(a) There is established a Highway Work Zone Safety Advisory Council to make ongoing recommendations to improve safety for workers, public safety officers and motor vehicle operators in a “highway work zone”, as defined in § 14-212d. The ongoing areas of study and review by the council shall include: (1) Evaluation of current work design and safety protocols; (2) survey of effective highway work zone design and safety protocols in other states; (3) implementation of technology to improve highway work zone safety; (4) use of public safety officers to improve highway work zone safety; (5) availability of federal funding for highway work zone training and enforcement; and (6) other issues the council deems appropriate for improving highway work zone safety.

(b) The council shall be comprised of the following members: The Commissioners of Transportation, Public Safety and Motor Vehicles, or their designees; the president of the Connecticut Employees Union Independent, or such person’s designee; the president of the Connecticut State Police Union, or such person’s designee; and a representative of the Connecticut Construction Industries Association, designated by the president of said association. Appointees should be persons with knowledge and experience concerning highway work zones. Appointments to the council shall be made not later than November 1, 2008. The chairperson of the council shall be appointed by the Governor and shall convene the first meeting of the council not later than December 1, 2008.

(c) The council shall meet quarterly, or more often as needed, and report its recommendations to the Commissioner of Transportation and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation on or before January fifteenth of each year.