The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may execute with residents and nonresidents of this state leases of camping sites and buildings on the state parks for limited periods except as provided in section 23-16a and the proceeds from such leases, together with any other income resulting from the use of the state parks, shall be added to the Passport to the Parks account established pursuant to section 23-15h. Not later than May 1, 2010, said commissioner shall establish a schedule of fees payable for the leasing of state camping sites and buildings for residents of this state in amounts not greater than one hundred thirty-five per cent of the amounts charged according to the schedule of camping permit fees established by said commissioner and in effect as of April 1, 2009. Not later than May 1, 2010, said commissioner shall establish a schedule of fees payable for the leasing of state camping sites and buildings for nonresidents of this state in amounts not greater than one hundred fifty per cent of the amounts charged according to the schedule of camping permit fees established by said commissioner and in effect as of April 14, 2010. Annually, not later than the first day of November, said commissioner shall allocate from funds available for state park and forest areas in the then current fiscal year, an amount not less than fifty per cent of the portion of such fees collected in the preceding fiscal year directly related to the amount of increase in such fees as required in this section, to be used for purposes of maintenance and improvement of such state camping sites and buildings. Any fees paid for any lease under this section shall not be subject to refund under section 22a-10 unless (1) the lessee gives notice of cancellation to the commissioner not later than fourteen days prior to the date such lease is to commence, (2) the park is closed by executive order of the Governor, or (3) the lessee submits proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, of a death or serious illness in the family which prevents use of the facility during the period of the lease. The commissioner may deduct a reasonable service charge from any amount refunded pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (3) of this section.

(1949 Rev., S. 3442; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 12; 1969, P.A. 733, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 178; P.A. 80-435; P.A. 81-344; P.A. 92-195, S. 1, 3; P.A. 10-3, S. 64; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 328.)

History: 1969 act specified that leases may be granted to residents and nonresidents except as provided in Sec. 23-16a; 1971 act replaced state park and forest commission with commissioner of environmental protection; P.A. 80-435 added provisions describing schedule of fees to be implemented not later than April 1, 1981; P.A. 81-344 changed deadline for establishment of fee schedule from April 1, 1981, to April 1, 1982, and changed minimum increase from 150% to 175% of rates in effect on April 1, 1980, applicable in all cases, deleting higher rate of increase (200%) for nonresidents; P.A. 92-195 added provision re refunds under Sec. 22a-10; P.A. 10-3 replaced former provision re schedule of fees with provisions requiring commissioner, not later than May 1, 2010, to establish schedule of fees for leasing state camping sites and buildings for state residents in amounts not greater than 135% of amounts charged by commissioner as of April 1, 2009, and for nonresidents in amounts not greater than 150% of amounts charged by commissioner as of April 14, 2010, effective April 14, 2010, and applicable to fees charged on and after May 1, 2010; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 replaced reference to the General Fund with reference to the Passport to the Parks account, effective January 1, 2018.