(a) There is established a Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity which shall be part of the Legislative Department. The commission shall focus on issues affecting each of the following underrepresented and underserved populations: Women, children and the family, elderly persons, African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, and Latinos and Puerto Ricans. The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity shall constitute a successor to the Commission on Equity and Opportunity and the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, in accordance with the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, and subsection (f) of section 4-38d and section 4-38e.
(b) The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity shall consist of an advisory board, an executive committee and six subcommissions. On and after July 1, 2019, the advisory board shall consist of the following members:
(1) Three members appointed by a joint appointment of the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom has experience in the field of African-American affairs, one of whom has experience in the field of Asian Pacific-American affairs and one of whom has experience in the field of Latino and Puerto Rican affairs, provided at least one of such members shall also be from the central region of the state;
(2) Three members appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom has experience in the field of African-American affairs, one of whom has experience in the field of Asian Pacific-American affairs and one of whom has experience in the field of Latino and Puerto Rican affairs, provided at least two of such members shall also be from the northeastern region of the state;
(3) Three members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom has experience in the field of African-American affairs, one of whom has experience in the field of Asian Pacific-American affairs and one of whom has experience in the field of Latino and Puerto Rican affairs, provided at least one of such members shall also be from the southeastern region of the state;
(4) Three members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom has experience in the field of African-American affairs, one of whom has experience in the field of Asian Pacific-American affairs and one of whom has experience in the field of Latino and Puerto Rican affairs;
(5) Three members appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom has experience in the field of African-American affairs, one of whom has experience in the field of Asian Pacific-American affairs and one of whom has experience in the field of Latino and Puerto Rican affairs;
(6) Three members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom has experience in the field of African-American affairs, one of whom has experience in the field of Asian Pacific-American affairs and one of whom has experience in the field of Latino and Puerto Rican affairs, provided at least one of such members shall also be from the northwestern region of the state;
(7) Three members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom has experience in the field of African-American affairs, one of whom has experience in the field of Asian Pacific-American affairs and one of whom has experience in the field of Latino and Puerto Rican affairs, provided at least one of such members shall also be from the southwestern region of the state.
(8) Three members appointed by a joint appointment of the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning women, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning children or the family and one of whom has expertise in issues concerning elderly persons, provided at least one of such members shall also be from the central region of the state;
(9) Three members appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning women, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning children or the family and one of whom has expertise in issues concerning elderly persons, provided at least one of such members shall also be from the northeastern region of the state;
(10) Three members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning women, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning children or the family and one of whom has expertise in issues concerning elderly persons, provided at least one of such members shall also be from the southeastern region of the state;
(11) Three members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning women, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning children or the family and one of whom has expertise in issues concerning elderly persons;
(12) Three members appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning women, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning children or the family and one of whom has expertise in issues concerning elderly persons;
(13) Three members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning women, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning children or the family and one of whom has expertise in issues concerning elderly persons, provided at least one of such members shall also be from the northwestern region of the state;
(14) Three members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning women, one of whom has expertise in issues concerning children or the family and one of whom has expertise in issues concerning elderly persons, provided at least one of such members shall also be from the southwestern region of the state; and
(15) Two members appointed by the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, who have experience in equity and culturally responsive leadership, who shall serve as chairpersons of the advisory board and executive committee, except that the former chairpersons of the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors and the Commission on Equity and Opportunity serving on June 30, 2019, shall be deemed appointed to serve as the chairpersons of the board of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity until June 30, 2021. Other than said chairpersons, the term of any members appointed prior to July 1, 2019, to serve on either the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors or the Commission on Equity and Opportunity and whose term has not expired as of June 30, 2019, shall expire on June 30, 2019.
(c) All initial appointments to the board, other than appointments made pursuant to subdivision (15) of subsection (b) of this section, shall be made not later than July 31, 2019, and the term of such initial members shall terminate on June 30, 2021, regardless of when the initial appointment was made. The chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the board.
(d) Members of the advisory board appointed on or after July 1, 2019, shall serve for two-year terms. Members shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term except as provided in subdivision (15) of subsection (b) of this section. The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.
(e) (1) The advisory board shall be organized into an executive committee and six subcommissions with members to be designated by the chairpersons of the advisory board: (A) One subcommission to advise on policies affecting members of the African-American population, (B) one subcommission to advise on policies affecting members of the Asian Pacific-American population, (C) one subcommission to advise on policies affecting members of the Latino and Puerto Rican population, (D) one subcommission to advise on policies affecting women, (E) one subcommission to advise on policies affecting children and family, and (F) one subcommission to advise on policies affecting elderly persons. Each subcommission shall select a chairperson from among its members.
(2) The executive committee shall be comprised of the chairpersons of the advisory board and the chairpersons of each of the six subcommissions. The chairpersons of the advisory board shall serve as the chairpersons of the executive committee and the chairpersons of the subcommissions shall serve as vice-chairpersons of the executive committee. The executive committee shall meet no less than bimonthly, and at special meetings called by one or both of the chairpersons. The chairpersons of the executive committee shall establish standing committees and designate the chairperson of each standing committee, which shall include, but not be limited to, committees on equity, opportunity, communications, civic engagement and programs.
(f) A majority of the advisory board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business of the board. A majority of the membership of a subcommission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business of such subcommission. The advisory board shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the chairpersons or a majority of the board. Any appointed member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the board or of a subcommission or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings of the board or its subcommissions held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from the board.
(g) The commission shall have no authority over staffing or personnel matters. There shall be an executive director of the commission. The executive director and any necessary staff shall be employed by the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, which shall have authority over the hiring, termination and performance review of the executive director and any staff.
(May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3, S. 127; P.A. 18-65, S. 1; P.A. 19-117, S. 105.)
History: May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3 effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 18-65 substantially amended Subsec. (b) to decrease total membership from 63 to 39 members, reducing each appointment accordingly, add references to July 1, 2018, redesignate existing provisions re filling vacancy in Subdiv. (2) as Subpara. (H), and make technical and conforming changes, effective June 1, 2018; P.A. 19-117 substantially amended provisions including adding provisions re Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity as successor to Commission on Equity and Opportunity and Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, adding provisions re advisory board, executive committee and subcommissions, replacing provisions re members with new provisions re same, effective July 1, 2019.