Substitute Bill No. 6499 - Radiation Security Summary

• Updates definitions of radioactive materials and radiation-related terms to reference 42 USC 2014 (federal Atomic Energy Act) instead of outdated Public Law references, effective October 1, 2021.

• Requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to adopt comprehensive regulations in accordance with chapter 54 administrative procedures covering construction, operation, security, tracking, decommissioning, production, transportation, storage, and disposal of ionizing radiation sources and radioactive materials.

• Establishes that no person shall construct, operate, use, manufacture, produce, transport, transfer, receive, acquire, decommission, own or possess any source of ionizing radiation or radioactive materials unless in compliance with all chapter requirements, including regulations, registrations, and licenses.

• Creates liability for persons responsible for exposure hazards or contamination from radioactive materials, making them liable for all state costs to investigate, monitor, abate, contain, mitigate or remove hazards, plus attorneys' fees and court costs; allows reimbursement for those who voluntarily abate such hazards.

• Authorizes the Commissioner to take necessary steps to protect human health and environment from radioactive material hazards and permits the Governor to enter into agreements with the federal government for state assumption of ionizing radiation programs.