The legislature’s General Administrations and Elections Committee decided not to raise several bills regarding Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s proposal to abolish or consolidate 23 agencies.
Freshman Sen. Michael McLachlan, R-Danbury, made a motion Monday morning to open the agenda to include several of the governor’s bills, but the motion was defeated 8 to 3 along party lines.
Rep. James Spallone, D-Essex, said the committee held a very lengthy public hearing on the governor’s bills and were forcefully asked by the public not to eliminate the commissions and agencies. Spallone said it’s possible that the concepts in those bills will come up again during budget discussions.
But at the moment, although it may be a brief moment, the bills are dead because Monday was the Government Administration and Elections Committee’s deadline to send its bills to the General Assembly.
Spallone also said it’s possible the concepts raised in the governor’s bills will be part of the Commission on Enhancing Agency Outcomes’ discussion, as it seeks to find efficiencies within state agencies.
Click here to read about the public hearing on the proposals and here to read about the creation of the Commission on Enhancing Agency Outcomes.
State agencies Rell would eliminate:
1. Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission.
2. African-American Affairs Commission
3. Commission on Children
4. Commission on Aging
5. Permanent Commission on the Status of Women
6. Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission
7. Office of Consumer Counsel
8. Office of Health Care Advocate
9. Property Rights Ombudsman
10. Department of Corrections Ombudsman