Legislative Actions
Amended HB 5408, An Act Concerning Tree Trimming, now known as Public Act 14-151, passed the House of the CT General Assembly on May 2 and the Ct Senate unanimously (with one absence) on May 7. The Governor signed the Act on June 6, 2014 and it takes effect immediately. Among other things, Public Act 14-151 shifts the burden of proof to the utility on appeal to PURA as in the original bill, make improvements in the process for objection and notification, clarifies rights regarding pruning and removal of trees on private land outside of the public right-of-way but within the utility protection zone, provides for optional mediation prior to any appeal to PURA of a dispute regarding objections and requires PURA to consider stump grinding of trees that are removed in an appeal of a tree warden or DOT decision. Click for more detailed Summary of the Bill.
It you asked for your senator's support, please call or e-mail your state senator to thank him or her.
It you asked for your senator's support, please call or e-mail your state senator to thank him or her.
Background on prior versions of HB 5408:
HB 5408, An Act Concerning Tree Trimming, as originally proposed, would shift the burden of proving that "public convenience and necessity" require the pruning or removal of a tree by a utility on appeal from a tree warden's decision by the utility or by the abutting property owner. It was voted out of the Committee on Energy and Technology on March 18, 2014.
It was later amended, and reported out of the Committee on Energy and Technology on April 7, 2014, as Substitute House Bill No. 5408. The link provides Office of Fiscal Analysis and Office of Legislative Research reports, as well as the text of the amended bill.
For further information and to follow the about the progress of the bill and any further amendments to it, search by clicking here and putting in 5408 in the number box.
Negotiations were said to be occurring on a bill that is substantially different from that which is publicly available. It is said to shift the burden of proof as in the original bill, make improvements in the process for objection and notification, clarify rights regarding pruning and removal of trees on private land outside of the public right-of-way but within the utility protection zone, and provide for stump grinding and replacement of trees that are removed.
It was later amended, and reported out of the Committee on Energy and Technology on April 7, 2014, as Substitute House Bill No. 5408. The link provides Office of Fiscal Analysis and Office of Legislative Research reports, as well as the text of the amended bill.
For further information and to follow the about the progress of the bill and any further amendments to it, search by clicking here and putting in 5408 in the number box.
Negotiations were said to be occurring on a bill that is substantially different from that which is publicly available. It is said to shift the burden of proof as in the original bill, make improvements in the process for objection and notification, clarify rights regarding pruning and removal of trees on private land outside of the public right-of-way but within the utility protection zone, and provide for stump grinding and replacement of trees that are removed.
