(a) Each state agency of the Executive Department shall explore the feasibility of converting all applications and forms used by the public to electronic format and create an inventory of all forms used by such agency.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 54, an agency, as defined in section 4-166, may suspend any requirements for paper filing or service of documents requirements contained in any regulation adopted by such agency pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 4-167 and may establish an electronic filing system for formal and informal agency proceedings. Such agency, before establishing such a system, shall give at least thirty days' notice by posting on its Internet web site and publishing in the Connecticut Law Journal a notice of its intended action and the instructions for the use of such system.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 54, an agency, as defined in section 4-166, may suspend any requirement established in any regulation adopted by such agency for the paper or facsimile submission of documents or data required to be submitted to such agency by federal or state statute or regulation, or a license, as defined in section 4-166, and require electronic filing of such documents or data or any other information required to be submitted to such agency in writing, in a manner prescribed by the agency. Prior to the establishment of such electronic filing requirements, the agency shall provide at least thirty days' notice on its Internet web site and in the Connecticut Law Journal and include with the notice the agency's instructions for electronic filing. Such instructions shall be maintained on the agency's Internet web site as long as the agency requires electronic filing of such documents and data.

(d) Any agency establishing an electronic filing system in accordance with subsection (b) of this section or requiring the electronic filing of documents or data as described in subsection (c) of this section shall grant a request from a person, as defined in section 4-166, for an exemption from any such electronic filing requirements due to a hardship communicated in writing to the agency, including, but not limited to, a lack of access to a device capable of electronic filing or the incompatibility of a specific filing with the agency's electronic filing system.

(P.A. 11-150, S. 25; P.A. 15-1, S. 2; 15-61, S. 2; P.A. 18-175, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 11-150 effective July 8, 2011; P.A. 15-1 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and made a technical change therein and added Subsec. (b) re permitting an agency to accept paper applications or forms for good cause; P.A. 15-61 amended Subsec. (a) to delete “of the state government” and amended Subsec. (b) to replace provision re permitting an agency to accept paper applications or forms for good cause with provision re suspension of regulatory requirements for paper filing or service and establishing of electronic filing system and mandatory waiver of electronic filing requirements due to hardship; P.A. 18-175 amended Subsec. (b) to make technical changes and to delete provision re exemption from electronic filing requirement, added Subsec. (c) re suspension of paper or facsimile submission of documents or data requirements and added Subsec. (d) re exemption from electronic filing requirements for hardship, effective July 1, 2018.