Connecticut Senate Bill SB00385

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/15
• Refer: 1/22/15

Caption

An Act Permitting Certain State Agencies To Hire Independent Counsel.

Impact

The impact of SB00385 is notable, as it introduces a significant shift in how state agencies manage their legal affairs. By permitting the hiring of independent counsel, agencies will potentially enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in addressing issues of misconduct and statutory violations. This autonomy could lead to more specialized legal support tailored to the specific needs and complexities of cases that these agencies handle, potentially improving oversight outcomes.

Summary

SB00385 is a legislative proposal designed to enhance the operational autonomy of state agencies that monitor misconduct or violations within governmental frameworks. Specifically, the bill allows these oversight agencies within the Office of Governmental Accountability to engage independent legal counsel instead of relying solely on the Attorney General's office for legal representation. This change seeks to empower these watchdog agencies by affording them the discretion to choose their own legal representatives in cases where they are involved as parties.

Contention

While the bill aims to strengthen agency autonomy, it may also raise concerns regarding oversight and accountability. Critics could argue that allowing agencies to hire their own lawyers may lead to conflicts of interest or create a lack of uniformity in legal representation standards across different state agencies. Thus, the proposed bill underscores a pivotal balance between granting agency independence and maintaining a system of checks and balances to ensure that state power is exercised responsibly.