(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection is designated as administrative agent of the state to apply for any funds or other aid, cooperate and enter into contracts and agreements with the federal government relating to the planning, acquisition, development, maintenance, operation, conservation or preservation of outdoor recreation resources or other natural resources of the state, including land, waters and interests therein and for any other purpose within the powers and duties of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or for any other purpose which the Congress of the United States has authorized or may authorize the federal government to grant to or cooperate with the several states relating to or compatible with the functions of said department. The commissioner is authorized in the name of the state to make all applications, sign all documents, give assurances and do all other things necessary to obtain such aid from or cooperate with the United States or any agency thereof. All funds granted by the United States or by any agency thereof shall be received and administered in a manner to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management.

(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may enter into and administer agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency thereof for planning, acquisition and development projects involving participating federal aid funds relating to outdoor recreation and natural resources on behalf of the state or on behalf of any municipality or regional authority. In connection with obtaining the benefits of any federal assistance program for subdivisions of the state, the commissioner shall coordinate the activities of municipalities and regional authorities having interests in the planning, development and maintenance of outdoor recreation and natural resources and facilities within the state with the activities of the component agencies of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and represent the interests of all agencies of the state.

(c) Funds may be received from the federal government under the provisions of Public Law 88-578 (78 Stat. 897) for planning, acquisition and development of state forest, park, fish and game facilities and for the acquisition and development of lands by municipalities, and may be disbursed for such purposes in accordance with law. Twenty-five per cent of the federal funds received each fiscal year shall be disbursed to municipalities for development purposes and, in the discretion of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, an additional amount not to exceed fifteen per cent of such funds received each fiscal year may be disbursed to municipalities for such purposes, provided no such funds shall be disbursed, except upon the application of a municipality.

(February, 1965, P.A. 329, S. 2, 3, 5; 1967, P.A. 634, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 395; P.A. 73-292, S. 1, 2; P.A. 75-320, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-548, S. 1, 2; 77-614, S. 19, 610; P.A. 79-607, S. 6; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: 1967 act allowed commissioner to enter contracts and agreements with federal government re acquisition of resources, required that funds received from federal sources be administered pursuant to regulations of finance and control commissioner rather than “in accordance with section 4-31a” and added provisions re commissioner's role in coordinating activities between municipalities and regional authorities and department of agriculture and natural resources and other state agencies; 1971 act replaced commissioner and department of agriculture and natural resources with commissioner and department of environmental protection; Sec. 22-7b transferred to Sec. 22a-22 in 1972; P.A. 73-292 allowed receipt of federal funds for development of land in Subsec. (c) and added provision limiting such funds to 10% of funds received each fiscal year to be disbursed only upon a municipality's request, effective May 17, 1973, and applicable to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973; P.A. 75-320 allowed disbursement of additional 10% of funds received to municipalities at commissioner's discretion; P.A. 77-548 increased percentage of funds disbursed for development in Subsec. (c) from 10% to 25% of funds received and reduced amount of additional discretionary disbursement from 10% to 5%; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of finance and control with secretary of the office of policy and management; P.A. 79-607 deleted reference to “a maximum of” 25% in Subsec. (c) and raised discretionary disbursement limit from 5% to 15%; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” and “Department of Environmental Protection” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” and “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011.

See Sec. 7-131k re authority of municipalities to accept federal funds for open space land acquisition or development.