State Trooper Recruitment Bill Would Re‑establish Sign‑on Incentives; Troopers, Chiefs Weigh In

Sen. David Waters introduced Senate Bill 199, a measure authorizing a recruitment and retention incentive program for the New Hampshire State Police. The proposal would allow the Department of Safety to design incentives such as sign‑on bonuses, referral fees and retention payments for newly hired state troopers, subject to collective‑bargaining constraints and fiscal committee review.

Department and State Police witnesses said the department currently has dozens of vacancies (witnesses cited about 62 vacancies, roughly 17% of the force) and that sign‑on bonuses had previously helped attract recruits. Matt Amatucci, representing New Hampshire State Police, said the next test had 85 applicants registered, including about 40 from out of state who would need financial support to relocate if hired.

Supporters argued that other New Hampshire agencies and many municipal departments already use sign‑on bonuses to compete for officers and that a targeted program would help stabilize staffing, particularly in rural posts that rely heavily on state troopers for policing service.

Opponents and alternative witnesses cautioned the committee that recruitment/retention challenges are statewide and cross‑cut many agencies; Anne Pariello, a county police chief and representative of county chiefs groups, said state funds targeted to a single agency could be seen as unfair and urged a statewide strategic approach (House Bill 445 was cited as an example of a broader, cooperative approach). Witnesses asked the committee to consider complementary workforce programs (tuition assistance, academy cost coverage and dispatch staffing) already in place or under consideration.

Ending: The committee closed the hearing and invited additional information from the Department of Safety on vacancy details and costed incentive models to inform mark‑up and any possible appropriation.