LCO 1 of 5
General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 7018
January Session, 2025
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TEST BED TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) (1) There is established a 1
test bed technologies advisory board, which shall, within available 2
appropriations, meet not less than twice a year to undertake the 3
advisory board's powers and duties pursuant to this section. The 4
advisory board shall be an independent body within the Department of 5
Economic and Community Development for administrative purposes 6
only. The advisory board shall consist of the following members, who 7
shall have experience working in private sector businesses or in state 8
agencies: (A) One appointed by the Governor; (B) one appointed by the 9
Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; (C) one 10
appointed by the Treasurer; (D) one appointed by the Comptroller; and 11
(E) one appointed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services in 12
consultation with the chief executive officer of a nonprofit organization 13
that operates an applied technology demonstration and training center. 14
(2) If, in the exercise of the advisory board's powers and duties 15
pursuant to this section, the advisory board finds that (A) the use of a 16
certain technology, product or process would promote operational cost 17
reduction, and (B) the use of such technology, product or process would 18
be feasible in the operations of a state agency and would not have any 19 Substitute Bill No. 7018
LCO 2 of 5
detrimental effect on such operations, the advisory board shall 20
recommend that such agency undertake a pilot test program during 21
which such agency shall use such technology, product or process in the 22
operations of such agency on a temporary basis. The purpose of such 23
pilot test program shall be to validate the effectiveness of such 24
technology, product or process in reducing operational costs. 25
(3) The advisory board shall not recommend a pilot test program by 26
a state agency for any such technology, product or process unless the 27
business that manufactures or markets the technology, product or 28
process demonstrates that (A) the use of such technology, product or 29
process by such agency will not adversely affect safety, (B) the 30
technology, product or process is presently available for commercial 31
sale and distribution or has potential for commercialization not later 32
than two years following the completion of such pilot test program by 33
such agency pursuant to this section, (C) such technology, product or 34
process was not developed by a business that is eligible to participate in 35
such pilot test program established pursuant to section 32-39e of the 36
general statutes, (D) such business maintains documentation 37
concerning any patent for such technology, product or process and any 38
related intellectual property, and (E) such business is certified as a small 39
contractor or a minority business enterprise by the Commissioner of 40
Administrative Services pursuant to section 4a-60g of the general 41
statutes. 42
(b) (1) The commissioner of each state agency shall administer pilot 43
test programs at state agencies for the use of technologies, products or 44
processes that promote operational cost reduction. The purpose of such 45
pilot test programs shall be to validate the effectiveness of such 46
technologies, products or processes in reducing operational costs. 47
(2) An applicant interested in participating in such a program shall 48
submit an application to the advisory board. The advisory board shall 49
prescribe the form and manner of such application. Each such 50
application shall include an assessment of the potential viability of a 51
pilot test program of such technology, product or process at such agency 52 Substitute Bill No. 7018
LCO 3 of 5
conducted by an independent consulting firm or a market research firm 53
that specializes in market research for technologies, products or 54
processes similar to those specified in such application. Such consulting 55
or market research firm shall be a provider of services under the 56
Department of Administrative Services industry code of 6000 for 57
research and development services or the North American Industry 58
Classification System code of 541910 for marketing research and public 59
opinion polling. 60
(c) (1) Not later than thirty days after receipt of an application 61
pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, the advisory 62
board shall evaluate any technology, product or process that is the 63
subject of such application and make a recommendation pursuant to 64
subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section. 65
(2) The advisory board shall not recommend or otherwise approve an 66
applicant to participate in more than one pilot test program established 67
pursuant to this section. 68
(d) If the advisory board recommends that a state agency undertake 69
a pilot test program, such agency, notwithstanding the requirements of 70
chapter 58 of the general statutes, shall accept delivery of such 71
technology, product or process and undertake such a pilot test program 72
during which such agency shall use such technology, product or process 73
in the operations of such agency on a temporary basis. The duration of 74
such pilot test program shall be not less than thirty days and not more 75
than sixty days. 76
(e) Any costs associated with the acquisition and use of such 77
technology, product or process by a state agency for a pilot test program 78
pursuant to this section shall be borne by the applicant. The acquisition 79
of any technology, product or process for a pilot test program pursuant 80
to this section shall not be deemed to be a purchase under the provisions 81
of state procurement law. The applicant shall maintain records related 82
to any such pilot test program, as required by the advisory board. All 83
proprietary information derived from such pilot test program shall be 84 Substitute Bill No. 7018
LCO 4 of 5
exempt from the provisions of subsection (a) of section 1-210 of the 85
general statutes. 86
(f) If the commissioner of the state agency that tested such 87
technology, product or process determines that the pilot test program 88
sufficiently demonstrates that the technology, product or process 89
promotes operational cost reduction, such testing agency may request 90
that the Commissioner of Administrative Services (1) procure such 91
technology for use by such state agency, and (2) make such procurement 92
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 4a-58 of the general statutes. If the 93
Commissioner of Administrative Services grants a request to procure 94
such technology for any state agency, the Commissioner of 95
Administrative Services shall make information regarding such 96
procurement available to all state agencies on the Internet web site of 97
the Department of Administrative Services. 98
(g) The commissioner of a state agency may identify a technology, 99
product or process that meets the criteria described in subdivision (3) of 100
subsection (a) of this section and that is tested by a municipality that 101
promotes operational cost reduction. Such commissioner may file a 102
request to the advisory board for a recommendation to test such 103
technology, product or process. Not later than thirty days after receipt 104
of such request, the advisory board shall evaluate the technology, 105
product or process and make a recommendation pursuant to 106
subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section. If the advisory board 107
recommends such technology, product or process, such agency shall 108
undertake a pilot test program in accordance with the provisions of 109
subsections (d) to (f), inclusive, of this section. 110
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section Substitute Bill No. 7018
LCO 5 of 5
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Subsec. (a)(3)(C), "the test program" was changed to "such pilot test
program" for consistency and in Subsec. (e) "such test program" was
changed to "such pilot test program" for consistency.
ET Joint Favorable Subst.