application).  The Association notes that it does not anticipate an increase in the number of applications for home-based childcare, due to profitability being more closely linked to housing costs than any other factor.

 

The Department of Health and Human Services states the bill will have no fiscal impact on that department.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

New Hampshire Municipal Association and Department of Health and Human Services