State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Connecticut > Title32 > Chap588v > Sec32-511Sec. 32-511. Connecticut International Trade Council. (a) There is established a Connecticut International Trade Council. The council shall consist of: (1) Six members appointed by the Governor, two of whom shall have expertise in the field of export financing; (2) (A) the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the Department of Economic and Community Development, or (B) their designees, who may be members of the General Assembly; (3) one member appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall have expertise in the field of export financing; (4) one member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (5) one member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (6) one member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; (7) one member appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives; and (8) one member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall have expertise in the field of export financing. All members of the council, except the members described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of this subsection, shall have expertise in the field of business or international trade. All appointments to the council shall be made within thirty days after July 1, 1994. The term of each appointed or designated member of the council shall be coterminous with the term of the appointing authority. The council shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members. Any person absent from (A) three consecutive meetings of the council or (B) fifty per cent of such meetings during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from the council, effective immediately. Any vacancy on the council shall be filled by the appointing authority. Members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. The council shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the chairperson or a majority of the council.
(b) The council shall advise the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the Department of Economic and Community Development concerning (1) more efficient use of existing infrastructure to address the needs of importing and exporting businesses in Connecticut and (2) programs for promoting the growth of such businesses, including but not limited to, (A) foreign trade zones and interstate foreign trade zones, (B) state, federal and interstate enterprise zones and (C) bonded warehouses. Not later than January fifteenth, annually, the council shall submit a report on its findings to the Governor and such committee.
(c) The council may receive and use such funds as may be available from federal, state or other sources and may enter into contracts to carry out the purposes of this section.
(d) The council may, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, employ any necessary staff within available appropriations.
(e) The four members of the council required to have expertise in the field of export financing shall constitute a trade advisory subcommittee of the council.
(P.A. 94-237, S. 12, 14; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 68, 121.)
History: P.A. 94-237 effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical correction, effective June 24, 1998.
