OLR Bill Analysis

HB 5211 (as amended by House "A")*

AN ACT CONCERNING LOCAL SHELLFISH COMMISSIONS.

SUMMARY:

By law, local shellfish commissions must prepare and periodically update a shellfish management plan, which they must submit to the Department of Agriculture (DOAG) commissioner. This bill requires all management plan updates and any comments that DOAG makes regarding them to be in writing and subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

By law, any town, city, or borough, acting through its legislative body or board of selectmen, may establish a shellfish commission or join with other towns, cities, or boroughs in establishing one.

The bill creates a specific exception to the transfer of commercial fishing license law by requiring the Department of Environmental Protection commissioner to authorize the transfer of an active commercial fishing license when the person transferring the license (1) held the license every year from 1980 to 1989, (2) landed summer flounder in this state in at least six of the 10 years, (3) and reported the landings to the commissioner as required by law. Under current law, the commissioner may authorize the transfer of an active commercial fishing license if the person transferring the license landed finfish, lobster, sea scallops, crabs, or squid, as verified by seafood dealer reports, in at least five of the eight calendar years before the transfer request. By law, an “active” commercial fishing license is one that was renewed in the current year.

*House Amendment “A” creates the exception to the law concerning commercial fishing license transfer.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009, except the commercial fishing license exception is effective on passage.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Environment Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference

Government Administration and Elections Committee

Joint Favorable

Planning and Development Committee

Joint Favorable