1. (a) Each applicant shall have a score in this qualification category, and the points awarded under this section shall count towards the total HC designation score, which shall be considered as a factor in the awarding of funding under the housing production municipal grant program detailed in Bea 506 and the housing infrastructure municipal grant program detailed in Bea 507.

2. (b) Municipalities shall receive a maximum of 25 points, as outlined below:

   1. (1) Ten points if a municipality has and regularly facilitates its own, or third-party, training sessions with land use board members;
   2. (2) Ten points if a municipality demonstrates that a majority of members of each of its land use boards, inclusive of alternate members, has engaged in at least 2 hours of training during their current term, or such training is part of and was completed in conjunction with initial orientation of its land use board members; and
   3. (3) Five points if a municipality has and regularly distributes training materials for its land use board members.
3. (c) The training shall cover the processes, procedures, regulations, and statutes related to the board on which the member serves. The department shall evaluate trainings offered by other entities and shall determine them eligible if they cover these topics. Training that covers these topics and are offered, administered, or facilitated by the department's office of planning and development, the New Hampshire municipal association, a regional planning commission, or the New Hampshire planners association shall be eligible.

4. (d) A maximum of 10 additional bonus points shall be awarded if a municipality provides the following certificates for a majority of the members of each of its land use board, inclusive of alternate members:

   1. (1) Five points if a municipality provides evidence that a majority of its planning board members, inclusive of alternates, successfully completed the department’s office of planning and development (OPD) planning board handbook test; and
   2. (2) Five points if a municipality provides evidence that a majority of its zoning board of adjustment members, inclusive of alternates, successfully completed the department’s office of planning and development (OPD) zoning board of adjustment handbook test.
5. (e) The department shall make additional bonus points available at its discretion based on department priorities and best practices. Any additional bonus point criteria shall be publicized prior to the commencement of each application round.

Source. #14043, eff 8-8-24