CT HB05254

The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall jointly conduct a study of public access to beaches and parks adjacent to marine or tidal waters owned or controlled by municipalities or political subdivisions.

The study shall examine ordinances, regulations, or rules that limit public access based on residency of potential visitors.

The study shall examine fees or other access-limiting means that disparately impact visitors based on residency.

The study shall account for any state or federal funds received by municipalities for such beaches or parks and examine whether receipt of such funds requires public access and whether local rules violate those access requirements.

A report on study findings and legislative recommendations shall be submitted to relevant joint standing committees by January 1, 2023.