(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may, within available appropriations, establish a pilot program to encourage innovative and low-impact approaches to shoreline protection and adaptation to a rise in sea level. Such approaches may include living shorelines techniques utilizing a variety of structural and organic materials, including, but not limited to, tidal wetland plants, submerged aquatic vegetation, coir fiber logs, sand fill and stone to provide shoreline protection and maintain or restore coastal resources and habitat. The commissioner may solicit proposals for site-specific pilot projects utilizing such approaches and may offer technical assistance for such projects. Whenever such projects are proposed within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s regulatory jurisdiction under § 22a-32 or 22a-361, the commissioner may select not more than three projects per year to receive expedited regulatory approval pursuant to § 22a-363b.

(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, within available appropriations, may, in conjunction with academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations or federal agencies, seek funds for and prepare a shoreline management study for the purpose of enhancing the resilience of coastal communities to coastal hazards and a rise in sea level, with special consideration for areas significantly impacted by coastal storms.

(c) The University of Connecticut and the Connecticut State University System may, within available appropriations, in conjunction with other academic institutions and state and federal agencies, seek funds for and establish a program to develop and maintain science and engineering capacity within the state to support shoreline planning and management to enhance the resilience of coastal communities to coastal hazards and a rise in sea level.