Connecticut Senate Bill SB00455

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/19/17
• Refer: 1/19/17

Caption

An Act Concerning Unfunded State Mandates On Municipal Governments.

Impact

The proposed legislation is set to significantly alter the landscape of state-municipal relations. By instituting a requirement for a supermajority vote for the passage of unfunded mandates, SB00455 provides a safeguard for municipal governments against what can be perceived as 'unfunded mandates' that strain their budgets. This could lead to enhanced fiscal stability for localities, as they would no longer face difficulties from unexpected state requirements that come without financing.

Summary

SB00455, known as an Act Concerning Unfunded State Mandates On Municipal Governments, aims to overhaul how new state mandates impacting municipalities are enacted. The fundamental principle of this bill is to ensure that any new mandate, which does not come with financial backing from the state, must receive a two-thirds approval vote from both chambers of the General Assembly before it can take effect. This approach seeks to diminish the financial burden on local governments that may arise when state mandates are imposed without funding support.

Contention

Furthermore, discussions among legislative members may reflect broader sentiments on the balance of power between state authority and local governance. As municipalities often require support and direction from the state when addressing local issues, the passage of SB00455 may create tensions as advocates for strong state oversight express concerns regarding the implications of diminished capacity to impose mandates effectively.