Substitute House Bill No. 6887, also known as Public Act No. 25-71, establishes new management and fiscal accountability policies for higher education institutions in Connecticut, effective July 1, 2025. The Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut are required to adopt or update their policies by January 1, 2026. Key provisions include guidelines for the use of purchasing cards, state vehicles, and residency requirements for certain executive positions. Specifically, the chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and the president of The University of Connecticut must maintain their primary residence in the state. Additionally, uniform training for executives, administrators, and staff regarding business functions and compliance practices is mandated.

The bill also introduces the appointment of a compliance officer by the Board of Regents, tasked with conducting regular audits of records and expenditures to ensure compliance with laws and policies, as well as the reliability of financial reporting. Furthermore, it amends existing statutes regarding the maintenance of searchable online databases for state expenditures, expanding the scope to include expenditures from quasi-public agencies and constituent units of the state higher education system. The language changes include the insertion of terms related to higher education expenditures and the deletion of references to agency expenditures, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in financial management within the state's higher education framework.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
HED Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 158:
APP Joint Favorable:
File No. 980: 2-53l
Public Act No. 25-71: 2-53l