Sec. 4-37s. Coordinated emergency recovery. CT CARE foundation. Governing board. Distribution committee.

(a) There is established, in accordance with the provisions of section 4-37f, a foundation that shall be known as the Connecticut Coordinated Assistance and Recovery Endowment or CT CARE. The purpose of the foundation is to support coordinated emergency recovery, as defined in section 4-37e. The foundation may accept disbursements from the Coordinated Emergency Recovery Fund pursuant to section 4-37t and may accept gifts, grants or donations from private sources to enable the foundation to carry out its purposes.

(b) (1) CT CARE shall be administered by a governing board. The board shall include the following voting members: (A) Seven members appointed by the Governor who shall have experience in finance or accounting or with the operation of a nonprofit or other corporation, each of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor; (B) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee; (C) the Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection with jurisdiction over the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, or the deputy commissioner's designee; (D) an employee of the Office of Victim Services within the Judicial Department appointed by the Chief Court Administrator; (E) the chairperson of each regional emergency planning team established by the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; and (F) two members, appointed by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, each of whose term shall be coterminous with that of the Governor, provided such member's term shall extend through the duration of an eligible incident and, after expiration of such member's term, through any period in which a new appointment to replace such member has yet to be made.

(2) The following persons shall serve on the governing board as nonvoting members in an advisory capacity, in a manner determined by the executive committee pursuant to subsection (g) of this section: (A) The State Emergency Management Director, or the director's designee; (B) the Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee; (C) the Insurance Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; (D) (i) the executive director of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities or the executive director's designee, and (ii) the executive director of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns or the executive director's designee, each of whose term shall be coterminous with that of the Governor, provided such member's term shall extend through the duration of an eligible incident; and (E) such other persons as determined by the executive committee established pursuant to subsection (g) of this section.

(3) All appointments to the governing board shall be made not later than thirty days after July 11, 2013. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. The Governor shall select the chairperson of the governing board and the chairperson shall call the first meeting of the board, which shall be held not later than sixty days after July 11, 2013.

(c) The governing board shall: (1) Adopt policies, bylaws and governing documents and undertake other measures to (A) ensure that the foundation receives and maintains its status as a legal entity exempt from taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, and (B) receive and distribute funds donated in response to an eligible incident; (2) register CT CARE with applicable state or federal agencies; (3) establish best practices for operating and administering CT CARE to provide coordinated emergency recovery; (4) in anticipation of eligible incidents, create objective guidelines, protocols, scenarios or bases tailored to respond to foreseeable eligible incidents; (5) take actions necessary to ensure financial independence and sustainability, which may include engaging in solicitation of private donations including for the purpose of funding its operations with restricted or endowment funds; (6) for each eligible incident, certify to the Governor and the State Treasurer that the foundation is ready, willing and able to receive private donations and carry out coordinated emergency recovery, as defined in section 4-37e; (7) establish a distribution committee pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section, receive recommendations from such distribution committee and formally adopt any proposed formula to distribute victims' relief funds; and (8) fund its operations and pay its expenses from sources of funding designated for that purpose.

(d) The board may: (1) Sue and be sued; (2) employ fiscal agents, accountants, legal counsel or other professionals to carry out the purposes of CT CARE, including, but not limited to, an executive director or such other staff as the board may deem necessary; (3) negotiate for services with state agencies or qualified nonprofit entities; (4) delegate decision-making authority on the distribution of funds, except as provided in subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of this section concerning adoption of any proposed formula to distribute victims' relief funds; and (5) consider and promote the concepts and best practices associated with coordinated emergency recovery.

(e) Any person employed by the board pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section shall not be considered a state employee.

(f) For each eligible incident, the board shall establish a distribution committee. The distribution committee shall include: (1) The regional coordinator for the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection of any region affected, as determined by the board or as otherwise provided for in a declaration of emergency causing an incident to become eligible; (2) the chief executive officer for each affected municipality, as determined by the board or as otherwise provided for in a declaration of emergency causing an incident to become eligible; (3) the chairperson of each regional emergency planning team established by the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection affected, as determined by the board or as otherwise provided for in a declaration of emergency causing an incident to become eligible; and (4) not more than two residents of an affected municipality or municipalities who shall be appointed by the chairperson of the board. The distribution committee shall assist the board in determining eligibility requirements for recipients of distributions from any fund established by CT CARE, provided no distribution shall be made except by action of the board.

(g) The board shall establish an executive committee with membership determined by the board. The executive committee shall inform nonvoting members of the board of their roles as advisors and attend to any other duties prescribed to the executive committee by the board.

(P.A. 13-275, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 13-275 effective July 11, 2013.