CT SB00102

Repeals and replaces Section 23-53 to authorize Connecticut to enter into the Northeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact with Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and other contiguous states or Canadian provinces for coordinated forest fire prevention and control.

Modifies forest practitioner certification requirements in Section 23-65h by changing gender-specific pronouns to neutral language and allows the commissioner to grant 60-day extensions for renewal applications that were not submitted before expiration, with an additional fee requirement.

Changes professional education requirements for certified foresters and forest product harvesters from "biennial" (every two years) to annual participation and shifts from "evidence" to "attestation" with proof furnished upon request in Section 23-65i.

Amends pesticide applicator certification fees in Section 22a-54 by allowing the commissioner to renew lapsed certifications within 60 days with late fees (10% of renewal fee plus 1.25% monthly), with examinations required for certifications lapsed more than 60 days.

Updates agricultural land conservation programs in Sections 22-26cc and 22-26nn to reference the federal Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and allow incorporation of successive federal farmland protection programs in addition to the existing Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.