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2018 SB 6: An Act Implementing The Governor's Budget Recommendations For General Government.
Bill Text
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (e) of section 31-225a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):
(e) (1) As of each June thirtieth, the administrator shall determine the charged tax rate for each qualified employer. Said rate shall be obtained by calculating a benefit ratio for each qualified employer. The employer's benefit ratio shall be the quotient obtained by dividing the total amount chargeable to the employer's experience account during the experience period by the total of his or her taxable wages during such experience period which have been reported by the employer to the administrator on or before the following September thirtieth. The resulting quotient, expressed as a per cent, shall constitute the employer's charged tax rate. If the resulting quotient is not an exact multiple of one-tenth of one per cent, the charged rate shall be the next higher such multiple, except that if the resulting quotient is less than five-tenths of one per cent, the charged rate shall be five-tenths of one per cent and if the resulting quotient is greater than five and four-tenths per cent, the charged rate shall be five and four-tenths per cent. The employer's charged tax rate will be in accordance with the following table:
(2) (A) Each contributing employer subject to this chapter shall pay an assessment to the administrator at a rate established by the administrator sufficient to pay interest due on advances from the federal unemployment account under Title XII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S. Code Sections 1321 to 1324). The administrator shall establish the necessary procedures for payment of such assessments. The amounts received by the administrator based on such assessments shall be paid over to the State Treasurer and credited to the General Fund. Any amount remaining from such assessments, after all such federal interest charges have been paid, shall be transferred to the Employment Security Administration Fund or to the Unemployment Compensation Advance Fund established under section 31-264a, (i) to the extent that any federal interest charges have been paid from the Unemployment Compensation Advance Fund, (ii) to the extent that the administrator determines that reimbursement is appropriate, or (iii) otherwise to the extent that reimbursement of the advance fund is the appropriate accounting principle governing the use of the assessments. Sections 31-265 to 31-274, inclusive, shall apply to the collection of such assessments.
(B) On and after January 1, 1994, and conditioned upon the issuance of any revenue bonds pursuant to section 31-264b, each contributing employer shall also pay an assessment to the administrator at a rate established by the administrator sufficient to pay the interest due on advances from the Unemployment Compensation Advance Fund and reimbursements required for advances from the Unemployment Compensation Advance Fund, computed in accordance with subsection (h) of section 31-264a. The administrator shall establish the assessments as a percentage of the charged tax rate for each employer pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. The administrator shall establish the necessary procedures for billing, payment and collection of the assessments. Sections 31-265 to 31-274, inclusive, shall apply to the collection of such assessments by the administrator. The payments received by the administrator based on the assessments, excluding interest and penalties on past due assessments, are hereby pledged and shall be paid over to the State Treasurer for credit to the Unemployment Compensation Advance Fund.
Sec. 2. Section 4-66aa of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) There is established, within the General Fund, a separate, nonlapsing account to be known as the "community investment account". The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. The funds in the account shall be distributed every three months as follows: (1) Ten dollars of each fee credited to said account shall be deposited into the agriculture sustainability account established pursuant to section 4-66cc and, then, of the remaining funds; , (2) twenty-five per cent to the Department of Economic and Community Development to use as follows: (A) Three hundred eighty thousand dollars, annually, to supplement the technical assistance and preservation activities of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, established pursuant to special act 75-93; , and (B) the remainder to supplement historic preservation activities as provided in sections 10-409 to 10-415, inclusive; (3) twenty-five per cent to the Department of Housing to use as follows: (A) Seven hundred thousand dollars, annually, to operate a telephone line accessible through the 2-1-1 Infoline program for purposes of making assessments and providing resources to homeless persons; (B) eight hundred fifty thousand dollars, annually, to fund operations of the state's Coordinated Access Network system; (C) three hundred seventy thousand dollars, annually, to provide overflow shelter capacity when the Governor activates the state's cold weather protocol; and (D) the remainder to supplement new or existing affordable housing programs; (4) twenty-five per cent to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for municipal open space grants; and (5) twenty-five per cent to the Department of Agriculture to use as follows: (A) Five hundred thousand dollars, annually, for the agricultural viability grant program established pursuant to section 22-26j; (B) five hundred thousand dollars, annually, for the farm transition program established pursuant to section 22-26k; (C) one hundred thousand dollars, annually, to encourage the sale of Connecticut-grown food to schools, restaurants, retailers and other institutions and businesses in the state; (D) seventy-five thousand dollars, annually, for the Connecticut farm link program established pursuant to section 22-26l; (E) forty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, annually, for the Seafood Advisory Council established pursuant to section 22-455; (F) forty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, annually, for the Connecticut Farm Wine Development Council established pursuant to section 22-26c; (G) twenty-five thousand dollars, annually, to the Connecticut Food Policy Council established pursuant to section 22-456; and (H) the remainder for farmland preservation programs pursuant to chapter 422. Each agency receiving funds under this section may use not more than ten per cent of such funds for administration of the programs for which the funds were provided.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, fifty per cent of the moneys deposited in the community investment account from January 1, 2016, until June 30, 2017, shall be credited every three months to the resources of the General Fund, provided the funds remaining in the account shall be distributed as provided in subsection (a) of this section.
Sec. 3. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 10-183z of the general statutes, the Teachers' Retirement Board shall adopt the following factors to be used beginning with the valuation of the Teachers' Retirement Fund next following the effective date of this section, produced in accordance with subsection (b) of section 10-183l of the general statutes: (1) An appropriate annual investment rate of return assumption that is not greater than seven per cent; (2) a new closed amortization period for any outstanding unfunded liability of not more than thirty years from the date of the next following valuation of said fund; (3) a change to level dollar amortization for any unfunded liability with any phase-in of such change in amortization methodology to be completed over a period of not more than five years; and (4) separate amortization periods of not more than twenty-five years for any future changes in unfunded liability incurred as a result of market gains or losses.
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 10-183z of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) The retirement system for teachers shall be funded on an actuarial reserve basis. The retirement board shall, on or before December first, annually, certify to the General Assembly the amount necessary, on the basis of an actuarial determination to establish and maintain the retirement fund on such determined actuarial reserve basis and make such other recommendations with regard to the fund and its administration as the board deems necessary. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter, the retirement board shall, in making such actuarial determination, assume that the amount of the contributions required to be withheld under this chapter is six per cent "regular contributions" instead of seven per cent "regular contributions". On the basis of each evaluation, the retirement board shall redetermine the normal rate of contribution and, until it is amortized, the unfunded past service liability. The General Assembly shall review the board's recommendations and certification and shall appropriate to the retirement fund the amount certified by the retirement board as necessary provided said certification is in compliance with this section.
Sec. 5. Section 5-156a of the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (h) as follows (Effective July 1, 2018):
(NEW) (h) Any recovery of pension costs from appropriated or nonappropriated sources other than the General Fund and Special Transportation Fund that causes the payments to the State Employees Retirement System to exceed the actuarially determined employer contribution for any fiscal year shall be deposited into the State Employees Retirement Fund as an additional employer contribution at the end of such fiscal year.
Sec. 6. Section 12-170f of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):
(a) Any renter, believing himself or herself to be entitled to a grant under section 12-170d for any calendar year, shall apply for such grant to the assessor of the municipality in which the renter resides or to the duly authorized agent of such assessor or municipality on or after April first and not later than October first of each year with respect to such grant for the calendar year preceding each such year, on a form prescribed and furnished by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to the assessor. A renter may apply to the secretary prior to December fifteenth of the claim year for an extension of the application period. The secretary may grant such extension in the case of extenuating circumstance due to illness or incapacitation as evidenced by a certificate signed by a physician or an advanced practice registered nurse to that extent, or if the secretary determines there is good cause for doing so. A renter making such application shall present to such assessor or agent, in substantiation of the renter's application, a copy of the renter's federal income tax return, and if not required to file a federal income tax return, such other evidence of qualifying income, receipts for money received, or cancelled checks, or copies thereof, and any other evidence the assessor or such agent may require. When the assessor or agent is satisfied that the applying renter is entitled to a grant, such assessor or agent shall issue a certificate of grant in such form as the secretary may prescribe and supply showing the amount of the grant due.
(b) The assessor or agent shall forward the application to the secretary not later than the last day of the month following the month in which the renter has made application. Any municipality that neglects to transmit to the secretary the application as required by this section shall forfeit two hundred fifty dollars to the state, provided the secretary may waive such forfeiture in accordance with procedures and standards adopted by regulation in accordance with chapter 54. The certificate of grant shall be delivered to the renter and the assessor or agent shall keep the original copy copies of such certificate and application.
(c) After the secretary's review of each claim, pursuant to section 12-120b, and verification of the amount of the grant, the secretary shall make a determination of any per cent reduction to all claims that will be necessary to keep within available appropriations and, not later than October fifteenth of each year, prepare a list of certificates approved for payment, and shall thereafter supplement such list monthly. Such list and any supplements thereto shall be approved for payment by the secretary and shall be forwarded by the secretary to the Comptroller, along with a notice of any necessary per cent reduction in claim amounts, and the Comptroller shall, not later than fifteen days following receipt of such list, draw an order on the Treasurer in favor of each person on such list and on supplements to such list in the amount of such person's claim, minus any per cent reduction noticed by the secretary pursuant to this subsection, and the Treasurer shall pay such amount to such person, not later than fifteen days following receipt of such order.
(d) The secretary shall (1) select one or more grants of state financial assistance provided to a municipality pursuant to any provision of the general statutes to withhold or reduce for purposes of this section, (2) not later than June 30, 2018, and each fiscal year thereafter, withhold or reduce such state financial assistance provided to a municipality in an amount equal to fifty per cent of any grant payments made pursuant to this section to renters in such municipality for the most recent application period, provided the aggregate amount withheld or reduced shall not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars per municipality for any fiscal year, and (3) transfer such amounts withheld or reduced to the Office of Policy and Management for purposes of making grant payments pursuant to this section. For purposes of this subsection "state financial assistance" means any grant funded by an appropriation authorized by public or special act of the General Assembly, but excluding any grant or loan financed from the proceeds of the state's general obligation bond issued pursuant to any authorization, allocation or approval of the State Bond Commission.
(e) (d) If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management determines a renter was overpaid for such grant, the amount of any subsequent grant paid to the renter under section 12-170d after such determination shall be reduced by the amount of overpayment until the overpayment has been recouped. Any claimant aggrieved by the results of the secretary's review or determination shall have the rights of appeal as set forth in section 12-120b. Applications filed under this section shall not be open for public inspection. Any person who, for the purpose of obtaining a grant under section 12-170d, wilfully fails to disclose all matters related thereto or with intent to defraud makes any false statement shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(f) (e) Any municipality may provide, upon approval by its legislative body, that the duties and responsibilities of the assessor, as required under this section and section 12-170g, shall be transferred to (1) the officer in such municipality having responsibility for the administration of social services, or (2) the coordinator or agent for the elderly in such municipality.
Sec. 7. Section 46b-136 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
In any proceeding in a juvenile matter, the judge before whom such proceeding is pending shall, even in the absence of a request to do so, provide an attorney to represent the child or youth, the child's or youth's parent or parents or guardian, or other person having control of the child or youth, if such judge determines that the interests of justice so require, and in any proceeding in which the custody of a child is at issue, such judge shall provide an attorney to represent the child and may authorize such attorney or appoint another attorney to represent such child or youth, parent, guardian or other person on an appeal from a decision in such proceeding. Where, under the provisions of this section, the court so appoints counsel for any such party who is found able to pay, in whole or in part, the cost thereof, the court shall assess as costs against such parents, guardian or custodian, including any agency vested with the legal custody of the child or youth, the expense so incurred and paid by the Division of Public Defender Services Judicial Department in providing such counsel, to the extent of their financial ability to do so. The Division of Public Defender Services shall establish the rate at which counsel provided pursuant to this section shall be compensated.
Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) If the board of directors of the Connecticut Retirement Security Authority, established pursuant to section 31-417 of the general statutes, determines that the current expenses of the authority exceed the amount of available funds, the board may make a written request to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for an advance, not to exceed one million dollars in total, from the General Fund to pay such expenses.
(b) If the request is approved, the Office of Policy and Management shall notify the State Treasurer and the State Comptroller of the advance amount and the State Comptroller shall draw a warrant for disbursement of such funds. The State Treasurer and the board shall determine the terms of said advance, including (1) authorized uses, and (2) the payback period, which shall not exceed ten years.
(c) The authority shall report on any advances in the annual report as required pursuant to section 31-426 of the general statutes.
Sec. 9. Section 588 of public act 17-2 of the June special session is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Sec. 10. Section 589 of public act 17-2 of the June special session is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Sec. 11. Section 590 of public act 17-2 of the June special session is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Sec. 12. Section 591 of public act 17-2 of the June special session is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Sec. 13. Section 592 of public act 17-2 of the June special session is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Sec. 14. Section 11 of public act 17-2 of the June special session is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, and year ending June 30, 2019, the following sums shall be made available from the Passport to the Parks account fund: $400,000 for soil and water conservation districts and $253,000 for environmental review teams.
Sec. 15. Section 14-49b of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(a) For each new registration or renewal of registration of any motor vehicle with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles pursuant to this chapter, the person registering such vehicle shall pay to the commissioner a fee of ten dollars for registration for a biennial period and five dollars for registration for an annual period, except that any individual who is sixty-five years of age or older on or after January 1, 1994, may, at the discretion of such individual, pay the fee for either a one-year or two-year period. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any motor vehicle that is not self-propelled, that is electrically powered, or that is exempted from payment of a registration fee. This fee may be identified as the "federal Clean Air Act fee" on any registration form provided by the commissioner. Payments collected pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be deposited as follows: (1) Fifty-seven and one-half per cent of such payments collected shall be deposited into the Special Transportation Fund established pursuant to section 13b-68, and (2) forty-two and one-half per cent of such payments collected shall be deposited into the General Fund. The fee required by this subsection is in addition to any other fees prescribed by any other provision of this title for the registration of a motor vehicle. No part of the federal Clean Air Act fee shall be subject to a refund under subsection (aa) of section 14-49.
(b) For each new registration or renewal of registration of any motor vehicle with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles pursuant to this chapter, the person registering such vehicle shall pay to the commissioner a fee of ten dollars for registration for a biennial period for the following registration types: Passenger, motorcycle, motor home, combination or antique. Any person who is sixty-five years or older and who obtains a one-year registration renewal under section 14-49 for such registration type shall pay five dollars for the annual registration period. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any motor vehicle that is not self-propelled or that is exempted from payment of a registration fee. This fee shall be identified as the "Passport to the Parks Fee" on any registration form provided by the commissioner. Payments collected pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be deposited in the Passport to the Parks account fund established pursuant to section 23-15h, as amended by this act. The fee required by this subsection is in addition to any other fees prescribed by any other provision of this title for the registration of a motor vehicle. No part of the "Passport to the Parks Fee" shall be subject to a refund under subsection (aa) of section 14-49.
Sec. 16. Section 23-10b of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may provide outdoor recreation-related services to the public at state park and forest recreation areas. Such services may include rentals of bicycles, boats, cabins and tents, sale of firewood and operation of camp stores supplying camping necessaries. Fees for such services shall be set by the commissioner, according to market value. Revenue from such services shall be deposited in the Passport to the Parks account fund established pursuant to section 23-15h, as amended by this act, for use in the state park and forest facilities. Such services and fees shall not affect admission, parking, camping and related existing fees. No services shall compete with a concessionaire under contract with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection at the time such service is offered.
Sec. 17. Section 23-15 of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
All receipts from the operation of the state parks shall be deposited in the Passport to the Parks account fund established pursuant to section 23-15h, as amended by this act. Expenditures incurred by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the operation, maintenance and extension of or improvements to state parks shall be paid with moneys appropriated from the Passport to the Parks account fund.
Sec. 18. Section 23-15b of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(a) All funds collected from rent paid by any person for the use of state park property for any special event of limited duration, including, but not limited to, weddings and receptions, shall be deposited into the Passport to the Parks account fund, established pursuant to section 23-15h, as amended by this act, unless the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection enters into a written agreement, signs an instrument or issues a license which specifically states otherwise.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any funds received by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be deposited in the Passport to the Parks account fund established pursuant to section 23-15h, as amended by this act. Within said account fund there shall be a subaccount an account for each state park from which funds are collected pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, which subaccounts accounts shall be held separate and apart from each other. Each subaccount account shall be available to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection for maintaining, making improvements to, erecting structures on or repairing the property, including houses and other buildings, of the state park for which such subaccount account was established. Nothing in this section shall prevent the commissioner from obtaining or using funds from sources other than the Passport to the Parks account fund for the purposes described in this subsection. Funds in the Passport to the Parks account fund shall be used to supplement state funds appropriated for the general operation of state parks and shall not replace such appropriated funds for purposes of such general operation.
(c) On or before October 1, 2010 2018, and semiannually thereafter, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall report to the Office of Fiscal Analysis on the state parks for which funds have been collected pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. Such report shall include (1) the amount of funds received into the Passport to the Parks account fund, itemized by subaccount account, (2) the amount of funds the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has expended from the account fund for each park, and (3) the projects for which such funds have been expended. Said commissioner shall post the same information on the department's Internet web site.
Sec. 19. Section 23-15h of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
There is established an account a special fund to be known as the Passport to the Parks account which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund fund. Moneys in such account fund shall be used to provide expenses of the Council on Environmental Quality, beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, and for the care, maintenance, operation and improvement of state parks and campgrounds, the funding of soil and water conservation districts and the funding of environmental review teams. Any moneys in such account fund may be expended only pursuant to an appropriation by the General Assembly. All funds collected from the Passport to the Parks Fee established pursuant to section 14-49b, as amended by this act, shall be deposited into the Passport to the Parks account fund. Such account fund shall contain all moneys required by law to be deposited in such account fund. Such account fund may receive funds from private or public sources, including, but not limited to, any municipal government or the federal government. Such account fund shall contain subaccounts accounts as required by section 23-15b, as amended by this act. Any balance remaining in said fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in said fund for the fiscal year next succeeding.
Sec. 20. Section 23-16 of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may execute with residents and nonresidents of this state leases of camping sites and buildings on the state parks for limited periods except as provided in section 23-16a and the proceeds from such leases, together with any other income resulting from the use of the state parks, shall be added to the Passport to the Parks account fund established pursuant to section 23-15h, as amended by this act. Not later than May 1, 2010, said commissioner shall establish a schedule of fees payable for the leasing of state camping sites and buildings for residents of this state in amounts not greater than one hundred thirty-five per cent of the amounts charged according to the schedule of camping permit fees established by said commissioner and in effect as of April 1, 2009. Not later than May 1, 2010, said commissioner shall establish a schedule of fees payable for the leasing of state camping sites and buildings for nonresidents of this state in amounts not greater than one hundred fifty per cent of the amounts charged according to the schedule of camping permit fees established by said commissioner and in effect as of April 14, 2010. Annually, not later than the first day of November, said commissioner shall allocate from funds available for state park and forest areas in the then current fiscal year, an amount not less than fifty per cent of the portion of such fees collected in the preceding fiscal year directly related to the amount of increase in such fees as required in this section, to be used for purposes of maintenance and improvement of such state camping sites and buildings. Any fees paid for any lease under this section shall not be subject to refund under section 22a-10 unless (1) the lessee gives notice of cancellation to the commissioner not later than fourteen days prior to the date such lease is to commence, (2) the park is closed by executive order of the Governor, or (3) the lessee submits proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, of a death or serious illness in the family which prevents use of the facility during the period of the lease. The commissioner may deduct a reasonable service charge from any amount refunded pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (3) of this section.
Sec. 21. Section 23-26 of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(a) The commissioner may (1) provide for the collection of fees for parking, admission, boat launching and other uses of state parks, forests, boat launches and other state recreational facilities, (2) establish from time to time the daily and seasonal amount thereof, (3) enter into contractual relations with other persons for the operation of concessions, (4) establish other sources of revenue to be derived from services to the general public using such parks, forests and facilities, (5) employ such assistants as may be necessary for the collection of such revenue. The commissioner shall deposit such revenue derived therefrom with the State Treasurer in the Passport to the Parks account fund established pursuant to section 23-15h, as amended by this act. On and after July 1, 1992, any increase in any fee or any establishment of a new fee under this section shall be by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. Not later than May 1, 2010, said commissioner shall establish the daily and seasonal amount of such parking, admission, boat launching and other use fees for residents of this state in amounts not greater than one hundred thirty-five per cent of the amounts charged for such fees by said commissioner as of April 1, 2009. Not later than May 1, 2010, said commissioner shall establish the daily and seasonal amount of such parking, admission, boat launching and other use fees for nonresidents of this state in amounts not greater than one hundred fifty per cent of the amounts charged for such fees by said commissioner as of April 1, 2009. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the commissioner may enter into an agreement with any municipality under which the municipality may retain fees collected by municipal officers at state boat launches when state employees are not on duty.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner may establish fees for the public use of the mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, the Ellie Mitchell Pavilion at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme and Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam provided no fee shall be charged to any group organized as a nonprofit corporation under 26 USC 501(c)(3) for purposes of providing support to such parks or facilities and further provided the commissioner shall specify procedures and criteria for the selection of any private business which is engaged by the state to provide services during any such public use, including, but not limited to, catering services. Such fees, procedures and criteria shall be effective until June 30, 1999, or until regulations are adopted, whichever is sooner. Regulations implementing such fees, procedures and criteria shall be adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 on or before July 1, 1999. Such fees shall be comparable with rents and charges of similar properties based on fair market rates.
(c) The commissioner shall issue to any nonresident of the state, upon payment of a fee established by said commissioner, a nontransferable Connecticut private passenger motor vehicle pass which permits free parking throughout the calendar year at any state park, forest, boat launch or other state recreational facility, provided the commissioner shall not be required to issue such a pass to any park, forest or facility which is wholly managed by a private concessionaire and may require payment of fees for special events. Not later than May 1, 2010, said commissioner shall establish the amount of such fee for nonresidents of this state in an amount not greater than one hundred fifty per cent of the amount charged for such fee by said commissioner as of April 1, 2009.
(d) The commissioner shall issue to any resident of the state who is sixty-five years of age or older and to any resident of this state who is a disabled veteran, as defined in section 14-254, or under federal law, without fee, upon application of such resident, a nontransferable lifetime pass which shall permit free admission and boat access parking for use at any state park, forest or state recreational facility, provided the commissioner shall not be required to issue such a pass for use of any park, forest or facility which is wholly managed by a private concessionaire and may require payment of fees for special events.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, any person with a valid Connecticut motor vehicle license plate shall not pay a parking fee at any state park, forest or other state recreational facility on and after January 1, 2018.
Sec. 22. Section 696 of public act 17-2 of the June special session is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the following sums the sum of $2,600,000 shall be transferred from the Passport to the Parks account, established pursuant to section 331 of this act, 23-15h of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and credited to the resources of the General Fund : (1) For for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. , the sum of $2,600,000; and (2) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, the sum of $5,000,000 Following such transfer, as of July 1, 2018, any remaining funds of such account shall be credited to the Passport to the Parks fund established pursuant to section 23-15h of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
Sec. 23. Subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 7-277b of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(b) (1) (A) Any municipality that purchased such body-worn recording equipment or electronic defense weapon recording equipment or made a first-time purchase of one or more dashboard cameras with a remote recorder during the fiscal years ending June 30, 2017, and June 30, 2018, and digital data storage devices or services during the fiscal year years ending June 30, 2017, and June 30, 2018, shall, within available resources, be reimbursed for up to one hundred per cent of the costs associated with such purchases, provided the costs of such digital data storage services shall not be reimbursed for a period of service that is longer than one year, and provided further that in the case of reimbursement for costs associated with the purchase of body-worn recording equipment, such body-worn recording equipment is purchased in sufficient quantity, as determined by the chief of police in the case of a municipality with an organized police department or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the municipality, as the case may be, to ensure that sworn members of such municipality's police department or constables, police officers or other persons who perform criminal law enforcement duties under the supervision of a resident state trooper serving such municipality are supplied with such equipment while interacting with the public in such sworn members', such constables', such police officers' or such persons' law enforcement capacity.
(B) Any municipality that purchased such body-worn recording equipment or digital data storage devices or services on or after January 1, 2012, but prior to July 1, 2016, shall be reimbursed for costs associated with such purchases, but not in an amount to exceed the amount of grant-in-aid such municipality would have received under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision if such purchases had been made in accordance with said subparagraph (A).
(C) Any municipality that was reimbursed under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision for body-worn recording equipment and that purchased additional body-worn recording equipment during the fiscal years ending June 30, 2017, and June 30, 2018, shall, within available resources, be reimbursed for up to one hundred per cent of the costs associated with such purchases, provided such equipment is purchased in sufficient quantity, as determined by the chief of police in the case of a municipality with an organized police department or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the municipality, as the case may be, to ensure that sworn members of such municipality's police department or constables or other persons who perform criminal law enforcement duties under the supervision of a resident state trooper serving such municipality are supplied with such equipment while interacting with the public in such sworn members', such constables', such police officers' or such persons' law enforcement capacity.
Sec. 24. Section 16a-31 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2018):
(a) The following actions when undertaken by any state agency, with state or federal funds, shall be consistent with the plan:
(1) The acquisition of real property when the acquisition costs are in excess of two hundred thousand dollars;
(2) The development or improvement of real property when the development costs are in excess of two hundred thousand dollars;
(3) The acquisition of public transportation equipment or facilities when the acquisition costs are in excess of two hundred thousand dollars; and
(4) The authorization of each state grant, any application for which is not pending on July 1, 1991, for an amount in excess of two hundred thousand dollars, for the acquisition or development or improvement of real property or for the acquisition of public transportation equipment or facilities.
(b) A Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a state agency shall may request, and upon request, the secretary shall provide, an advisory statement commenting on the extent to which any of the actions specified in subsection (a) of this section conforms to the plan, and any except that in the case of any such action that is subject to an early public scoping process, as described in section 22a-1b, the agency shall request and the secretary shall provide such an advisory statement. Any agency may request and upon request, the secretary shall provide such other advisory reports as the state agency deems advisable.
(c) The Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the secretary shall submit and the State Bond Commission shall consider prior to the allocation of any bond funds for any of the actions specified in subsection (a) an advisory statement commenting on the extent to which such action is in conformity with the plan of conservation and development.
(d) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, The University of Connecticut shall request, and the secretary shall provide, an advisory statement commenting on the extent the projects included in the third phase of UConn 2000, as defined in subdivision (25) of section 10a-109c, conform to the plan and the university may request and the secretary shall provide such other advisory reports as the university deems advisable. Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, the The secretary shall submit and the State Bond Commission shall consider prior to the approval of the master resolution or indenture for securities for the third phase of UConn 2000, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10a-109g, the advisory statement prepared under this subsection.
(e) Whenever a state agency is required by state or federal law to prepare a plan, it shall consider the state plan of conservation and development in the preparation of such plan. A draft of such plan shall be submitted to the secretary who shall provide for the preparer of the plan an advisory report commenting on the extent to which the proposed plan conforms to the state plan of conservation and development.
Sec. 25. Section 4-67b of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective July 1, 2018)