CT HB06503

Redirects fees collected from environmental permit applications (currently $60 per application) from the General Fund to a new Environmental Quality Fund to support soil and water conservation districts and the Council on Soil and Water Conservation.

Establishes an Environmental Quality Fund managed by the State Treasurer with an environmental quality account that retains unspent balances year-to-year for Department of Environmental Protection programs.

Requires municipalities to remit permit fees quarterly to the Department of Environmental Protection; municipalities retaining only $2 per application for administrative costs with the remainder deposited into the Environmental Quality Fund.

Authorizes the Office of Policy and Management to withhold up to $4,000 annually from Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund payments to non-compliant municipalities, with withheld amounts transferred to the Environmental Quality Fund.

All provisions take effect July 1, 2011.