In 1989 the Connecticut General Assembly established the Long Island Sound Assembly ("LISA") and three Long Island Sound Advisory Councils ("Regional Councils") pursuant to Public Act No. 89-344.

The Long Island Sound Assembly is comprised of seven members from each of the three Regional Councils. The Regional Councils each consist of the chief executive officer of the various coastal municipalities (36 in total) within a given region (Eastern, Central, and Western) and nine other individuals appointed by the governor and house and senate leadership who represent academic institutions, industry, environmental experts and environmental organizations.

LISA was charged with coordinating reports from the Regional Councils and submitting annual reports to the Connecticut General Assembly, DEP and the Connecticut-New York Bi-State Long Island Sound Committee concerning recommendations for the improvement of and public access to Long Island Sound (the "Sound") as well as a prioritization of the concerns of citizens as to the future of the Sound.

Although there are a number of agencies and environmental organizations which have been involved with Long Island Sound related issues, the Connecticut General Assembly, in creating LISA and the Councils, acknowledged the importance of participation by those communities which are most affected by the Sound and its natural resources.

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 983

PUBLIC ACT NO. 89-344

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LONG ISLAND SOUND ASSEMBLY AND REGIONAL LONG ISLAND SOUND ADVISORY COUNCILS AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR THE ASSEMBLYAND ADVISORY COUNCILS AND THE BI-STATE LONG ISLAND SOUND MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (a) There is established the Long Island Sound Assembly consisting of seven members of each Long Island Sound Advisory Council. The members shall be appointed by the chairman of each advisory council, three of whom shall be chief executive officers, and four shall be appointed from the members of such councils appointed by the governor or the legislature, at least one of whom shall be a public member, one shall represent an environmental organization and one shall represent a volunteer or citizen organization.

(b) The assembly shall review the report of each advisory council submitted pursuant to section 2 of this act for compatibility with the reports of the other councils and for coordination with federal and state law and the activities of the Bi-State Long Island Sound Marine Resources Committee. The assembly shall submit a report of its review and any recommendations to the general assembly on or before January first, annually.

(c) The assembly shall hold its first meeting, to be called by the commissioner of environmental protection, on or before September 1, 1989.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (a) There are established three Long Island Sound Advisory Councils as follows: (1) An Eastern Long Island Sound Advisory Council consisting of the towns of Stonington, Groton, Ledyard, Preston, Norwich, Montville, New London, Waterford, East Lyme, Old Lyme, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Essex, Chester, Deep River, Clinton and Westbrook; (2) a Central Long Island Sound Advisory Council consisting of the towns of Madison, Guilford, Branford, East Haven, North Haven, Hamden, New Haven, West Haven and Orange and (3) a Western Long Island Sound Advisory Council consisting of the towns of Milford, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Westport, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford and Greenwich.

(b) The membership of each council shall be comprised of the chief executive officer, or his designee, of each municipality in such council and nine members as follows: One appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate, one appointed by the minority leader of the senate, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, and five appointed by the governor, one of whom shall represent an academic institution located within the boundaries of the council, one of whom shall represent industry, one of whom shall be an environmental specialist, one of whom shall be a member of an environmental organization, and one of whom shall represent a volunteer or citizen organization. No more than four of the governor's appointments may be members of the same political party as the governor. The governor shall designate one of the members of each council appointed by him to call the first meeting of such council. The first meeting of each council shall be called on or before August l, 1989. At the first meeting of each council a chairman and vice¬chairman shall be elected by majority vote of the members of the council.

(c) Each council shall prepare a report concerning the use and preservation of Long Island Sound within its boundaries. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, provisions prioritizing the concerns of citizens and organizations for the future of Long Island Sound and identification of available resources concerning Long Island Sound. Such report shall be revised as each council deems necessary.

(d) Each council may organize, as it deems necessary, and utilize public or private resources in accomplishing its duties, including those made available from educational institutions and industry.

(e) Each council shall submit its report to the Long Island Sound Assembly not more than one year after the first meeting of such council. Any revision shall be submitted to said assembly within thirty days.

Sec. 3. The sum of seventy-five thousand dollars is appropriated to the department of environmental protection, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, from any available sums appropriated to the finance advisory committee for such fiscal year, for 1989 acts without appropriations, for (1) the activities of the Long Island Sound Assembly, established under section 1 of this act, and the Long Island Sound Advisory Councils, established under section 2 of this act, (2) the activities of the Bi-State Long Island Sound Marine Resources Committee and (3) additional staff for the department of environmental protection to coordinate programs related to Long Island Sound.

Sec. 4. This act shall take effect from its passage except that section 3 shall take effect July l, 1989.