2023 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 4 - Management of State Agencies
Chapter 53 - Claims Against the State
Section 4-142a. - Appointment. Term. Qualifications. Compensation. Contractual agreements. Receipt of money, revenue or services.

(a)(1) The Claims Commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the General Assembly to serve for a term of four years from the first day in July in the year of his or her appointment and until his or her successor has been appointed and has qualified. The Claims Commissioner shall be an attorney-at-law and shall have been admitted to practice before the courts of the state of Connecticut for at least five years prior to his or her appointment. The Claims Commissioner serving on June 28, 2021, may continue to serve until the expiration of his or her term. On and after June 28, 2021, each nomination for appointment as Claims Commissioner by the Governor shall be referred, without debate, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary which shall report on each appointment not later than thirty days after the date of reference. Each appointment by the General Assembly of the Claims Commissioner shall be by concurrent resolution.

(2) The Claims Commissioner shall receive such compensation as is fixed under the provisions of section 4-40. The Claims Commissioner may enter into such contractual agreements, in accordance with established procedures, as may be necessary for the discharge of his or her duties. Subject to the provisions of section 4-32, and unless otherwise provided by law, the Claims Commissioner is authorized to receive any money, revenue or services from the federal government, corporations, associations or individuals, including payments from the sale of printed matter or any other materials or services.

(b) The Office of the Claims Commissioner shall be within the Department of Administrative Services, provided the office shall have independent decision-making authority.

(c) (1) The Governor shall appoint six temporary deputies to serve in the Office of the Claims Commissioner. A temporary deputy shall be an attorney-at-law who has experience practicing law before the courts of the state of Connecticut and has trial experience. A temporary deputy may not be an employee of the office of the Attorney General or have a claim pending before the Claims Commissioner, either as a claimant or as an attorney appearing on behalf of a claimant. Each temporary deputy shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor, for a term coterminous with the Governor, or until a successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is longer, provided no temporary deputy may be appointed or serve in such position on or after October 1, 2023.

(2) A temporary deputy shall receive, for each day of service, the same compensation as paid to a judge trial referee under subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of section 52-434 for each day of service by such referee.

(3) Each temporary deputy shall have decision-making authority to issue a final decision to grant or deny permission to sue for each claim referred to such deputy under the provisions of subsection (b) or (c) of section 4-160.

(P.A. 75-605, S. 2, 27; P.A. 82-297; P.A. 84-346, S. 1, 4; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 25; P.A. 16-127, S. 4; P.A. 17-48, S. 1; P.A. 21-91, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 82-297 amended section to allow commissioner to enter into contractual agreements and to receive money, revenue or services from certain entities and individuals; P.A. 84-346 added Subsec. (b), placing office of claims commissioner within comptroller's office for administrative purposes; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (b) to move office from office of the Comptroller to Department of Administrative Services, effective October 5, 2009; P.A. 16-127 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting “Claims Commissioner” for “commissioner” and making technical changes, effective June 9, 2016; P.A. 17-48 made a technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 21-91 amended Subsec. (a) by redesignating existing provisions re appointment as Subdiv. (1) and amending same to add provision re Claims Commissioner serving on June 28, 2021 and nomination and appointment process on and after said date, and redesignating existing provisions re compensation as Subdiv. (2), and added Subsec. (c) re appointment, compensation and authority of temporary deputies, effective June 28, 2021.