House Republican Press Release

August 27, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

A VIEW FROM THE INSIDE

State Representative Ruth Fahrbach

Legislation will have an impact our towns

The legislature produced several new laws during the 2007 legislative session that will have an impact on our communities. Here is a summary of some of the major acts that will become law:

• Public Act 07-141 – Eminent Domain

This law prohibits the taking of property for the primary purpose of increasing local tax revenues, and requires a two-thirds vote of a town’s governing body before a property can be taken for municipal development.  In addition, the compensation for any property seized via eminent domain will be the average value of two independent appraisals.

• Public Act 07-233 - Brownfields

This law changes the current policies for cleaning up and redeveloping old industrial sites, or Brownfields. Under this legislation, the state’s development finance agency can issue bonds on behalf of a town to pay for the clean-up of Brownfields sites. This should streamline the process and allow sites to be cleaned up and put back on the tax rolls.

• Public Act 07-131 – Open Space and Farmland Preservation

 In essence, this law creates a loan program to help municipalities purchase agricultural land that can be preserved as open space. The Department of Agriculture will be charged with administering loans to eligible municipalities.

• Public Act 07-052 – Handicapped Parking

This law increases the fine for violating laws relating to the procurement and use of parking spaces designated for handicapped people. Previously, violations were infractions with a minimum fine of $85. The act increases the fine to $150 for a first violation and $250 for each subsequent violation. The violations of the handicapped parking law subject to the higher fine include: Parking in a space designated for a handicapped person; Unauthorized display of a special license plate or placard issued to a disabled person; Failure to return a plate or placard when required to do so by the motor vehicle commissioner; Failure to provide the designated spaces for handicapped persons the law requires.

• Public Act 07-240 - Loans to Municipalities to Fully Fund Pension Systems

This law creates a municipal pension solvency loan program to provide municipalities with funds for their unfunded employee pension liabilities. Loans will be made at the same interest rate the state pays on the bonds, notes, or obligations it issues to fund the program, but towns may be liable for administrative, issuance, and capital reserves-related costs. The act permits the bonds to be either general obligation or revenue bonds.

• Public Act 07-56 – Intrastate Mutual Aid System

This law establishes the Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact, providing a legal mechanism for towns to provide mutual aid in the event of a local civil preparedness emergency. It also eliminates the need for municipalities to establish individual agreements with each town and allows municipalities the ability to opt out.

If you would like a copy of any of these laws affecting municipalities, you may call my office at 240-8700 or log on to our Web site at www.cga.ct.gov.

Rep Ruth Fahrbach represents the 61^st District, including Suffield, and parts of Windsor and East Granby, in the General Assembly.