OLR Bill Analysis

SB 771

AN ACT CONCERNING THE GOVERNANCE OF THE CITIZEN'S ETHICS ADVISORY BOARD.

SUMMARY:

This bill (1) makes justices of the peace and notaries public eligible for Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board membership or employment and (2) requires two of the nine board members to serve a single, five-year term, thus changing how the terms are staggered.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

MEMBERSHIP

The law prohibits the board's employees and members from holding public office. The bill excludes justices of the peace and notaries public from the definition of “public office” as it applies to the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board, thus authorizing their membership on or employment by the board.

STAGGERED TERMS

With one exception the bill, like the law, prohibits Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board members from serving terms longer than four years. However, the bill requires the governor and the Senate president pro tempore to appoint one member each to serve a term commencing October 1, 2009 and expiring September 30, 2014. By implementing a single five-year term for two members, the bill ensures that no more than three terms expire in one year.

Under the bill, three terms expire in 2011 and two expire each of the next three years. Under current law, three terms expire in 2011, two in 2012, four in 2013, and none in 2014.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Government Administration and Elections Committee

Joint Favorable