(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall permit equestrian use on multiuse trails on state park and forest lands, unless specifically prohibited by said commissioner. Prior to a decision to prohibit equine use of any multiuse trail on state park and forest lands that have historically been utilized by equestrians, said commissioner shall consult with the Equine Advisory Council established pursuant to section 23-10d.

(b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit nonequine uses by the public of the trails specified in subsection (a) of this section nor prohibit the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection from temporarily closing any multiuse trail for safety reasons or the protection of natural resources.

(c) The permitting of equestrian use on a multiuse trail by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall not be deemed an expansion of such trail.

(P.A. 09-180, S. 1; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 264.)

History: P.A. 09-180 effective June 30, 2009; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 amended Subsec. (a) to delete requirement that Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection preserve certain trails for equine use and add provisions re equestrian use on multiuse trails and consultation with Equine Advisory Council, amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re temporary closure of any multiuse trail for safety reasons or protection of natural resources and amended Subsec. (c) to change “preservation of a trail” to “permitting of equestrian use on a multiuse trail”, effective July 1, 2012.