STATE of CONNECTICUT

BY HER EXCELLENCY

M. JODI RELL

GOVERNOR

Executive Order No. 39

WHEREAS, a responsive and balanced regulatory system is vital to promoting the State’s economy and the welfare of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, said regulatory system must be targeted to accomplish this result without imposing unnecessary or excessive burdens on businesses and individuals subject to State regulation; and

WHEREAS, in order to ensure that development is accomplished in a safe, orderly and consistent manner Connecticut has established processes for issuing permits for projects that impact the environment, public health and public safety; and

WHEREAS, such processes often have proven to be cumbersome and time-consuming and result in costly delays of development projects; and

WHEREAS, it is in the interests of Connecticut’s citizens to examine these processes to determine if permits can be issued in a more efficient manner;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, M. Jodi Rell, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Connecticut, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1.      There shall be established a Permitting Task Force to examine the processes by which permits are issued by various state agencies and develop recommendations for simplifying, streamlining and, if appropriate, repealing such processes and shortening the time that it takes for such permits to be approved in order to reduce unnecessary burdens, costs and inefficiencies while maintaining appropriate protections for the public health, safety and welfare and the orderly conduct of business. 

2.      The Permitting Task Force shall be appointed by the Governor and shall be composed of consumers and representatives of a) business and industry, b) the construction industry, c) labor and d) municipalities.

3.      The Permitting Task Force shall consult with representatives of the various State agencies that issue permits to gain an understanding of the factors involved in evaluating applications for permits.

4.      The Permitting Task Force shall examine all pertinent issues including but not limited to consistency of forms and procedures; availability of pre-application assistance; intra- and inter-agency cooperation and communications; intra- and inter-agency jurisdictional issues; and ways of eliminating application backlogs. 

5.      The Permitting Task Force may hold public hearings as they deem appropriate to solicit suggestions on ways to improve the permitting process.

7.      Administrative support for the Permitting Task Force shall be provided by the Department of Economic and Community Development. 

8.      The Permitting Task Force may request and shall receive from any department, division, board or commission of the State such cooperation, assistance, services and data it determines is necessary to carry out the purposes of this order.  All State agencies shall cooperate with the Task Force and shall provide information requested by the Task Force in a timely fashion.

This order shall take effect immediately.

Dated at Hartford this 3^rd day of February 2010.

Governor

By Her Excellency’s Command:

Secretary of the State