SB 507 — AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTIFIED FORESTERS TO SERVE AS TREE WARDENS.

General Assembly   ProposedCommittee Bill No.

507   January Session, 2017   LCO No.

30844066   *03084**04066SB00507ENV* Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT   Introduced by:

  SEN.(ENV)   AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTIFIED FORESTERS TO SERVE AS TREE WARDENS.

OSTEN, 19th Dist.

  AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTIFIED FORESTERS TO SERVE AS TREE WARDENS.

ThatSection the1. general statutes be amended to authorize certified foresters to serve as tree wardens.

StatementSection 23-58 of Purpose:the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

ToThe enableselectmen certifiedof foresterseach town, except those having cities with coextensive boundaries within their limits, which cities have an officer with similar duties to bethose consideredof fora tree warden positions.who in fact assumes control of all the territory embraced within their limits, and the warden or burgesses of each borough shall, within thirty days of their election, appoint a town or borough tree warden, as the case may be.

Such tree wardens shall be appointed for the term of two years and until their successors are appointed and have qualified.

Any tree warden may appoint such number of deputy tree wardens as said warden deems expedient and said warden may, at any time, remove any such deputy tree warden from office.

A town or borough tree warden and such warden's deputies shall receive for their services such reasonable compensation, from the town or borough, as the town or borough may determine or, in default of such determination, as the selectmen or borough warden prescribes.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the appointment of a certified commercial forest practitioner, as described in section 23-65h, as a town or borough tree warden.

Sec.

2.

Section 23-59a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(a) Not later than one year after appointment or reappointment as a tree warden, pursuant to section 23-58, as amended by this act, such tree warden shall successfully complete coursework, as approved by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The minimum requirements for such coursework shall include:

Tree biology, tree maintenance and pruning, urban forest management and tree laws.

The commissioner may administer such coursework or may, in the commissioner's sole discretion, delegate responsibility to administer such coursework to a professional or educational organization capable of providing such training.

(b) In the event that a tree warden fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, such tree warden shall not be eligible for reappointment pursuant to section 23-58, as amended by this act.

(c) Upon written request to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection by the chief elected official of the municipality that appointed a tree warden, a six-month extension of time may be granted for the purpose of the completion of the coursework required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(d) Each tree warden shall maintain a record of the completion of the coursework required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and, upon request, furnish such records to the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, and the chief elected official of the municipality that appointed such tree warden.

(e) (1) Any tree warden who successfully completes the Tree Wardens Association of Connecticut coursework prior to October 1, 2013, shall be deemed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to have successfully completed the coursework required by this section, provided not later than December 31, 2013, a duly authorized officer of the Tree Wardens Association of Connecticut certifies to the commissioner and to the chief elected official of the municipality that appointed such tree warden, in writing, that such tree warden has successfully completed the Tree Wardens Association of Connecticut coursework.

(2) The successful completion of the Tree Wardens Association of Connecticut coursework prior to October 1, 2013, by a deputy tree warden appointed pursuant to section 23-58, as amended by this act, shall be deemed by the commissioner to satisfy the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, provided not later than December 31, 2013, a duly authorized officer of the Tree Wardens Association of Connecticut certifies to the commissioner and to the chief elected official of the municipality that appointed such deputy tree warden, in writing, that such deputy tree warden has successfully completed the Tree Wardens Association of Connecticut coursework.

(3) The requirements of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any tree warden who:

(A) Is an arborist licensed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, [or] (B) appoints a deputy tree warden who successfully completes the coursework required by subsection (a) of this section, who meets the requirements of subdivision (2) of this subsection or who is an arborist licensed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or (C) is a certified commercial forest practitioner, as described in section 23-65h, provided such certified forest practitioner's training or experience includes knowledge of the minimum coursework requirements described in subsection (a) of this section.

(f) The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, may charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs associated with the coursework required pursuant to this section.

In the event a tree warden is a volunteer, the municipality that appointed such tree warden shall pay the cost of such required coursework.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2017 23-58 Sec.

2 October 1, 2017 23-59a Statement of Purpose:

To authorize certified foresters to serve as tree wardens and not have to complete certain tree warden coursework if their training and experience otherwise includes knowledge of such coursework's information.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.

Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] Co-Sponsors:

SEN.

OSTEN, 19th Dist.

S.B.

507