OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 6463

AN ACT CONCERNING MEMBERSHIP ON REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCIES.

SUMMARY:

This bill increases the membership on regional planning agencies (RPAs), which currently operate in five of the state's 15 planning regions. Under current law, each municipality in an RPA region gets two representatives on the RPA. Those with populations over 25,000 get an additional representative for each additional 50,000 people or fraction thereof.

The bill makes each municipality's chief elected official (CEO) or his or her designee a representative on the RPA, thus increasing each municipality's base representation from two to three. It similarly increases the representation of cities and boroughs within a town and whose boundaries are not conterminous with it. Current law gives these municipalities one representative each on the RPA. The bill makes the city and borough's CEOs or their designees representatives, thus increasing their membership to two.

The state's RPAs are Central Connecticut RPA, Connecticut River Estuary RPA, Greater Bridgeport RPA, Midstate RPA, and Southwestern Connecticut RPA.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2009

BACKGROUND

Planning Regions

The law authorizes the Office of Policy and Management secretary to divide the state into logical planning regions. Starting by January 1, 2012, he must analyze the regional boundaries at least once every 20 years, and redesignate them if necessary. The 15 existing regions were designated during the late 1950s.

Regional Planning Organizations

Municipalities within the 15 regions may form three types of regional planning organizations: (1) RPAs, (2) regional councils of elected officials (RCEOs), and (3) regional councils of governments (RCOGs). Their powers and duties vary, and so do the rules for forming them.

Municipalities can establish an RPA to prepare the statutorily required regional plan of development. Under current law, their representatives on the RPA board are not limited to each municipality's CEO. Consequently, the CEOs may form an RCEO where they can air their mutual concerns and interests. This council may perform the RPA's duties if the region does not have one.

Lastly, the municipalities can put the policymaking and planning functions under their CEOs by establishing an RCEO that automatically supplants and assumes the duties of the RPA. This council includes a regional planning commission consisting of one representative from each local planning commission.

The table below shows the types of RPOs operating in the state.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Planning and Development Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute