Compare versions
--- version:File No. 283+++ version:(document, no version)@@ -1,327 +1,14 @@-Senate-sSB448 / File No. 283 1+OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS+Legislative Office Building, Room 5200+Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200+http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa+sSB-448+AN ACT AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE METROPOLITAN+DISTRICT OF HARTFORD COUNTY.-General Assembly File No. 283-February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No. 448--Senate, March 31, 2026--The Committee on Planning and Development reported-through SEN. RAHMAN of the 4th Dist., Chairperson of the-Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill-ought to pass.-- AN ACT AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE METROPOLITAN-DISTRICT OF HARTFORD COUNTY.-Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General-Assembly convened:--Section 1. Section 2 of number 562 of the special acts of 1937, as 1-amended by section 14 of public act 93 -380, is amended to read as 2-follows (Effective October 1, 2026): 3-Unless otherwise expressly provided by law, each board, bureau, 4-committee and commission of The Metropolitan District shall have full 5-power to organize by the appointment from its own number [or 6-otherwise of] a chairman and vice chairman and such other officers as 7-may be deemed necessary and expedient. [In case such appointment 8-shall not be made from the membership of the respective boards, any 9-officer so appointed shall have no vote in the proceedings of such 10-board.] An employee of the district shall not be a member of the board 11-of commissioners nor any committee or commission established by the 12-board of commissioners or the charter. 13-sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 2--Sec. 2. Section 33 of number 511 of the special acts of 1929, as 14-amended by section 2 of special act 77-54 and section 1 of special act 01-15-3, is amended to read as follows (Effective October 1, 2026): 16-(a) The district [commission] board shall conduct a public hearing on 17-any proposed ordinance or revision to an ordinance at which parties in 18-interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard. Notice of the 19-time and place of such hearing shall be published in a newspaper having 20-a substantial circulation in [the metropolitan district] The Metropolitan 21-District at least twice at intervals of not less than two days, the first not 22-more than fifteen days nor less than ten days before such hearing, and 23-the last not less than two days before such hearing. The proposed 24-ordinance or revision to an ordinance shall be filed in the office of the 25-town clerk in each municipality that is a member of the district for public 26-inspection at least ten days before such hearing. [The proposed 27-ordinance or revision to an ordinance may be published in full in such 28-newspaper.] 29-(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 30-district board shall publish each such proposed ordinance or revision to 31-an ordinance in full in a newspaper having substantial circulation in The 32-Metropolitan District. 33-(2) The district board may provide, by ordinance, that summaries of 34-proposed ordinances or revisions to ordinances may be published, 35-except that no proposed ordinance or revision to an ordinance that 36-makes or requires an appropriation shall be summarized. Any such 37-summary shall include the following statement: "This summary is 38-prepared for the benefit of the public, solely for purposes of information, 39-summarization and explanation. This summary does not represent the 40-intent of the legislative body of The Metropolitan District for any 41-purpose." In the event that such a summary is published, the district 42-clerk shall make a copy of such proposed ordinance or revision to an 43-ordinance available for public inspection, and shall, upon request, mail 44-a copy of such proposed ordinance or revision to an ordinance to any 45-person requesting such copy, at no charge to such person. 46-sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 3--(c) No ordinance passed by the district board shall take effect until 47-ten days from the passage of such ordinance nor until it has been 48-published in full or summarized, as applicable, twice in [one or more 49-daily papers issued within the metropolitan district ] a newspaper 50-having substantial circulation in The Metropolitan District and the clerk 51-of said district shall cause each ordinance passed by the said district 52-board to be published without unnecessary delay, and a certificate of 53-the district clerk upon the record of such ordinance that the same has 54-been so published shall be prima facie evidence thereof in any suit or 55-proceeding, and no ordinance shall be valid if repugnant to the laws of 56-the state. 57-Sec. 3. Section 34 of number 511 of the special acts of 1929, as 58-amended by section 2 of special act 01 -3, is amended to read as follows 59-(Effective October 1, 2026): 60-The district board of [the metropolitan district ] The Metropolitan 61-District may, from time to time, revise the ordinances of said district 62-combining therein existing ordinances and making such alterations as it 63-may deem necessary. 64-Sec. 4. Number 283 of the special acts of 1949 is amended to read as 65-follows (Effective October 1, 2026): 66-The [city and police court of the city ] superior court for the judicial 67-district of Hartford and any town, city, city and police, borough, or 68-police court or trial justice shall have jurisdiction to enforce any 69-ordinance, by-law or regulation of The Metropolitan District and may 70-punish any offender by a fine not exceeding [fifty] two hundred fifty 71-dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days or by both such 72-fine and imprisonment. 73-Sec. 5. Section 35 of number 511 of the special acts of 1929 is amended 74-to read as follows (Effective October 1, 2026): 75-There shall be an attorney chosen by the district board who shall be 76-counsel to the district and whose duties and compensation shall by fixed 77-sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 4--by a by-law or ordinance of said district. [He] The district counsel shall 78-be an attorney of at least five years' practice and shall be a resident of 79-the district or a district nonmember municipality. The district counsel of 80-said district shall hold office during the pleasure of the board. The board 81-may also provide, by ordinance or otherwise, for the appointment by 82-the counsel of such assistance as the board shall [approved] approve. 83-Sec. 6. Subsection (b) of section 39 of number 511 of the special acts of 84-1929, as amended by special act 80 -14, special act 90 -14, section 1 of 85-special act 08-9 and section 1 of public act 15-114, is amended to read as 86-follows (Effective October 1, 2026): 87-(b) Whenever any work shall be necessary to execute or perfect any 88-public work or improvement, or whenever any supplies for the district 89-shall be needed for any particular purpose and such work or supplies 90-shall involve the expenditure of more than [twenty-five] fifty thousand 91-dollars, except in the case of an emergency to be determined by the 92-district board, a written contract for such work or supplies shall be made 93-under such regulations or ordinances as the district board may establish, 94-which contract shall be based on sealed bids. At least ten calendar days 95-prior to the time designated for opening competitive bids or proposals, 96-the district shall solicit competitive bids or proposals by (1) publishing 97-notice in daily and weekly newspapers servicing the member 98-municipalities provided a description of such legal notice containing a 99-brief summary of the competitive bid or proposal being noticed and a 100-reference to the Internet web site of the newspaper in which such legal 101-notice is placed may be published in lieu of the full legal notice, and (2) 102-posting notice on the Internet web site of the district. Any newspaper 103-that offers publication of such legal notices on an Internet web site shall 104-post the full legal notice in a conspicuous location on such web site and 105-make any such full legal notice available to the public free of charge. The 106-district may send such notice to trade associations or other groups active 107-in the business or service solicited. Each contract awarded by the district 108-shall be awarded to the lowest qualified bidder with bid requirements, 109-except as provided in this subsection. 110-sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 5--Sec. 7. Section 15 of number 511 of the special acts of 1929 is amended 111-to read as follows (Effective October 1, 2026): 112-Upon the acceptance and approval of such budget and upon the 113-completion of the grand lists, the district board, acting on the 114-recommendation of the board of finance, may lay a tax upon the towns 115-composing the district in a manner similar to that provided for by 116-section 1224 of the general statutes, revision of 1918. The total amount 117-of such tax shall be at least sufficient to pay the net estimated expenses 118-and current charges of the district for the ensuing year and the same 119-shall be divided among the towns in the proportion provided for which 120-the total revenue received yearly from direct taxation in each town, 121-including that received by all taxing districts therein, and including also 122-that which would have been received from all property exempted from 123-taxation under the provisions of any special act, or by town vote as 124-provided by sections 1161 and 1162 of the general statutes, revision of 125-1918, as averaged for the three fiscal years next preceding is to the total 126-revenue so determined at such time as averaged in all the towns in the 127-district. Each town's average total revenue shall be determined on the 128-basis of the annual audits of financial statements required pursuant to 129-chapter 111 of the general statutes for the three fiscal years next 130-preceding, including any revenue that would have otherwise been 131-received in any such fiscal year from any property exempted from 132-taxation under the provisions of any special act or by town vote as 133-provided by sections 1161 and 1162 of the general statutes, revision of 134-1918. If any town fails to file a statement of such town's accounts and 135-finances pursuant to such chapter in any of such three fiscal years, and 136-such town's average total revenue for the three fiscal years next 137-preceding and proportional share of such tax cannot be accurately 138-calculated, the tax laid upon such town shall be determined on the basis 139-of the most recent audit submitted by such town, to which an amount 140-equal to ten per cent of such revenue shall be added for each applicable 141-fiscal year for which such town failed to file such statement, which 142-amount shall be compounded from year to year. Such tax shall be 143-payable at such time as the district board may prescribe and the 144-chairman shall draw and sign an order upon each town for its tax so 145-sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 6--imposed in favor of the district treasurer, notice of which shall forthwith 146-be given by the district clerk to each town or city clerk and if any town 147-shall neglect to pay its tax by the time prescribed, said treasurer shall 148-report such neglect to the clerk of the superior court for the judicial 149-district of Hartford, [county,] who shall record it and issue an execution 150-against the goods and estate of the inhabitants of such town in the name 151-of the district treasurer, returnable in sixty days, directed to [the sheriff 152-of said county or his deputy ] a state marshal, for the amount of the tax 153-remaining unpaid to be proceeded with as executions in civil actions. 154-The towns and cities composing said metropolitan district are 155-empowered in any such case to include in the tax collections for the 156-current year an amount sufficient to pay such district tax. 157-Sec. 8. Section 50 of number 511 of the special acts of 1929, as 158-amended by section 4 of special act 77-54, is amended to read as follows 159-(Effective October 1, 2026): 160-The water bureau of [the metropolitan district ] The Metropolitan 161-District is empowered to make such by -laws or regulations for the 162-preservation, protection and management of the waterworks of said 163-district as may be deemed advisable and enforce the same by suitable 164-penalties; and, when such by -laws or regulations have been approved 165-by the district board and shall have been published ten days at least in 166-a daily newspaper issued within said district, they shall be of binding 167-validity, and said bureau may bring, in the name of The Metropolitan 168-District, actions of debt on such by -laws before the [court of common 169-pleas for Hartford county ] superior court for the judicial district of 170-Hartford to recover any penalty for the breach of the same. The police 171-court of the city of Hartford or any town court within said district shall 172-also have jurisdiction over any breach of such by -laws or regulations 173-and may punish the offender by a fine not exceeding [thirty] two 174-hundred fifty dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days or 175-by both fine and imprisonment. The water bureau shall have power to 176-establish rates for the use of water, subject to the approval of the district 177-board, and whenever any water rent shall remain unpaid after the time 178-prescribed and limited for payment by the rules and regulations of said 179-sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 7--bureau, said bureau may charge and receive additional percentage for 180-collecting the same, provided the conditions of such percentage be 181-published as aforesaid in the rules of said bureau. 182-Sec. 9. Number 282 of the special acts of 1949, as amended by special 183-act 80-25, is amended to read as follows (Effective October 1, 2026): 184-The Metropolitan District may make rules, bylaws and ordinances 185-with respect to connections with, the use of and discharge of substances 186-into drains, sewers and their appurtenances which belong to or are 187-under the jurisdiction or control of said district. The Metropolitan 188-District may enter into agreements with property owners, which may 189-be in the nature of a lien to be filed in the land records of the town in 190-which the property is located, to secure payment of sanitary sewer 191-connection charges which may be deferred for a period of up to [fifteen] 192-twenty years, with interest thereon at such rate as the district board of 193-said district shall, by ordinance, prescribe. Such lien shall be a lien upon 194-the land that is benefitted by such sanitary sewer connection and shall 195-attach to such land upon recordation of such agreement, signed by said 196-property owner and the clerk of said district, describing the premises 197-and the nature and amount of such connection charge, in the land 198-records of the town in which the property is located. 199-Sec. 10. Section 60 of number 511 of the special acts of 1929, as 200-amended by section 2 of number 312 of the special acts of 1945 and 201-section 5 of special act 77 -54, is amended to read as follows ( Effective 202-October 1, 2026): 203-Upon the final layout or completion of the construction of any public 204-work or improvement, the bureau of public works shall give notice 205-thereof and that such benefits are due and payable, by publication twice 206-in a daily newspaper published in said metropolitan district, and all 207-benefits assessed therefor shall be immediately due and payable. If the 208-actual cost of the construction of any public work or improvement shall 209-be less than the sum estimated by the bureau of public works and 210-assessed upon the parties benefitted, each of the parties so assessed shall 211-be entitled to a proportionate deduction from his assessments. Such 212-sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 8--benefits shall be a lien upon the land on account of which they were 213-assessed, which liens shall commence and attach to such land from the 214-time of passage by the district board of the vote laying out or ordering 215-the construction of such work or improvement; provided, within [thirty] 216-ninety days from such passage, a caveat or certificate briefly describing 217-the public work or improvement for which the benefits were assessed 218-and the property upon which such assessment is a lien, together with 219-the names of the owners thereof and the amount of benefits assessed 220-against it, shall have been delivered for record to the town clerk of the 221-town in which the property subject to said lien is located, and further 222-provided the same shall not remain in a lien thereon for a longer period 223-than three months from the date of the last publication of the notice of 224-the final layout or completion of such work or improvement and the 225-benefits assessed therefor shall be due and payable, unless the bureau 226-of public works shall, within that time, deliver for record to the town 227-clerk of the town wherein such property is located a certificate signed 228-by the clerk of said bureau describing said premises, the amount 229-assessed and the public work or improvement for which it was assessed. 230-This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following-sections:--Section 1 October 1, 2026 Number 562 of the-special acts of 1937, Sec.-2-Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 Number 511 of the-special acts of 1929, Sec.-33-Sec. 3 October 1, 2026 Number 511 of the-special acts of 1929, Sec.-34-Sec. 4 October 1, 2026 Number 283 of the-special acts of 1949-Sec. 5 October 1, 2026 Number 511 of the-special acts of 1929, Sec.-35-Sec. 6 October 1, 2026 Number 511 of the-special acts of 1929, Sec.-39(b)-sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 9--Sec. 7 October 1, 2026 Number 511 of the-special acts of 1929, Sec.-15-Sec. 8 October 1, 2026 Number 511 of the-special acts of 1929, Sec.-50-Sec. 9 October 1, 2026 Number 282 of the-special acts of 1949-Sec. 10 October 1, 2026 Number 511 of the-special acts of 1929, Sec.-60--PD Joint Favorable Subst.--sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 10--The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of-the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not-represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,-fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional-knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final-products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.+Primary Analyst: JP 3/30/26+Contributing Analyst(s): BP+Reviewer: RWOFA Fiscal Note@@ -352,12 +39,10 @@ordinances or revisions to ordinances.Section 3 makes a technical change and has no fiscal impact.Section 4 results in a potential revenue gain beginning in FY 27 to the+2026SB-00448-R000283-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 3+General Fund by increasing the fine for violations of district ordinancesfrom $50 to $250. Any revenue gain will be dependent on the number-sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 11-of fines collected by the district.The section also changes the court with jurisdiction over theseordinances to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford. The@@ -387,12 +72,10 @@to the district’s waterworks from $30 to $250. Any revenue gain will bedependent on the number of fines collected by the district.The section also changes the court with jurisdiction over these+2026SB-00448-R000283-FN.DOCX Page 3 of 3+ordinances to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford. Thecourt system disposes of over 250,000 cases annually and the number of-sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 12-cases is not anticipated to be great enough to need additional resources.Section 9 extends the permissible term of liens related to sewerconnection charges from fifteen years to twenty years. This results in a@@ -406,20 +89,3 @@The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above wouldcontinue into the future subject to the number of violations, liens filed,and inflation.--sSB448 File No. 283--sSB448 / File No. 283 13--OLR Bill Analysis-sSB 448--AN ACT AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE METROPOLITAN-DISTRICT OF HARTFORD COUNTY.--SUMMARY-The Office of Legislative Research does not analyze Special Acts.-COMMITTEE ACTION-Planning and Development Committee-Joint Favorable Substitute-Yea 21 Nay 0 (03/13/2026)
Diffs are computed deterministically from extracted bill text and show additions, deletions, and section moves. Scanned-PDF text extracted via OCR is flagged where confidence is low; see methodology.