Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00998 Latest Draft

Bill / Comm Sub Version Filed 04/10/2019

                             
 
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General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 998  
January Session, 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING MI NOR REVISIONS TO ENVIRONMENT 
RELATED STATUTES.  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. Subsections (d) and (e) of section 15-154 of the general 1 
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2 
(Effective from passage): 3 
(d) Upon the immediate approach of a law enforcement vessel using 4 
an audible signal device [and] or flashing blue lights or a fire rescue 5 
vessel using an audible signal device [and] or flashing red or yellow 6 
lights, any person operating a vessel shall immediately slow to a speed 7 
sufficient to maintain steerage only, shall alter course, within its 8 
ability, so as not to inhibit or interfere with the operation of the law 9 
enforcement vessel or fire rescue vessel, and shall proceed, unless 10 
otherwise directed by an officer in the law enforcement vessel or fire 11 
rescue vessel, at a reduced speed until beyond the area of operation of 12 
the law enforcement vessel or fire rescue vessel. Any person operating 13 
a vessel who wilfully or negligently obstructs or retards any law 14 
enforcement or fire rescue vessel answering an emergency call or in 15 
pursuit of fleeing law violators shall be fined not more than two 16 
hundred fifty dollars. 17 
(e) Any person operating a vessel passing within two hundred feet 18  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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of a stationary law enforcement vessel using an audible signal device 19 
[and] or flashing blue lights or a stationary fire rescue vessel using 20 
flashing red or yellow lights shall reduce speed to a speed of slow-no-21 
wake until there is a distance of more than two hundred feet between 22 
such person's vessel and the law enforcement vessel or fire rescue 23 
vessel. For purposes of this subsection, "slow-no-wake" means 24 
operation of a vessel at a speed that does not produce more than a 25 
minimum wake and is not greater than six miles per hour over ground, 26 
unless a higher minimum speed is necessary to maintain steerage 27 
when traveling with a strong current. 28 
Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 22a-6o of the general statutes is 29 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 30 
passage): 31 
(b) The applicant or licensee and the proposed transferee shall 32 
register any such proposed transfer of an application for a license or a 33 
license, as applicable, with the commissioner within thirty days of the 34 
transfer of ownership of the facility for which the license is sought or 35 
has been issued. Such registration shall be on forms to be prescribed by 36 
the commissioner and accompanied by a fee established by the 37 
commissioner to cover costs of processing the transfer of the 38 
application for a license or the license, as applicable. Upon receipt of a 39 
registration of a proposed transfer of an application for a license or a 40 
license pursuant to this section, if the commissioner determines that 41 
the transferee is able to comply with the terms and conditions of the 42 
application for a license or license, as applicable, the commissioner 43 
shall send a notice to the applicant for a license or the licensee, as 44 
applicable, and the proposed transferee which confirms the 45 
registration and acknowledges the applicability of the application for a 46 
license or license to the transferee. The commissioner may include in 47 
such transferred license any new conditions as may be necessary to 48 
enable the transferee to comply with the original terms and conditions 49 
of the license. 50 
Sec. 3. Subsections (c) and (d) of section 22a-58 of the general 51  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 52 
(Effective from passage): 53 
(c) Private applicators shall maintain a record with respect to each 54 
use of restricted use pesticides, which shall include, but not be limited 55 
to, the following information: (1) The name of the applicator, (2) the 56 
kind and amount of pesticide used, (3) the date and place of 57 
application, and (4) the crop or site treated and the amount of acreage 58 
treated. [A copy of the record shall be submitted to the commissioner 59 
on or before January thirty-first for the preceding calendar year in 60 
which the application was made.] Such record shall be: (A) Compiled 61 
in a format that may be prescribed by the commissioner, (B) 62 
maintained by the private applicator for a period of not less than five 63 
years from the date the record is made, and (C) made available to the 64 
commissioner upon request. 65 
(d) Commercial applicators shall maintain records with respect to 66 
their use of and supervision of the use of pesticides. Such records shall 67 
be maintained for not less than five years after the date of application 68 
and shall include, but not be limited to, the (1) name and certification 69 
number of the commercial supervisor and the commercial operator, (2) 70 
kind and amount of pesticide used, (3) date and place of application, 71 
(4) pest treated for, and (5) crop or site treated. [A summary of the 72 
items maintained under subdivisions (1) and (2) shall be submitted to 73 
the commissioner on or before January thirty-first for the preceding 74 
calendar year in which the application was made on such form as the 75 
commissioner may prescribe.] Such records shall be: (A) Compiled in a 76 
format that may be prescribed by the commissioner, (B) maintained by 77 
the commercial applicator for a period of not less than five years from 78 
the date such records are made, and (C) made available to the 79 
commissioner upon request. 80 
Sec. 4. Section 22a-66g of the general statutes is repealed and the 81 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):  82 
(a) A pesticide application business shall maintain records for not 83  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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less than five years from the date such record is made or amended, 84 
whichever is later. The record shall indicate: 85 
(1) For each application of a pesticide made on behalf of the 86 
business, (A) the name and certification number of the commercial 87 
supervisor and the commercial operator, (B) the kind and amount of 88 
pesticide used and the amount of acreage treated, if applicable, (C) the 89 
date and place of application, (D) the pest treated for, and (E) the crop 90 
or site treated; 91 
(2) A list of the names and corresponding Environmental Protection 92 
Agency registration numbers of any pesticide applied by the business; 93 
and 94 
(3) The name and applicator certification number of each certified 95 
commercial pesticide applicator, operator or supervisory, who is an 96 
employee or agent of the business, and a list of the types of 97 
applications which each is performing. 98 
(b) Information required under subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of 99 
this section may be kept separately from the records required by 100 
subdivision (1) of said subsection or may be integrated with such 101 
records by including on the record of each pesticide application the full 102 
name and Environmental Protection Agency registration number of 103 
the pesticide used. 104 
(c) All records and information required to be kept pursuant to this 105 
section shall be kept at the registrant's place of business, shall be made 106 
available to the commissioner upon request and may be inspected by 107 
the commissioner pursuant to section 22a-59. If the registrant's place of 108 
business is outside of the state, the records and information shall be 109 
made available to the commissioner at a location in the state not more 110 
than ten days after receipt of a request for inspection from the 111 
commissioner. 112 
(d) A pesticide application business shall, upon written request, 113 
provide a customer with a copy of the record which is required to be 114  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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kept pursuant to this section and which pertains to a pesticide 115 
application performed for that customer. 116 
Sec. 5. Subsection (c) of section 22-11h of the general statutes is 117 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 118 
passage): 119 
(c) Individual structures used for aquaculture as defined in section 120 
22-11c, including, but not limited to, racks, cages or bags, as well as 121 
buoys marking such structures, which [do not otherwise require] have 122 
a permit under federal Army Corps of Engineers regulations and do 123 
not interfere with navigation in designated or customary boating or 124 
shipping lanes and channels, shall be placed in leased or designated 125 
shellfish areas and shall be exempt from the requirements of sections 126 
22a-359 to 22a-363f, inclusive. 127 
Sec. 6. Section 22a-73 of the general statutes is repealed and the 128 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 129 
(a) To carry out and effectuate the purposes and policies of this 130 
chapter it is the public policy of the state to encourage municipal 131 
participation by means of regulation of activities causing noise 132 
pollution within the territorial limits of the various municipalities. To 133 
that end, any municipality may develop and establish a 134 
comprehensive program of noise regulation. Such program may 135 
include a study of the noise problems resulting from uses and activities 136 
within its jurisdiction and its development and adoption of a noise 137 
control ordinance. 138 
(b) Any municipality may adopt, amend and enforce a noise control 139 
ordinance which may include the following: (1) Noise levels which 140 
will not be exceeded in specified zones or other designated areas; (2) 141 
designation of a noise control officer and the designation of an existing 142 
board or commission, or the establishment of a new board or 143 
commission to direct such program; (3) implementation procedures of 144 
such program and the relation of such program to other plans within 145  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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the jurisdiction of the municipality; (4) procedures for assuring 146 
compliance with state and federal noise regulations; (5) noise level 147 
restrictions applicable to construction activities, including limitation on 148 
on-site hours of operation. 149 
(c) [No ordinance shall be effective until such ordinance has been 150 
approved by the commissioner. No] Any such ordinance shall be 151 
[approved unless it is in conformity with] at least as stringent as any 152 
state noise control plan, including ambient noise standards, adopted 153 
pursuant to section 22a-69 or any standards or regulations adopted by 154 
the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection 155 
Agency pursuant to the Noise Control Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-574) or any 156 
amendment thereto. Notwithstanding the provisions of this 157 
subsection, any municipality may adopt m ore stringent noise 158 
standards than those adopted by the commissioner. [, provided such 159 
standards are approved by the commissioner.] 160 
Sec. 7. Section 23-53 of the general statutes is repealed and the 161 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 162 
The Governor on behalf of this state is authorized to enter into a 163 
compact, substantially in the following form, with any one or more of 164 
the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, 165 
Rhode Island and Vermont and with such other states of the United 166 
States or provinces of the Dominion of Canada as may legally join 167 
therein: 168 
NORTHEASTERN INTERSTATE FOREST FIRE 169 
PROTECTION COMPACT 170 
ARTICLE I 171 
The purpose of this compact is to promote effective prevention and 172 
control of forest fires in the northeastern region of the United States 173 
and adjacent areas in Canada by the development of integrated forest 174 
fire plans, by the maintenance of adequate forest fire fighting services 175  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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by the member states, by providing for mutual aid in fighting forest 176 
fires among the states of the region and for procedures that will 177 
facilitate such aid, and by the establishment of a central agency to 178 
coordinate the services of member states and perform such common 179 
services as member states may deem desirable. 180 
ARTICLE II 181 
This agreement shall become operative immediately as to those 182 
states ratifying it whenever any two or more of the states of Maine, 183 
New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and 184 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have ratified it and the Congress 185 
has given its consent. Any state not mentioned in this article which is 186 
contiguous with any member state may become a party to this 187 
compact. Subject to the consent of the Congress of the United States, 188 
any province of the Dominion of Canada which is contiguous with any 189 
member state may become a party to this compact by taking such 190 
action as its laws and the laws of the Dominion of Canada may 191 
prescribe for ratification. In this event, the term "state" in this compact 192 
shall include within its meaning the term "province" and the 193 
procedures prescribed shall be applied in the instance of such 194 
provinces, in accordance with the forms and practices of the Canadian 195 
government. 196 
ARTICLE III 197 
Each state joining herein shall appoint three representatives to a 198 
commission hereby designated as the Northeastern Forest Fire 199 
Protection Commission. One shall be the state forester or officer 200 
holding an equivalent position in such state who is responsible for 201 
forest fire control. The second shall be a member of the legislature of 202 
such state designated by the commission or committee on interstate 203 
cooperation of such state, or if there be none, or if said commission on 204 
interstate cooperation cannot constitutionally designate the said 205 
member, such legislator shall be designated by the governor thereof; 206 
provided that if it is constitutionally impossible to appoint a legislator 207  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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as a commissioner from such state, the second member shall be 208 
appointed by the governor of said state in his discretion. The third 209 
member shall be a person designated by the governor as the 210 
responsible representative of the governor. In the event that any 211 
province of the Dominion of Canada shall become a member of this 212 
commission, it shall designate three members who will approximate 213 
this pattern of representation to the extent possible under the law and 214 
practices of such province. This commission shall be a body corporate 215 
with the powers and duties set forth herein. 216 
ARTICLE IV 217 
It shall be the duty of the commission to make inquiry and ascertain 218 
from time to time such methods, practices, circumstances and 219 
conditions as may be disclosed for bringing about the prevention and 220 
control of forest fires in the area comprising the member states, to 221 
coordinate the forest fire plans and the work of the appropriate 222 
agencies of the member states and to facilitate the rendering of aid by 223 
the member states to each other in fighting forest fires. 224 
The commission shall formulate and, in accordance with need, from 225 
time to time, revise a regional forest fire plan for the entire region 226 
covered by the compact which shall serve as a common forest fire plan 227 
for that area. 228 
The commission shall, more than one month prior to any regular 229 
meeting of the legislature in any signatory state, present to the 230 
governor and to the legislature of the state its recommendations 231 
relating to enactments to be made by the legislature of that state in 232 
furthering the interests and purposes of this compact. 233 
The commission shall consult with and advise the appropriate 234 
administrative agencies of the states party hereto with regard to 235 
problems connected with the prevention and control of forest fires and 236 
recommend the adoption of such regulations as it deems advisable. 237 
The commission shall have power to recommend to the signatory 238  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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states any and all measures that will effectuate the prevention and 239 
control of forest fires. 240 
ARTICLE V 241 
Any two or more member states may designate the Northeastern 242 
Forest Fire Protection Commission as a joint agency to maintain such 243 
common services as those states deem desirable for the prevention and 244 
control of forest fires. Except in those cases where all member states 245 
join in such designation for common services, the representatives of 246 
any group of such designating states in the Northeastern Forest Fire 247 
Protection Commission shall constitute a separate section of such 248 
commission for the performance of the common service or services so 249 
designated provided that, if any additional expense is involved, the 250 
state so acting shall appropriate the necessary funds for this purpose. 251 
The creation of such a section as a joint agency shall not affect the 252 
privileges, powers, responsibilities or duties of the states participating 253 
therein as embodied in the other articles of this compact. 254 
ARTICLE VI 255 
The commission may request the United States Forest Service to act 256 
as the primary research and coordinating agency of the Northeastern 257 
Forest Fire Protection Commission, in cooperation with the 258 
appropriate agencies in each state and the United States Forest Service 259 
may accept the initial responsibility in preparing and presenting to the 260 
commission its recommendations with respect to the regional fire plan. 261 
Representatives of the United States Forest Service may attend 262 
meetings of the commission and of groups of member states. 263 
ARTICLE VII 264 
The commission shall annually elect from its members a chairman 265 
and a vice-chairman. The commission shall appoint such officers or 266 
employees as may be required to carry the provisions of this compact 267 
into effect, shall fix and determine their duties, qualifications and 268 
compensation, and may at its pleasure, remove or discharge any such 269  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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officer or employee. The commission shall adopt rules and regulations 270 
for the conduct of its business. It may establish and maintain one or 271 
more offices for the transaction of its business and may meet at any 272 
time or place but must meet at least once a year. 273 
A majority of the members of the commission representing a 274 
majority of the signatory states shall constitute a quorum for the 275 
transaction of its general business, but no action of the commission 276 
imposing any obligation on any signatory state shall be binding unless 277 
a majority of the members from such signatory state shall have voted 278 
in favor thereof. For the purpose of conducting its general business, 279 
voting shall be by state units. 280 
The representatives of any two or more member states, upon notice 281 
to the chairman as to the time and purpose of the meeting, may meet 282 
as a section for the discussion of problems common to those states. 283 
Sections established by groups of member states shall have the same 284 
powers with respect to officers, employees and the maintenance of 285 
offices as are granted by this article to the commission. Sections may 286 
adopt such rules, regulations and procedures as may be necessary for 287 
the conduct of their business. 288 
ARTICLE VIII 289 
It shall be the duty of each member state to formulate and put in 290 
effect a forest fire plan for that state and to take such measures as may 291 
be recommended by the commission to integrate such forest fire plan 292 
with regional forest fire plan. 293 
Whenever the state forest fire control agency of a member state 294 
requests aid from the state forest fire control agency of any other 295 
member state in combatting, controlling or preventing forest fires, it 296 
shall be the duty of the state forest fire control agency of that state to 297 
render all possible aid to the requesting agency which is consonant 298 
with the maintenance of protection at home. 299  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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Each signatory state agrees to render aid to the Forest Service or 300 
other agencies of the government of the United States in combatting, 301 
controlling or preventing forest fires in areas under their jurisdiction 302 
located within the member state or a contiguous member state. 303 
ARTICLE IX 304 
Whenever the forces of any member state are rendering outside aid 305 
pursuant to the request of another member state under this compact, 306 
the employees of such state shall, under the direction of the officers of 307 
the state to which they are rendering aid, have the same powers 308 
(except the power of arrest), duties, rights, privileges and immunities 309 
as comparable employees of the state to which they are rendering aid. 310 
No member state or its officers or employees rendering outside aid 311 
pursuant to this compact shall be liable on account of any act or 312 
omission on the part of such forces while so engaged, or on account of 313 
the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection 314 
therewith. 315 
All liability that may arise either under the laws of the requesting 316 
state or under the laws of the aiding state or under the laws of a third 317 
state on account of or in connection with a request for aid, shall be 318 
assumed and borne by the requesting state. 319 
Any member state rendering outside aid pursuant to this compact 320 
shall be reimbursed by the member state receiving such aid for any 321 
loss or damage to, or expense incurred in the operation of any 322 
equipment answering a request for aid, and for the cost of all 323 
materials, transportation, wages, salaries, and maintenance of 324 
employees and equipment incurred in connection with such request. 325 
Provided, that nothing herein contained shall prevent any assisting 326 
member state from assuming such loss, damage, expense or other cost 327 
or from loaning such equipment or from donating such services to the 328 
receiving member state without charge or cost. 329 
Each member state shall provide for the payment of compensation 330  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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and death benefits to injured employees and the representatives of 331 
deceased employees in case employees sustain injuries or are killed 332 
while rendering outside aid pursuant to this compact, in the same 333 
manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were sustained 334 
within such state. 335 
For the purposes of this compact the term employee shall include 336 
any volunteer or auxiliary legally included within the forest fire 337 
fighting forces of the aiding state under the laws thereof. 338 
The commission shall formulate procedures for claims and 339 
reimbursement under the provisions of this article. 340 
Aid by a member state to an area subject to federal jurisdiction 341 
beyond the borders of such state shall not be required under this 342 
compact unless substantially the same provisions of this article relative 343 
to powers, liabilities, losses and expenses in connection with such aid 344 
are embodied in federal laws. 345 
The provisions of this article that relate to the rendering of outside 346 
aid in combating, controlling or preventing forest fires shall be 347 
applicable to the provision of such aid by any state that is party to this 348 
compact to any other state that is party to a regional forest fire 349 
protection compact in another region provided the legislature of such 350 
other state assents to the outside aid provisions of this compact. 351 
ARTICLE X 352 
When appropriations for the support of this commission or for the 353 
support of common services maintained by the commission or a 354 
section thereof under the provisions of article V are necessary, the 355 
commission or a section thereof shall allocate the costs among the 356 
states affected with consideration of the amounts of forested land in 357 
those states that will receive protection from the service to be rendered 358 
and the extent of the forest fire problem involved in each state, and 359 
shall submit its recommendations accordingly to the legislatures of the 360 
affected states. 361  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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The commission shall submit to the governor of each state, at such 362 
time as he may request, a budget of its estimated expenditures for such 363 
period as may be required by the laws of such state for presentation to 364 
the legislature thereof. 365 
The commission shall keep accurate books of account, showing in 366 
full its receipts and disbursements, and said books of account shall be 367 
open at any reasonable time to the inspection of such representatives 368 
of the respective signatory states as may be duly constituted for that 369 
purpose. 370 
On or before the first day of December of each year, the commission 371 
shall submit to the respective governors of the signatory states a full 372 
and complete report of its activities for the preceding year.  373 
ARTICLE XI 374 
The representatives from any member state may appoint and 375 
consult with an advisory committee composed of persons interested in 376 
forest fire protection. 377 
The commission may appoint and consult wi th an advisory 378 
committee of representatives of all affected groups, private and 379 
governmental. 380 
ARTICLE XII 381 
The commission may accept any and all donations, gifts and grants 382 
of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services from the federal 383 
or any local government, or any agency thereof and from any person, 384 
firm or corporation, for any of its purposes and functions under this 385 
compact, and may receive and utilize the same subject to the terms, 386 
conditions and regulations governing such donations, gifts and grants.  387 
ARTICLE XIII 388 
Nothing in this compact shall be construed to authorize or permit 389  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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any member state to curtail or diminish its forest fire fighting forces, 390 
equipment, services or facilities, and it shall be the duty and 391 
responsibility of each member state to maintain adequate forest fire 392 
fighting forces and equipment to meet normal demands for forest fire 393 
protection within its borders. 394 
Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit or restrict the 395 
powers of any state ratifying the same to provide for the prevention, 396 
control and extinguishment of forest fires, or to prohibit the enactment 397 
or enforcement of state laws, rules or regulations intended to aid in 398 
such prevention, control and extinguishment in such state. 399 
Nothing in this compact shall be construed to affect any existing or 400 
future cooperative relationship or arrangement between the United 401 
States Forest Service and a member state or states. 402 
ARTICLE XIV 403 
This compact shall continue in force and remain binding on each 404 
state ratifying it until the legislature or the governor of such state takes 405 
action to withdraw therefrom. Such action shall not be effective until 406 
six months after notice thereof has been sent by the chief executive of 407 
the state desiring to withdraw to the chief executives of all states then 408 
parties to the compact. 409 
Sec. 8. Subsection (c) of section 23-65h of the general statutes is 410 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 411 
passage): 412 
(c) An application for the certification as a forest practitioner shall 413 
be made to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection 414 
and shall contain such information regarding the applicant's 415 
qualifications and proposed operations and other relevant matters as 416 
the commissioner deems necessary. 417 
(1) The commissioner shall require the applicant for forester 418 
certification to demonstrate, upon examination, that he possesses 419  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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adequate knowledge concerning the proper application of forest 420 
management techniques, the ecological and environmental 421 
consequences of harvesting activity and mitigating measures to be 422 
employed to minimize possible adverse impacts on environmental 423 
conditions within the harvest area. 424 
(2) The commissioner shall require the applicant for supervising 425 
forest products harvester certification to demonstrate, upon 426 
examination, that [he] the applicant possesses adequate knowledge 427 
concerning techniques and procedures normally employed in the 428 
conduct and supervision of a harvest operation, the safe and 429 
environmentally responsible operation of harvesting equipment, and 430 
mitigating measures to be employed to minimize possible adverse 431 
impacts of harvesting activity on environmental conditions within the 432 
harvest area. 433 
(3) The commissioner shall require the applicant for forest products 434 
harvester certification to demonstrate, upon examination, that [he] the 435 
applicant possesses adequate knowledge concerning techniques and 436 
procedures normally employed in the conduct of a harvest operation 437 
and the safe and environmentally responsible operation of harvesting 438 
equipment, except that an applicant who demonstrates to th e 439 
satisfaction of the commissioner that [he] the applicant has engaged in 440 
commercial forest practices at least once per year for the ten years 441 
immediately preceding October 1, 1991, shall be exempt from such 442 
examination requirement. 443 
(4) (A) If the commissioner finds that the applicant is competent 444 
with respect to the required qualifications, including those provided in 445 
section 23-65o, [he] the commissioner shall certify the applicant to 446 
perform such forest practices as appropriate to the requested 447 
certification. The certification shall be valid for a period not to exceed 448 
five years and may be renewed by the commissioner with or without 449 
further examination. The commissioner may establish regulations for 450 
forest practitioner certification so that one-fifth of the certificates expire 451 
each year. The commissioner may certify a forest practitioner for less 452  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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than five years and prorate the registration fee accordingly to 453 
implement the regulations established pursuant to this subsection. 454 
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this 455 
subdivision, the commissioner may grant a sixty-day extension for any 456 
forest practitioner who failed to submit a complete application for 457 
renewal prior to the expiration date of such forest practitioner's 458 
certification. Such forest practitioner shall submit a complete 459 
application for renewal within such sixty-day extension period. Any 460 
renewed certification issued by the commissioner pursuant to this 461 
subparagraph shall not require reexamination by such forest 462 
practitioner prior to such issuance but shall require the submission of 463 
an additional fee, as determined by the commissioner. 464 
(5) If the commissioner finds that the applicant is not competent 465 
with respect to the requirements for the requested certification, the 466 
commissioner shall refuse to issue the applicant a certificate. The 467 
commissioner shall inform the applicant of the refusal in writing, 468 
giving the reasons for such refusal. Any person aggrieved by such 469 
refusal may, within thirty days from date of issuance of such denial, 470 
request a hearing before the commissioner, which hearing shall be 471 
conducted in accordance with chapter 54. 472 
(6) The commissioner may certify without examination any person 473 
who is certified: [in] (A) In another state under a law which provides 474 
substantially similar qualifications for certification and which grants 475 
similar privileges of certification without examination to residents of 476 
this state certified under the provisions of this section, or (B) through 477 
examination by the Society of American Foresters, or a similar 478 
organization, that provides substantially similar qualifications for 479 
certification provided such person can demonstrate knowledge of the 480 
forestry laws of this state to the commissioner's satisfaction. 481 
(7) The commissioner may, by regulation, adopted in accordance 482 
with the provisions of chapter 54, prescribe fees for applicants to 483 
defray the cost of administering examinations and carrying out the 484  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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provisions of this chapter. A state or municipal employee who engages 485 
in activities for which certification is required by this section solely as 486 
part of his employment shall be exempt from payment of a fee. Any 487 
certificate issued to a state or municipal employee for which a fee has 488 
not been paid shall be void upon termination of such government 489 
employment. 490 
(8) The commissioner may require the display of a decal or other 491 
evidence, indicating that a commercial forest practitioner has met the 492 
requirements of sections 23-65f to 23-65o, inclusive, in a prominent 493 
place on any licensed motor vehicle used in the practitioner's 494 
operations. A fee may be charged to the certified practitioner to cover 495 
the cost of the decal or other evidence. 496 
(9) The commissioner shall require all forest practitioners certified 497 
under sections 23-65f to 23-65o, inclusive, to participate [biennially] in 498 
a relevant program of professional education to improve or maintain 499 
professional forestry skills that is sponsored by the Department of 500 
Energy and Environmental Protection, the New England Society of 501 
American Foresters, The University of Connecticut, Yale University or 502 
the Connecticut cooperative extension system, or participation in 503 
another program approved by the department. Such professional 504 
education shall take place during the recertification cycle and be in 505 
accordance with the prescribed schedule set forth in regulations 506 
adopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. 507 
Sec. 9. Section 23-65i of the general statutes is repealed and the 508 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 509 
(a) Each certified forester, except any state employee who engages 510 
in activities regulated by sections 23-65f to 23-65o, inclusive, solely as 511 
part of his employment, shall submit an annual report to the 512 
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection on or before 513 
June first of each year in a form prescribed by the commissioner. Such 514 
report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: 515  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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(1) The number of forest management plans completed and acres 516 
covered by said plans; 517 
(2) The number and type of timber stand improvements completed 518 
and acres so improved; 519 
(3) The number of acres planted in reforestation, afforestation and in 520 
Christmas tree plantations; 521 
(4) The number of commercial forest product sales, the total number 522 
of acres harvested in such sales, the type and total volumes of products 523 
generated by such sales and total annual expenditure for the purchase 524 
of such sales; 525 
(5) [Evidence] Attestation of [biennial] participation in a relevant 526 
program of professional education to improve or maintain professional 527 
forestry skills that is sponsored by the Department of Energy and 528 
Environmental Protection, the New England Society of American 529 
Foresters, The University of Connecticut, Yale University or the 530 
Connecticut cooperative extension system, or participation in another 531 
program approved by the department, provided proof of such 532 
participation shall be furnished to the commissioner upon request and 533 
be in accordance with the prescribed schedule set forth in regulations 534 
adopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter; and 535 
(6) Other information which the commissioner deems necessary. 536 
(b) Each certified supervising forest products harvester shall be 537 
required to submit an annual report to the Commissioner of Energy 538 
and Environmental Protection on or before June first of each year in a 539 
form prescribed by the commissioner. Such report shall include, but 540 
not be limited to, the following information: 541 
(1) The number of commercial forest product sales harvested, and 542 
the type and total volumes of products generated by such sales; 543 
(2) [Evidence] Attestation of [biennial] participation in a relevant 544  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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program of professional education to improve or maintain forest 545 
products harvesting skills that is sponsored by the Department of 546 
Energy and Environmental Protection, the New England Society of 547 
American Foresters, the University of Connecticut, Yale University, the 548 
Connecticut cooperative extension system or is otherwise approved by 549 
the department, provided proof of such participation shall be 550 
furnished to the commissioner upon request and be in accordance with 551 
the prescribed schedule set forth in regulations adopted in accordance 552 
with the provisions of this chapter; and 553 
(3) Other information which the commissioner deems necessary. 554 
(c) All certified forest products harvesters shall be required to 555 
submit to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, 556 
on or before June first of each year, annual reports in a form prescribed 557 
by the commissioner. Such reports shall include, but not be limited to, 558 
the following information: 559 
(1) [Evidence] Attestation of [biennial] participation in a relevant 560 
program of professional education to improve or maintain forest 561 
products harvesting skills that is sponsored by the Department of 562 
Energy and Environmental Protection, the New England Society of 563 
American Foresters, The University of Connecticut, Yale University, 564 
the Connecticut cooperative extension system or is otherwise 565 
approved by the department, provided proof of such participation 566 
shall be furnished to the commissioner upon request and be in 567 
accordance with the prescribed schedule set forth in regulations 568 
adopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter; and 569 
(2) Other information the commissioner deems necessary. 570 
Sec. 10. Subsection (f) of section 22a-54 of the general statutes is 571 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 572 
passage): 573 
(f) (1) The commissioner may, by regulation adopted pursuant to 574 
the provisions of chapter 54, prescribe fees for applicants to defray the 575  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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cost of administering examinations and assisting in carrying out the 576 
purposes of section 22a-451, except the fees for certification and 577 
renewal of a certification shall be as follows: [(1)] (A) For supervisory 578 
certification as a commercial applicator, two hundred eighty-five 579 
dollars; [(2)] (B) for operational certification as a commercial 580 
applicator, eighty dollars, and [(3)] (C) for certification as a private 581 
applicator, one hundred dollars. A federal, state or municipal 582 
employee who applies pesticides solely as part of his employment 583 
shall be exempt from payment of a fee. Any certificate issued to a 584 
federal, state or municipal employee for which a fee has not been paid 585 
shall be void if the holder leaves government employment. The fees 586 
collected in accordance with this section shall be deposited in the 587 
General Fund. 588 
(2) The commissioner may renew any certification issued pursuant 589 
to this section for the holder of a certification that has lapsed less than 590 
one year provided the holder of such certification submits to the 591 
commissioner a signed renewal application, payment of the applicable 592 
renewal fee and any late fee. Such late fee shall be calculated as 593 
follows: Beginning on the first day that such certification lapses, ten 594 
per cent of the applicable renewal fee plus one and one-quarter per 595 
cent per month, or part thereof, for a period not to exceed one year. 596 
Any holder of a certification that has lapsed more than one year shall 597 
be examined in accordance with the requirements of this section and 598 
any regulation adopted pursuant to the provisions of this section. 599 
Sec. 11. Section 26-107h of the general statutes is repealed and the 600 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 601 
On or before February first, annually, the Commissioner of Energy 602 
and Environmental Protection [shall] may submit to the joint standing 603 
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 604 
relating to the environment a report on the progress of the program 605 
established under section 26-107f, the purposes for which any funds 606 
allocated to said program were expended and the future of the 607 
program.  608  Substitute Bill No. 998 
 
 
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This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 from passage 15-154(d) and (e) 
Sec. 2 from passage 22a-6o(b) 
Sec. 3 from passage 22a-58(c) and (d) 
Sec. 4 from passage 22a-66g 
Sec. 5 from passage 22-11h(c) 
Sec. 6 from passage 22a-73 
Sec. 7 from passage 23-53 
Sec. 8 from passage 23-65h(c) 
Sec. 9 from passage 23-65i 
Sec. 10 from passage 22a-54(f) 
Sec. 11 from passage 26-107h 
 
ENV Joint Favorable Subst.