You asked for a brief summary of bills the Environment Committee favorably reported to the Finance Committee.

SB. NO. 292 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE CAP ON FEES FOR GENERAL PERMITS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

This bill prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from charging more than twice the current general permit fee for the renewal of a general permit, or when issuing a new general permit to replace one that has expired.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006

S.B. NO. 467 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR CLEAN AIR PROJECTS IN SCHOOLS.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue bonds in an unspecified amount to provide local and regional school boards with grants to adopt and implement air quality programs, conduct uniform inspection and evaluation of indoor air quality, maintain their HVAC systems, and establish and administer indoor air quality committees.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006

S.B. NO. 469 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR REPAIRS AT OCEAN BEACH PARK IN THE CITY OF NEW LONDON AND FOR BOARDWALK REPAIRS IN THE TOWN OF EAST LYME.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $2,350,000 in bonds to repair and replace the boardwalks at Ocean Beach Park in New London and in East Lyme.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006

S.B. NO. 471 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR A SEWER SYSTEM IN SPRAGUE.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $9 million in bonds. Of this amount, $3,500,000 will be used to construct a new sewer plant and related piping in Sprague; $1,500,000 for dam repairs, construction of a new reservoir and filtration system and for temporary provisions of water during construction, and $4 million for environmental remediation at the Mukluk property.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006

S.B. NO. 608 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE EAST RIVER PRESERVE IN GUILFORD.

This bill authorizes the State Bond commission to issue up to $3 million in bonds to preserve the East River preserve in Guilford.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006

S.B. NO. 614 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING LIFETIME FISHING LICENSES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

This bill provides free, lifetime fishing licenses to blind people, people with mental retardation and physically disabled people. It also specifies that free hunting and trapping licenses for physically disabled people are free, lifetime licenses.

Effective date: July 1, 2006

S.B. NO. 643 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR THE REPAIR OF A PEDESTRIAN FISHING PLATFORM IN STONINGTON.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $150,000 to repair the pedestrian fishing platform on the Mason Island Causeway Bridge in Stonington, and to make the new platform handicapped accessible.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006

S.B. NO. 644 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR THE STONINGTON TOWN FISHING FLEET DOCKS.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $250,000 in bonds to upgrade the power facilities at the town fishing fleet docks in Stonington.

Effective date: July 1, 2006.

S.B. NO. 658 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE TO IMPLEMENT THE SHEPAUG RIVER SETTLEMENT.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $3 million in bonds to implement the March 8, 2005 agreement by Waterbury, Washington, Roxbury, the state and certain environmental organizations. Waterbury will use the money to modify its reservoirs to install a new gauging station, new release gates, two pumps and related equipment.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006.

S.B. NO. 659 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING A GREEN BUILDING TAX CREDIT.

This bill allows corporations to receive a tax credit against the corporation business tax of 3% of the cost in a tax year for the amount of new construction or major renovation projects that meet or exceed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design's (LEED) silver rating for new commercial and major renovation projects, as established by LEED and the U.S. Green Building Council, or an equivalent standard.

Effective Date: October 1, 2006

H.B. NO. 5269 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE MOTOR BOAT FUEL TAX AND THE CONSERVATION FUND.

This bill increases the amount of motor boat fuel tax that the Revenue Services commissioner must annually deposit into the Conservation Fund by $500,000, from $3 million to $3.5 million, beginning with FY 04. It also increases the amount from Conservation Fund going to:

1. the boating account from $250,000 to $295,000;

2. the fisheries account from $2 million to $2,330,000; and

3. the University of Connecticut for the Long Island Sound councils from at least $75,000 to at least $125,000.

Effective Date: Upon passage

H.B. NO. 5270 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN OPEN SPACE PARCEL IN THE TOWNS OF ESSEX, OLD SAYBROOK AND WESTBROOK.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $8 million to be used by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to buy about 1,000 acres of undeveloped real property in Essex, Westbrook and Old Saybrook to be preserved as open space.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006

H.B. NO. 5624 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR THE CLEAN WATER FUND.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $70 million in bonds to be deposited in the Clean Water Fund.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006

H.B. NO. 5625 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR LAKE BESECK IN MIDDLEFIELD.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $100,000 in bonds for a lake water quality study and associated lake restoration projects at Lake Beseck in Middlefield.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006

H.B. NO. 5627 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE TO CORRECT FLOODING PROBLEMS IN THE MORRIS COVE SECTION OF NEW HAVEN.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $1 million in bonds for improvements to the Morris Creek stormwater drainage system in New Haven.

Effective date: July 1, 2006

H.B. NO. 5742 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE BOLAND PROPERTY IN WILLIMANTIC.

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $213,000 in bonds to allow the Whitewater Partnership, Inc. to buy the Boland property in Willimantic for use by the public as a launch site for whitewater canoeing and recreation.

Effective date: July 1, 2006

H.B. NO. 5744 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING A PILOT REVENUE PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION AND INVESTMENT IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER, NIANTIC RIVER AND EIGHT MILE RIVER WATERSHED REGIONS.

This bill creates a pilot program authorizing municipalities in certain conservation zones and watersheds to impose a buyer's tax on the conveyance of real property at a rate of up to one half of one percent (0.005%) on consideration paid by the buyer in excess of $150,000.

Effective date: Upon passage, and applicable to conveyances of real property occurring on and after October 1, 2006 and October 1, 2011.

H.B. NO. 5752 (RAISED) AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR FLOOD CONTROL AND OPEN SPACE IN BRIDGEPORT

This bill authorizes the State Bond Commission to issue up to $19 million in bonds to be used by DEP as follows: $7 million for administration and oversight of the Ox Brook flood project and buying or protecting adjacent lands or lands associated with the project as open space; $7 million for administration, oversight and buying land for open space for the Island Brook flood project; and $5 million for administration and oversight of the Northeast flood project.

Effective date: July 1, 2006

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