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Committee advances accountability bill tightening purchasing, residency and transparency rules for state higher education institutions
Summary
Lawmakers advanced a package of accountability measures that would impose new controls on purchasing cards, require additional reporting to state oversight offices and add a residency requirement for certain future hires at public institutions after lawmakers cited recent audits and press reporting about questionable spending.
The committee advanced a comprehensive higher-education management and fiscal-accountability bill (LCO 5578) intended to strengthen oversight of Connecticut’s public higher-education institutions.
Sponsors framed the measure as a response to audit reports and press coverage alleging questionable spending practices by system leadership. The bill includes multiple provisions: stricter policies governing purchasing-card use and state-vehicle use, enhanced reporting to the Office of Policy and Management and the comptroller (with some posting requirements moved to a separate vehicle to reduce duplication), and a residency requirement for certain future employees at state higher-education institutions.
Senator Schlapp described the bill as a necessary demonstration of accountability after constituents and students raised concerns about “misuse of p-cards, sloppy bookkeeping, room service, expensive dinners, alcohol purchases, etc.” He said the legislation could be strengthened further but that “this is a really good start” and that residency for certain high-paid positions should be required.
Other members stressed the bill’s importance and urged continued work. Representative Bronco said the measure was “a good start” and that it should send a message that taxpayers expect fiscal responsibility from institutional leaders. Representative Weir gave an emotional floor-style statement criticizing leadership failures and said he was “disgusted” by reports of large perks and misused funds; he urged stronger action but acknowledged the limits of the legislature’s authority.
Senator Gaggar Wilcox, chair of Government Oversight, framed the bill’s provisions in the context of constrained institutional budgets and the need to protect investments in faculty and student services. The committee agreed to add the item to the consent calendar.
Committee members and sponsors said additional conversations are likely as the bill moves to the floor; no final implementation language beyond the amendment changes discussed in committee was taken at the meeting.
