CT SB00289

Establishes the Beneficial Arbor Retention Commission effective July 1, 2024, located within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, to oversee all trees, shrubs, and vegetation in Connecticut state parks and campgrounds.

Commission membership includes 11 members appointed by various state officials, including representatives from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, environmental justice communities, arborists, landscape architects, and nonprofit park advocacy groups.

Requires the commission to appoint a licensed arborist for each state park and campground and mandates at least 10 days' public notice before removing or pruning trees, with provisions for public hearings if objections are filed, unless an immediate public hazard exists.

Arborists must consider proximity to public areas, feasibility of alternatives like pruning, and the social or scenic value of trees before designating them as immediate public hazards requiring removal.

Effective July 1, 2024, requires owners or operators of land-clearing machinery to obtain a "Certificate of Limited Effects for Arbor Non-Retainment" from the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, considering greenhouse gas emissions, particulate matter effects, and invasive species spread.