Substitute Senate Bill No. 1146, known as Public Act No. 23-196, is a comprehensive piece of legislation that revises various programs under the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The bill modifies the appointment and training requirements for conservation officers and special conservation officers, allowing the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to appoint special conservation officers from department employees or sworn federal law enforcement officers. It also updates the public notice requirements for environmental regulation hearings, granting the commissioner emergency authority to declare closed seasons on species at risk of depletion and to set conditions for commercial fishing. The bill makes language more inclusive, replacing gender-specific terms with gender-neutral ones.

The bill also addresses fishing regulations, stating that certain general statutes will not apply to commercial fishing and clarifying the prohibition of fishing near fishways. It amends the process for reissuing commercial fishing licenses in cases of temporary incapacitation of the holder, allowing immediate family members or crew members to use the license. The bill increases the allowable vessel size for trawl net fishing and outlines conditions for transferring commercial fishing licenses, including residency requirements and a history of landings. Additionally, it requires applicants for environmental permits to publish notice of their application in a local newspaper and on the Internet, and to notify the chief elected official of the municipality where the activity will occur.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 26-5, 26-113, 26-159c, 26-102, 26-116, 26-137, 26-142b, 7-131g
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute: 26-5, 26-113, 26-159c, 26-102, 26-116, 26-137, 26-142b, 7-131g
File No. 517: 26-5, 26-113, 26-159c, 26-102, 26-116, 26-137, 26-142b, 7-131g
Public Act No. 23-196: 26-5, 26-113, 26-159c, 26-102, 26-116, 26-137, 26-142b, 7-131g