SB 838 — AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO CERTAIN FISHING PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

838143 January Session, 2021 LCOSubstitute Senate Bill No.

2671838 ReferredSenate, toMarch 25, 2021 The Committee on ENVIRONMENTEnvironment Introducedreported by:through SEN.

(ENV)COHEN ANof ACTthe CONCERNING12th MINORDist., REVISIONSChairperson TOof CERTAINthe FISHINGCommittee PROGRAMSon OFthe THEpart DEPARTMENTof OFthe ENERGYSenate, ANDthat ENVIRONMENTALthe PROTECTION.substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO CERTAIN FISHING PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

(A) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, (B) state-operated facilities, as definedsSB838 in/ sectionFile 17a-458, or (C) programs or facilities funded by the LCO No.

2671143 1 ofsSB838 3File RaisedNo. Bill No.838 Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, as provided for in sections 17a-468b, 17a-469, 17a-673 and 17a-676, (3) with intellectual disability who receive services from the Department of Developmental Services, as provided for in section 17a-217, or from facilities licensed by the Department of Developmental Services, as provided for in section 17a-227, (4) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who receive services from the Department of Social Services, or (5) receiving care from the Department of Children and Families, as provided for in section 17a-94, or from programs or child-care facilities licensed pursuant to section 17a-145 or 17a-147.

143 defined in section 17a-458, or (C) programs or facilities funded by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, as provided for in sections 17a-468b, 17a-469, 17a-673 and 17a-676, (3) with intellectual disability who receive services from the Department of Developmental Services, as provided for in section 17a-217, or from facilities licensed by the Department of Developmental Services, as provided for in section 17a-227, (4) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who receive services from the Department of Social Services, or (5) receiving care from the Department of Children and Families, as provided for in section 17a-94, or from programs or child-care facilities licensed pursuant to section 17a-145 or 17a-147.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding any provision of thetitle general26 statutes,ofthegeneralstatutes, there shall be no closed season for sport fishing of trout.trout provided nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's sSB838 / File No.

LCO143 2 sSB838 File No.

2671143 2authority to regulate the method and manner of 3take Raisedfor Billsuch No.trout.

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

2 from passage New section StatementENV ofJoint Purpose:Favorable Subst.

TosSB838 better/ enableFile veteransNo. groups to engage in fishing and to otherwise allow for more fishing opportunities.

that143 when3 thesSB838 entireFile text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.

2671143 3The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of 3the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill increases the number of participants allowed under a group fishing license, issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), from 50 to 100 people.

Currently, DEEP issues a group fishing license to non-profit organizations to hold up to 50 group fishing events per year for certain qualified individuals.

This is not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact, since the same number of group licenses are anticipated to be issued.

The bill also prohibits the closure of the trout fishing season.

Currently, inland trout fishing is closed from March 1 to the second Saturday in April.

This provision is not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact as this trout season has already been reopened.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None sSB838 / File No.

143 4 sSB838 File No.

143 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 838 AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO CERTAIN FISHING PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

SUMMARY This bill increases the number of participants allowed under a group fishing license, which the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) issues, from 50 to 100 people.

By law, DEEP may issue a group fishing license to a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization to conduct up to 50 group fishing events per year for qualified individuals (e.g., disabled veterans and certain people receiving services from the departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Developmental Services, Social Services, and Children and Families).

The bill also prohibits the state from having a closed trout fishing season.

(Under current DEEP regulations, trout fishing in most lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams is closed from March 1 to 6:00 a.m.

on the second Saturday in April (Conn.

Agencies Regs.

§ 26-112-45(m)).) However, the bill does not limit DEEP’s existing statutory authority to regulate the method and manner of taking trout (CGS §§ 26-111 & -112).

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Upon passage COMMITTEE ACTION Environment Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 29 Nay 3 (02/26/2021) sSB838 / File No.