OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 6659 (as amended by House “A”)*

AN ACT CONCERNING THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONERS' RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO THE ENVIRONMENT STATUTES.

SUMMARY:

By law, the agriculture commissioner may create a community farms program to preserve farmland that does not meet the criteria of the Farmland Preservation program because of size, soil quality, or location, but that contributes to local economic activity. The law (1) requires the commissioner, in consultation with the Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, to set certain criteria if he establishes such a program and (2) allows the commissioner to buy up to 100% of the development rights from an eligible owner, or acquire development rights jointly with a municipality, subject to an appraisal and review required by agriculture department regulations. The bill specifically requires the commissioner to adopt regulations to implement the program.

It also requires that regulations the commissioner adopts in consultation with the Farmland Preservation Advisory Board specify that individual landowners applying to the Farmland Preservation program created under CGS § 22-26cc are eligible to receive up to $ 20,000 per acre for development rights.

It also makes technical changes in environmental laws.

*House Amendment “A” requires the commissioner to adopt regulations for the community farms program. It eliminates a provision removing a reference to the regulations and allowing the commissioner to purchase development rights subject to any appraisal and review he requires.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

COMMITTEE ACTION

Environment Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute