(a) For cause, the State Contracting Standards Board may review, terminate or recommend to a state contracting agency the termination of any contract or procurement agreement undertaken by any state contracting agency after providing fifteen days' notice to the state contracting agency and the applicable contractor, and consulting with the Attorney General. Such termination of a contract or procurement agreement by the board may occur only after (1) the board has consulted with the contracting agency to determine the impact of an immediate termination of the contract, (2) a determination has been made jointly by the board and the contracting agency that an immediate termination of the contract will not create imminent peril to the public health, safety or welfare, (3) a vote of two-thirds of the members of the board present and voting for that purpose, and (4) the board has provided the state contracting agency and the contractor with opportunity for a hearing conducted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54. Such action shall be accompanied by notice to the state contracting agency and any other affected party. For the purpose of this section, “for cause” means: (A) A violation of section 1-84 or 1-86e, as determined by the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board; (B) wanton or reckless disregard of any state contracting and procurement process by any person substantially involved in such contract or state contracting agency; or (C) notification from the Attorney General to the state contracting agency that an investigation pursuant to section 4-61dd has concluded that the process by which such contract was awarded was compromised by fraud, collusion or any other criminal violation. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the board as described in section 4e-6.

(b) Following consultation with the state contracting agency and upon providing fifteen days' notice and the opportunity for a hearing, the State Contracting Standards Board may restrict or terminate the authority of any state contracting agency to enter into any contract or procurement agreement if: (1) The board, upon a vote of two-thirds of the members of the board present and voting for such purpose, determines that such state contracting agency failed to comply with statutory contracting and procurement requirements and evidenced a reckless disregard for applicable procedures and policy; and (2) such limitation, restriction or termination of authority is in the state's best interest, provided the board has made arrangements for the exercise of the contracting power of such agency during the period of limitation, restriction or termination. Such limitation, restriction or termination of authority shall remain in effect until such time as the board determines that such state contracting agency has implemented corrective measures and demonstrated compliance with statutes and regulations concerning procurement.

(c) Following consultation with the state contracting agency, and thereafter upon providing fifteen days' notice and the opportunity for a hearing, the State Contracting Standards Board may order a state contracting agency to take appropriate action to restrict or terminate the authority of an employee or agent to enter into any contract or procurement agreement if the board, upon a vote of two-thirds of the members of the board present and voting for such purpose, determines that such employee or agent failed to comply with statutory contracting and procurement requirements, and evidenced a reckless disregard for applicable procedures and policy. Such limitation, restriction or termination of authority shall remain in effect until such time as the board determines that such state contracting agency has implemented corrective measures and demonstrated compliance with statutes and regulations concerning procurement.

(Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-1, S. 7.)

History: Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-1 effective October 1, 2011.