AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

1. reconstitutes and expands the Bradley International Airport Board of Directors by adding two additional members appointed by the governor;

2. expands the board's authority and its autonomy from the Department of Transportation (DOT);

3. requires the board to study the functions and activities of the board and the airport that are subject to any state law and determine if any such laws prevent or delay the board's ability to discharge its duties and responsibilities;

4. requires the board to report to the Transportation Committee by February 15, 2010 with respect to statutory impediments and any recommendations for changing or repealing them; and

5. designates the towns of Windsor Locks, Suffield, East Granby, and Windsor as the “Bradley Airport Development Zone” and gives businesses within the zone the same benefits, subject to the same conditions, that businesses in an enterprise zone receive.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, for the reconstitution of the board and the study; July 1, 2009, for the changes in the board's authority and autonomy; and October 1, 2009, for establishment of the Bradley Airport Development Zone.

The Bradley board currently consists of seven members as follows: the transportation and economic and community development commissioners serving ex officio; a representative of the Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board appointed by the House speaker; a representative from the Bradley International Community Advisory Board appointed by the House minority leader; and three private sector members appointed, one apiece, by the governor, the Senate president, and the Senate minority leader.

The bill expands the board, beginning July 1, 2009, to nine members by adding two additional private sector members appointed by the governor. It requires the terms of the current board members to expire on June 30, 2009 or when each member's successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later. It also makes appointments to the board subject to the advice and consent of the legislature.

As is currently the case, the bill makes each new member's term four years, or until a successor is appointed and has qualified, whichever is later.

Currently, the Bradley board is empowered to develop, in consultation with the DOT commissioner, an organizational and management structure that will best accomplish the goals of the airport. The bill eliminates the requirement that the board consult with the commissioner to do this. The bill also:

1. authorizes the board to employ managerial employees, as defined by state law, for the airport and establish their salary, which must be paid from the Bradley Enterprise Fund;

2. empowers the board to approve, as well as just review, significant contracts, other than collective bargaining agreements, relating to airport operations;

3. allows the board to select consultants directly rather than only recommend them to DOT for employment, and requires, rather than allows them to be paid from the Bradley Enterprise Fund; and

4. not later than June 30, 2010, requires the board to develop, jointly with the State Contracting Standards Board, a streamlined competitive bidding procedure for the selection of construction contractors, airport vendors, and professional and other services. These procedures must comply with all federal requirements for receipt of federal funds for the airport.

With respect to the new authority to both review and approve significant airport-related contracts, the bill eliminates the current requirement that such reviews be conducted within 10 business days from when the board receives the contract.

The bill requires the Bradley board to study its and the airport's functions and activities under state law and determine if any such laws prevent or delay the board's ability to discharge its duties and responsibilities with respect to operation and development of the airport. It must report to the Transportation Committee by February 15, 2010 with respect to any such law and must (1) describe specifically how it results in prevention or delay and (2) recommend if it should be amended or repealed, or if an exemption should be granted.

The bill designates Windsor Locks, Suffield, East Granby, and Windsor as the Bradley Airport Development Zone. It gives businesses located in the zone the same benefits, subject to the same conditions, that businesses in an enterprise zone receive under state law.

An enterprise zone under state law is a designated area in a Targeted Investment Community. Incentive benefits are provided for eligible business relocation or expansion projects within the zone. Eligible businesses include manufacturers, warehouse distributors (new construction or expansion only), and certain designated service related businesses. Two of the primary benefits are:

1. a five-year, 80% abatement of local property taxes on all qualifying real and personal property that are new to the grand list of the municipality as a direct result of a business relocation, expansion, or renovation project and

2. a 10-year, 25% or 50% credit on that portion of the Connecticut Corporate Business Tax that is directly attributable to the business relocation, expansion or renovation project as determined by the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services and as provided under CGS § 12-217(e).

In order to qualify for the 50% credit, at least 30% of the new employees must be residents of the enterprise zone or residents of the municipality in which the plant is located and eligible under the Federal Job Training Partnership Act.

Yea

Nay

(03/16/2009)