AN ACT CONCERNING THE FACE OF CONNECTICUT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) The Office of Policy and Management, in consultation with regional planning organizations, shall, within available appropriations, establish a "State Responsible Growth Planning Grant Program" to promote and encourage responsible growth planning.

(b) There is established the state responsible growth account, which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund and shall contain any moneys required to be deposited by law for the purpose of funding the grant program established under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The Office of Policy and Management may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes. Such regulations shall establish requirements for applications and criteria to be used in awarding grants under this section.

Sec. 2. Section 4d-90 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2007):

(a) There is established a Geospatial Information Systems Council consisting of the following members, or their designees: (1) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management; (2) the Commissioners of Environmental Protection, Economic and Community Development, Transportation, Public Safety, Public Health, Public Works, Agriculture, Emergency Management and Homeland Security and Social Services; (3) the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Information Technology; (4) the Chancellor of the Connecticut State University system; (5) the president of The University of Connecticut; (6) the Executive Director of the Connecticut Siting Council; (7) one member who is a user of geospatial information systems appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate representing a municipality with a population of more than sixty thousand; (8) one member who is a user of geospatial information systems appointed by the minority leader of the Senate representing a regional planning agency; (9) one member who is a user of geospatial information systems appointed by the Governor representing a municipality with a population of less than sixty thousand but more than thirty thousand; (10) one member who is a user of geospatial information systems appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives representing a municipality with a population of less than thirty thousand; (11) one member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives who is a user of geospatial information systems; (12) the chairperson of the Public Utility Control Authority; (13) the Adjutant General of the Military Department; and (14) any other persons the council deems necessary appointed by the council. The Governor shall select the chairperson from among the members. The chairperson shall administer the affairs of the council. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the authority making the appointment. Members shall receive no compensation for their services on said council, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Said council shall hold one meeting each month and such additional meetings as may be prescribed by council rules. In addition, special meetings may be called by the chairperson or by any three members upon delivery of forty-eight hours written notice to each member.

(b) The council, within available appropriations, shall coordinate a uniform geospatial information system capacity for municipalities, regional planning agencies, the state and others, as needed, which shall include the creation of a map of the state of Connecticut in graphic or electronic form and provisions for (1) creation, maintenance and dissemination of geographic information or imagery that may be used to (A) precisely identify certain locations or areas, or (B) create maps or information profiles in graphic or electronic form about particular locations or areas, and (2) promotion of a forum in which geospatial information may be centralized and distributed. In establishing such capacity, the council shall consult with municipalities, regional planning agencies, state agencies and other users of geospatial information system technology. The purpose of any such system shall be to provide guidance or assistance to municipal and state officials in the areas of land use planning, transportation, economic development, environmental, cultural and natural resources management, the delivery of public services and other areas, as necessary.

(c) The council may apply for federal grants and may accept and expend such grants on behalf of the state through the Office of Policy and Management.

(d) The council, within available appropriations, shall administer a program of technical assistance to municipalities and regional planning agencies to develop geospatial information systems and shall periodically recommend improvements to the geospatial information system provided for in subsection (b) of this section.

(e) On or before January 1, 2006, and annually thereafter, the council shall submit, in accordance with section 11-4a, a report on activities under this section to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to planning and development.

Sec. 3. Section 22-26hh of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

The State Bond Commission shall have power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in [one or more] a lump sum or in a series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate [one hundred seven million seven hundred fifty thousand] two hundred million dollars, the proceeds of which shall be used for the purposes of section 22-26cc, provided not more than [ten] twenty million dollars of said authorization shall be effective July 1, [2006] 2007, and further provided not more than two million dollars shall be used for the purposes of section 22-26jj. All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization, which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 7-131e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2007):

(a) Grant award decisions under the protected open space and watershed land acquisition grant program established under section 7-131d or under the Charter Oak open space grant program established under section 7-131t shall be made by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection at least semiannually. All complete and eligible grant applications shall be acted upon by the commissioner as soon as practicable. A single project may receive a grant in more than one grant cycle, subject to future availability of funds and subject to the limitations set forth in this section and sections 23-78, 12-498 and 7-131d. Up to [two] five per cent of the grant funds may be used for administrative expenses including, but not limited to: (1) Contractors to assist the Department of Environmental Protection in the review and evaluation of grant proposals and baseline data collection for conservation easements; (2) appraisals or appraisal reviews; and (3) preparation of legal and other documents. Administrative expenses may not be used for staff salaries. Not later than September 1, 1998, for the protected open space and watershed land acquisition grant program established under section 7-131d, and not later than September 1, 2000, for the Charter Oak open space grant program account established under section 7-131t, the commissioner shall develop written guidelines and a ranking system for consistency and equity in the distribution of grant awards under the protected open space and watershed land acquisition grant program established under section 7-131d or under the Charter Oak open space grant program account established under section 7-131t based on the criteria listed in subsections (b) and (c) of section 7-131d. Consistent with such criteria, additional consideration shall be given to: (A) Protection of lands adjacent to and complementary to adjacent protected open space land or class I or class II water company lands; (B) equitable geographic distribution of the grants; (C) proximity of a property to urban areas with growth and development pressures or to areas with open space deficiencies and underserved populations; (D) protection of land particularly vulnerable to development incompatible with its natural resource values including the protection of a public water supply source; (E) consistency with the state's plan of conservation and development; (F) multiple protection elements, such as water quality and supply protection, scenic preservation and farmland preservation; (G) the extent to which the presence of already constructed buildings or other manmade improvements diminish or overshadow the natural resource value of a proposed acquisition, or its value relative to its cost; and (H) preservation of forest lands and bodies of water which naturally absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide.

Sec. 5. Section 7-131g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2007):

(a) Subject to the provisions of sections 7-131d to 7-131k, inclusive, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection may (1) where a federal grant is also made, approve grants to municipalities in an amount not to exceed one-half of the nonfederal share of open space land acquisition or development costs, (2) where a federal rehabilitation or innovation grant is made to a municipality under the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-625, 92 Stat. 3538), approve a grant to such municipality not to exceed fifteen per cent of the total project cost of such development or rehabilitation and (3) where a federal grant is not made, may approve grants to municipalities in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(b) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may make grants under the open space and watershed land acquisition program to: (1) Municipalities for acquisition of land for open space under subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (b) of section 7-131d in an amount not to exceed [fifty] sixty-five per cent of the fair market value of a parcel of land or interest in land proposed to be acquired; (2) municipalities for acquisition of land for class I and class II water supply protection under subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of said section 7-131d, in an amount not to exceed sixty-five per cent of such value; (3) nonprofit land conservation organizations for acquisition of land for open space or watershed protection under subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (b) of said section 7-131d, in an amount not to exceed [fifty] sixty-five per cent of such value; (4) water companies for acquisition of land under subdivision (7) of subsection (b) of said section 7-131d, in an amount not to exceed forty per cent of such value provided if such a company proposes in a grant application that it intends to allow access to such land for recreational uses, such company shall seek approval of the Commissioner of Public Health for such access; and (5) distressed municipalities or targeted investment communities, as defined in section 32-9p, or, with the approval of the chief elected official or governing legislative body of such a municipality or community, to a nonprofit land conservation organization, for acquisition of land within that municipality or community, for open space under subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (b) of said section 7-131d, in an amount not to exceed [sixty-five] seventy-five per cent of such value or for performance of work in the restoration, enhancement or protection of resources in an amount not to exceed fifty per cent of the cost of such work. Applicants for grants under the program shall provide a copy of the application to the chairperson of the review board established under section 7-131e, as amended by this act. The board shall provide comments to the commissioner on pending applications as it deems necessary.

(c) For purposes of this subsection, the fair market value of land or interest in land shall be determined by one or more appraisals satisfactory to the commissioner and shall not include incidental costs, including, but not limited to, surveying, development or closing costs. The commissioner may consider a portion of the fair market value of a donation of land by an entity receiving a grant as a portion of the matching funds required under this subsection. No other funds made available by the state may be used by a potential grantee as matching funds under the program.

(d) To the extent there is a balance of bonds authorized but not allocated by the State Bond Commission on or after July 1, 1998, pursuant to any bond act for the purposes of (1) the recreation and natural heritage trust program established under sections 23-73 to 23-79, inclusive, and (2) the municipal open space grant program established under sections 7-131c to 7-131g, inclusive, the State Bond Commission shall authorize the issuance of such balance only for the purposes described in section 23-74 and sections 23-75 and 7-131d and in two substantially equal installments one in each half of the fiscal year commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999.

Sec. 6. (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate two hundred forty million dollars.

(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of funding the protected open space and watershed land acquisition grant program established under section 7-131d of the general statutes.

(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

Sec. 7. (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred eighty million dollars.

(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of funding the Connecticut recreation and natural heritage trust program created by sections 23-74 to 23-80, inclusive, of the general statutes.

(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority shall administer, in consultation with the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, established pursuant to section 10-392 of the general statutes, and the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, established pursuant to special act 75-93, a grant program to fund city and village restoration programs, including, but not limited to, the rehabilitation of historic urban neighborhoods and stimulation of affordable housing and mixed use development in historic buildings. Such grants shall be awarded prior to the commencement of any development for the purposes of site assembly and brownfields remediation.

(b) There is established the historic cities and villages account which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. Such account shall contain any moneys required to be deposited by law and shall be used to fund the grant program established in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) In each fiscal year that there are funds available in the historic cities and villages account, the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, established pursuant to section 10-392 of the general statutes, in consultation with the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, established pursuant to special act 75-93, shall administer a matching grant program to fund the planning and restoration of historic municipal buildings.

Sec. 9. (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred forty million dollars.

(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be deposited in the historic cities and villages account established under section 8 of this act for the purpose of funding the programs specified in section 8 of this act.

(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, established pursuant to special act 75-93, shall administer a matching grants program to fund community efforts to plan for preservation, identify and evaluate historic resources and register properties on the state or national Register of Historic Places.

(b) There is established the historic registration account, which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. Such account shall contain any moneys required to be deposited by law and shall be used to fund the matching grant program established in subsection (a) of this section.

Sec. 11. (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate ten million dollars.

(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be deposited in the historic registration account established under section 10 of this act, for the purpose of funding the matching grant program established under section 10 of this act.

(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

Sec. 12. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, established pursuant to section 10-392 of the general statutes, in consultation with the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, established pursuant to special act 75-93, shall administer a matching grant program to fund the preservation of historic landscapes and buildings, including, but not limited to: Barns and other farm buildings, scenic roads, town greens, stone walls, archeological sites, cemeteries, estates or formal gardens. Such funds shall be used for easement acquisition, structural assessments, feasibility studies and restoration.

(b) There is established the historic landscape account, which shall be a separate nonlapsing account within the General Fund. Such account shall contain any moneys required to be deposited by law and shall be used to fund the matching grant program established in subsection (a) of this section.

Sec. 13. (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate fifty million dollars.

(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be deposited in the historic landscape account established in section 12 of this act for the purpose of funding the matching grant program established in section 12 of this act.

(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of Agriculture shall convene a Best Management Practices Committee that shall consist of representatives of: The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environmental Protection, The University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension Service, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and the United States Department of Agriculture. The committee shall review currently utilized and accepted best management practices, nutrient management plans and integrated pest management, make recommendations to enhance the environmental quality of farms, and submit such recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of 11-41 of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment. The committee shall establish cost-sharing funding levels for best management practices that the Commissioner of Agriculture shall administer.

(b) The Commissioner of Agriculture may provide cost-sharing or matching grant moneys for any federal funding allocated for a similar purpose, with funds available through bond authorization pursuant to section 15 of this act, to assist and promote best management practices. For purposes of this section, "cost-sharing or matching grant moneys" means all contributions, including cash and third party in-kind donations that are approved by the commissioner.

Sec. 15. (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate ninety million dollars.

(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of section 14 of this act.

(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) The Department of Environmental Protection shall administer, within available appropriations, a community stewardship grant program to provide individual grants of not more than thirty thousand dollars to municipalities and land trusts for stewardship programs including, but not limited to, the development of public access on preserved land and the control of invasive plant species.

(b) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54 of the general statutes, to carry out the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall establish requirements for applications and criteria to be used in awarding grants under this section.

Sec. 17. (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate ten million dollars.

(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of funding the community stewardship grant program established in section 16 of this act.

(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

Sec. 18. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) There is established the Long Island stewardship account, a separate, nonlapsing account within the Long Island Sound account. The account may receive any funds required by law to be deposited into the account. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may receive private donations and funds from the federal government for deposit in the account.

(b) All moneys deposited in the account shall be used by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection for the provision of grants to restore access and habitats along the coast.

Sec. 19. (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate thirty-five million dollars.

(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of funding the grant program established in section 18 of this act.

(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

Sec. 20. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) The Department of Environmental Protection shall provide matching grants, within available appropriations, to assist land trusts to improve organizational development and land protection, as well as to support education and innovative strategies for land protection.

Sec. 21. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2007) A municipality may repay its portion of a state matching grant for the preservation of farm land or open space land in equal installments during the ten-year period after the grant is made. If the grant is repaid in five years or less, no interest on such grant shall be charged to the municipality. The interest rate during the final four years of payment shall be the prime rate in effect for the first day of the month such payment is due, minus one per cent.

Sec. 22. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of one million one hundred fifty thousand dollars is appropriated to the state responsible growth account established in section 1 of this act, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, for the State Responsible Growth Planning Grant Program established in section 1 of this act.

Sec. 23. (Effective July 1, 2008) The sum of one million one hundred fifty thousand dollars is appropriated to the state responsible growth account established in section 1 of this act, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, for the State Responsible Growth Planning Grant Program established in section 1 of this act.

Sec. 24. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of two million dollars is appropriated to the Office of Policy and Management, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, for a grant to the Geospatial Information Systems Council.

Sec. 25. (Effective July 1, 2008) The sum of two million dollars is appropriated to the Office of Policy and Management, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, for a grant to the Geospatial Information Systems Council.

Sec. 26. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of one million one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, for the hiring of five additional state forest land managers and additional state parks staff.

Sec. 27. (Effective July 1, 2008) The sum of one million one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, for the hiring of five additional state forest land managers and additional state parks staff.

Sec. 28. (Effective July 1, 2007) The sum of sixty thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, for the matching grants program established in section 20 of this act.

Statement of Purpose:

To protect the health and economic well-being of Connecticut's communities by assisting our municipalities in restoring and preserving the natural, agricultural and historic resources that constitute the face of Connecticut.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]