Senate Bill No. 259, reported by the Committee on Government Administration and Elections, aims to amend the state's ethics code concerning contracts with quasi-public agencies. The bill proposes to extend the existing prohibition on public officials, state employees, and their immediate family members or associated businesses from entering into contracts valued at $100 or more with the state to also include quasi-public agencies. This prohibition is already in place for contracts with state agencies, with certain exceptions. The bill stipulates that such contracts with quasi-public agencies must be awarded through an open and public process, which includes prior public offer and subsequent public disclosure of all proposals considered and the contract awarded, or according to a court appointment. The bill also specifies that the superintendent of the Technical Education and Career System must establish an open and transparent process to review any contract entered into under certain educational exceptions. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2024, and amends subsection (i) of section 1-84 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes.

The fiscal impact statement and bill analysis clarify that there is no expected fiscal impact on the state or municipalities as a result of this bill. The bill simply extends the prohibition on certain contracts to include quasi-public agencies, ensuring that public officials and state employees, along with their immediate family members and associated businesses, cannot enter into contracts with these agencies unless they follow the specified open and public process. The bill has received a joint favorable vote from the Government Administration and Elections Committee.