O F F I C E O F L E G I S L A T I V E R E S E A R C H
P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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PA 21-111—HB 6690
AN ACT AUTHORIZING AND ADJUSTING BONDS OF THE STATE
FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER
PURPOSES, ESTABLISHING THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND
2030 BOARD, AUTHORIZING STATE GRANT COMMITMENTS FOR
SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS AND MAKING REVISIONS TO THE
SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT STATUTES
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
§§ 1-38, 55 & 89 — NEW BOND AUTHORIZATI ONS FOR STATE AGENCY
PROJECTS AND GRANTS
Authorizes new GO bonds for FYs 22 and 23 for state capital projects and grant programs
§§ 39-50 — TRANSPORTATION BONDS
Authorizes new STO bonds in FYs 22 and 23 for DOT projects
§§ 51-54, 56-57, 91 & 95 — BOND AUTHORIZATIONS FOR STATUTORY
PROGRAMS AND GRANTS
Increases bond authorizations for various statutory grants and purposes and authorizes new
bonding for these purposes for FYs 22 and 23
§§ 58 & 63-88 — CHANGES TO EXISTING AUTHORIZATIONS
Cancels or reduces all or part of prior bond authorizations for specified projects and grants;
makes various language changes to existing authorizations
§ 90 — NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE
COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM
Allows for additional rounds of grant applications under the nonprofit organization security
infrastructure competitive grant program
§§ 92-94 — CTNEXT INNOVATION PLACE PROGRAM
Authorizes $64.2 million in GO bonds over a five-year period, from FY 22 to FY 26, to
recapitalize CTNext’s innovation place program
§§ 96-98 — UCONN 2000 INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
Increases bond authorizations for two existing UConn 2000 Phase III projects at the UConn
Health Center
§§ 99 & 100 — UCONN FACULTY RECRUI TMENT AND HIRING
PROGRAM
Authorizes $46.1 million in GO bonds over a five-year period for a new research faculty
recruitment and hiring program at UConn O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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§ 101 — GRANT TO BROOKLYN FO R RIVERSIDE PARK
Requires DEEP to pay a grant of $150,000 to Brooklyn for Riverside Park improvements
§ 102 — CONNECTICUT PORT AUT HORITY
Authorizes up to $25 million in GO bonds over a five-year period for the Connecticut Port
Authority to fund port projects in towns other than New Haven, New London, or Bridgeport
§§ 103-111 — CONNECTICUT BABY BON D TRUST
Establishes the Connecticut Baby Bond Trust program, administered by the state treasurer, and
authorizes up to $600 million in bonds for the program
§ 112 — COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND 2030
Authorizes up to $875 million in bonds for a five-year bonding program to fund qualifying
projects and grants in distressed communities; establishes a 21-member board to make funding
recommendations under the program; authorizes an additional $1.25 billion in bonds for the
program that is contingent on agreement between the governor and board and the legislature
reauthorizing the program; beginning in FY 22, requires that $125 million of the funds available
for the state’s Economic Action Plan be reserved for specified projects meeting specified criteria
§ 113 — SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION GRANT COMMITMENTS
Authorizes 15 school construction state grant commitments totaling $393 million toward total
project costs of $637.7 million; reauthorizes two high school renovation projects with additional
estimated project costs of $119.7 million and an estimated state share of $111.4 million
§ 114 — WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS
Requires water bottle filling stations to be included in all school building projects for new
construction, renovation, or replacement on any project list DAS submits to the General Assembly
beginning July 1, 2022
§ 115 — DAS TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL STATUS REPORT
Requires DAS, starting by January 1, 2023, to (1) biennially develop a status report on all current
and pending school building projects for the Technical Education and Career System (TECS) and
(2) submit it to the Education Committee
§§ 116-119 & 121-128 — PROJECT EXEMPTIONS, WAIVERS, AND
MODIFICATIONS
Exempts 21 school construction projects from certain statutory and regulatory requirements to
allow them to, among other things, qualify for state reimbursement grants, receive higher
reimbursement percentages for these grants, or receive a lower project withholding amount prior
to completing an audit
§ 120 — NEW BRITAIN SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEES
Requires specific membership of the New Britain building committee responsible for overseeing
the school building projects at Holmes and Jefferson Elementary schools
§§ 1-38, 55 & 89 — NEW BOND AUTHORIZATI ONS FOR STATE AGENCY
PROJECTS AND GRANTS O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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Authorizes new GO bonds for FYs 22 and 23 for state capital projects and grant programs
The act authorizes up to $834.7 million for FY 22 and $678.1 million for FY
23 in state general obligation (GO) bonds for the state projects and grant
programs listed in the table below. The bonds are subject to standard issuance
procedures and have a maximum term of 20 years.
The act includes a standard provision requiring, as a condition of bond
authorizations for grants to private entities, each granting agency to include
repayment provisions in its grant contract in case the facility for which the grant is
made ceases to be used for the grant purposes within 10 years of the grantee
receiving it. (It exempts Office of Policy and Management (OPM) grants from
this requirement.) The required repayment is reduced by 10% for each full year
that the facility is used for the grant purpose.
Table 1: GO Bond Authorizations for State Projects and Grant Programs
§ Agency For FY 22 FY 23
2(a) Office of
Legislative
Management
Replacement of legislative drafting
and information system
$2,000,000 0
State Capitol Complex: alterations,
renovations, improvements, and
technology upgrades
4,780,000 0
2(b),
21(a)
OPM Information technology capital
investment program
65,000,000 15,000,000*
2(c),
21(b)
Department of
Administrative
Services (DAS)
Infrastructure repairs and
improvements, including (1) fire,
safety, and Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) compliance; (2)
improvements to state-owned
buildings and grounds, including
energy conservation and off-site
improvements; and (3) preservation of
unoccupied buildings and grounds,
including office development,
acquisition, renovations for additional
parking, and security improvements
0 5,000,000
Removal or encapsulation of asbestos
and hazardous materials in state-
owned buildings
10,000,000 10,000,000
Connecticut Building at the Eastern
States Exposition in Springfield:
alterations, renovations, and
improvements
1,000,000 0
Capital construction, improvements,
repairs, renovations, and land
acquisition at fire training schools
0 5,000,000
2(d), Department of Alterations, renovations, and 10,700,000 0 O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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§ Agency For FY 22 FY 23
21(c) Emergency
Services and
Public Protection
(DESPP)
improvements to buildings and
grounds, including utilities,
mechanical systems, and energy
conservation projects
Alterations, renovations, and
improvements to buildings and
grounds, including utilities
0 28,200,000
Upgrade and replacement of the
Connecticut Land Mobile Radio
Network
39,000,000 0
Alterations, renovations,
improvements, and repairs to
Connecticut Police Officer Standards
and Training Council buildings and
grounds
1,000,000 0
2(e) Department of
Motor Vehicles
Development of a master plan for
department facilities
500,000 0
2(f),
21(d)
Military
Department
State matching funds for anticipated
federal reimbursable projects
1,810,000 3,250,000
Alterations, renovations, and
improvements to buildings and
grounds, including utilities,
mechanical systems, and energy
conservation
200,000 200,000
2(g),
21(e)
Department of
Energy and
Environmental
Protection
(DEEP)
Alterations, renovations, and new
construction at state parks and other
recreation facilities, including ADA
improvements
0 15,000,000
Projects in state buildings and assets
that decrease environmental impacts,
including renewable energy or
combined heat and power projects,
and projects to (1) improve energy
efficiency; (2) reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from building heating and
cooling, including by installing
renewable thermal heating systems;
(3) expand electric vehicle charging
infrastructure for charging state-
owned or leased electric vehicles; (4)
reduce water use; and (5) reduce
waste generation and disposal
20,000,000 10,000,000
2(h) Agricultural
Experiment
Station
Valley Laboratory in Windsor:
construction and equipment for
additions and renovation
6,300,000 0
2(i) Office of the
Chief Medical
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
in Farmington: design of alteration,
2,500,000 0 O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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§ Agency For FY 22 FY 23
Examiner renovation, and additions
2(j),
21(f)
Department of
Developmental
Services
(1) Fire, safety, and environmental
improvements to regional facilities and
intermediate care facilities for client
and staff needs, including compliance
with current codes, and (2) site
improvements, handicapped access
improvements, utilities, repair or
replacement of roofs, air conditioning,
and other building renovations and
additions at all state-owned facilities
2,000,000 2,000,000
2(k),
21(g)
Department of
Mental Health
and Addiction
Services
(1) Fire, safety, and environmental
improvements to regional facilities and
intermediate care facilities for client
and staff needs, including compliance
with current codes, and (2) site
improvements, handicapped access
improvements, utilities, repair or
replacement of roofs, air conditioning,
and other building renovations and
additions at all state-owned facilities
9,600,000 5,000,000
Design and installation of sprinkler
systems in direct patient care
buildings, including related fire safety
improvements
904,500 3,740,000
Whiting Forensic Hospital at
Connecticut Valley Hospital in
Middletown: planning and design for
replacement
3,000,000 0
2(l),
21(h)
State
Department of
Education (SDE)
Technical Education and Career
System: alterations, renovations, and
improvements to buildings and
grounds, including new and
replacement equipment, tools, and
supplies necessary to update
curricula, vehicles, and technology
15,100,000 14,100,000
2(m),
21(i)
Connecticut
State Colleges
and Universities
New and replacement instruction,
research, or laboratory equipment
22,000,000 22,000,000
System telecommunications
infrastructure upgrades,
improvements, and expansions
15,000,000 9,000,000
Advanced manufacturing and
emerging technology programs
3,000,000 3,075,000
All community colleges: deferred
maintenance, code compliance, and
infrastructure improvements
19,000,000 20,000,000 O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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§ Agency For FY 22 FY 23
All universities: deferred maintenance,
code compliance, and infrastructure
improvements
20,000,000 20,000,000
All colleges and universities: security
improvements
2,500,000 2,500,000
Alterations, renovations, and
improvements to 185 Main Street in
New Britain for the One College Office
2,900,000 0
Pilot program to expand advanced
manufacturing certificate programs to
public high schools (CGS § 10a-80f)
2,500,000 2,500,000
Health and mental health capital and
information technology resources
1,000,000 0
2(n),
21(j)
Department of
Correction
Alterations, renovations, and
improvements to existing state-owned
buildings for inmate housing,
programming and staff training space,
additional inmate capacity, support
facilities, and off-site improvements
30,000,000 10,000,000
2(o),
21(k)
Judicial
Department
Alterations, renovations, and
improvements to buildings and
grounds at state-owned and
maintained facilities
5,000,000 5,000,000
Technology strategic plan project
implementation
2,000,000 2,000,000
Alterations and improvements in
compliance with the ADA
2,000,000 2,000,000
Security improvements at various
state-owned and maintained facilities
2,000,000 2,000,000
2(p) State Library Development of a new shared library
preservation facility
10,264,000 0
HOUSING PROJECTS
9, 28 Department of
Housing (DOH)
Housing development and
rehabilitation, including
improvements to various state-
assisted affordable housing and
housing-related financial assistance
programs; requires DOH to use up to
$30 million in each FY to revitalize
moderate rental housing units in the
Connecticut Housing Finance
Authority’s state housing portfolio
100,000,000 100,000,000
GRANTS
13(a),
32(a),
OPM Grants for capital purposes to
municipalities eligible for the
7,000,000 7,000,000 O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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§ Agency For FY 22 FY 23
55, 89 distressed municipalities property tax
reimbursement program (CGS § 32-
9s)
Grants to municipalities and higher
education institutions for purchasing
body-worn recording equipment,
digital data storage devices, and
dashboard cameras; earmarks up to
$500,000 for FY 22 for a study of
centralized data storage for
recordings from body-worn recording
equipment and dashboard cameras
2,500,000
2,000,000
Community engagement training for
law enforcement units in towns with a
population exceeding 100,000 or in
adjacent towns
500,000 0
Grants to private, nonprofit health and
human service organizations that
receive state funds to provide direct
health or human services to state
agency clients for alterations,
renovations, improvements, additions,
and new construction, including (1)
health, safety, ADA compliance, and
energy conservation improvements;
(2) information technology systems;
(3) technology for independence; and
(4) vehicle purchases and property
acquisition
10,000,000
25,000,000**
Grant for a Sandy Hook memorial 2,600,000 0
Grants for regional and local
improvements and development,
including (1) Bristol Health emergency
backup power generation replacement
and upgrade, (2) Crestbrook Park
facility upgrades, (3) Thomaston
Opera House, (4) Squantz Engine
Company elevator, (5) Tolland Fire
Department capital improvement s, (6)
Plymouth Police Department, (7) new
facility for Operation Hope of Fairfield,
(8) Shelton Constitution Boulevard
extension and Commerce Park, (9)
track at Portland High School and
Portland Middle School, (10) Trumbull
Veterans & First Responder Center,
(11) Stanley T. Williams Senior Center
35,000,000 35,000,000 O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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§ Agency For FY 22 FY 23
roof repair, (12) YMCA of Wallingford,
(13) East Haven pool renovation, (14)
Fox Hill Memorial Tower rehabilitation,
(15) connection and expansion of
sewer line in Bozrah, (16) Fairfield
landfill cleanup, (17) Shakespeare
Theater construction, (18) Sterling
House Community Center
renovations, (19) regional public
safety complex in Enfield, (20) Bristol
Hospital backup generator, (21)
Woodridge Lake sewer treatment
plant renovations, (22) Groton
sidewalks, and (23) Griswold Senior
Center
Grants to municipalities (specifies the
grant amounts for each municipality)
(§ 55)
91,000,000 91,000,000
Grant to the Commission on Gun
Violence Prevention and Intervention
(§ 89)
5,000,000 7,000,000
13(b),
32(b)
DEEP Grants to municipalities for open
space acquisition and development
for conservation or recreational
purposes
10,000,000 10,000,000
Grants to municipalities for
improvements to incinerators and
landfills, including bulky waste landfills
2,900,000 2,900,000
Microgrid and resilience grant and
loan pilot program
5,000,000 5,000,000
Grants for identifying, investigating,
containing, removing, or mitigating
contaminated industrial sites in urban
areas
10,500,000 10,500,000
Grants to contain, remove, or mitigate
identified hazardous waste disposal
sites
5,000,000 5,000,000
Grants to municipalities for (1)
providing potable water and (2)
assessment and remedial action to
address pollution from perfluoroalkyl
and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS)
substances
1,150,000 1,150,000
13(c),
32(c)
Department of
Economic and
Community
Brownfield Remediation and
Revitalization program
25,000,000 25,000,000
Small Business Express program 25,000,000 25,000,000 O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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§ Agency For FY 22 FY 23
Development
(DECD)
Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation
Fund
10,000,000 10,000,000
CareerConneCT workforce training
programs
20,000,000 20,000,000
Grants to nonprofits operating cultural
and historical sites
0 5,000,000
13(d) Connecticut Port
Authority
Grants for improvements to deep
water ports, including dredging;
requires that at least $20 million be
used for deep water ports outside of
New London
50,000,000* 0
13(e),
32(d)
Department of
Transportation
(DOT)
Grants to municipalities for the Town
Aid Road program
30,000,000 30,000,000
13(f),
32(e)
SDE Grants to assist targeted local and
regional school districts for alterations,
repairs, improvements, technology,
and equipment in low-performing
schools
5,000,000 5,000,000
13(g) Connecticut
Higher Education
Supplemental
Loan Authority
Alliance District Teacher Loan
Subsidy Program
7,000,000 0
13(h),
32(f)
Department of
Public Health
Health Disparities and Prevention
Grant Program; in each FY, earmarks
up to (1) $25 million for federal
qualified health centers (for FY 22, up
to $300,000 of this amount may be
used to conduct a health disparities
study) and (2) $15 million for mental
health and substance abuse treatment
providers*
40,000,000* 40,000,000**
*PA 21-2, June Special Session (JSS), §§ 469-473, modifies these authorization amounts.
**PA 21-2, JSS, 474 & 482-483, cancels these authorization amounts.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021, for FY 22 bond authorizations and July 1,
2022, for FY 23 authorizations.
§§ 39-50 — TRANSPORTATION BONDS
Authorizes new STO bonds in FYs 22 and 23 for DOT projects
The act authorizes up to $836.9 million in new special tax obligation (STO)
bonds in FY 22 and $929.6 million in FY 23 for DOT projects, as shown in Table
2. O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 10 of 31
Table 2: STO Bond Authorizations for DOT Projects
Authorized Program Areas FY 22
(§ 40)
FY 23
(§ 46)
Bureau of Engineering and Highway Operations
Interstate highway program $13,000,000 $13,000,000
Urban systems projects 16,750,000 16,750,000
Intrastate highway program 63,000,000 72,000,000
Environmental compliance, soil and groundwater remediation,
hazardous material abatement, demolition, salt shed construction
and renovation, storage tank replacement, and environmental
emergency response at or near state-owned properties or related to
DOT operations
8,810,000 15,300,000
State bridge improvement, rehabilitation, and replacement 33,000,000 33,000,000
Capital resurfacing and related reconstruction 107,500,000 107,500,000
Fix-it-First bridge repair program 74,000,000 155,000,000
Fix-it-First road repair program 65,785,000 64,783,000
Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program 67,000,000 67,000,000
Grants to municipalities for the Town Aid Road Program 30,000,000 30,000,000
Local bridge program 10,000,000 10,000,000
Highway and bridge renewal equipment 19,000,000 19,000,000
Community connectivity and alternative mobility program 12,000,000 12,000,000
Bureau of Public Transportation
Bus and rail facilities and equipment, including rights-of-way, other
property acquisition, and related projects
248,120,000 270,800,000
Bureau of Administration
Department facilities 68,945,000 43,425,000
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021, for FY 22 bond authorizations and July 1,
2022, for FY 23 authorizations.
§§ 51-54, 56-57, 91 & 95 — BOND AUTHORIZATIONS FOR STATUTORY
PROGRAMS AND GRANTS
Increases bond authorizations for various statutory grants and purposes and authorizes new
bonding for these purposes for FYs 22 and 23
The act increases aggregate bond authorizations for various statutory grants O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 11 of 31
and purposes and authorizes new bonding for these purposes for FYs 22 and 23,
as shown in Table 3.
Table 3: Statutory Bond Authorizations for FYs 22 and 23
§ Agency Purpose/Fund FY 22 FY 23
51 OPM Urban Act (economic and community
development project grants)
$200,000,000 $40,000,000
52 OPM Small Town Economic Assistance
Program (STEAP)
0 15,000,000
53 OPM Capital Equipment Purchase Fund 10,000,000 10,000,000
54 OPM Local Capital Improvement Program
(LoCIP)
30,000,000 30,000,000
56 DOH Housing Trust Fund 55,000,000 50,000,000
57 DAS School construction projects 550,000,000 450,000,000*
59 DEEP Clean Water Fund grants 100,000,000 100,000,000
60 DEEP Clean Water Fund loans (revenue
bonds)
281,000,000 237,000,000
61 DEEP Connecticut bikeway, pedestrian
walkway, recreational trail, and
greenway grant program
3,000,000 3,000,000
62 SDE School security infrastructure competitive
grant program
5,000,000 10,000,000
91 DESPP Nonprofit security infrastructure
competitive grant program (see § 90
below)
10,000,000 5,000,000
*PA 21-2, JSS, § 484, increases this authorization to $550 million.
Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund (§ 95)
The act increases the existing authorization for the Crumbling Foundations
Assistance Fund by $100 million, in the amounts of $25 million per year for FYs
23-26.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021, except that the STEAP authorization is
effective July 1, 2022.
§§ 58 & 63-88 — CHANGES TO EXISTING AUTHORIZATIONS
Cancels or reduces all or part of prior bond authorizations for specified projects and grants;
makes various language changes to existing authorizations
Bond Cancellations and Reductions O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 12 of 31
The act cancels or reduces, by a total of $143.6 million, all or part of prior
bond authorizations for the projects and grants shown in Table 4.
Table 4: Cancellations and Reductions
§ Agency and Purpose Prior
Authorization
Amount
Cancelled
58 Office of Early Childhood: Smart Start
competitive grant program
63,519,149 15,000,000
63-64 Judicial Department: development of a
courthouse facility in Torrington
25,288,700 500,000
65-66 DECD: grant to Meriden for the West
Main Street streetscape project
2,000,000 800,000
70-71 SDE: Grants for Sheff magnet school
program capital start-up costs
15,000,000 323,586
73-74 DEEP: grant to Glastonbury to acquire
open space for conservation or municipal
purposes (expands the authorization’s
allowable purposes to include
reimbursement of the purposes)
10,000,000 7,000,000
75-76 DESPP: planning and design for a new
forensic science laboratory
6,000,000 5,000,000
77 & 79,
81-82,
84-85,
86-87
DOL: Workforce Training Authority Fund 70,000,000 70,000,000
88 Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment
Authority capitalization
45,000,000 45,000,000
Microgrids (§§ 67 & 78)
The act changes the purpose of two existing bond authorizations for energy
microgrids. Under prior law, the authorizations ($15 million and $5 million,
respectively) were for a program to establish energy microgrids to support critical
municipal infrastructure. The act instead directs them to the microgrid and
resilience grant and loan pilot program.
Grant to Children’s Museum in West Hartford (§§ 68 & 69)
The act increases, by $10 million, an existing bond authorization for
nonprofits sponsoring children’s museums, aquariums, and science-related
programs and earmarks the funds for a grant to the Children’s Museum in West
Hartford.
O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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Let’s Go CT Capital Improvement Program (§ 72)
The act expands the purpose for which DOT may use an existing bond
authorization under the Let’s Go CT program. Under prior law, the authorization
was for a parking structure and pedestrian bridge in New Haven on the New
Haven rail line. The act expands it to also include improvements to Union Station
and the surrounding roadways in New Haven.
Healthy Homes Program (§§ 80 & 83)
Prior law authorized bonds for the DOH and Connecticut Children’s Medical
Center’s (CCMC) Healthy Homes Program that abates lead and addresses other
environmental health and safety concerns in homes. The act eliminates references
to CCMC for purposes of these authorizations.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021, except that the change to the Let’s Go CT
program is effective upon passage.
§ 90 — NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON SECURITY INFRASTR UCTURE
COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM
Allows for additional rounds of grant applications under the nonprofit organization security
infrastructure competitive grant program
Existing law requires DESPP to administer a competitive grant program to
reimburse eligible nonprofit organizations for security infrastructure
improvements. The act eliminates the July 31, 2020, deadline to apply for the
grants, thus allowing for additional rounds of grant applications. (The act
increases the program's authorization by $15 million; see § 91 above). As under
existing law, the grants are for certain expenses incurred on or after July 1, 2019.
The act also makes a conforming change by eliminating a provision for a
second round of grant applications, limited to expenses incurred on or after
February 1, 2021, if there were remaining bonds funds after the first round.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
§§ 92-94 — CTNEXT INNOVATION PLACE PROGRAM
Authorizes $64.2 million in GO bonds over a five-year period, from FY 22 to FY 26, to
recapitalize CTNext’s innovation place program
The act authorizes $64.2 million in GO bonds over a five-year period, from
FY 22 to FY 26, to recapitalize CTNext’s innovation place program, as shown in
Table 5. The bonds are subject to standard statutory bond issuance procedures and
repayment requirements.
Under the act, bond proceeds may generally be used for new and existing
innovation places, except that the act earmarks (1) $10 million for deposit into the
CTNext Fund in FY 24 to cover general operating expenses and (2) $200,000 for
an economic feasibility study of certain lands in Trumbull in FY 22. O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 14 of 31
Table 5: CTNext Bond Authorizations
FY Amount ($)
22 200,000
23 13,500,000
24 23,500,000
25 13,500,000
26 13,500,000
The act also reestablishes and makes permanent the requirement that the
CTNext board report annually by September 30 to the Commerce and Finance,
Revenue and Bonding committees on the innovation place program’s operation,
effectiveness, and grant distribution. This requirement expired on September 30,
2020.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021, except that a technical change is effective July
1, 2022.
§§ 96-98 — UCONN 2000 INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
Increases bond authorizations for two existing UConn 2000 Phase III projects at the UConn
Health Center
The act increases bond authorizations for two existing UConn 2000 Phase III
projects at the UConn Health Center, as shown in Table 6. The additions total
$80.1 million in new bond authorizations under the program. To conform to the
increased bond authorization, the act adjusts the annual bond limits for the UConn
2000 program for FY 22 and FY 23 by $57.1 million and $23 million,
respectively. (PA 21-2, JSS, §§ 479-481, reduces these authorizations by $55.1
million, resulting in a net increase of $25 million.)
Table 6: UConn 2000 Phase III Project Authorizations (in millions)
Project Prior
Authorization
New
Authorization
Change
Deferred Maintenance/Code/ADA
Compliance/Infrastructure &
Improvements Renovation Lump Sum and
Utility, Administrative and Support
Facilities – Health Center
$61.0 $110.1 $49.1
Equipment, Library Collections and
Telecommunications – Health Center
75.0 106.0 31.0
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
§§ 99 & 100 — UCONN FACULTY RECRUI TMENT AND HIRING
PROGRAM O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 15 of 31
Authorizes $46.1 million in GO bonds over a five-year period for a new research faculty
recruitment and hiring program at UConn
The act (1) requires UConn to begin a new research faculty recruitment and
hiring program and (2) authorizes $46.1 million in GO bonds over a five-year
period, from FY 22 to FY 26, for this purpose, as shown in Table 7. The bonds
are subject to standard statutory bond issuance procedures and repayment
requirements.
Table 7: UConn Research Faculty Recruitment and Hiring Program
GO Bond Authorizations
FY Amount
22 $ 6,460,000
23 11,729,200
24 14,489,200
25 9,220,000
26 4,201,600
Program Requirements
Existing law requires UConn to develop, maintain, and revise a faculty
recruitment program to attract faculty with demonstrated excellence in their
research fields and an interest in (1) collaborating on research that meets societal
needs or (2) commercializing discoveries, innovations, or technologies. UConn's
Board of Trustees must biennially develop a plan for recruiting and hiring
research faculty, including those whose research is focused on societal needs or
can be commercialized.
The act requires the Board of Trustees to implement a faculty recruitment and
hiring program in accordance with this plan. The program must be used to (1) hire
faculty meeting the above qualifications; (2) support the faculty’s compensation
and related construction, renovation, and equipment costs; and (3) help UConn
meet existing law's faculty recruitment goals and requirements (see above).
Through this new program, UConn must also (1) encourage and facilitate the
creation of new business ventures in the state that fuel economic growth and (2)
provide resources for proof of concept, technology maturation, early- and later-
stage venture capital funding, and other measures that encourage expansion of
UConn’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The act requires UConn’s president to report on the program’s implementation
in his annual report on the university’s progress toward the hiring goals in its
faculty recruitment plan. By law, this report is submitted to the Higher Education
and Finance, Revenue and Bonding committees.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
§ 101 — GRANT TO BROOKLYN FO R RIVERSIDE PARK O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 16 of 31
Requires DEEP to pay a grant of $150,000 to Brooklyn for Riverside Park improvements
The act requires the DEEP commissioner to pay, from grants authorized under
the Urban Act program, a grant of $150,000 to Brooklyn to reimburse it for
Riverside Park improvements.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 102 — CONNECTICUT PORT AUT HORITY
Authorizes up to $25 million in GO bonds over a five-year period for the Connecticut Port
Authority to fund port projects in towns other than New Haven, New London, or Bridgeport
The act authorizes up to $25 million in GO bonds over a five-year period,
capped at $5 million in each year from FY 22 through FY 26, for the Connecticut
Port Authority (CPA). If CPA does not use all or part of the capped amount in a
fiscal year, that amount is added to the capped amount for the following year.
The act requires CPA to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
with the OPM secretary and state treasurer regarding the bond issuance, including
the extent to which federal, private, and other available funds should be added to
the bond proceeds. The MOU must provide for the issuance of these bonds to
fund CPA’s port projects in towns other than New Haven, New London, or
Bridgeport. (The state’s three deep water ports are in these cities.) The MOU is
subject to the State Bond Commission’s approval, which satisfies the standard
approval requirements under the GO Bond Procedure Act.
Subject to the caps, the act deems the principal amount of the authorized
bonds to be an appropriation, allocation, and allotment of the bond amounts. The
bonds are subject to standard statutory conditions.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§§ 103-111 — CONNECTICUT BABY BON D TRUST
Establishes the Connecticut Baby Bond Trust program, administered by the state treasurer, and
authorizes up to $600 million in bonds for the program
The act establishes the Connecticut Baby Bond Trust program, administered
by the state treasurer, and authorizes up to $600 million in bonds for the program
($50 million per year) from FYs 23 through 34. Under this program, the treasurer
must (1) create accountings for babies born on or after July 1, 2021, whose births
were covered under HUSKY (i.e., designated beneficiaries) and (2) deposit
$3,200 into each designated beneficiary’s accounting at birth. Once they have
reached age 18, designated beneficiaries that meet the act’s eligibility
requirements may receive the funds in their accountings, including any
investment earnings, to be used for an eligible expenditure. Eligible expenditures
generally include those for education, home-buying, business investments, and
personal financial investments.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021 O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 17 of 31
Trust Requirements (§ 104)
Under the act, the trust is an instrumentality of the state performing essential
governmental functions. It receives and holds all deposits, gifts, bequests,
endowments, government grants, and other sources of funds, and the earnings on
those funds, until disbursed to a designated beneficiary.
The act requires that deposits be made in cash and specifies that funds in the
trust are not the property of the state and cannot be combined with state funds.
The act also specifies that the trust is not a state department, institution, or
agency, and the state has no claim on its funds. The trust must continue to exist as
long as it has deposits or obligations and until terminated by law. Unclaimed
assets escheat to the state under the law for unclaimed property held by a
fiduciary.
Under the act, any contract entered into by the trust, or any obligation of the
trust, is not a state debt or obligation, and the state has no obligation on account of
the trust. Amounts that must be paid from the trust are limited to the amount
deposited in the trust available for the payments. The trust’s deposits may be
disbursed only in accordance with the act.
Treasurer’s Authority and Powers (§§ 104 & 105)
Under the act, the state treasurer must receive, maintain, administer, invest,
and disburse the trust’s money. On behalf of the trust and to carry out its
purposes, he may:
1. receive and invest the trust's money as described below;
2. enter into contractual agreements for services for the trust (e.g., legal,
actuarial, administrative, and consulting) and pay for them with the trusts’
assets;
3. obtain insurance;
4. apply for, accept, and spend public or private donations to enable the trust
to achieve its objectives;
5. adopt regulations;
6. sue and be sued;
7. establish funds within the trust; and
8. take other necessary action to carry out the act’s purposes and incidental to
the treasurer’s duties under the act.
Investment (§ 106)
The act requires the state treasurer to (1) invest the trust's funds in a
reasonable way to achieve its objectives; (2) exercise a prudent person's care and
discretion; and (3) consider such things as rate of return, risk, maturity, portfolio
diversification, liquidity, projected disbursements and expenditures, and expected
deposits and other gifts. Under the act, these requirements apply regardless of
existing state laws on the treasurer’s investment authority, including the (1) O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 18 of 31
requirement that the treasurer’s trust fund investments be reviewed by the
Investment Advisory Council and (2) statutory constraints that limit the
percentage of state funds invested in common stock and investments in companies
doing business in specified countries.
He need not require that the trust invest in government bonds or other funds
he administers. The act requires that the trust’s assets be continuously invested
and reinvested, consistent with the trust’s objectives, until they are disbursed for
eligible expenditures or spent on the trust’s operational expenses.
Tax Exemption (§107)
The act provides that the trust’s property and earnings are exempt from all
state and local taxes.
Impact on Assistance Programs and Need-Based Aid (§ 108)
The act specifies that, to the extent federal law allows, and regardless of any
state statute, funds invested in the trust are not considered assets or income for
purpose of determining an individual’s eligibility for (1) any Department of
Social Services (DSS)-administered assistance program or (2) need-based,
institutional aid grants offered at the state’s public eligible educational
institutions.
Designated Beneficiary Accountings (§§ 109-110)
Initial Deposit. The state treasurer must establish an accounting for each
designated beneficiary and transfer, from the General Fund to the trust, $3,200 to
the beneficiary’s accounting at birth. (PA 21-2, JSS, § 485, (1) allows, rather than
requires, him to make this transfer; (2) provides that the transfer amount may be
up to $3,200; and (3) requires that it be made from the program’s bond proceeds,
rather than the General Fund.) Each beneficiary’s accounting must include the
amount transferred at birth, plus the beneficiary’s pro rata share of the trust’s total
net investment earnings. (PA 21-2, JSS, § 485, also requires that the transfer
amount be proportionately reduced for any year in which the amount of bond
funds made available under the program is insufficient to provide the $3,200
transfer to each beneficiary.)
Claims for Eligible Expenditures. A designated beneficiary is eligible to
receive the total amount in his or her accounting for an eligible expenditure if he
or she (1) is age 18 to 29, (2) has completed a financial literacy requirement
prescribed by the treasurer, and (3) is a state resident at the time of the claim.
“Eligible expenditures” include any of the following expenses, as prescribed by
the treasurer: (1) education, (2) purchasing a home in the state, (3) investing in a
business here, or (4) investing in financial assets or personal capital that provides
long-term wage or wealth gains. The act allows the treasurer to adopt regulations
for these provisions.
Under the act, if a designated beneficiary fails to submit a valid claim, as O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 19 of 31
determined by the treasurer, before his or her 30
th
birthday or dies before doing
so, then the amount of his or her accounting is credited back to the trust’s assets.
MOU With DSS (§109)
The act requires the state treasurer and DSS to enter into an MOU to establish
information-sharing practices in order to carry out these provisions. It makes the
MOU contingent on adequate consent authorizing the disclosure of designated
beneficiaries' confidential information under any applicable state or federal laws.
Bonds (§ 111)
Authorization. The act authorizes the state treasurer to issue up to $600
million in state GO bonds for the program, in amounts of up to $50 million per
year from FYs 23-34. It also authorizes him to issue (1) additional bonds or other
debt to fund the issuance costs and (2) refunding bonds to retire bonds previously
issued under this provision. (PA 21-2, JSS, § 485, repeals these provisions,
instead allowing the State Bond Commission to authorize the issuance of these
bonds, subject to the same $50 million per-year cap. In doing so, it subjects the
bonds issued for this program to the standard Bond Commission approval
process.)
Governor’s Approval. Beginning by September 1, 2022, the act requires DSS
to annually inform the treasurer of the number of designated beneficiaries born in
the prior fiscal year. The treasurer must then promptly submit to the governor and
OPM secretary a calculation of the total deposit amount required to credit $3,200
for each of these beneficiaries. (PA 21-2, JSS, § 486, requires him to send this
information by certified mail.) No later than 30 days after this submission, the
governor may approve or disapprove all or some of the amount by notifying the
treasurer, in writing, of his decision and the reasons for it. If the governor does not
act within 30 days, the bond issuance for that fiscal year is deemed approved. The
treasurer may issue bonds in that amount, subject to the annual cap, plus
additional amounts for issuance costs and capitalized interest, if any. (PA 21-2,
JSS, § 486, eliminates these provisions allowing the governor to approve or
disapprove the treasurer’s bond issuance.)
If the amount required for the deposits in any fiscal year is less than the
capped amount, or if the governor disapproves some or all of the issuance for that
year, then the remaining amount under the cap is carried forward and added to the
capped amount for a subsequent fiscal year, but no later than FY 33. If the
governor approves only a portion of the total amount the treasurer calculated in
his report, or if the amount calculated by the treasurer exceeds the annual
allocation cap, the amount credited for each designated beneficiary’s account for
that fiscal year must be proportionately reduced. (PA 21-2, JSS, § 486, instead
provides that if the Bond Commission does not allocate all or a portion of the
bonds in any fiscal year, then the remaining amount must be carried forward and
added to the authorized amount for the next two succeeding fiscal years.) Issuance
costs may be added to the capped amount in each fiscal year. O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 20 of 31
Subject to the act’s capping provisions and following the governor’s approval
or deemed approval of the issuance, the act deems the principal amount of the
authorized bonds to be an appropriation and allocation of the bond amounts and
an allotment by the governor of funds. The treasurer may make the deposit to the
trust from available funds regardless of whether the authorized bonds have then
been issued and must maintain a separate, nonlapsing account to record the bond
proceeds and deposits made. (PA 21-2, JSS, § 486, eliminates these provisions.)
Treasurer’s Powers. The act incorporates and applies to the bonds applicable
statutory provisions relating to state bonds, including provisions authorizing the
treasurer to make contracts, agreements, and promises relating to the bonds; and
establishing the procedure and venue for, and state defenses in, any bondholder
lawsuit under contracts, agreements, and covenants relating to the bonds.
The act exempts interest on, and gains from the sale of, the notes from all
taxes imposed by the state or under its authority, except estate or succession taxes.
It also allows the treasurer to make whatever representations and agreements are
necessary or appropriate to ensure that note holders receive available federal tax
benefits on note interest. The agreements may include (1) promises to provide
secondary market disclosure information; (2) arrangements for the information to
be provided through an agent or trustee; and (3) remedies, limited to specific
performance, for breaching an agreement. (A “secondary market” is any sale after
the initial public offering.)
Indemnification. The act indemnifies state elected and appointed officials and
employees from financial losses, including legal fees, arising out of claims of
negligence in providing secondary market disclosure information or performing
other duties under any agreement to do so. The indemnification does not (1) cover
willful and wanton fraud or (2) preclude a governmental immunity defense to any
claim, demand, or suit.
Investment. The act makes the bonds legal investments for banks, insurance
companies, fiduciaries, and public bodies and allows public officers to accept
them for any purpose for which they may receive or deposit state obligations.
Legal Actions Related to the Bonds. The act allows the Hartford Superior
Court to enter a judgment against the state based on (1) an express contract
between the state and bond holders or (2) contracts or agreements the act allows
the treasurer to make relating to the notes. Such a judgment must include any
claim or set-off the state has against the plaintiffs. The case must be heard without
a jury. The act reserves to the state all legal defenses in such a case except
governmental immunity and allows either party to move that the action have
privilege in its trial assignment.
§ 112 — COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND 2030
Authorizes up to $875 million in bonds for a five-year bonding program to fund qualifying
projects and grants in distressed communities; establishes a 21-member board to make funding
recommendations under the program; authorizes an additional $1.25 billion in bonds for the
program that is contingent on agreement between the governor and board and the legislature
reauthorizing the program; beginning in FY 22, requires that $125 million of the funds available
for the state’s Economic Action Plan be reserved for specified projects meeting specified criteria O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 21 of 31
The act establishes a five-year, $875 million bonding program, from FYs 23-
27, to fund qualifying projects and grants in eligible municipalities (i.e., those
designated as public investment communities or alliance districts). It establishes a
21-member board, the Community Investment Fund 2030 board, within DECD to
accept applications for funding under the program from municipalities,
community development corporations, and nonprofits undertaking eligible
projects. The act establishes a process by which the board reviews the
applications and submits them to the governor for his review. Each eligible
project for which the governor recommends a bond allocation must be considered
at a Bond Commission meeting within two months after the board’s
recommendation to the governor.
The act also authorizes an additional five years and $1.25 billion of bonding
under the program, from FYs 28-32, but makes the authorization contingent on
agreement between the governor and board and the legislature reauthorizing the
program.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
Community Investment Fund 2030 Board
Members and Appointing Authorities. The act establishes the Community
Investment Fund 2030 board within DECD. Under the act, the board is composed
of 17 ex-officio members and four appointed members. The ex-officio members
are the (1) top six legislative leaders; (2) two chairpersons of the Finance,
Revenue and Bonding Committee’s general bonding subcommittee; (3) OPM
secretary, attorney general, treasurer, comptroller, and secretary of the state, or
their designees; and (4) economic and community development, administrative
services, social services, and housing commissioners, or their designees. The four
appointed members are as follows:
1. one each appointed by the House speaker and Senate president pro
tempore who must be members of the General Assembly’s Black and
Puerto Rican Caucus and
2. two appointed by the governor.
Appointments. The appointing authorities must make their initial appointments
by August 22, 2021. The gubernatorial appointees’ terms are coterminous with
the governor’s term or until their successors are appointed, whichever is later.
Appointing authorities must fill any vacancies for the balance of the unexpired
term.
Conflicts of Interest. The act provides that it is not a conflict of interest for a
trustee, director, partner, officer, stockholder, proprietor, counsel, or employee of
any person to serve as a board member, provided the individual abstains from
deliberation, action, or vote by the board in specific respect to such person, firm,
or corporation. The governor’s appointed members are considered public officials
and must follow the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials.
Meetings and Procedures. The House speaker and Senate president pro
tempore must serve as the board’s chairpersons and schedule its first meeting by O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 22 of 31
January 1, 2022. The board must meet at least quarterly.
Eleven board members constitute a quorum for transacting business.
Appointees are not compensated but may, within available funds, be reimbursed
for necessary expenses they incur in performing their duties.
Staff. The DECD commissioner or his designee (i.e., the “administrator”) must
hire any additional employees necessary to help the board carry out its duties.
Powers and Duties. The act establishes the following powers and duties for
the board:
1. review eligible projects to be recommended to the governor as described
below,
2. establish bylaws governing its procedures,
3. review and provide comments to DECD on projects funded through the
state’s Economic Action Plan (see Economic Action Plan below), and
4. perform any other actions necessary and appropriate to carry out its duties.
Eligible Projects
Under the act, an “eligible project” is a project or grant, as described below,
that furthers consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all
individuals. This includes individuals who belong to underserved and
marginalized communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black,
Latino, and indigenous and Native American people; Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders and other people of color; religious minorities; lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, and queer persons and others comprising the LGBTQ+
community; people who live in rural areas; and people otherwise adversely
affected by persistent poverty or inequality.
The projects or grants may be proposed by a municipality, community
development corporation, or nonprofit corporation. Proposed projects must
promote economic or community development in an eligible municipality. They
may include brownfield remediation; affordable housing; new or improved water
and sewer infrastructure to support smaller scale economic development;
pedestrian safety and traffic calming improvements; new or improved energy
resiliency or clean energy projects; and land acquisition and capital projects to
build, rehabilitate, or renovate buildings and structures to facilitate or improve
home rehabilitation programs and facilities (e.g., libraries and senior centers).
Proposed grants must be to provide (1) a revolving loan program, microloans,
or gap financing to small businesses located within an eligible municipality or (2)
start-up funds to establish a small business there.
Application and Review Process
The act requires the board to establish an application and review process with
guidelines and terms for providing funds to eligible projects from the bond
proceeds authorized from FYs 23-27, as described below. Once the process has
been established, the board’s chairpersons must notify each municipality’s chief
elected official (CEO) and publicize the funds' availability. Municipal CEOs, O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 23 of 31
community development corporations (CDCs), and nonprofits may in turn apply
to the board to request funds for an eligible project. The board must meet to
consider applications submitted and determine which, if any, it will recommend to
the governor for approval.
Evaluation Criteria. In evaluating applications, the act requires the board to
give priority to eligible projects that (1) are proposed by a municipality that (a)
has implemented local hiring preferences in accordance with state law or (b) has
or will leverage municipal, private, philanthropic, or federal funds for the project
and (2) have a project labor agreement or employ or will employ ex-offenders or
individuals with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. The board
must additionally prioritize municipal applications that include a letter of support
for the proposed eligible project from a General Assembly member or members in
whose district the eligible project is or will be located.
For grant proposals that the recipient will use for small business loans or
financing, the board must also consider the (1) default risk on the repayment of a
proposed loan or financing program and (2) eligible project’s impact on the
municipality’s job creation or retention, blighted properties, and community. The
board may not recommend any proposed loan or financing program for which the
interest rate varies from the prevailing market rate.
Recommendations to the Governor. Under the act, the board’s chairpersons
must submit a list of the board’s recommended projects and grants to the governor
whenever the board deems it necessary and desirable. The board may also
recommend state funding of up to $175 million in any fiscal year.
For each proposed project, the list must include (1) a description of the
project; (2) the municipality in which it is located; (3) any cost estimates,
schematics, or plans for the project; and (4) the total estimated project costs. For
each proposed grant, the list must include (1) a description of, and specific terms
for, any proposed loans, financing, or start-up funds to be provided from the grant
and (2) the types of small businesses that may be eligible for the funds. For both
proposed projects and grants, the list must also include the amount of funds
sought and applicable fiscal year to which the disbursement will be attributed.
Governor’s Project Review. After receiving the board’s list, the governor must
review the recommended projects and grants and may recommend changes to any
of them. He must determine the most appropriate funding method for each project
and give the board his decision for each one, and the reasons, in writing. The
board may, at a future meeting, reconsider any of the projects for which the
governor recommends a change.
Each eligible project for which the governor recommends a bond allocation
must be considered at a State Bond Commission meeting within two months after
the date the board submitted it to the governor on its list of recommended
projects.
Administration. Funds for approved eligible projects may be administered on
the board’s behalf by a state agency, as determined by the OPM secretary, as long
as the board's administrator and the state, acting by and through the OPM
secretary, has entered into an MOU.
O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 24 of 31
Legislative Report
By August 31, 2023, the act requires the board to report to the General
Assembly, the General Assembly’s Black and Puerto Rican caucus, state auditors,
and the governor on the following information for the preceding fiscal year:
1. a list of eligible projects recommended by the board and approved by the
governor;
2. the total amount of funds provided for these projects;
3. for each project, a description and the amount and terms of the funds
provided;
4. the projects’ status and any remaining allocated fund balance; and
5. any other information the board deems relevant or necessary.
The board must submit this same report annually for each fiscal year in which
funds are disbursed for eligible projects.
Audit Requirement
The act requires the state auditors to biennially audit the eligible projects
funded under this program and report their findings to the governor, OPM
secretary, and General Assembly.
Bond Authorization
FYs 23-27. The act authorizes up to $875 million in GO bonds over five years,
in amounts of up to of $175 million per year for FYs 23-27. The proceeds from
these bonds must be used for (1) costs related to an eligible project (a)
recommended by the board and approved by the governor and (b) for which the
governor has determined that bond funding is appropriate and that no other bound
authorization is available and (2) paying or reimbursing the DECD commissioner
for administrative costs, including allocated staff costs and other out-of-pocket
costs attributable to the board’s administration and operation.
The bonds are subject to standard statutory conditions. Any amount that the
State Bond Commission does not allocate in any such fiscal year is added to the
capped amount for the following year. Any issuance costs and capitalized interest
may be added to the capped amounts.
FYs 28-32. The act authorizes an additional $1.25 billion in GO bonds for FYs
28 through 32 that are contingent on (1) agreement between the governor and
board and (2) the General Assembly adopting a resolution affirming the board’s
reauthorization and the program established under the act. As with the bonds for
FYs 23-27, the proceeds from these bonds must be used to fund eligible projects
for which the governor has determined that bond funding is appropriate and that
no other bond authorization is available. The bonds are subject to the same
standard statutory conditions and carryforward provisions described above.
Economic Action Plan
O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 25 of 31
Beginning in FY 22, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the act requires that
$125 million of the funds available for the state’s “Economic Action Plan” be
reserved for projects that provide the following:
1. (a) a revolving loan program, microloans, or gap financing to women or
minority-owned small businesses; (b) start-up funds to establish such
businesses; (c) brownfield remediation or broadband expansion; or (d)
human services, workforce development, mental health services,
educational programming, preapprenticeship and apprenticeship training,
youth services programming, or physical, intellectual, and developmental
disability services;
2. the potential to directly impact community enrichment programs for, or
related to, financial literacy, home ownership opportunity, free or reduced
tuition for vocational training schools, academic scholarships, seniors’ and
veterans’ services, and arts and culture; or
3. the potential to directly impact youth and adult enrichment programs for,
or related to, “earn while you learn” programs, paid internships, or
summer youth programming.
The DECD commissioner must (1) receive and consider comments from the
Community Investment Fund 2030 Board on funding for these projects, (2)
provide quarterly expenditure reports to the board for the projects, and (3) hold
public hearings for the projects before the board. (PA 21-2, JSS, §§ 475 & 488,
eliminates these provisions and instead allows the DECD commissioner, for FYs
22 to 24 and in coordination with the OPM secretary, to use bond funds, federal
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and available resources to provide
grants for selected major projects to implement the state’s Economic Action Plan.
Under the act, the Community Investment Fund 2030 board must review and
provide comments to DECD on these projects, rather than the projects funded
from the $125 million of reserved funds described above.)
The “Economic Action Plan,” also referred to as the “Economic Development
Action Plan,” is Governor Lamont’s proposal to use a combination of state bonds,
tax credits, private and municipal matching funds, and other funding streams to
support specified economic development programs.
§ 113 — SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION GRANT COMMITMENT S
Authorizes 15 school construction state grant commitments totaling $393 million toward total
project costs of $637.7 million; reauthorizes two high school renovation projects with additional
estimated project costs of $119.7 million and an estimated state share of $111.4 million
The act authorizes 15 school construction state grant commitments totaling
$393 million toward total estimated project costs of $637.7 million. It also
reauthorizes two high school renovation projects that have changed substantially
in scope or cost (Windham High School and Bullard-Havens Technical High
School), with additional estimated project costs of $119.7 million and an
estimated state share of $111.4 million.
Under the state school construction grant program, the state reimburses towns
and local districts for a percentage of eligible school construction costs through O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 26 of 31
state GO bonds (with less wealthy municipalities receiving a higher
reimbursement). The municipalities pay the remaining costs. School districts must
begin project construction within two years of the grant commitment.
For each project authorized by the act, Table 8 shows the district, school,
project type, estimates for total cost and state grant commitment, and state
reimbursement rate.
Table 8: 2021 School Construction Grant Commitments
District School Project
Type
Estimated
Project Costs
Estimated
Grant
Reimbursement
Rate
North
Branford
North
Branford
High School
New $66,242,390 $29,100,282 43.93%
Norwalk
Cranberry
Elementary
School
New 45,000,000 10,125,000 22.50%
South
Windsor
Pleasant
Valley
Elementary
School
New 58,500,000 22,148,100 37.86%
Torrington
Torrington
Middle &
High School
New 159,575,000 100,308,845 62.86%*
West
Haven
Washington
Elementary
School
New 38,803,926 26,052,956 67.14%
Danbury
Ellsworth
Avenue
School
Annex
Extension/
Alteration
9,600,000 6,137,280 63.93%
Hartford
Betances
Learning
Lab Magnet
School
Renovation 43,709,774 41,524,285 95.00%
Hartford
E. B.
Kennelly
School
Renovation 51,416,225 48,845,414 95.00%
Hartford
Fred D.
Wish
Museum
School
Renovation 49,320,000 46,854,000 95.00%
Killingly
Killingly
Memorial
School
Renovation 34,000,000 24,981,400 73.21%
Newington
Anna
Reynolds
Elementary
School
Renovation 35,500,000 20,792,350 58.57%
Norwalk Naramake Extension/ 3,500,000 1,137,500 32.50% O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 27 of 31
District School Project
Type
Estimated
Project Costs
Estimated
Grant
Reimbursement
Rate
Elementary
School
Alteration
Westport
Coleytown
Middle
School
Renovation 32,372,235 6,820,830 21.07%
Regional
District 1
Housatonic
Valley
Regional
High School
Vo-Ag
Equipment
319,533 255,626 80.00%
LEARN
(New
London
area
regional
educational
service
center)
LEARN
Ocean
Avenue
Academy
Special
Education
9,851,000 7,880,800 80.00%
Totals
$637,710,983 $392,964,668
* The act allows the project to qualify for an 85% reimbursement rate if certain conditions are met; see § 127
below.
Reauthorized Projects
PA 18-138 initially authorized the Windham High School renovation project
with a total estimated project cost of $71,670,200 and a 79.64% state
reimbursement rate for the grant. The act authorizes a new total project estimated
cost of $112,329,500, which is an increase of $40,659,300. Correspondingly, the
state grant commitment increases from the original $57,078,147 to $89,459,214.
(However, the act also allows the project to qualify for a 95% reimbursement rate
if certain conditions are met; see § 122 below.)
PA 15-3, JSS, reauthorized the Bullard-Havens Technical High School
extension and alteration project in Bridgeport (prior to that it was initially
authorized by PA 05-6, JSS) with an estimated cost of $60,383,000. The act
reauthorizes a new estimated total project cost of $139,447,195, which is an
increase of $79,064,195. Since this is a state high school, the state pays for 100%
of the project.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 114 — WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS
Requires water bottle filling stations to be included in all school building projects for new
construction, renovation, or replacement on any project list DAS submits to the General Assembly
beginning July 1, 2022
The act adds a requirement that water bottle filling stations be included in all
school building projects for new construction, extension, major alteration, O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 28 of 31
renovation, or replacement on any project list DAS submits to the General
Assembly beginning July 1, 2022. It does this by prohibiting DAS from approving
any school building project plan that does not include installing at least one water
bottle filling station (1) per 100 students of the projected school building
enrollment, (2) on each new floor or wing of the school building, and (3) in any
food service area of the school building.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
§ 115 — DAS TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL STATUS REPORT
Requires DAS, starting by January 1, 2023, to (1) biennially develop a status report on all current
and pending school building projects for the Technical Education and Career System (TECS) and
(2) submit it to the Education Committee
The act requires DAS, starting by January 1, 2023, to biennially develop a
status report on all current and pending school building projects for TECS
(formerly known as the technical high school system). The report must include
the (1) costs associated with each TECS school building project, (2) anticipated
date of the next project application for each TECS school, (3) projected start date
of pending projects, and (4) completion dates of current school building projects.
DAS must submit the report to the Education Committee.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
§§ 116-119 & 121-128 — PROJECT EXEMPTIONS, WAIVERS, AND
MODIFICATIONS
Exempts 21 school construction projects from certain statutory and regulatory requirements to
allow them to, among other things, qualify for state reimbursement grants, receive higher
reimbursement percentages for these grants, or receive a lower project withholding amount prior
to completing an audit
The act exempts 21 school construction projects from various statutory and
regulatory requirements to allow them to, among other things, (1) qualify for state
reimbursement grants, (2) receive higher reimbursement percentages for these
grants, or (3) receive a lower project withholding amount prior to completing an
audit. These exemptions are referred to as “notwithstandings.” (PA 21-2, JSS, §§
487 & 490, repeals three of these exemptions and modifies another.)
Table 9 describes the notwithstandings that the act grants and the provisions
repealed by PA 21-2, JSS.
Table 9: Notwithstandings for School Construction Projects
Section Town School and Project Exemption, Waiver, or Other Change
116 Hamden Spring Glen School, new
construction
Waives any audit deficiencies if the costs
do not exceed $1,792,894
116 Hamden Wintergreen Interdistrict
Magnet School facility
Waives any audit deficiencies if the costs O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 29 of 31
Section Town School and Project Exemption, Waiver, or Other Change
do not exceed $1,315,012
116 Hamden Hamden Middle School, new
construction
Waives any audit deficiencies if the costs
do not exceed $2,940,200
117 New
Britain
Chamberlain Elementary
School, renovation
Allows change of project scope to include
preschool facilities if the total project cost
does not exceed $75 million
118 New
Britain
Holmes Elementary School,
renovation
Waives the requirement to apply before
June 30, 2020, to be on the 2021 priority
list for the project with a maximum cost of
$55 million, if the town files an application
by October 1, 2023
Increases the project reimbursement rate
from 79.29% to 95% if (1) New Britain is
an educational reform district on the act’s
effective date, June 30, 2021, and (2) the
school building committee for the project
meets the criteria set in § 120 of the act*
119**
New
Britain
Jefferson Elementary School,
renovation
Waives the requirement to apply before
June 30, 2020, to be on the 2021 priority
list for the project with a maximum cost of
$55 million if the town files an application
before October 1, 2025, and the project is
otherwise eligible under the program
Increases the project reimbursement rate
from 79.29% to 95% if (1) New Britain is
an educational reform district on the act’s
effective date, June 30, 2021, and (2) the
school building committee for the project
meets the criteria set in §120 of the act*
121 Ansonia &
Derby
Regional school district
project, new construction or
renovation
Increases the project reimbursement rate
to the highest rate of the two towns plus
an additional 20% (rather than 10% as
existing law provides) if the towns file an
application within 10 years after
establishing the regional district and they
are otherwise eligible to receive
assistance thorough the program (actual
reimbursement rate will depend upon the
year and whether the project is new
construction or renovation)***
122 Windham Windham High School
renovation project
Increases the project reimbursement rate
from 79.64% to 95% if (1) Windham is an
educational reform district on the act’s O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 30 of 31
Section Town School and Project Exemption, Waiver, or Other Change
effective date, June 30, 2021, and (2)
construction begins by June 30, 2022*
123 Brookfield Elementary school, new
construction
Waives requirement that all projects must
be awarded after a publicly advertised
invitation to bid, including notice on the
state contracting portal, if the project is
otherwise eligible under the program
124 West
Haven
Washington Elementary
School, new construction
Waives the standard building space
requirements; reduces the project funds
withholding percentage from 11% to 5%
prior to completion of the required
audit****
125** West
Haven
West Haven High School,
renovation
Reduces the project funds withholding
percentage from 11% to 5% prior to
completion of the required audit; requires
DAS to make a progress payment to the
town equal to the difference between 11%
and 5% of the reimbursement grant by
September 1, 2021
126** New
Britain
(state
project)
Goodwin Technical High
School, project unspecified
Waives the requirement to apply before
June 30, 2020, in order to be on the 2021
priority list for the project with a maximum
cost of $40 million if the application is filed
by October 1, 2022, and the project is
otherwise eligible under the program
127 Torrington Torrington Middle and High
School, new construction
Increases the project reimbursement rate
from 62.86% to 85% if the project is
otherwise eligible under the program*
128 Hartford Eight projects: University
High School of Science and
Engineering; Capitol
Preparatory Magnet School;
R. J. Kinsella Magnet School;
Environmental Sciences
Magnet School at Mary
Hooker; Hartford Public High
School; Fisher Magnet
School; Webster School; and
Sport and Medical Sciences
Academy
Waives any audit deficiencies (does not
specify amounts)
* FY 2021 reimbursement rates are shown for reference; actual rates depend upon the year the application is submitted
and the final determination of the project type (new or renovation)
** Repealed by PA 21-2, JSS, § 490
*** Of the two towns, Ansonia has the higher reimbursement rate for 2021: 77.5% for renovation and 67.5% for new
construction O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
Page 31 of 31
**** PA 21-2, JSS, § 487, repeals the project fund withholding provision
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 120 — NEW BRITAIN SCHOOL BUILDING COMM ITTEES
Requires specific membership of the New Britain building committee responsible for overseeing
the school building projects at Holmes and Jefferson Elementary schools
The act requires specific membership of the New Britain building committee
responsible for overseeing the school building projects at Holmes Elementary
School and Jefferson Elementary School (see §§ 118 & 119 above; PA 21-2, JSS,
§ 490, repeals the Jefferson project authorization). In doing so, it supersedes (1)
an existing law on committee membership and (2) any conflicting special act,
municipal charter, local ordinance, home rule ordinance, or other ordinance.
Beginning July 1, 2021, the act instead requires that the school building
committee responsible for those schools be established with the following
members:
1. three members appointed by the New Britain Common Council, one of
whom must have experience in the construction industry;
2. two members appointed by the New Britain mayor; and
3. two members appointed by the New Britain Board of Education.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage