SB 78 — AN ACT PROVIDING FOR LOCAL REPRESENTATION ON THE CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL.

Senate General Assembly CommitteeFile Bill No.

7895 January Session, 2025 LCOSenate Bill No.

385578 ReferredSenate, toMarch 18, 2025 The Committee on ENVIRONMENTEnvironment Introducedreported by:through SEN.

(ENV)LOPES ANof ACTthe PROVIDING6th FORDist., LOCALChairperson REPRESENTATIONof ONthe THECommittee CONNECTICUTon SITINGthe COUNCIL.part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR LOCAL REPRESENTATION ON THE CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL.

and (4) five public members, to be appointed by the Governor, at least two of whom shall be experienced inSB78 the/ fieldFile of ecology, and all five of whom shall, consistent with the provisions of section 4-9a, have no substantial financial interest in, not LCO 3855 1 of 6 Committee Bill No.

7895 be1 employedSB78 inFile orNo. by, and not be professionally affiliated with any (A) utility, (B) facility, (C) hazardous waste facility, as defined in section 22a-115, or (D) ash residue disposal area, and shall have had no professional affiliation with any such utility, facility, hazardous waste facility or ash residue disposal area for three years preceding such public member's appointment to the council.

95 in the field of ecology, and all five of whom shall, consistent with the provisions of section 4-9a, have no substantial financial interest in, not be employed in or by, and not be professionally affiliated with any (A) utility, (B) facility, (C) hazardous waste facility, as defined in section 22a-115, or (D) ash residue disposal area, and shall have had no professional affiliation with any such utility, facility, hazardous waste facility or ash residue disposal area for three years preceding such public member's appointment to the council.

[(d)] (e) For the appointment of ad hoc members in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, the municipality most affected by the proposed facility shall be determined by the permanent members of the council.SB78 / File No.

If95 any one of the five public members or of the designees of the speaker of the House of Representatives or the president pro tempore of LCO 3855 2 ofSB78 6File Committee Bill No.

7895 thecouncil. Senate resides (1) in the municipality in which a hazardous waste facility is proposed to be located for a proceeding concerning a hazardous waste facility or in which a low-level radioactive waste facility isproposed to be locatedfor aproceeding concerning alow-level radioactive waste facility, or (2) in the neighboring municipality likely to be most affected by the proposed facility, the appointing authority shallappoint a substitute member for theproceedingsonsuchproposal.

If any one of the five public members or of the designees of the speaker of the House of Representatives or the president pro tempore of the Senate resides (1) in the municipality in which a hazardous waste facility is proposed to be located for a proceeding concerning a hazardous waste facility or in which a low-level radioactive waste facility isproposed to be locatedfor aproceeding concerning alow-level radioactive waste facility, or (2) in the neighboring municipality likely to be most affected by the proposed facility, the appointing authority shallappoint a substitute member for theproceedingsonsuchproposal.

[(g)]SB78 (h)/ TheFile council shall employ such employees as may be LCO 3855 3 of 6 Committee Bill No.

7895 necessary3 toSB78 carryFile outNo. the provisions of this chapter, and such employees shall, in the aggregate, have sufficient expertise in engineering and financial analysis to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

95 [(g)] (h) The council shall employ such employees as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and such employees shall, in the aggregate, have sufficient expertise in engineering and financial analysis to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

Said departments, Council on Environmental Quality, authority and offices shall not enter any contract or agreement with any party to the proceedingsSB78 or/ hearingsFile described in this section or section 16-50p that LCO 3855 4 of 6 Committee Bill No.

7895 requires4 saidSB78 departments,File CouncilNo. on Environmental Quality, authority or offices to withhold or retract comments, refrain from participating in or withdraw from said proceedings or hearings.

95 proceedings or hearings described in this section or section 16-50p that requires said departments, Council on Environmental Quality, authority or offices to withhold or retract comments, refrain from participating in or withdraw from said proceedings or hearings.

Such notice shall be published under the regulations to be promulgated by the council, in such form and in such newspapers as will serve substantially to inform the public of such application and to afford interested persons sufficient time to prepare for and to be heard atSB78 the/ hearingFile prescribedNo. in section 16-50m.

Such95 notice shall be LCO 3855 5 ofSB78 6File Committee Bill No.

7895 publishedinnotat lessthanten-pointthe type.Ahearing noticeprescribed ofsuchanapplication for a certificate for a facility described in subdivision (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (a) of section 16-50i16-50m. shall also be sent, by certified or registered mail, to each person appearing of record as an owner of property which abuts the proposed primary or alternative sites on which the facility would be located.

Such notice shall be publishedinnot lessthanten-point type.A notice ofsuchanapplication for a certificate for a facility described in subdivision (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (a) of section 16-50i shall also be sent, by certified or registered mail, to each person appearing of record as an owner of property which abuts the proposed primary or alternative sites on which the facility would be located.

2 October 1, 2025 16-50l(b) ENV Joint Favorable LCOSB78 3855/ 6File ofNo. 6

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95 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the 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:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $ CT Siting Council SCF - Cost See Below See Below Note:

SCF=Siting Council Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill results in a cost to the Connecticut Siting Council, as it requires (on or after October 1, 2025), any Connecticut Siting Council proceeding to include a local electorate from the municipality where a subject facility is being proposed.

In FY 24, the Connecticut Siting Council held23 regular meetings and public hearings.

It is estimated that at each regularly held meeting there could be an additional five to ten local representatives in attendance, resulting in an additional cost of approximately $1,000- $2,000 per meeting ($23,000 - $46,000 annually).

Additional costs may occur if local representatives also attend the public hearings.

The total cost to the fund would be dependent upon the total number of regular meetings and public hearings held, and the total number of local representatives in attendance.

1Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §16-50r and §16-50v, the Council’s budget is financed by fees and assessments paid to the Siting Council Fund.

Public members of the council are compensated for their attendance at public hearings, executive sessions, or other council business at a rate of $200 per activity, capped at $200 a day.

SB78 / File No.

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95 The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the number of meetings and hearings held and the number of compensated representatives in attendance.