Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06887 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	LCO 1 of 5
	3	+	LCO No. 4315 1 of 5
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5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 6887
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6887
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 4315
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND
	11	+	EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
	12	+
	13	+
	14	+	Introduced by:
	15	+	(HED)
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10	18
11	19
12	20		AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHER EDUCATION MANAGEMENT AND
13	21		FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
14	22		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
15	23		Assembly convened:
16	24
17		-	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) Not later than January 1, 2026, 1
18		-	the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall adopt or update the 2
19		-	management and fiscal accountability policies applicable to each 3
20		-	constituent unit and institution of higher education governed by said 4
21		-	board and the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and 5
22		-	Universities. Such policies shall include, but need not be limited to, the 6
23		-	following: 7
24		-	(1) The use of purchasing cards pursuant to subsection (c) of section 8
25		-	4-98 of the general statutes, that includes, but need not be limited to, the 9
26		-	(A) permitted and restricted uses of purchasing cards, (B) provision of 10
27		-	uniform training to each cardholder on such permitted and restricted 11
28		-	uses and required record-keeping, and a signed acknowledgment of 12
29		-	receiving such training, (C) requirement for a secondary review and 13
30		-	sign-off on any exceptions to the spending limits on purchasing cards, 14
31		-	(D) provision of uniform training to each supervisor to regularly 15
32		-	monitor the use of purchasing cards, (E) use of purchasing cards by 16
33		-	persons in executive positions for food and entertainment costs, and (F) 17
34		-	establishment and enforcement of accountability measures to address 18
35		-	any purchasing card misuse, including, but not limited to, written 19 Substitute Bill No. 6887
	25	+	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) The Board of Regents for 1
	26	+	Higher Education shall adopt or update policies concerning the 2
	27	+	management and fiscal accountability of each constituent unit and 3
	28	+	institution of higher education governed by said board and the central 4
	29	+	office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. Such policies 5
	30	+	shall include, but need not be limited to, the following: 6
	31	+	(1) The use of purchasing cards pursuant to subsection (c) of section 7
	32	+	4-98 of the general statutes, that includes, but need not be limited to, the 8
	33	+	(A) permitted and restricted uses of purchasing cards, (B) provision of 9
	34	+	uniform training to each cardholder on such permitted and restricted 10
	35	+	uses and required record-keeping, (C) requirement for a secondary 11
	36	+	review and sign-off on any exceptions to the spending limits on 12
	37	+	purchasing cards, (D) use of purchasing cards by persons in executive 13
	38	+	positions for food and entertainment costs, and (E) establishment and 14
	39	+	Raised Bill No. 6887
36	40
37	41
38		-	LCO 2 of 5
39	42
40		-	acknowledgment of such misuse, an agreement to remedy such misuse 20
41		-	and the revocation of purchasing cards when necessary. 21
42		-	(2) The use of state vehicles that includes, but need not be limited to, 22
43		-	the (A) establishment of rules on the use of state vehicles and related 23
44		-	record-keeping, (B) treatment of state vehicle use for compensation and 24
45		-	tax purposes, and (C) establishment and enforcement of accountability 25
46		-	measures to address any state vehicle misuse and noncompliance with 26
47		-	such policy. 27
48		-	(3) Residency requirements for certain executive positions, including, 28
49		-	but not limited to, the chancellor, vice-chancellors, president, vice-29
50		-	presidents and other equivalent positions. Any employment contract 30
51		-	negotiated on and after July 1, 2025, for the chancellor of the Connecticut 31
52		-	State College and Universities shall include a requirement to maintain 32
53		-	such chancellor's primary residence in the state. 33
54		-	(4) The development and provision of uniform training to all 34
55		-	executives, administrators and staff at each such constituent unit, 35
56		-	institution of higher education and central office regarding the business 36
57		-	functions and compliance practices relevant to such position. 37
58		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) Not later than January 1, 2026, 38
59		-	the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall adopt or 39
60		-	update policies concerning the management and fiscal accountability of 40
61		-	The University of Connecticut. Such policies shall include, but need not 41
62		-	be limited to, the following: 42
63		-	(1) The use of purchasing cards pursuant to subsection (c) of section 43
64		-	4-98 of the general statutes, that includes, but need not be limited to, the 44
65		-	(A) permitted and restricted uses of purchasing cards, (B) provision of 45
66		-	uniform training to each cardholder on such permitted and restricted 46
67		-	uses and required record-keeping, and a signed acknowledgment of 47
68		-	receiving such training, (C) requirement for a secondary review and 48
69		-	sign-off on any exceptions to the spending limits on purchasing cards, 49
70		-	(D) provision of uniform training to each supervisor to regularly 50
71		-	monitor the use of purchasing cards, (E) use of purchasing cards by 51 Substitute Bill No. 6887
	43	+	LCO No. 4315 2 of 5
	44	+
	45	+	enforcement of accountability measures to address any purchasing card 15
	46	+	misuse, including, but not limited to, the revocation of purchasing cards 16
	47	+	when necessary. 17
	48	+	(2) The use of state vehicles that includes, but need not be limited to, 18
	49	+	the (A) establishment of rules on the use of state vehicles and related 19
	50	+	record-keeping, (B) treatment of state vehicle use for compensation and 20
	51	+	tax purposes, and (C) establishment and enforcement of accountability 21
	52	+	measures to address any state vehicle misuse and noncompliance with 22
	53	+	such policy. 23
	54	+	(3) Residency requirements for certain executive positions, including, 24
	55	+	but not limited to, the chancellor, vice-chancellors, president, vice-25
	56	+	presidents and other equivalent positions. 26
	57	+	(4) The development and provision of uniform training to all 27
	58	+	executives, administrators and staff at each such constituent unit, 28
	59	+	institution of higher education and central office regarding the business 29
	60	+	functions and compliance practices relevant to such position. 30
	61	+	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) The Board of Trustees of The 31
	62	+	University of Connecticut shall adopt or update policies concerning the 32
	63	+	management and fiscal accountability of The University of Connecticut. 33
	64	+	Such policies shall include, but need not be limited to, the following: 34
	65	+	(1) The use of purchasing cards pursuant to subsection (c) of section 35
	66	+	4-98 of the general statutes, that includes, but need not be limited to, the 36
	67	+	(A) permitted and restricted uses of purchasing cards, (B) provision of 37
	68	+	uniform training to each cardholder on such permitted and restricted 38
	69	+	uses and required record-keeping, (C) requirement for a secondary 39
	70	+	review and sign-off on any exceptions to the spending limits on 40
	71	+	purchasing cards, (D) use of purchasing cards by persons in executive 41
	72	+	positions for food and entertainment costs, and (E) establishment and 42
	73	+	enforcement of accountability measures to address any purchasing card 43
	74	+	misuse, including, but not limited to, the revocation of purchasing cards 44
	75	+	when necessary. 45
	76	+	Raised Bill No. 6887
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73	78
74		-	LCO 3 of 5
75	79
76		-	persons in executive positions for food and entertainment costs, and (F) 52
77		-	establishment and enforcement of accountability measures to address 53
78		-	any purchasing card misuse, including, but not limited to, written 54
79		-	acknowledgment of such misuse, an agreement to remedy such misuse 55
80		-	and the revocation of purchasing cards when necessary. 56
81		-	(2) The use of state vehicles that includes, but need not be limited to, 57
82		-	the (A) establishment of rules on the use of state vehicles and related 58
83		-	record-keeping, (B) treatment of state vehicle use for compensation and 59
84		-	tax purposes, and (C) establishment and enforcement of accountability 60
85		-	measures to address any state vehicle misuse and noncompliance with 61
86		-	such policy. 62
87		-	(3) Residency requirements for certain executive positions, including, 63
88		-	but not limited to, the president, vice-presidents and other equivalent 64
89		-	positions. Any employment contract negotiated on and after July 1, 65
90		-	2025, for the president of The University of Connecticut shall include a 66
91		-	requirement to maintain such president's primary residence in the state. 67
92		-	(4) The development and provision of uniform training to all 68
93		-	executives, administrators and staff at said university regarding the 69
94		-	business functions and compliance practices relevant to such position. 70
95		-	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, 71
96		-	the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall establish an internal 72
97		-	audit office. The duties of such office shall include, but need not be 73
98		-	limited to, (1) conducting audits on a regular basis of the records and 74
99		-	expenditures at each constituent unit and institution of higher education 75
100		-	governed by said board and the central office of the Connecticut State 76
101		-	Colleges and Universities to measure, as often as deemed necessary by 77
102		-	such office, (A) compliance with applicable laws and regulations and 78
103		-	policies adopted by said board, (B) reliability of financial reporting and 79
104		-	record-keeping, (C) effectiveness and efficiency of operations, and (D) 80
105		-	assessing the adequacy and uniformity of internal controls and 81
106		-	compliance practices at each such institution and the central office; (2) 82
107		-	reporting to said board on the findings of such audit and assessment 83 Substitute Bill No. 6887
	80	+	LCO No. 4315 3 of 5
	81	+
	82	+	(2) The use of state vehicles that includes, but need not be limited to, 46
	83	+	the (A) establishment of rules on the use of state vehicles and related 47
	84	+	record-keeping, (B) treatment of state vehicle use for compensation and 48
	85	+	tax purposes, and (C) establishment and enforcement of accountability 49
	86	+	measures to address any state vehicle misuse and noncompliance with 50
	87	+	such policy. 51
	88	+	(3) Residency requirements for certain executive positions, including, 52
	89	+	but not limited to, the president, vice-presidents and other equivalent 53
	90	+	positions. 54
	91	+	(4) The development and provision of uniform training to all 55
	92	+	executives, administrators and staff at said university regarding the 56
	93	+	business functions and compliance practices relevant to such position. 57
	94	+	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, 58
	95	+	the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall establish an internal 59
	96	+	audit office. The duties of such office shall include, but need not be 60
	97	+	limited to, (1) conducting an annual audit of the records and 61
	98	+	expenditures at each constituent unit and institution of higher education 62
	99	+	governed by said board and the central office of the Connecticut State 63
	100	+	Colleges and Universities to measure (A) compliance with applicable 64
	101	+	laws and regulations and policies adopted by said board, (B) reliability 65
	102	+	of financial reporting and record-keeping, and (C) effectiveness and 66
	103	+	efficiency of operations; (2) regularly assessing the adequacy and 67
	104	+	uniformity of internal controls and compliance practices at each such 68
	105	+	institution and the central office; (3) reporting to said board on the 69
	106	+	findings of such audit and assessment and making recommendations 70
	107	+	for improvement; and (4) performing the audit required pursuant to 71
	108	+	subsection (r) of section 1-84 of the general statutes. 72
	109	+	(b) The Comptroller shall conduct a randomized post -audit 73
	110	+	examination of the records and expenditures of the Connecticut State 74
	111	+	Colleges and Universities. The Board of Regents for Higher Education 75
	112	+	shall submit or allow access to all accounting records and expenditures 76
	113	+	Raised Bill No. 6887
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109	115
110		-	LCO 4 of 5
111	116
112		-	and making recommendations for improvement; and (3) performing the 84
113		-	audit required pursuant to subsection (r) of section 1-84 of the general 85
114		-	statutes. 86
115		-	(b) The Comptroller shall conduct a randomized post -audit 87
116		-	examination of the records and expenditures of the Connecticut State 88
117		-	Colleges and Universities. The Board of Regents for Higher Education 89
118		-	shall submit or allow access to all accounting records and expenditures 90
119		-	of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities to the office of the 91
120		-	Comptroller for the purposes of such post-audit examination. 92
121		-	Sec. 4. Section 10a-9b of the general statutes is repealed and the 93
122		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 94
123		-	(a) The constituent units of the state system of higher education, as 95
124		-	defined in section 10a-1, shall use best efforts to work with the Secretary 96
125		-	of the Office of Policy and Management, the Department of 97
126		-	Administrative Services and the Comptroller to fully utilize the CORE-98
127		-	CT system in carrying out accounting processes and financial reporting 99
128		-	that meet constitutional needs and providing for budgetary and 100
129		-	financial reporting needs. 101
130		-	(b) [The] Each constituent [units of the state system of higher 102
131		-	education, as defined in section 10a-1,] unit shall use best efforts to work 103
132		-	with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the 104
133		-	Department of Administrative Services and the Comptroller to fully 105
134		-	utilize the CORE-CT system to provide for human resources and payroll 106
135		-	reporting and to initiate the process of determining consistent 107
136		-	classification and compensation for employees not represented by an 108
137		-	employee organization, as defined in section 5-270. 109
138		-	(c) Not later than October 1, 2025, and quarterly thereafter, each 110
139		-	constituent unit shall submit to the Comptroller, in the form and manner 111
140		-	agreed upon by the Comptroller and such constituent unit, data, as 112
141		-	prescribed by the Comptroller, on the budget and expenditures of such 113
142		-	constituent unit and such constituent unit's central office, if any, for 114
143		-	inclusion in any program concerning state-wide fiscal transparency and 115 Substitute Bill No. 6887
	117	+	LCO No. 4315 4 of 5
144	118
145		-
146		-	LCO 5 of 5
147		-
148		-	the databases maintained by the office of the Comptroller pursuant to 116
149		-	section 2-53l. 117
	119	+	of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities to the office of the 77
	120	+	Comptroller for the purposes of such post-audit examination. 78
	121	+	Sec. 4. Section 10a-9b of the general statutes is repealed and the 79
	122	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 80
	123	+	(a) The constituent units of the state system of higher education, as 81
	124	+	defined in section 10a-1, shall [use best efforts to] work with the 82
	125	+	Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the Department of 83
	126	+	Administrative Services and the Comptroller to fully utilize the CORE-84
	127	+	CT system in carrying out accounting processes and financial reporting 85
	128	+	that meet constitutional needs and providing for budgetary and 86
	129	+	financial reporting needs. 87
	130	+	(b) [The] Each constituent [units of the state system of higher 88
	131	+	education, as defined in section 10a-1,] unit shall [use best efforts to] 89
	132	+	work with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the 90
	133	+	Department of Administrative Services and the Comptroller to fully 91
	134	+	utilize the CORE-CT system to provide for human resources and payroll 92
	135	+	reporting and to initiate the process of determining consistent 93
	136	+	classification and compensation for employees not represented by an 94
	137	+	employee organization, as defined in section 5-270. 95
	138	+	(c) Not later than October 1, 2025, and quarterly thereafter, each 96
	139	+	constituent unit shall submit to the Comptroller, in the form and manner 97
	140	+	prescribed by the Comptroller, data on the budget and expenditures of 98
	141	+	such constituent unit and such constituent unit's central office, if any, 99
	142	+	for inclusion in any program concerning state-wide fiscal transparency 100
	143	+	and the databases maintained by the office of the Comptroller pursuant 101
	144	+	to section 2-53l. 102
150	145		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
151	146		sections:
152	147
153	148		Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
154	149		Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 New section
	150	+	Raised Bill No. 6887
	151	+
	152	+
	153	+
	154	+	LCO No. 4315 5 of 5
	155	+
155	156		Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 New section
156	157		Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 10a-9b
157	158
158		-	HED Joint Favorable Subst.
	159	+	Statement of Purpose:
	160	+	To require (1) the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board
	161	+	of Trustees of The University of Connecticut to establish policies
	162	+	concerning the use of a purchase card and a state vehicle, a residency
	163	+	requirement for certain executive positions and uniform training; (2) the
	164	+	Board of Regents for Higher Education to establish an internal audit
	165	+	office and comply with a post-audit examination by the Comptroller;
	166	+	and (3) each constituent unit to submit data for inclusion on public
	167	+	databases maintained by the Comptroller.
	168	+
	169	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	170	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	171	+	underlined.]
159	172