| 16 | 16 | | Section 1. (Effective from passage) There is established a panel on sustainable community rating systems. Such panel shall consist of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection, Housing, Economic and Community Development, Public Health and Transportation, or said secretary's and commissioners' designees. Additionally, such panel shall consist of a member of the Connecticut Green Bank and the chief elected officials, or such officials' designees, of three municipalities, as mutually selected by the cochairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and planning and development. Such panel shall assess the viability of developing a sustainable community rating system in the state. In making such assessment, such panel shall review sustainable community rating systems used on either a national, state or regional level, including, but not limited to, the STAR Community Rating System, the state of New York's Climate Smart Communities Certification Program, Minnesota's Green Step Cities Program and Sustainable Jersey. Such assessment shall include, but not be limited to: (1) Consideration of the need to utilize one or more state agencies to establish such a sustainable community rating system in the state, (2) the availability of a third party to establish such a sustainable community rating system in the state, (3) the benefits of establishing a state and third-party partnership for the establishment of such a sustainable community rating system, (4) the current efforts of municipalities in the state to implement sustainable community practices and policies, and (5) requisite incentives for encouraging municipalities in the state to participate or seek certification as a sustainable community under any such sustainable community ratings system. Not later than January 1, 2016, such panel, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, shall submit a report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment, energy and technology, planning and development, commerce, public health, housing and transportation. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, any recommendations for legislation to establish or assist in the establishment of a sustainable community rating system in the state. |
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