The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1498, seeks to amend the existing park replacement statute by introducing new requirements for municipalities that take, convert, or repurpose land originally acquired for park or recreational purposes. The bill stipulates that if a municipality repurposes such land for highway or other nonpark purposes, it must provide comparable replacement land that is at least equal in value and size to the land taken. Additionally, the bill mandates that municipalities hold a public hearing prior to any such action, detailing the land involved, the reasons for the conversion, and the description of the replacement land.

Key insertions in the bill include the terms "converts or repurposes," "including, but not limited to, any land in such municipality's possession," and "nonpark or nonopen space" to clarify the scope of the statute. The bill also emphasizes the need for public transparency by requiring municipalities to publish notices of the hearings in local newspapers and to adhere to specific timelines for conducting these hearings. The existing language in Section 7-131n is repealed and replaced with these new provisions, which aim to enhance accountability and ensure that municipalities adequately compensate for the loss of parkland.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-131n
ENV Joint Favorable: 7-131n
File No. 613: 7-131n
APP Joint Favorable: 7-131n