File No. 296

Senate, March 30, 2009

The Committee on Commerce reported through SEN. LEBEAU of the 3rd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF CONNECTICUT AS A PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than January 1, 2010, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall submit a summary report to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, evaluating the competitiveness of Connecticut as a place for business. Said report shall be no more than three pages and shall include, but not be limited to, an evaluation of (1) how the programs and policies of state government affect the economy and business environment, (2) the ability of the state to retain and attract businesses, (3) the steps taken by other states to improve the competitiveness of such states as places for business, and (4) programs and policies the state could implement to improve the competitiveness of the state as a place for business.

The following fiscal impact statement and bill analysis are prepared for the benefit of members of the General Assembly, solely for the purpose of information, summarization, and explanation, and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either House thereof for any purpose:

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

The bill requires the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to prepare and submit a summary report to the Commerce Committee evaluating the competitiveness of Connecticut as a place for doing business by January 1, 2010. This is not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact.

OLR Bill Analysis

SB 50

AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF CONNECTICUT AS A PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the economic and community development commissioner to annually, by January 1, evaluate Connecticut's competitiveness as a place to do business and submit a summary report on her findings to the governor and Commerce Committee. The report must be less than four pages and include an evaluation of:

1. how the state's programs and policies affect the economy and business environment,

2. the state's ability to retain and attract businesses,

3. other states' steps to improve their competitiveness, and

4. programs and policies the state could implement to improve its competitiveness.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

COMMITTEE ACTION

Commerce Committee

Joint Favorable