The bill sHB5313 File No. 409 reestablishes the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee as a permanent standing committee of the General Assembly, effective July 1, 2024. The committee will consist of twelve members and will be responsible for conducting program reviews and investigations to assist the General Assembly. It will have the authority to direct staff to conduct reviews, recommend legislation, conduct investigations, retain consultants, originate bills, review audit reports, and report annually to the General Assembly. The bill also mandates that the Auditors of Public Accounts conduct biennial compliance audits of each quasi-public agency or contract the audits out, with the cost to be paid by the agency itself. Additionally, the bill includes insertions into existing law, such as requiring the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee to receive copies of audit reports and assess their compliance, and expanding the committee's powers to compel testimony and document production during investigations.

The bill also includes provisions that enhance transparency and accountability in the judicial system and the evaluation of state policies and programs related to children. It allows for certain judicial investigations to be open to public inspection and requires expedited handling of complaints against judges in their final year of term. The bill replaces a section of the general statutes to maintain an annual report card evaluating the progress of state policies and programs for children, with data disaggregated by various characteristics. The fiscal impact of re-establishing the PRI Committee is estimated at $1.2 million for FY 25 and FY 26, with additional fringe benefit costs. The bill also amends the law to allow the PRI Committee to request information from the Department of Children and Families and the Judicial Review Council, while maintaining confidentiality and exempting investigation records from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act until the investigation is complete. The Government Administration and Elections Committee passed the bill with a joint favorable outcome.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 1-122, 2-46, 2-47
GAE Joint Favorable: 1-122, 2-46, 2-47
File No. 409: 1-122, 2-46