§ 8-31b — Restructure of regional planning agencies and regional councils of elected officials into regional councils of governments.

(a) On or before January 1, 2015, each regional planning agency created pursuant to sections 8-31a to 8-37a, inclusive, of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, and each regional council of elected officials created pursuant to sections 4-124c to 4-124h, inclusive, shall be restructured to form a regional council of governments as provided in section 4-124j. (b) A regional council of governments may accept or participate in any grant, donation or program available to any political subdivision of the state and may also accept or participate in any grant, donation or program made available to counties by any other governmental or private entity. Notwithstanding the provisions of any special or public act, any political subdivision of the state may enter into an agreement with a regional council of governments to perform jointly or to provide, alone or in cooperation with any other entity, any service, activity or undertaking that the political subdivision is authorized by law to perform. A regional council of governments established pursuant to this section may administer and provide regional services to municipalities by affirmative vote of the member municipalities of such council, and may delegate such authority to subregional groups of such municipalities. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 7-339a to 7-339 l , inclusive, the administration and provision of such services shall not require the execution of any interlocal agreement. Regional services provided to member municipalities shall be determined by each regional council of governments, except as provided in subsection (b) of section 9-229 and section 9-229b , and may include, without limitation, the following services: (1) Engineering; (2) inspectional and planning; (3) economic development; (4) public safety; (5) emergency management; (6) animal control; (7) land use management; (8) tourism promotion; (9) social; (10) health; (11) education; (12) data management; (13) regional sewerage; (14) housing; (15) computerized mapping; (16) household hazardous waste collection; (17) recycling; (18) public facility siting; (19) coordination of master planning; (20) vocational training and development; (21) solid waste disposal; (22) fire protection; (23) regional resource protection; (24) regional impact studies; and (25) transportation.

Legislative History

(P.A. 13-247, S. 250, 313; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 444; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 260; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 178.) History: P.A. 13-247 effective June 19, 2013, and amended Subsec. (c) by changing “On January 1, 2014” to “Beginning on January 1, 2015”, deleting “regional planning agency, regional council of elected officials and”, changing “a” report to “an annual” report and making conforming changes, effective January 1, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (b) by adding exception re Secs. 9-229(b) and 9-229b, effective January 1, 2016; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 deleted Subsec. (c) re annual report to Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, effective October 31, 2017; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions re affirmative vote of member municipalities and prohibition on requiring execution of interlocal agreements, effective June 23, 2021.