AN ACT CONCERNING THE HERITAGE PARKS ADVISORY BOARDS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 23-10i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the State Historic Commission, shall develop criteria and guidelines for the designation of heritage parks consisting of sites in a region linked by a common social, historical or economic theme. Thereafter, in accordance with such criteria and guidelines, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may designate the boundaries, name and theme of any such park, as well as any physical sites to be included. Any designation shall be consistent with the plan for development of outdoor recreation and other natural resources authorized under section 22a-21 and shall be made after consideration of the significance of the heritage of the sites to be included and the economic benefit to the state from such designation. Sites designated for inclusion in a heritage park shall not be required to be contiguous to one another and need not be owned by the state.

[(b) Prior to designating a heritage park, the commissioner shall establish an advisory board to advise him on the designation of the boundaries, name, theme and sites to be included in a potential heritage park. The board shall consist of not less than ten members representing municipalities located within the boundaries of the proposed heritage park. The number of members from each municipality shall be determined based on the ratio of the population of such municipality to the population of all the municipalities to be included in the proposed heritage park. The commissioner shall appoint the members of the board from lists submitted by the legislative bodies of the municipalities located within the boundaries of the proposed heritage park.]

[(c)] (b) The commissioner shall conduct a public hearing concerning the boundaries, name, theme and sites to be included in a proposed heritage park at least thirty days prior to designation of such park. At least thirty days before such hearing, the commissioner shall cause to be published once, in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the area affected, notice of the proposal to designate a heritage park along with notice of the time, date and location of the public hearing to be held on such designation.

[(d) The designation of the name, boundaries and theme of a heritage park shall not be effective until it is approved by each municipality that is located within the boundaries of such park, by vote of its legislative body.]

(c) No site shall be designated for inclusion in such park unless the owner of such site consents to its inclusion.

[(e)] (d) Upon designation of [a] any heritage park, the commissioner [shall establish an advisory board to advise him on the promotion and development of such park. The members shall be appointed as provided in subsection (b) of this section] shall develop a plan for the promotion and development of such park.

[(f)] (e) The commissioner [, after consultation with the advisory board established pursuant to subsection (e) of this section,] may designate additional sites to be included in a heritage park, provided the owners of any such site consent to the designation. The commissioner may, after a public hearing held pursuant to the notice provisions of subsection (c) of this section, [and upon approval by each municipality located within the boundaries of a heritage park,] alter the boundaries, name and theme of such heritage park.

[(g)] (f) The commissioner may, within available appropriations, (1) establish and operate centers for the distribution of information about heritage parks, and (2) lease or purchase land or buildings and accept gifts, donations or contributions for the purposes of this section.

Statement of Purpose:

To facilitate the establishment of heritage parks by eliminating the requirement for the establishment of advisory boards.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]