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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6077
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PROCESS FOR THE ADDITION OF
DIVERSE STATUES TO THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING, A PLAN
FOR SIGNAGE AROUND SAID BUILDING AND A STATE
HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
SUMMARY
This bill expands the State Capitol Preservation and Restoration
Commission’s duties by requiring it to develop a process for identifying
and commissioning additional statues to be added to the State Capitol
building exterior to reflect the state’s diversity. It allows the Legislative
Management Committee to use capital funds to implement this process.
The bill also requires the commission, by February 1, 2024, to (1)
develop a plan for installing exterior placards or other signs around the
State Capitol Building’s exterior to give the public a written historical
explanation of the various statues and other markers on the building
exterior, and (2) submit the plan to the Legislative Management
Committee.
Additionally, the bill creates a 12-member State Historical
Commission to examine and make recommendations to the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches on questions of memorialization and
commemoration related to Connecticut and U.S. history. The
commission’s members must be scholars in history, law, literature, or
philosophy and affiliated with an in-state higher education institution.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023, except the provision requiring a plan
for exterior signage is effective upon passage.
IDENTIFYING AND COMM ISSIONING ADDITIONAL STATUES
Existing law requires the State Capitol Preservation and Restoration
Commission to continually review and study the State Capitol building 2023HB-06077-R000527-BA.DOCX
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and grounds with a view to developing a master plan for preserving
and restoring the Capitol consistent with the building’s original
historical character.
The bill requires the commission, as part of this master plan, to
develop a process for identifying and commissioning additional statues
to be added to the State Capitol building exterior to reflect the state’s
diversity. It allows the commission to consult with state, federal, or
private agencies in developing the process.
The bill allows the Legislative Management Committee to undertake
capital expenditure programs to implement this process. As under
existing law, the committee may do so using capital funds and following
(1) plans and specifications approved by the commission and (2) state
bidding laws.
STATE HISTORICAL COM MISSION
Membership
The bill establishes the commission as an independent body within
the legislative branch for administrative purposes only. Under the bill,
the commission consists of 12 members appointed as follows: (1) two
each by the governor, House speaker, and Senate president pro tempore
and (2) one each by the House and Senate minority leaders and the
Government Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee
chairpersons and ranking members. Commission members may be
legislators.
The bill requires that (1) initial appointments be made by September
1, 2023, and (2) the first meeting be held by September 15, 2023.
Members serve three-year terms from the date of appointment and
continue to serve until their successors are appointed. The appointing
authority must fill any vacancy, and any vacancy occurring during a
term must be filled for the rest of the unexpired term. The House
speaker and Senate president pro tempore must select the chairperson,
who must schedule the first meeting. A majority of the membership
constitutes a quorum to transact business. 2023HB-06077-R000527-BA.DOCX
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The bill requires that commission members serve without
compensation but allows them to be reimbursed for necessary expenses
within available funds. It requires the GAE Committee’s administrative
staff to serve as the commission’s administrative staff.
Powers and Duties
Under the bill, the commission has the following powers and duties:
1. issue reports and recommendations to all three branches of
government on historical questions of memorialization and
commemoration related to Connecticut and U.S. history, on its
own initiative or upon request of an agency, department, board,
or commission in any of the three branches;
2. obtain assistance and data from any executive, legislative, or
judicial department, board, commission, or other state agency as
necessary and available to carry out the commission’s purposes;
3. accept any gift, donation, or bequest to perform its duties; and
4. perform other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to carry
out its duties.
The bill requires the commission, starting by February 1, 2024, to
report annually to the governor and GAE Committee. The report must
include a summary of the commission’s activities during the previous
year and any policy or legislative changes needed to implement its
recommendations.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 14 Nay 5 (03/24/2023)