CONCORD - Governor John Lynch today ceremonially signed into law legislation providing financial incentives for school districts to build more energy efficient and healthier school buildings.

"With this law, we are helping school districts and local taxpayers save on operating costs and providing a healthier learning environment for New Hampshire's students," Gov. Lynch said.

The legislation, HB 129, creates an incentive for school districts to construct" high-performance" schools. High-performance schools feature integrated designs that cut energy and operating costs dramatically and provide healthier indoor air quality, which results in measurable improvements in academic performance.

The legislation authorizes the Department of Education to award additional building aid grants to districts constructing high-performance schools. Qualifying districts that design, build and operate school facilities that meet high-performance standards will be eligible for a state grant equal to 3 percent of total project costs.

No New Hampshire school buildings currently qualify as high performance. Total funding for this program is limited to $100,000 annually.

The legislation, HB 129, was sponsored by Rep. Jim Pilliod, Rep. Barbara French and Sen. Iris Estabrook. It takes effect on September 9, 2005.

Gov. Lynch also held ceremonial signing ceremonies for Senate Bill 93 and Senate Bill 138.

SB 93 will move the Electrician's Board under the Department of Safety. The new agency will be called the Bureau of Electrical Safety and Licensure. The Board has been administratively attached to the Department of Safety since its inception in the 1970s.

The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Bob Clegg, Sen. Bob Letourneau and Rep. Mike O'Neil.

SB 138 ensures that if municipal employees are in car accidents on the job, and it is not their fault, it will not impact their personal motor vehicle insurance.

"Municipal employees provide important services for our towns and cities and are often the first responders in an emergency," said Gov. Lynch. "Their personal insurance costs should not be in jeopardy while they perform services for our communities."

If the municipal employee is at fault in an accident it will still be a chargeable offense under the new law.

The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Bob Clegg, Sen. Flanders, Sen. D' Allesandro, Sen. Odell, Rep. Marshall Quandt, Rep. Carson and Rep. Introne.