House Bill 5047 (sHB5047 File No. 595) introduces several changes to Connecticut state laws, affecting the operations of state agencies and programs. The bill requires the Connecticut Port Authority to submit quarterly reports on its activities, including grants, dredging, and marketing efforts, starting January 1, 2025. It also extends the deadline for the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to submit recommendations on creating a new entity for solid waste infrastructure from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025. The bill increases the maximum grant amount for the small town economic assistance program from $500,000 to $1 million per municipality or group of municipalities per fiscal year. It allows executive or judicial branch officers to designate an employee to serve on their behalf in various bodies and updates vacation and personal leave policies for full-time permanent state employees, including those in their initial working test period. The bill includes insertions and deletions to reflect these changes, such as the increased grant amounts and the expanded designation authority for officers.

Furthermore, the bill amends the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program, specifying fund disbursement for fiscal years ending June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025, and revises the state's contribution to the retirement fund, adopting a fifteen-year layered approach for amortizing unfunded liabilities starting in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The Retirement Commission must prepare a revised actuarial valuation by June 30, 2024. The bill also clarifies the definition of "gift" in the state ethics context, effective July 1, 2024. It outlines permissible gifts and benefits for public officials, state employees, and lobbyists, including a new provision allowing for travel expenses and other benefits to be provided to a public member of the Investment Advisory Council. The bill mandates a review of the state contracting process for service providers and nonprofit organizations, with a report due by January 1, 2025, and establishes a Higher Education Financial Oversight Committee to review the financial status of higher education institutions, with members serving without compensation but eligible for necessary expense reimbursement.

Statutes affected:
Governor's Bill: 15-31a, 15-31c, 15-31e, 15-31f, 15-31g, 15-15a, 15-15e, 5-250, 10-287c, 4-8
APP Joint Favorable Substitute: 4-9d, 5-250
File No. 595: 4-9d, 5-250