Statutory Mandate

CHAPTER 812

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

Table of Contents

Sec. 46a-1. Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. Membership. Terms. Vacancies. Executive director. Personnel.

Sec. 46a-2. Appointment and terms of members. Expenses.

Sec. 46a-3. Review of statutes. Report of findings and recommendations.

Sec. 46a-4. Duties generally. Annual report. Staff. Recommendations and advocacy.

Sec. 46a-5. Authority generally.

Sec. 46a-6. Assistance from state agencies. Acceptance of funds.

________________________________________

Sec. 46a-1. Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. Membership. Terms. Vacancies. Executive director. Personnel. (a) There is established a Permanent Commission on the Status of Women consisting 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 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; (D) if the member served by virtue of such member’s status as a member of the General Assembly, such vacancy shall be filled as follows: (i) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member from the southeastern region of the state; (ii) the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member from the southwestern region of the state; (iii) the majority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member from the northeastern region of the state; (iv) the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member from the northwestern region of the state. In the event of a vacancy for any member appointed pursuant to subparagraph (D) of this subdivision, such vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority and such appointment shall be from the respective region of the state.

(2) On or after October 5, 2009, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one additional member to the commission.

(3) Any member appointed on or after October 5, 2009, shall have experience in the field of issues affecting women 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. 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) There shall be an executive director of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. 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.

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

(P.A. 73-559, S. 1, 9; P.A. 79-31, S. 6, 17; 79-631, S. 50, 111; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 147.)

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; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to eliminate reference to initial appointees of commission, increase number of members of commission after October 5, 2009, from 17 to 21 and add Subdiv. (1) re filling of vacancies on commission after expiration of terms of members appointed prior to October 5, 2009, Subdiv. (2) re appointment of 4 additional members after October 5, 2009, Subdiv. (3) re requisite experience for members appointed on or after October 5, 2009, Subdiv. (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 Subdiv. (5) re vacancies on commission, compensation and frequency of meetings of commission, added Subsec. (b) re executive director of commission and commission’s lack of authority over staffing or personnel matters and added Subsec. (c) re commission as part of Legislative Department, effective October 5, 2009.

Sec. 46a-2. Appointment and terms of members. Expenses. Section 46a-2 is repealed, effective October 5, 2009.

(P.A. 73-599, S. 2, 9; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 190.)

Sec. 46a-3. Review of statutes. Report of findings and recommendations. Section 46a-3 is repealed, effective October 5, 2009.

(P.A. 73-559, S. 3, 9; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 190.)

Sec. 46a-4. Duties generally. Annual report. Staff. Recommendations and advocacy. (a) The commission shall:

(1) Focus its efforts on the following quality of life desired results for women of the state: (A) That all women of the state are healthy; (B) that all women of the state are safe; (C) that all women of the state achieve educational success; (D) that all women of the state are economically self-sufficient; and (E) that all women 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 women 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 women of the state;

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

(6) Maintain a liaison between the women of the state and government agencies, including the General Assembly;

(7) Conduct educational and outreach activities intended to raise awareness of critical issues for women of the state; and

(8) Promote consideration of qualified women for all levels of leadership positions.

(b) 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 (a) 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 (a) of this section, and (5) describes performance measures for the commission, including measures of research, education and outreach, and partnership development.

(c) 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 the women of the state, the commission shall have the assistance of staff, as described in subsection (b) of section 46a-1. 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.

(P.A. 73-559, S. 4, 9; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 148.)

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); Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to delete former duties of commission and add Subdiv. (1) re 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, Subdiv. (2) re making recommendations for new programs to achieve desired results, Subdiv. (3) re reviewing and commenting on proposed legislation, Subdiv. (4) re advising General Assembly and Governor re administration of certain programs, Subdiv. (5) re gathering and maintaining certain population specific information, Subdiv. (6) re maintaining liaison between women and government agencies, Subdiv. (7) re conducting educational and outreach activities, and Subdiv. (8) re promoting consideration of women for all levels of leadership positions, added Subsec. (b) re content of annual report to General Assembly, and added Subsec. (c) re assistance of staff and making of recommendations to and advocacy before General Assembly, effective October 5, 2009 (Revisor’s note: In Subsec. (a), the word “and” following Subdiv. (6) was repositioned editorially by the Revisors following Subdiv. (7) for clarity).

Sec. 46a-5. Authority generally. (a) 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 section 46a-4; (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 women of the state; (5) accept any gift, donation or bequest for the purpose of performing the duties described in section 46a-4; (6) hold public hearings; (7) establish task forces, as necessary, to perform the duties described in section 46a-4; (8) adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as it may deem necessary to carry out the duties described in section 46a-4; (9) inform leaders of business, education, state and local governments and the communications media of the nature and scope of the problems faced by women of the state, with a view to enlisting such persons’ support in working toward solving such problems; (10) receive and refer to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities complaints of sex discrimination; and (11) 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.

(b) 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.

(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; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 149.)

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; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to delete former duties of commission and add Subdiv. (1) re request and receipt of information from state agencies, Subdiv. (2) re use of funds and contracts, Subdiv. (3) re use of voluntary and uncompensated services, Subdiv. (4) re recommendation of policies, Subdiv. (5) re acceptance of gifts, donations or bequests, Subdiv. (6) re public hearings, Subdiv. (7) re task forces, Subdiv. (8) re regulations, Subdiv. (9) re informing leaders of nature and scope of problems faced by women, Subdiv. (10) re complaints of sex discrimination and Subdiv. (11) re fact finding hearings and subpoenas, and added Subsec. (b) re authority to enter agreements with state agencies for the purpose of maximizing receipt of federal funds by such agency, effective October 5, 2009.

Sec. 46a-6. Assistance from state agencies. Acceptance of funds. Section 46a-6 is repealed, effective October 5, 2009.

(P.A. 73-559, S. 6, 7, 9; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 190.)