SB 861 — AN ACT WAIVING CERTAIN MEDICAL MARIJUANA FEES FOR VETERANS.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

861233 January Session, 2021 LCOSenate Bill No.

3018861 ReferredSenate, toMarch 31, 2021 The Committee on VETERANS'Veterans' AFFAIRSAffairs Introducedreported by:through SEN.

(VA)CABRERA ANof ACTthe WAIVING17th CERTAINDist., MEDICALChairperson MARIJUANAof FEESthe FORCommittee VETERANS.on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT WAIVING CERTAIN MEDICAL MARIJUANA FEES FOR VETERANS.

If the qualifying patient is underSB861 eighteen/ yearsFile of age and not an emancipated minor, the LCO 3018 \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00861-R01 of 3 SB.docx Raised Bill No.

861233 custodial1 parent,SB861 guardianFile orNo. other person having legal custody of the qualifying patient shall also provide a letter from both the qualifying patient's primary care provider and a physician who is board certified in an area of medicine involved in the treatment of the debilitating condition for which the qualifying patient was certified that confirms thatthepalliativeuseofmarijuanaisinthebestinterestofthequalifying patient.

233 under eighteen years of age and not an emancipated minor, the custodial parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the qualifying patient shall also provide a letter from both the qualifying patient's primary care provider and a physician who is board certified in an area of medicine involved in the treatment of the debilitating condition for which the qualifying patient was certified that confirms thatthepalliativeuseofmarijuanaisinthebestinterestofthequalifying patient.

The commissioner shallcollect suchfee atthetimethequalifying patient registers with the Department of Consumer Protection under LCOSB861 3018/ {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00862File of 3 R01-SB.docx } Raised Bill No.

861233 subsection2 (a)SB861 ofFile sectionNo. 21a-408d, as amended by this act.

233 subsection (a) of section 21a-408d, as amended by this act.

2 October 1, 2021 21a-408m(b) VA Joint Favorable LCOSB861 3018/ {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-00861-File 3No. of 3 R01-SB.docx }

233 3 SB861 File No.

233 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 22 $ FY 23 $ Resources of the General Fund GF - Revenue 270,000 325,000 Loss Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill requires the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to waive the medical marijuana fee for qualifying veterans resulting in an estimated revenue loss to the state of $270,000 in FY 22 and $325,000 in FY 23.

There are over 51,000 medical marijuana patients in the state, and approximately 2,700 of them are veterans.

It costs $100 per year for a medical marijuana license and there are approximately 165,000 veterans in the state.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the number of veterans in the medical marijuana program.

Sources:

Department of Consumer Protection Medical Marijuana Statistics Website SB861 / File No.

233 4 SB861 File No.

233 OLR Bill Analysis SB 861 AN ACT WAIVING CERTAIN MEDICAL MARIJUANA FEES FOR VETERANS.

SUMMARY This bill requires the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to waive the combined $100 application and renewal fee for medical marijuana for qualifying veterans.

Under the bill, a veteran qualifies for the fee waiver if he or she was honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions from active service in the U.S.

Armed Forces (U.S.

Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force, and any reserve component of these branches, including the Connecticut National Guard performing duty under Title 32 of the U.S.

Code (e.g., certain Homeland Security missions)).

The existing $100 fee for applications and renewals is credited to the General Fund and composed of a $25 registration fee and $75 administrative fee (Conn.

Agencies Regs.

§ 21a-408-29).

By law, medical marijuana registrations are valid for up to one year.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2021 BACKGROUND Related Bill HB 5592, favorably reported by the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, expands the general definition of “veteran” under state law to include those released with an other than honorable discharge based on specified qualifying conditions (e.g., military sexual trauma experience, a qualifying mental health condition, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression), as determined under the bill.

In doing so, it expands eligibility for any statutory programs or benefits that reference this definition.

SB861 / File No.