General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7085 seeks to improve the release-based cleanup program and its regulations by mandating the commissioner to adopt, amend, or repeal necessary regulations. A key feature of the bill is the creation of a working group co-chaired by the commissioner and the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, which will include diverse stakeholders such as environmental attorneys, real estate brokers, and representatives from advocacy groups. This group is tasked with advising on regulations and evaluating the program's effectiveness, holding monthly meetings until regulations are adopted and quarterly meetings thereafter until February 1, 2030. The bill also specifies that the commissioner must submit reports on the group's findings by set deadlines and introduces new definitions for reporting requirements, remediation procedures, and risk-based tiers for hazardous releases.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing regulations by allowing a longer timeframe for reporting non-imminent threats and establishing a process for correcting erroneous reports. It clarifies that previously reported releases do not need to be reported again under the new provisions and emphasizes the need for remediation standards that consider site use and groundwater classification. The legislation also mandates audits of environmental release verifications, prioritizing higher-risk cases, and outlines a multi-level auditing process with specific timeframes. Notably, it removes previous language regarding the working group's composition, replacing it with a more comprehensive list of required members to ensure broader representation in the cleanup process. The bill will take effect upon passage and amends section 22a-134tt of the general statutes.

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