Section 5-263a-3 - Eligibility(a)General(1) Any resident of the State of Connecticut or any employee of the state is eligible to submit a suggestion to the state suggestion program except for elected state officials and officials appointed by the Governor, including department heads as defined in Section 4-5 of the General Statutes of Connecticut, deputies to department heads, employees on the suggestion program central staff, and members of the suggestion review panel. Agency personnel appointed to coordinate suggestion program activities in their agencies may not submit suggestions relative to the activities of their respective agencies.(2) No person other than the signatory of an accepted suggestion shall be eligible to receive an award for that particular suggestion.(b)Suggestions not eligible for consideration(1) Suggestions which simply express grievances, complaints, or criticisms, which are beyond the purpose and objectives of the state suggestion program set forth in section 5-263a-1 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies or do not meet the requirements of the definitions of a suggestion in section 5-263a-2(e) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. However, such suggestions shall be referred to the appropriate state agency for consideration apart from the state suggestion program. The suggestion shall not be regarded as a suggestion for the purposes of the state suggestion program, and the suggester shall be notified accordingly.(2) Suggestions that constitute "opinions" only, and which cannot be supported by demonstrating a better idea, and the need for same, as required by section 5-263a-2(e) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.(3) Suggestions concerning any matter subject to collective bargaining.(4) Suggestions other than those submitted on the suggestion form prescribed by section 5-263a-5 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.(5) Suggestions circumventing competitive procurement procedures provided by statute, regulation, or policy. (Only generic references to products, systems, or services are acceptable in the program. All others must be returned.)(6) Suggestions which recommend or require formal studies, surveys, investigation, or similar research activity to establish the benefits of a suggestion referred to in section 5-263a-2(e) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. Suggestions must be expressed with a degree of certainty regarding the subject matter and the recommended solutions.(7) Suggestions conflicting with federal or state statutes, regulations or policies, or municipal ordinances, regulations or policies.(8) Suggestions which are hypothetical, vague, based on inconclusive justification, or deal with generalities, as provided by section 5-263a-2(e) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.(9) Suggestions concerning the structure of lottery games conducted by the Division of Special Revenue of the Department of Revenue Services including, but not limited to, game design, prize patterns, draw dates and draw frequency.(c)Suggestions not eligible for awards(1) State employees and contractors.(A) Suggestions which are related in any way to the employee's job responsibilities including, but not limited to, those in job specifications, job descriptions or specific assignments.(B) Suggestions by an employee whose primary duty is auditing, research, planning, or investigating, unless the suggestion concerns a matter which is clearly unrelated to the employee's primary duty.(C) Individuals under any contractual arrangement with the state shall be subject to the same eligibility requirements as state employees.(2) All suggesters. (A) Suggestions concerning matters of a periodic, routine, or maintenance nature including, but not limited to, cleaning, repairing, building, adjusting, or replacing. When documented repeated complaints to the proper authorities have not resulted in correction, the suggestion shall be considered for an award if corrective action is taken as a result of the suggestion, and a substantial benefit to the state is provided.(B) Suggestions which involve a change of a present method, design, or plan, but do not specify improvements.(C) Suggestions shown through documentation to have been considered otherwise officially within three years prior to the date of the suggester's submission, as provided by section 5-263a-7 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, or implemented otherwise officially prior to such date, except that a state employee's suggestion implemented within his or her agency prior to its submission to the state suggestion program shall be considered for an award provided: (i) Failure to submit properly the suggestion, accompanied by the letter referred to in section 5-263a-3(c) (2) (C) (ii) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, to the Suggestion Program within thirty days of the date of implementation will result in no award unless good cause for such failure is shown.(ii) The suggestion is accompanied by a letter from the suggester's agency head or deputy attesting: (aa) The suggestion was originated by the employee;(bb) The date of implementation of the suggestion;(cc) The suggestion is not considered to be part of the employee's duties and responsibilities;(dd) Implementation of the idea contained in the suggestion was caused directly by the suggestion;(ee) Good cause for implementation of the suggestion prior to its submission to the suggestion program.(D) Suggestions which do not directly cause adoption of the idea contained in the suggestion.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 5-263a-3
Effective October 25, 1988