State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Connecticut > Title13b > Chap242 > Sec13b-51aSec. 13b-51a. Connecticut Maritime Commission. Establishment. Members. Duties. (a) There shall be in the Department of Transportation a Connecticut Maritime Commission which shall consist of fifteen members, as follows: (1) The Commissioners of Transportation, Economic and Community Development and Environmental Protection, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the chairman of the Transportation Strategy Board, established pursuant to section 13b-57e, or their respective designees; (2) four members appointed by the Governor; and (3) one member each appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the House of Representatives. All appointed members shall serve for terms coterminous with their appointing authority and until their successor is appointed and has qualified. Vacancies on said commission shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the same manner as original appointments.
(b) Appointed members of the commission shall be qualified by experience or training and shall include members of the public and (1) a representative of business and industry that is a regular user of Connecticut port freight services; (2) a member or employee of a local port authority; (3) a Connecticut port operator; (4) an operator of a marine passenger service; (5) an elected or appointed official from a coastal community; (6) a user or provider of recreational maritime services; and (7) a working member of a port labor union.
(c) The chairman shall be selected by the Governor from among the appointed members of the commission. The members shall annually elect one of their numbers as secretary. The commission may elect such other officers as it deems proper. Members shall receive no compensation for the performance of their duties, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance thereof.
(d) The commission shall (1) advise the Commissioner of Transportation, the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the state's maritime policy and operations; (2) develop and recommend to the Governor and the General Assembly a maritime policy for the state; (3) support the development of Connecticut's maritime commerce and industries, including its deep water ports; (4) recommend investments and actions, including dredging, required in order to preserve and enhanced maritime commerce and industries; (5) conduct studies and present recommendations concerning maritime issues; (6) support the development of Connecticut's ports, including; identifying new opportunities for the ports, analyzing the potential for and encouraging private investment in the ports and recommending policies which support port operations.
(e) At least once each year, the commission shall hold a public hearing for the purpose of evaluating the adequacy of the state's maritime policy, facilities and support for maritime commerce and industry.
(f) On or before January first, annually, the commission shall submit, in writing, to the Commissioner of Transportation, the Governor and the Transportation Strategy Board (1) a list of projects which, if undertaken by the state, would support the state's maritime policy and encourage maritime commerce and industry; (2) recommendations for improvements to existing maritime policies, programs and facilities; and (3) such other recommendations as it considers appropriate. Copies of the report shall be submitted to the General Assembly pursuant to section 11-4a.
(g) The commission may, upon its own motion, undertake any studies it deems necessary for the improvement of a balanced public transportation system within the state, including the improvement of such system for elderly and disabled users. The commission shall have other powers and shall perform such other duties as the Commissioner of Transportation, the Governor and the General Assembly may delegate to it.
(h) The staff of the Department of Transportation shall be available to assist the commission.
(i) No member of the commission who is otherwise a public officer or employee shall suffer a forfeiture of his or her office or employment, or any loss or diminution in the rights and privileges pertaining thereto, by reason of such membership.
(j) A quorum of the commission for the purpose of transacting business shall exist only when there is present, in person, a majority of its voting membership. The affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum shall be required for the adoption of a resolution or vote of the commission.
(k) The commission shall have access through the Department of Transportation to all records, reports, plans, schedules, operating rules and other documents pertaining to ports and navigable waterways of Connecticut. This subsection shall not apply to any plans, proposals, reports and other documents pertaining to current or pending negotiations with employee bargaining units.
(l) The Connecticut Maritime Commission shall be a successor agency to the Connecticut Port Authority in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d and 4-39.
(m) The Legislative Commissioners' Office shall, in codifying the provisions of this section, make technical, grammatical and punctuation changes as necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
(P.A. 04-143, S. 22.)
History: P.A. 04-143 effective July 1, 2004.
