(a) There is established a working group to examine the remediation and development of brownfields in this state, including, but not limited to, the remediation scheme for such properties, permitting issues and liability issues, including those set forth by sections 22a-14 to 22a-20, inclusive. The working group shall also annually review the progress of the Special Contaminated Property Remediation and Insurance Fund established under section 22a-133t and make recommendations concerning said fund.

(b) The working group shall consist of the following members, each of whom shall have expertise related to brownfield redevelopment in environmental law, engineering, finance, development, consulting, insurance or another relevant field:

(1) Four appointed by the Governor;

(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall represent the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities;

(3) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall represent an environmental organization;

(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;

(5) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives;

(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;

(7) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;

(8) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio;

(9) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio;

(10) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, who shall serve ex officio; and

(11) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio.

(c) Any member of the working group as of July 8, 2011, shall continue to serve and all new appointments to the working group shall be made no later than August 7, 2011. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.

(d) The working group shall select chairpersons of the working group.

(e) On or before January 15, 2014, and annually thereafter, the working group shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce and the environment.

(P.A. 10-135, S. 2; P.A. 11-141, S. 15; P.A. 12-183, S. 12; P.A. 13-299, S. 27; 13-308, S. 26.)

History: P.A. 10-135 effective June 8, 2010; P.A. 11-141 amended Subsec. (b) to increase membership from 11 to 13 with 2 additional appointments for the Governor, amended Subsec. (c) to add provision re members to continue to serve, amended Subsec. (d) to delete requirement that chairpersons be selected from among the appointed members, and amended Subsec. (e) to extend reporting requirement from January 15, 2011, to January 15, 2012, and add provisions requiring report to be submitted to the Governor and environment committee, effective July 8, 2011; P.A. 12-183 amended Subsec. (b)(9) to change “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, and amended Subsec. (e) to extend reporting requirement from January 15, 2012, to January 15, 2013, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 13-299 amended Subsec. (a) to add requirement that working group annually review and make recommendations re Special Contaminated Property Remediation and Insurance Fund, amended Subsec. (c) to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (d) to delete provision re chairpersons to schedule first meeting within 60 days, and amended Subsec. (e) to change reporting requirement from January 15, 2013, to January 15, 2014, and annually thereafter, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-308 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to 13 members, increase the number of appointments for the Senate president pro tempore from 1 to 2, one of whom to represent the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities in Subdiv. (2), increase the number of appointments for the House speaker from 1 to 2, one of whom to represent an environmental organization in Subdiv. (3), add Subdiv. (11) re Commissioner of Public Health or designee to serve as ex-officio member and make technical changes, and amended Subsec. (e) to extend reporting requirement from January 15, 2013, to January 15, 2015, effective July 12, 2013.