Connecticut SB 387: AN ACT CONCERNING ART THERAPISTS.

Bill Text

LCO 1 of 10

General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 387
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION ADMINISTRATION OVERSIGHT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a 1
Municipal Election Accountability Board, which shall be within the 2
office of the Secretary of the State for administrative purposes only, for 3
the purposes of (1) reviewing the administration of elections, primaries 4
and referenda, including the conduct of early voting, absentee voting 5
and same-day election registration, and the duties of election officials 6
under title 9 of the general statutes, in municipalities in this state 7
whenever such municipalities are referred to the board for such review, 8
(2) overseeing the administration of elections in such municipalities 9
where necessary, and (3) establishing procedural safeguards for the 10
effective conduct of such elections, primaries and referenda in such 11
municipalities. Nothing in this section shall be construed to (A) affect 12
the powers and duties of the Secretary of the State or the State Elections 13
Enforcement Commission under title 9 of the general statutes, including 14
chapter 151a of the general statutes, (B) preclude any person from 15
seeking additional remedies under title 9 of the general statutes, 16
including under chapter 151a of the general statutes, or (C) otherwise 17
affect chapter 151a of the general statutes. 18
(b) (1) The Municipal Election Accountability Board shall be 19

Substitute Bill No. 387

LCO 2 of 10

comprised of: (A) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, 20
who shall be the chairperson of the board; (B) the executive director of 21
the State Elections Enforcement Commission, or the executive director's 22
designee; (C) nine members appointed by the Secretary of the State, with 23
the advice and consent of the General Assembly, as follows: (i) One 24
member who shall be admitted to the practice of law in this state and 25
who has expertise in election law; (ii) two members who shall be 26
moderators certified under section 9-229 of the general statutes and 27
enrolled in different political parties, to be selected from a list of five 28
recommendations from each major party, as defined in section 9-372 of 29
the general statutes, such list to be provided by an association 30
representing the interests of registrars of voters in the state; (iii) two 31
members who shall be registrars of voters and enrolled in different 32
political parties, to be selected from a list of five recommendations from 33
each major party, such list to be provided by an association representing 34
the interests of registrars of voters in the state; (iv) two members who 35
shall be town clerks and enrolled in different political parties, to be 36
selected from a list of five recommendations from each major party, 37
such list to be provided by an association representing the interests of 38
town clerks in the state; and (v) two members who shall be chief elected 39
officials of municipalities and enrolled in different political parties, to be 40
selected from a list of five recommendations from each major party, 41
such list to be provided jointly by a state-wide organization of municipal 42
leaders and an organization that advocates for the interests of small 43
towns in the state; and (D) one member appointed by each of the four 44
legislative leaders, as defined in section 4-9d of the general statutes, who 45
shall have expertise in election administration or election law. 46
Appointments under subparagraphs (C) and (D) of this subdivision 47
shall be made so that no single municipality is represented by more than 48
one member. 49
(2) Members described in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of subdivision 50
(1) of this subsection shall serve for a term of four years and until a 51
successor is appointed, and initial appointments of such members shall 52
be made not later than August 1, 2026. Members described in said 53

Substitute Bill No. 387

LCO 3 of 10

subparagraphs shall recuse themselves from participating in any 54
proceeding of the board on any matter in which a conflict exists due to 55
such member or the immediate family of such member being involved 56
in any matter before said board, including, but not limited to, a matter 57
concerning a town appearing before said board that such member 58
represents on said board. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing 59
authority for the remainder of the applicable member's unexpired term. 60
The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but shall 61
be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. 62
For the purposes of this subdivision, "immediate family" means a 63
dependent relative who resides in the member's household or any 64
spouse, child, parent or sibling of the member. 65
(c) (1) Beginning on the second Tuesday of January, 2027