Bill would allow longer stays at state parks, but not in the summertime

Stay all night, stay a little longer… A bill up for a public hearing in the Environment Committee would lengthen the amount of time families may camp in state parks. Currently, there is a 21-day aggregate limit for campers in popular destinations such as Hammonasset Beach in Clinton and Madison. Under Senate Bill 85, which will be subject of a public hearing Wednesday in the Environment Committee (11 a.m., Room 1-C of the Legislative Office Building), the time would be limited to 21 days for the Memorial Day/Labor Day period, but extended before and after. The bill would allow the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop detailed regulations on the issue. Currrently, some people are hogging prime camping spaces for weeks on end, while shutting out others.