Appropriations Committee
Transportation Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING JOB CREATION AND HABITAT RESTORATION
SUMMARY: By law, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues special Long Island Sound commemorative number plates to enhance public awareness of efforts to restore and protect the Sound. This act authorizes the DMV commissioner to request an additional $15 voluntary donation when a motorist renews one of these number plates. Ten dollars of every $15 donation must be placed in a habitat restoration matching subaccount, which the act creates. The subaccount is to be administered by the environmental protection (apparently the energy and environmental protection) commissioner. DMV may use the remaining $5 for its administrative costs.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
HABITAT RESTORATION MATCHING SUBACCOUNT
The act creates, within the Long Island Sound account, a habitat restoration matching subaccount to hold money donated by Long Island Sound number plate holders, other public or private sources, and the federal and municipal governments. The energy and environmental protection commissioner must use this money to:
1. match federal and private habitat restoration and rehabilitation funds;
2. provide grants to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to restore and rehabilitate habitats in the Long Island Sound watershed;
3. complete projects to acquire, enhance, and manage wildlife habitats;
4. promote public habitat restoration, rehabilitation, and acquisition outreach within the watershed; and
5. support lobster fishermen harmed by regulatory actions taken to rebuild the Sound's lobster population.
The act authorizes the commissioner to also use money from sources other than the subaccount to restore and rehabilitate habitats in the watershed.
BACKGROUND
Long Island Sound Account
This is a separate, nonlapsing account in the General Fund. Money from the account is used for, among other purposes, restoring and rehabilitating tidal wetlands, acquiring public access to the Sound, educating the public about the Sound's natural resources, and providing research grants to enhance understanding and management of those natural resources (CGS § 22a-27v).
Long Island Sound Commemorative Plate
By law, the DMV commissioner charges a fee for this special number plate in addition to the regular fee or fees prescribed to register a motor vehicle. The additional fee varies, depending on the type of plate chosen (e. g. , vanity, off-the-shelf, or current number).
OLR TRACKING: PF: JK: CR: DF