Substitute House Bill No. 5487, Public Act No. 24-44, is a legislative act that revises the operations of the Office of the Claims Commissioner in Connecticut, effective July 1, 2024. The bill includes several insertions and deletions, such as changing the term "temporary deputies" to "special deputies" and increasing the threshold for certain claims from $35,000 to $50,000. It also allows for electronic submission of claims and requires claimants to update their contact information. The bill adds claims for damages not exceeding $50,000 to the list of privileged claims and grants special deputies the authority to issue subpoenas and make decisions on claims. It also sets a 90-day deadline for rendering decisions on claims after a hearing, with some exceptions.

The bill outlines the process for claimants to request the General Assembly to review decisions made by the Claims Commissioner or deputies, including the requirement to provide a written summary of the basis for review. It also specifies the powers of the Claims Commissioner and deputies, such as ordering payment of claims up to $35,000 and recommending larger claims to the General Assembly. The bill mandates reporting to the General Assembly on claims not resolved within two years and sets a 90-day deadline for decisions on claims pending for eighteen months. Additionally, it limits the state's opposition to claims to jurisdictional grounds or immunity defenses and details the process for authorizing suits against the state, including the role of the special deputy and the Attorney General.