Researcher: MHF Page 1 4/11/23
OLR Bill Analysis
SB 1154
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.
SUMMARY
This bill makes several unrelated changes in the government
administration statutes. Specifically, the bill
1. exempts from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act
any whistleblower complaints filed with the state auditors (by
law, individuals with knowledge of corruption or fraud in state
agencies may report it to the auditors for review) (existing law
exempts the complainant’s name and the investigation records (§
1));
2. authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to do
background checks from federal and out-of-state criminal
databases for school bus and student transportation drivers
periodically, including when renewing their licenses (§ 2);
3. requires the local legislative body (or the board of selectmen in a
municipality governed by a board) or regional board of
education to hold a public meeting on an audit that is non-
compliant or shows certain irregularities before submitting a
corrective action plan (§ 3); and
4. makes minor changes that replace statutory references to
“comprehensive annual financial reports” with “annual
comprehensive financial reports” (§§ 4-8).
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2023
§ 2 — CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR STUDENT
TRANSPORTATION DRIVE RS 2023SB-01154-R000498-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MHF Page 2 4/11/23
The bill authorizes the motor vehicles commissioner to periodically
do background checks on someone with his or her operator’s license
with a public passenger endorsement to drive a school bus or student
transportation vehicle, including when they renew. Existing law
authorizes the commissioner to do checks as part of the initial
application. In practice, DMV periodically compares the list of student
transportation drivers against the Department of Emergency Services
and Public Protection’s criminal database, but it does not do national or
out-of-state background checks after the initial application.
§ 3 — PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR MUNICIPAL AUDITS
Under existing law, an independent auditor must submit a report to
the Office of Policy and Management secretary after an annual
municipal financial audit or a single or program-specific audit (CGS §
7-393). If the secretary finds (1) the audit was not properly prepared and
the entity did not have permission to file a non-compliant report or (2)
evidence of unsound or irregular financial practices, management letter
comments, or lack of standard internal controls, he must report his
findings to certain officials. Depending on the entity, the report must be
provided to the (1) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and clerk of the
municipality, (2) superintendent of schools for a regional school district,
or (3) CEO of the audited agency. The CEO or superintendent must then
attest to and explain the secretary’s findings and submit a written
corrective action plan.
The bill requires that a public meeting be held to discuss the
secretary’s findings and potential causes of the audit’s noted
discrepancies. The corrective action plan must take into account what
was discussed at the meeting.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 16 Nay 3 (03/22/2023)