(a) There is established a Chemical Innovations Institute within The University of Connecticut Health Center that shall (1) foster green job growth and safer workplaces through encouraging clean technology innovation and utilization of green chemistry, and (2) provide assistance to businesses, state agencies and nonprofit organizations that seek to utilize alternatives to chemicals that are harmful to public health and the environment.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(b) The institute shall be overseen by a board of directors. The board of directors shall consist of (1) a member appointed by The University of Connecticut Health Center who shall be an ex-officio member of the board and shall serve as the executive director of the institute, and (2) seven members appointed as follows: (A) One by the Governor, who represents a large Connecticut manufacturer that participates in an international marketplace and that has successfully implemented or is in the process of implementing green chemistry into its manufacturing process; (B) one by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who represents a small Connecticut manufacturer; (C) one by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who represents a state-wide occupational health and safety organization or union health and safety committee; (D) one by the majority leader of the Senate, who has expertise working with businesses to implement sustainable business practices; (E) one by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who represents a state-wide environmental health nonprofit organization; (F) one by the minority leader of the Senate, who is a health professional or scientist with expertise regarding the health effects of prenatal exposure to chemicals of concern or occupational environmental health; and (G) one by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who has green chemistry training and expertise.

(c) Initial appointments to the board shall be made on or before August 15, 2010. In the event that an appointing authority fails to appoint an initial board member by August 31, 2010, the president pro tempore of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly appoint a board member who meets the applicable qualifications for such appointment and such board member shall serve a full term. The term for the initial board member appointed by the Governor shall be two years. The term for the initial board members appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives shall be three years. The term for the initial board member appointed by the majority and the minority leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives shall be four years. Any person appointed to the board after such initial appointments shall serve a term of four years.

(d) The board shall appoint two members to serve as the cochairpersons of the board. The board shall meet at the discretion of the cochairpersons provided it shall meet not less than once per year. A quorum of the members of the board shall be required to conduct any business. Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum.

(e) The institute shall work with businesses, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, workers, and community groups as a resource for information about chemicals that are of concern to public health and the environment, safe alternatives to such chemicals and emerging state and federal chemical regulations. The institute shall: (1) Research and identify chemicals that are important to the state economy, (2) provide research and technical assistance concerning chemicals that are of concern to the environment and public health, as well as alternatives to such chemicals, (3) coordinate and share information with institutes in other states and the interstate chemicals clearinghouse, as described in section 22a-902, concerning alternative chemicals and the impact of such alternative chemicals on public health and the environment, (4) offer trainings for businesses regarding chemical regulations and such alternative chemicals, and (5) assist businesses in identifying funding to be used for the implementation of sustainable, chemical-related processes by such businesses.

(f) The board shall review progress in meeting the duties described in subsection (e) of this section. The board shall work to identify potential funding sources that may be utilized to establish and administer the institute.

(g) Not later than January fifteenth of each year and in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, the board shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment on the activities of the past year that were performed by the institute in furtherance of the institute’s duties. Such report shall include recommendations on options to fund the institute.

(h) The board and The University of Connecticut Health Center shall seek federal funds for the administration of the institute. In addition, the board and The University of Connecticut Health Center may seek funding for the institute from nongovernmental foundations, including, but not limited to, nongovernmental health access foundations, private citizens, corporations and other government entities. In the event that the board determines that adequate funds exist, the institute may establish technical assistance grants to businesses and nonprofit organizations to assist such businesses and nonprofit organizations in transitioning to the use of safer chemical alternatives.

(i) The University of Connecticut Health Center shall not be required to develop, implement and promote the institute described in this section, if federal, state and private funds, as described in subsection (h) of this section, in the aggregate, are insufficient to pay for the initial and ongoing expenses of such institute.