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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5444
February Session, 2024
LCO No. 2659
Referred to Committee on ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Introduced by:
(ET)
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TEST BED TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) (1) There is established a 1
test bed technologies advisory board, which shall, within available 2
appropriations, meet not less than twice a year to undertake the 3
advisory board's powers and duties pursuant to this section. The 4
advisory board shall be an independent body within the Office of Policy 5
and Management for administrative purposes only. The advisory board 6
shall consist of the following members, who shall have experience 7
working in private sector businesses or in state agencies: (A) One 8
appointed by the Governor; (B) one appointed by the Secretary of the 9
Office of Policy and Management; (C) one appointed by the Treasurer; 10
and (D) one appointed by the Comptroller. 11
(2) If, in the exercise of the advisory board's powers and duties 12
pursuant to this section, the advisory board finds that (A) the use of a 13
certain technology, product or process would promote operational cost 14
reduction, and (B) the use of such technology, product or process would 15
be feasible in the operations of a state agency and would not have any 16 Bill No. 5444
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detrimental effect on such operations, the advisory board shall 17
recommend that such agency undertake a pilot test program during 18
which such agency shall use such technology, product or process in the 19
operations of such agency on a temporary basis. The purpose of such 20
pilot test program shall be to validate the effectiveness of such 21
technology, product or process in reducing operational costs. 22
(3) The advisory board shall not recommend a pilot test program by 23
a state agency for any such technology, product or process unless the 24
business that manufactures or markets the technology, product or 25
process demonstrates that (1) the use of such technology, product or 26
process by such agency will not adversely affect safety, (2) the 27
technology, product or process is presently available for commercial 28
sale and distribution or has potential for commercialization not later 29
than two years following the completion of such pilot test program by 30
such agency pursuant to this section, and (3) such technology, product 31
or process was not developed by a business that is eligible to participate 32
in the test program established pursuant to section 32-39e of the general 33
statutes. 34
(b) (1) The commissioner of each state agency shall administer pilot 35
test programs at state agencies for the use of technologies, products or 36
processes that promote operational cost reduction. The purpose of such 37
pilot test programs shall be to validate the effectiveness of such 38
technologies, products or processes in reducing operational costs. 39
(2) (A) An applicant interested in participating in such a program 40
shall submit an application to the commissioner of the state agency that 41
administers such program. 42
(B) Each applicant shall pay to the Office of Policy and Management 43
a fee of five thousand dollars for each application, at the time of making 44
such application. 45
(C) Such application shall include an assessment of the potential 46
viability of a pilot test program of such technology, product or process 47
at such agency conducted by an independent consulting firm or a 48 Bill No. 5444
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market research firm that specializes in market research for similar 49
technologies, products or processes. 50
(D) Such commissioner shall review such application for 51
completeness not later than thirty days after receipt of such application. 52
(E) Not later than ninety days after receipt of such application, such 53
commissioner shall determine whether to file a request to the advisory 54
board for a recommendation to test any such technology, product or 55
process that is the subject of such application. Any such request shall 56
include the assessment that such applicant submitted pursuant to 57
subparagraph (C) of this subdivision. 58
(c) Not later than thirty days after receipt of any request filed by the 59
commissioner of a state agency pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection 60
(b) of this section, the advisory board shall evaluate any technology, 61
product or process that is the subject of such request and make a 62
recommendation pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this 63
section. 64
(d) If the advisory board recommends that a state agency undertake 65
a pilot test program, such agency, notwithstanding the requirements of 66
chapter 58 of the general statutes, shall accept delivery of such 67
technology, product or process and undertake such a pilot test program 68
during which such agency shall use such technology, product or process 69
in the operations of such agency on a temporary basis. The duration of 70
such pilot test program shall be not less than thirty days and not more 71
than sixty days. 72
(e) Any costs associated with the acquisition and use of such 73
technology, product or process by a state agency for a pilot test program 74
pursuant to this section shall be borne by the applicant. The acquisition 75
of any technology, product or process for a pilot test program pursuant 76
to this section shall not be deemed to be a purchase under the provisions 77
of state procurement law. The applicant shall maintain records related 78
to any such pilot test program, as required by the advisory board. All 79
proprietary information derived from such test program shall be 80 Bill No. 5444
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exempt from the provisions of subsection (a) of section 1-210 of the 81
general statutes. 82
(f) If the commissioner of the state agency that tested such 83
technology, product or process determines that the pilot test program 84
sufficiently demonstrates that the technology, product or process 85
promotes operational cost reduction, such testing agency may request 86
that the Commissioner of Administrative Services (1) procure such 87
technology for use by such state agency, and (2) make such procurement 88
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 4a-58 of the general statutes. If the 89
Commissioner of Administrative Services grants a request to procure 90
such technology for any state agency, the Commissioner of 91
Administrative Services shall make information regarding such 92
procurement available to all state agencies on the Internet web site of 93
the Department of Administrative Services. 94
(g) The commissioner of a state agency may identify a technology, 95
product or process that is procured, installed and tested by a 96
municipality that promotes operational cost reduction. Such 97
commissioner may file a request to the advisory board for a 98
recommendation to test such technology, product or process. Not later 99
than thirty days after receipt of such request, the advisory board shall 100
evaluate the technology, product or process and make a 101
recommendation pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this 102
section. If the advisory board recommends such technology, product or 103
process, such agency shall undertake a pilot test program in accordance 104
with the provisions of subsections (d) to (f), inclusive, of this section. 105
(h) Any fees collected by the Office of Policy and Management under 106
this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer and credited to the 107
General Fund. 108
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2024 New section
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ET Joint Favorable