§ 14-21bb — Aquatic Invasive Species Stamp. Requirements for possessing stamp. Aquatic Invasive Species Decal. Exemptions.

(a) Any person who operates a vessel on the inland waters of the state that is required to display a registration decal, issued by this state or another state, shall possess an individual Aquatic Invasive Species Stamp. The fee for such stamp shall be seven dollars. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall issue such stamp through the On-line Sportsmen Licensing system of the department. Any such stamp shall be valid for the calendar year in which it was issued. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person who owns a vessel that is required to display a registration decal, issued by this state or another state, may purchase a vessel Aquatic Invasive Species Decal in lieu of the requirement of subsection (a) of this section that each person who operates such vessel obtain an individual Aquatic Invasive Species Stamp. Any person who operates a vessel bearing a valid vessel Aquatic Invasive Species Decal shall be deemed to have met the requirements of subsection (a) of this section while operating such vessel. The fee for such vessel Aquatic Invasive Species Decal shall be twenty dollars, provided the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may charge an additional fee of not more than five dollars for the production, processing and mailing of such decal. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall issue such decal through the On-line Sportsmen Licensing system of the department. Any such decal shall be valid for the calendar year in which it was issued. Any such vessel Aquatic Invasive Species Decal shall be permanently affixed to the vessel for which it was purchased approximately amidship on the port side of the vessel either on the hull of the vessel or at the operator's station and in such a manner as to be visible to law enforcement officers approaching by vessel from the port side of such vessel. (c) The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not be construed to apply to the operator of any vessel that is numbered pursuant to section 15-145 , provided such number bears the suffix of “DL”, “XP”, “MS” or “YB” and displays a current registration validation decal. (d) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall cause all revenues collected pursuant to this subsection to be deposited in the Connecticut Lakes, Rivers and Ponds Preservation account established in section 14-21aa . (e) Any person who operates a vessel on the inland waters of the state in violation of the provisions of this section shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined not more than eighty-five dollars.

Legislative History

(P.A. 19-190, S. 1; P.A. 23-154, S. 1.) History: P.A. 19-190 effective January 1, 2020; P.A. 23-154 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provision re payment of fee upon registering of vessel and added provisions re possession of stamp to operate vessel and issuance of stamp through the On-line Sportsmen Licensing system, amended Subsec. (b) to delete provision re vessels registered in other states and added provisions re option to purchase decal, authority to charge additional fee for the production and mailing of such decal and requirements for the placement of such decal upon the vessel, added Subsec. (c) re exemption from stamp or decal requirements and redesignated existing provisions as Subsecs. (d) and (e) and made technical changes, effective October 1, 2024.