CT SB01241

Consolidates Connecticut's public higher education governance by creating a new Board of Regents for Higher Education to oversee the community-technical college system, Connecticut State University System, and Charter Oak State College, replacing the former Board of Governors of Higher Education and individual boards of trustees (effective July 1, 2011, with transition through December 31, 2011)

Establishes the Office of Governmental Accountability to provide shared administrative functions for nine independent entities including the Office of State Ethics, Freedom of Information Commission, State Elections Enforcement Commission, and Offices of the Child Advocate and Victim Advocate, governed by a nine-member commission that recommends an executive administrator to the Governor

Merges the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism into the Department of Economic and Community Development and transfers the Office of Workforce Competitiveness into the Labor Department, while requiring the state to begin implementing generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for budgeting and financial reporting starting with fiscal year ending June 30, 2014

Strengthens whistleblower protections by extending the filing deadline from 30 to 90 days, increasing the rebuttable presumption period for retaliation from one to two years, authorizing the Auditors of Public Accounts to reject certain complaints, and expanding protections to cover employee testimony in whistleblower proceedings

Expands ignition interlock device requirements for DUI offenders effective January 1, 2012, reducing license suspension periods to 45 days for first and second offenses while requiring interlock installation as a condition of license restoration, and modifies numerous education grant formulas and campaign finance reporting requirements under the Citizens' Election Program