(a) The purposes of a Connecticut brownfield land bank shall be to (1) acquire, retain, remediate and sell brownfields in the state on behalf of municipalities pursuant to land banking agreements with such municipalities, (2) educate government officials, community leaders, economic development agencies and nonprofit organizations on best practices for redeveloping brownfields, and (3) engage in all other activities in accordance with sections 32-771 to 32-775, inclusive. In addition to those powers, rights, privileges and immunities granted under chapter 602, a Connecticut brownfield land bank is authorized and empowered to do the following in furtherance of its purposes:

(A) Enter into land banking agreements with municipalities for the acquisition, retention, remediation and sale of real property within such municipalities on behalf of such municipalities.

(B) Enter into contracts and agreements with municipalities for staffing services to be provided to the Connecticut brownfield land bank by such municipalities, or agencies or departments thereof, or for a Connecticut brownfield land bank to provide such staffing services to such municipalities, or agencies or departments thereof in relation to the duties of such land bank.

(C) Obtain grant funds or borrow from private lenders, municipalities, the state or the federal government, as may be necessary, for the operation of such Connecticut brownfield land bank.

(D) Procure insurance or guarantees from the state or federal government of the payments of any debts, or parts thereof, incurred by such Connecticut brownfield land bank, and to pay premiums in connection therewith.

(E) Do all other things necessary or convenient to achieve the purposes of such Connecticut brownfield land bank and comply with any law relating to the purposes and responsibilities of such land bank.

(F) Acquire real property, as described in subsection (b) of section 32-775, by purchase contracts, lease purchase agreements, installment sales contracts, land contracts and foreclosure of municipal tax liens. A Connecticut brownfield land bank may accept transfers of real property from municipalities upon such terms and conditions as agreed to by the brownfield land bank and the municipality. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or of any special act, municipal charter or home rule ordinance, any municipality may transfer and convey to a Connecticut brownfield land bank real property and interests in real property located in the municipality on such terms and conditions and according to such procedures as determined by the municipality.

(b) A Connecticut brownfield land bank shall neither possess nor exercise the power of eminent domain.

(P.A. 17-214, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 17-214 effective July 1, 2017.