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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5422
January Session, 2025
AN ACT REESTABLISHING THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM REVIEW
AND INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section and 1
sections 2 and 3 of this act: 2
(1) "Program review" means an examination of programs 3
administered by state departments and agencies to ascertain whether 4
such programs are effective, continue to serve their intended purposes, 5
are conducted in an efficient and effective manner or require 6
modification or elimination; and 7
(2) "Investigation" means the investigation of any matter which is 8
referred to the Legislative Program Review and Investigations 9
Committee, as provided in section 2 of this act. 10
(b) There is hereby reestablished a Legislative Program Review and 11
Investigations Committee, which shall be a permanent standing 12
committee of the General Assembly, consisting of (1) six members of the 13
Senate, three appointed by the president pro tempore and three 14
appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, and (2) six members of 15
the House of Representatives, three appointed by the speaker of the 16
House of Representatives and three appointed by the minority leader of 17
the House of Representatives. Members shall serve for a term of two 18 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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years from the date of appointment. 19
(c) The initial appointments of the members shall be made not later 20
than February 4, 2026, and thereafter appointments of the members shall 21
be made at the beginning of each regular session of the General 22
Assembly in the odd-numbered year. The terms of all members 23
appointed to the committee shall end with the termination of each 24
member's term or holding of office, whichever occurs first. Vacancies 25
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. The 26
committee shall select cochairpersons and such other officers as it may 27
deem necessary from among its membership. 28
(d) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum and all 29
actions of the committee shall require the affirmative vote of a majority 30
of the full committee membership. The cochairpersons and ranking 31
minority members of the joint standing committee of the General 32
Assembly requesting an investigation shall serve as nonvoting, ex-33
officio members of the Legislative Program Review and Investigations 34
Committee during the course of such investigation. 35
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) The Legislative Program 36
Review and Investigations Committee shall: 37
(1) Direct its staff and other legislative staff available to the committee 38
to conduct program reviews and investigations to assist the General 39
Assembly in the proper discharge of its duties; 40
(2) Establish policies and procedures regarding the printing, 41
reproduction and distribution of its reports; 42
(3) Review staff reports submitted to the committee and, when 43
necessary, confer with representatives of the state departments and 44
agencies reviewed in order to obtain full and complete information in 45
regard to programs, other activities and operations of the state, and may 46
request and shall be given access to and copies of, by all public officers, 47
departments, agencies and authorities of the state and its political 48
subdivisions, such public records, data and other information and given 49 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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such assistance as the committee determines it needs to fulfill its duties; 50
(4) Act on staff reports and recommend in its report, or propose, in 51
the form of a raised bill, such legislation as may be necessary to modify 52
current operations and agency practices; 53
(5) Consider and act on requests by members of the General 54
Assembly, legislative committees, elected officials of state government 55
and state department and agency heads for program reviews. The 56
request shall be submitted, in writing, to the Program Review and 57
Investigations Committee and shall state reasons to support the request. 58
The decision of the committee to grant or deny any such request shall 59
be final; 60
(6) Conduct investigations requested by joint resolution of the 61
General Assembly, or, when the General Assembly is not in session, (A) 62
requested by a joint standing committee of the General Assembly or 63
initiated by a majority vote of the Program Review and Investigations 64
Committee and approved by the Joint Committee on Legislative 65
Management, or (B) requested by the Joint Committee on Legislative 66
Management. In the event two or more investigations are requested, the 67
order of priority shall be determined by the Legislative Program Review 68
and Investigations Committee; 69
(7) Retain, within available appropriations, the services of 70
consultants, technical assistants, researchers and other personnel 71
necessary to assist in the conduct of program reviews and 72
investigations; 73
(8) Originate, and report to the General Assembly, any bill it deems 74
necessary concerning a program, department or other matter under 75
review or investigation by the committee, in the same manner as is 76
prescribed by rule for joint standing committees of the General 77
Assembly; 78
(9) Review audit reports after issuance by the Auditors of Public 79
Accounts, evaluate and sponsor new or revised legislation based on 80 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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audit findings, provide means to determine compliance with audit 81
recommendations and receive facts concerning any unauthorized, 82
illegal, irregular or unsafe handling or expenditures of state funds under 83
the provisions of section 2-90 of the general statutes, as amended by this 84
act; 85
(10) Meet as often as may be necessary, during legislative sessions 86
and during the periods between sessions, to perform its duties and 87
functions; and 88
(11) Report annually to the General Assembly, in accordance with the 89
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on or before February 90
fifteenth. 91
(b) The committee may, at any time, study any matter within the 92
scope of a completed or partially completed staff report then being 93
conducted or may, at its discretion, study and consider any matter 94
relative to program activities of state departments and agencies. 95
(c) The identity of any public employee providing information to the 96
committee shall not be disclosed. In the course of an investigation, all 97
information, records of interviews, reports, statements, notes, 98
memoranda or other data in the custody of the, or obtained or prepared 99
by, the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee or its 100
staff shall not be subject to the provisions of section 1-210 of the general 101
statutes until the investigation is completed. Any statutory 102
requirements of confidentiality regarding any records, data and other 103
information submitted under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this 104
section, including penalties for violating such requirements, shall apply 105
to the committee, its staff and its other authorized representatives in the 106
same manner and to the same extent as such requirements and penalties 107
apply to any public officer, department, agency or authority of the state 108
or its political subdivisions. 109
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) In any instance in which a 110
program review cites inadequate operating or administrative system 111
controls or procedures, inaccuracies, waste, extravagance, unauthorized 112 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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or unintended activities or programs, or other deficiencies, the 113
department head of, or agency head of, or the appropriate program 114
officer or official to which the report pertained, shall take the necessary 115
corrective actions and, when the committee deems the action taken to 116
be not suitable, the committee shall report the matter to the General 117
Assembly together with its recommendations. 118
(b) The committee shall report the results of each investigation 119
together with its recommendations for any further action to the General 120
Assembly electronically, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-121
4a of the general statutes. 122
Sec. 4. Section 1-122 of the general statutes is repealed and the 123
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 124
(a) In accordance with the provisions of section 2-90, as amended by 125
this act, the Auditors of Public Accounts shall biennially conduct a 126
compliance audit of each quasi-public agency's activities during the 127
agency's two fiscal years preceding each such audit or contract with a 128
person, firm or corporation for any such audit or audits. Each such audit 129
shall determine whether the quasi-public agency has complied with its 130
regulations concerning affirmative action, personnel practices, the 131
purchase of goods and services, the use of surplus funds and the 132
distribution of loans, grants and other financial assistance. Each audit 133
shall include a review of all or a representative sample of the agency's 134
activities in such areas during the relevant fiscal years. Each quasi-135
public agency shall pay the cost of conducting such biennial compliance 136
audit of the agency. 137
(b) The Auditors of Public Accounts shall submit each audit report to 138
the Governor [. Each quasi-public agency shall pay the cost of 139
conducting such biennial compliance audit of the agency] and the 140
Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee. Not later 141
than thirty days after receiving copies of an audit report from the 142
Auditors of Public Accounts, the Legislative Program Review and 143
Investigations Committee shall prepare an assessment of whether the 144 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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audit report complies with the requirements of this section and shall 145
submit the assessment and a copy of the audit report to the joint 146
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 147
matters relating to the quasi-public agency. 148
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 1-123 of the general statutes is 149
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 150
2025): 151
(a) The board of directors of each quasi-public agency shall annually 152
submit a report to the Governor, [and] the Auditors of Public Accounts 153
and the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee. 154
Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, the following: (1) 155
A list of all bond issues for the preceding fiscal year, including, for each 156
such issue, the financial advisor and underwriters, whether the issue 157
was competitive, negotiated or privately placed, and the issue's face 158
value and net proceeds; (2) a list of all projects other than those 159
pertaining to owner-occupied housing or student loans receiving 160
financial assistance during the preceding fiscal year, including each 161
project's purpose, location, and the amount of funds provided by the 162
agency; (3) a list of all outside individuals and firms receiving in excess 163
of five thousand dollars in the form of loans, grants or payments for 164
services, except for individuals receiving loans for owner-occupied 165
housing and education; (4) a complete set of financial statements; (5) the 166
cumulative value of all bonds issued, the value of outstanding bonds, 167
and the amount of the state's contingent liability; (6) the affirmative 168
action policy statement, a description of the composition of the agency's 169
work force by race, sex, and occupation and a description of the agency's 170
affirmative action efforts; and (7) a description of planned activities for 171
the current fiscal year. Not later than thirty days after receiving such 172
report from the board of a quasi-public agency, the Legislative Program 173
Review and Investigations Committee shall prepare an assessment of 174
whether the report complies with the requirements of this section and 175
shall submit the assessment and a copy of the report to the joint standing 176
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 177
relating to the quasi-public agency. 178 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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Sec. 6. Section 2-46 of the general statutes is repealed and the 179
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 180
(a) The president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of 181
Representatives, or a [chairman] chairperson of the whole, or of any 182
committee of either house, of the General Assembly, or either of the 183
chairpersons of the Legislative Program Review and Investigations 184
Committee, shall have the power to compel the attendance and 185
testimony of witnesses by subpoena and capias issued by any of them, 186
require the production of any necessary books, papers or other 187
documents and administer oaths to witnesses in any case under their 188
examination, including any program review or investigation, as defined 189
in section 1 of this act. Any person, summoned as a witness by the 190
authority of either house of the General Assembly or the Legislative 191
Program Review and Investigations Committee to give testimony or to 192
produce books, papers or other documents upon any matter under 193
inquiry before either house, [or] any committee of either house, of the 194
General Assembly, [or] a joint committee of both houses, or by the 195
Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee, who 196
wilfully makes default or, having appeared, refuses to be sworn or to 197
answer any question pertinent to the question under inquiry, shall be 198
guilty of a class A misdemeanor. 199
(b) Any individual who is subpoenaed to appear and testify before a 200
committee of the General Assembly or by the Legislative Program 201
Review and Investigations Committee shall have the right to review a 202
copy of the transcript of his or her testimony and a reasonable amount 203
of time to question its accuracy prior to the public release of such 204
transcript or its permanent filing. 205
Sec. 7. Section 2-47 of the general statutes is repealed and the 206
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 207
No witness shall be privileged to refuse to testify to any fact, or to 208
produce any paper, respecting which [he] such witness is examined by 209
either house of the General Assembly, or by any committee of either 210 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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house or any joint committee of both houses, or by the Legislative 211
Program Review and Investigations Committee in any program review 212
or investigation, as defined in section 1 of this act, upon the ground that 213
[his] such witness' testimony to such fact or [his] production of such 214
paper may tend to disgrace [him] such witness or otherwise render 215
[him] such witness infamous. 216
Sec. 8. Subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of section 2-90 of the general 217
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 218
(Effective July 1, 2025): 219
(c) Said auditors shall audit, on a biennial basis if deemed most 220
economical and efficient, or as frequently as they deem necessary, the 221
books and accounts, records of operations and activities, systems and 222
data of each officer, department, commission, board and court of the 223
state government, all institutions supported by the state and all public 224
and quasi-public bodies, politic and corporate, created by public or 225
special act of the General Assembly and not required to be audited or 226
subject to reporting requirements, under the provisions of chapter 111. 227
Each such audit may include an examination of any relevant 228
information concerning the department, commission, board or court of 229
state government being audited that is in the possession or control of a 230
private entity that has a contract with such department, commission, 231
board or court, and such information shall be provided upon demand 232
in a format prescribed by the auditors at no cost to the auditors or the 233
department, commission, board or court. Each such audit may include 234
an examination of performance in order to determine effectiveness in 235
achieving expressed legislative purposes. The auditors shall report their 236
findings and recommendations to the Governor, the State Comptroller, 237
[and] the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 238
cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state 239
agencies and the Legislative Program Review and Investigations 240
Committee. 241
(d) The Auditors of Public Accounts may enter into such contractual 242
agreements as may be necessary for the discharge of their duties. Any 243 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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audit or report which is prepared by a person, firm or corporation 244
pursuant to any contract with the Auditors of Public Accounts shall bear 245
the signature of the person primarily responsible for the preparation of 246
such audit or report. As used in this subsection, the term "person" means 247
a natural person. 248
(e) (1) If the Auditors of Public Accounts discover, or if it should come 249
to their knowledge, that any unauthorized, illegal, irregular or unsafe 250
handling or expenditure of state funds or quasi-public agency funds or 251
any breakdown in the safekeeping of any resources of the state or a 252
quasi-public agency has occurred or is contemplated, they shall 253
forthwith report the facts to the Governor, the State Comptroller, the 254
clerk of each house of the General Assembly, the Legislative Program 255
Review and Investigations Committee and the Attorney General, except 256
that if a matter reported to the Auditors of Public Accounts pursuant to 257
section 4-33a is still under investigation by a state or quasi-public 258
agency, the Auditors of Public Accounts may give the agency a 259
reasonable amount of time to conduct such investigation prior to the 260
auditors reporting the matter to said officials and committee. (2) If the 261
Auditors of Public Accounts decide to delay reporting such matter in 262
accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection, the auditors shall 263
immediately notify the Attorney General of such decision. (3) Any 264
Auditor of Public Accounts neglecting to make the report required 265
under subdivision (1) of this subsection, or any agent of the auditors 266
neglecting to report to the Auditors of Public Accounts any such matter 267
discovered by such agent or coming to such agent's knowledge, shall be 268
fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than 269
six months, or both. 270
Sec. 9. Subdivision (11) of subsection (g) of section 17a-28 of the 271
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 272
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 273
(11) The Governor, when requested in writing in the course of the 274
Governor's official functions, the Legislative Program Review and 275
Investigations Committee, the joint standing committee of the General 276 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, the 277
joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 278
matters relating to the judiciary or the joint standing committee of the 279
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, 280
when requested in writing by any of such committees in the course of 281
such committee's official functions, and upon a majority vote of such 282
committee, provided no name or other identifying information is 283
disclosed unless such information is essential to the gubernatorial or 284
legislative purpose; 285
Sec. 10. Section 51-51l of the general statutes is repealed and the 286
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 287
(a) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the Judicial 288
Review Council shall investigate every written complaint brought 289
before it alleging conduct under section 51-51i, and may initiate an 290
investigation of any judge, administrative law judge or family support 291
magistrate if (1) the council has reason to believe conduct under section 292
51-51i has occurred, or (2) previous complaints indicate a pattern of 293
behavior which would lead to a reasonable belief that conduct under 294
section 51-51i has occurred. The council shall, not later than five days 295
after such initiation of an investigation or receipt of such complaint, 296
notify by registered or certified mail any judge, administrative law 297
judge or family support magistrate under investigation or against 298
whom such complaint is filed. A copy of any such complaint shall 299
accompany such notice. The council shall also notify the complainant of 300
its receipt of such complaint not later than five days thereafter. Any 301
investigation to determine whether or not there is probable cause that 302
conduct under section 51-51i has occurred shall be confidential and any 303
individual called by the council for the purpose of providing 304
information shall not disclose his knowledge of such investigation to a 305
third party prior to the decision of the council on whether probable 306
cause exists, unless the respondent requests that such investigation and 307
disclosure be open, provided information known or obtained 308
independently of any such investigation shall not be confidential. The 309
judge, administrative law judge or family support magistrate shall have 310 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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the right to appear and be heard and to offer any information which may 311
tend to clear him of probable cause to believe he is guilty of conduct 312
under section 51-51i. The judge, administrative law judge or family 313
support magistrate shall also have the right to be represented by legal 314
counsel and examine and cross-examine witnesses. In conducting its 315
investigation under this subsection, the council may request that a court 316
furnish to the council a record or transcript of court proceedings, 317
including records and transcripts of juvenile matters pursuant to section 318
46b-124 and records and transcripts of cases involving youthful 319
offenders pursuant to section 54-76l, made or prepared by a court 320
reporter, assistant court reporter or monitor and the court shall, upon 321
such request, furnish such record or transcript. 322
(b) The Judicial Review Council shall, not later than three business 323
days after the termination of such investigation, notify the complainant, 324
if any, and the judge, administrative law judge or family support 325
magistrate that the investigation has been terminated and the results 326
thereof. If the council finds that conduct under section 51-51i has not 327
occurred, but the judge, administrative law judge or family support 328
magistrate has acted in a manner which gives the appearance of 329
impropriety or constitutes an unfavorable judicial or magisterial 330
practice, the council may issue an admonishment to the judge, 331
administrative law judge or family support magistrate recommending 332
a change in judicial or magisterial conduct or practice. If an 333
admonishment is issued, the council shall (1) notify the joint standing 334
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 335
relating to the judiciary that an admonishment was issued and provide 336
said committee with the substance of the admonishment, including 337
copies of the complaint file, (2) notify the Chief Court Administrator that 338
an admonishment was issued and provide the Chief Court 339
Administrator with the substance of the admonishment, including 340
copies of the complaint file, and (3) inform the complainant, if any, that 341
an admonishment was issued if the admonishment is the result of 342
misconduct alleged in the complaint. Except as provided in this 343
subsection, the substance of the admonishment shall not be disclosed to 344 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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any person or organization. 345
(c) If a preliminary investigation indicates that probable cause exists 346
that the judge, administrative law judge or family support magistrate is 347
guilty of conduct under section 51-51i, the council shall hold a hearing 348
concerning the conduct or complaint. All hearings held pursuant to this 349
subsection shall be open. A judge, an administrative law judge or a 350
family support magistrate appearing before such a hearing shall be 351
entitled to counsel, to present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses. 352
The council shall make a record of all proceedings pursuant to this 353
subsection. The council shall not later than thirty days after the close of 354
such hearing publish its findings together with a memorandum of its 355
reasons therefor. 356
(d) No complaint against a judge, an administrative law judge or a 357
family support magistrate alleging conduct under section 51-51i shall be 358
brought under this section but within one year from the date the alleged 359
conduct occurred or was discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care 360
should have been discovered, except that no such complaint may be 361
brought more than three years from the date the alleged conduct 362
occurred. 363
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this 364
section, the council shall disclose any information concerning 365
complaints received by the council on and after January 1, 1978, and 366
investigations and disposition of such complaints to the Legislative 367
Program Review and Investigations Committee when requested by the 368
committee in the course of its functions, in writing, and upon a majority 369
vote of the committee, provided no names or other identifying 370
information shall be disclosed. 371
[(e)] (f) On and after December 19, 1991, any judge, administrative 372
law judge or family support magistrate who has been the subject of an 373
investigation by the Judicial Review Council as a result of a complaint 374
brought before such council may request that such complaint, 375
investigation and the disposition of such complaint be open to public 376 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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inspection. 377
[(f)] (g) Whenever a complaint against a judge, an administrative law 378
judge or a family support magistrate is pending before the Judicial 379
Review Council within the final year of the term of office of such judge, 380
administrative law judge or family support magistrate, the Judicial 381
Review Council shall designate such complaint as privileged and shall 382
conduct an expedited investigation and hearing so that its duties with 383
respect to such complaint are completed in sufficient time to enable the 384
Judicial Review Council to make its recommendation concerning any 385
such judge to the Judicial Selection Commission and the Governor 386
under section 51-51q in a timely manner. 387
Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 2-53m of the general statutes is 388
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 389
2025): 390
(a) The joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 391
cognizance of matters relating to children, in consultation with the 392
Office of Fiscal Analysis, the Office of Legislative Research and the 393
Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, shall maintain an annual 394
report card that evaluates the progress of state policies and programs in 395
promoting the result that all Connecticut children grow up in a stable 396
living environment, safe, healthy and ready to lead successful lives. 397
Progress shall be measured by primary indicators of progress, 398
including, but not limited to, indicators established in the [final] report 399
of the [former] Legislative Program Review and Investigations 400
Committee prepared pursuant to the provisions of section 1 of public 401
act 09-166, of state-wide rates of child abuse, child poverty, low birth 402
weight, third grade reading proficiency, and the annual social health 403
index developed pursuant to section 46a-131a. For each indicator, the 404
data shall also be presented according to ethnicity or race, gender, 405
geography, disability and, where appropriate, age and other relevant 406
characteristics. The joint standing committee of the General Assembly 407
having cognizance of matters relating to children shall prepare the 408
report card on or before January 15, 2018, and annually thereafter. On 409 Substitute Bill No. 5422
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or before January 15, 2018, and annually thereafter, said committee shall 410
make the report card available to the public on the Internet and on the 411
web site of the General Assembly and shall transmit the report card 412
electronically to (1) members of the joint standing committees of the 413
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 414
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and human services, 415
(2) the Commissioners of Children and Families, Education and Public 416
Health, (3) the Child Advocate, (4) the Secretary of the Office of Policy 417
and Management, and (5) the Chief Court Administrator. 418
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 1-122
Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 1-123(a)
Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 2-46
Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 2-47
Sec. 8 July 1, 2025 2-90(c) to (e)
Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 17a-28(g)(11)
Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 51-51l
Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 2-53m(a)
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 1(d), "of the General Assembly" was added after
"committee" for accuracy.
GAE Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO