Bill Text: CT HB07033 | 2015 | General Assembly | Introduced

Connecticut House Bill 7033 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Office Of Governmental Accountability.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-23 - Public Hearing 03/27 [HB07033 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2015-HB07033-Introduced.html


General Assembly		*Raised Bill No. 7033*
*January Session, 2015*		LCO No. 5369
		05369_______GAE
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS
Introduced by:
(GAE)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 1-300 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) There is established the Office of Governmental Accountability. The executive administrator of the office shall serve as the administrative head of the office [, who] and shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 1-301.

(b) The Office of Governmental Accountability shall provide personnel, payroll, affirmative action and administrative and business office functions, and information technology associated with such functions, for the following: The Office of State Ethics established under section 1-80, State Elections Enforcement Commission established under section 9-7a, Freedom of Information Commission established under section 1-205, Judicial Review Council established under section 51-51k, Judicial Selection Commission established under section 51-44a, Board of Firearms Permit Examiners established under section 29-32b, Office of the Child Advocate established under section 46a-13k, Office of the Victim Advocate established under section 46a-13b and State Contracting Standards Board established under section 4e-2. The personnel, payroll, affirmative action and administrative and business office functions of said offices, commissions, council and boards shall be merged and consolidated within the Office of Governmental Accountability pursuant to the plan developed and implemented under the provisions of section 1-302.

(c) The executive administrator may employ necessary staff to carry out the administrative functions of the Office of Governmental Accountability, within available appropriations. Such necessary staff of the Office of Governmental Accountability shall be in classified service.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect or limit the independent decision-making authority of the Office of State Ethics, State Elections Enforcement Commission, the Freedom of Information Commission, Judicial Review Council, Judicial Selection Commission, Board of Firearms Permit Examiners, Office of the Child Advocate, Office of the Victim Advocate or the State Contracting Standards Board. Such decision-making authority includes, but is not limited to, decisions concerning budgetary issues and concerning the employment of necessary staff to carry out the statutory duties of each such office, commission, council or board.

Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 1-301 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) [(1)] There shall be a Governmental Accountability Commission, within the Office of Governmental Accountability established under section 1-300, that shall consist of the following nine members [as follows] or their designees: [(A)] (1) The chairperson of the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board established under section 1-80; [, or the chairperson's designee; (B)] (2) the chairperson of the State Elections Enforcement Commission established under section 9-7a; [, or the chairperson's designee; (C)] (3) the chairperson of the Freedom of Information Commission established under section 1-205; [, or the chairperson's designee; (D)] (4) the executive director of the Judicial Review Council established under section 51-51k; [, or the executive director's designee; (E)] (5) the chairperson of the Judicial Selection Commission established under section 51-44a; [, or the chairperson's designee; (F)] (6) the chairperson of the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners established under section 29-32b; [, or the chairperson's designee; (G)] (7) the Child Advocate appointed under section 46a-13k; [, or the advocate's designee; (H)] (8) the Victim Advocate appointed under section 46a-13b; [, or the advocate's designee;] and [(I)] (9) the chairperson of the State Contracting Standards Board established under section 4e-2, [or the chairperson's designee,] provided no person serving as a designee under this subsection may be a state employee. The Governmental Accountability Commission shall select a chairperson who shall preside at meetings of the commission. Said commission shall meet for the purpose of making recommendations to the Governor for candidates for the executive administrator of the Office of Governmental Accountability pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, or for the purpose of terminating the employment of the executive administrator. [(2)] The commission established under [subdivision (1) of] this subsection shall not be construed to be a board or commission within the meaning of section 4-9a.


This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2015	1-300
Sec. 2	October 1, 2015	1-301(a)

Statement of Purpose:

To make minor revisions to the statutes concerning the Office of Governmental Accountability.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]