Sec. 32-180. Connecticut-Israel Exchange Commission. Membership. Organization. (a) There is established the Connecticut-Israel Exchange Commission. The
commission shall be within the Department of Economic and Community Development
for the purpose of promoting and expanding economic, scientific, educational, technological, commercial, industrial and cultural cooperation and exchange between the state
of Connecticut and the state of Israel.
(b) The Connecticut-Israel Exchange Commission shall be comprised of: (1) The
Governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president pro tempore of
the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of
the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of
the Senate, or their designees, and the cochairmen and ranking members of the joint
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to
economic development and education; (2) the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or his designee; (3) two public members appointed by the Governor;
and (4) two members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, two
members appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, two members appointed
by the minority leader of the House of Representatives and two members appointed by
the minority leader of the Senate. Of the members appointed under subdivision (4) of
this subsection, each appointing authority shall appoint one member from the public
and one member from the General Assembly. The Governor shall appoint from among
the members of the commission a chairperson who shall serve in that capacity at the
pleasure of the Governor.
(c) The first appointments shall be made on or before July 1, 1988. The term of
each appointed member shall be coterminous with the appointing authority or until a
successor is chosen, whichever is longer. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing
authority.
(d) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services
but shall be reimbursed for any reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(e) The commission shall organize itself in such manner as it deems desirable and
necessary. Seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting shall be necessary to take
any action or adopt any motion or resolution.
(P.A. 88-209, S. 1, 4; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6.)
History: P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development.
Sec. 32-181. Powers and functions. The commission shall have the following
powers and functions:
(1) To request and obtain from any department, board, commission or other agency
of the state or of any municipality, authority or other political subdivision within the
state such assistance and data as will enable it to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
(2) To accept any federal funds granted for all or any of the purposes of this chapter;
(3) To accept any gifts, donations, bequests or grants of funds from private and
public agencies for all or any of the purposes of this chapter;
(4) To create committees necessary for the performance of responsibilities pursuant
to this chapter and to appoint members thereto;
(5) To work with representatives from the state of Israel in forming a counterpart
to the commission in the state of Israel;
(6) To work with its counterpart organization in the state of Israel and with the
business, financial and academic communities in the state to encourage and schedule
visits, conferences and exchanges between the state and the state of Israel concerning
industrial development, commerce and trade, culture, science and technology, medicine
and health care research and education; and
(7) To perform such other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to promote
mutual prosperity, development and understanding between the state of Connecticut
and the state of Israel.
(P.A. 88-209, S. 2, 4.)
Sec. 32-182. Assistance from the Department of Economic and Community
Development. Contributions from private agencies. The Department of Economic
and Community Development may provide the necessary personnel and resources as
provided in this section to help the commission perform its tasks in accordance with
the provisions of this chapter. If the commission receives monetary contributions or
contributions of in-kind resources from private agencies during any state fiscal year,
the department shall allocate an amount of money to the commission equal to one-third
of the total value of all such contributions and resources provided such allocation does
not exceed seventy thousand dollars in any state fiscal year. In addition, the department
may continue to provide the in-kind resources to the commission which it is providing
on July 1, 1998. Any such contributions, allocations and resources shall be used by the
commission to establish an office to develop strategic business relationships between
Connecticut and Israeli businesses.
(P.A. 88-209, S. 3, 4; P.A. 93-140, S. 2, 3; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 98-203, S. 11, 13.)
History: P.A. 93-140 allowed, instead of required, department to provide personnel and resources to commission,
required department to match contributions and stipulated purpose for contributions and matching resources, effective
July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with
Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 98-203 made the allocation of funds to
the commission mandatory and authorized additional in-kind assistance, effective July 1, 1998.