Substitute House Bill No. 6887 aims to improve management and fiscal accountability within Connecticut's higher education system by requiring the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut to adopt or update policies related to purchasing cards, state vehicles, and residency requirements for certain executive positions by January 1, 2026. The bill mandates that these policies include guidelines for the use of purchasing cards, training for cardholders and supervisors, and accountability measures for misuse. Additionally, it stipulates that employment contracts for the chancellor and president must require them to maintain primary residency in the state. The bill also establishes an internal audit office within the Board of Regents to conduct regular audits and mandates the State Comptroller to perform randomized post-audit examinations of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.

The legislation repeals and replaces Section 10a-9b of the general statutes, emphasizing the necessity for constituent units to utilize the CORE-CT system for accounting and financial reporting. It requires each constituent unit to submit quarterly budget and expenditure data to the Comptroller to enhance fiscal transparency. The bill anticipates costs of at least $480,000 in FY 26 and $961,000 in FY 27 for staffing the new internal audit office, along with one-time costs of $76,000 for the State Comptroller to complete the post-audit examination. The effective date for the bill is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
HED Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 158: