CHAPTER 33
SECRETARY
Table of Contents
Sec. 3-77. General duties; salary. Office of Secretary full time.
Sec. 3-79. Roll of members of General Assembly.
Sec. 3-80a. List of members-elect and “Pocket Manual” to be sent to members-elect, when.
Sec. 3-81. Appropriations to be certified.
Sec. 3-82. Statement of legislative action.
Sec. 3-83. Publication of special acts. Index.
Sec. 3-84. Distribution of public acts taking effect from passage.
Sec. 3-86. Legislative acts and documents to each free public library.
Sec. 3-87. Publication of election laws.
Secs. 3-88 and 3-89. Distribution of reports of state officers. Digest of compensation decisions.
Sec. 3-90. Register and Manual. Regulations.
Sec. 3-94a. Notaries public. Definitions.
Sec. 3-94b. Appointment and qualifications of notary. Application fee. Certificate of appointment.
Sec. 3-94c. Term of office of notary. Recording of certificate and oath.
Sec. 3-94d. Reappointment of notary.
Sec. 3-94e. Appointment of certain state police officers as notaries.
Sec. 3-94f. Prohibitions re lawful transactions.
Sec. 3-94g. Disqualification of notary.
Sec. 3-94i. Notary's signature.
Sec. 3-94j. Official notarial seal.
Sec. 3-94k. Notarial certificate. Notarial seal. Stamp.
Sec. 3-94m. Warning, reprimand, revocation, suspension, resignation.
Sec. 3-94n. Change of address of notary. Fee.
Sec. 3-94o. Change of name of notary. Fees.
Sec. 3-94p. Procedure for resignation of notary.
Sec. 3-96. List of Superior Court judges and officials.
Sec. 3-97. Records of the colony of New Haven.
Sec. 3-98. Photographic or electronic records and copies.
Sec. 3-99. Fees for filing and recording in Secretary's office.
Sec. 3-99b. Forms of documents filed in Secretary's office.
Sec. 3-99d. Electronic business portal. Establishment and purpose. Promotion and modification.
Sec. 3-105. Arms of the state.
Sec. 3-106a. Reproduction of arms and seal.
Sec. 3-108a. Children's state flower.
Sec. 3-110a. State to be known as “Constitution State”.
Sec. 3-110e. State hero and state heroine.
Sec. 3-110f. State poet laureate.
Sec. 3-110h. State troubadour.
Sec. 3-110i. State composer. Charles Edward Ives Memorial Composer Laureate.
Sec. 3-110k. State folk dance.
Sec. 3-110m. State flagship and tall ship ambassador.
Sec. 3-110p. Second state song.
Sec. 3-110q. State pioneering aircraft.
Sec. 3-77. General duties; salary. Office of Secretary full time. The Secretary shall keep all the public records and documents and record all acts, orders, grants and resolutions of the General Assembly, including all resolutions of appointment and resolutions directing orders to be drawn on the Treasurer, and give true copies thereof when required. The Secretary shall keep the records and files of the Superior Court previous to May, 1798, and the original books and papers of the late Connecticut Land Company; provided the Secretary may turn over any such records, documents or papers to the State Library in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4c. The Secretary may give certified copies of any entries in such records, files, books or other papers and of the files and records of said Superior Court and of the Supreme Court, remaining in the office, which copies shall be legal evidence. The Secretary shall be the keeper of the seal of the state, which shall not be altered, and shall affix the same to acts, laws, orders, commissions, instruments and certificates, when requested or required by law. In accordance with established procedures, the Secretary may enter into such contractual agreements as may be necessary for the discharge of the Secretary's duties. On and after January 4, 2023, the Secretary shall receive an annual salary equal to the annual salary of a judge of the Superior Court under subsection (a) of section 51-47, provided thereafter, no increase in the annual salary of the Secretary shall take effect until the first Wednesday following the first Monday of the January succeeding the next election of the Secretary following any increase in the annual salary of a judge of the Superior Court under section 51-47. The Secretary shall devote full time to the duties of the office.
(1949 Rev., S. 157, 3586, subs. (3); 1951, S. 1960d, subs. (3); February, 1965, P.A. 331, S. 42; 1972, P.A. 281, S. 36; P.A. 77-576, S. 54, 65; P.A. 82-365, S. 5, 8; P.A. 84-414, S. 12, 14; P.A. 85-613, S. 13, 154; P.A. 86-375, S. 4, 9; P.A. 87-174; P.A. 98-227, S. 4, 9; P.A. 00-231, S. 3, 10; P.A. 22-85, S. 5.)
History: 1965 act increased salary from $8,000 to $15,000 effective with respect to secretary elected November 8, 1966; 1972 act increased salary to $20,000, effective January 8, 1975; P.A. 77-576 increased secretary's salary to $25,000, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 82-365 increased secretary's annual salary to $35,000 and added provision requiring secretary to devote full time to duties of office; P.A. 84-414 substituted reference to Sec. 11-4c for reference to Sec. 11-4; P.A. 85-613 made technical change; P.A. 86-375 increased secretary's annual salary to $50,000; P.A. 87-174 added provision permitting secretary to enter into contractual agreements necessary for discharge of duties; P.A. 98-227 increased Secretary's annual salary to $65,000, effective January 6, 1999; P.A. 00-231 increased Secretary's salary to $110,000, effective January 8, 2003; P.A. 22-85 replaced salary of $110,000 with equivalent salary of Superior Court judge on and after January 4, 2023, and added provision re effective date of subsequent increases, effective January 1, 2023.
See chapter 968a re address confidentiality program.
See Sec. 4-14 re transportation allowance.
See Sec. 4-20 re bond requirement.
See Secs. 9-3 and 9-4 re Secretary's duties as Commissioner of Elections.
See Sec. 9-213 re procedure for filling vacancy in office of Secretary.
Clerks of General Assembly proper custodians of its files during sessions. 77 C. 262. History of section. 79 C. 147.
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Sec. 3-78. Deputy Secretary. The Secretary shall appoint a deputy, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties and who shall perform all the duties of the Secretary in case of his sickness or absence and such other duties as may be prescribed.
(1949 Rev., S. 158.)
See Sec. 9-213 re procedure for filling vacancy in office of secretary.
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Sec. 3-79. Roll of members of General Assembly. The Secretary shall, before the convening of each General Assembly, prepare a roll of the senators whose election has been declared by the Board of Canvassers and a roll of the members of the House of Representatives, from the returns or certificates received by him from the moderators of the state election. The Secretary shall deliver to the persons who are to preside at the organization of said houses, respectively, certified copies of such rolls for the use of each house.
(1949 Rev., S. 159; 1953, S. 57d; 1967, P.A. 220.)
History: 1967 act deleted provision regarding excess number of representatives elected by town.
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Sec. 3-80. Manual and roll. Section 3-80 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 174; 1959, P.A. 1, S. 3; P.A. 76-366, S. 2.)
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Sec. 3-80a. List of members-elect and “Pocket Manual” to be sent to members-elect, when. On or before December fifteenth in the even-numbered years, the Secretary of the State shall transmit to each senator and representative elect a complete list of the names and addresses of each such member-elect and shall transmit a copy of the “Pocket Manual” of the previous General Assembly to each such member-elect who was not a member of such previous General Assembly.
(P.A. 76-366, S. 1.)
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Sec. 3-81. Appropriations to be certified. The Secretary shall immediately certify to the Treasurer and Comptroller the amount and purpose of each appropriation made by the General Assembly.
(1949 Rev., S. 160.)
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Sec. 3-82. Statement of legislative action. The Secretary shall file with the legislative commissioners within one week following the adjournment of the General Assembly a statement showing the action of the General Assembly on all resolutions concerning amendments to the Constitution and, as soon as practicable, a like statement showing the bills for acts that have been vetoed by the Governor.
(1949 Rev., S. 44.)
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Sec. 3-83. Publication of special acts. Index. Section 3-83 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 161; February, 1965, P.A. 382, S. 3; P.A. 76-328, S. 2, 3.)
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Sec. 3-84. Distribution of public acts taking effect from passage. Section 3-84 is repealed, effective July 8, 2011.
(1949 Rev., S. 165; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 164; P.A. 74-183, S. 162, 291; P.A. 76-350; 76-436, S. 149, 681; P.A. 11-150, S. 29.)
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Sec. 3-85. Engrossed bills. After the adjournment of each General Assembly, the Secretary shall cause all the engrossed bills which have become laws to be bound, together with any engrossed amendments to the Constitution proposed by the General Assembly at such session and continued to the next assembly, in suitable volumes, and shall also record such bills by the title and number in the public records of the state; and such volumes shall be the official record of the acts passed by the General Assembly at such session and of the amendments to the Constitution proposed at such session by said General Assembly.
(1949 Rev., S. 171; 1967, P.A. 254, S. 2; P.A. 07-194, S. 14.)
History: 1967 act substituted general assembly for house of representatives; P.A. 07-194 changed “one volume” to “suitable volumes” and “volume” to “volumes”, effective July 5, 2007.
See Sec. 2-62 re legislative commissioners' authority to make use of bound volumes of engrossed acts.
Records of Secretary as evidence of existence of law. 77 C. 264; 79 C. 147.
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Sec. 3-86. Legislative acts and documents to each free public library. The Secretary may send a copy of the laws passed by the General Assembly at each session, together with the legislative documents and journals, to each free public library which desires them.
(1949 Rev., S. 1677.)
See Sec. 2-49 re distribution of indexed House and Senate journals.
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Sec. 3-87. Publication of election laws. As soon as possible after the adjournment of each regular session of the General Assembly, the Secretary shall codify and publish in pamphlet form all laws concerning elections in this state and shall send a copy thereof to each election official in each town. The Secretary shall prepare and cause to be included in such pamphlet a brief statement concerning hours of voting, absentee voting, qualifications of electors and the duties of election officials.
(1949 Rev., S. 166.)
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Secs. 3-88 and 3-89. Distribution of reports of state officers. Digest of compensation decisions. Sections 3-88 and 3-89 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 167, 168; February, 1965, P.A. 238; 334.)
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Sec. 3-90. Register and Manual. Regulations. (a) The Secretary shall, annually, prepare and publish a Register and Manual that shall give a complete list of the state, county and town officers, of the judges of all courts and of the officials attending thereon. The population, railroad and postal facilities and other items of general interest concerning each town shall also be given in such book and such other information in relation to state departments, state institutions and other matters of public concern as the Secretary deems desirable. The number of copies of the State Register and Manual published each year shall be determined at the discretion of the Secretary. The Secretary shall determine, by regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54, the agencies and officers of the federal, state and municipal governments to whom the State Register and Manual shall be distributed without charge and the number of copies of such manual to be distributed to each such agency and officer. The price to be charged for any additional copies distributed or sold, except for copies sold pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, shall be twenty dollars per copy for soft-bound copies and thirty-eight dollars per copy for hard-bound special edition copies. Any copies not distributed or sold by July first of the year following publication may be distributed, at no cost, except the cost of mailing if mailed, to any person making a request to the Secretary. Any remaining copies may be disposed of at the time of the next annual publication.
(b) The Secretary shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54, providing for the sale of copies of the Register and Manual through an agent or agents, including, but not limited to, wholesale and retail booksellers according to a discount schedule similar to one that would be available to such agents from commercial book publishers and generally in keeping with standard book industry practices, provided the price of the Register and Manual under such schedule shall be not less than the cost of producing the Register and Manual.
(1949 Rev., S. 173; 1955, S. 60d; 1959, P.A. 152, S. 4; 615, S. 16; 1963, P.A. 351; 1969, P.A. 543; P.A. 76-434, S. 1, 12; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-11, S. 4, 19; P.A. 83-260, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-149, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-251, S. 60, 203; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-1, S. 6, 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 141.)
History: 1959 acts deleted distribution to municipal court officials and county commissioners; 1963 act increased maximum number of books to be published each year; 1969 act increased number of books to be published to 30,000 and changed language as necessary to reflect change from biennial to annual sessions of legislature; P.A. 76-434 decreased number of books to be published to 28,324 and decreased the number of books sent to senators from 15 to 2 and to representatives from 10 to 2; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-11 deleted detailed provisions re number of copies to be published and number to be distributed to schools, libraries, government agencies, etc. and provision which had empowered secretary to reduce the number published and to vary (but not increase) the number distributed as required and inserted new provisions authorizing secretary to determine number to be published, recipients of free copies and the number of copies such recipients are to receive and established $10 charge for any additional copies; P.A. 83-260 changed the price from $10 per copy to $8 for soft-bound copies and $15 for hard-bound copies; P.A. 84-149 provided that copies not distributed by April first of year following publication may be lower in price, copies not distributed by July first in the year following may be distributed without cost and remaining copies may be disposed of at next annual publication; P.A. 89-251 increased fee for soft-bound copies from $8 to $10 and increased fee for hard-bound copies from $15 to $19; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-1 designated existing section as Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (a) by specifying free distribution to officers and agencies “of the federal, state and municipal governments” and deleting provision re price reduction for copies not distributed by April first of following year, and added Subsec. (b) re regulations providing for sale of register and manual through agents; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fee for soft-bound copies from $10 to $20 and for hard-bound copies from $19 to $38 in Subsec. (a).
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Secs. 3-91 to 3-94. Notaries public; appointment, term and qualifications; waiver of fees. Record of certificate and oath of notary. Notice of revocation of appointment. Change of name of notary. Sections 3-91 to 3-94, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 84–86; 1957, P.A. 63, S. 1, 2; 178, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 463, S. 1, 2; February, 1965, P.A. 93; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 2; P.A. 76-220; 76-436, S. 247, 681; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 80-195, S. 1, 2; P.A. 81-34, S. 2–4, 9; P.A. 86-32; P.A. 89-251, S. 61, 62, 203; P.A. 90-154, S. 21.)
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Sec. 3-94a. Notaries public. Definitions. The following terms, when used in sections 3-94a to 3-95, inclusive, shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Acknowledgment” means a notarial act in which a notary public certifies that a signatory, whose identity is personally known to the notary public or proven on the basis of satisfactory evidence, has admitted, in the notary public's presence, to having voluntarily signed a document for its stated purpose.
(2) “Copy certification” means a notarial act in which a notary public: (A) Is presented with an original document, (B) copies or supervises the copying of such document using a photographic or electronic copying process, (C) compares the original document presented to the copy, and (D) certifies that the copy is an accurate and complete reproduction of the original document presented, except that a notary public may not complete a copy certification if the original document presented is: (i) A vital record, as defined in section 7-36, (ii) a document that is required to be recorded by an agent or employee of the state or any political subdivision thereof, or (iii) issued by a federal agency and federal law prohibits the copying of such document.
(3) “Jurat” means a notarial act in which a notary public certifies that a signatory, whose identity is personally known to the notary public or proven on the basis of satisfactory evidence, has made, in the notary public's presence, a voluntary signature and taken an oath or affirmation vouching for the truthfulness of the signed document.
(4) “Notarial act” or “notarization” means any act that a notary public is empowered to perform under the general statutes and includes taking an acknowledgment, administering an oath or affirmation, witnessing or attesting a signature and completing a copy certification.
(5) “Notarial certificate” or “certificate” means the part of, or attachment to, a notarized document to be completed and signed by the notary public.
(6) “Notary public” or “notary” means any person appointed by the Secretary of the State to perform notarial acts.
(7) “Oath” or “affirmation” means a notarial act or part thereof in which a notary public certifies that a person has made a vow in the presence of the notary public on penalty of perjury. In the case of an oath, the vow shall include reference to a Supreme Being unless an affirmation is administered as provided by section 1-23.
(8) “Official misconduct” means (A) a notary public's performance of an act prohibited by the general statutes or failure to perform an act mandated by the general statutes, or (B) a notary public's performance of a notarial act in a manner found to be negligent, illegal or against the public interest.
(9) “Personal knowledge of identity” means familiarity with an individual resulting from interaction with that individual over a period of time sufficient to eliminate any reasonable doubt that the individual has the identity claimed.
(10) “Satisfactory evidence of identity” means identification of an individual based on (A) at least two current documents, one issued by a federal or state government and containing the individual's signature and either a photograph or physical description, and the other by an institution, business entity or state government or the federal government and containing at least the individual's signature, or (B) the oath or affirmation of a credible person who is personally known to the notary public and who personally knows the individual.
(11) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the State.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 1; P.A. 91-110, S. 1, 9; P.A. 12-29, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 91-110 amended Subdiv. (6) by adding “unless an affirmation is administered as provided by section 1-23”; P.A. 12-29 added new Subdiv. (2) defining “copy certification”, redesignated existing Subdivs. (2) to (10) as Subdivs. (3) to (11), redefined “notarial act” in redesignated Subdiv. (4) and made technical changes.
Cited. 230 C. 24.
Cited. 32 CA 402, 403; judgment reversed, see 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94b. Appointment and qualifications of notary. Application fee. Certificate of appointment. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary of the State may appoint as a notary public any qualified person who submits an application in accordance with this section.
(b) In order to qualify for appointment as a notary public, a person shall:
(1) Be eighteen years of age or older at the time of application;
(2) (A) Be a resident of the state of Connecticut at the time of application and appointment, or (B) have one's principal place of business in the state at the time of application and appointment;
(3) Pass a written examination approved or administered by the Secretary;
(4) Submit an application, on a form prescribed and provided by the Secretary, which the applicant shall complete in the applicant's handwriting without misstatement or omission of fact. The application shall be accompanied by (A) a nonrefundable application fee of one hundred twenty dollars, and (B) the recommendation of an individual who has personally known the applicant for at least one year and is not legally related to the applicant.
(c) The Secretary may deny an application based on:
(1) The applicant's conviction of a felony or a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude;
(2) Revocation, suspension or restriction of a notary public appointment or professional license issued to the applicant by this state or any other state; or
(3) The applicant's official misconduct, whether or not any disciplinary action has resulted.
(d) Upon approval of an application for appointment as a notary public, the Secretary shall cause a certificate of appointment bearing a facsimile of the Secretary's signature and countersigned by the Secretary's executive assistant or an employee designated by the Secretary to be issued to such appointee.
(e) A notary public may obtain a replacement certificate of appointment by filing a written request with the Secretary, accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of five dollars.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 2; P.A. 95-76, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 142.)
History: P.A. 95-76 added Subdiv. (2)(B) in Subsec. (b) re option of having principal place of business in the state; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (b)(4)(A) to increase application fee from $60 to $120.
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94c. Term of office of notary. Recording of certificate and oath. (a) A person appointed as a notary public by the Secretary of the State may exercise the functions of the office of notary public at any place within the state beginning on the date of such person's appointment and ending five years later on the last day of the month of appointment, unless (1) such appointment as a notary is suspended or terminated by the Secretary before the end of such term, (2) the notary resigns such appointment, or (3) the notary ceases to either be a resident of the state or have one's principal place of business in the state.
(b) The Secretary may, pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, extend or reduce, by not more than one year, the term of any person serving as a notary public on October 1, 1990, who seeks reappointment after such date, in order for the new term for each such notary to begin on the effective date of the notary's reappointment.
(c) Within thirty days after receiving a certificate of appointment from the Secretary, a notary public shall record, with the town clerk of the municipality in the state in which the notary resides, or, if the notary is not a resident of the state, with the town clerk of the municipality in the state in which the notary's principal place of business is located, such certificate and such notary's oath of office taken and subscribed to by the notary before some proper authority. Any notary public who is a resident of the state and whose principal place of business is in a municipality within the state other than the municipality in which the notary resides, may also record the notary's certificate of appointment and oath of office with the town clerk of such other municipality. Town clerks or assistant town clerks may certify to the authority and official acts of any notary public whose certificate of appointment and oath of office have been recorded in the books in their charge. The failure of a notary public to so record such certificate of appointment and oath of office shall not invalidate any notarial act performed by the notary after the date of such person's appointment as a notary public.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 3; P.A. 95-76, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 95-76 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision re notaries having principal place of business in the state and amended Subsec. (b) to add provision requiring recording of certificate of nonresident notaries with town clerk where notary's principal place of business is located.
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94d. Reappointment of notary. A notary public may apply for reappointment on a form prescribed and provided by the Secretary, accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee of sixty dollars, and shall otherwise comply with all requirements for being appointed and serving as a notary public. Not later than ninety days before the expiration of the term of a notary public, the Secretary shall send the notary a notice of the expiration and a reappointment application form.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 4.)
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94e. Appointment of certain state police officers as notaries. (a) The Secretary of the State may appoint as notaries public, in accordance with the provisions of sections 3-94a to 3-95, inclusive, any number of state police majors, captains, lieutenants and sergeants. The Secretary shall not charge any such person an application fee.
(b) A notary public appointed under this section shall exercise his authority as a notary public only in the administration of oaths and affirmations and the taking of acknowledgments as pertain to official police matters. In such cases the seal of the state police shall be the notarial seal and such notary public shall not charge a fee for such notary's services as a notary public.
(c) Upon terminating employment with the state police, a notary public appointed under this section shall immediately resign as a notary public, in writing. Such resignation shall be effective on the date of such termination of employment.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 5; P.A. 91-110, S. 2, 9.)
History: P.A. 91-110 made technical change in Subsec. (b).
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94f. Prohibitions re lawful transactions. A notary public shall not unreasonably refuse to perform notarial acts in lawful transactions for any requesting person who tenders payment of the statutory fee.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 6; P.A. 91-110, S. 5, 9.)
History: P.A. 91-110 deleted former Subsec. (a) prohibiting notary from influencing person to enter into or refrain from lawful transaction that involves notarial act and removed obsolete Subsec. (b) designator.
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94g. Disqualification of notary. A notary public is disqualified from performing a notarial act if the notary is a signatory of the document that is to be notarized.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 7; P.A. 91-110, S. 3, 9.)
History: P.A. 91-110 deleted language disqualifying notary public from performing notarial act if notary is named in document to be notarized, will receive fee or commission which exceeds permitted statutory fee for notarial act or is legally related to person for whom notarial act is performed.
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94h. Prohibited acts. A notary public shall not (1) perform any official action with intent to deceive or defraud or (2) use the notary's title or seal in an endorsement or promotional statement for any product, service, contest or other offering.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 8; P.A. 91-110, S. 4, 9.)
History: P.A. 91-110 deleted prohibition that a notary shall not notarize document containing statement known by notary to be false or notarize a blank document.
Cited. 230 C. 24.
Plain meaning of phrase “any official action” is very broad and would encompass alleged action of plaintiff in preparing affidavit plaintiff knew to be false, and inherent in prohibition in Subdiv. (1) is public policy against a notary using notary's powers to knowingly assist an affiant in lying to a court of law. 203 CA 75.
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Sec. 3-94i. Notary's signature. In completing a notarial act, a notary public shall sign on the notarial certificate only the notary's own name, as it appears on the notary's certificate of appointment.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 9.)
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94j. Official notarial seal. (a) A notary public, except a state police major, captain, lieutenant or sergeant appointed as a notary public pursuant to section 3-94e, may keep and use an official notarial seal. Such seal shall not be used by any other person or surrendered to any employer upon termination of the notary's employment.
(b) A notary shall immediately destroy the notary's notarial seal upon resigning as a notary or upon the revocation, lapse or expiration of such person's appointment as a notary.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 10.)
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94k. Notarial certificate. Notarial seal. Stamp. If a notary public utilizes a notarial seal, the notary shall, near the notary's official signature on a notarial certificate, affix an impression of the notarial seal, which shall include: (1) The notary's name exactly as it appears on the notary's certificate of appointment, (2) the words “Notary Public” and “Connecticut” and (3) the words “My commission expires (commission expiration date)”, provided the notary may elect to have the words in subdivision (3) appear on a stamp instead of such seal. If the notary does not utilize a notarial seal or stamp, the words “Notary Public” and “My commission expires (commission expiration date)” shall be typed or printed legibly by the notary near the notary's official signature on a notarial certificate.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 11.)
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94l. Liability. (a) A notary public shall be liable to any person for all damages proximately caused to that person by the notary's official misconduct.
(b) An employer of a notary shall be liable to any person for any damages proximately caused to that person by the notary's official misconduct related to the employer's business, if the employer directed, encouraged, consented to, ratified or approved the notary's official misconduct, either in the particular transaction or, implicitly, by previous actions in at least one similar transaction.
(c) An employer of a notary shall be liable to the notary for all damages recovered from the notary as a result of official misconduct that was coerced by threat of the employer, if the threat, such as a threat of demotion or dismissal, was made in reference to a particular notarial act, or, implicitly, by the employer's previous actions in at least one similar transaction. The employer shall also be liable to the notary for damages caused to the notary by demotion, dismissal or other action resulting from the notary's refusal to commit official misconduct.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 12.)
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94m. Warning, reprimand, revocation, suspension, resignation. (a) The Secretary may deliver a written, official warning and reprimand to a notary, or may revoke or suspend a notary's appointment, as a result of such notary's official misconduct or on any ground for which an application for appointment as a notary may be denied, or for a violation of any provision of the general statutes.
(b) The termination or lapse of an appointment as a notary, regardless of reason, shall not stop or preclude any investigation into such notary's conduct by the Secretary, who may pursue any such investigation to a conclusion and issue any finding.
(c) Within thirty days after the resignation, revocation or suspension of a notary's certificate of appointment, the Secretary shall notify all town clerks within the state, in such manner as the Secretary shall determine, of such resignation, revocation or suspension. The town clerk of any municipality in which such notary's certificate of appointment or replacement certificate of appointment has been recorded shall note the resignation, revocation or suspension, and the effective date thereof, on the original record of such certificate or replacement certificate.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 13.)
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94n. Change of address of notary. Fee. Within thirty days after a change of residence address, a notary public who is a resident of the state shall file with the Secretary a signed, written notice which shall include both the old and new addresses. Within thirty days after a change of address of one's principal place of business, a notary public who is not a resident of the state shall file with the Secretary a signed, written notice which shall include both the old and new addresses. Such notice shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of fifteen dollars. If the change of address is to a different municipality, the notary shall, within thirty days after issuance of a replacement certificate of appointment by the Secretary, record such certificate with the town clerk of the municipality in which the new address is located. The failure of a notary to so record such replacement certificate shall not invalidate any notarial act performed by the notary.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 14; P.A. 95-76, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 143.)
History: P.A. 95-76 added provision re notice of change of address of principal place of business in the state for nonresident notaries; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fee from $5 to $15.
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94o. Change of name of notary. Fees. (a) Within thirty days after a change in the name of a notary public, the notary shall file a notice of the change with the Secretary, on a form prescribed and provided by the Secretary. The notice shall state the notary's old and new names and the effective date of the new name, include such proof of the change of name as the Secretary shall require, be signed by the notary and be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of fifteen dollars. The notary shall, within thirty days after the issuance of a replacement certificate of appointment by the Secretary, record such certificate with the town clerk of the municipality wherein the notary recorded the notary's original certificate of appointment and oath of office. The failure of a notary to so record such replacement certificate shall not invalidate any notarial act performed by the notary. Any town clerk who is required by statute to make a record of the certificate of appointment and oath of office of a notary shall record the replacement certificate of appointment containing the change of name of the notary upon payment of a fee of fifteen dollars by such notary to the town clerk.
(b) Beginning on the date of issuance of such replacement certificate of appointment by the Secretary, the notary public shall (1) sign the notary's new name on all notarial certificates, and (2) if the notary uses a notarial seal, use only a notarial seal that contains the notary's new name.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 15; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 144.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fee for name change from $5 to $15 and to increase fee for recording replacement certificate from $1 to $15.
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94p. Procedure for resignation of notary. (a) A notary public may resign as a notary by filing with the Secretary a signed, written notice of resignation which shall indicate the effective date of such resignation.
(b) A notary public who ceases to either reside within the state or have one's principal place of business in the state shall immediately resign as a notary in the manner provided in subsection (a) of this section.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 16; P.A. 95-76, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 95-76 added provision in Subsec. (b) re notaries having principal place of business in the state.
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-94q. Death of notary. As soon as possible after the death of a notary public, the notary's personal representative shall destroy the notary's official notarial seal, if any, and file a signed, written notice, with the Secretary of the State, indicating that the notary public has died and the date of death.
(P.A. 90-154, S. 17.)
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-95. Fees of notary. The fee for any act performed by a notary public in accordance with the provisions of the general statutes shall not exceed five dollars plus an additional thirty-five cents for each mile of travel.
(1949 Rev., S. 3638; P.A. 79-284; P.A. 90-154, S. 18; P.A. 00-138, S. 1, 2.)
History: P.A. 79-284 replaced varying fees for different types of notarization with single fee of $1.00 and raised travel charges from $0.10 to $0.15 per mile; P.A. 90-154 increased fee to $2.00 plus $0.25 a mile; P.A. 00-138 increased to $5.00 plus $0.35 a mile, effective July 1, 2000.
See Sec. 52-259 re court fees.
Cited. 230 C. 24.
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Sec. 3-95a. Prohibition re notary offering or providing legal advice in immigration matters. Use of title of notario or notario publico. (a) A notary public shall not offer or provide legal advice to any person in immigration matters or represent any person in immigration proceedings unless such notary public (1) has been admitted as an attorney under the provisions of section 51-80, or (2) is authorized pursuant to 8 CFR 292.2 to practice immigration law or represent persons in immigration proceedings.
(b) A notary public shall not assume, use or advertise the title of notario or notario publico, unless such notary public (1) has been admitted as an attorney under the provisions of section 51-80, or (2) indicates in any advertisement or otherwise provides written notice that such notary public is not licensed as an attorney in this state.
(c) Any notary public who violates any provision of this section shall have committed a violation of subsection (a) of section 51-88 and be subject to the penalties set forth in subsection (b) of section 51-88.
(P.A. 13-127, S. 1.)
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Sec. 3-96. List of Superior Court judges and officials. The Secretary shall keep in his office, for public inspection, a copy of the list of the judges and clerks of the Superior Court, and of the state's attorneys and state marshals, with the date of their respective appointments and terms of service and shall, from time to time, add to said list the names of persons thereafter appointed or elected to the offices named. The Chief Court Administrator shall furnish the Secretary a certified list of the chief clerks, deputy chief clerks, clerks, deputy clerks and assistant clerks appointed by the judges of the Superior Court at their annual meeting, and any judge making an appointment to fill a vacancy shall, in like manner, certify to such appointment; and the chief clerk of the Superior Court in each judicial district shall notify the Secretary whenever a new appointment is made for the office of state's attorney for his judicial district. The Secretary shall, when requested, certify to the official character of the officers whose appointment is recorded as herein provided.
(1949 Rev., S. 175; 1967, P.A. 656, S. 2; P.A. 76-436, S. 389, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 00-99, S. 18, 154.)
History: 1967 act substituted chief court administrator for chief justice of the supreme court; P.A. 76-436 substituted chief administrative judge for chief court administrator, clarified that clerks to be included in list and included judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted references to county; P.A. 00-99 changed reference to sheriffs to state marshals, effective December 1, 2000.
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Sec. 3-97. Records of the colony of New Haven. The Secretary is authorized to issue certified copies of any instrument contained in the volumes of the records of the “Colony or Jurisdiction of New Haven”, deposited in the State Library, which certified copies shall be admissible in evidence in the same manner and entitled to the same weight as copies made and certified by the official from whom such records were received; and the town clerk of the town of New Haven is authorized to issue certified copies from the photostat copies of such records, deposited in the office of said town clerk by the State Librarian, which certified copies shall be admissible in evidence in the same manner and entitled to the same weight as copies made and certified from original copies.
(1949 Rev., S. 176.)
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Sec. 3-98. Photographic or electronic records and copies. Copies of any books, records, papers or documents filed, as required by law, for record in the office of the Secretary shall, when authenticated under the seal of the state and over a facsimile of the signature of the Secretary, be admitted in evidence equally with the originals thereof and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts set forth therein. When certified copies of any certificate or report filed by any corporation for record in the office of the Secretary are required by law to be furnished by said Secretary for use in this state, it shall be sufficient if the Secretary furnishes such copies over a facsimile of his signature and authenticated under the seal of the state. When the term “recorded” is used under provisions of law relating to a record in the office of the Secretary, such term shall be construed to include a photographic or electronic record. When the term “certified copy” is used under provisions of law relating to a certified copy to be furnished by the Secretary, such term shall be construed to include photographic or electronic copy. Any limitation contained in section 1-12 upon the use of signatures shall have no application to the provisions of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 177; P.A. 89-243, S. 1, 4.)
History: P.A. 89-243 changed “photostat record” to “photographic or electronic record”, and added provision that “certified copy” shall be construed to include photographic or electronic copy.
See Sec. 1-7 re authority to reproduce documents by photographic processes.
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Sec. 3-99. Fees for filing and recording in Secretary's office. Section 3-99 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 3637; 1951, S. 1984d; 1959, P.A. 530, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 364, S. 2.)
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Sec. 3-99a. Fees for filing, recording and copying documents. Expedited services. Filing by electronic means. Unique identification numbers. Remittance by credit account. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary of the State shall receive, for filing or recording any document, instrument or paper required to be filed or recorded regardless of the number of pages, when fees are not otherwise specially provided for, fifty dollars. The Secretary shall receive, for preparing and furnishing a copy of any document, instrument or paper filed or recorded: For each copy of each such document, regardless of the number of pages, forty dollars, for affixing the Secretary's certificate and the state seal thereto, fifteen dollars; for the Secretary's certificate with the state seal imprinted or affixed, fifty dollars; for a certificate, with the seal of the state imprinted or affixed thereon, of any fact or record for which no special provision is made, fifty dollars; for certifying the incumbency of a judge of probate, notary public or other official, forty dollars, except that for certifying the incumbency of an official in connection with an adoption of a child, such fee shall be fifteen dollars.
(b) No fee shall be charged for filing any document required to be filed pursuant to the provisions of titles 4, 7 and 9, and the fee for furnishing copies of such documents shall be such as will, in the judgment of said Secretary, cover the costs of such copies, except that the fee for furnishing copies of documents filed pursuant to title 9 shall not exceed twenty-five cents per page. No fee shall be charged for filing resolutions relating to payment from the Treasury and statements of receipts and expenditures of judges of probate.
(c) No fee shall be charged for any copy required by any state officer, department, board or commission, the fee for which would be payable from the State Treasury. For other services for which fees are not provided by the general statutes, the Secretary may charge such fees as will in his judgment cover the cost of the services provided. The tax imposed under chapter 219 shall not be imposed upon any transaction for which a fee may be charged under the provisions of this section. Overpayments made to the Records and Legislative Services Division or to the Commercial Recording Division of the office of the Secretary of the State, whether for documents or for fees, in an amount not to exceed five dollars shall not be refunded but shall be placed in the General Fund. No overpayment claim shall be presented under this section but within one year after it accrues.
(d) In the performance of their functions, the Commercial Recording Division and the Records and Legislative Services Division of the office of the Secretary of the State may, in the discretion of the Secretary, provide expedited services. The Secretary shall provide for the establishment and administration of a system of payment for such expedited services and may include in such system prepaid deposit accounts. The Secretary shall charge, in addition to the filing fees provided for by law, the sum of fifty dollars for each expedited service provided. The filing fee and the expediting fee shall be paid by the person requesting the information and documents, in such manner as required by the Secretary. The Secretary may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to establish guidelines for the use of expedited services and shall establish fees, in addition to the expediting fee, for expedited electronic data processing services which cover the cost of such services.
(e) The Secretary of the State may accept the filing of documents by telecopier or other electronic media and employ new technology, as it is developed, to aid in the performance of all duties required by the law. The Secretary of the State may establish rules, fee schedules and regulations, not inconsistent with the law, for filing documents by telecopier or other electronic media, for the adoption, employment and use of new technology in the performance of the duties of the office and for providing electronic access and other related products or services that result from the employment of such new technology.
(f) The Secretary of the State may require that a unique identification number be provided on documents or requests processed by the office.
(g) The Secretary of the State may allow remittances to be in the form of a credit card account number and an authorization to draw upon a specified credit card account, at such time and under such conditions as the Secretary may prescribe. Remittances in the form of an authorization to draw upon a specified credit card account shall include an amount for purposes of paying the discount rate associated with drawing upon the credit card account, unless the remittances are drawn on an account with a financial institution that agrees to add the number to the credit card holder's billing, in which event the remittances drawn shall not include an amount for purposes of paying the discount rate associated with the drawing upon the credit card account.
(February, 1965, P.A. 364, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 61; 1972, P.A. 30, S. 1; P.A. 76-230, S. 3, 4; P.A. 77-184, S. 3, 4; 77-604, S. 1, 84; P.A. 79-341; 79-356, S. 11; P.A. 82-374, S. 5, 6; P.A. 85-486, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-251, S. 63, 203; 89-252, S. 1, 11; P.A. 90-100, S. 1, 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 87, 117; P.A. 93-363, S. 1; P.A. 94-112, S. 2; P.A. 95-252, S. 14; P.A. 07-217, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 145; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 439.)
History: 1967 act prohibited fees for filing party rules or furnishing copies of rules; 1972 act allowed charge of $0.10 per page for furnishing copies; P.A. 76-230 increased fee for certifying various documents from $3.00 to $5.00 and deleted provision concerning comparing copies; P.A. 77-184 added Subsec. (c) providing sales tax exemption; P.A. 77-604 made technical changes; P.A. 79-341 made fee exemption extend to all documents pertaining to elections for filing purposes and allowed a charge for copying to cover costs, deleting the set fee of $0.10 per page; P.A. 79-356 provided that overpayments to corporations divisions not exceeding $5.00 be paid into general fund; P.A. 82-374 amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision that overpayments to uniform commercial code division in an amount not to exceed $3.00 shall not be refunded but shall be placed in general fund; P.A. 85-486 added Subsec. (d) re establishment and administration of expedited services, including expediting fee of $20.00 and regulatory authority to establish guidelines for use of system; P.A. 89-251 increased the fee for two pages or less from $4.00 to $6.00, for additional pages from $1.50 to $2.00, for certifying the incumbency of a judge of probate from $5.00 to $20.00, and created a fee for certifying the incumbency of other public officials of $20.00, set the fee for copies of title 9 documents at not less than $0.30 per copy for the first fifty copies and $0.50 each for subsequent copies, set the fee for services in Subsec. (c) and increased the fees for expedited service in Subsec. (d) from $20.00 to $25.00; P.A. 89-252 amended Subsec. (a) by increasing standard fee for copies from $1.50 for each page of a document, with a minimum charge of $4.00 to $15.00 for each document, regardless of the number of pages, amended Subsec. (b) by exempting documents filed pursuant to titles 4 and 7 from fee, amended Subsec. (c) by changing “corporations division” to “records and legislative services division or to the commercial recording division, except the uniform commercial code unit” and amended Subsec. (d) by providing that the commercial recording division and the records and legislative services division may provide expedited services; P.A. 90-100 added in Subsec. (a) the reduced fee for certifying the incumbency of an official in connection with the adoption of a child; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fees and to make fees applicable regardless of number of pages and amended Subsec. (c) to delete specific fees formerly enumerated in Subdivs. (1) to (12), inclusive, and to place one-year time limit on presenting overpayment claim; P.A. 93-363 increased fees for certificate from $5.00 to $25.00, deleted provisions in Subsec. (c) re overpayments made to uniform commercial code unit and added Subsec. (e) re acceptance of filing of documents by telecopier or other electronic media, Subsec. (f) re requirement of unique identification number on documents or requests and Subsec. (g) re permitting remittances to be in form of credit account number; P.A. 94-112 amended Subsec. (b) by changing the fee from not less than $0.30 per copy for the first fifty copies and $0.50 per copy for each copy thereafter to not more than $0.25 per page; P.A. 95-252 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that the maximum fee of $0.25 per page for furnishing copies of documents only applies to copies of documents filed pursuant to title 9 and amended Subsec. (e) to authorize the Secretary of the State to establish rules, fee schedules and regulations “for providing electronic access and other related products or services that result from the employment of such new technology”; P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective July 12, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsecs. (a) and (d) to increase fees; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 replaced “credit account” with “credit card account” in Subsec. (g), effective July 1, 2022.
See Secs. 33-617 and 33-1013 re fees payable to Secretary by stock and nonstock corporations, respectively.
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Sec. 3-99b. Forms of documents filed in Secretary's office. The Secretary of the State may (a) except when such forms are otherwise prescribed by the general statutes, prescribe and require the use of forms for any reports, documents, certificates, instruments or other papers required to be filed in his office, and (b) prescribe the size of all documents filed in his office and require all documents submitted for filing to be such prescribed size.
(P.A. 83-138.)
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Sec. 3-99c. Deposit of fees. All fees received by the Secretary of the State shall be deposited in the General Fund.
(P.A. 92-200, S. 3, 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 87.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 eliminated commercial recording account established within General Fund for payment of administrative costs of Commercial Recording Division, effective September 9, 2009.
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Sec. 3-99d. Electronic business portal. Establishment and purpose. Promotion and modification. (a) The Commercial Recording Division of the office of the Secretary of the State shall establish an electronic business portal as a single point of entry for business entities for purposes of business registration pursuant to title 33 or 34. Such portal shall provide explanatory information and electronic links provided by state agencies and quasi-public agencies, including, but not limited to, the Labor Department, the Workers' Compensation Commission, the Departments of Economic and Community Development, Administrative Services, Consumer Protection, Energy and Environmental Protection and Revenue Services, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, Connecticut Licensing Info Center, The United States Small Business Administration, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, the Connecticut Economic Resource Center and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, for the purposes of assisting such business entities in determining permitting and licensure requirements, identifying state revenue responsibilities and benefits, and finding available state financial incentives and programs related to such entities' businesses. The information provided for purposes of business registration with the office of the Secretary of the State may be made available to state agencies and quasi-public agencies for economic development, state revenue collection and statistical purposes as provided by law.
(b) The Department of Economic and Community Development, within available appropriations and in collaboration with the office of the Secretary of the State, shall (1) promote such electronic business portal in order to encourage entrepreneurship in the state, and (2) identify modifications to such electronic business portal to allow businesses to complete the business registration process in an expedient manner.
(P.A. 11-48, S. 29; 11-61, S. 102; 11-80, S. 1; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 152; P.A. 17-103, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 11-48 effective January 1, 2012; P.A. 11-61 added reference to Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, effective January 1, 2012; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, “the Connecticut Development Authority, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 17-103 designated existing provisions re establishment of electronic business portal as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re promotion and modification of business portal.
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Sec. 3-100. Names of streams. The Commissioner of Transportation and the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection are directed to prepare and file in the office of the Secretary a list of the names of all brooks, rivers, ponds, lakes and other bodies of water in this state, and, when such list is so filed, the names thereon shall be the official names of said bodies of water, provided additions to, and corrections of, said list may be certified at any time.
(1949 Rev., S. 181; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 56; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: 1969 act substituted commissioner of transportation for highway commissioner; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.
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Secs. 3-101 to 3-104. Division of Professional and Vocational Licensing. Professional and vocational licensing boards, generally. Sections 3-101 to 3-104, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 182–185; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 410, S. 1; P.A. 75-268, S. 1; P.A. 76-86.)
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Sec. 3-105. Arms of the state. The following-described arms shall be the official arms of the state: A shield of rococo design of white field, having in the center three grape vines, supported and bearing fruit. The vine located in the center of the shield and the vine located on the right side of the shield shall ascend in a counterclockwise manner. The vine located on the left side of the shield shall ascend in a clockwise manner. The bordure to the shield shall consist of two bands bordered by fine lines adorned with clusters of white oak leaves (Quercus alba) bearing acorns. Below the shield shall be a white streamer, cleft at each end, bordered with two fine lines, and upon the streamer shall be in block letters the motto “QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET”. A drawing of said arms, made in conformity herewith and filed in the office of the Secretary, shall be the official drawing of the arms of the state.
(1949 Rev., S. 178; 1953, S. 61d; 1959, P.A. 328, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 76, S. 1; P.A. 90-156, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act added provision re approval of certain reproductions by secretary; 1961 act deleted references to use of arms other than on official business; P.A. 90-156 added provisions re location of the vines and description of bordure to the shield and amended description of letters on the streamer.
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Sec. 3-106. Seal. The great seal of the state shall conform to the following description: It shall be a perfect ellipse with its major axis two and one-half inches in length and its minor axis two inches in length, the major axis being vertical. Within such ellipse shall appear another ellipse with its major axis one and fifteen-sixteenths inches in length and its minor axis one and one-half inches in length. The inner ellipse is separated from the outer ellipse only by a line two points one-thirty-sixth of an inch in width and with the space between the two ellipses, being seven-thirty-seconds of an inch, forming a border. In said space shall appear, letter spaced and in letters one-eighth of an inch in height and of twelve point century Roman, the words “SIGILLUM REIPUBLICAE CONNECTICUTENSIS”, beginning and ending one and one-sixteenth inches apart in the lower space along such border. In the center of the inner ellipse shall be three grape vines, two above and one below, each with four leaves and three clusters of grapes intertwined around a support nine-sixteenths of an inch high, and the base of the supports of the two upper vines one inch from the base of the inner ellipse and eleven-sixteenths of an inch apart. The base of the lower support shall be nine-sixteenths of an inch from the base of the inner ellipse and halfway between said bases shall appear the motto “QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET”, in number three, six point card Roman letters, or engraver's Roman letters, on a ribbon gracefully formed, with the ends of the ribbon turned upward and inward and cleft. A drawing of said seal shall be filed in the office of the Secretary and shall be its official drawing.
(1949 Rev., S. 179, 8490; 1953, S. 3280d; 1959, P.A. 328, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 76, S. 2.)
History: 1959 act deleted provision confining use of seal to use under direction of secretary and stated reproductions could only be for purposes related directly or indirectly to state business; 1961 act deleted all provisions re reproductions.
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Sec. 3-106a. Reproduction of arms and seal. The official arms and seal of the state of Connecticut, or imitation thereof, whether as a reproduction, imprint or facsimile, shall be made and used only under the direction and with the approval of the Secretary of the State for purposes specifically authorized by the Constitution and laws of the state or related directly or indirectly to the official business of the state, provided the Secretary may in his judgment approve other reproductions of said arms or seal of the state for memorials and for purposes he considers educational.
(1961, P.A. 76, S. 3; February, 1965, P.A. 396, S. 1.)
History: 1965 act specified section applies to imitations of the official arms and seal of state.
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Sec. 3-107. State flag. The following-described flag is the official flag of the state. The dimensions of the flag shall be five feet and six inches in length, four feet and four inches in width. The flag shall be azure blue, charged with an argent white shield of rococo design, having in the center three grape vines, supported and bearing fruit in natural colors. The bordure to the shield shall be in two colors, gold on the interior and silver on the exterior, adorned with natural-colored clusters of white oak leaves (Quercus alba) bearing acorns. Below the shield shall be a white streamer, cleft at each end, bordered by a band of gold within fine brown lines, and upon the streamer in dark blue block letters shall be the motto “QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET”; the whole design being the arms of the state.
(1949 Rev., S. 3581; P.A. 90-156, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 90-156 amended description of the state flag.
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Sec. 3-108. State flower. The mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, shall be the state flower.
(1949 Rev., S. 3582.)
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Sec. 3-108a. Children's state flower. Michaela Petit's Four-O'Clocks, Mirabilis jalapa, shall be the children's state flower.
(P.A. 15-77, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 15-77 effective June 19, 2015.
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Sec. 3-109. State bird. The American robin, Turdus migratorius, shall be the state bird.
(1949 Rev., S. 3583.)
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Sec. 3-109a. State animal. The sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, shall be the state animal.
(P.A. 75-165; P.A. 86-403, S. 6, 132.)
History: P.A. 86-403 made technical change re scientific name of sperm whale.
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Sec. 3-109b. State insect. The praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, shall be the state insect.
(P.A. 77-243.)
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Sec. 3-109c. State shellfish. The Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, shall be the state shellfish.
(P.A. 89-321, S. 10, 12.)
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Sec. 3-109d. State fish. The American shad, Alosa sapidissima, shall be the state fish.
(P.A. 03-41, S. 1.)
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Sec. 3-110. State tree. The white oak, Quercus alba, shall be the state tree.
(1949 Rev., S. 3584.)
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Sec. 3-110a. State to be known as “Constitution State”. The state of Connecticut shall be known as “The Constitution State”.
(1959, P.A. 121.)
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Sec. 3-110b. State mineral. The garnet shall be the state mineral.
(P.A. 77-293.)
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Sec. 3-110c. State song. The song entitled “Yankee Doodle”, composer unknown, shall be the state song. The form in which this song shall be sung as the state song shall be as follows:
WORDS
Yankee Doodle went to town,
Riding on a pony,
Stuck a feather in his hat,
And called it macaroni.
CHORUS
Yankee Doodle keep it up,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step,
And with the folks be handy.
MUSIC
(P.A. 78-4.)
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Sec. 3-110d. State ship. The submarine, USS Nautilus, shall be the state ship.
(P.A. 83-313.)
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Sec. 3-110e. State hero and state heroine. (a) Nathan Hale shall be the state hero.
(b) Prudence Crandall shall be the state heroine.
(P.A. 85-311; P.A. 95-20.)
History: P.A. 95-20 designated existing provision as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b), naming Prudence Crandall as the state heroine.
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Sec. 3-110f. State poet laureate. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall designate, every three years, a state poet laureate. The commissioner may fill any vacancy by appointment for the unexpired portion of the term vacated.
(P.A. 85-221; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 210(e); P.A. 04-20, S. 3; 04-205, S. 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 30; P.A. 11-48, S. 128; P.A. 18-162, S. 1; P.A. 21-193, S. 4.)
History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-20 replaced State Commission on the Arts with Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-205, effective June 3, 2004, and May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, effective May 12, 2004, both replaced Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film with Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism; P.A. 11-48 replaced “Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism” with “Department of Economic and Community Development, with recommendations of the Culture and Tourism Advisory Committee”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 18-162 replaced “Department” with “Commissioner”, replaced “may appoint” with “shall designate, every three years” and added provision re filling of vacancy; P.A. 21-193 deleted provision re recommendations of Culture and Tourism Advisory Committee, effective July 13, 2021.
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Sec. 3-110g. State fossil. The dinosaur footprints of Eubrontes shall be the state fossil.
(P.A. 91-70.)
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Sec. 3-110h. State troubadour. There shall be an official state troubadour or trobairitz. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall designate, every three years, a troubadour or trobairitz to serve in the position. The commissioner may fill any vacancy by appointment for the unexpired portion of the term vacated.
(P.A. 91-157; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-1, S. 49, 51; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 210(e); P.A. 04-20, S. 3; 04-205, S. 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 30; P.A. 11-48, S. 129; P.A. 18-162, S. 2.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-1 required troubadour to be designated biennially, rather than annually, effective July 1, 1999; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-20 replaced state Commission on the Arts with Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-205, effective June 3, 2004, and May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, effective May 12, 2004, both replaced Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film with Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism; P.A. 11-48 replaced “Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism” with “Department of Economic and Community Development”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 18-162 added “or trobairitz”, replaced “Department” with “Commissioner”, replaced biennially with every three years and added provision re filling of vacancy.
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Sec. 3-110i. State composer. Charles Edward Ives Memorial Composer Laureate. Charles Edward Ives is designated as the composer of the state of Connecticut. There shall be a “Charles Edward Ives Memorial Composer Laureate of the state of Connecticut”. The board of directors of the Charles Ives Center for the Arts, in consultation with the panel established under this section, may designate from time to time a composer who was born or is living in Connecticut to serve in the position of composer laureate. There is established a panel that shall meet from time to time to advise said board of directors on the designation of the composer laureate. The panel shall be comprised of eight members, one of whom shall be a representative of the Department of Economic and Community Development, one of whom shall be a representative of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, one of whom shall be a representative of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, one of whom shall be a representative of the Yale University School of Music, one of whom shall be a representative of the Hartt School of Music of The University of Hartford, one of whom shall be a representative of The Charles Ives Society, Inc., one of whom shall be a representative of The University of Connecticut through its music department, and one of whom shall be a representative of the Connecticut State University System through the music department of Western Connecticut State University. Each member of the panel shall be selected by the entity that the member represents.
(P.A. 91-318; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 210(e); P.A. 04-20, S. 3; 04-205, S. 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 30; P.A. 11-48, S. 130.)
History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-20 replaced Connecticut Commission on the Arts with Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-205, effective June 3, 2004, and May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, effective May 12, 2004, both replaced Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film with Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism; P.A. 11-48 made a technical change and replaced “Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism” with “Department of Economic and Community Development”, effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 3-110j. State tartan. The following-described tartan shall be the official tartan of the state: A plaid, with large blue stripes representing Long Island Sound, large green stripes representing forest, medium gray stripes representing granite, red and yellow pin stripes representing autumn leaves and white pin stripes representing snow. The white pin stripes shall be located within every other gray stripe and shall be offset from the center. The thread ratio for the tartan shall be: Blue-10, gray-2, white-1, gray-5, green-8, yellow-1, green-2, red-1, green-8, gray-8 and blue-10.
(P.A. 95-47.)
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Sec. 3-110k. State folk dance. The square dance shall be the state folk dance.
(P.A. 95-107.)
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Sec. 3-110l. State cantata. The cantata entitled “Nutmeg” composed by Stanley L. Ralph shall be the state cantata.
(P.A. 03-63, S. 1.)
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Sec. 3-110m. State flagship and tall ship ambassador. The Freedom Schooner Amistad shall be the official state flagship and tall ship ambassador of the state.
(P.A. 03-20, S. 1.)
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Sec. 3-110n. State aircraft. The F4U Corsair shall be the state aircraft.
(P.A. 05-49, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 05-49 effective May 9, 2005.
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Sec. 3-110o. State polka. The ballroom polka shall be the state polka.
(P.A. 13-210, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 13-210 effective June 25, 2013.
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Sec. 3-110p. Second state song. The song entitled “Beautiful Connecticut Waltz”, composed by Joseph Leggo of Newington, shall be the second state song.
(P.A. 13-210, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 13-210 effective June 25, 2013.
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Sec. 3-110q. State pioneering aircraft. Gustave Whitehead's No. 21 shall be the state pioneering aircraft.
(P.A. 17-204, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 17-204 effective July 10, 2017.
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Sec. 3-110r. State dinosaur. The Dilophosaurus shall be the state dinosaur.
(P.A. 17-204, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 17-204 effective July 10, 2017.
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