2011 Connecticut Code
Title 46a Human Rights
Chapter 812 Commission on the Status of Women
Sec. 46a-1. Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. Membership. Terms. Vacancies. Executive director. Personnel.

      Sec. 46a-1. Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. Membership. Terms. Vacancies. Executive director. Personnel. (a) There is established a Permanent Commission on the Status of Women consisting of twenty-one members.

      (1) With respect to members appointed prior to October 5, 2009, upon the occurrence of a vacancy or the expiration of the term of a member, whichever occurs first, such vacancy shall be filled as follows: (A) If the Governor appointed the member, such vacancy shall be filled by a joint appointment of the president pro tempore of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives; (B) if the president pro tempore of the Senate appointed the member, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the president pro tempore of the Senate; (C) if the speaker of the House of Representatives appointed the member, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the speaker of the House of Representatives; (D) if the member served by virtue of such member's status as a member of the General Assembly, such vacancy shall be filled as follows: (i) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member from the southeastern region of the state; (ii) the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member from the southwestern region of the state; (iii) the majority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member from the northeastern region of the state; (iv) the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member from the northwestern region of the state. In the event of a vacancy for any member appointed pursuant to subparagraph (D) of this subdivision, such vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority and such appointed member shall be from the respective region of the state.

      (2) On or after October 5, 2009, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one additional member to the commission.

      (3) Any member appointed on or after October 5, 2009, shall have experience in the field of issues affecting women by virtue of such person's status as an advocate or an academic, civic or cultural leader.

      (4) Any member appointed pursuant to this subsection shall serve for a term of two years from July first in the year of his or her appointment, except that the term of any member appointed pursuant to this subsection during the period from January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2010, inclusive, shall begin on the date of appointment and shall expire on June 30, 2012. The commission shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members who shall each serve in such capacity for a period of two years. Any person absent from (A) three consecutive meetings of the commission, or (B) fifty per cent of such meetings during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from the commission, effective immediately.

      (5) Vacancies on the commission shall be filled by the appointing authority. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. The commission shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the chairperson or a majority of the commission.

      (b) There shall be an executive director of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. The executive director and any necessary staff shall be employed by the Joint Standing Committee on Legislative Management. The commission shall have no authority over staffing or personnel matters.

      (c) The commission shall be part of the Legislative Department.

      (P.A. 73-559, S. 1, 9; P.A. 79-31, S. 6, 17; 79-631, S. 50, 111; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 147; P.A. 10-1, S. 6.)

      History: P.A. 79-31 substituted "cochairpersons" for "cochairmen" and changed formal designation of committee from "joint standing committee on human rights and opportunities" to "joint standing committee ... having cognizance of matters relating to civil and human rights"; P.A. 79-631 made technical correction; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to eliminate reference to initial appointees of commission, increase number of members of commission after October 5, 2009, from 17 to 21 and add Subdiv. (1) re filling of vacancies on commission after expiration of terms of members appointed prior to October 5, 2009, Subdiv. (2) re appointment of 4 additional members after October 5, 2009, Subdiv. (3) re requisite experience for members appointed on or after October 5, 2009, Subdiv. (4) re term for members, selection of chairperson and vice-chairperson, and absence of members from 3 consecutive meetings of commission or 50% of such meetings during any calendar year, and Subdiv. (5) re vacancies on commission, compensation and frequency of meetings of commission, added Subsec. (b) re executive director of commission and commission's lack of authority over staffing or personnel matters and added Subsec. (c) re commission as part of Legislative Department, effective October 5, 2009; P.A. 10-1 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change in Subdiv. (1) and to add exception to 2-year term of members for appointments made January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2010, in Subdiv. (4), effective February 4, 2010.