Bill Text: CT HB06671 | 2015 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Legislative Commissioners' Recommendations For Technical And Minor Revisions To The Government Administration Statutes.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-05 - Signed by the Governor [HB06671 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2015-HB06671-Chaptered.html
AN ACT CONCERNING THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONERS' RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TECHNICAL AND MINOR REVISIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subdivision (12) of section 1-79 of the general statutes, as amended by section 4 of public act 14-222, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):
(12) "Quasi-public agency" means Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, the Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority, the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the State Housing Authority, the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, the Capital Region Development Authority, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, the Connecticut Airport Authority, [the Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut,] the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, the Connecticut Green Bank, [and] the Connecticut Port Authority and the State Education Resource Center.
Sec. 2. Subdivision (1) of section 1-120 of the general statutes, as amended by section 5 of public act 14-222, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):
(1) "Quasi-public agency" means Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the Connecticut Housing Authority, the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, the Capital Region Development Authority, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, the Connecticut Airport Authority, [the Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut,] the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, the Connecticut Green Bank, [and] the Connecticut Port Authority and the State Education Resource Center.
Sec. 3. Section 1-124 of the general statutes, as amended by section 6 of public act 14-222, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):
(a) Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the Connecticut Housing Authority, the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, [the Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut,] the Connecticut Airport Authority, the Capital Region Development Authority, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, the Connecticut Green Bank, [and] the Connecticut Port Authority and the State Education Resource Center shall not borrow any money or issue any bonds or notes which are guaranteed by the state of Connecticut or for which there is a capital reserve fund of any kind which is in any way contributed to or guaranteed by the state of Connecticut until and unless such borrowing or issuance is approved by the State Treasurer or the Deputy State Treasurer appointed pursuant to section 3-12. The approval of the State Treasurer or said deputy shall be based on documentation provided by the authority that it has sufficient revenues to (1) pay the principal of and interest on the bonds and notes issued, (2) establish, increase and maintain any reserves deemed by the authority to be advisable to secure the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds and notes, (3) pay the cost of maintaining, servicing and properly insuring the purpose for which the proceeds of the bonds and notes have been issued, if applicable, and (4) pay such other costs as may be required.
(b) To the extent Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the Connecticut Housing Authority, the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, [the Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut,] the Connecticut Airport Authority, the Capital Region Development Authority, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, the Connecticut Green Bank, [or] the Connecticut Port Authority or the State Education Resource Center is permitted by statute and determines to exercise any power to moderate interest rate fluctuations or enter into any investment or program of investment or contract respecting interest rates, currency, cash flow or other similar agreement, including, but not limited to, interest rate or currency swap agreements, the effect of which is to subject a capital reserve fund which is in any way contributed to or guaranteed by the state of Connecticut, to potential liability, such determination shall not be effective until and unless the State Treasurer or his or her deputy appointed pursuant to section 3-12 has approved such agreement or agreements. The approval of the State Treasurer or his or her deputy shall be based on documentation provided by the authority that it has sufficient revenues to meet the financial obligations associated with the agreement or agreements.
Sec. 4. Section 1-125 of the general statutes, as amended by section 7 of public act 14-222, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):
The directors, officers and employees of Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the Connecticut Housing Authority, the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, including ad hoc members of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, the Capital Region Development Authority, [the Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut,] the Connecticut Airport Authority, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, the Connecticut Green Bank, [and] the Connecticut Port Authority and the State Education Resource Center and any person executing the bonds or notes of the agency shall not be liable personally on such bonds or notes or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof, nor shall any director or employee of the agency, including ad hoc members of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, be personally liable for damage or injury, not wanton, reckless, wilful or malicious, caused in the performance of his or her duties and within the scope of his or her employment or appointment as such director, officer or employee, including ad hoc members of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority. The agency shall protect, save harmless and indemnify its directors, officers or employees, including ad hoc members of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, from financial loss and expense, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of alleged negligence or alleged deprivation of any person's civil rights or any other act or omission resulting in damage or injury, if the director, officer or employee, including ad hoc members of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, is found to have been acting in the discharge of his or her duties or within the scope of his or her employment and such act or omission is found not to have been wanton, reckless, wilful or malicious.
Sec. 5. Subsection (d) of section 4-168a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(d) The requirements contained in this section shall not apply to emergency regulations issued pursuant to subsection [(f)] (g) of section 4-168; regulations that do not affect small businesses directly, including, but not limited to, regulations concerning the administration of federal programs; regulations concerning costs and standards for service businesses such as nursing homes, long-term care facilities, medical care providers, day care facilities, water companies, nonprofit 501(c)(3) agencies, group homes and residential care facilities; and regulations adopted to implement the provisions of sections 4a-60g to 4a-60i, inclusive.
Sec. 6. Subsection (f) of section 4-170 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(f) If an agency fails to submit any regulation approved in whole or in part by the standing legislative regulation review committee to the office of the Secretary of the State as provided in section 4-172, not later than fourteen days after the date of approval, the agency shall notify the committee, not later than five days after such fourteen-day period, of its reasons for failing to submit such regulation. If any agency fails to comply with the time limits established under subsection [(b)] (c) of section 4-168, or under subsection (e) of this section, the administrative head of such agency shall submit to the committee a written explanation of the reasons for such noncompliance. The committee, upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members, may grant an extension of the time limits established under subsection [(b)] (c) of section 4-168 and under subsection (e) of this section. If no such extension is granted, the administrative head of the agency shall personally appear before the standing legislative regulation review committee, at a time prescribed by the committee, to explain such failure to comply. After any such appearance, the committee may, upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members, report such noncompliance to the Governor. [Within] Not later than fourteen days thereafter, the Governor shall report to the committee concerning the action the Governor has taken to ensure compliance with the provisions of section 4-168 and with the provisions of this section.
Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 4-258 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Any agency seeking to enter into a public-private partnership shall conduct a competitive procurement process for the selection of a contractor. The agency shall use, where appropriate, in accordance with the nature and scope of the project, (1) competitive bidding, as defined in section 4e-1, or (2) competitive negotiation, as defined in section [4a-250] 4a-50.
Sec. 8. Subsection (b) of section 17b-354c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) No later than December 31, 2001, the commissioner shall publish proposed regulations pursuant to subsections (a) to [(e)] (f), inclusive, of section 4-168 implementing this section.
Sec. 9. Section 11-4a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Each commission, task force or committee appointed by the Governor or the General Assembly, or both, and required to report its findings and recommendations, and each state agency which submits a report to the General Assembly or any committee of the General Assembly, shall submit its report electronically to the clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the Office of Legislative Research, and shall file one copy with the State Librarian. [Any report submitted pursuant to subsection (n) of section 17b-179 may be in electronic form. ]
Sec. 10. Section 13b-212b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) There is established a Connecticut Commuter Rail Council which shall consist of fifteen members appointed with the advice and consent of the General Assembly, all of whom shall be (1) commuters who regularly use the transportation services of the New Haven commuter railroad line which includes the New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branches of such line, (2) commuters who regularly use the transportation services of the Shoreline East railroad line, or (3) residents of a municipality in which the Commissioner of Transportation has proposed a new rail line or in which a rail line has commenced operation after July 1, 2013. Members shall be appointed as follows: (A) The Governor shall appoint four members, one of whom shall be the chief elected official of a municipality located on an operating or proposed new rail line; (B) the president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint three members; (C) the speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members; (D) the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member; (E) the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member; (F) the chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation shall each appoint one member, one of whom shall be from a municipality in which the Commissioner of Transportation has proposed a new rail line or in which a rail line has commenced operation after July 1, 2013, and one of whom shall be from a municipality in which a station for the Shoreline East railroad line is located; and (G) the ranking members of said committee shall jointly appoint one member who shall be from a municipality served by the Danbury or Waterbury branches of the New Haven commuter railroad line. Each member shall serve for a term of four years. [commencing on August 1, 2013. ] All initial appointments to the council shall be made by August 1, 2013, and initial members shall serve a four-year term commencing on August 1, 2013. Any vacancy shall be filled by the original appointing authority by appointment for the unexpired portion of any term. Members of the council shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and approved by the General Assembly.
(b) The members of the council shall choose one of the members of the council to be chairperson of the council. A majority of the members of the council then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, and action shall be by vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting. The council shall meet at least once during each calendar quarter and at such other times as the chairperson deems necessary or upon the request of a majority of the members in office. Special meetings shall be held at the request of such majority after notice in accordance with the provisions of section 1-225. Any member who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year or who fails to attend three consecutive meetings shall be deemed to have resigned from office.
Sec. 11. Subsection (b) of section 46a-55 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) The executive director, through the supervising attorney, may assign a commission legal counsel to represent the commission in any hearing or appeal under subdivision [(3)] (2) of subsection [(b)] (e) of section 4-61dd.