Sec. 16-261a. Interagency electric and magnetic fields task force; composition; study. Assessment of electric public service companies for specified expenses of task force. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 16-261a. Interagency electric and magnetic fields task force; composition; study. Assessment of electric public service companies for specified expenses of task force. (a) There is established an interagency task force to study electric and magnetic fields. The task force shall determine the appropriate role of the state in addressing the potential problems associated with electric and magnetic fields and may make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding any legislation which it deems appropriate. The task force shall consist of (1) the Commissioner of Public Health or his designee; (2) the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or his designee; (3) the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or his designee; (4) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management or his designee; (5) the chairperson of the Public Utilities Control Authority or his designee; and (6) the chairman of the Connecticut Siting Council or his designee.

      (b) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Department of Public Health and the Department of Public Utility Control, shall assess all electric public service companies, as defined in section 16-1, for a total of one hundred fifty thousand dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992. The commissioner, in consultation with the task force, shall develop an equitable method of assessing the companies for their reasonable pro rata share of the assessment. The moneys assessed by the commissioner shall be deposited with the Treasurer and shall only be expended by the interagency electric and magnetic fields task force for the purpose of (1) contracting for the services of electric and magnetic fields experts to assist the task force in determining the need for and the development of recommendations to the public concerning prudent methods of avoiding exposure to electric and magnetic fields, and (2) reviewing and compiling the existing scientific literature concerning electric and magnetic fields to identify any significant adverse effects caused by exposure to electric and magnetic fields and to determine whether there are gaps in the existing scientific literature that could be filled by original scientific research completed in Connecticut. The task force shall submit reports of its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committees on energy and technology, public health and the environment on or before February 1, 1998.

      (P.A. 91-317, S. 1-3; P.A. 92-169, S. 1-3; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; 96-245, S. 12, 44.)

      History: P.A. 92-169 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize the task force to make recommendations to the general assembly and amended Subsec. (b) to provide for consultation by the commissioner with the task force in assessing companies under this section and to change the date re submission of reports by the task force from February 1, 1992, to February 1, 1995; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995 (Revisor's note: The phrase "Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection" in Subsec. (b) was replaced editorially by the Revisors with "Commissioner of Environmental Protection" for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 96-245 amended Subsec. (b) to change the date re submission of reports by the task force from February 1, 1995, to February 1, 1998, effective June 6, 1996.