§ 21a-408r — Licensure of cannabis testing laboratories and registration of cannabis testing laboratory employees. Regulations. Fees.

(a) No person may act as a cannabis testing laboratory or represent that such person is a cannabis testing laboratory unless such person has (1) obtained a license from the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to this section, or (2) obtained a license from the Department of Consumer Protection on or before June 30, 2023, as a laboratory authorized to engage in cannabis testing and such license remains active on July 1, 2023. Any person that satisfies the criteria established in subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be deemed to be a licensed cannabis testing laboratory for the duration of such prior license and, upon expiration of such prior license, such person shall be eligible to renew such expired prior license as a cannabis testing laboratory license. The fee to receive a provisional license as a cannabis testing laboratory shall be five hundred dollars, and the fee to receive a final license, or renewal of a final license, as a cannabis testing laboratory shall be one thousand dollars. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, no person may act as a cannabis testing laboratory employee or represent that such person is a cannabis testing laboratory employee unless such person has obtained a registration from the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to this section. Any person to whom the Department of Consumer Protection has issued laboratory employee credentials on or before June 30, 2023, shall, if such credentials remain active on July 1, 2023, and authorize such person to handle and test cannabis, be deemed to be a registered cannabis testing laboratory employee for the duration of such prior credentials and, upon expiration of such prior credentials, be eligible to renew such expired prior credentials in the manner set forth for renewing a certificate of registration as a cannabis testing laboratory employee. (c) Prior to the effective date of regulations adopted under this section, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection may issue a temporary certificate of registration to a cannabis testing laboratory employee. The commissioner shall prescribe the standards, procedures and fees for obtaining a temporary certificate of registration as a cannabis testing laboratory employee. (d) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to (1) provide for the licensure or registration of cannabis testing laboratories and cannabis testing laboratory employees, (2) establish standards and procedures for the revocation, suspension, summary suspension and nonrenewal of cannabis testing laboratory licenses and cannabis testing laboratory employee registrations, provided such standards and procedures are consistent with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 4-182 , (3) establish a registration renewal fee for each registered cannabis testing laboratory employee, provided the aggregate amount of such fees shall not be less than the amount necessary to cover the direct and indirect cost of registering and regulating cannabis testing laboratory employees in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, (4) establish procedures by which cannabis testing laboratories shall accept marijuana samples from caregivers, qualifying patients and consumers for testing, and (5) establish other licensing, registration, renewal and operational standards deemed necessary by the commissioner. For the purposes of this subsection, “consumer” has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-420 . (e) Any fees collected by the Department of Consumer Protection under this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer and credited to the General Fund.

Legislative History

(P.A. 16-23, S. 10; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1, S. 78; P.A. 23-79, S. 16.) History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1 added new Subsec. (a) re licensure of laboratories and redesignated existing Subsecs. (a) to (d) as Subsecs. (b) to (e), amended redesignated Subsec. (b) to make a technical change, delete “licensed” before “laboratory employee” and replace “license” with “registration”, amended redesignated Subsec. (d) to add “or registration” in Subdiv. (1), add “licenses” after “laboratory” and replace “licenses” with “registrations” in Subdiv. (2), add references to “registration” or “registering” in Subdivs. (3) and (4) and to change “licensed” to “registered” in Subdiv. (3); P.A. 23-79 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting “cannabis testing laboratory” for “laboratory”, deleted former Subsec. (a)(2), added new Subsec. (a)(2) re eligibility and fees for cannabis testing laboratory license, amended Subsec. (b) by substituting “cannabis testing laboratory employee” for “laboratory employee” and adding provisions re persons to whom Department of Consumer Protection has issued laboratory employee credentials on or before June 30, 2023, amended Subsec. (c) by substituting “cannabis testing laboratory employee” for “laboratory employee”, and amended Subsec. (d) by substituting “cannabis testing laboratory” for “laboratory” and “cannabis testing laboratory employee” for “laboratory employee”, adding Subdiv. (4) re procedures for cannabis testing laboratories to accept marijuana samples from caregivers, qualifying patients and consumers for testing, redesignating existing Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (5) and adding definition of “consumer” and making technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2023.