CHAPTER 297a
PRIORITY FUNDING AREAS

      Sec. 16a-35c. Priority funding areas. Definitions. Delineation of boundaries. Review and approval. (a) As used in this section and sections 16a-35d to 16a-35g, inclusive:

      (1) "Funding" includes any form of assurance, guarantee, grant payment, credit, tax credit or other assistance, including a loan, loan guarantee, or reduction in the principal obligation of or rate of interest payable on a loan or a portion of a loan;

      (2) "Growth-related project" means any project which includes (A) the acquisition of real property when the acquisition costs are in excess of one hundred thousand dollars, except the acquisition of open space for the purposes of conservation or preservation; (B) the development or improvement of real property when the development costs are in excess of one hundred thousand dollars; (C) the acquisition of public transportation equipment or facilities when the acquisition costs are in excess of one hundred thousand dollars; or (D) the authorization of each state grant, any application for which is not pending on July 1, 2006, for an amount in excess of one hundred thousand dollars, for the acquisition or development or improvement of real property or for the acquisition of public transportation equipment or facilities, except the following: (i) Projects for maintenance, repair, additions or renovations to existing facilities, acquisition of land for telecommunications towers whose primary purpose is public safety, parks, conservation and open space, and acquisition of agricultural, conservation and historic easements; (ii) funding by the Department of Economic and Community Development for any project financed with federal funds used to purchase or rehabilitate existing single or multi-family housing or projects financed with the proceeds of revenue bonds if the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development determines that application of this section and sections 16a-35d and 16a-35e (I) conflicts with any provision of federal or state law applicable to the issuance or tax-exempt status of the bonds or any provision of any trust agreement between the Department of Economic and Community Development and any trustee, or (II) would otherwise prohibit financing of an existing project or financing provided to cure or prevent any default under existing financing; (iii) projects that the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development determines promote fair housing choice and racial and economic integration as described in section 8-37cc; (iv) projects at an existing facility needed to comply with state environmental or health laws or regulations adopted thereunder; (v) school construction projects funded by the Department of Education under chapter 173; (vi) libraries; (vii) municipally owned property or public buildings used for government purposes; and (viii) any other project, funding or other state assistance not included under subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision.

      (3) "Priority funding area" means the area of the state designated under subsection (b) of this section.

      (b) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in consultation with the Commissioners of Economic and Community Development, Energy and Environmental Protection, Administrative Services, Agriculture and Transportation, the regional planning agencies in the state and any other persons or entities the secretary deems necessary, shall develop recommendations for delineation of the boundaries of priority funding areas in the state and for revisions thereafter. In making such recommendations, the secretary shall consider areas designated as regional centers, growth areas, neighborhood conservation areas and rural community centers on the state plan of conservation and development, redevelopment areas, distressed municipalities, as defined in section 32-9p, targeted investment communities, as defined in section 32-222, public investment communities, as defined in section 7-545, enterprise zones, designated by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development under section 32-70 and corridor management areas identified in the state plan of conservation and development. The secretary shall submit the recommendations to the Continuing Legislative Committee on State Planning and Development established pursuant to section 4-60d for review when the state plan of conservation and development is submitted to such committee in accordance with section 16a-29. The committee shall report its recommendations to the General Assembly at the time said state plan is submitted to the General Assembly under section 16a-30. The boundaries shall become effective upon approval of the General Assembly.

      (P.A. 05-205, S. 5; P.A. 11-51, S. 68; 11-61, S. 32; 11-80, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 05-205 effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 11-51 amended Subsec. (b) to replace reference to Commissioner of Public Works with reference to Commissioner of Administrative Services, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-61 amended Subsec. (b) to delete provisions re consultation with chairman of Transportation Strategy Board and re principles of Transportation Strategy Board, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, "Commissioner of Environmental Protection" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection" in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011.