AN ACT CONCERNING REVENUE ITEMS TO IMPLEMENT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

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

Section 1. Subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of section 14-270 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) The Commissioner of Transportation or other authority having charge of the repair or maintenance of any highway or bridge is authorized to grant permits for transporting vehicles or combinations of vehicles or vehicles and load, or other objects not conforming to the provisions of sections 14-98, 14-262, 14-262a, 14-264, 14-267a and 14-269 but, in the case of motor vehicles, only the Commissioner of Transportation shall be authorized to issue such permits. Such permits shall be written, and may limit the highways or bridges which may be used, the time of such use and the maximum rate of speed at which such vehicles or objects may be operated, and may contain any other condition considered necessary by the authority granting the same, provided the Department of Transportation shall not suffer any loss of revenue granted or to be granted from any agency or department of the federal government for the federal interstate highway system or any other highway system.

(b) Any permit issued in respect to any vehicle, self-propelled vehicle, or combination of vehicles or vehicle and trailer on account of its excessive weight shall be limited to the gross weight shown or to be shown on the commercial registration certificate or any commercial registration certificate issued on an apportionment basis. A permit granted under this section for a vehicle or load, greater than twelve feet, but no greater than thirteen feet six inches in width and traveling on undivided highways, shall require a single escort motor vehicle to precede such vehicle or load. No escort motor vehicle shall be required to follow such vehicle or load on such highways.

(c) Any permit issued under this section or a legible copy or facsimile shall be retained in the possession of the operator of the vehicle, self-propelled vehicle or combination of vehicles or vehicle and trailer for which such permit was issued, except that an electronic confirmation of the existence of such permit or the use of the special number plates described in section 14-24 and any regulations adopted thereunder shall be sufficient to fulfill the requirements of this section.

(d) (1) The owner or lessee of any vehicle may pay either a fee of [twenty-three] thirty dollars for each permit issued for such vehicle under this section or a fee as described in subdivision (3) of this subsection for such vehicle, payable to the Department of Transportation. (2) An additional transmittal fee of [three] five dollars shall be charged for each permit issued under this section and transmitted via [transceiver or facsimile equipment] electronic means. (3) The commissioner may issue an annual permit for any vehicle transporting (A) a divisible load, (B) an overweight or oversized-overweight indivisible load, or (C) an oversize indivisible load. The owner or lessee shall pay an annual fee of [seven] nine dollars per thousand pounds or fraction thereof for each such vehicle. A permit may be issued in any increment up to one year, provided the owner or lessee shall pay a fee of [one-tenth of the annual fee] one hundred dollars for such vehicle or vehicle and trailer for each month or fraction thereof. (4) The annual permit fee for any vehicle transporting an oversize indivisible load shall not be less than [five hundred] six hundred fifty dollars. (5) The commissioner may issue permits for divisible loads in the aggregate not exceeding fifty-three feet in length.

Sec. 2. Section 31-97 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) Whenever a grievance or dispute arises between an employer and his employees, the parties may submit the [same] grievance or dispute directly to said board and notify said board or its clerk in writing and upon payment by each party of a filing fee of [twenty-five] two hundred dollars. Whenever a single public member of the board is chosen to arbitrate a grievance or dispute, as provided in section 31-93, the parties shall each be refunded the filing fee. Whenever such notification is given, a panel of said board, as directed by its chairman, shall proceed with as little delay as possible to the locality of such grievance or dispute and inquire into the causes thereof. The parties shall thereupon submit to said panel in writing, succinctly, clearly and in detail, their grievances and complaints and the causes thereof, and severally promise and agree to continue in business or at work without a strike or lockout until the decision of the panel is rendered; but such agreement shall not be binding unless such decision is rendered within ten days after the completion of the investigation. The panel shall fully investigate and inquire into the matters in controversy, take testimony under oath in relation thereto and may administer oaths and issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and for the production of books and papers.

(b) No panel of said board may consider any claim that one or more of the issues before the panel are improper subjects for arbitration unless the party making such claim has notified the opposing party and the chairman of the panel of such claim, in writing, at least ten days prior to the date of hearing, except that the panel may consider such claim if it determines there was reasonable cause for the failure of such party to comply with said notice requirement.

Statement of Purpose:

To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]