| March 30, 2012 | 2012, Issue #08 |
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CCM's State Capitol Report is designed to keep members informed about important legislative issues and actions taken by CCM staff on behalf of towns and cities, as well as suggested actions you can take to protect the interests of your municipality.
For additional information on any of the bills listed and the most up-to-date news on legislative issues affecting municipalities, see:
CCM's Legislative Action Center
You can also follow CCM on Facebook and Twitter for real time updates and information from the State Capitol.
- Feel free to forward this report to other municipal employees and officials -
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| Please Join Us For
CCM's Day on the Hill
**NEW DATE CONFIRMED**
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
3:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Please plan to attend this important event to ensure the
municipal voice is heard loud and clear.
Schedule for the Day:
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. CCM-Member Meeting with Legislative Leaders & Policy Briefing
Room 1A, State Legislative Office Building
- Update on the state budget and opportunity to discuss legislative issues of concern to towns and cities.
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Legislative Reception
North Lobby, State Capitol Building
- The reception will feature Connecticut Grown - food, wine and beer.
Please RSVP to Carolyn Ryan via email cryan@ccm-ct.org
or via phone (203) 498-3000.
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APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE - PROPOSED STATE BUDGET
| On Thursday, the Appropriations Committee passed their proposed midterm budget adjustments for FY2013.
CCM has already published town-by-town impact statements on the proposal. Additional analysis of proposed and current budgets may be found on CCM's Government Finance/State Budget webpage.
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EDUCATION REFORM PACKAGE
| On Monday night, the Education Committee passed a revised education reform package, Substitute SB 24. The substitute bill contains several major changes from the Governor's original proposal.
CCM has published an analysis detailing the key differences (updated) between the Governor's Education Reform Package and the version voted out by the Education Committee. The Committee action is one step in what may prove to be a long process of negotiations between the Governor, legislative leaders, stakeholders and others.
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ACTIONS IN COMMITTEES
| COMMERCE
The committee held a meeting this week. Among the bills favorably reported included:
- SB 405 - Targeted Health Areas - would establish a Targeted Health Area program within ten municipalities to provide economic incentives to physicians providing primary care services or needed medical specialties in such targeted health areas that have (1) a medically-underserved population, or (2) a population with a high rate of chronic disease. CCM urged the committee to amend the bill to include funding for local public health departments within the established Target Health Areas.
- HB 5465- Expedited Permitting - would, among other things, require applications for permits within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) be reviewed and decided on within 90 days after the application has been filed. CCM supported this proposal as a step in the right direction to improving the state-local partnership for economic development and the completion of important projects in a timely manner.
- HB 5469 - Statewide Uniform Mill Rate on Commercial Motor Vehicles - CCM expressed concern that (1) the proposal requires revenue to go to the State to be doled out to municipalities, and (2) there will be winners and losers among municipalities due to a statewide uniform mill rate.
- SB 144 - Tax Increment Financing - would expand the tax increment financing program to include blended financing from the property tax, sales tax and income tax to help finance infrastructure and development projects.
- HB 5342 - Brownfields and Affordable Housing - Would provide low-interest loans for brownfield remediation and redevelopment for development of affordable housing projects.
- HB 5343 - Brownfields Program Review - would require the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to perform an in-depth analysis of the state's brownfield remediation and development programs and recommend changes to such programs.
For more information on Commerce issues, please contact Donna Hamzy of CCM.
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY
The committee held a meeting this week. Among the bills favorably reported included:
- SB 23 - Governor's Proposal - would, among other things (1) authorize the State's regulatory authority to "establish minimum standards of performance for utilities" and (2) establish a $5 million micro-grid pilot program for interested towns and cities to apply.
- SB 450 - would, among other things, require each electric distribution company to submit a ten- year plan to PURA to strengthen their utility infrastructure performance and resiliency, and stipulate that such a plan include strategies for evaluating and preparing storm response resources, planning and drilling exercises with each municipality and the state and any other activity necessary to prepare for any natural disaster.
- HB 5543 - Municipal Electric Utilities - would require PURA to establish a docket to review the creation and/or expansion of municipal electric utilities.
- SB 415 - would, among other things, (1) allow municipalities who participate in the virtual net metering program enacted in PA 11-80 to own or lease a Class I renewable energy source, (2) opens the virtual net metering program to the state, by adding the definition of "governmental customer" or "governmental customer host" to mean the state or any political subdivision, and (3) establishes a municipal energy performance contracting program for qualifying real commercial property that municipalities may establish.
For more information on Energy issues, please contact Donna Hamzy of CCM. FINANCE, REVENUE & BONDING The committee is scheduled to meet next week to finalize their work. CCM continues to advocate for support of HB 5424 - Local Option to Delay Property Revaluations - would allow certain municipalities the local option to delay the implementation of a revaluation prior to the assessment year commencing on October 1, 2013. CCM supports allowing municipalities the option to delay revaluations as a reasonable means to (a) provide savings from the cost of conducting the unfunded revaluation mandate, and (b) provide a measure of relief to hard-pressed local property taxpayers by delaying either implementation or phase-in of a revaluation. Precedent exists: a similar deferral was granted in 2009 (Public Act 09-60) - which, among other things, allows municipalities the option to (1) delay a revaluation scheduled for the 2008, 2009, or 2010 assessment year until the 2011 assessment year; and (2) suspend a current revaluation phase-in for up to three years, also until the 2011 assessment year. This law was a tangible means of relief for certain hometowns without compromising the integrity of the revaluation process. CCM urges members to contact your legislators, and urge them to support this proposal. For more information on Finance issues, please contact Bob Labanara of CCM JUDICIARY The committee held a hearing on two bills of particular concern to towns and cities: - SB 445 - would amend the definition of "land" the under Recreational Land Use Act to exclude, among other things, public beaches, boardwalks, and certain spectator structures for recreational activities. This bill would increase municipal liability exposure during the most challenging period for towns and cities in decades. In reality, the proposal represents an attempt to get at the perceived "deep pockets" of towns and cities. The bill would increase litigation and prove extremely costly to towns and cities. In testimony, CCM noted that the State has exempted itself from free-wheeling liability exposure by requiring that persons and entities get permission to sue it. CCM also noted that the bill would encourage towns from making such properties available to the public, for fear of lawsuits. Pat Alair, Deputy Corporation Counsel, West Hartford, representing the Connecticut Association of Municipal Attorneys (CAMA) testified on opposition to the bill. The bill was also opposed by, among others, the Connecticut Parks & Recreation Association and several environmental organizations. CCM urged the Committee to not re-open the recreational land use liability issue - just months after last session's reform. CCM asserted that, if the time is ripe to ask for what's on your Wish List, then CCM wants a complete overturn of Conway v. Wilton, and parity with the State.
- SB 455 - would require towns and cities to comply with the State set-aside policy, if they use state funds for projects. It would add administrative costs to local governance. CCM is unsure of how the bill would interact with Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Peņa, wherein the courts ruled that federal set asides were discriminatory in a guard rail case and, therefore, local officials signing them were subject to treble damages. CCM urged the Committee to reduce municipal liability exposure by requiring the State to assume responsibility for any constitutional damage verdicts.
For more information on Judiciary issues, please contact Ron Thomas of CCM. JF DEADLINES PASSED
All committees - except for Judiciary (April 2), Appropriations (April 4), and Finance, Revenue & Bonding (April 5) - have passed their deadlines.
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| PUBLIC HEARINGS | The public hearing process has concluded for the 2012 Legislative Session.
Thank you to the many CCM members who participated in this process on behalf of cities and towns across Connecticut, by either testifying in person or submitting testimony in writing. Participation by local officials is critical to getting our collective message heard by legislators.
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CCM'S LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
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Thursday, April 12, 2012
9 am. - 10:45 a.m.
Four Points Sheraton, Meriden
** MEETING AGENDAS AND MATERIALS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE **
A complete schedule for CCM's Legislative Committee, including meeting agendas and handouts, can be found online -- for CCM-members only. If you have not registered for Members-Only access, please click here to do so.
## ## ## If you have any questions, please contact Jim Finley or Ron Thomas at (203) 498-3000. |
CCM's MANDATE REPORT
Highlight of the Week: DEEP's Phosphorus Reduction Strategy
|  In case you missed it, please view this weeks...
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK:
DEEP's Phosphorus Reduction Mandate
During the Legislative Session, CCM produces this weekly report to inform members and the Legislature about pending bills that propose (1) new unfunded mandates or (2) mandates relief for towns and cities.
While CCM doesn't always take a position on the policy aspect of a proposal, some bills would have a significant impact on local government and their residential and business property taxpayers.
CCM urges members to speak with their legislative delegation about the impact these bills would have on their community.
For previous reports, visit our Mandates Report page.
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| CCM'S 2012 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA |
CCM's annual State Legislative Agenda is developed with proposals from member-municipalities, which are prioritized by CCM's issue-area policy committees and approved by CCM's Legislative Committee and Board of Directors. To view the 2012 Agenda and Priorities, please click on the link below:
CCM urges members to speak with your legislative delegation about CCM's 2012 State Legislative Agenda and encourage them to support it.
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If you have questions concerning this State Capitol Report or any state-local issue, please contact CCM's Public Policy & Advocacy Team:
- Jim Finley, Jr., Executive Director and CEO
- Ron Thomas, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy
- Kachina Walsh-Weaver, Senior Legislative Associate
- Bob Labanara, Senior Legislative Associate
- Donna Hamzy, Legislative Associate
- Mike Muszynski, Legislative Analyst
- George Rafael, Government Finance Analyst
- Kevin Maloney, Member & Public Relations Director
- Quanette Rhodes, Executive Services Administrator
- Carolyn Ryan, Public Policy & Advocacy Administrative Associate
...or via phone at (203) 498-3000.
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