2011 Connecticut Code
Title 46a Human Rights
Chapter 812 Commission on the Status of Women
Sec. 46a-5. Authority generally.

      Sec. 46a-5. Authority generally. (a) The commission may: (1) Request, and shall receive, from any state agency such information and assistance as the commission may require; (2) use such funds as may be available from federal, state or other sources and may enter into contracts to carry out the purposes of section 46a-4; (3) utilize voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, state or federal agencies and organizations as may, from time to time, be offered and needed; (4) recommend policies to federal agencies and political subdivisions of the state relative to the women of the state; (5) accept any gift, donation or bequest for the purpose of performing the duties described in section 46a-4; (6) hold public hearings; (7) establish task forces, as necessary, to perform the duties described in section 46a-4; (8) adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as it may deem necessary to carry out the duties described in section 46a-4; (9) inform leaders of business, education, state and local governments and the communications media of the nature and scope of the problems faced by women of the state, with a view to enlisting such persons' support in working toward solving such problems; (10) receive and refer to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities complaints of sex discrimination; and (11) hold fact finding hearings, and pursuant to that, subpoena witnesses and records, administer oaths and take the testimony of any persons under oath and require the production for examination of any books and papers relating to any matter under investigation or in question. The commission may, by regulation, establish a procedure for the issuance of subpoenas by individual commissioners. Refusal to obey a subpoena issued pursuant to this section shall constitute contempt punishable, upon the application of the authority issuing such subpoena, by the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford.

      (b) The commission may enter into any agreement with a state agency for the purpose of maximizing the receipt of federal funds by such state agency, provided such state agency shall utilize any federal funds received as a result of such agreement to perform those statutory duties of such agency that relate to such commission's duties. The commission may accept that portion of federal funds received by any such state agency as a result of any such agreement which federal law otherwise permits to be received by such commission.

      (P.A. 73-559, S. 5, 9; P.A. 78-280, S. 6, 127; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 149.)

      History: P.A. 78-280 replaced "Hartford county" with "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain"; P.A. 88-230 replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to delete former duties of commission and add Subdiv. (1) re request and receipt of information from state agencies, Subdiv. (2) re use of funds and contracts, Subdiv. (3) re use of voluntary and uncompensated services, Subdiv. (4) re recommendation of policies, Subdiv. (5) re acceptance of gifts, donations or bequests, Subdiv. (6) re public hearings, Subdiv. (7) re task forces, Subdiv. (8) re regulations, Subdiv. (9) re informing leaders of nature and scope of problems faced by women, Subdiv. (10) re complaints of sex discrimination and Subdiv. (11) re fact finding hearings and subpoenas, and added Subsec. (b) re authority to enter agreements with state agencies for the purpose of maximizing receipt of federal funds by such agency, effective October 5, 2009.