Committee Bill No. 6552 - Summary

• Exempts projects to rebuild, remove, demolish, move or raze historic structures from certain historic preservation requirements if located in federal opportunity zones AND towns with populations under 30,000 designated as distressed municipalities for 10 consecutive years, provided the structure has been continuously vacant for at least 10 years.

• Establishes a 12-member Historic Preservation Council within the Department of Economic and Community Development, appointed by the Governor with the State Historian and State Archaeologist as required members, to advise on historic preservation matters and operate state historical museums.

• Expands the Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner's duties to include administering historic preservation programs, managing state historical museums (Henry Whitfield House, Prudence Crandall Museum, Old New-Gate Prison, and Eric Sloane Museum), and providing technical assistance for historic preservation.

• Allows the Department to withhold public disclosure of archaeological site locations when disclosure would create risk of destruction or harm, upon written request from site discoverers with annual extension options.

• All provisions take effect October 1, 2019.