(a) As used in this section, “development and inspection services” has the same meaning as described in subsection (a) of § 13a-95c.

(b) For any public-private partnership, the Commissioner of Transportation shall make best efforts to perform development and inspection services using, where such employees are available, department employees and reducing, and where possible eliminating, the dependency on consultants. Any contract the department enters into with a consultant to perform development and inspection services with regards to a public-private partnership shall contain a provision that provides for training department employees in the process for bidding and managing public-private partnerships. Employees may be appointed to durational positions to reduce the need for development and inspection services to be performed by consultants. Such employees may be appointed as engineers to durational positions without examination provided such employees have met the education, knowledge and training requirements required by the job classification by the Department of Administrative Services.

(c) Not later than February first of each year following the establishment of a public-private partnership, and annually thereafter, the department, in consultation with representatives selected by the exclusive bargaining agents of the department’s employees, shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of § 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation that analyzes the progress of any public-private partnerships and the performance of development and inspection services by any consultant. If the report finds that a consultant is unable to complete such services within the timeframe or amount budgeted as stated in the agreement with the consultant, the department may terminate the agreement and exercise any other rights and remedies that may be available to it at law or in equity.

(d) Not later than six months after the completion of any public-private partnership, the department, in consultation with representatives selected by the exclusive bargaining agents of the department’s employees, shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of § 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation that evaluates the effectiveness of the public-private partnership and makes recommendations regarding the continued use of public-private partnerships.