The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6914 aims to revise the Harbor Management Act by clarifying the authority of the commission responsible for harbor management. Key changes include the repeal of subsection (b) of section 22a-113n and section 22a-113p, which are replaced with new provisions that enhance the commission's role in reviewing and making binding recommendations on proposals affecting harbor areas. The bill stipulates that any recommendations made by the commission that are consistent with the harbor management plan will be binding on state and local officials when making regulatory decisions, unless they can provide a written justification for a different action.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for state permit or license applications affecting the harbor. It mandates that applicants must consult with the commission before submitting their applications and provide copies of these applications to the commission simultaneously with their submission to the relevant state agency. The local agencies are required to consider the commission's recommendations, and a two-thirds majority vote is necessary to approve any proposal that does not receive a favorable recommendation from the commission. Overall, the bill seeks to strengthen the commission's authority and ensure that harbor management decisions align with established plans.

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Raised Bill: