Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-1103
AN ACT CONCERNING EMISSIONS AND DECIBEL LEVEL TESTING, THE
TAXATION OF CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES AND PARTS AND THE PASSPORT
Title: TO THE PARKS FEE.
Vote Date: 4/22/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 4/20/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
The purpose of the bill is to require emission testing on motorcycles and to require that all
vehicles noise levels be tested to ensure that they meet the requirements set by the DEEP
and DMV. The bill would also increase the sales and use tax rate to 50% for sales of
motorcycles that exceed the maximum allowable noise level and for the use of aftermarket
motorcycle mufflers that exceed the noise level. The DEEP and DMV would be responsible
for developing the testing programs specifications, requirements and penalties.
Another purpose of this bill is to limit the Passport to the Parks pass to one vehicle per owner.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Commissioner Katie Sykes, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental
Protection Opposed
Commissioner Sykes testified that including motorcycles in the I/M program will provide
minimal air quality benefits as these vehicles account for less than 0.5% of particulate
emissions and about 1% of nitrogen oxide emissions from all on-road mobile sources in
Connecticut. She stated that DEEP instead favors policies that seek to further reduce
emissions from the medium and heavy-duty vehicle sector as well as promoting vehicle
electrification efforts.
Commissioner Sykes further stated that DEEP has no expertise to establish standards or to
evaluate noise complaints as funding for the noise program was eliminated in 1983.
Establishing noise standards for motorcycles, which would not differ significantly from DMVs
existing standards, would require DEEP to hire a noise consultant. Additionally, DEEP
enforcement staff do not have the equipment or training to enforce noise limitations and are
fully committed to other enforcement related activities
Commissioner Sykes testified that by reducing the Passport to the Parks fee to one per
vehicle per owner it would eliminate a substantial amount of revenue, perhaps close to one-
half, and require that we significantly curtail the staff-intensive services we provide to the
public, which would result in the closure of campgrounds, museums and nature centers,
elimination of lifeguards, and the reduction in fulltime and seasonal staff funded by the
Passport to the Parks Account (35 full-time and roughly 550 seasonal employees).
Commissioner Sibongile Magubane, Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles,
Opposed.
Commissioner Magubane testified in opposition of removing the exemption of requiring
motorcycles to undergo emissions testing. She testified that the DMV agrees with the
testimony provided by DEEP, which states that this change would provide minimal air quality
benefits, as motorcycles account for less than 0.5% of particulate emissions, and about 1% of
nitrogen oxide emissions. Next, DMVs Emissions Program vendor does not have the
requisite expertise, or station network, for implementation and administration, of a maximum
decibel testing program. She stated that implementation of a decibel testing program will
require a comprehensive analysis of the emissions station testing network, given that there
are specific requirements that must be met.
The Commissioner also testified in opposition to Section 10, of the proposed bill, which
provides that any person registering, or renewing a motor vehicle registration, shall only be
required to pay the Park Passport fee for one vehicle. This provision will have a negative
fiscal impact on the state, resulting in a substantial loss of revenue collected by the DMV.
Melissa McCaw Secretary Office of Policy and Management Opposed
Secretary McCaw testified that by Implementing the proposed new motorcycle emission
inspection program and the motor vehicle decibel level inspection program would result in
substantial unbudgeted administrative costs to the Department of Motor Vehicles and the
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The associated costs include but are
not limited to entering into a contract with an emission vendor to add as a service the
additional tests and equipping of emissions stations with decibel measuring equipment.
Furthermore, the Passport to Parks Fund would take a substantial undetermined revenue
loss by limiting the Passport to the Parks fee to one vehicle. The reduction of revenue to this
fund would reduce the Connecticut State Park system's resources and require appropriations
from the General Fund.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Page 2 of 7 SB-1103
None expressed
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
The following people testified in opposition of Section 10 of SB1103 which proposes that the
$5/year vehicle registration fee paid to the DMV for each vehicle owned in the future be
charged on just a single vehicle owned by a multi-car owner. Currently Connecticut's
Department of Motor Vehicles tracks fees per vehicle, not per individual.
This change would cut funding for State Parks by 50% or more, which would undermine
funding for State Parks that provide great environmental, recreational and economic value to
our state. This would likely result in Park closures, and closure of campgrounds and other
public Park amenities. Passage of this bill puts the burden of paying for State Parks on the
backs of single car owners.
They requested that the Passport to the Parks stays intact, with no exemptions or diversions,
as was proposed in the Governors FY 2022-23 Budget.
Tim Abbott, Housatonic Valley Associates Connie Manes, Housatonic Valley
Associates
Pamela Aey Adams, Colchester Tom Adamski, Southbury
Mary and David Ahlgren, Glastonbury Janet and Keith Ainsworth, Guilford
Robert Amatrudo, South Windsor Colin Antaya, New Haven
Amanda Arce, Marlborough Steven Arnold, West Hartford
Erik Assadourian, Middletown Laurie Averill, Killingsworth
Nancy Bajek, Southington Janet Bannister, Coventry
Lee and Chris Barba John Barnowski, Colchester
Daniel Becce, West Hartford Judy Belaval, Wallingford
Julie Beman, Wethersfield Mark & Anita Bennett, Clinton
David Bergmann, West Hartford Renee Betar, Litchfield
Anne Bingham and Ted Esselstyn, Higganum David Bingham, MD Salem
Ann Blake, Cheshire Christine Bonner, Madison
Jeffrey Borne Carol Borsari
Mary Lou Bowen, Ivoryton Andrea and Samuel Bradford & Family
Madison
Alexander Bradley, Lebanon Jane Brawerman, Middletown
Rusty Brockman and Josie McGehee, Southbury Stephen Broderick, Friends of
Goodwin Forest
Thomas Broderick, Trumbull Lisa Brodlie, Weston
Tracey Brooks, Branford Caren Brown
Paul Bukowsky, Clinton Juliet Cain, Darien Pollinator Pathway
Erica Caldwell, Norwalk Chris & Kelly Callahan, Waterford
Heidi and John Campbell, Madison Cheryl Cappiali, Milford
Maeleah Carlisle, Newington Kathleen Carlson, Hamden
Eric and Deborah Carson, Cheshire G. Clifford Carter, Waterford
William Case, New Hartford Sten Caspersson, Bloomfield
Rachel Catanese, West Hartford Lisa Celona, Cheshire
Kyle Champney, Shelton Starling Childs, Norfolk
Sarah Jane Compton, Woodbridge Kristin Connell, Killingworth
William and Karyn Cordner, West Simsbury David Cover
Tom Crider, Southbury Beth Critton, West Hartford
Page 3 of 7 SB-1103
R. Richard Croce, Killingworth Alice Cruikshank, Bloomfield
Nancy Cummings, Killingworth Helen Curry, Friends of Seaside State
Park, Inc.
Richard Dalterio, Cheshire Joyce & Justin Daubar, East Lyme
Jo Ann Davidson, Westport John Guszkowski, CT Resource
Conservation & Development
Jeanne Davies, CT Resource Conservation & Development
Harcourt Davis, Old Lyme Jayne Bauman de Gant
Catherine Delasco, East Granby Audrey DesMartin, West Hartford
Linda Desrosiers, Milford Maya Dobrynin
Lorraine Donovan Rachel Dorset, Wilton
Mike Dudek, Sharon Christine Edelson
Maureen Egan, Madison Ed Edelson, First Selectman,
Southbury
Dave Ellis, Wallingford Christine Elwell-Garrett, Hartford
Robert Evans, Rockfall Tom Finan, Burlington
Elizabeth Florillo, North Haven Juliet Fleming
Nathan Foley, Marlborough John Folsom, Pomfret Center
Ellen Forman, Woodbury Kenny Foscue, North Haven
Linda Francois, Bethany Nicole Freidenfelds, Storrs
Friends of Sherwood State Park Robert Fritsch, Newington
Daniel Gattey, East Hampton Roger Gatto, Essex
Stephanie Gatto, Essex Ellie Gillespie, East Haven
David and Donna Gilroy Linda Glovna, Southington
Kristina Gossner, Durham Kevon Gough, Bloomfield
Carol Gould, Harwinton Brock Graham, Old Saybrook
Eileen Grant, Friends of CT State Parks Sister Rosemarie Greco, Litchfield
Bill Green, Guilford Jean Green, Guilford
Martha Greenwood, West Hartford Hannah Gregory, Meriden
Patricia Grigg, Hamden Evan Griswold, Old Lyme
Claudia Gwardyak, Bloomfield Zoltan Gyarfas,
John Halibozek, West Hartford
John Halloran, Killingly Raymond Hamilton Jr., New London
Eric Hammerling, Connecticut Forest & Park Assoc. Kathryn Hanlon, Plantsville
Mary Anne Hardy, North Haven Angela Hawkins Fichter
Melanie Hennessey, Branford Audrey Hill, Brookfield
Wendolyn Hill, Lyme Mary-Michelle Hirschoff, Bethany
Walker Holmes, The Trust for Public Land Josee Huang, Farmington
Julie Hulten, Sleeping Giant Park Association Sharon Huttner, Branford
Susan Izard, West Hartford Steven Jalowiec
Madeline Jeffrey, North Stonington Citizens Land Alliance, Inc.
Sarah Jennings, Killingworth Doris Johnson, Windsor
Rene Karas Johnson, Higganum Fred Jones, Hartland Land Trust
Paula Jones, Bloomfield Sandra Jones, West Suffield
Ralph Kadden, West Hartford Juliet Kapsis, East Hartford
Christopher Kelly, Esq. Save the Sound L. Dean Kendall, Chester
Kelly Kennedy, West Hartford Karen Kremer, Madison
Michelle Kiley, West Hartford Franci Knight, Harwinton
Joe Kohut, South Windsor Kipen Kolesinskas, Manchester
Page 4 of 7 SB-1103
Liz Ann Koos,, Friends of Sherwood Island State, Inc. Justin Kopit
Christine Koster, Prospect/Naugatuck Michael Krammen, East Granby
Bradley & Barbara Kronstat, Guilford Michelle LaBrecque, Plantsville
Sharon Lanza, West Hartford Bill Lanzoni, Wallingford
Peter and Donna Larkin, Madison Bruce Laroche, Berlin
Comm. David Law, Town of Haddam Monica Lee, Manchester
David Leff, Collinsville Joe Lewerk, Lisbon
Michael Lloyd, Washington Heather Lodge, Madison
Nicholas Lodge, Madison Bonnell Lombardi, Washington
Maureen Lopez, Madison Alexandra Lowery, Granby
Matthew Lubanko, Madison Brian Lynch
Theodore Lynn, West Rock Ridge Park Assoc. Carleen Mabry, Bethany
Anthony McDonald, Windsor Jan Manchester, Simsbury
Connie Manes, The Kent Land Trust Allison Mangles, Hamden
Roy Manstan, East Haddam Robert Marra, West Haven
William and Diane Marshall, South Windsor F. Michael Martucci, Hamden
William Marut, Glastonbury Ruth Matthews, Clinton
Andrew May, Hartford Robert Mazzawy, South Glastonbury
Sheils McCarthy, MD Daniel McCloskey, Guilford
Andrew McKensie, Broad Brook David McKinnis, Fairfield
Fillmore McPherson, Madison Joan McPherson, Madison
Barbara Mechler, Southbury Judith Miller, Branford
Leah Miller, Hamden Nate Minegar, Old Saybrook
Barbara Mingo, New London Dr. Janice Mooney-Frank, STEM
coach
Dawn Morin, Woodstock Gian Andrea Morresi, Bridgeport
Thomas Marstan Morse, West Haven Melissa Mostowy, Southwest
Conservation District
Daniel Mullens, Waterford Irene Murray, Southington
Patricia and Joseph Neafsey, Stafford Cynthia Nethercut, Madison
Rick Newton, Mystic Benjamin Oko, MD, Ridgefield
Janie Palasek, Southington MaryRose Palumbo, Milford
Don Paradis Timothy Parola, Newington
Amy Blaymore Paterson, Ct. Land Conservation Craig Patton, Westport
Council
Susan Pearson, East Hartland Julie Peck, Bloomfield
Ellie Perkins, Middletown Marcia Pessolano, Shelton
Nicole Peterson, Moodus Louis Pietig, Westport
Susam Pritchett Post, Bloomfield Jeremy Pressman, West Hartford
Meral Prewitt, Concerned Citizens Group Deborah Prior, Windsor
Elaine Quayle, Guilford Cynthia Rabinowitz, NW Conservation
District
David and Janet Rathbun, Northford Margaret Rattray, Madison
Cate& Dave Rauch, Meriden Eileen Rausch, West Hartford
Katy Reddick Perry Rianhard, Madison
Judy Richey, Glastonbury Michelle Kiley, West Hartford
Sally Richter, Bloomfield Virginia Rickel Pelletier, Hartford
Jennifer Riggs, West Hartford Mary Lynne Riley
Barbara Paul Robinson, Washington Charles Robinson, Washington
Page 5 of 7 SB-1103
Torrance Robinson, Washington Ada G. Rodriguez, LPC
Robert Roggeveen, West Hartford Ira Rubenzahl
Bill Ruel, Old Lyme
Lillian Ruiz, Ct Council on Soil and Water Conservation
Robert and Maryetta Russell, Branford Jaclyn Ryan, Madison
Peter Sachs, LOWA Boots, LLC Laurette Saller, Waterford
David Sargent, Northford Ed Savage, Bloomfield
Denise Savageau, CT. Assoc. of Conservation Dist. Star Sayres, East Haddam
Maureen Scalia, East Haven Ralph Scarpino, Barkhamsted
Elizabeth Auerbach Schiro, Auerfarm State Park Res. Eric Schonenberg, New Fairfield
David Schonfeld, West Hartford Mike Schumann, East Granby
Lorrie and Terry Shaw, Guilford Lisa Shea, Columbia
Liz Shore, Guilford Pam Simmons, Simsbury
Pam Bisbee Simonds, Guilford Irene Skrybailo, New Milford
Darcy Sledge, Westport Jason Smith, Windsor Locks
Joan Smith, Groton Open Space Assoc. Frank and Betsy St. John, Middlefield
William Stableford, Madison Richard Stanley, West Simsbury
Scott Stetler, Danbury Alexandra Stevens, Cos Cob
Liane Stevens, Unionville Brian Stewart, Middletown
Donna Stout, Hartford Chris Sullivan, Southwest
Conservation Dist.
John Swatt, Jr., Wolcott Elizabeth Swift, Cromwell
Annemarie and Herbert Arnold, Portland Sheryl Thibeault, Vernon
Larry Timmerman, Essex Charles Tracy, Essex
Laura and Keith Traver, Killingworth