§ 21a-420aa — Social equity applicants. Withdrawal of cultivator application and submission of micro-cultivator application.

(a)(1) During the period beginning July 1, 2024, and ending March 31, 2025, a social equity applicant that has submitted an application to the department for a cultivator license pursuant to subsection (a) of section 21a-420o may withdraw such application and apply for a micro-cultivator license pursuant to this section if: (A) The Social Equity Council has verified that the applicant meets the criteria for a social equity applicant pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 21a-420o ; (B) The social equity applicant is eligible to receive a provisional cultivator license pursuant to subsection (a) of section 21a-420o ; (C) The department has not already issued a provisional cultivator license to the social equity applicant pursuant to subsection (a) of section 21a-420o ; and (D) The social equity applicant submits to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, a written statement by the social equity applicant withdrawing the social equity applicant's application under subsection (a) of section 21a-420o . (2) No social equity applicant that withdraws an application in the manner set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be eligible to receive a refund for any fee paid in connection with such withdrawn application. (b) During the period beginning July 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2025, the department shall issue a provisional micro-cultivator license to a social equity applicant pursuant to this section: (1) If the social equity applicant meets the eligibility criteria established in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section; (2) If during the period beginning July 1, 2024, and ending March 31, 2025, the social equity applicant submits to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner: (A) A completed micro-cultivator license application and other documentation required to determine eligibility as set forth in subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of section 21a-420g ; (B) A written statement by the social equity applicant disclosing whether any change occurred in the ownership or control of the social equity applicant after the Social Equity Council verified that the applicant met the criteria for a social equity applicant pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 21a-420o ; and (C) The application fee required under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section; and (3) If any change described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of this subsection has occurred: (A) Such change in ownership or control is allowed under (i) section 21a-420g , and (ii) any regulation adopted, or policy or procedure issued, pursuant to section 21a-420g or 21a-420h ; and (B) Pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, (i) the Social Equity Council has determined that the social equity applicant continues to meet the criteria for a social equity applicant, and (ii) the department has received a written notice from the Social Equity Council affirming that the Social Equity Council has determined that the social equity applicant continues to meet the criteria for a social equity applicant. (c) (1) A social equity applicant that submits a micro-cultivator license application pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall submit to the department an application fee in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars. All application fees collected pursuant to this subdivision shall be deposited in the consumer protection enforcement account established in section 21a-8a . (2) The fee to renew a final micro-cultivator license issued pursuant to this section shall be the same as the fee to renew a final micro-cultivator license as set forth in section 21a-420e . All renewal fees collected pursuant to this subdivision shall be paid to the State Treasurer and credited to the General Fund. (d) If any change described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section has occurred, the Social Equity Council shall (1) determine whether the social equity applicant continues to meet the criteria for a social equity applicant, and (2) submit to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, a written notice disclosing such determination. (e) No social equity applicant that receives a micro-cultivator license under this section shall be eligible to apply for a provisional license and a final license to create more than one equity joint venture to be approved by the Social Equity Council under section 21a-420d , and no such social equity applicant shall operate any such equity joint venture unless such social equity applicant has received a micro-cultivator license under this section, commenced cultivation activities under such micro-cultivator license and submitted to the department both the application fee required under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section and a conversion fee in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars. The conversion fee collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the Cannabis Social Equity and Innovation Fund established in section 21a-420f . (f) Each application submitted to the department pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and all information included in, or submitted with, any application submitted pursuant to said subsection, shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of section 21a-420e . (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of RERACA, and except as otherwise provided in subsections (a) to (f), inclusive, of this section: (1) Each application submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be processed as any other micro-cultivator application that has been selected through the lottery; and (2) Each social equity applicant, application submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and micro-cultivator license issued pursuant to this section shall be subject to subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of section 21a-420g .

Legislative History

(P.A. 24-76, S. 5.) History: P.A. 24-76 effective July 1, 2024.