Committee Bill No. 5888 proposes updates to the statutes governing the Metropolitan District of Hartford County, with an effective date of July 1, 2023. The bill introduces gender-neutral language by replacing "his" with "his or her," and changes the board's powers from "shall have power to" to "may" regarding filling vacancies. It mandates annual audits by the Auditors of Public Accounts instead of the previous biennial audits and requires the submission of audit copies to the Office of Fiscal Analysis. The bill also clarifies the nature of bonds issued by the district, stating they are not state debts and are only payable from district funds, and requires the district board to set rates and charges to secure bond payments.

Furthermore, the bill redefines "audited agency" and "reporting agency" to exclude the Metropolitan District of Hartford County, aligning with the new audit requirements. It establishes a task force to review the district's organization, operations, and charter provisions, and to consider voting rights on water rates for nonmember municipalities' appointed board members, with a report due by January 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill mandates the adoption of a model code of ethics for the district's board of commissioners. The bill includes insertions of new legal language and deletions of previous language, indicating updates to the law, and is co-sponsored by several legislators.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 2-90, 7-391