Substitute House Bill No. 6248 proposes to increase the penalty for violations related to the illegal taking of striped bass in Connecticut. The bill establishes that any person who violates regulations concerning striped bass, whether in marine or inland waters, will be committing an infraction and will incur a fine of $250. This new fine replaces the existing penalties, which are $154 for violations in inland waters and $75 for those in marine waters. The bill clarifies that individuals may either pay the fine by mail or plead not guilty in accordance with existing legal provisions.

The bill is set to take effect upon passage and aims to enhance compliance with state regulations governing striped bass, which include rules on minimum legal lengths and daily creel limits. The increased fine is expected to generate minimal additional revenue for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), with estimates suggesting that the number of violations could lead to significant revenue gains based on the frequency of infractions. The bill was favorably reported by the Environment Committee with unanimous support.