(a) Each house of the General Assembly shall have the power to adopt rules for the orderly conduct of its affairs and to preserve and protect the health, safety and welfare of its members, officers and employees in the performance of their official duties, as well as that of the general public in connection therewith, and to preserve and protect property and records under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly, consistent with public convenience and the public's rights of freedom of expression, to peaceably assemble and petition government.
(b) In lieu of or in addition to the adoption of such rules each house may authorize its presiding officer to promulgate regulations for any or all such purposes.
(c) Rules or regulations may be adopted with respect to the following matters, among others, without limitation by reason of such specification: (1) Regulating admission to the legislative chambers, galleries, lobbies, offices and other areas of the buildings wherein they are located which provide access thereto; (2) limiting the size of groups of persons permitted within such areas, for reasons of health and safety and in case of fire or other emergency; (3) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of signs, banners, placards or other display materials into any such areas, or possessing them therein, without proper authorization; (4) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of radio or television equipment, recording equipment, sound-making or amplifying equipment and photographic equipment into any such areas, or possessing them therein, without proper authorization; (5) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of packages, bags, baggage or briefcases into any such areas, or possessing them therein, without proper authorization; (6) establishing rules of conduct for visitors to the galleries; (7) authorizing the clearing of the public from the chambers, lobbies and galleries, or from any room in which a public legislative hearing or meeting is being conducted, in the event of any disturbance therein which disrupts legislative proceedings or endangers any member, officer or employee of the General Assembly or the general public, except that duly accredited representatives of the news media not participating in any such disturbance shall be permitted to remain therein. The closing of such areas to the public shall continue only as long as necessary to avoid disruption of the legislative proceedings or to preserve and protect the safety of the members, officers or employees of the General Assembly or the general public; (8) authorizing the construction of safety barriers and other protective measures for the galleries and other areas under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly and the acquisition of security equipment, all from the funds made available therefor; (9) protecting the records and property of the General Assembly from unlawful damage or destruction; and (10) any and all other matters which may be necessary or appropriate to the orderly conduct of the affairs of the General Assembly and the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the members, officers and employees of the General Assembly and the general public in connection therewith.
(d) In lieu of or in addition to the adoption of separate rules each house may adopt joint rules applicable to both houses.
(e) In lieu of or in addition to the promulgation of separate regulations the presiding officers of each house may promulgate joint regulations applicable to both houses.
(f) All such rules of the General Assembly or either house and regulations of the presiding officer of each house shall be filed in the offices of the clerks thereof and a copy of such rules and regulations shall be made available to any person upon request, without charge.
(g) Such rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of law and the violation of any such rule or regulation shall constitute an offense punishable by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or both.
(P.A. 73-516, S. 5; P.A. 06-196, S. 20.)
History: P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (c), effective June 7, 2006.
Cited. 232 C. 345.
Cited. 11 CA 342.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 2 - General Assembly and Legislative Agencies
Section 2-1. - Regular sessions; organization.
Section 2-1a. - Adoption of rules and regulations.
Section 2-1b. - Unlawful interference with the General Assembly; injunctive relief.
Section 2-1c. - Contempt of the General Assembly; penalty.
Section 2-1d. - Interference with the General Assembly; misdemeanor.
Section 2-1f. - Office of State Capitol Police.
Section 2-1g. - Indemnification of legislative personnel.
Section 2-1h. - Compensatory time for permanent full-time employees.
Section 2-1i. - Compensatory time for permanent full-time employees.
Section 2-2. - Election by illegal practices.
Section 2-3. - Allowance to contestants.
Section 2-3b. - Members not eligible for unemployment compensation during regular session.
Section 2-4. - Joint convention to elect state officers.
Section 2-5. - Holding of office by members of the General Assembly.
Section 2-6. - Convening of sessions by action of members.
Section 2-7. - Notice of special and reconvened sessions.
Section 2-8. - Compensation and expenses of members and officers of the General Assembly.
Section 2-8a. - Compensation for interim committees and study commissions.
Section 2-8b to 2-8p. - General Assembly pension system.
Section 2-9. - Salary and transportation allowance for General Assembly officers and employees.
Section 2-9a. - Compensation Commission for elected state officers and General Assembly members.
Section 2-9b. - Compensation increases to be approved by Federal Pay Board.
Section 2-9c. - Adjustment to compensation of members of the General Assembly.
Section 2-10. - Clerks' office; assistants; records; duties.
Section 2-11. - Stenographers for General Assembly committees.
Section 2-12a. - Temporary legislative employees, reduction of salary for absence.
Section 2-13. - Records of legislative proceedings. Legislative record index.
Section 2-14. - Initiation of local legislation in General Assembly.
Section 2-14a. - Legislation affecting municipal retirement systems.
Section 2-15. - Transportation allowance for General Assembly members and members-elect.
Section 2-15a. - Annual informational mailing by General Assembly members.
Section 2-15b. - Transportation allowance for member of task force prohibited.
Section 2-16. - Members as attorneys before the General Assembly.
Section 2-16a. - Restriction on former members becoming lobbyists.
Section 2-17. - Presession introduction of bills.
Section 2-19. - Preliminary printing and franchise fees for special charters. Engrossing fees.
Section 2-20. - Certain charters granted only on petition.
Section 2-20a. - Bills seeking incorporation and franchise for water companies.
Section 2-21. - Notice of claims against the state.
Section 2-22. - Numbering of bills and joint resolutions.
Section 2-23a. - Alkaline paper for legislative documents.
Section 2-24a. - Fiscal note and ratepayer impact statement required for action upon bill.
Section 2-24b. - Racial and ethnic impact statement required for certain bills and amendments.
Section 2-25. - Printing to be done at one establishment.
Section 2-26. - Printing and electronic availability of bills prior to passage.
Section 2-27. - Printing and distribution of file bills.
Section 2-27a. - Fiscal review of bills.
Section 2-27b. - Review of bond acts.
Section 2-30. - Engrossing bills after adjournment. Vetoed bills.
Section 2-30b. - Construction of multiple amendments.
Section 2-31. - Numbering of public and special acts.
Section 2-32. - Effective date of public and special acts.
Section 2-32a. - Effective date of public acts imposing state mandate.
Section 2-33. - Specific appropriations. Recurring appropriations.
Section 2-33b. - Performance-informed budget review.
Section 2-33c. - Limitation of General Fund and Special Transportation Fund appropriations.
Section 2-34. - Title of appropriation bills.
Section 2-35a. - Government organization and reorganization.
Section 2-36. - Deficiency bills.
Section 2-36c. - Consensus revenue estimates.
Section 2-37. - Contingent expenses of General Assembly.
Section 2-38. - Bill re person's service as teacher or public employee.
Section 2-39. - Time within which Senate shall act on nominations.
Section 2-40. - Nomination of judges. Action by the judiciary committee.
Section 2-40a. - Disclosure of performance evaluations of judges and judge trial referees.
Section 2-41. - Nomination of judges of municipal courts.
Section 2-42. - Appointment of judges.
Section 2-43. - When further nomination required.
Section 2-44. - Withdrawal of nomination by Governor.
Section 2-45. - Legislative appearances.
Section 2-46. - Investigations by the General Assembly; powers; procedure. Witness' rights.
Section 2-47. - Witness not privileged.
Section 2-48. - Prosecution of witness.
Section 2-49. - Preparation, printing and distribution of assembly journals.
Section 2-50. - Legislative identification plates.
Section 2-50a. - Motor vehicle number plates for legislators.
Section 2-51. - Admittance to floor of House and Senate.
Section 2-52. - Display of United States and state flags at sessions of the General Assembly.
Section 2-53. - Faith and credit of acts passed by General Assembly.
Section 2-53a to 2-53c. - Legislative Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
Section 2-53k. - Energy management program compliance review; report and recommendations.
Section 2-53l. - Electronic databases showing state and quasi-public agency expenditures.
Section 2-53m. - Annual report card on policies and programs affecting children.
Section 2-53n. - Quarterly report on overtime granted by state agencies.