File No. 745

Senate, May 5, 2011

The Committee on Appropriations reported through SEN. HARP of the 10th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE DISTRIBUTION OF STATE FUNDS TO MUNICIPALITIES.

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

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to study the distribution of state funds to municipalities as payments in lieu of taxes under chapters 201 and 203 of the general statutes, distributions from the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund under sections 3-55i to 3-55m, inclusive, of the general statutes, equalization aid grants under sections 10-262h and 10-262i of the general statutes, public school transportation grants or reimbursement under sections 10-54, 10-66ee, 10-97, 10-158a, 10-266m, 10-273a and 10-277 of the general statutes and nonpublic school transportation grants under sections 10-266m, 10-277 and 10-281 of the general statutes. Such study shall evaluate the equity, efficiency and continued viability of such distribution of funds.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;

(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;

(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives;

(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;

(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;

(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;

(7) The chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations; and

(8) The ranking members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations.

(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the General Assembly.

(d) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.

(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section.

(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.

(g) Not later than January 1, 2012, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2012, whichever is later.

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst's professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

The Office of Legislative Management would incur minimal costs, estimated to be less than $5,000, associated with mileage reimbursement of 51 cents per mile for legislators (who seek such reimbursement) participating on the task force.

The Out Years

There is no fiscal impact in the out years.

OFA Bill Analysis

SB 1121

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE DISTRIBUTION OF STATE FUNDS TO MUNICIPALITIES.

SUMMARY:

The bill creates a ten member task force to study the equity, efficiency and continued viability of the distribution of the following state funds to municipalities:

1. Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT)

3. Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund

4. Equalization Aid Grants

5. Public School Transportation Grants or Reimbursements

6. Nonpublic School Transportation Grants

One member each is to be appointed by: (1) The speaker of the House of Representatives, (2) the president pro tempore of the Senate, (3) the majority leader of the House of Representatives, (4) the majority leader of the Senate, (5) the minority leader of the House of Representatives, (6) the minority leader of the Senate. Any of the aforementioned appointments may be a member of the General Assembly. Additionally, the chairpersons and ranking members of the Appropriations Committee shall be members.

Appointments must be made not later than 30 days after the bill's passage and any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. The chairpersons of the task force shall be selected by the speaker and the president pro tempore. The first meeting of the task force must be held not later than 60 days after the bill's passage.

The task force must submit its findings and recommendations to the Appropriations Committee not later than January 1, 2012. The task force will terminate on the date it submits its report, or January 1, 2012 whichever is later.

The administrative staff of the Appropriations Committee shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

COMMITTEE ACTION

Appropriations Committee

Joint Favorable