SB 1496 — AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RELATED STATUTES.

Such LCOlicense-specific 5248landings 12shall ofbe 19verified Raisedby Billseafood No.dealer reports submitted pursuant to section 26-157b.

1496The license-specificrecipient landingsof a transferred commercial lobster pot fishing license or principal commercial fishing license shall be verifiedlimited byto seafoodthe dealernumber reportsof submittedlobster pursuantpots allocated to sectionsuch 26-157b.SB1496 / File No.

The670 recipient12 ofSB1496 aFile transferredNo. commercial lobster pot fishing license or principal commercial fishing license shall be limited to the number of lobster pots allocated to such license,exceptatransfereewhocurrentlyholdsacommerciallobsterpot fishing license, issued pursuant to subsection (f) of section 26-142a, shall be limited to the number of pots allocated to such person's currently held commercial lobster pot fishing license or principal commercial fishing license or to the transferred license, whichever is greater.

670 license,exceptatransfereewhocurrentlyholdsacommerciallobsterpot fishing license, issued pursuant to subsection (f) of section 26-142a, shall be limited to the number of pots allocated to such person's currently held commercial lobster pot fishing license or principal commercial fishing license or to the transferred license, whichever is greater.

LCO(f) 5248A 13transfer of 19a Raisedlicense Billunder this section shall not be made while a commercial fishery license, registration or vessel permit held by the transferor or transferee is under suspension and a transfer shall not be authorized for any transferee who has had a commercial fishery license, registrationorvesselpermitrevokedorsuspendedwithinthepreceding SB1496 / File No.

1496670 (f)13 ASB1496 transferFile ofNo. a license under this section shall not be made while a commercial fishery license, registration or vessel permit held by the transferor or transferee is under suspension and a transfer shall not be authorized for any transferee who has had a commercial fishery license, registrationorvesselpermitrevokedorsuspendedwithinthepreceding twelve months.

670 twelve months.

After prioritizing income-qualified residents, the commissioner may prioritize the granting of rebates or vouchers to residentsofenvironmental justice communitiesprovidedsuchvouchers LCOor 5248rebates 14shall ofbe 19at Raiseda Billlevel No.lower than that provided to income- qualified residents.

1496An eligible municipality, business, nonprofit organization or rebatestribal shallentity bemay atreceive not more than ten rebates or vouchers a levelyear, lowerwithin available funds, and not more than thata providedtotal toof income-twenty qualifiedrebates residents.or vouchers, except the commissioner may issue SB1496 / File No.

An670 eligible14 municipality,SB1496 business,File nonprofitNo. organization or tribal entity may receive not more than ten rebates or vouchers a year, within available funds, and not more than a total of twenty rebates or vouchers, except the commissioner may issue additional rebates or vouchers to an eligible business or nonprofit organization that operates a fleet of motor vehicles exclusively in an environmental justice community.

670 additional rebates or vouchers to an eligible business or nonprofit organization that operates a fleet of motor vehicles exclusively in an environmental justice community.

[, and LCO26-314.] 5248The 15commissioner may adopt regulations under the provisions of 19section Raised23-4 Billfor No.managing the natural area preserves system including, but not limited to, procedures for the adoption and revision of a management plan for each designated natural area preserve.

1496A 26-314.]management Theplan commissioner may adoptpermit regulationsrecreational underactivities thewhich provisionsdo of section 23-4 for managing the natural area preserves system including, but not limitedSB1496 to,/ proceduresFile forNo. the adoption and revision of a management plan for each designated natural area preserve.

A670 management15 planSB1496 mayFile permitNo. recreational activities which do not adversely impact the protected resources of the natural area preserve.

670 adversely impact the protected resources of the natural area preserve.

Subsection (b) of section 22a-208i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from LCOpassage): 5248 16 of 19 Raised Bill No.

1496(b) passage):The commissioner may, by regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54, exempt categories or classes of recycling facilities from the requirements of said section 22a-208a or 22a-430 provided such exemption would not adversely affect the environment and would SB1496 / File No.

(b)670 The16 commissionerSB1496 may,File byNo. regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54, exempt categories or classes of recycling facilities from the requirements of said section 22a-208a or 22a-430 provided such exemption would not adversely affect the environment and would advance theobjectivesofthesolidwaste management planadoptedand revised under sections 22a-228 and 22a-241a.

670 advance theobjectivesofthesolidwaste management planadoptedand revised under sections 22a-228 and 22a-241a.

Subsection (b) of section 22a-260a of the general statutes is LCOrepealed 5248and 17the offollowing 19is Raisedsubstituted Billin No.lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

1496(b) repealedWherever andthe words "Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority" are used in any public or special act of 2014 or in the following issections substitutedof inthe lieugeneral thereofstatutes, (Effectivethe fromwords passage):"Materials Innovation and Recycling SB1496 / File No.

(b)670 Wherever17 theSB1496 wordsFile "ConnecticutNo. Resources Recovery Authority" are used in any public or special act of 2014 or in the following sections of the general statutes, the words "Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority" shall be substituted in lieu thereof:

670 Authority" shall be substituted in lieu thereof:

2 from passage 16a-101 from passage Sec.

3 from passage 22a-151 Sec.

8 from passage 32-1s(b) LCOSec. 5248 18 of 19 Raised Bill No.

1496 Sec.

14 from passage Repealer section ENVSB1496 Joint/ FavorableFile LCONo. 5248 19 of 19

670 18 SB1496 File No.

670 ENV Joint Favorable SB1496 / File No.

670 19 SB1496 File No.

670 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:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill makes various technical and procedural changes as well as conforms statute to existing practice and does not result in a fiscal impact.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None SB1496 / File No.

670 20 SB1496 File No.

670 OLR Bill Analysis SB 1496 AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RELATED STATUTES.

SUMMARY This bill makes numerous changes to statutes affecting the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

Principally, the bill:

1.

expands the list of real assets under DEEP’s control that it may build or repair on its own or with the administrative services commissioner’s approval;

2.

expands the types of “by-product materials” subject to the state’s atomic energy laws to include certain materials made with fusion machines, to align with changes in federal law;

3.

extends the duration of the declarations DEEP issues to comply with interstate fishery management plans;

4.

limits the duration of commercial fishing licenses temporarily transferred due to certain medical situations and requires related documentation;

5.

changes the requirements for prioritizing rebates and vouchers issued under the Connecticut hydrogen and electric automobile purchase rebate (CHEAPR) program;

and 6.

eliminates certain defunct programs and obsolete statutes and makes related conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Upon passage SB1496 / File No.

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670 § 1 — DEEP CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS The bill expands the list of real assets under DEEP’s control that it may independently construct or repair, rather than being administered by the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) or requiring the DAS commissioner’s prior approval.

Under current law, DEEP may independently construct or repair any dam or flood and erosion control system under its control and management.

The bill instead allows it to construct or repair service roads;

trails;

greenways;

bridges;

dams;

flood prevention, climate resilience, and erosion control systems;

and other civil or natural resource infrastructure under the department’s control and management.

By law and under the bill, “flood prevention, climate resilience and erosion control systems” include dams, dikes, berms, piping, jetties, sea walls, and nonstructural and nature-based measures like removing, modifying, or relocating existing structures to prevent or ameliorate flood or erosion damage.

Under current law, the DEEP commissioner may alter, repair, or add to any other real asset she controls and manages, including rented or leased premises, involving the expenditure of (1) up to $500,000 or (2) between $500,000 and $1 million, with the DAS commissioner’s prior approval.

The bill (1) increases these thresholds to $1 million and between $1 million and $3 million, respectively, and (2) requires that they be annually adjusted for inflation beginning July 1, 2028.

Specifically, DAS must annually adjust the thresholds by the percentage change in the U.S.

Department of Labor’s Producer Price Index by Commodity:

Construction (Partial) (WPU80), not seasonally adjusted, or its successor index.

DAS must round the adjustment to the nearest multiple of $100 and post it on its website.

§§ 2 & 3 — DEFINITIONS OF BY-PRODUCT MATERIAL AND FUSION MACHINE The bill modifies the definition of “by-product material” under the state laws on atomic energy and ionizing radiation, which concern DEEP’s coordination and supervision of atomic activities in the state SB1496 / File No.

670 22 SB1496 File No.

670 and regulationof certain radioactive materials, according to federallaw.

Under current law, “by-product material” includes any material that was made radioactive with a particle accelerator for commercial medical, or research uses.

Under the bill, it also includes any material made radioactive with a fusion machine, regardless of use.

Under the bill, as under federal law, a “fusion machine” is a machine capable of (1) transforming atomic nuclei through fusion processes into different particles and (2) directly capturing and using the resulting products, including particles, heat, or other electromagnetic radiation.

§ 4 — DECLARATIONS MADE TO COMPLY WITH INTERSTATE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANS Existing DEEP regulations authorize the commissioner to issue declarations setting or adjusting closed seasons and length, creel, and trip limits to comply with interstate fishery management plans adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission or U.S.

Department of Commerce (Conn.

Agencies Regs., § 26-159a-22).

Currently, the regulations limit these declarations’ maximum duration to 120 days (or days if the commissioner has published a notice of intent to amend the regulation).

The bill instead requires that these declarations remain in effect until new ones are made or the regulation is amended.

§ 5 — COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSE TRANSFERS Existing law allows the DEEP commissioner to temporarily reissue certain commercial fishing licenses (i.e.

principal or general commercial fishing licenses and commercial lobster pot fishing licenses) if (1) the license holder either becomes temporarily incapacitated and unable to fish or operate a vessel or (2) an immediate family member’s medical situation prevents the licensee from fishing.

The bill requires the licensee to submit a written request for the reissuance and include a medical note from the applicable treating practitioner.

The bill also defines “temporary incapacitation” as a reported physical or mental illness or injury that will affect a person for a limited period.

Under current law, the temporary license is valid for the duration of the licensee’s incapacity or family member’s medical situation.

Under SB1496 / File No.

670 23 SB1496 File No.

670 the bill, the temporary license is instead valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which it is issued and the licensee may renew the license and reapply for a temporary transfer license if the incapacity or medical situation continues.

The bill also makes a clarifying change to the law that allows the DEEP commissioner to permanently transfer a commercial fishing license to another person if the original licensee, among other requirements, reported landings to the commissioner for at least 30 fishing days in each year.

The bill specifies that these landings must be license-specific.

§ 6 — CHEAPR PROGRAM By law, the CHEAPR program gives rebates and vouchers to residents, municipalities, businesses, nonprofits, and tribal entities that buy or lease new or used battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles.

CHEAPR rebate or voucher amounts are set administratively by DEEP, subject to certain statutory parameters.

Under current law, DEEP must prioritize the rebates or vouchers to residents (1) of environmental justice communities, (2) with household incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, or (3) who participate in specified state and federal assistance programs.

Current law also requires the rebate or voucher amounts for environmental justice community residents to be at least triple the standard amount (200% more than the standard).

The bill (1) eliminates the requirement that the rebates and vouchers be prioritized for residents of environmental justice communities and (2) requires the rebate or voucher amounts for income-qualified residents be at least double the standard amount (200% of the standard).

Under the bill, after prioritizing income-qualified residents, the commissioner may then prioritize rebates or vouchers to environmental justice community residents, so long as those rebates or vouchers are less than those provided to income-qualified residents.

SB1496 / File No.

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670 By law, an “environmental justice community” is (1) any U.S.

census block group, as determined by the most recent census, for which at least 30% of the population consists of low-income people who are not institutionalized and have an income below 200% of the federal poverty level or (2) a distressed municipality (CGS § 22a-20a).

§§ 7-14 — REPEAL OF DEFUNCT OR OBSOLETE PROGRAMS The bill eliminates the following defunct programs and statutes:

1.

the Face of Connecticut account for acquiring, restoring, or managing specific types of property and related Face of Connecticut Steering Committee which determines how the commissioner spends the account’s funds;

2.

themunicipalsolidwasterecyclingprogram (whichamongother things authorizes grants to municipalities and regional organizations for recycling facilities) and the related advisory councilchargedwithhelpingtheDEEPcommissionerimplement the program;

3.

the Lobster Restoration Advisory Committee, charged with advising the DEEP commissioner on developing a lobster v- notch conservation program to enhance the Long Island Sound’s lobster stock;

and 4.

the Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee, charged with advising the DEEP commissioner on acquiring, designating, and maintaining natural preserve areas, among other things.

COMMITTEE ACTION Environment Committee Joint Favorable Yea 32 Nay 0 (03/24/2025) SB1496 / File No.

670 25