Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06040 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 6
4	3
5		-	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6040
	4	+	LCO No. 5695 1 of 6
	5	+
	6	+	General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6040
6	7		January Session, 2025
	8	+	LCO No. 5695
7	9
8	10
	11	+	Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
	12	+	AND ELECTIONS
	13	+
	14	+
	15	+	Introduced by:
	16	+	(GAE)
9	17
10	18
11	19
12	20		AN ACT REQUIRING THE STATE COMMISSION ON CAPITOL
13	21		PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION TO DEVELOP A PROCESS
14	22		FOR ADDING STATUES TO THE STATE CAPITOL AND
15	23		ESTABLISHING THE STATE HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
16	24		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
17	25		Assembly convened:
18	26
19	27		Section 1. Section 4b-60 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
20	28		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 2
21	29		(a) There shall be a State Commission on Capitol Preservation and 3
22	30		Restoration to consist of twelve members to be appointed as follows: 4
23	31		Two members shall be appointed by the Governor, two by the speaker 5
24	32		of the House of Representatives, two by the president pro tempore of 6
25	33		the Senate, one by the House minority leader, one by the Senate 7
26	34		minority leader, two members of the Joint Committee on Legislative 8
27	35		Management, one appointed by each of the chairmen of said committee, 9
28	36		and one member of the Historic Preservation Council appointed by its 10
29	37		chairperson. The Commissioner of Administrative Services, or the 11
30	38		commissioner's designee, shall be an ex-officio member of the 12
31	39		commission and shall attend its meetings. Vacancies on the commission 13
32	40		shall be filled by the original appointing authority for the unexpired 14
	41	+	Committee Bill No. 6040
	42	+
	43	+
	44	+	LCO No. 5695 2 of 6
	45	+
33	46		portion of the term. The members shall serve without compensation for 15
34	47		their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary 16
35		-	expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The commission 17 Substitute Bill No. 6040
36		-
37		-
38		-	LCO 2 of 6
39		-
	48	+	expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The commission 17
40	49		shall meet at least quarterly, and more often on the call of the chairman 18
41	50		or on the written request of a majority of the members. The commission 19
42	51		may designate subcommittees to carry out its functions. Any member 20
43	52		who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or fails to attend fifty per 21
44	53		cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to 22
45	54		have resigned. 23
46	55		(b) The commission: (1) Shall undertake a continuing review and 24
47	56		study of the State Capitol building and grounds, with a view to 25
48	57		developing a master plan for the preservation and restoration of the 26
49	58		Capitol, including necessary structural changes, consistent with the 27
50	59		original historical character of the building, with due regard being given 28
51	60		to enhancing the interior and exterior beauty of the building, making 29
52	61		better use of existing space and reducing public safety hazards; (2) shall 30
53	62		develop a process for identifying and commissioning additional statues 31
54	63		to be added to the exterior of the State Capitol building that reflect the 32
55	64		diversity, character and accomplishments of the state; (3) may consult 33
56	65		with state, federal or private agencies with respect [thereto] to the duties 34
57	66		set forth in this subsection, and disseminate information on its activities; 35
58	67		and [(3)] (4) shall report on its activities to the Joint Committee on 36
59	68		Legislative Management annually or as often as the committee shall 37
60	69		direct. The Department of Administrative Services shall provide 38
61	70		professional staff assistance to the commission when available. If such 39
62	71		assistance cannot be provided within a reasonable time, the commission 40
63	72		may, with the approval of the Joint Committee on Legislative 41
64	73		Management, retain technical advisors to assist in reviewing project 42
65	74		plans and work. 43
66	75		(c) The commission is authorized to accept gifts, donations and grants 44
67	76		from the federal government or other public or private sources for the 45
68	77		purpose of such preservation and restoration. 46
	78	+	Committee Bill No. 6040
	79	+
	80	+
	81	+	LCO No. 5695 3 of 6
	82	+
69	83		(d) The Joint Committee on Legislative Management may undertake 47
70	84		capital expenditure programs for which capital funds are authorized, in 48
71	85		connection with such preservation and restoration, including, but not 49
72		-	limited to, implementing the process developed pursuant to subdivision 50 Substitute Bill No. 6040
73		-
74		-
75		-	LCO 3 of 6
76		-
	86	+	limited to, implementing the process developed pursuant to subdivision 50
77	87		(2) of subsection (b) of this section to commission additional statues. 51
78	88		Such programs shall be carried out by the committee, pursuant to plans 52
79	89		and specifications approved by the commission and in accordance with 53
80	90		the bidding procedures in part II of chapter 60. The commission shall 54
81	91		adopt regulations establishing basic artistic standards in keeping with 55
82	92		the original historical character of the Capitol to assist the committee in 56
83	93		the preparation of plans and specifications. 57
84	94		(e) The commission shall be an independent body within the 58
85	95		Legislative Department for administrative purposes only. 59
86	96		Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) Not later than February 1, 2026, the State 60
87	97		Commission on Capitol Preservation and Restoration shall (1) develop 61
88	98		a plan for the installation of exterior placards or other signage around 62
89	99		the exterior of the State Capitol building to provide a written historical 63
90	100		explanation of the various statues and other markers on the exterior of 64
91	101		the State Capitol building for the public, and (2) submit such plan to the 65
92	102		Joint Committee on Legislative Management. 66
93	103		Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) There is established a State 67
94	104		Historical Commission, which shall be an independent body within the 68
95	105		Legislative Department for administrative purposes only. The 69
96	106		commission shall examine and make recommendations to the 70
97	107		legislative, executive and judicial branches on questions of 71
98	108		memorialization and commemoration related to Connecticut and 72
99	109		United States history. 73
100	110		(b) The commission shall consist of the following members: (1) One 74
101	111		appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; (2) one 75
102	112		appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives; (3) 76
103	113		one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; (4) one 77
104	114		appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (5) one appointed by the 78
	115	+	Committee Bill No. 6040
	116	+
	117	+
	118	+	LCO No. 5695 4 of 6
	119	+
105	120		minority leader of the House of Representatives; (6) one appointed by 79
106	121		the minority leader of the Senate; (7) two appointed by the Governor; 80
107	122		(8) two appointed by the chairpersons of the joint standing committee 81
108		-	of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 82 Substitute Bill No. 6040
	123	+	of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 82
	124	+	government administration, with one member appointed by each 83
	125	+	chairperson; and (9) two appointed by the ranking members of the joint 84
	126	+	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 85
	127	+	matters relating to government administration, with one member 86
	128	+	appointed by each ranking member. Members shall be scholars in the 87
	129	+	areas of history, literature, law or philosophy with an affiliation with an 88
	130	+	accredited institution of higher education located in this state. Any 89
	131	+	member of the commission appointed under this subsection may be a 90
	132	+	member of the General Assembly. 91
	133	+	(c) All initial appointments to the commission shall be made not later 92
	134	+	than September 1, 2025. Appointed members of the commission shall 93
	135	+	serve for three-year terms which shall commence on the date of 94
	136	+	appointment. Members shall continue to serve until their successors are 95
	137	+	appointed. 96
	138	+	(d) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president 97
	139	+	pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairperson of the commission 98
	140	+	from among the members of the commission. Such chairperson shall 99
	141	+	schedule the first meeting of the commission, which shall be held not 100
	142	+	later than September 15, 2025. 101
	143	+	(e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 102
	144	+	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to government 103
	145	+	administration shall serve as administrative staff of the commission. 104
	146	+	(f) Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any 105
	147	+	vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the 106
	148	+	balance of the unexpired term. 107
	149	+	(g) A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the 108
	150	+	transaction of any business. 109
	151	+	Committee Bill No. 6040
109	152
110	153
111		-	LCO 4 of 6
	154	+	LCO No. 5695 5 of 6
112	155
113		-	government administration, with one member appointed by each 83
114		-	chairperson; (9) two appointed by the ranking members of the joint 84
115		-	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 85
116		-	matters relating to government administration, with one member 86
117		-	appointed by each ranking member; (10) the Chief Court Administrator, 87
118		-	or a designee; and (11) the State Historian. Appointed members shall be 88
119		-	scholars in the areas of history, literature, law or philosophy with an 89
120		-	affiliation with an accredited institution of higher education located in 90
121		-	this state. Any member of the commission appointed under 91
122		-	subdivisions (1) to (9), inclusive, of this subsection may be a member of 92
123		-	the General Assembly. 93
124		-	(c) All initial appointments to the commission shall be made not later 94
125		-	than September 1, 2025. Appointed members of the commission shall 95
126		-	serve for three-year terms which shall commence on the date of 96
127		-	appointment. Members shall continue to serve until their successors are 97
128		-	appointed. 98
129		-	(d) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president 99
130		-	pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairperson of the commission 100
131		-	from among the members of the commission. Such chairperson shall 101
132		-	schedule the first meeting of the commission, which shall be held not 102
133		-	later than September 15, 2025. 103
134		-	(e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 104
135		-	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to government 105
136		-	administration shall serve as administrative staff of the commission. 106
137		-	(f) Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any 107
138		-	vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the 108
139		-	balance of the unexpired term. 109
140		-	(g) A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the 110
141		-	transaction of any business. 111
142		-	(h) The members of the commission shall serve without 112
143		-	compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be 113 Substitute Bill No. 6040
144		-
145		-
146		-	LCO 5 of 6
147		-
148		-	reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of 114
149		-	their duties. 115
150		-	(i) The commission shall have the following powers and duties: To 116
151		-	(1) issue reports and recommendations to all three branches of 117
152		-	government concerning historical questions of memorialization and 118
153		-	commemoration related to Connecticut and United States history, either 119
154		-	upon the request of any executive, legislative or judicial department, 120
155		-	board, commission or other agency of the state or upon its own 121
156		-	initiative; (2) obtain from any executive, legislative or judicial 122
157		-	department, board, commission or other agency of the state such 123
158		-	assistance and data as necessary and available to carry out the purposes 124
159		-	of this section; (3) accept any gift, donation or bequest for the purpose 125
160		-	of performing the duties described in this section; and (4) perform such 126
161		-	other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties 127
162		-	described in this section. 128
163		-	(j) Not later than February 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the 129
164		-	commission shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 130
165		-	section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the Governor and the joint 131
166		-	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 132
167		-	matters relating to government administration. Such report shall 133
168		-	include, but need not be limited to, a summary of the activities of the 134
169		-	commission during the prior year and any policy changes and 135
170		-	amendments to the general statutes necessary to implement the 136
171		-	recommendations of the commission. 137
	156	+	(h) The members of the commission shall serve without 110
	157	+	compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be 111
	158	+	reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of 112
	159	+	their duties. 113
	160	+	(i) The commission shall have the following powers and duties: To 114
	161	+	(1) issue reports and recommendations to all three branches of 115
	162	+	government concerning historical questions of memorialization and 116
	163	+	commemoration related to Connecticut and United States history, either 117
	164	+	upon the request of any executive, legislative or judicial department, 118
	165	+	board, commission or other agency of the state or upon its own 119
	166	+	initiative; (2) obtain from any executive, legislative or judicial 120
	167	+	department, board, commission or other agency of the state such 121
	168	+	assistance and data as necessary and available to carry out the purposes 122
	169	+	of this section; (3) accept any gift, donation or bequest for the purpose 123
	170	+	of performing the duties described in this section; and (4) perform such 124
	171	+	other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties 125
	172	+	described in this section. 126
	173	+	(j) Not later than February 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the 127
	174	+	commission shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 128
	175	+	section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the Governor and the joint 129
	176	+	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 130
	177	+	matters relating to government administration. Such report shall 131
	178	+	include, but need not be limited to, a summary of the activities of the 132
	179	+	commission during the prior year and any policy changes and 133
	180	+	amendments to the general statutes necessary to implement the 134
	181	+	recommendations of the commission. 135
172	182		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
173	183		sections:
174	184
175	185		Section 1 July 1, 2025 4b-60
176	186		Sec. 2 from passage New section
177	187		Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 New section
178	188
179		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
180		-	In Section 3(b), a reference to Subdivs. (1) to (9) was added for
181		-	consistency.
182		-	Substitute Bill No. 6040
	189	+	Committee Bill No. 6040
183	190
184	191
185		-	LCO 6 of 6
	192	+	LCO No. 5695 6 of 6
186	193
187		-	GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
	194	+	Statement of Purpose:
	195	+	To develop a process for identifying and commissioning additional
	196	+	statues for the exterior of the State Capitol that reflect the diversity of
	197	+	the state, require the development of a plan for exterior placards and
	198	+	other signage around the State Capitol building and to establish the
	199	+	State Historical Commission.
	200	+
	201	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	202	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	203	+	underlined.]
	204	+
	205	+	Co-Sponsors: REP. ROJAS, 9th Dist.
	206	+
	207	+	H.B. 6040
	208	+
188	209