Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05422 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 14
4	3
5		-	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5422
	4	+	LCO No. 5977 1 of 15
	5	+
	6	+	General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5422
6	7		January Session, 2025
	8	+	LCO No. 5977
	9	+
	10	+
	11	+	Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
	12	+	AND ELECTIONS
	13	+
	14	+
	15	+	Introduced by:
	16	+	(GAE)
7	17
8	18
9	19
10	20		AN ACT REESTABLISHING THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM REVIEW
11	21		AND INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE.
12	22		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
13	23		Assembly convened:
14	24
15	25		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section and 1
16	26		sections 2 and 3 of this act: 2
17	27		(1) "Program review" means an examination of programs 3
18	28		administered by state departments and agencies to ascertain whether 4
19	29		such programs are effective, continue to serve their intended purposes, 5
20	30		are conducted in an efficient and effective manner or require 6
21	31		modification or elimination; and 7
22	32		(2) "Investigation" means the investigation of any matter which is 8
23	33		referred to the Legislative Program Review and Investigations 9
24	34		Committee, as provided in section 2 of this act. 10
25	35		(b) There is hereby reestablished a Legislative Program Review and 11
26	36		Investigations Committee, which shall be a permanent standing 12
27	37		committee of the General Assembly, consisting of (1) six members of the 13
28	38		Senate, three appointed by the president pro tempore and three 14
	39	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	40	+
	41	+
	42	+	LCO No. 5977 2 of 15
	43	+
29	44		appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, and (2) six members of 15
30	45		the House of Representatives, three appointed by the speaker of the 16
31	46		House of Representatives and three appointed by the minority leader of 17
32		-	the House of Representatives. Members shall serve for a term of two 18 Substitute Bill No. 5422
33		-
34		-
35		-	LCO 2 of 14
36		-
	47	+	the House of Representatives. Members shall serve for a term of two 18
37	48		years from the date of appointment. 19
38	49		(c) The initial appointments of the members shall be made not later 20
39	50		than February 4, 2026, and thereafter appointments of the members shall 21
40	51		be made at the beginning of each regular session of the General 22
41	52		Assembly in the odd-numbered year. The terms of all members 23
42	53		appointed to the committee shall end with the termination of each 24
43	54		member's term or holding of office, whichever occurs first. Vacancies 25
44	55		shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. The 26
45	56		committee shall select cochairpersons and such other officers as it may 27
46	57		deem necessary from among its membership. 28
47	58		(d) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum and all 29
48	59		actions of the committee shall require the affirmative vote of a majority 30
49	60		of the full committee membership. The cochairpersons and ranking 31
50		-	minority members of the joint standing committee ~~of the General~~ 32
51		-	~~Assembly requesting an~~ investigation shall serve as nonvoting, ex-33
52		-	~~officio members of the~~ Legislative Program Review and Investigations 34
53		-	~~Committee during the~~ course of such investigation. 35
	61	+	minority members of the joint standing committee requesting an 32
	62	+	investigation shall serve as nonvoting, ex-officio members of the 33
	63	+	Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee during the 34
	64	+	course of such investigation. 35
54	65		Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) The Legislative Program 36
55	66		Review and Investigations Committee shall: 37
56	67		(1) Direct its staff and other legislative staff available to the committee 38
57	68		to conduct program reviews and investigations to assist the General 39
58	69		Assembly in the proper discharge of its duties; 40
59	70		(2) Establish policies and procedures regarding the printing, 41
60	71		reproduction and distribution of its reports; 42
61	72		(3) Review staff reports submitted to the committee and, when 43
62	73		necessary, confer with representatives of the state departments and 44
	74	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	75	+
	76	+
	77	+	LCO No. 5977 3 of 15
	78	+
63	79		agencies reviewed in order to obtain full and complete information in 45
64	80		regard to programs, other activities and operations of the state, and may 46
65	81		request and shall be given access to and copies of, by all public officers, 47
66	82		departments, agencies and authorities of the state and its political 48
67		-	subdivisions, such public records, data and other information and given 49 Substitute Bill No. 5422
68		-
69		-
70		-	LCO 3 of 14
71		-
	83	+	subdivisions, such public records, data and other information and given 49
72	84		such assistance as the committee determines it needs to fulfill its duties; 50
73	85		(4) Act on staff reports and recommend in its report, or propose, in 51
74	86		the form of a raised bill, such legislation as may be necessary to modify 52
75	87		current operations and agency practices; 53
76	88		(5) Consider and act on requests by members of the General 54
77	89		Assembly, legislative committees, elected officials of state government 55
78	90		and state department and agency heads for program reviews. The 56
79	91		request shall be submitted, in writing, to the Program Review and 57
80	92		Investigations Committee and shall state reasons to support the request. 58
81	93		The decision of the committee to grant or deny any such request shall 59
82	94		be final; 60
83	95		(6) Conduct investigations requested by joint resolution of the 61
84	96		General Assembly, or, when the General Assembly is not in session, (A) 62
85	97		requested by a joint standing committee of the General Assembly or 63
86	98		initiated by a majority vote of the Program Review and Investigations 64
87	99		Committee and approved by the Joint Committee on Legislative 65
88	100		Management, or (B) requested by the Joint Committee on Legislative 66
89	101		Management. In the event two or more investigations are requested, the 67
90	102		order of priority shall be determined by the Legislative Program Review 68
91	103		and Investigations Committee; 69
92	104		(7) Retain, within available appropriations, the services of 70
93	105		consultants, technical assistants, researchers and other personnel 71
94	106		necessary to assist in the conduct of program reviews and 72
95	107		investigations; 73
96	108		(8) Originate, and report to the General Assembly, any bill it deems 74
97	109		necessary concerning a program, department or other matter under 75
	110	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	111	+
	112	+
	113	+	LCO No. 5977 4 of 15
	114	+
98	115		review or investigation by the committee, in the same manner as is 76
99	116		prescribed by rule for joint standing committees of the General 77
100	117		Assembly; 78
101	118		(9) Review audit reports after issuance by the Auditors of Public 79
102		-	Accounts, evaluate and sponsor new or revised legislation based on 80 Substitute Bill No. 5422
103		-
104		-
105		-	LCO 4 of 14
106		-
	119	+	Accounts, evaluate and sponsor new or revised legislation based on 80
107	120		audit findings, provide means to determine compliance with audit 81
108	121		recommendations and receive facts concerning any unauthorized, 82
109	122		illegal, irregular or unsafe handling or expenditures of state funds under 83
110	123		the provisions of section 2-90 of the general statutes, as amended by this 84
111	124		act; 85
112	125		(10) Meet as often as may be necessary, during legislative sessions 86
113	126		and during the periods between sessions, to perform its duties and 87
114	127		functions; and 88
115	128		(11) Report annually to the General Assembly, in accordance with the 89
116	129		provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on or before February 90
117	130		fifteenth. 91
118	131		(b) The committee may, at any time, study any matter within the 92
119	132		scope of a completed or partially completed staff report then being 93
120	133		conducted or may, at its discretion, study and consider any matter 94
121	134		relative to program activities of state departments and agencies. 95
122	135		(c) The identity of any public employee providing information to the 96
123	136		committee shall not be disclosed. In the course of an investigation, all 97
124	137		information, records of interviews, reports, statements, notes, 98
125	138		memoranda or other data in the custody of the, or obtained or prepared 99
126	139		by, the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee or its 100
127	140		staff shall not be subject to the provisions of section 1-210 of the general 101
128	141		statutes until the investigation is completed. Any statutory 102
129	142		requirements of confidentiality regarding any records, data and other 103
130	143		information submitted under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this 104
131	144		section, including penalties for violating such requirements, shall apply 105
132	145		to the committee, its staff and its other authorized representatives in the 106
	146	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	147	+
	148	+
	149	+	LCO No. 5977 5 of 15
	150	+
133	151		same manner and to the same extent as such requirements and penalties 107
134	152		apply to any public officer, department, agency or authority of the state 108
135	153		or its political subdivisions. 109
136	154		Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) In any instance in which a 110
137	155		program review cites inadequate operating or administrative system 111
138		-	controls or procedures, inaccuracies, waste, extravagance, unauthorized 112 Substitute Bill No. 5422
139		-
140		-
141		-	LCO 5 of 14
142		-
	156	+	controls or procedures, inaccuracies, waste, extravagance, unauthorized 112
143	157		or unintended activities or programs, or other deficiencies, the 113
144	158		department head of, or agency head of, or the appropriate program 114
145	159		officer or official to which the report pertained, shall take the necessary 115
146	160		corrective actions and, when the committee deems the action taken to 116
147	161		be not suitable, the committee shall report the matter to the General 117
148	162		Assembly together with its recommendations. 118
149	163		(b) The committee shall report the results of each investigation 119
150	164		together with its recommendations for any further action to the General 120
151	165		Assembly electronically, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-121
152	166		4a of the general statutes. 122
153	167		Sec. 4. Section 1-122 of the general statutes is repealed and the 123
154	168		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 124
155	169		(a) In accordance with the provisions of section 2-90, as amended by 125
156	170		this act, the Auditors of Public Accounts shall biennially conduct a 126
157	171		compliance audit of each quasi-public agency's activities during the 127
158	172		agency's two fiscal years preceding each such audit or contract with a 128
159	173		person, firm or corporation for any such audit or audits. Each such audit 129
160	174		shall determine whether the quasi-public agency has complied with its 130
161	175		regulations concerning affirmative action, personnel practices, the 131
162	176		purchase of goods and services, the use of surplus funds and the 132
163	177		distribution of loans, grants and other financial assistance. Each audit 133
164	178		shall include a review of all or a representative sample of the agency's 134
165	179		activities in such areas during the relevant fiscal years. Each quasi-135
166	180		public agency shall pay the cost of conducting such biennial compliance 136
167	181		audit of the agency. 137
	182	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	183	+
	184	+
	185	+	LCO No. 5977 6 of 15
	186	+
168	187		(b) The Auditors of Public Accounts shall submit each audit report to 138
169	188		the Governor [. Each quasi-public agency shall pay the cost of 139
170	189		conducting such biennial compliance audit of the agency] and the 140
171	190		Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee. Not later 141
172	191		than thirty days after receiving copies of an audit report from the 142
173	192		Auditors of Public Accounts, the Legislative Program Review and 143
174		-	Investigations Committee shall prepare an assessment of whether the 144 Substitute Bill No. 5422
175		-
176		-
177		-	LCO 6 of 14
178		-
	193	+	Investigations Committee shall prepare an assessment of whether the 144
179	194		audit report complies with the requirements of this section and shall 145
180	195		submit the assessment and a copy of the audit report to the joint 146
181	196		standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 147
182	197		matters relating to the quasi-public agency. 148
183	198		Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 1-123 of the general statutes is 149
184	199		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 150
185	200		2025): 151
186	201		(a) The board of directors of each quasi-public agency shall annually 152
187	202		submit a report to the Governor, [and] the Auditors of Public Accounts 153
188	203		and the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee. 154
189	204		Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, the following: (1) 155
190	205		A list of all bond issues for the preceding fiscal year, including, for each 156
191	206		such issue, the financial advisor and underwriters, whether the issue 157
192	207		was competitive, negotiated or privately placed, and the issue's face 158
193	208		value and net proceeds; (2) a list of all projects other than those 159
194	209		pertaining to owner-occupied housing or student loans receiving 160
195	210		financial assistance during the preceding fiscal year, including each 161
196	211		project's purpose, location, and the amount of funds provided by the 162
197	212		agency; (3) a list of all outside individuals and firms receiving in excess 163
198	213		of five thousand dollars in the form of loans, grants or payments for 164
199	214		services, except for individuals receiving loans for owner-occupied 165
200	215		housing and education; (4) a complete set of financial statements; (5) the 166
201	216		cumulative value of all bonds issued, the value of outstanding bonds, 167
202	217		and the amount of the state's contingent liability; (6) the affirmative 168
203	218		action policy statement, a description of the composition of the agency's 169
204	219		work force by race, sex, and occupation and a description of the agency's 170
	220	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	221	+
	222	+
	223	+	LCO No. 5977 7 of 15
	224	+
205	225		affirmative action efforts; and (7) a description of planned activities for 171
206	226		the current fiscal year. Not later than thirty days after receiving such 172
207	227		report from the board of a quasi-public agency, the Legislative Program 173
208	228		Review and Investigations Committee shall prepare an assessment of 174
209	229		whether the report complies with the requirements of this section and 175
210	230		shall submit the assessment and a copy of the report to the joint standing 176
211	231		committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 177
212		-	relating to the quasi-public agency. 178 Substitute Bill No. 5422
213		-
214		-
215		-	LCO 7 of 14
216		-
	232	+	relating to the quasi-public agency. 178
217	233		Sec. 6. Section 2-46 of the general statutes is repealed and the 179
218	234		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 180
219	235		(a) The president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of 181
220	236		Representatives, or a [chairman] chairperson of the whole, or of any 182
221	237		committee of either house, of the General Assembly, or either of the 183
222	238		chairpersons of the Legislative Program Review and Investigations 184
223	239		Committee, shall have the power to compel the attendance and 185
224	240		testimony of witnesses by subpoena and capias issued by any of them, 186
225	241		require the production of any necessary books, papers or other 187
226	242		documents and administer oaths to witnesses in any case under their 188
227	243		examination, including any program review or investigation, as defined 189
228	244		in section 1 of this act. Any person, summoned as a witness by the 190
229	245		authority of either house of the General Assembly or the Legislative 191
230	246		Program Review and Investigations Committee to give testimony or to 192
231	247		produce books, papers or other documents upon any matter under 193
232	248		inquiry before either house, [or] any committee of either house, of the 194
233	249		General Assembly, [or] a joint committee of both houses, or by the 195
234	250		Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee, who 196
235	251		wilfully makes default or, having appeared, refuses to be sworn or to 197
236	252		answer any question pertinent to the question under inquiry, shall be 198
237	253		guilty of a class A misdemeanor. 199
238	254		(b) Any individual who is subpoenaed to appear and testify before a 200
239	255		committee of the General Assembly or by the Legislative Program 201
240	256		Review and Investigations Committee shall have the right to review a 202
	257	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	258	+
	259	+
	260	+	LCO No. 5977 8 of 15
	261	+
241	262		copy of the transcript of his or her testimony and a reasonable amount 203
242	263		of time to question its accuracy prior to the public release of such 204
243	264		transcript or its permanent filing. 205
244	265		Sec. 7. Section 2-47 of the general statutes is repealed and the 206
245	266		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 207
246	267		No witness shall be privileged to refuse to testify to any fact, or to 208
247	268		produce any paper, respecting which [he] such witness is examined by 209
248		-	either house of the General Assembly, or by any committee of either 210 Substitute Bill No. 5422
249		-
250		-
251		-	LCO 8 of 14
252		-
	269	+	either house of the General Assembly, or by any committee of either 210
253	270		house or any joint committee of both houses, or by the Legislative 211
254	271		Program Review and Investigations Committee in any program review 212
255	272		or investigation, as defined in section 1 of this act, upon the ground that 213
256	273		[his] such witness' testimony to such fact or [his] production of such 214
257	274		paper may tend to disgrace [him] such witness or otherwise render 215
258	275		[him] such witness infamous. 216
259	276		Sec. 8. Subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of section 2-90 of the general 217
260	277		statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 218
261	278		(Effective July 1, 2025): 219
262	279		(c) Said auditors shall audit, on a biennial basis if deemed most 220
263	280		economical and efficient, or as frequently as they deem necessary, the 221
264	281		books and accounts, records of operations and activities, systems and 222
265	282		data of each officer, department, commission, board and court of the 223
266	283		state government, all institutions supported by the state and all public 224
267	284		and quasi-public bodies, politic and corporate, created by public or 225
268	285		special act of the General Assembly and not required to be audited or 226
269	286		subject to reporting requirements, under the provisions of chapter 111. 227
270	287		Each such audit may include an examination of any relevant 228
271	288		information concerning the department, commission, board or court of 229
272	289		state government being audited that is in the possession or control of a 230
273	290		private entity that has a contract with such department, commission, 231
274	291		board or court, and such information shall be provided upon demand 232
275	292		in a format prescribed by the auditors at no cost to the auditors or the 233
276	293		department, commission, board or court. Each such audit may include 234
	294	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	295	+
	296	+
	297	+	LCO No. 5977 9 of 15
	298	+
277	299		an examination of performance in order to determine effectiveness in 235
278	300		achieving expressed legislative purposes. The auditors shall report their 236
279	301		findings and recommendations to the Governor, the State Comptroller, 237
280	302		[and] the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 238
281	303		cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state 239
282	304		agencies and the Legislative Program Review and Investigations 240
283	305		Committee. 241
284	306		(d) The Auditors of Public Accounts may enter into such contractual 242
285		-	agreements as may be necessary for the discharge of their duties. Any 243 Substitute Bill No. 5422
286		-
287		-
288		-	LCO 9 of 14
289		-
	307	+	agreements as may be necessary for the discharge of their duties. Any 243
290	308		audit or report which is prepared by a person, firm or corporation 244
291	309		pursuant to any contract with the Auditors of Public Accounts shall bear 245
292	310		the signature of the person primarily responsible for the preparation of 246
293	311		such audit or report. As used in this subsection, the term "person" means 247
294	312		a natural person. 248
295	313		(e) (1) If the Auditors of Public Accounts discover, or if it should come 249
296	314		to their knowledge, that any unauthorized, illegal, irregular or unsafe 250
297	315		handling or expenditure of state funds or quasi-public agency funds or 251
298	316		any breakdown in the safekeeping of any resources of the state or a 252
299	317		quasi-public agency has occurred or is contemplated, they shall 253
300	318		forthwith report the facts to the Governor, the State Comptroller, the 254
301	319		clerk of each house of the General Assembly, the Legislative Program 255
302	320		Review and Investigations Committee and the Attorney General, except 256
303	321		that if a matter reported to the Auditors of Public Accounts pursuant to 257
304	322		section 4-33a is still under investigation by a state or quasi-public 258
305	323		agency, the Auditors of Public Accounts may give the agency a 259
306	324		reasonable amount of time to conduct such investigation prior to the 260
307	325		auditors reporting the matter to said officials and committee. (2) If the 261
308	326		Auditors of Public Accounts decide to delay reporting such matter in 262
309	327		accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection, the auditors shall 263
310	328		immediately notify the Attorney General of such decision. (3) Any 264
311	329		Auditor of Public Accounts neglecting to make the report required 265
312	330		under subdivision (1) of this subsection, or any agent of the auditors 266
313	331		neglecting to report to the Auditors of Public Accounts any such matter 267
	332	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	333	+
	334	+
	335	+	LCO No. 5977 10 of 15
	336	+
314	337		discovered by such agent or coming to such agent's knowledge, shall be 268
315	338		fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than 269
316	339		six months, or both. 270
317	340		Sec. 9. Subdivision (11) of subsection (g) of section 17a-28 of the 271
318	341		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 272
319	342		thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 273
320	343		(11) The Governor, when requested in writing in the course of the 274
321	344		Governor's official functions, the Legislative Program Review and 275
322		-	Investigations Committee, the joint standing committee of the General 276 Substitute Bill No. 5422
323		-
324		-
325		-	LCO 10 of 14
326		-
	345	+	Investigations Committee, the joint standing committee of the General 276
327	346		Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, the 277
328	347		joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 278
329	348		matters relating to the judiciary or the joint standing committee of the 279
330	349		General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, 280
331	350		when requested in writing by any of such committees in the course of 281
332	351		such committee's official functions, and upon a majority vote of such 282
333	352		committee, provided no name or other identifying information is 283
334	353		disclosed unless such information is essential to the gubernatorial or 284
335	354		legislative purpose; 285
336	355		Sec. 10. Section 51-51l of the general statutes is repealed and the 286
337	356		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 287
338	357		(a) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the Judicial 288
339	358		Review Council shall investigate every written complaint brought 289
340	359		before it alleging conduct under section 51-51i, and may initiate an 290
341	360		investigation of any judge, administrative law judge or family support 291
342	361		magistrate if (1) the council has reason to believe conduct under section 292
343		-	51-51i has occurred, or (2) previous complaints indicate a pattern of 293
	362	+	51-51i has occurred or (2) previous complaints indicate a pattern of 293
344	363		behavior which would lead to a reasonable belief that conduct under 294
345	364		section 51-51i has occurred. The council shall, not later than five days 295
346	365		after such initiation of an investigation or receipt of such complaint, 296
347	366		notify by registered or certified mail any judge, administrative law 297
348	367		judge or family support magistrate under investigation or against 298
349	368		whom such complaint is filed. A copy of any such complaint shall 299
	369	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	370	+
	371	+
	372	+	LCO No. 5977 11 of 15
	373	+
350	374		accompany such notice. The council shall also notify the complainant of 300
351	375		its receipt of such complaint not later than five days thereafter. Any 301
352	376		investigation to determine whether or not there is probable cause that 302
353	377		conduct under section 51-51i has occurred shall be confidential and any 303
354	378		individual called by the council for the purpose of providing 304
355	379		information shall not disclose his knowledge of such investigation to a 305
356	380		third party prior to the decision of the council on whether probable 306
357	381		cause exists, unless the respondent requests that such investigation and 307
358	382		disclosure be open, provided information known or obtained 308
359	383		independently of any such investigation shall not be confidential. The 309
360		-	judge, administrative law judge or family support magistrate shall have 310 Substitute Bill No. 5422
361		-
362		-
363		-	LCO 11 of 14
364		-
	384	+	judge, administrative law judge or family support magistrate shall have 310
365	385		the right to appear and be heard and to offer any information which may 311
366	386		tend to clear him of probable cause to believe he is guilty of conduct 312
367	387		under section 51-51i. The judge, administrative law judge or family 313
368	388		support magistrate shall also have the right to be represented by legal 314
369	389		counsel and examine and cross-examine witnesses. In conducting its 315
370	390		investigation under this subsection, the council may request that a court 316
371	391		furnish to the council a record or transcript of court proceedings, 317
372	392		including records and transcripts of juvenile matters pursuant to section 318
373	393		46b-124 and records and transcripts of cases involving youthful 319
374	394		offenders pursuant to section 54-76l, made or prepared by a court 320
375	395		reporter, assistant court reporter or monitor and the court shall, upon 321
376	396		such request, furnish such record or transcript. 322
377	397		(b) The Judicial Review Council shall, not later than three business 323
378	398		days after the termination of such investigation, notify the complainant, 324
379	399		if any, and the judge, administrative law judge or family support 325
380	400		magistrate that the investigation has been terminated and the results 326
381	401		thereof. If the council finds that conduct under section 51-51i has not 327
382	402		occurred, but the judge, administrative law judge or family support 328
383	403		magistrate has acted in a manner which gives the appearance of 329
384	404		impropriety or constitutes an unfavorable judicial or magisterial 330
385	405		practice, the council may issue an admonishment to the judge, 331
386	406		administrative law judge or family support magistrate recommending 332
387	407		a change in judicial or magisterial conduct or practice. If an 333
	408	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	409	+
	410	+
	411	+	LCO No. 5977 12 of 15
	412	+
388	413		admonishment is issued, the council shall (1) notify the joint standing 334
389	414		committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 335
390	415		relating to the judiciary that an admonishment was issued and provide 336
391	416		said committee with the substance of the admonishment, including 337
392	417		copies of the complaint file, (2) notify the Chief Court Administrator that 338
393	418		an admonishment was issued and provide the Chief Court 339
394	419		Administrator with the substance of the admonishment, including 340
395	420		copies of the complaint file, and (3) inform the complainant, if any, that 341
396	421		an admonishment was issued if the admonishment is the result of 342
397	422		misconduct alleged in the complaint. Except as provided in this 343
398		-	subsection, the substance of the admonishment shall not be disclosed to 344 Substitute Bill No. 5422
399		-
400		-
401		-	LCO 12 of 14
402		-
	423	+	subsection, the substance of the admonishment shall not be disclosed to 344
403	424		any person or organization. 345
404	425		(c) If a preliminary investigation indicates that probable cause exists 346
405	426		that the judge, administrative law judge or family support magistrate is 347
406	427		guilty of conduct under section 51-51i, the council shall hold a hearing 348
407	428		concerning the conduct or complaint. All hearings held pursuant to this 349
408	429		subsection shall be open. A judge, an administrative law judge or a 350
409	430		family support magistrate appearing before such a hearing shall be 351
410	431		entitled to counsel, to present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses. 352
411	432		The council shall make a record of all proceedings pursuant to this 353
412	433		subsection. The council shall not later than thirty days after the close of 354
413	434		such hearing publish its findings together with a memorandum of its 355
414	435		reasons therefor. 356
415	436		(d) No complaint against a judge, an administrative law judge or a 357
416	437		family support magistrate alleging conduct under section 51-51i shall be 358
417	438		brought under this section but within one year from the date the alleged 359
418	439		conduct occurred or was discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care 360
419	440		should have been discovered, except that no such complaint may be 361
420	441		brought more than three years from the date the alleged conduct 362
421	442		occurred. 363
422	443		(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this 364
423	444		section, the council shall disclose any information concerning 365
	445	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	446	+
	447	+
	448	+	LCO No. 5977 13 of 15
	449	+
424	450		complaints received by the council on and after January 1, 1978, and 366
425	451		investigations and disposition of such complaints to the Legislative 367
426	452		Program Review and Investigations Committee when requested by the 368
427	453		committee in the course of its functions, in writing, and upon a majority 369
428	454		vote of the committee, provided no names or other identifying 370
429	455		information shall be disclosed. 371
430	456		[(e)] (f) On and after December 19, 1991, any judge, administrative 372
431	457		law judge or family support magistrate who has been the subject of an 373
432	458		investigation by the Judicial Review Council as a result of a complaint 374
433	459		brought before such council may request that such complaint, 375
434		-	investigation and the disposition of such complaint be open to public 376 Substitute Bill No. 5422
435		-
436		-
437		-	LCO 13 of 14
438		-
	460	+	investigation and the disposition of such complaint be open to public 376
439	461		inspection. 377
440	462		[(f)] (g) Whenever a complaint against a judge, an administrative law 378
441	463		judge or a family support magistrate is pending before the Judicial 379
442	464		Review Council within the final year of the term of office of such judge, 380
443	465		administrative law judge or family support magistrate, the Judicial 381
444	466		Review Council shall designate such complaint as privileged and shall 382
445	467		conduct an expedited investigation and hearing so that its duties with 383
446	468		respect to such complaint are completed in sufficient time to enable the 384
447	469		Judicial Review Council to make its recommendation concerning any 385
448	470		such judge to the Judicial Selection Commission and the Governor 386
449	471		under section 51-51q in a timely manner. 387
450	472		Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 2-53m of the general statutes is 388
451	473		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 389
452	474		2025): 390
453	475		(a) The joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 391
454	476		cognizance of matters relating to children, in consultation with the 392
455	477		Office of Fiscal Analysis, the Office of Legislative Research and the 393
456	478		Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, shall maintain an annual 394
457	479		report card that evaluates the progress of state policies and programs in 395
458	480		promoting the result that all Connecticut children grow up in a stable 396
459	481		living environment, safe, healthy and ready to lead successful lives. 397
	482	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
	483	+
	484	+
	485	+	LCO No. 5977 14 of 15
	486	+
460	487		Progress shall be measured by primary indicators of progress, 398
461	488		including, but not limited to, indicators established in the [final] report 399
462	489		of the [former] Legislative Program Review and Investigations 400
463	490		Committee prepared pursuant to the provisions of section 1 of public 401
464	491		act 09-166, of state-wide rates of child abuse, child poverty, low birth 402
465	492		weight, third grade reading proficiency, and the annual social health 403
466	493		index developed pursuant to section 46a-131a. For each indicator, the 404
467	494		data shall also be presented according to ethnicity or race, gender, 405
468	495		geography, disability and, where appropriate, age and other relevant 406
469	496		characteristics. The joint standing committee of the General Assembly 407
470	497		having cognizance of matters relating to children shall prepare the 408
471		-	report card on or before January 15, 2018, and annually thereafter. On 409 Substitute Bill No. 5422
472		-
473		-
474		-	LCO 14 of 14
475		-
	498	+	report card on or before January 15, 2018, and annually thereafter. On 409
476	499		or before January 15, 2018, and annually thereafter, said committee shall 410
477	500		make the report card available to the public on the Internet and on the 411
478	501		web site of the General Assembly and shall transmit the report card 412
479	502		electronically to (1) members of the joint standing committees of the 413
480	503		General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 414
481	504		appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and human services, 415
482	505		(2) the Commissioners of Children and Families, Education and Public 416
483	506		Health, (3) the Child Advocate, (4) the Secretary of the Office of Policy 417
484	507		and Management, and (5) the Chief Court Administrator. 418
485	508		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
486	509		sections:
487	510
488	511		Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
489	512		Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 New section
490	513		Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 New section
491	514		Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 1-122
492	515		Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 1-123(a)
493	516		Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 2-46
494	517		Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 2-47
495	518		Sec. 8 July 1, 2025 2-90(c) to (e)
496	519		Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 17a-28(g)(11)
497	520		Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 51-51l
498	521		Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 2-53m(a)
499	522
500		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
501		-	In Section 1(d), "of the General Assembly" was added after
502		-	"committee" for accuracy.
	523	+	Committee Bill No. 5422
503	524
504		-	GAE Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
	525	+
	526	+	LCO No. 5977 15 of 15
	527	+
	528	+	Statement of Purpose:
	529	+	To reestablish the Legislative Program Review and Investigations
	530	+	Committee.
	531	+
	532	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	533	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	534	+	underlined.]
	535	+
	536	+	Co-Sponsors: REP. CARPINO, 32nd Dist.; REP. BUMGARDNER, 41st Dist.
	537	+
	538	+	H.B. 5422
	539	+
505	540