CHAPTER 812*
COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

      Sec. 46a-1. Commission on the Status of Women. There is established a Permanent Commission on the Status of Women consisting of seventeen persons as follows: The cochairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to civil and human rights and the ranking minority representative and senator on said committee; five persons appointed by the Governor, including a professor of law from each of two law schools in the state and three women, who have demonstrated a competency in women's issues; four members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives and four members appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate.

      (P.A. 73-559, S. 1, 9; P.A. 79-31, S. 6, 17; 79-631, S. 50, 111.)

      History: P.A. 79-31 substituted "cochairpersons" for "cochairmen" and changed formal designation of committee from "joint standing committee on human rights and opportunities" to "joint standing committee ... having cognizance of matters relating to civil and human rights"; P.A. 79-631 made technical correction.

      Sec. 46a-2. Appointment and terms of members. Expenses. (a) The Governor shall appoint on or before July 1, 1973, one member for a term of one year, one member for a term of two years, one member for a term of three years, one member for a term of four years and one member for a term of five years. Thereafter he shall appoint members to succeed those whose terms expire for terms of five years and until successors are appointed.

      (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint on or before July 1, 1973, one member for a term of two years, one member for a term of three years, one member for a term of four years and one member for a term of five years. Thereafter he shall appoint members to succeed those whose terms expire for a term of five years and until successors are appointed.

      (c) The president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint, on or before July 1, 1973, one member for a term of two years, one member for a term of three years, one member for a term of four years and one member for a term of five years. Thereafter he shall appoint members to succeed those whose terms expire for a term of five years and until successors are appointed.

      (d) Vacancies in the appointed membership of the commission shall be filled by the original appointing authority for the balance of the unexpired term.

      (e) The members shall elect from among their number a chairman and a vice chairman.

      (f) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for any necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

      (P.A. 73-599, S. 2, 9.)

      Sec. 46a-3. Review of statutes. Report of findings and recommendations. The commission shall review the general statutes with regard to sex discrimination and shall make a report of its findings with specific recommendations for legislation to the General Assembly by February 15, 1974.

      (P.A. 73-559, S. 3, 9.)

      Sec. 46a-4. Duties generally. Annual report. The commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning women and in furtherance of that responsibility shall: (a) Inform leaders of business, education, state and local governments and the communications media of the nature and scope of the problem of sex discrimination, with a view to enlisting their support in working toward improvement; (b) serve as a liaison between government and private interest groups concerned with services for women; (c) promote consideration of qualified women for all levels of government positions; (d) oversee coordination and assess programs and practices in all state agencies as they affect women. The commission shall annually by February fifteenth, report to the Governor and the General Assembly the results of its findings of the preceding year with its recommendations for the removal of such injustices as it may find to exist.

      (P.A. 73-559, S. 4, 9.)

      History: (Revisor's note: In 1995 a reference to "February fifteen" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "February fifteenth" for consistency with statutory usage).

      Sec. 46a-4a. Collection of information on job-sharing. Distribution. Section 46a-4a is repealed, effective October 1, 2002.

      (P.A. 84-14; S.A. 02-12, S. 1.)

      Sec. 46a-4b. Training program on trafficking in persons. The Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, in conjunction with the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, shall develop a training program on trafficking in persons and make such training program available, upon request, to the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, the office of the Chief State's Attorney, local police departments and community organizations.

      (P.A. 06-43, S. 6.)

      History: P.A. 06-43 effective July 1, 2006.

      Sec. 46a-5. Powers. Issuance of subpoenas. Regulations. The powers of the commission shall include but not be limited to the following: (a) To utilize such voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may from time to time be offered and needed; (b) to recommend policies and make recommendations to agencies and officers of the state and local subdivisions of government to effectuate the policies of sections 46a-1 to 46a-6, inclusive; (c) to acquire on a contractual or other basis such necessary, legal, technical, secretarial and administrative services as it may require for the discharge of its duties; (d) to establish and maintain such offices as it may deem necessary; (e) to hold fact finding hearings, and pursuant to that subpoena witnesses and records, administer oaths and take the testimony of any persons under oath and require the production for examination of any books and papers relating to any matter under investigation or in question. The commission may, by regulation, establish a procedure for the issuance of subpoenas by individual commissioners. Refusal to obey a subpoena issued pursuant to this section shall constitute contempt punishable, upon the application of the authority issuing such subpoena, by the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford; (f) to receive and refer immediately to the State Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, complaints of sex discrimination; and (g) to promulgate such regulations as it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 46a-1 to 46a-6, inclusive.

      (P.A. 73-559, S. 5, 9; P.A. 78-280, S. 6, 127; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6.)

      History: P.A. 78-280 replaced "Hartford county" with "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain"; P.A. 88-230 replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995.

      Sec. 46a-6. Assistance from state agencies. Acceptance of funds. (a) The commission may request and shall receive from all state agencies such information and assistance as the commission may require.

      (b) The commission may accept any gifts, donations or bequests or any federal funds for any of the purposes of sections 46a-1 to 46a-6, inclusive.

      (P.A. 73-559, S. 6, 7, 9.)