Bill Text: CT SB00357 | 2015 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Promotion Of The Shellfish Industry In Connecticut.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-30 - Senate Recommitted to Environment [SB00357 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2015-SB00357-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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January Session, 2015 |
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AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROMOTION OF THE SHELLFISH INDUSTRY IN CONNECTICUT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2015) (a) There is established the Aquaculture Coordinating Council. Such council shall be composed of the following members: (1) Two appointed by the Governor; (2) one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; (3) one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; (4) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives; (5) one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (6) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; (7) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (8) the Commissioner of Agriculture, or the commissioner's designee; and (9) a representative of the Sea Grant Program at The University of Connecticut, as appointed by the chairperson of the program's Senior Advisory Board. Not fewer than three of the appointed members of the council shall be representatives of the state's shellfish industry. The council shall be located in the Agricultural Experiment Station for administrative purposes only.
(b) The Aquaculture Coordinating Council shall: (1) Direct the policies and procedures of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Aquaculture; (2) develop a plan to expand the shellfish industry in Connecticut; (3) assure the public availability of maps indicating the names of state shellfish bed lessees; (4) review the language of current state shellfish leases and make recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment for any requisite changes to such leases; (5) review health and safety standards pertaining to the state's shellfish industry; and (6) coordinate with other states to further develop the state's shellfish industry.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the council shall submit a report on the status of the state's shellfish industry and any attendant recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2015) (a) There is established within the Department of Agriculture the Office of Business Ombudsman. Such office shall provide information to businesses on agricultural programs and requirements, including information on permits, licenses and leases of the department and shall coordinate and serve as a liaison between the department and programs affecting businesses. Such office shall be responsible for the receipt of any complaint from any such permittee, licensee or lessee and shall coordinate the efforts of the department to respond and resolve any such complaint in a timely manner.
(b) No employee of the Department of Agriculture, nor the Commissioner of Agriculture, shall take or threaten to take any retaliatory action against any permittee, licensee or lessee for any complaint filed with the Office of Business Ombudsman pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the Office of Business Ombudsman shall, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and to the Aquaculture Coordinating Council, established pursuant to section 1 of this act, on the efforts of such office. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, the number of businesses assisted by the office during the course of the previous calendar year, a description of the type of matters that the office assisted businesses with during the previous calendar year, the number of complaints received by the office during the previous calendar year pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and the disposition of any such complaints, including, but not limited to, the manner in which any such complaint was resolved, the length of time required to resolve such complaint and any reasons for the failure to resolve any such complaint.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
July 1, 2015 |
New section |
Sec. 2 |
July 1, 2015 |
New section |
ENV |
Joint Favorable Subst. |
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GAE |
Joint Favorable |