(a) There shall be a Technology Talent Advisory Committee within the Department of Economic and Community Development. Such committee shall consist of members appointed by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, including, but not limited to, representatives of The University of Connecticut, the Board of Regents for Higher Education, independent institutions of higher education, the Office of Workforce Strategy and private industry. Such members shall be subject to term limits prescribed by the commissioner. Each member shall hold office until a successor is appointed.

(b) The commissioner shall call the first meeting of the advisory committee not later than October 15, 2016. The advisory committee shall meet not less than quarterly thereafter and at such other times as the chairperson deems necessary. The Technology Talent Advisory Committee shall designate the chairperson of the committee from among its members.

(c) No member of the advisory committee shall receive compensation for such member’s service, except that each member shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred during the performance of such member’s official duties.

(d) A majority of members of the advisory committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business or the exercise of any power of the advisory committee. The advisory committee may act by a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is in attendance, for the transaction of any business or the exercise of any power of the advisory committee, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, it shall not constitute a conflict of interest for a trustee, director, partner or officer of any person, firm or corporation, or any individual having a financial interest in a person, firm or corporation, to serve as a member of the advisory committee, provided such trustee, director, partner, officer or individual complies with all applicable provisions of chapter 10. All members of the advisory committee shall be deemed public officials and shall adhere to the code of ethics for public officials set forth in chapter 10, except that no member shall be required to file a statement of financial interest as described in § 1-83.

(f) The Technology Talent Advisory Committee shall, in the following order of priority, (1) calculate the number of software developers and other persons (A) employed in technology-based fields where there is a shortage of qualified employees in this state for businesses to hire, including, but not limited to, data mining, data analysis and cybersecurity, and (B) employed by businesses located in Connecticut as of December 31, 2016; (2) develop pilot programs to recruit software developers to Connecticut and train residents of the state in software development and such other technology fields, with the goal of increasing the number of software developers and persons employed in such other technology fields residing in Connecticut and employed by businesses in Connecticut by at least double the number calculated pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection by January 1, 2026; and (3) identify other technology industries where there is a shortage of qualified employees in this state for growth stage businesses to hire.

(g) The Technology Talent Advisory Committee may develop pilot programs for (1) marketing and publicity campaigns designed to recruit technology talent to the state; (2) student loan deferral or forgiveness for students who start businesses in the state; and (3) training, apprenticeship and gap-year initiatives.

(h) The Technology Talent Advisory Committee shall report, in accordance with the provisions of § 11-4a, and present such report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce, education, higher education and finance, revenue and bonding on or before January 1, 2017, concerning the (1) pilot programs developed pursuant to subsections (f) and (g) of this section, (2) number of software developers and persons employed in technology-based fields described in subsection (f) of this section targeted for recruitment pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, and (3) timeline and measures for reaching the recruitment target.