[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6644211,"mediaKeyId","2528108-73d386738d4fc80ae3ee7b26177f2d75","parentId",2528108,"title","Treasury briefing covers abandoned property, scholarships, trust funds and debt; treasurer seeks statutory tweak for assistant appointments","audioSeconds",3871,"startMs",11604000,"endMs",15475000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528108-73d386738d4fc80ae3ee7b26177f2d75&start=11604&end=15475","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528108-73d386738d4fc80ae3ee7b26177f2d75/thumbnail_11604000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6644211/New-Hampshire/Treasury-briefing-covers-abandoned-property-scholarships-trust-funds-and-debt-treasurer-seeks-statutory-tweak-for-assistant-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644211-3751c0e5f360cc24d4116229d0b5219b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143972&Signature=dseY~aXu6w3KX-2TP-uDz9Q73Qz7B~d-mz6NEOHEqIVek-mw98uMAso~-IgPj9yJaTL4tRnnJPhPBaYgP5Rsbs28nQJmwaSJUFS~pQ2vMCF0k1N1NZWLSvzJRAUdoTwDY3tllt3aN3-tx6iriH99GUHjYe58eEd64-q1c~01c3QDuG1Vwwqc1k2h4YaPCyN~4NzP8xZCLErXXbzeK~onGkOSLWut~FEni9QBHrcQqgvjJ4F~v3PxQl-B5O5gO-RE3o1TRnSV1bgTONQzNrfQDbK1GvR78NksNTgabnqJDszDKsNLmBrwLqBNxDs-CAugpXAW-SG5giHAcaKinyWnYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-03-04T06:41:19.273Z","article","The State Treasurer’s office updated the Finance - Division I committee on a range of treasury programs — abandoned property collections, scholarship trust funds, dedicated endowments, the Benjamin Thompson trust, LCHIP, and debt‑service planning — and requested a statutory change to permit more assistant treasurer appointments.

Treasurer Mosabelli (presented as Treasurer Mosabelli in the hearing) described abandoned property (escheat) collections and outreach. She said the state publishes newly collected properties in the Union Leader per statute and has also tried advertising to increase owner claims. On the timing and accounting of escheated funds, she summarized the statutory treatment: funds unclaimed after three years may be treated as abandoned and escheated to the general fund, but owners can still reclaim funds later; Treasury records both returned claims and funds escheated to the general fund.

On outreach costs, committee members asked about advertising expenses for the Union Leader; Treasury staff estimated the advertising line in the abandoned‑property program at roughly $25,000–$30,000 annually and said the program also uses national media events and outreach to return property.

Treasury reviewed the College Tuition Savings Plan advisory work and scholarship trust funds. The office described two scholarship streams: funds tied to the Fidelity 529 program (the Excellence in Higher Education Trust Fund) and the Governor’s Scholarship Fund. Treasury officials said fiscal year 2026 scholarship awards had already been promised to students for financial aid packaging and that unspent trust funds are carried forward to meet multi‑year awards.

On the Benjamin Thompson trust (a long‑standing fund historically administered by the treasury for University of New Hampshire beneficiaries), the treasurer said the administration is exploring transferring custody to the UNH Foundation and would need statutory changes to change custody and payment rules. The treasurer told the committee the existing statutory payout schedule may not match contemporary needs and needs legislative revision before transferring custody.

Treasury staff discussed LCHIP and a related community conservation endowment and said the program has variable annual revenues tied to real estate activity; LCHIP grants and stewardship endowments are competitive and frequently fully expended by the board.

On debt service and capital planning, Treasury staff explained how debt issuance, refundings and debt service assumptions feed into the governor’s capital and operating proposals. Staff said refunding candidates are reviewed for net present‑value savings and noted they are evaluating roughly $80 million in callable bonds for potential refunding; preliminary analysis suggested potential net present‑value savings on the order of a few million dollars if market conditions are favorable.

The treasurer made two statutory requests to the committee: a housekeeping request to include debt‑service classes in language that permits certain budget lines to lapse at the end of the biennium rather than at fiscal‑year end, and a change to RSA 6:20‑a to remove the numeric limit on assistant treasurer appointments so the treasurer may reclassify and appoint one additional assistant treasurer without expanding salary scales. Treasurers staff said the proposed reclassification would be essentially lateral (no substantive salary increase) and would allow management flexibility for overtime and operational coverage.

Lawmakers asked for follow up materials, including historical abandoned‑property return and collection figures and detail on dedicated fund balances such as the Benjamin Thompson fund and scholarship trusts. Several committee members discussed larger budget tradeoffs — debt affordability, rainy‑day funds and potential statewide fiscal pressures — during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Finance Division I (03/03/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Treasurer's staff briefed Finance - Division I on abandoned property collections and returns, scholarship trust funds, the Benjamin Thompson trust, LCHIP and debt service; Treasurer asked to remove a statutory limit on assistant treasurers and described routine debt management activities such as refunding analysis.","taxTitle","Finance - Division I, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17750,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6644215,"Office of the Special Education Advocate seeks three more staff to manage cases, data and policy work",923,3765000,4688000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528108-73d386738d4fc80ae3ee7b26177f2d75&start=3765&end=4688","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528108-73d386738d4fc80ae3ee7b26177f2d75/thumbnail_3765000.jpg","/articles/6644215/New-Hampshire/Office-of-the-Special-Education-Advocate-seeks-three-more-staff-to-manage-cases-data-and-policy-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644215-c66e21d7ff83d761d3f8be0fa074f544/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143972&Signature=Wgv266jb3ty-YRX0gjskKHZu1TVKWdKj300sWMfjg9eonYbr2ONwzBsaVtD3kcEKmqM1cywGPXcOXIRi--FsFJr8NjFFAiOnlz7VswWmYy5Vb3rlFHzxB5jgvEfE6sYA7SDMQm21txk6~wTAarKvmuNW4mUezQM8gAlm7V1uzE0OFedoZAlUccKZmtdiIOAROYYvEo8bWcSm7MIlqHT3L61haYynFUoSnywjuNYT2iLxx4O1~-53ceMBx1JkSLrWp3t7~W9hG5dVlvaM6sYioM6FMUV0csdkuq5s7eBIbtJKLhjUPGKHWS8ELZsv3BGzkIjqGb3WFG2WVdjUbd-R1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Office of the Special Education Advocate told lawmakers that limited staffing prevents it from fully meeting statutory responsibilities for case management, data tracking and statewide policy work, and asked the Finance - Division I committee to consider adding three staff.

\"Yes. Thank you. Good morning. Kristen Moncharmany, advocate for special education,\" Kristen Moncharmany said as she introduced the office. She described a small office that provides case management and works directly with parents, the Department of Education and local districts to try to resolve disputes before they move to formal hearings.

Tim Lenahan, assistant advocate, described referral sources and caseload pressures. He said the office receives referrals through Department of Education dispute‑resolution notices and from agencies such as the Office of the Child Advocate, and that his work travels statewide: \"I'm in 6 counties right now,\" he said.

Moncharmany and Lenahan said the office currently has two staff: Moncharmany (full time) and Lenahan (full time but temporary classification), plus minimal part‑time help. They proposed expanding to a five‑person office: two additional case managers and one position to combine intake, data tracking and policy work. Moncharmany said those additions would allow the office to manage roughly 1% of statewide Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and to deliver more training and systemwide supports.

On costs, Moncharmany said the prioritized needs figure was roughly $740,000 annually for the additional three positions (personnel and associated costs). She told lawmakers the office had originally requested four additional positions and trimmed the request to three in recognition of tight budget conditions.

Committee members asked about the office’s scope, how it differs from the Parent Information Center and whether more training for local special education directors could reduce disputes. Moncharmany said the Parent Information Center provides sample forms and general information but does not attend IEP meetings or provide the case‑management and dispute resolution roles the advocate’s office provides. She also said better data is needed to understand the cost and scope of special‑education services across districts.

Members asked about travel and other operating costs; Moncharmany said the office tries to limit travel through virtual meetings where appropriate but must make in‑person visits for many difficult cases. The office also told the committee it produces an annual report and has been asked by the Department of Education to participate in data‑tracking and labor‑costing efforts.

Lawmakers did not decide the funding request during the hearing; the presentation documented the office's prioritized needs and the rationale for additional positions.","The newly formed Office of the Special Education Advocate told the Finance - Division I committee it currently operates with two staff and sought three additional positions to handle case management, data tracking and policy initiatives—requesting roughly $740,000 annually for prioritized needs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6644219,"Committee approves budget for New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities; council highlights grants and federal funding mix",1128,1976000,3104000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528108-73d386738d4fc80ae3ee7b26177f2d75&start=1976&end=3104","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528108-73d386738d4fc80ae3ee7b26177f2d75/thumbnail_1976000.jpg","/articles/6644219/New-Hampshire/Committee-approves-budget-for-New-Hampshire-Council-on-Developmental-Disabilities-council-highlights-grants-and-federal-funding-mix","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644219-198e071c2eff784b70fcbc49d8a2af24/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143972&Signature=Wi4zo0j2-hWTExnXRODHg51emxXRImWib5fZer5KdKin9sVA-FnUJiidhM5tgl~hL6p2QQMW5UtGy-RZy5beHflAZ50RwQLs5iU9Q9Lb6jXIWFwzmtj8DYGWKrgHDHeUprEe3XafUdG829kt39j9~yYjHneiZioFg6lM9I3XT~EjwG9QUbImc4EyQ1E-Tf3iX4RiYPLECHCLcR0h7Q3zWSIkATOsld9WWGgXWjtyAel3iqUy~E9oGqTMSN~~YiiAez7jnJQvUKCfvlC-~gb3yCwWFRAg2wH-ZH2ZWnMGjhcOcLTWnY9TKLVYVJfiLqOcOUZtcC3hW-aELBKAXLVE8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance - Division I committee voted to approve the budget presented by the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities after the council explained its federally funded operations and grant plans.

\"Good morning. My name is Isadora Rodriguez Legendre. I serve as the executive director at the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities,\" Isadora Rodriguez Legendre told lawmakers, adding the council is \"100% federally funded through ... the DD Act.\"

Rodriguez Legendre described the council’s statutory charge to develop a five‑year plan identifying the most pressing needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to fund projects that increase access, inclusion and advocacy. She said by law 60% of the council’s membership must be individuals with developmental disabilities or family members of people who cannot advocate for themselves.

The council described a small staff complement—three full‑time and three part‑time positions—and said it is not requesting new full‑time positions but had restructured one previously budgeted full‑time role into part‑time slots during recruitment challenges. Rodriguez Legendre told the committee the council currently draws federal funds by reimbursement and carries funds forward across a two‑year project period to manage uncertainty during continuing resolutions. \"Right now, we've received a hundred and 21,000 dollars through the continuing resolution,\" she said.

Committee members focused on the council’s grant program and the large increase in the council’s proposed Class 72 grants line from about $30,000 in a previous year to more than $200,000 in the proposed budget. Rodriguez Legendre said that was a planning item to support a targeted‑disparity objective in the council’s five‑year plan; the council had issued an RFP twice and not received qualified applicants, so the funding was carried forward to try again.

Representative [unnamed in transcript] moved to approve the council’s budget, and another committee member seconded the motion. A show of hands recorded unanimous support. The committee did not record individual roll‑call tallies in the transcript.

Rodriguez Legendre told members the council’s normal federal award levels typically range between about $450,000 and $550,000 annually and that the council often carries forward $200,000–$300,000 to maintain operations during federal continuing resolutions. She described typical grants the council funds, such as accessible playgrounds, hiking trails, boat launches and supports for interpretation and accessible materials to improve participation in community events.

The council said it refers complaints about neglect, abuse, or exploitation to appropriate investigative bodies and that it works chiefly through collaboration with state agencies and disability organizations rather than providing direct legal services.

The committee motion to approve the budget was recorded as unanimous by a show of hands; no amendments were taken during the hearing.","Lawmakers unanimously approved the budget presented by the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities, which is entirely federally funded under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (the DD Act); council leaders described grant programs and carry‑forward planning during continuing resolutions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6644224,"Personnel Appeals Board seeks first standalone operating budget after independence law",227,204000,431000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528108-73d386738d4fc80ae3ee7b26177f2d75&start=204&end=431","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528108-73d386738d4fc80ae3ee7b26177f2d75/thumbnail_204000.jpg","/articles/6644224/New-Hampshire/Personnel-Appeals-Board-seeks-first-standalone-operating-budget-after-independence-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644224-d0f672a6cc7f015a91e0bbc1893d5f4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143972&Signature=U4LMmqiqY23DoKbmMk7znioiunmXIDOgk5qZ5YLdnWtfPUbGzaVg4Ks7by6-Asp8jYWfe2Jh3kN3iXBPjEL3L9-g3BkPMQ4Xem9SDS6kkRFwxibbDNLhcuC~2UMy-qKuNULoLVMghPEijjl4IlWTx4izyvjZYdwR2LOGsf0p59rg4YtUTEdcempR92qHy8nK5-29U8UFNUvMroH4SgkavVdrWNqAimbQJjLNMtBwmtp2slRkOOhvoKYxz37gWh0ywy~X3gbtGLmpwtxFspp1PiETtViHRed2~jftSE6LclEwmWjZclKfyPCK2mrr1a3Vn6DYfsY9dfRr35Qj5j8n8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Personnel Appeals Board told the Finance - Division I committee it is seeking its first operating budget now that state law made the board an independent agency.

\"Well, good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Marilee Nighyen. I am a member of the Personnel Board of Appeals. I am accompanied here with our chairman, attorney Charles Russell,\" Marilee Nighyen said as she opened the presentation. She said the board was established in 1986 and, until this biennium, functioned as a component within the Division of Personnel.

The board outlined its duties and caseload. Nighyen said the panel conducts hearings on appeals from classified state employees who challenge disciplinary actions, and that the board receives \"approximately 25 to 35 cases a year,\" with some cases requiring multiple days of testimony and lengthy deliberations. The board said it also handles prehearing conferences, motions, responses to Supreme Court and Right‑to‑Know requests, and periodic business meetings.

Nighyen told the committee the board's legislative change came through Senate Bill 487, which established the Personnel Appeals Board as an independent state agency. \"Our budget request total for 2026 is $353,421,\" she said, and added that FY2026 is higher than FY2027 because it includes one‑time startup expenses such as office furniture, computers and other equipment.

The presentation noted routine operating costs and a modest staffing plan: two new part‑time positions, a program director and a paralegal, intended to provide basic administrative and legal support while limiting benefit costs. Nighyen said the staffing model was informed by the Public Employees Labor Relations Board, which has an executive director and paralegal on staff.

On compensation for board members, Nighyen said members receive a stipend of $400 per day for a day of hearings, and $200 every two weeks for work outside hearings, including preparation and writing decisions. She also told lawmakers the board historically has carried four members on staff rather than the authorized five, and at times has operated with only three members, the legal quorum, which reduces scheduling flexibility and delays hearings.

Committee members pressed for detail on staffing and continuity of services that had been supplied through the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) when the board was housed there. Nighyen said the board previously relied on DAS for space and administrative support and that, as an independent agency, it needs a dedicated address and phone so outside counsel and parties know where to file and contact the board.

The board provided no formal vote or decision during the hearing; the presentation was informational and focused on establishing the office, clarifying responsibilities, and explaining why one‑time startup costs make FY2026 higher than FY2027.

Looking ahead, Nighyen emphasized that the board needs a full complement of members to avoid delays and that part‑time staffing was intended to keep operating costs lean while meeting the board's quasi‑judicial duties.","The Personnel Appeals Board described its role hearing disciplinary appeals from classified state employees and requested initial operating funds after becoming an independent agency by statute; the board asked for two part‑time positions and said initial startup costs make FY2026 larger than FY2027.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Treasury briefing covers abandoned property, scholarships, trust funds and debt; treasurer seeks statutory tweak for assistant appointments

Office of the Special Education Advocate seeks three more staff to manage cases, data and policy work

Committee approves budget for New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities; council highlights grants and federal funding mix

Personnel Appeals Board seeks first standalone operating budget after independence law