Sec. 32-1c. Powers and duties of commissioner. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 32-1c. Powers and duties of commissioner. (a) In addition to any other powers, duties and responsibilities provided for in this chapter, chapter 131, chapter 579 and section 4-8 and subsection (a) of section 10-409, the commissioner shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities: (1) To administer and direct the operations of the Department of Economic and Community Development; (2) to report annually to the Governor, as provided in section 4-60; (3) to conduct and administer the research and planning functions necessary to carry out the purposes of said chapters and sections; (4) to encourage and promote the development of industry and business in the state and to investigate, study and undertake ways and means of promoting and encouraging the prosperous development and protection of the legitimate interest and welfare of Connecticut business, industry and commerce, within and outside the state; (5) to serve, ex officio as a director on the board of Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated; (6) to serve as a member of the Committee of Concern for Connecticut Jobs; (7) to promote and encourage the location and development of new business in the state as well as the maintenance and expansion of existing business and for that purpose to cooperate with state and local agencies and individuals both within and outside the state; (8) to plan and conduct a program of information and publicity designed to attract tourists, visitors and other interested persons from outside the state to this state and also to encourage and coordinate the efforts of other public and private organizations or groups of citizens to publicize the facilities and attractions of the state for the same purposes; (9) to advise and cooperate with municipalities, persons and local planning agencies within the state for the purpose of promoting coordination between the state and such municipalities as to plans and development; (10) to provide all necessary staff, services, accounting and office space and equipment required by the Connecticut Development Authority subject to the provisions of section 4b-23, where real estate acquisitions are involved; (11) to aid minority businesses in their development; (12) to appoint such assistants, experts, technicians and clerical staff, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, as are necessary to carry out the purposes of said chapters and sections; (13) to employ other consultants and assistants on a contract or other basis for rendering financial, technical or other assistance and advice, provided in implementing the Connecticut economic information system the commissioner shall to the maximum extent feasible contract with private vendors for software, certain data sets and data updating services; (14) to acquire or lease facilities located outside the state subject to the provisions of section 4b-23; (15) to advise and inform municipal officials concerning economic development and collect and disseminate information pertaining thereto, including information about federal, state and private assistance programs and services pertaining thereto; (16) to inquire into the utilization of state government resources and coordinate federal and state activities for assistance in and solution of problems of economic development and to inform and advise the Governor about and propose legislation concerning such problems; (17) to conduct, encourage and maintain research and studies relating to industrial and commercial development; (18) to prepare and review model ordinances and charters relating to these areas; (19) to maintain an inventory of data and information and act as a clearinghouse and referral agency for information on state and federal programs and services relative to the purpose set forth herein. The inventory shall include information on all federal programs of financial assistance for defense conversion projects and other projects consistent with a defense conversion strategy and shall identify businesses which would be eligible for such assistance and provide notification to such business of such programs; (20) to conduct, encourage and maintain research and studies and advise municipal officials about forms of cooperation between public and private agencies designed to advance economic development; (21) to promote and assist the formation of municipal and other agencies appropriate to the purposes of this chapter; (22) to require notice of the submission of all applications by municipalities and any agency thereof for federal and state financial assistance for economic development programs as relate to the purposes of this chapter; (23) with the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services, to reimburse any employee of the department, including the commissioner, for reasonable business expenses, including but not limited to, mileage, travel, lodging, and entertainment of business prospects and other persons to the extent necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes of subdivisions (4), (7), (8) and (11) of this subsection and other provisions of this chapter; (24) to assist in resolving solid waste management issues; (25) to develop and implement the Connecticut economic information system, in consultation with the Connecticut Economic Information System Steering Committee established under section 32-6i; and (26) (A) to serve as an information clearinghouse for various public and private programs available to assist businesses, and (B) to identify specific micro businesses, as defined in section 32-344, whose growth and success could benefit from state or private assistance and contact such small businesses in order to (i) identify their needs, (ii) provide information about public and private programs for meeting such needs, including, but not limited to, technical assistance, job training and financial assistance, and (iii) arrange for the provision of such assistance to such businesses.

      (b) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development may make available technical and financial assistance and advisory services to any appropriate agency, authority or commission for planning and other functions pertinent to economic development provided any financial assistance to a regional planning agency or a regional council of elected officials shall have the prior approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management or his designee. Financial assistance shall be rendered upon such contractual arrangements as may be agreed upon by the commissioner and any such agency, authority or commission in accordance with their respective needs, and the commissioner may determine the qualifications of personnel or consultants to be engaged for such assistance.

      (c) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development is authorized to do all things necessary to apply for, qualify for and accept any federal funds made available or allotted under any federal act for planning or any other projects, programs or activities which may be established by federal law, for any of the purposes, or activities related thereto, of the Department of Economic and Community Development and said Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall administer any such funds allotted to the department in accordance with federal law. The commissioner may enter into contracts with the federal government concerning the use and repayment of such funds under any such federal act, the prosecution of the work under any such contract and the establishment of any disbursement from a separate account in which federal and state funds estimated to be required for plan preparation or other eligible activities under such federal act shall be kept. Said account shall not be a part of the General Fund of the state or any subdivision of the state.

      (d) The powers and duties enumerated in this section shall be in addition to and shall not limit any other powers or duties of the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development contained in any other law.

      (P.A. 73-599, S. 3; P.A. 75-425, S. 43, 57; P.A. 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 105, 136; P.A. 79-598, S. 23; P.A. 80-483, S. 97, 186; P.A. 84-512, S. 16, 30; P.A. 86-258, S. 7, 8; P.A. 88-231, S. 5; P.A. 89-245, S. 4; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-4, S. 1, 5; P.A. 95-250, S. 1, 37, 42; 95-309, S. 11, 12; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; Nov. 24 Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-1, S. 15.)

      History: P.A. 75-425 specified that duties cited in Subdivs. (10) and (14) are subject to provisions of Sec. 4-26b; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner and department of commerce with commissioner and department of economic development, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 deleted reference to Sec. 4-60a; P.A. 79-598 deleted reference to Sec. 4-5, added references to Sec. 4-8 and chapter 131, expanded commissioner's duties by adding Subdivs. (15) to (22) and Subsecs. (b) to (d); P.A. 80-483 made technical corrections in Subsec. (a); P.A. 84-512 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 4-24a in Subsec. (a), adding reference to Sec. 4-8; P.A. 86-258 added Subsec. (a)(23) re reimbursement for reasonable business expenses; P.A. 88-231 added Subsec.(a)(24) concerning resolution of solid waste management issues; P.A. 89-245 amended Subsec. (a) to rename Connecticut Product Development Corporation as Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-4 amended Subsec. (a)(13) by adding provision re certain contracts implementing Connecticut economic information system and adding Subdiv. (25) re development and implementation of said system; (Revisor's note: In 1993 the obsolete reference in Subsec. (a) to repealed Sec. 36-322 was deleted editorially by the Revisors and the wording adjusted accordingly); P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 substituted Department and Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for Department and Commissioner of Economic Development and P.A. 95-250 also amended Subsec. (a)(19) to require the inventory to include information on all federal defense conversion projects, identify eligible businesses and provide notification to such businesses, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-309 changed effective date of P.A. 95-250 but did not affect this section; Nov. 24 Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-1 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (26) re information clearinghouse for public and private business assistance programs and re identifying and contacting micro businesses, effective January 1, 2009.

      See Secs. 8-37i, 32-1b re establishment and general scope and duties of the department.