Bill > HB05422

This bill reestablishes the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee (LPRIC) as a permanent standing committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, effective July 1, 2025. The committee will consist of 12 members (6 from the Senate and 6 from the House of Representatives), with equal representation from both major political parties. Members will serve two-year terms, and the committee will select co-chairpersons and other officers from its membership. The LPRIC's primary responsibilities include conducting program reviews and investigations of state departments and agencies to assess their effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance, with the power to request access to public records, recommend legislative changes, and report findings to the General Assembly. The bill also updates several existing statutes to give the LPRIC additional oversight functions, such as reviewing audit reports from quasi-public agencies, receiving annual reports from agency boards of directors, and having the ability to compel witness testimony through subpoenas. The committee is required to maintain confidentiality during investigations and must report annually to the General Assembly, with a focus on identifying and addressing potential inefficiencies, waste, or unauthorized activities in state government operations.