(a) There shall be a State Commission on Capitol Preservation and Restoration to consist of twelve members to be appointed as follows: Two members shall be appointed by the Governor, two by the speaker of the House of Representatives, two by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one by the House minority leader, one by the Senate minority leader, two members of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, one appointed by each of the chairmen of said committee, and one member of the Culture and Tourism Advisory Committee appointed by its chairperson. The Commissioner of Administrative Services, or the commissioner's designee, shall be an ex-officio member of the commission and shall attend its meetings. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled by the original appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the term. The members shall serve without compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The commission shall meet at least quarterly, and more often on the call of the chairman or on the written request of a majority of the members. The commission may designate subcommittees to carry out its functions. Any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned.

(b) The commission: (1) Shall undertake a continuing review and study of the State Capitol building and grounds, with a view to developing a master plan for the preservation and restoration of the Capitol, including necessary structural changes, consistent with the original historical character of the building, with due regard being given to enhancing the interior and exterior beauty of the building, making better use of existing space and reducing public safety hazards; (2) may consult with state, federal or private agencies with respect thereto, and disseminate information on its activities; and (3) shall report on its activities to the Joint Committee on Legislative Management annually or as often as the committee shall direct. The Department of Administrative Services shall provide professional staff assistance to the commission when available. If such assistance cannot be provided within a reasonable time, the commission may, with the approval of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, retain technical advisors to assist in reviewing project plans and work.

(c) The commission is authorized to accept gifts, donations and grants from the federal government or other public or private sources for the purpose of such preservation and restoration.

(d) The Joint Committee on Legislative Management may undertake capital expenditure programs for which capital funds are authorized, in connection with such preservation and restoration. Such programs shall be carried out by the committee, pursuant to plans and specifications approved by the commission and in accordance with the bidding procedures in part II of chapter 60. The commission shall adopt regulations establishing basic artistic standards in keeping with the original historical character of the Capitol to assist the committee in the preparation of plans and specifications.

(e) The commission shall be an independent body within the Legislative Department for administrative purposes only.

(P.A. 73-460, S. 1–4; P.A. 77-614, S. 73, 81, 610; P.A. 82-438, S. 1, 6; P.A. 84-512, S. 12, 30; P.A. 87-496, S. 18, 110; 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; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1, S. 40; P.A. 11-48, S. 138; 11-51, S. 90; P.A. 13-247, S. 200.)

History: P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of administrative services for public works commissioner, deleted obsolete language regarding first appointments, deleted provision for electing temporary chairman and vice-chairman and added Subsec. (e); P.A. 82-438 amended section to provide that the joint committee on legislative management, not the commission, may undertake capital expenditure programs and that the committee, not the department of administrative services, shall carry out such programs, including bidding procedures and to transfer commission from department of administrative services to legislative department for administrative purposes only; P.A. 84-512 authorized reimbursement of members for expenses, established attendance requirements for members and authorized commission to retain technical advisors when professional staff assistance is not available from department of administrative services; P.A. 87-496 replaced administrative services commissioner with public works commissioner in Subsec. (a); Sec. 4-24l transferred to Sec. 4b-60 in 1989; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-20 replaced the Connecticut Historical Commission with the 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; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “Commissioner of Public Works” with “Commissioner of Public Works, or the commissioner's designee”, effective June 22, 2010; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change and replace “Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism” with “Culture and Tourism Advisory Committee”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Commissioner of Public Works” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Construction Services” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 13-247, “Commissioner of Construction Services” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Administrative Services” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2013.

See Sec. 4-38f for definition of “administrative purposes only”.