CHAPTER 23e
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION

      Sec. 2-121. African-American Affairs Commission. Membership. Vacancies. Duties. Annual report. Staff. Authority. (a) There is established an African-American Affairs Commission. On and after October 5, 2009, the commission shall consist of twenty-one members.

      (1) With respect to members appointed prior to October 5, 2009, upon the occurrence of a vacancy or the expiration of the term of a member, whichever occurs first, such vacancy shall be filled as follows: (A) If the Governor appointed the member, such vacancy shall be filled by a joint appointment of the president pro tempore of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives; (B) if the president pro tempore of the Senate appointed the member, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the president pro tempore of the Senate; (C) if the majority leader of the Senate appointed the member, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the majority leader of the Senate; (D) if the minority leader of the Senate appointed the member, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the minority leader of the Senate; (E) if the speaker of the House of Representatives appointed the member, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the speaker of the House of Representatives; (F) if the majority leader of the House of Representatives appointed the member, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the majority leader of the House of Representatives; and (G) if the minority leader of the House of Representatives appointed the member, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

      (2) On or after October 5, 2009, eight additional members shall be appointed as follows: (A) The president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint one member from Windham County; (B) the majority leader of the Senate shall appoint two members, one from New Haven County and one from Litchfield County; (C) the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member from Fairfield County; (D) the speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member from Middlesex County; (E) the majority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members, one from Tolland County and one from Hartford County; and (F) the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member from New London County. In the event of a vacancy for any member appointed pursuant to this subdivision, such vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority and such appointed member shall be from the respective county.

      (3) Any member appointed on or after October 5, 2009, shall have experience in the field of African-American affairs by virtue of such person's status as an advocate or an academic, civic or cultural leader.

      (4) Any member appointed pursuant to this subsection shall serve for a term of two years from July first in the year of his or her appointment, except that the term of any member appointed pursuant to this subsection during the period from January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2010, inclusive, shall begin on the date of appointment and shall expire on June 30, 2012. The commission shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members who shall each serve in such capacity for a period of two years. Any person absent from (A) three consecutive meetings of the commission, or (B) fifty per cent of such meetings during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from the commission, effective immediately.

      (5) Vacancies on the commission shall be filled by the appointing authority. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. The commission shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the chairperson or a majority of the commission.

      (b) The commission shall:

      (1) Focus its efforts on the following quality of life desired results for the African-American population of the state: (A) That all members of the African-American population of the state are healthy; (B) that all members of the African-American population are safe; (C) that all members of the African-American population of the state achieve educational success; (D) that all members of the African-American population of the state are economically self-sufficient; and (E) that all members of the African-American population of the state are free from discrimination. The commission shall meet regularly to review matters pertaining to the achievement of the desired results described in subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, of this subdivision and, not later than January first, annually, shall submit a status report concerning such desired results to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of appropriations. The commission shall develop (i) appropriate population-level indicators of the state's progress in achieving such desired results, and (ii) strategies that are intended to improve progress on such indicators through a process that is inclusive of all relevant partners, including, but not limited to, state and local government agencies, the faith community, the business sector, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups and philanthropic organizations;

      (2) Make recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor for new or enhanced policies, programs and services that will foster progress in achieving the desired results described in subdivision (1) of this subsection;

      (3) Review and comment on any proposed state legislation or recommendations that may affect the African-American population of the state and provide copies of any such comments to members of the General Assembly;

      (4) Advise the General Assembly and Governor concerning the coordination and administration of state programs that affect the African-American population of the state;

      (5) Gather and maintain current information regarding the African-American population of the state that can be used to better understand the status, condition and contributions of such African-American population. Such information shall be included in the annual report described in subsection (c) of this section and shall be made available to legislators and other interested parties upon request;

      (6) Maintain a liaison between the African-American population of the state and government agencies, including the General Assembly; and

      (7) Conduct educational and outreach activities intended to raise awareness of critical issues for the African-American population of the state.

      (c) Not later than January first, annually, in accordance with section 11-4a, the commission shall submit a report to the General Assembly that: (1) Identifies the quality of life desired results described in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, (2) displays current trend data for the indicators related to each such desired result area, (3) identifies barriers to progress on such indicators, (4) identifies strategies developed pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, and (5) describes performance measures for the commission, including measures of research, education and outreach, and partnership development.

      (d) In carrying out its responsibility to make recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor on the need for legislation, policies, programs or services to improve the quality of life for members of the African-American population of the state, the commission shall have the assistance of staff, as described in subsection (f) of this section. Any such recommendations shall be provided solely with the approval of a majority of the members of the commission. A majority of the members of the commission shall be required to approve any specific advocacy before the General Assembly or any state agency.

      (e) The commission may: (1) Request, and shall receive, from any state agency such information and assistance as the commission may require; (2) use such funds as may be available from federal, state or other sources and may enter into contracts to carry out the purposes of this section; (3) utilize voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, state or federal agencies and organizations as may, from time to time, be offered and needed; (4) recommend policies to federal agencies and political subdivisions of the state relative to the African-American population of the state; (5) accept any gift, donation or bequest for the purpose of performing the duties described in subsection (b) of this section; (6) hold public hearings; (7) establish task forces, as necessary, to perform the duties described in subsection (b) of this section; (8) adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as it may deem necessary to carry out the duties described in subsection (b) of this section; and (9) inform leaders of business, education, state and local governments and the communications media of the nature and scope of the problems faced by the African-American population of the state, with a view to enlisting such persons' support in working toward solving such problems.

      (f) There shall be an executive director of the African-American Affairs Commission. The executive director and any necessary staff shall be employed by the Joint Standing Committee on Legislative Management. The commission shall have no authority over staffing or personnel matters.

      (g) The commission shall be part of the Legislative Department.

      (h) The commission may enter into any agreement with a state agency for the purpose of maximizing the receipt of federal funds by such state agency, provided such state agency shall utilize any federal funds received as a result of such agreement to perform those statutory duties of such agency that relate to such commission's duties. The commission may accept that portion of federal funds received by any such state agency as a result of any such agreement which federal law otherwise permits to be received by such commission.

      (June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-11, S. 24, 65; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 144; P.A. 10-1, S. 3.)

      History: June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-11, effective July 1, 1997; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (a) to increase number of members of commission after October 5, 2009, from 13 to 21 and replace former provisions with new Subdivs. (1) re filling of vacancies on commission after expiration of terms of members appointed prior to October 5, 2009, (2) re appointment of eight additional members on or after October 5, 2009, (3) re requisite experience for members appointed on or after October 5, 2009, (4) re term for members, selection of chairperson and vice-chairperson, and absence of members from 3 consecutive meetings of commission or 50% of such meetings during any calendar year, and (5) re vacancies on commission, compensation and number of meetings of commission, amended Subsec. (b) to replace former provisions with new Subdivs. (1) re duties focusing on quality of life results, meeting regularly concerning achievement of desired results, submitting annual status report concerning desired results, developing appropriate population-level indicators of state's progress in achieving desired results and strategies to improve progress on indicators, (2) re making recommendations for new programs to achieve desired results, (3) re reviewing and commenting on proposed legislation, (4) re advising General Assembly and Governor concerning administration of programs, (5) re gathering and maintaining population specific information, (6) re maintaining liaison between population served and government agencies, and (7) re conducting educational and outreach activities, added new Subsec. (c) re content of annual report to General Assembly, added new Subsec. (d) re assistance of staff, making of recommendations to General Assembly and advocacy before General Assembly, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (e) and amended same to add Subdivs. (1) re authority of commission to request and receive information from state agencies, (3) re authority to utilize voluntary and uncompensated services, (4) re authority to recommend policies to federal agencies and political subdivisions of state, (5) re authority to accept gifts, donations or bequests, (6) re authority to hold public hearings, (7) re authority to establish task forces, (8) re authority to adopt regulations, and (9) re authority to inform leaders of nature and scope of problems faced by population served, deleted former Subsec. (d), added Subsec. (f) re executive director of commission and commission's authority over staffing or personnel matters, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (g) and added Subsec. (h) re authority to enter agreements with state agencies for purpose of maximizing receipt of federal funds by agency, effective October 5, 2009; P.A. 10-1 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change in Subdiv. (2) and to add exception to standard 2-year term of members for appointments made from January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2010, in Subdiv. (4), effective February 4, 2010.