Connecticut House Bill HB05482

Connecticut 2020 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/6/20
• Refer: 3/6/20

Caption

An Act Concerning Memoranda Of Understanding Between Executive Branch Agencies.

Impact

The enactment of HB 5482 is expected to lead to greater accountability in the relationships and agreements formed between state agencies. By instituting this requirement, the bill aims to facilitate better legislative oversight and ensure that lawmakers can assess the impacts and expenditures related to such agreements. The bill is seen as a step towards enhancing democratic governance by involving elected representatives in the oversight of administrative actions that might impact the budgets and administrative practices of state agencies.

Summary

House Bill 5482 proposes a legislative measure aimed at enhancing transparency and oversight concerning memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between state agencies within the executive branch. Specifically, the bill mandates that any MOU executed between two or more state agencies must be submitted to the relevant joint standing committees of the General Assembly within five days of its execution. This requirement is designed to ensure that legislative bodies are kept informed about inter-agency agreements that can have significant implications for state governance and operational efficiency.

Contention

While HB 5482 appears to be largely supported as a measure of transparency, there may be some contention regarding the practicality of the reporting requirements. Concerns could arise about the potential bureaucratic burden placed on agencies required to compile and submit these documents in a timely manner. Furthermore, discussions may also center around the nature of the information included in these MOUs and whether the provisions in the bill adequately protect sensitive or proprietary information while still maintaining transparency among the government processes.