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CHAPTER 16*
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
*See Sec. 5-259 re hospitalization and medical and surgical insurance.
Table of Contents
Sec. 2-1. Regular sessions; organization.
Sec. 2-1a. Adoption of rules and regulations.
Sec. 2-1b. Unlawful interference with the General Assembly; injunctive relief.
Sec. 2-1c. Contempt of the General Assembly; penalty.
Sec. 2-1d. Interference with the General Assembly; misdemeanor.
Sec. 2-1e. Interference with the legislative process; firearms; dangerous or deadly weapons; explosives; felony.
Sec. 2-1f. Office of State Capitol Police.
Sec. 2-1g. Indemnification of legislative personnel.
Sec. 2-1h. Compensatory time for permanent full-time employees.
Sec. 2-2. Election by illegal practices.
Sec. 2-3. Allowance to contestants.
Sec. 2-3a. Employer not to discriminate against candidates for, members-elect of or members of the General Assembly.
Sec. 2-3b. Members not eligible for unemployment compensation during regular session.
Sec. 2-4. Joint convention to elect state officers.
Sec. 2-5. Holding of office by members of the General Assembly.
Sec. 2-6. Convening of sessions by action of members.
Sec. 2-7. Notice of special and reconvened sessions.
Sec. 2-8. Salary and expenses of members and officers of the General Assembly.
Sec. 2-8a. Compensation for interim committees and study commissions.
Secs. 2-8b to 2-8p. General Assembly pension system.
Sec. 2-8q. General Assembly Pension Fund abolished. Moneys transferred to State Employees Retirement Fund.
Sec. 2-8r. Options of General Assembly members and former members re participation in state employees retirement system.
Sec. 2-9. Salary and transportation allowance for General Assembly officers and employees.
Sec. 2-9a. Compensation Commission for Elected State Officers and Judges.
Sec. 2-9b. Compensation increases to be approved by Federal Pay Board.
Sec. 2-10. Clerks' office; assistants; records; duties.
Sec. 2-11. Stenographers for General Assembly committees.
Sec. 2-12. Bonus to employees of General Assembly prohibited.
Sec. 2-12a. Temporary legislative employees, reduction of salary for absence.
Sec. 2-13. Records of legislative proceedings. Legislative record index.
Sec. 2-14. Initiation of local legislation in General Assembly.
Sec. 2-14a. Legislation affecting municipal retirement systems.
Sec. 2-15. Transportation allowance for General Assembly members and members-elect.
Sec. 2-15a. Annual informational mailing by General Assembly members.
Sec. 2-16. Members as attorneys before the General Assembly.
Sec. 2-16a. Restriction on former members becoming lobbyists.
Sec. 2-17. Presession introduction of bills.
Sec. 2-18. Form of bills amending statutes and resolutions amending Constitution; ballot designation of proposed constitutional amendments.
Sec. 2-19. Preliminary printing and franchise fees for special charters. Engrossing fees.
Sec. 2-20. Certain charters granted only on petition.
Sec. 2-20a. Bills seeking incorporation and franchise for water companies.
Sec. 2-21. Notice of claims against the state.
Sec. 2-22. Numbering of bills and joint resolutions.
Sec. 2-23. Copies of bills, resolutions, calendars, journals and other legislative publications. Furnishing of publications to public and municipalities.
Sec. 2-23a. Alkaline paper for legislative documents.
Sec. 2-24. Style of printing bills; endorsements; file number; fiscal note.
Sec. 2-24a. Fiscal note required for action upon bill.
Sec. 2-25. Printing to be done at one establishment.
Sec. 2-26. Printing of bills prior to passage.
Sec. 2-27. Printing and distribution of file bills.
Sec. 2-27a. Fiscal review of bills.
Sec. 2-27b. Review of bond acts.
Sec. 2-28. Time limit on favorable reports of bills. Submission to Legislative Commissioners' Office. Action upon bills not in the files.
Sec. 2-29. Engrossing of bills and amendments; correction of errors after passage. Presentation to the Governor.
Sec. 2-30. Engrossing bills after adjournment. Vetoed bills.
Sec. 2-30a. Explanatory texts concerning proposed constitutional amendments; preparation, approval, printing, distribution, posting at polls.
Sec. 2-30b. Construction of multiple amendments.
Sec. 2-31. Numbering of public and special acts.
Sec. 2-32. Effective date of public and special acts.
Sec. 2-32a. Effective date of public acts imposing state mandate.
Sec. 2-32b. State mandates to local governments. Definitions. Cost estimate required. Procedures re bills creating or enlarging mandates.
Sec. 2-32c. Submission to General Assembly of list of state mandates.
Sec. 2-33. Specific appropriations. Recurring appropriations.
Sec. 2-33a. Limitation on expenditures authorized by General Assembly.
Sec. 2-34. Title of appropriation bills.
Sec. 2-35. Requirements for appropriation bills and acts. Report of revised revenue estimates required.
Sec. 2-35a. Government organization and reorganization.
Sec. 2-35b. Legislative involvement in Job Training Partnership Act. Recommendations. Reports from Governor.
Sec. 2-35c. Funds appropriated to Judicial Department for specified purposes included in current expense account.
Sec. 2-36. Deficiency bills.
Sec. 2-36a. Legislative committee to meet re potential deficiency in state agency appropriated account.
Sec. 2-37. Contingent expenses of General Assembly.
Sec. 2-38. Bills in behalf of teachers and public employees.
Sec. 2-39. Time within which Senate shall act on nominations.
Sec. 2-40. Nomination of judges. Action by the judiciary committee.
Sec. 2-40a. Disclosure of performance evaluations of judges.
Sec. 2-41. Nomination of judges of municipal courts.
Sec. 2-42. Appointment of judges.
Sec. 2-43. When further nomination required.
Sec. 2-44. Withdrawal of nomination by Governor.
Sec. 2-44a. Notice of appointments by president pro tempore, speaker or minority leaders. Vacancies; notice by chairman.
Sec. 2-45. Legislative appearances.
Sec. 2-46. Investigations by the General Assembly and Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee; procedure. Witness' rights.
Sec. 2-47. Witness not privileged.
Sec. 2-48. Prosecution of witness.
Sec. 2-49. Preparation, printing and distribution of assembly journals.
Sec. 2-50. Legislative identification plates.
Sec. 2-50a. Motor vehicle number plates for legislators.
Sec. 2-51. Admittance to floor of House and Senate.
Sec. 2-52. Display of United States and state flags at sessions of the General Assembly.
Sec. 2-53. Faith and credit of acts passed by General Assembly.
Secs. 2-53a to 2-53c. Legislative Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
Sec. 2-53d. "Program review" and "investigation" defined.
Sec. 2-53e. Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee.
Sec. 2-53f. Meetings of committee.
Sec. 2-53g. Duties.
Sec. 2-53h. Corrective action by agency officials. Report to General Assembly.
Sec. 2-53i. Studies by committee.
Sec. 2-53j. Reports.
Sec. 2-53k. Energy management program compliance review; report and recommendations.
There shall be a regular session of the
General Assembly held at Hartford in each year. In the odd-numbered years, such session
shall commence on the Wednesday following the first Monday of January. The Senate
and House of Representatives, when any such session is to be held, shall convene at
their respective chambers in the Capitol on the day named, at ten o'clock in the forenoon,
when the secretary shall call the Senate to order and administer the official oath to the
senators present. The speaker of the preceding House of Representatives shall, at the
same hour, call the House of Representatives to order and administer the official oath
to the members present. In the absence of such speaker, the House of Representatives
shall be called to order and said oath administered by the member present who was the
senior member of any previous House of Representatives. The secretary, and the person
calling the House of Representatives to order, shall have the powers of the president of
the Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively, until said officers
have been elected. In the even-numbered years, such session shall commence on the
Wednesday following the first Monday of February on which day the Senate and House
of Representatives shall convene at their respective chambers in the Capitol at ten
o'clock in the forenoon.
(1949 Rev., S. 1; 1972, P.A. 76.)
History: 1972 act provided for annual sessions of general assembly and established opening dates for odd and even-
year sessions.
(a) Each house of the General Assembly shall have the power to adopt rules for the orderly conduct of its affairs and to
preserve and protect the health, safety and welfare of its members, officers and employees in the performance of their official duties, as well as that of the general public
in connection therewith, and to preserve and protect property and records under the
jurisdiction of the General Assembly, consistent with public convenience and the public's rights of freedom of expression, to peaceably assemble and petition government.
(b) In lieu of or in addition to the adoption of such rules each house may authorize
its presiding officer to promulgate regulations for any or all such purposes.
(c) Rules or regulations may be adopted with respect to the following matters,
among others, without limitation by reason of such specification: (1) Regulating admission to the legislative chambers, galleries, lobbies, offices and other areas of the buildings wherein they are located which provide access thereto; (2) limiting the size of
groups of persons permitted within such areas, for reasons of health and safety and in
case of fire or other emergency; (3) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of signs,
banners, placards or other display materials into any such areas, or possessing them
therein, without proper authorization; (4) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of radio
or television equipment, recording equipment, sound-making or amplifying equipment
and photographic equipment into any such areas, or possessing them therein, without
proper authorization; (5) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of packages, bags, baggage or briefcases into any such areas, or possessing them therein, without proper authorization; (6) establishing rules of conduct for visitors to the galleries; (7) authorizing
the clearing of the public from the chambers, lobbies and galleries, or from any room
in which a public legislative hearing or meeting is being conducted, in the event of any
disturbance therein which disrupts legislative proceedings or endangers any member,
officer or employee of the General Assembly or the general public, except that duly
accredited representatives of the news media not participating in any such disturbance
shall be permitted to remain therein. The closing of such areas to the public shall continue
only so long as necessary to avoid disruption of the legislative proceedings or to preserve
and protect the safety of the members, officers or employees of the General Assembly or
the general public; (8) authorizing the construction of safety barriers and other protective
measures for the galleries and other areas under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly
and the acquisition of security equipment, all from the funds made available therefor;
(9) protecting the records and property of the General Assembly from unlawful damage
or destruction; (10) any and all other matters which may be necessary or appropriate to
the orderly conduct of the affairs of the General Assembly and the protection of the
health, safety and welfare of the members, officers and employees of the General Assembly and the general public in connection therewith.
(d) In lieu of or in addition to the adoption of separate rules each house may adopt
joint rules applicable to both houses.
(e) In lieu of or in addition to the promulgation of separate regulations the presiding
officers of each house may promulgate joint regulations applicable to both houses.
(f) All such rules of the General Assembly or either house and regulations of the
presiding officer of each house shall be filed in the offices of the clerks thereof and a
copy of such rules and regulations shall be made available to any person upon request,
without charge.
(g) Such rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of law and the violation
of any such rule or regulation shall constitute an offense punishable by imprisonment
for not more than thirty days, a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or both.
(P.A. 73-516, S. 5.)
Cited. 11 CA 342, 345.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 232 C. 345, 388.
(a) If the presiding officer of either house of the General Assembly has reasonable
grounds to believe that any person or persons are then committing an unlawful act or
are about to do so, which act is interfering, or will interfere, with any proceedings or
other business of the General Assembly, either house thereof or any committee of the
General Assembly or either house thereof, he may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an order directing any person or persons to cease and desist from the commission of such unlawful act or restraining such person or persons from committing such
an act in the future.
(b) Such petition shall be verified and shall set forth the facts upon which it is
based. Either house may empower the presiding officer thereof to designate one or more
members or officers of such house to make such a petition on his behalf. Any such
designation shall be filed with the clerk of such house and, if a petition is made by any
person named in such designation, a certified copy of such designation shall be submitted
to the court, together with the petition.
(c) If a court to which such a petition is presented is satisfied that the petition sets
forth a prima facie case for the granting of the relief requested and that interference with
the proceedings or other business of the General Assembly may occur unless such relief
is granted, the court may forthwith grant a temporary injunction granting the relief
requested, in whole or in part, pending the ultimate determination of the matter after
due notice and hearing. A copy of such temporary order and of the petition upon which
it is based, together with notice of the date and place of a hearing to be held thereon,
shall be given to such persons within such time and in such manner as the court shall
direct.
(d) Such temporary injunction and any preliminary or permanent injunction which
thereafter may be granted on the petition following a hearing thereon shall be enforceable
by contempt proceedings, or other enforcement proceedings, in the same manner as
other orders of such court.
(e) Except as otherwise specified herein, all of the provisions of law applicable to
the granting of injunctive relief by the court to which a petition hereunder is presented
shall apply to proceedings instituted under this section.
(P.A. 73-516, S. 6.)
Either house of the General Assembly may determine by majority vote that a person is guilty of contempt of
the General Assembly, after a hearing before an appropriate committee appointed by
the presiding officer at which the person shall be entitled to give evidence and be represented by counsel. Said house may refer such matter to the Chief State's Attorney.
Contempt of the General Assembly shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one
hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than six months or both.
(P.A. 73-516, S. 7.)
(a) A person
is guilty of interfering with the legislative process when he:
(1) Alone or in concert with others, either by force, physical interference, fraud,
intimidation or by means of any unlawful act, with intent to do so, prevents or attempts
to prevent the General Assembly, either house thereof, or any committee of the General
Assembly or either house thereof, from meeting;
(2) Alone or in concert with others, with intent to do so, disturbs, disrupts or interferes with, or attempts to disturb, disrupt or interfere with, any session, meeting or
proceeding of the General Assembly or either house thereof or any committee of the
General Assembly or either house thereof, whether within or outside the presence of
said General Assembly, either house thereof or any such committee by (A) engaging
in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior; or (B) using abusive or obscene language
or making an obscene gesture; or (C) making unreasonable noise; or (D) refusing to
comply with a lawful order of the police or a member of the Office of State Capitol
Police to disperse; or (E) performing any other act which disturbs, disrupts or interferes
with any such session, meeting or proceeding;
(3) Alone or in concert with others, without legal authority takes, obtains, withholds,
destroys, defaces or alters any official document or record of the General Assembly,
either house thereof or any committee of the General Assembly, or either house thereof,
which disrupts or interferes with the functioning of said General Assembly or committee
or either house thereof;
(4) Alone or in concert with others, and without legal authority, takes, obtains,
withholds, destroys or defaces any real or personal property owned or used by the General Assembly, either house thereof or any committee or agency of the General Assembly
or either house thereof;
(5) Alone or in concert with others, and without legal authority or proper authorization, refuses to leave any part of the chamber, galleries or offices of the General Assembly or either house thereof, or the building in which such chamber, galleries or any such
office is located, or within or upon any office or residence of any member of the General
Assembly, or within or upon any room or building in which a legislative hearing or
meeting is being conducted, upon a lawful order of the police or a member of the Office
of State Capitol Police to disperse, leave or move to an area he designates;
(6) Alone or in concert with others, pickets inside any building in which the chamber, galleries or offices of the General Assembly or either house thereof is located, or
in which the office or residence of any member of the General Assembly is located, or
in which a legislative hearing or meeting is being conducted.
(b) Interference with the legislative process under the provisions of this section is
a class A misdemeanor.
(P.A. 73-516, S. 1; P.A. 83-13, S. 1; P.A. 96-219, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 83-13 changed references to security officers to members of the office of state capitol security throughout
the section; P.A. 96-219 amended Subsecs. (a)(2) and (a)(5) by changing the name of the "Office of State Capitol Security"
to the "Office of State Capitol Police".
Cited. 228 C. 907. Cited. 232 C. 345, 348, 357, 377, 389. Cited. 242 C. 211.
Subsec. (a):
Subdiv. (2)(E) cited. 228 C. 907. Subdiv. (2)(C) cited. 232 C. 345352, 354, 355, 357, 359365, 370, 371, 373,
375377, 387, 390, 391. Subdiv. (2)(E): Section held constitutional; judgment of appellate court in State v. Linares, 32
CA 656, 674, reversed in part pertaining to this section. Id., 345352, 354, 355, 359363, 365, 370, 371, 375377,
387, 390, 391. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 345, 347, 348, 357, 359, 360, 373. Subdiv. (2)(A) cited. Id., 345, 348. Subdiv. (2)(B)
cited. Id. Subdiv. (2)(D) cited. Id. Cited. Id., 345, 356.
Subdiv. (2) cited. 32 CA 656, 657, 660, 662664; judgment reversed in part, see 232 C. 345 et seq. Subdiv (2)(E):
Section void for overbreadth; overbreadth and vagueness discussed. Id., 656658, 664, 666668, 672, 674. Subdiv.
(2)(C): Does not involve protected speech; overbreadth and vagueness discussed. Id., 656658, 664, 666, 668670, 672,
674. Subdiv (2)(B) cited Id., 656, 663. Cited. 656, 666, 672.
Sec. 2-1e. Interference with the legislative process; firearms; dangerous or
deadly weapons; explosives; felony. (a) A person is guilty of interfering with the legislative process when he, alone or in concert with others, either by force, physical interference, fraud, intimidation or by means of any independently unlawful act, prevents or
attempts to prevent any member, officer or employee of the General Assembly, either
house thereof or any committee of the General Assembly or either house thereof, from
performing any of his official functions, powers or duties.
(b) A person is guilty of coercing performance when he, alone or in concert with
others, either by force, physical interference, fraud, intimidation or by means of any
unlawful act, compels or induces any member, officer or employee of the General Assembly, either house thereof or any committee of the General Assembly or either house
thereof to perform any acts as a member, officer or employee against his will.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 29-35 and 53-206, (1) a person, other
than a state or local police officer, a member of the Office of State Capitol Police or a
police officer of any other state or of the federal government, who is carrying out official
duties in this state, or any person summoned by any such officer to assist in making
arrests or preserving the peace while he is actually engaged in assisting such officer,
while such officer is in the performance of his official duties or any member of the
armed forces of the United States, as defined by section 27-103, or of this state, as
defined by section 27-2, in the performance of official duties, or any veteran, as defined
by section 27-103, performing in uniform as a member of an official ceremonial unit,
is guilty of interfering with the legislative process when he, alone or in concert with
others, brings into, or possesses within, any building in which the chamber of either
house of the General Assembly is located or in which the official office of any member,
officer or employee of the General Assembly or the office of any committee of the
General Assembly or either house thereof is located or any building in which a committee
of the General Assembly is holding a public hearing, any weapon, whether loaded or
unloaded, from which a shot may be discharged, or a billy; and (2) any person is guilty
of interfering with the legislative process when he, alone or in concert with others, brings
into, or possesses within, any such building, a switchblade, gravity knife, blackjack,
bludgeon, metal knuckles or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, or
any explosive or incendiary or other dangerous device.
(d) The violation of any provision of this section is a class D felony.
(P.A. 73-516, S. 2; P.A. 82-264; P.A. 83-13, S. 2; P.A. 93-435, S. 25, 95; P.A. 96-219, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 82-264 expanded (1) prohibition against firearms to include any weapon from which a shot may be
discharged, a billy, switchblade, gravity knife, blackjack, bludgeon, metal knuckles or other dangerous weapon, or any
explosive or incendiary device, (2) exempt persons to include members of armed forces performing duties and veterans
performing ceremonies and (3) buildings subject to provisions to include those where general assembly committee is
holding public hearing; P.A. 83-13 changed a reference to "security officer" in Subsec. (c) to "member of the office of the
state capitol security"; P.A. 93-435 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 96-219 amended
Subsec. (c) by changing the name of the "Office of State Capitol Security" to the "Office of State Capitol Police".
(a) There is established an Office of
State Capitol Police within the Legislative Department which shall ensure the orderly
operation of the House and Senate, the joint standing committees thereof and the security
of the State Capitol building and grounds, the Legislative Office Building and parking
garage and related structures, grounds and parking facilities and other buildings, facilities and areas under the supervision and control of the Joint Committee on Legislative
Management.
(b) State Capitol police officers shall be certified as provided in section 7-294d,
shall have the same duties, responsibilities and authority under sections 7-281, 14-8 and
54-1f, and title 53a as members of a duly organized local police department and shall
have jurisdiction to act in the performance of their duties anywhere within the state.
(c) The joint committee may adopt rules regarding the organization, supervision
and operations of the Office of State Capitol Police, prescribing the qualifications, training and duties of the State Capitol police officers and all other matters relating to the
performance of their responsibilities.
(d) State Capitol police officers shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 67. The
provisions of part V of chapter 104 and section 7-433c shall not apply to such officers.
(e) The Office of State Capitol Police shall have access to, and use of, the Connecticut on-line law enforcement communications teleprocessing system without charge.
(P.A. 73-516, S. 3; P.A. 83-13, S. 3; P.A. 89-82, S. 1, 11; P.A. 96-219, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 83-13 created an office of state capitol security under the aegis of the joint committee on legislative
management, replacing provisions whereby house speaker and senate president pro tempore appointed security officers;
P.A. 89-82 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that areas to be secured include legislative office building and parking garage
and related structures, grounds and parking facilities and other buildings and facilities under supervision and control of
joint committee; P.A. 96-219 amended Subsec. (a) by changing the name of the "Office of State Capitol Security" to the
"Office of State Capitol Police", placing the office under the sole control of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management
and deleting reference to the chief security officer, amended Subsec. (b) by adding the provision that State Capitol police
officers shall have the same duties, responsibilities and authority under Secs. 7-281, 14-8 and 54-1f and title 53a as members
of local police departments, amended Subsec. (c) by deleting reference to the Commissioner of Public Safety, deleted
former Subsec. (d) re the submission of names of state police officers qualified to be chief security officer, added new
Subsec. (d) making State Capitol police officers subject to chapter 67 and providing that part V of chapter 104 shall not
apply to such officers and added new Subsec. (e) giving the office access to, and use of, the Connecticut on-line law
enforcement communications teleprocessing system without charge (Revisor's note: A reference in Subsec. (c) to the
"Office of State Capitol Security" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Office of State Capitol Police" for consistency
with customary statutory usage).
(a) The state shall save harmless and indemnify all members, officers and employees of the General Assembly, either
house thereof or committees of the General Assembly or either house thereof from
financial loss arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of alleged
negligence or other act by such member, officer or employee, provided such member,
officer or employee, at the time damages were sustained, was performing duties relating
to the maintenance of order in connection with the operation of the General Assembly,
either house thereof or any committee of the General Assembly or either house thereof,
or involving the security, health or safety of any member, officer or employee of the
General Assembly, either house thereof, or committee, or the general public, and provided such damage did not result from the wilful and wrongful act or gross negligence
of such member, officer or employee and provided such member, officer or employee
shall, within five days of the time he is served with any summons, complaint, process,
notice, demand or pleading, deliver the original or a copy thereof to the Attorney General.
(b) Upon such delivery the Attorney General may assume control of the representation of such member, officer or employee. Such member, officer or employee shall
cooperate fully with the Attorney General's defense.
(c) This section shall not in any way impair, limit or modify the rights or obligations
of any insurer under any policy of insurance.
(d) The benefits of this section shall inure only to such members, officers and employees and shall not enlarge or diminish the rights of any other party.
(e) The Joint Committee on Legislative Management may insure against the liability
of the state imposed by subsection (a) of this section utilizing funds in the General
Assembly budget therefor.
(P.A. 73-516, S. 4.)
To the extent that a permanent full-time employee of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management received one hour of compensatory time for each three hours of overtime worked
by such employee prior to January 3, 2001, such employee shall receive, on and after
January 3, 2001, one hour of compensatory time for each two hours of such overtime
worked by such employee.
(P.A. 00-231, S. 7, 10.)
History: P.A. 00-231 effective January 3, 2001.
Each person elected to either house of the
General Assembly by any illegal practice shall be incapable of holding his seat unless
he can show to the satisfaction of such house that he was not directly or indirectly
concerned in such illegal practice.
(1949 Rev., S. 47; 1953, S. 4d.)
No contestants for seats in either house of the
General Assembly shall be allowed more than one hundred dollars for attorney fees and
expenses, together with the legal fees of witnesses summoned with the approval of the
committee on contested elections.
(1949 Rev., S. 46.)
Cited. 23 CA 579, 583.
Sec. 2-3a. Employer not to discriminate against candidates for, members-elect
of or members of the General Assembly. (a) No employer of twenty-five or more
persons shall discriminate against, discipline or discharge any employee because such
employee (1) is a candidate for the office of representative or senator in the General
Assembly, (2) holds such office, (3) is a member-elect to such office, or (4) loses time
from work in order to perform duties as such representative, senator or member-elect,
provided the failure of such employer to pay wages or salaries for any such time lost
shall not be considered a violation of this section. Such employee shall solely determine
the activities which constitute duties as such representative, senator or member-elect,
as applicable, as provided in this section. No employee under this section shall lose any
seniority status which may have accrued to him and, where the function of such employee
is performed in work shifts, such employee shall be given a choice of shifts.
(b) Any employer violating the provisions of this section shall reinstate any employee so discriminated against, disciplined or discharged to his full status as an employee as of the date of such violation and shall pay him any wages withheld or diminished retroactive to the date of such violation. In addition, such employee may recover
costs and a reasonable attorney's fee in any action brought under this section. Any
employee nominated to such office shall, within thirty days following his nomination,
give written notice thereof to his employer.
(1959, P.A. 234, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 671, S. 1; P.A. 91-194; P.A. 97-74.)
History: 1971 act protected employee from loss of seniority and allowed him choice of work shifts when running for
general assembly seat or serving term as representative or senator; P.A. 91-194 added provision authorizing recovery of
costs and reasonable attorney's fee in any action brought under section; P.A. 97-74 divided section into Subsecs. (a) and
(b), clarified that members-elect are included within scope of statute, added provisions re employee determination of
activities which constitute duties as representative, senator or member-elect, and made technical changes.
Cited. 217 C. 490497.
No member of the General Assembly shall, during the regular session
of the General Assembly, be deemed to be available for work within the meaning of
subdivision (2) of section 31-235.
(1967, P.A. 245, S. 1.)
When the Senate and House of
Representatives join in convention for the election of any state officer, the roll of each
house shall, before any ballot is taken, be called by its clerk, and each member shall
rise and answer to his name; and the names of those absent shall be entered on the journal
of the house to which they belong. If, on any ballot, the whole number of votes exceeds
the number of persons who have answered to their names, the president shall, before
declaring the ballot, cause the names of absentees to be called and, if any answer, shall
inquire if they have voted; and if the number of votes still exceeds the number of persons
who have answered to their names, and if such excess of votes, subtracted from the
highest number given for either candidate, is sufficient to change the result, the convention shall order another ballot.
(1949 Rev., S. 3.)
No member
of the General Assembly shall, during the term for which he is elected, be nominated
or appointed by the Governor, the General Assembly or any other appointing authority
of this state or serve or be elected to any position in the Judicial, Legislative or Executive
Department of the state government including any commission established by any special or public act of the General Assembly, except that the provisions of this section
shall not apply where it is expressly provided by law that a member of the General
Assembly as such shall be nominated or appointed to any board, commission, council
or other agency in the legislative department, and except that the provisions of this
section shall not apply to a member-elect.
(1953, S. 2d; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 162; 152, S. 3; 1963, P.A. 452; P.A. 78-331, S. 52, 58; P.A. 85-489, S. 4.)
History: 1959 acts eliminated references to positions in county government, trial justices and prosecuting grand jurors
and limited exception to positions in legislative department; 1963 act removed restrictions on candidacy for, or service as,
judge of probate; P.A. 78-331 included commissions established by the general assembly in general prohibition of section;
P.A. 85-489 exempted members-elect from provisions of section.
See Conn. Const. Art. III, Sec. 11.
Statute prohibits appointment of one already a state legislator to position in any department of state government. 175
C. 586, 590, 593, 607.
After the adjournment
sine die of a regular or a special session of the General Assembly, if the members judge
it necessary to meet again, as provided in article third of the amendments to the Constitution of Connecticut, they may so notify the Secretary of the State in writing. No such
notice shall be valid as to any member for more than thirty days after its execution by such
member. Said secretary, upon receiving valid notices from a majority of the members of
each house, shall forthwith notify all members of said assembly to meet in their respective chambers in the Capitol at ten o'clock in the forenoon on a date not less than ten
nor more than fifteen days thereafter. Said secretary shall give notice in the manner
customarily followed by the Governor in calling special sessions. When so assembled, if
a majority of the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively,
judge, by vote taken by yeas and nays and recorded in the journals, that the convening
of the General Assembly is necessary, specifying in such vote the facts constituting
such necessity, the two houses shall then complete their organization and proceed to
the consideration of matters proper for legislative action. Nothing herein shall limit the
power of the General Assembly to convene in any other constitutional manner when it
judges necessary.
(1953, S. 5d; P.A. 84-546, S. 1, 173; P.A. 89-349, S. 2, 4; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 1, 130.)
History: P.A. 84-546 made technical change; P.A. 89-349 provided for the exception in Sec. 5-278(b); May 25 Sp.
Sess. P.A. 94-1 eliminated obsolete reference to Subsec. (b) of Sec. 5-278, effective July 1, 1994.
(a) Whenever the Governor,
the members of the General Assembly or the president pro tempore of the Senate and
the speaker of the House of Representatives call a special session of the General Assembly, the Secretary of the State shall give notice thereof by mailing a true copy of the call
of such special session, by first class mail, evidenced by a certificate of mailing, to each
member of the House of Representatives and of the Senate at his or her address as it
appears upon the records of said secretary not less than ten nor more than fifteen days
prior to the date of convening of such special session or by causing a true copy of the
call to be delivered to each member by a state marshal, constable, state policeman or
indifferent person at least twenty-four hours prior to the time of convening of such
special session.
(b) Whenever the Secretary of the State is required to reconvene the General Assembly pursuant to article third of the amendments to the Constitution of Connecticut, said
secretary shall give notice thereof by mailing a true copy of the call of such reconvened
session, by first class mail, evidenced by a certificate of mailing, to each member of the
House of Representatives and of the Senate at his or her address as it appears upon the
records of said secretary not less than five days prior to the date of convening of such
reconvened session or by causing a true copy of the call to be delivered to each member
by a state marshal, constable, state policeman or indifferent person at least twenty-four
hours prior to the time of convening of such reconvened session.
(June, 1955, S. 6d; 1967, P.A. 361; 1971, P.A. 236, S. 1; P.A. 84-186, S. 1, 2; 84-546, S. 2, 173; P.A. 89-349, S. 3, 4;
May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 2, 130; P.A. 00-99, S. 16, 154.)
History: 1967 act added Subsec. (b) containing provisions for notice of reconvened session of general assembly; 1971
act changed "first class mail" to "registered or certified mail, return receipt requested"; P.A. 84-186 provided that a copy
of the call shall be mailed by first class mail, evidenced by a certificate of mailing, rather than by registered or certified
mail; P.A. 84-546 made technical change to Subsec. (b); P.A. 89-349 provided for the calling of a special session by the
president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (a)
by eliminating obsolete reference to Subsec. (b) of Sec. 5-278, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 00-99 changed references to
sheriff and deputy sheriff to state marshal, effective December 1, 2000.
(a) Each member of the General Assembly shall receive twenty-eight thousand
dollars for each year of the term for which such member is elected, to be paid as follows:
In each year of the term, one-fifth within the first ten days of February and thereafter
one-fifth within the first ten days of each succeeding month until total compensation
for the year is paid. Any member may elect to receive one-twelfth of the total compensation to which such member is entitled under the provisions of this section in any year,
payable in equal monthly installments during such year commencing in the month of
January. If any such member resigns for reasons of health or dies before receiving the
full compensation to which such member is entitled for such year, the balance of such
compensation shall be immediately payable to such member or to such member's estate.
(b) Each member shall receive, in addition to the compensation payable under subsection (a) of this section and the transportation allowance payable under section 2-15,
the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars if a member of the House of Representatives or the sum of five thousand five hundred dollars if a member of the Senate for
each year of the term for which such member is elected as reimbursement for expenses,
payable as follows: One-half within the first ten days of February and one-half within
ten days after final adjournment of the regular session in each year of the term. If any
member resigns for reasons of health or dies before receiving the full amount to which
such member is entitled for the year of such member resignation or death, the balance
of the amount shall be immediately payable to such member or to such member's estate.
(c) In lieu of the compensation payable under subsection (a) of this section, the
speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate
shall each receive thirty-eight thousand six hundred eighty-nine dollars for each year
of the term for which said officer so serves, the majority and minority leaders of the
House of Representatives and of the Senate shall each receive thirty-six thousand eight
hundred thirty-five dollars for each year of the term for which said officer so serves,
the deputy speaker and the deputy majority and minority leaders of the House of Representatives and of the Senate shall each receive thirty-four thousand four hundred forty-
six dollars for each year of the term in which said officer so serves, each assistant majority
and minority leader and majority and minority whip of the House and Senate and the
chairpersons of each joint standing committee, except the Joint Standing Committee on
Legislative Management, shall each receive thirty-two thousand two hundred forty-one
dollars for each year of the term in which said chairperson so serves and the ranking
members of each joint standing committee, except the Joint Standing Committee on
Legislative Management, shall each receive thirty thousand four hundred three dollars
for each year of the term in which said officer so serves to be paid as provided in subsection (a) of this section. Each of said officers shall receive as reimbursement for expenses
for each year of the term for which the officer is elected five thousand five hundred
dollars if the officer is a senator and four thousand five hundred dollars if the officer is
a representative, payable as provided in subsection (b) of this section. Each of said
officers shall have the same option to elect payment of one-twelfth of the officer's
compensation for each year of the term for which the officer is elected payable in equal
monthly installments in such year as is provided for other members under the provisions
of subsection (a) of this section.
(d) In lieu of the compensation provided by subsections (a) and (b) of this section,
any member elected to fill any unexpired term shall receive the following: (1) For less
than a full year of a term, a pro rata amount of the compensation payable under said
subsection (a) and, in addition to the transportation allowance payable under section 2-
15, a pro rata amount of the sum payable under subsection (b) as reimbursement for
expenses, both payable upon certification of such member's election; (2) for a full year
of a term, the compensation and expenses provided in subsections (a) and (b), both
payable upon certification of such member's election.
(e) No person who is elected to serve in one house of the General Assembly and is
thereafter elected to fill a vacancy in the other house for the unexpired portion of the
same term shall receive total compensation or total reimbursement for expenses for such
term in an amount greater than that to which such person was entitled on such person's
election to the first house.
(f) Any member who resigns for reasons other than health or election to the other
house prior to the expiration of any year of the term for which such member was elected,
and who has received the total compensation and reimbursement for expenses provided
under subsections (a) and (b) of this section for that year, shall reimburse the state in
an amount equal to that portion of such total compensation and expense reimbursement
attributable to the remainder of the year in which such member resigns.
(1949 Rev., S. 3594; 1959, P.A. 552; 1961, P.A. 195; 247; 328; 1963, P.A. 138, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 458, S. 1;
1972, P.A. 22; 281, S. 1; P.A. 77-576, S. 57, 65; P.A. 79-432, S. 1, 2, 4; 79-608, S. 57, 10; P.A. 80-483, S. 5, 186; P.A.
82-365, S. 1, 8; 82-472, S. 177, 183; P.A. 84-114, S. 2; 84-345, S. 1, 3; P.A. 86-375, S. 7, 9; P.A. 88-349, S. 1, 5; P.A. 91-
56, S. 1, 2; P.A. 98-227, S. 7, 9; P.A. 00-231, S. 6, 10.)
History: 1959 act increased salary payable from six hundred dollars to two thousand dollars, authorized payment either
in year of session or one-half that year and balance next year in equal installments and added expense allowance; 1961
acts authorized split payment of expense allowance of five hundred dollars and added a subsection (c), now subsection
(d); 1963 act clarified in subsection (a) that unpaid balance is payable on final adjournment of regular session and authorized
second payment in lump sum under optional provisions; 1965 act raised members' salaries and expense allowances,
provided for salaries in event of annual or special sessions and added present subsection (c); 1972 P.A. 22 replaced "ceases
to hold such office" with "resigns for reasons of health or dies", changed terms of compensation for members elected to
fill unexpired terms, created Subsec. (e) from part of Subsec. (d) and added Subsecs. (f) and (g) concerning members'
switching from one house to the other during a term and reimbursements of compensation and expenses required because
of resignation for other than health reasons or election to other house, effective with respect to members elected to unexpired
terms after June 9, 1971; 1972 P.A. 281 raised compensation and expense allowances of general assembly members
and repealed Subsec. (e), renumbering remaining Subsecs. accordingly, effective January 3, 1973; P.A. 77-576 raised
compensation of members, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-432 specified time within which payments for expenses of
assembly members are to be paid and increased amount of such payments, effective January 7, 1981; P.A. 79-608 increased
compensation for members, effective January 7, 1981; P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 82-365 increased compensation of members from $9,500 for first year of term and $7,500 for second year to $10,500 for each year of term; increased
yearly expenses of members and officers from $2000 to $2500; increased compensation of speaker and senate president
from $12,000 for first year of term and $9,000 for second year to $15,500 for each year of term; increased compensation
of leaders from $11,500 for first year of term and $8,500 for second year to $14,500 for each year; increased compensation
of deputy speaker from $11,500 for first year of term and $8,500 for second year to $13,500 for each year; increased
compensation of deputy leaders from $11,000 for first year and $8,000 for second year to $13,500 for each year; increased
compensation of assistant leaders from $10,500 for first year and $7,500 for second year to $12,500 for each year; increased
compensation of committee chairmen from $9,500 for first year and $7,500 for second year to $11,500 for each year;
prorated compensation and expenses payable to members elected to fill unexpired terms; P.A. 82-472 deleted references
to certification of election "to the comptroller" in Subsec. (d); P.A. 84-114 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that the method
of payment of each member's compensation shall be the same in both odd and even-numbered years and amended Subsec.
(b) to provide that each member shall receive one-half of his expense payments in February of each year rather than in the
second month of each regular session; P.A. 84-345 increased each member's annual compensation from $10,500 to $13,000;
increased annual expense payments from $2,500 to $3,500; increased compensation of the speaker and president pro
tempore from $15,500 to $18,000; increased compensation of the leaders from $14,500 to $17,000; increased compensation
of the deputy speaker and deputy leaders from $13,500 to $16,000; increased compensation for committee chairmen
from $11,500 to $15,000; increased compensation of ranking members of each committee to $14,000; increased prorated
compensation for members filling an unexpired term from a pro rata amount of $1,250 to a pro rata amount of $1,750;
P.A. 86-375 amended Subsec. (a) to increase each member's annual compensation from $13,000 to $15,200; amended
Subsec. (b) to increase annual expense payments for members of the senate from $3,500 to $4,500 and amended Subsec.
(c) to increase compensation of: The speaker and president pro tempore from $18,000 to $21,000; the leaders from $17,000
to $20,000; the deputy speakers and deputy leaders from $16,000 to $18,700; committee chairmen from $15,000 to $17,500,
and ranking members from $14,000 to $16,500; P.A. 88-349 amended Subsec. (a) to increase each member's annual
compensation from $15,200 to $15,960, beginning January 4, 1989, and from $15,960 to $16,760, beginning January 1,
1990, and amended Subsec. (c) to increase compensation of: The speaker and president pro tempore from $21,000 to
$22,050, beginning January 4, 1989, and from $22,050 to $23,160, beginning January 1, 1990; the leaders from $20,000
to $21,000, beginning January 4, 1989, and from $21,000 to $22,050, beginning January 1, 1990; the deputy speakers and
deputy leaders from $18,700 to $19,635, beginning January 4, 1989, and from $19,635 to $20,620, beginning January 1,
1990; assistant leaders and committee chairmen from $17,500 to $18,375, beginning January 4, 1989, and from $18,375
to $19,300, beginning January 1, 1990, and ranking members from $16,500 to $17,325, beginning January 4, 1989, and
from $17,325 to $18,200, beginning January 1, 1990; P.A. 91-56 amended Subsec. (d) to change amount of reimbursement
for expenses, for less than a full year of a term, from a pro rata amount of $1,750 to a pro rata amount of the sum payable
under Subsec. (b); P.A. 98-227 amended Subsec. (a) to increase each member's annual compensation from $16,760 to
$21,788, amended Subsec. (b) to increase annual expense payments for members of the House from $3,500 to $4,500 and
to increase annual expense payments for members of the Senate from $4,500 to $5,500, amended Subsec. (c) to (1) increase
annual compensation of: The speaker and president pro tempore from $23,160 to $30,108, the leaders from $22,050 to
$28,665, the deputy speaker and deputy leaders from $20,620 to $26,806, assistant leaders and joint standing committee
chairmen from $19,300 to $25,090, joint standing committee ranking members from $18,200 to $23,260, (2) add provision
that whips receive annual compensation of $25,090, and (3) increase annual expense payments for each of said officers
from $3,500 to $5,500 for senators and from $3,500 to $4,500 for representatives, effective January 6, 1999; P.A. 00-231
increased each member's annual compensation from $21,788 to $28,000, increased compensation of speaker and president
pro tempore from $30,108 to $38,689, increased compensation of leaders from $28,665 to $36,835, increased compensation
of deputy speaker and deputy leaders from $26,806 to $34,446, increased compensation of assistant leaders, whips and
committee chairpersons from $25,090 to $32,241, increased compensation of ranking members from $23,660 to $30,403
and made technical changes for the purposes of gender neutrality, effective January 3, 2001.
See Sec. 2-15 re transportation allowance.
Section 2-8a is repealed.
(1967, P.A. 719, S. 1; June, 1972, P.A. 1, S. 16.)
Sections 2-8b to 2-8p,
inclusive, are repealed.
(1972, P.A. 281, S. 418; P.A. 75-37; 75-628, S. 25; P.A. 76-238; 76-407, S. 13; P.A. 77-238; P.A. 79-106, S.
13; 79-631, S. 42, 111; P.A. 81-343, S. 1, 7; 81-456, S. 1, 2, 68; P.A. 84-546, S. 6, 173; P.A. 85-502, S. 8, 9.)
See Secs. 2-8q and 2-8r re abolition of General Assembly pension fund; transfer of moneys to State Employees Retirement Fund; options of General Assembly members and former members re participation in state employees retirement
system.
Sec. 2-8q. General Assembly Pension Fund abolished. Moneys transferred to
State Employees Retirement Fund. The General Assembly Pension Fund, established
under section 2-8o of the general statutes, revised to 1985, is abolished and all moneys
in said fund on July 1, 1985, shall be transferred to the State Employees Retirement
Fund, except that a reserve, to be determined on an actuarial basis, shall be retained for
payments to participants in the General Assembly Pension Fund who are no longer
members but are receiving retirement benefits under the General Assembly pension
system as defined in section 2-8c of the general statutes, revised to 1985.
(P.A. 85-502, S. 1, 9.)
(a) Any participant in the General
Assembly pension system on July 1, 1985, may elect to (1) transfer to membership in
tier I of the state employees retirement system, part A or part B, and receive a refund
of the difference between his contributions to the General Assembly Pension Fund and
the contributions required for the tier I plan selected by such participant, or (2) receive
a lump-sum payment of his total contributions to the General Assembly Pension Fund,
plus accumulated interest at six per cent per annum, and transfer to membership in tier
II of the state employees retirement system. Such election shall be made not later than
December 31, 1985. Any participant electing to transfer to tier I of the state employees
retirement system shall receive credit for each year of credited service accrued as a
member of the General Assembly pension system as of the date of such transfer. Any
participant who elects to receive a lump-sum payment of his total contributions, plus
accumulated interest, shall forfeit permanently his accrued rights and accrued credited
service under tier I of the state employees retirement system, but such accrued credited
service shall be considered as vesting service in tier II of the state employees retirement
system.
(b) Any member of the General Assembly on July 1, 1985, who is not a participant
in the General Assembly pension system may elect to become a member of tier I in the
state employees retirement system, part A or part B, provided he makes application to
the State Employees Retirement Commission not later than December 31, 1985. Any
such member may obtain credit for any credited past service for which he would have
been eligible as a member of the General Assembly pension system provided he makes
the required contributions to the State Employees Retirement Fund in accordance with
section 5-181. Failure to make such application by December 31, 1985, shall result in
forfeiture of the member's right to participate in tier I of the state employees retirement
system, and the member shall become a member of tier II of the state employees retirement system and eligible for vesting service as provided in subsection (a).
(c) Members of the General Assembly who take office on or after July 1, 1985, and
who were members of the General Assembly and the General Assembly pension system
prior to that date, shall be eligible to become members of tier I in the state employees
retirement system, and may obtain credit for past service in the General Assembly as
provided in section 5-181, provided application is made to the State Employees Retirement Commission not later than December 31, 1990, or in accordance with subsection
(a) of section 5-192e.
(d) Members of the General Assembly who take office on or after July 1, 1985, and
who were not members of the General Assembly prior to that date or who were members
but elected not to become members of tier I, shall become members of tier II in the state
employees retirement system.
(e) Former members of the General Assembly who elected Option 1 under section
2-8l or 2-8m of the general statutes, revised to 1985, shall not be eligible to become
members of the state employees retirement system, unless reelected to serve on or after
July 1, 1985, in which case they shall be eligible to become members as provided in
subsection (c) of this section.
(f) Former members of the General Assembly who elected Option 2 under section
2-8l or 2-8m of the general statutes, as revised to 1985, and, on July 1, 1985, are receiving
the benefits provided under sections 2-8g to 2-8k, inclusive, of the general statutes,
revised to 1985, shall continue to receive those benefits.
(g) Former members of the General Assembly who elected Option 2 under section
2-8l or 2-8m of the general statutes, as revised to 1985, and who, on July 1, 1985, are
not receiving the benefits provided under section 2-8g to 2-8k, inclusive, of the general
statutes, revised to 1985, shall receive the benefits provided in chapter 66 upon meeting
the eligibility requirements under that chapter.
(h) Any member of the General Assembly who was a member of both the General
Assembly pension system and the teachers' retirement system on July 1, 1985, and who
was not eligible to transfer to membership in the state employees retirement system
pursuant to this section, shall be refunded from the State Employees Retirement Fund
his total contributions to the General Assembly Pension Fund plus accumulated interest.
(i) Any member of the General Assembly who, prior to such membership, had completed service requirements for eligibility for retirement benefits from the state employees retirement system, may, upon attaining the necessary age for commencement of
benefits, make a one-time election to receive retirement benefits. Upon making such
election, such member may no longer accrue additional service credit for service in
the General Assembly. The amount of such retirement benefits shall be determined in
accordance with section 5-162.
(P.A. 85-502, S. 2, 9; P.A. 87-484, S. 7, 10; P.A. 90-308, S. 8, 15.)
History: P.A. 87-484 added Subsecs. (h) and (i); P.A. 90-308 amended Subsec. (c) to add membership in the general
assembly pension system prior to July 1, 1985, as a requirement for tier I membership, and to extend application deadline
from December 31, 1985, to December 31, 1990.
Sec. 2-9. Salary and transportation allowance for General Assembly officers
and employees. The clerk of the Senate shall receive a salary of eighteen thousand
dollars for each regular session of the General Assembly and sixty dollars per day for
each day the General Assembly is convened in special session; the assistant clerk of the
Senate, sixteen thousand eight hundred dollars for each regular session of the General
Assembly and forty-eight dollars per day for each day the General Assembly is convened
in special session; the clerk of the House of Representatives, eighteen thousand dollars
for each regular session of the General Assembly and sixty dollars per day for each day
the General Assembly is convened in special session; the assistant clerk of the House
of Representatives, sixteen thousand eight hundred dollars for each regular session of
the General Assembly and forty-eight dollars per day for each day the General Assembly
is convened in special session; the chaplains of the Senate and the House of Representatives, seven thousand two hundred dollars each for each regular session of the General
Assembly and thirty dollars per day for each day the General Assembly is convened in
special session; the messengers of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, three
thousand nine hundred dollars each for each regular session and twenty-four dollars per
day for each day the General Assembly is convened in special session; which salaries
shall be full payment for the performance of all services required of said officers in the
discharge of their duties, and for all assistance and all expenses and disbursements
not otherwise provided for. The Comptroller shall draw his order on the Treasurer for
transportation for said officers, and for the messengers assigned to the speaker of the
House, the president pro tempore of the Senate and the minority and majority leaders
of the House and Senate and the sergeants-at-arms and assistant sergeants-at-arms of the
House and the Senate, between their respective homes and Hartford during the session of
the General Assembly at such sum per mile as shall from time to time be determined
by the Joint Committee on Legislative Management. The clerk of the Senate and the
clerk of the House of Representatives shall, with the approval and consent of the Joint
Committee on Legislative Management, obtain such suitable offices and, with the approval of said committee, such office fixtures and supplies, including telephone, as may
be necessary to the performance of their respective duties. The Comptroller is directed
to draw his order on the Treasurer in payment for the same. The salaries of the clerks
and employees of the General Assembly for a regular session shall be paid as follows:
In each year, one-fifth of such compensation in the month of February and thereafter
one-fifth of such compensation within each succeeding month until such compensation
is paid in full or such employee may elect in each year to receive the compensation for
such year in twelve monthly installments of substantially equal amount. Compensation
for any special session shall be payable monthly during such session.
(1949 Rev., S. 3595; 1949, S. 1964d; November, 1955, S. N193; 1957, P.A. 1, S. 17; 9, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 138, S. 2; 370;
1969, P.A. 158, S. 1; 749, S. 3; 1972, P.A. 281, S. 40; P.A. 77-576, S. 58, 65; P.A. 78-299, S. 1, 2; P.A. 82-365, S. 2, 8;
P.A. 84-345, S. 2, 3; P.A. 85-470, S. 1, 4; 85-613, S. 5, 154; P.A. 86-375, S. 8, 9; P.A. 88-349, S. 2, 5; P.A. 98-227, S. 8, 9.)
History: 1963 acts increased salaries of clerks and assistant clerks and changed method of payment of salaries of clerks
and employees; 1969 P.A. 158 raised compensation for house and senate chaplains to one thousand dollars for each
regular session, effective retroactive to January 8, 1969; 1969 P.A. 749 provided that the treasurer be responsible for travel
reimbursement and that the joint committee on legislative management be the approving agency for offices and office
fixtures and supplies rather than the public works commissioner and the comptroller; 1972 act increased salaries of clerks
and assistant clerks of senate and house and revised schedule of payment, effective January 3, 1973; P.A. 77-576 increased
salaries for clerks and assistant clerks, chaplains, doorkeepers and messengers of general assembly, effective January 1,
1979; P.A. 78-299 increased salaries for clerks and assistant clerks of house and senate, effective January 1, 1979; P.A.
82-365 increased salary of senate and house clerks from $9,500 for session in odd-numbered year and $7,500 for session
in even-numbered year to $9,500 for each session; increased salary of assistant clerks from $8,500 for session in odd-
numbered year and $6,500 in even-numbered year to $8,500 for each session; increased salary of chaplains from $2,000
per session to $3,000; increased salary of messengers and doorkeepers from $1,000 per session to $2,000; P.A. 84-345
increased the salaries of the clerks of the senate and house from $9,500 to $12,000 and the salaries of the assistant clerks
of the house and senate from $8,500 to $11,000; increased the salaries for the chaplains of the senate and house from
$3,000 to $4,000 per regular session, plus $25, instead of $15, per day of each special session; increased salaries of
messengers and doorkeepers from $2,000 to $2,500 per regular session, plus $20 per day, instead of $15, for any special
session day and standardized the payment of salaries for clerks and employees during a regular session for both odd and
even-numbered years; P.A. 85-470 deleted provision re salaries of doorkeepers, added provision requiring payment of
transportation allowance for (1) messengers assigned to speaker, president pro tempore and minority and majority leaders
and (2) sergeants-at-arms, and added provision that amount of transportation allowance for officers, such messengers and
sergeants-at-arms shall be determined by legislative management committee; P.A. 85-613 made technical change; P.A.
86-375 increased salaries: Of the clerks of the senate and house from $12,000 to $13,500; of the assistant clerks of the
senate and house from $11,000 to $12,500; of the chaplains of the senate and house from $4,000 to $5,500, and of the
messengers of the senate and house from $2,500 to $3,000; P.A. 88-349 increased salaries of: The clerks of the senate and
house from $13,500 to $15,000; the assistant clerks of the senate and house from $12,500 to $14,000; the chaplains of the
senate and house from $5,500 to $6,000, and the messengers of the senate and house from $3,000 to $3,250; P.A. 98-227
increased salaries: Of the clerks of the Senate and House from $15,000 to $18,000 per regular session and from $50 to $60
per each day of special session, of the assistant clerks of the Senate and House from $14,000 to $16,800 per regular session
and from $40 to $48 per each day of special session, of the chaplains of the Senate and House from $6,000 to $7,200 per
regular session and from $25 to $30 per each day of special session, and of the messengers of the Senate and House from
$3,250 to $3,900 per regular session and from $20 to $24 per each day of special session, effective January 6, 1999.
See Sec. 2-12 re prohibition against payment of bonuses.
See Sec. 2-15 re transportation allowance.
(a) (1) There is created a Compensation Commission consisting of eleven members,
three of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, two of whom shall be appointed by
the president pro tempore of the Senate, two of whom shall be appointed by the speaker
of the House of Representatives, two of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate and two of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House
of Representatives. All members of said commission shall be appointed on or before
July 1, 1971, and quadrennially thereafter, to serve for a term of four years. No person
shall be appointed to said commission who is an official or employee of the state of
Connecticut or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof, or who is an
official or employee of any agency or institution more than ten per cent of the gross
annual income of which is from state funds. Members shall not be compensated for
their services as such but shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties. (2) On or before July 15, 1971, and biennially thereafter,
the commission shall elect a chairman from its members. A majority of the members
of said commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. Any
action taken by said commission shall be by majority vote of those present.
(b) The Compensation Commission shall recommend to the General Assembly, on
or before February fifteenth, in odd-numbered years, legislative proposals for salary,
expenses, pension, workers' compensation and any other benefits to be paid to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Comptroller, members of the General Assembly and judges of the courts of the state, except
judges of probate. In its discretion, the commission also may submit its recommendation
for such legislative proposals, on or before February fifteenth in even-numbered years.
The General Assembly shall take action on such proposals at the session to which they
are submitted. No proposals for legislative salary, if enacted by the General Assembly,
shall become effective until the first Wednesday following the first Monday of the
January succeeding the next election of members of the General Assembly. No proposals
for salaries shall be effective as to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the
State, Attorney General, Treasurer and Comptroller until the first Wednesday following
the first Monday of the January succeeding the next election of said officers. Any other
proposals of benefits, if enacted, shall be applicable with respect to the incumbents in
the offices covered. Said commission may recommend different rates of salary, expenses
and allowances for members of the General Assembly for session and interim periods
and may recommend rates of salary, expenses and allowances for members of the General Assembly who are officers which are different from that established for other
members.
(1971, P.A. 636, S. 13; P.A. 79-376, S. 1; P.A. 84-546, S. 7, 173; P.A. 88-349, S. 4, 5.)
History: P.A. 79-376 changed "workmen's" to "workers'" compensation; P.A. 84-546 repealed obsolete former Subsec.
(c) re appropriation to carry out the purposes of the section; P.A. 88-349 required commission to recommend legislative
proposals in odd-numbered years, provided for discretionary rather than mandatory submittal of recommendation for
proposals in even-numbered years and made technical change re effective date of legislative salary proposals.
Section 2-9b is repealed.
(1972, P.A. 281, S. 42; P.A. 73-1, S. 1, 2; P.A. 90-271, S. 23, 24.)
The House and Senate
clerks shall continue in office during the term of the General Assembly by which they
were appointed. The Joint Committee on Legislative Management shall provide space
in a building under the supervision and control of said committee for the clerks' office.
In addition to such assistants as the clerks require for the performance of their duties
during sessions of the General Assembly, each clerk may, subject to the approval of
said committee, appoint and fix the compensation of a permanent full-time assistant,
whose term of office shall not be limited by that of the clerk first appointing him. Records
and indexes of the proceedings of the current or last-preceding regular session and of
any special sessions held following such regular session and before the convening of
the next regular session shall be kept in the clerks' office, which shall be open at regular
hours on all business days, whether or not the General Assembly is in session. When
the General Assembly is not in session, the services of the full-time assistants may, with
the approval of the clerks, be made available to said committee and to any committee
of the General Assembly functioning between sessions.
(1957, P.A. 1, S. 18; 29, S. 1; March, 1958, P.A. 15, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 749, S. 4; P.A. 84-48, S. 3, 17.)
History: 1969 act replaced references to public works commissioner and the legislative council with references to the
joint committee on legislative management; P.A. 84-48 provided that offices be in a building under the supervision and
control of joint committee on legislative management rather than in state capitol.
The Joint Standing
Committee on Legislative Management shall employ all stenographers required by the
joint standing and joint special committees of the General Assembly. It shall provide
for and furnish to the State Library one original copy of all such reports of committee
hearings as any of the several committees shall require to be made and transcribed by
the stenographer of such committee for its use.
(1949 Rev., S. 193; P.A. 82-472, S. 149, 183.)
History: P.A. 82-472 provided that the legislative management committee, rather than the comptroller, shall employ
all necessary stenographers for general assembly committees and removed all references to the joint and house committees
on constitutional amendments.
No bonus, gratuity or extra payment of any sort over and above the amount agreed upon as the salary
or wage for each employee at the time of hiring or thereafter shall be voted or paid to
any employee of the General Assembly or of either house thereof from public funds.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit the payment of extra or overtime
pay for extra or overtime work in accordance with a regularly established policy of any
department.
(June, 1955, S. 17d.)
Legislative employees hired on a temporary basis for a fixed salary shall have such
salary reduced by a per diem amount for those days on which their job would normally
require them to be present, but for which they are absent.
(S.A. 74-31, S. 20, 22.)
(a) The
clerk of either house may employ such number of qualified persons as are necessary to
make a record of the proceedings in the Senate and the House of Representatives and
to transcribe the same without unnecessary delay. A copy of such record of each day's
proceedings shall be filed in the State Library within two days after the transcript has
been completed and shall be available to the public.
(b) The clerks of the Senate and House shall, during sessions of the General Assembly, publish at such times during the session, as may be determined by said clerks, a
legislative record index which shall report the status of each bill and resolution pending
in or acted upon by the General Assembly. Said clerks shall make copies of the legislative
record index available to representatives of the press, the State Library, the Governor,
the Secretary of the State, the Attorney General and such other persons as the speaker
of the House or the president of the Senate may designate.
(1949 Rev., S. 19, 36; March, 1950, 1951, 1955, S. 8d; 1961, P.A. 2; P.A. 76-188, S. 1, 2.)
History: 1961 act eliminated requirement of weekly publication of legislative record and added requirement publication
include status of bills and resolutions acted upon as well as pending; P.A. 76-188 changed "legislative record" to "legislative
record index" and gave clerks power to publish it "at such times" as they determine during a session, deleting requirement
that it be published at least nine but no more than twelve times.
The General Assembly shall enact no special legislation relative to the powers, organization and form
of government of any town, city, borough or other unit of local government unless
requested by a town, city, borough or other unit of local government, in the manner
hereinafter prescribed, to enact such special legislation. A resolution requesting the
General Assembly to enact special legislation and specifying the purpose of such legislation shall be adopted: (1) By a two-thirds vote of the council or board of directors in
any town having such a body; of the board of aldermen, council or body charged with
the duty of making annual appropriations in any city or consolidated town and city; of
the board of burgesses in any borough or consolidated town and borough; or of the board
of directors or district committee in any district; or (2) by the board of selectmen or by
a majority vote of the town meeting or representative town meeting in any town not
having a council or board of directors. A request for the enactment of special legislation
by the General Assembly may also be initiated by a petition specifying the purpose of
such legislation and signed by not less than ten per cent of the electors of the town, city,
borough or other unit of local government as determined by the last-completed registry
list and filed with the clerk of such town, city, borough or other unit of local government.
Upon the filing of such petition, such clerk shall proceed forthwith to determine its
sufficiency by comparing the names thereon with those contained in such registry list
and shall certify its sufficiency or insufficiency. Such clerk shall file with the Secretary
of the State, not later than ten days prior to the convening of any session of the General
Assembly in which such proposed legislation is to be introduced, a certified copy of the
resolution as adopted or the text of the petition as signed.
(1957, P.A. 465, S. 19.)
History: (Revisor's note: In 1995 the Revisors editorially substituted Subdiv. indicators (1) and (2) for (a) and (b) for
consistency with statutory usage).
See Conn. Const. Art. X and chapter 99.
When this section is read in connection with Home Rule Act, chapter 99, it becomes clear legislature intended to provide
two separate methodsone with, one without, action by general assemblyfor inaugurating and securing adoption or
amendment of municipal charter. 150 C. 24. Cited. 182 C. 93, 95. Cited. 185 C. 88, 92. Cited. 234 C. 217, 219.
Cited. 43 CS 470472, 489491.
The General
Assembly shall enact no legislation which diminishes or eliminates the rights or benefits
granted to any individual under any municipal retirement or pension system. Nothing
contained herein shall prevent any municipality, covered under the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Act, from becoming a member of the Old Age and Survivors
Insurance System under Title 2 of the Social Security Act.
(1963, P.A. 619.)
Sec. 2-15. Transportation allowance for General Assembly members and
members-elect. The Comptroller shall draw his order on the Treasurer for a transportation allowance for each member or member-elect of the General Assembly, and the
Treasurer shall pay to such member as an allowance for transportation, such rate per
mile as shall from time to time be determined by the Joint Standing Committee on
Legislative Management. The allowance shall be paid for each mile on each day that
such member is required to travel: (1) From his home to the State Capitol and return
therefrom to attend a session of the General Assembly or a meeting of a committee of
the General Assembly or a public hearing held by any such committee or for other
official legislative business, or (2) from his home to such other location within the state
at which any such committee meeting or public hearing is held and return therefrom.
(1949 Rev., S. 198; 1949, S. 68d; 1957, P.A. 3, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 749, S. 5; P.A. 74-242, S. 2, 4; P.A. 79-102, S. 1, 2;
P.A. 85-470, S. 2, 4; P.A. 86-304, S. 1, 2.)
History: 1969 act made the treasurer responsible for payment of transportation allowances rather than the comptroller;
P.A. 74-242 raised transportation allowance to twelve cents per mile, effective January 8, 1975; P.A. 79-102 provided that
amount of transportation allowance be determined by legislative management committee; P.A. 85-470 deleted provision
requiring payment of transportation allowance for clerks and assistant clerks of senate and house of representatives and
deleted provision prohibiting payment of other transportation allowance to clerk pursuant to Sec. 2-9; P.A. 86-304 rephrased
section and added provisions re allowance for travel from home to state capitol and return therefrom to attend "public
hearing" or for "other official legislative business" and allowance for travel from "home to such other location within the
state at which any such committee meeting or public hearing is held and return therefrom".
(a)
Each member of the General Assembly shall be entitled to send an annual mailing to
each household in such member's district, for informational purposes. The mailing shall
be conducted under the supervision of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management
and in accordance with rules adopted by the committee.
(b) In even-numbered years, no such mailing may be sent after July fifteenth. A
member shall be deemed in compliance with this subsection if the member delivers the
mailing to the offices of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management no later than
said July fifteenth.
(P.A. 87-583, S. 1, 4; P.A. 99-43.)
History: P.A. 99-43 divided existing section into Subsecs. (a) and (b), and amended Subsec. (b) to provide that a member
shall be deemed in compliance if the member delivers the mailing to the offices of the Joint Committee on Legislative
Management no later than July fifteenth.
No member of
the General Assembly shall appear as an attorney before it, or before any committee
thereof, or of either house, unless in his own cause, or that of the town which he represents
or of some public corporation therein, or where there is so near a relation between such
member and either of the parties as between parent and child, brothers, sisters, brother
and sister, uncle and nephew or niece, aunt and nephew or niece, by nature or marriage,
or landlord and tenant.
(1949 Rev., S. 15; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 1.)
No state representative or state senator who is elected at the 1994 state election or any election thereafter shall engage in the profession of lobbyist, as that term is defined in subsection (l)
of section 1-91, until one year after the expiration of the term for which such state
representative or state senator was elected.
(P.A. 80-462, S. 3; P.A. 93-156; P.A. 02-89, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 93-156 extended period during which former legislators are prohibited from engaging in profession of
lobbyist, applicable to legislators elected at 1994 state election or thereafter; P.A. 02-89 deleted as obsolete former Subsec.
(a) prohibiting a state representative or state senator whose term expires on January 4, 1995, and who resigns before the
expiration of such term, from engaging in the profession of lobbyist until the expiration of the term, deleted Subsec. (b)
designator and made a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality.
Any member-elect of either house of
the General Assembly, prior to the beginning of the regular session in the January following his election, may introduce any bill for a public or special act by filing the same
with the clerk of the House or Senate, who shall assign to each such bill a House or
Senate serial number and shall cause to be made a sufficient number of photo-offset
copies of such bill. Each such bill shall be filed in triplicate and shall be typewritten or
printed, without interlineation or erasure, on paper eight and one-half by thirteen inches
or eight and one-half by fourteen inches in size, the second and third copies to be on
yellow-colored and blue-colored paper, respectively, of the same size and format as the
original. Any member-elect offering such bill shall endorse by signing thereon his name
in some conspicuous place and shall attach thereto a statement of its purpose in not more
than one hundred and fifty words, which are to be typewritten or printed at the end of
the bill under the caption "statement of purpose". The head of each state department,
board, commission or other state agency shall file his requests for legislative enactment
in the form of bills with the clerk of the House or Senate on or before January fifteenth
of the odd-numbered year and on or before February eighth in the even-numbered year.
Such head of each state department, board, commission or other state agency requiring
assistance from the Legislative Commissioners' Office in the preparation of such bills
shall submit requests for such assistance on or before December first of each year.
(1949 Rev., S. 17; 1957, P.A. 1, S. 2; 1959, P.A. 1, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 80; 1971, P.A. 167; 709.)
History: 1959 act made presession filing actual introduction of bill, required duplicate on yellow paper, same size and
format as original, and required endorsement of name by actual signature; 1965 act required bills to be in triplicate; 1971
acts removed from comptroller the responsibility to make photo-offset copies of bills and permitted use of paper 8 1/2"
by 14" for bills and added provisions re deadlines for submission of bill requests and requests for assistance in preparing bills.
Each bill for a public act amending any statute, each special act amending any special act and each resolution proposing an amendment to any provision of the Constitution shall set forth in full
the act or constitutional provision, or the section or subsection thereof, to be amended.
Matter to be omitted or repealed shall be surrounded by brackets and new matter shall
be indicated by underscoring or, where an electric magnetic tape typewriter or other
electronic equipment or device is used, by capitalization or underscoring of all words
in the manuscript bill and by underscoring, capitalization or italics in its printed form.
Each resolution proposing an amendment to any provision of the Constitution shall also
include the designation of such proposed amendment to be used on the voting machine
ballot labels and absentee ballots in the event such amendment is approved by the General Assembly. Such designation shall be a question, commencing with the words "shall
the Constitution of the state be amended to" and ending with a statement of the intended
objective addressed by the amendment. Nothing in this section shall preclude the General
Assembly from adopting rules authorizing the introduction by members of bills, special
acts or resolutions which set forth only a statement of purpose or of intent and do not
set forth the statute or constitutional provision to be amended.
(1949 Rev., S. 34; 1957, P.A. 1, S. 9; February, 1965, P.A. 1, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 274; 1969, P.A. 156, S. 1; 1971, P.A.
175, S. 1; 610, S. 1; P.A. 83-335, S. 1.)
History: 1965 act authorized use of capitalization to indicate new material; 1967 act amended to include resolutions
proposing constitutional amendments; 1969 act authorized assembly to adopt rules allowing bills or resolutions containing
statement of purpose which do not fully set out statute or constitutional provision to be amended; 1971 acts amended
section to include special acts, to permit use of any electronic equipment and to permit use of underscoring in manuscript bill
and underscoring and capitalization in printed bill to indicate new material and provided that resolutions for constitutional
amendments include designation to be used on voting ballots; P.A. 83-335 set forth the form in which proposed amendments
to the constitution are designated on voting machine labels and absentee ballots.
Validating acts of 1929 not in conflict with former section. 112 C. 140. Cited. 165 C. 338, 350. Cited. 199 C. 667, 671,
675, 676, 679, 681. Cited. 215 C. 701, 707.
Section 2-19 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 9; 1957, P.A. 1, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 350, S. 1.)
No act of incorporation or
alteration thereof shall be granted by the General Assembly, except upon a petition
therefor, when the law requires that notice of such petition shall be given by advertisement. Each charter of any railroad company shall confine the road within the limits
indicated by such notice, specify the towns through which it may pass, and otherwise
designate the route on which the respective roads may be authorized to be made.
(1949 Rev., S. 12; P.A. 85-246, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 85-246 deleted reference to street railway company charters.
No
bill for the incorporation and franchise of a water company shall be heard by the General
Assembly, or any committee thereof, unless the applicant has filed with the bill written
reports from each of the following: The Department of Public Utility Control, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Protection. Such report of
the Department of Public Utility Control shall set forth the results of investigation by
said department with respect to the financial condition of the proposed company, the
nature of the system and the adequacy of the water supply, together with its recommendations and such other information as it deems pertinent. The report of the Department of
Public Health shall set forth the results of investigation by said department with respect
to the potability of the water supply and such other information as it deems pertinent.
The report of the Department of Environmental Protection shall set forth the result of
investigation by said department with respect to the adequacy of the water supply to
serve present and future customers, the effect on water supplies of other systems and
such other information as it deems pertinent. Each request for a report required by this
section shall be accompanied by a fee of fifty dollars. The General Assembly shall enact
no legislation granting a franchise to a water company unless a public hearing is held
by a committee of the General Assembly on the proposed bill, and unless at least five
days before such hearing, proponents of the bill publish notice of such proposed bill
and the hearing to be held thereon in a newspaper having general circulation in the area
affected.
(February, 1965, P.A. 336; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 155; P.A. 75-486, S. 22, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 323, 610; P.A. 80-482,
S. 2, 348; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1971 act replaced references to "water resources commission" with "department of environmental protection";
P.A. 75-486 changed "public utilities commission" to "public utilities control authority"; P.A. 77-614 changed "public
utility(ies) control authority" to "division of public utility control within the department of business regulation" and "department of health" to "department of health services", effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 abolished the department of
business regulation and its divisions and created the department of public utility control; P.A. 93-381 replaced department
of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced
Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
See Sec. 25-33 re Public Health Department's oversight of water companies.
Section 2-21 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 13; 1959, P.A. 685, S. 26.)
See Sec. 4-146.
Each bill and joint resolution
shall be numbered by the clerk of the house in which it was presented, in the order of
presentation, and shall be designated in the journal as "Senate Bill", "House Bill", "Senate Joint Resolution" or "House Joint Resolution", as the case may be, with the addition
of its proper number; and each bill or resolution reported as a substitute for another shall
be endorsed with the number of the original bill or resolution.
(1949 Rev., S. 20.)
Acts passed in form of resolutions prior to 1911 validated by Public Acts, 1911, C. 297. 87 C. 508. See 133 C. 130.
Sec. 2-23. Copies of bills, resolutions, calendars, journals and other legislative
publications. Furnishing of publications to public and municipalities. The Joint
Committee on Legislative Management shall provide by contract, purchase or lease a
process for the reproduction of copies of each bill and each resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution and other substantive resolutions introduced in both
houses, the calendars and journals of both houses and other legislative publications, in
number sufficient to supply the needs of the legislature and the public. Such reproduction
shall be under the supervision of the clerks of the Senate and the House. To carry out
the provisions of this section, said committee is authori |