HB 05495 Summary

• Reestablishes the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee as a permanent standing committee with 6 Senate members and 6 House members, effective July 1, 2022, to conduct program reviews and investigations of state agencies and departments.

• Grants the committee authority to review audit reports, request information from state agencies, originate legislation based on findings, and conduct investigations requested by joint resolution or joint standing committees.

• Expands contractor prequalification application requirements to include disclosure of pending, settled, or concluded legal proceedings within the past five years related to procurement or performance of public and private construction contracts.

• Requires University of Connecticut real estate acquisitions and sales to be reviewed and approved by the State Properties Review Board, subjecting them to the same oversight as other state property transactions.

• Modifies audit reporting requirements so that state auditors must report findings to the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee regarding unauthorized, illegal, irregular, or unsafe handling of state funds, with specified effective dates ranging from July 1 to October 1, 2022.