HB 5519 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING ON-SITE WASTEWATER SPECIALISTS AND WATER OPERATOR APPRENTICES.

This bill requires that, starting October 1, 2026, anyone performing duties as an on-site wastewater specialist in Connecticut must be certified by the Department of Public Health and appointed by a local health director. It establishes three certification levels based on the size and complexity of the sewage systems being inspected, with Phase I covering smaller residential systems, Phase II for medium-sized buildings, and Phase III for larger alternative treatment systems. Current health department agents must transition to this new certification system by October 1, 2027, while department employees retain the ability to conduct inspections without certification. The bill also creates a training program requirement and sets up a process for applicants to gain certification through approved courses and examinations.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 5, 2026 Last action Apr 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → PH Joint Favorable Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renamed from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' and re-referred to the Public Health Committee, indicating it is a revised version incorporating feedback. Substantively, the bill adds a new definition for 'Local director of health' to clarify which officials oversee wastewater systems. It also updates the specific regulation citations used to approve health agents, ensuring they align with the correct regulatory sections for Phase I and Phase II certifications.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on regulating on-site wastewater specialists, but the definitions and regulatory references were expanded and corrected to improve clarity and accuracy.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Local director of health' to explicitly include directors of both municipal and district health departments.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the regulatory citations for approving health agents to reference specific subsections (2)(A) and (2)(B) instead of the general section.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' and updated the legislative document number to reflect the new version.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Appropriations

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors