File No. 237

House of Representatives, March 27, 2013

The Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement reported through REP. WILLIS of the 64th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE BOARD OF REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 10a-1b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) [The Governor shall appoint an interim president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education who shall serve as president until a successor is appointed and confirmed. On or after January 1, 2012, the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall be recommended by the board and appointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, with the powers and duties prescribed by said sections. The president] The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall appoint a president who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall (1) have the [responsibility for implementing] authority to implement the policies, [and] directives and rules of the board and any additional responsibilities as the board may prescribe, (2) implement the goals identified and recommendations made pursuant to section 10a-11b, (3) build interdependent support among the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College, (4) balance central authority with institutional differentiation, autonomy and creativity, and (5) facilitate cooperation and synergy among the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College. Said president may designate an alternate to serve as a member of any commission, foundation or committee upon which the general statutes require said president to serve. Such designee may vote on behalf of said president. There shall be an executive staff responsible for the operation of the Board of Regents for Higher Education. The executive staff shall be under the direction of the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, who shall be the chief executive officer of the Board of Regents for Higher Education. [and shall administer, coordinate and supervise the activities of the board in accordance with the policies established by the board.]

(b) The president may employ staff as is deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, temporary assistants and consultants. The board shall establish terms and conditions of employment of its president and staff, prescribe their duties and fix the compensation of its president and professional and technical personnel.

(c) Upon recommendation of the president, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall appoint a vice-president for each constituent unit with such duties and responsibilities as the board and president shall prescribe, so that each constituent unit fulfills its mission. Such duties shall include, but not be limited to, oversight of academic programs, student support services and institutional support.

Sec. 2. Section 4-5 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

As used in sections 4-6, 4-7 and 4-8, the term "department head" means Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, Commissioner of Administrative Services, Commissioner of Revenue Services, Banking Commissioner, Commissioner of Children and Families, Commissioner of Construction Services, Commissioner of Consumer Protection, Commissioner of Correction, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, State Board of Education, Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Public Health, Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Liquor Control Commission, Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Commissioner of Social Services, Commissioner of Developmental Services, Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, Commissioner of Transportation, Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs, Commissioner of Housing, Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services and the executive director of the Office of Military Affairs. As used in sections 4-6 and 4-7, "department head" also means the Commissioner of Education. [and the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education.]

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst's professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.


OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

Changing the appointing authority for the President of the Board of Regents results in no fiscal impact as it is procedural in nature.

The Out Years

State Impact: None

Municipal Impact: None

OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 6648

AN ACT CONCERNING THE BOARD OF REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires that the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) be appointed by the board, eliminating (1) the governor's responsibility to appoint the president upon the board's recommendation and (2) legislative confirmation of the appointee.

Under current law, the president serves at the governor's pleasure, but no later than March 1 in the year following a gubernatorial election (unless reappointed). The bill instead requires the president to serve at the board's pleasure, without a term limit. It requires BOR to establish the president's terms and conditions of employment, prescribe his or her duties, and fix his or her compensation.

The bill requires the president to implement the board's rules, not just its policies and directives as current law requires. It eliminates a requirement that the president administer, coordinate, and supervise the board's activities.

Lastly, the bill makes technical changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

COMMITTEE ACTION

Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute