Posted on March 20, 2018
HARTFORD – State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) yesterday submitted written testimony to the Government Administration & Elections Committee (GAE) in support of a bill proposal that is very similar to one she made earlier this session to increase oversight of state employee separation agreements.
Senate Bill (S.B. 503), An Act Requiring Approval of State Agency Settlement and Nondisclosure Agreements, would – if approved by the General Assembly – require legislative approval of certain payments made to state employees pursuant to a nondisclosure or separation agreement.
In her testimony, Rep. Cheeseman referenced the recently released Auditors of Public Accounts (APA) annual report which “revealed a need to stop offering six-figure separation and non-disparagement agreements to former employees without third-party oversight,” she said.
“The University of Connecticut, The UCONN Health Center, and The Connecticut Lottery Corporation have made numerous such payments and this is the second year in a row that the auditors have made such a recommendation in their annual report to the General assembly,” said Rep. Cheeseman. “The APA affirms that these payments and agreements costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of unnecessary expenses and is another ‘glaring example’ of why these arrangements require third-party scrutiny.
“Given the state’s dire financial condition, it is absolutely essential that the General Assembly exercise its oversight of these payments. I therefore join the APA in strongly supporting S.B. 503 and urge the Committee to do so as well,” said Rep. Cheeseman.
The GAE Committee will determine whether or not to approve and raise the bill for a vote in the House and Senate.