Researcher: JKL Page 1 4/2/24
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 198
AN ACT ESTABLISHING LOCAL REPRESENTATION ON THE
CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL FOR LOCAL PROJECTS.
SUMMARY
For any Connecticut Siting Council proceeding occurring on or after
October 1, 2024, this bill requires the council’s membership to include
an elector from the municipality where the facility is being proposed, in
addition to the existing membership (see BACKGROUND). Under the
bill, the municipality’s chief elected official generally must appoint the
elector. However, if the proposed facility is in more than one
municipality, the applicable regional council of governments for the
affected municipalities must appoint the elector.
The bill requires the elector to serve as a nonvoting member and
abide by all applicable confidentiality rules. By law, public members of
the council must be compensated for their attendance at public hearings,
executive sessions, or other council business at a rate of $200 per activity,
capped at $200 a day.
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2024
BACKGROUND
Siting Council Membership — Energy and Telecommunications
For energy and telecommunications facility proceedings, the existing
council membership includes the following nine members:
1. the energy and environmental protection commissioner or her
designee,
2. the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority chairperson or her 2024SB-00198-R000184-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JKL Page 2 4/2/24
designee,
3. one designee each from the House speaker and Senate president
pro tempore, and
4. five members of the public appointed by the governor.
At least two of the public members must have ecology experience.
Only one may have a past or present affiliation with a (1) utility; (2)
utility regulatory agency; or (3) person owning, operating, controlling,
or contracting with a facility, hazardous waste facility, or ash residue
disposal area.
Siting Council Membership — Hazardous Waste
For hazardous waste facility proceedings, the existing council
consists of the following 13 members:
1. the public health and emergency services and public protection
commissioners or their designees,
2. the designees of the House speaker and Senate president pro
tempore as described above,
3. the five members of the public appointed by the governor as
described above, and
4. four ad hoc members, three of whom are electors from the
municipality where the facility is being proposed and one from a
neighboring municipality likely to be most affected by the
proposed facility.
By law, if any of the governor’s appointed public members or the
House speaker’s or Senate president pro tempore’s designees live in the
municipality where a hazardous or low-level radioactive waste facility
is proposed or in the neighboring municipality most likely to be affected
by the proposed facility, then the appointing authority must appoint a
substitute member for the proceedings on that proposed facility.
2024SB-00198-R000184-BA.DOCX
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Related Bill
HB 5453, favorably reported by the Government Administration and
Elections Committee, makes various changes to the Connecticut Siting
Council’s membership, including adding four ad hoc members from the
affected municipalities, among other things.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Environment Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 32 Nay 2 (03/15/2024)