Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01073 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 5579 \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-01073-~~R02~~-
	3	+	LCO 5579 \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-01073-R01-
4	4		SB.docx
5	5		1 of 3
6	6
7	7		General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1073
8	8		January Session, 2021
9	9		LCO No. 5579
10	10
11	11
12	12		Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT
13	13		ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS
14	14
15	15
16	16		Introduced by:
17	17		(GAE)
18	18
19	19
20	20
21	21		AN ACT CONCERNING EQ UITY AND OPPORTUNITY IN STATE
22	22		GOVERNMENT.
23	23		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
24	24		Assembly convened:
25	25
26	26		Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of 1
27	27		Administrative Services, in consultation with the Secretary of the Office 2
28	28		of Policy and Management, the Commission on Human Rights and 3
29	29		Opportunities and department heads, as defined in section 4-5 of the 4
30	30		general statutes, shall study methods for assessing whether state agency 5
31	31		policies and actions create or exacerbate barriers to full and equal 6
32	32		participation by all eligible individuals. Such study shall identify the 7
33	33		best methods, consistent with applicable law, to assist state agencies in 8
34	34		assessing equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, 9
35	35		geography, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability. 10
36	36		(b) As part of such study, the Commissioner of Administrative 11
37	37		Services shall consider whether to recommend legislation to create pilot 12
38	38		programs to test model assessment tools and assist state agencies in 13
39	39		doing so. 14 Raised Bill No. 1073
40	40
41	41
42	42		LCO 5579 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-01073-
43		-	~~R02~~-SB.docx }
	43	+	R01-SB.docx }
44	44		2 of 3
45	45
46	46		Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) (a) Each department head, as defined in 15
47	47		section 4-5 of the general statutes, shall, in consultation with the 16
48	48		Commissioner of Administrative Services, select certain programs and 17
49	49		policies of such department head's state agency for a review to assess 18
50	50		whether underserved communities and their members face systemic 19
51	51		barriers in accessing benefits and opportunities available pursuant to 20
52	52		those policies and programs. Not later than December 1, 2021, each 21
53	53		department head shall provide a report to the Commissioner of 22
54	54		Administrative Services reflecting findings on the following: 23
55	55		(1) Potential barriers that underserved communities and individuals 24
56	56		may face to enrollment in and access to benefits and services in state 25
57	57		programs; 26
58	58		(2) Potential barriers that underserved communities and individuals 27
59	59		may face in taking advantage of agency procurement and contracting 28
60	60		opportunities, including, but not limited to, the set-aside program for 29
61	61		small contractors set forth in section 4a-60g of the general statutes; 30
62	62		(3) Whether new policies, regulations or guidance documents may be 31
63	63		necessary to advance equity in state agency actions and programs; and 32
64	64		(4) The operational status and level of institutional resources 33
65	65		available to offices or divisions within the agency that are responsible 34
66	66		for advancing civil rights or whose mandates specifically include 35
67	67		serving underrepresented or disadvantaged communities. 36
68	68		(b) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall, in 37
69	69		consultation with the applicable department heads, study strategies, 38
70	70		consistent with applicable law, for allocating state resources in a manner 39
71	71		that increases investment in underserved communities, as well as 40
72	72		individuals from such communities. 41
73	73		(c) In complying with the provisions of this section, department 42
74	74		heads shall consult with members of communities that have been 43
75	75		historically underrepresented in the state government and underserved 44
76	76		by, or subject to discrimination in, state policies and programs. Each 45 Raised Bill No. 1073
77	77
78	78
79	79		LCO 5579 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2021SB-01073-
80		-	~~R02~~-SB.docx }
	80	+	R01-SB.docx }
81	81		3 of 3
82	82
83	83		department head shall evaluate opportunities, consistent with 46
84	84		applicable law, to increase coordination, communication and 47
85	85		engagement with community-based organizations and civil rights 48
86	86		organizations. 49
87	87		(d) Not later than February 1, 2022, the Commissioner of 50
88	88		Administrative Services shall submit a report to the General Assembly, 51
89	89		in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 52
90	90		(1) describing the best practices identified by the study conducted under 53
91	91		section 1 of this act and, if applicable, recommending legislation or other 54
92	92		approaches to expand use of those methods across the state 55
93	93		government, and (2) containing a summary of the findings of the 56
94	94		reviews conducted by department heads of policies and programs as 57
95	95		reported to the commissioner under this section. 58
96	96		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
97	97		sections:
98	98
99	99		Section 1 from passage New section
100	100		Sec. 2 from passage New section
101	101
102	102		GAE Joint Favorable
103		-	APP Joint Favorable
104	103