Substitute House Bill No. 5466
Public Act No. 22-116
AN ACT CONCERNING ASSORTED REVISIONS AND ADDITIONS
TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (Effective July 1, 2022) The Connecticut Prevention Network
shall develop a report concerning recovery schools, provided the
network is available and willing to develop such report. Such report
shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of how other
states have implemented and integrated recovery high schools into their
public school system and recommendations regarding the
establishment and implementation of one or more recovery high schools
in the state. The network may consult with the regional behavioral
health action organizations while developing such report. Not later than
January 1, 2024, the network shall submit such report on its findings and
recommendations to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Services, the Department of Education and the joint standing committee
of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to
education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the
general statutes. For purposes of this section, "recovery high school"
means a high school designed specifically for students in recovery from
substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders.
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 10-15b of the general statutes is Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
2022):
(a) Either parent or legal guardian of a minor student shall, upon
written request to a local or regional board of education and within a
reasonable time, be entitled to knowledge of and access to all
educational, medical, or similar records maintained in such student's
cumulative record, including such student's class rank, except that no
parent or legal guardian shall be entitled to information considered
privileged under section 10-154a. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to limit a parent who is incarcerated from being entitled to
knowledge of and access to all educational, medical or similar records
maintained in the cumulative record of any minor student of such
incarcerated parent, except that such incarcerated parent shall not be
entitled to such records if (1) such information is considered privileged
under section 10-154a, (2) such incarcerated parent has been convicted
in this state or any other state of a violation of section 53a-70, 53a-70a,
53a-71, 53a-72a, 53a-72b or 53a-73a, or (3) such incarcerated parent is
prohibited from knowledge of or access to such student's cumulative
record pursuant to a court order.
Sec. 3. Section 3 of public act 21-95 is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) There is established a task force to study issues relating to the
provision and funding of special education in the state during the school
years commencing July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2020, inclusive. Such study
shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of (1) the
provision of special education and related services, including whether
local and regional boards of education are providing such services
directly or partnering with regional educational service centers,
contracting with a private provider of special education services, as
defined in section 10-91g of the general statutes, or as part of a
cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a of the general Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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statutes, (2) the cost of providing special education and related services,
the total aggregate amount per school district per year and the annual
percentage increase or decrease per school district of such cost, (3) the
effect that the cost of special education has on a board of education's
minimum budget requirement, (4) the level of state reimbursement to
boards of education for special education, including the total amount
for reimbursement submitted by each school district per year and the
total amount received by such school district per year, and the
percentage increase or decrease per year of the difference of the total
amount submitted and the total amount received for each school
district, and (5) the criteria and manner by which school districts are
identifying students who require special education and related services,
including whether school districts are overidentifying or
underidentifying such students and the causes and reasons for such
overidentification and underidentification.
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) Three appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives,
one of whom is a representative of the Special Education Equity for Kids
of Connecticut, one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut
Association of Boards of Education and one of whom is the parent or
guardian of a student who is enrolled in a public school and receiving
special education services;
(2) Three appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one
of whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of Public
School Superintendents, one of whom is a representative of the
Connecticut Education Association and one of whom is the parent or
guardian of a student who is enrolled in a public school and receiving
special education services;
(3) Two appointed by the majority leader of the House of
Representatives, one of whom is a representative of the American Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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Federation of Teachers-Connecticut and one of whom is a representative
of the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center;
(4) Two appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom
is a representative of the Connecticut Council of Administrators of
Special Education and one of whom is a representative of the RESC
Alliance;
(5) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of
Representatives, one of whom is a representative of the Connecticut
Association of School Administrators and one of whom is a
representative of the School and State Finance Project;
(6) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom
is a representative of the Connecticut Association of Schools and one of
whom is a representative of the Connecticut Association of School
Business Officials; and
(7) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee.
(c) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than
thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be
filled by the appointing authority.
(d) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president
pro tempore of the Senate shall select the cochairpersons of the task force
from among the members of the task force. Such cochairpersons shall
schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later
than sixty days after the effective date of this section.
(e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education
shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.
(f) Not later than January 1, [2022] 2024, the task force shall submit a Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a
of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it
submits such report or January 1, [2022] 2024, whichever is later.
Sec. 4. (Effective from passage) The executive director of the
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, or the executive
director's designee, shall convene a working group to examine and
make recommendations concerning the consolidation or elimination of
unnecessary, obsolete or redundant professional development
requirements, pursuant to section 10-148a of the general statutes, and
in-service training requirements, pursuant to section 10-220a of the
general statutes, provided the executive director is available and willing
to convene such working group. The working group shall consist of: (1)
The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, and
(2) one representative from each of the following associations,
designated by the association, the Connecticut Association of Boards of
Education, the Connecticut Association of Public School
Superintendents, the Connecticut Federation of School Administrators,
the Connecticut Education Association, the American Federation of
Teachers-Connecticut, the Connecticut Association of School
Administrators, the Connecticut Association of Schools and the Special
Education Equity for Kids of Connecticut. Not later than January 1, 2024,
the executive director shall submit a report on the working group's
findings to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly
having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with
the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. Such report shall
include recommendations for legislation for specific amendments to
section 10-148a of the general statutes concerning professional
development and section 10-220a of the general statutes concerning in-
service training. Substitute House Bill No. 5466
Public Act No. 22-116 6 of 22
Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 8-210 of the 2022 supplement to the
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022):
(b) The state, acting by and in the discretion of the Commissioner of
Early Childhood, may enter into a contract with a municipality, a group
child care home or family child care home, as described in section 19a-
77, a human resource development agency or a nonprofit corporation
for state financial assistance in developing and operating child care
centers, group child care homes and family child care homes for
children disadvantaged by reasons of economic, social or environmental
conditions, provided no such financial assistance shall be available for
the operating costs of any such child care center, group child care home
or family child care home unless it has been licensed by the
Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 19a-80. Such
financial assistance shall be available for a program of a municipality, of
a group child care home or family child care home, of a human resource
development agency or of a nonprofit corporation which may provide
for personnel, equipment, supplies, activities, program materials and
renovation and remodeling of the physical facilities of such child care
centers, group child care homes or family child care homes. Such
contract shall provide for state financial assistance, within available
appropriations, in the form of a state grant-in-aid (1) for a portion of the
cost of such program, as determined by the Commissioner of Early
Childhood, if not federally assisted, (2) equal to one-half of the amount
by which the net cost of such program, as approved by the
Commissioner of Early Childhood, exceeds the federal grant-in-aid
thereof, or (3) in an amount not less than the per child cost as described
in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-16q, for each child in
such program that is three or four years of age and each child that is five
years of age who is not eligible to enroll in school, pursuant to section
10-15c, while maintaining services to children under three years of age
under this section. Any such contract entered into on or after July 1, Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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2022, shall include a provision that at least sixty per cent of the children
enrolled in such child care center, group child care home or family child
care home are members of families that are at or below seventy-five per
cent of the state median income. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020,
and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount per child pursuant to
subdivision (3) of this subsection that is over the amount of the per child
cost that was prescribed pursuant to the contract for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2019, shall be used exclusively to increase the salaries of
early childhood educators employed at the child care center. The
Commissioner of Early Childhood may authorize child care centers,
group child care homes and family child care homes receiving financial
assistance under this subsection to apply a program surplus to the next
program year. The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall consult with
directors of child care centers in establishing fees for the operation of
such centers.
Sec. 6. Section 3 of public act 22-80, is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Not later than July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the
Commissioner of Education shall, within available appropriations,
develop and distribute a survey to each local and regional board of
education concerning the employment of school social workers, school
psychologists, school counselors and school nurses by such local or
regional board of education. Such survey shall include, but need not be
limited to, (1) the total number of (A) school social workers employed
by each local or regional board of education, (B) school psychologists
employed by each local or regional board of education, (C) school
counselors employed by each local and regional board of education,
[and] (D) school nurses employed by each local and regional board of
education, and (E) licensed marriage and family therapists employed by
each local and regional board of education; (2) the number of (A) school
social workers assigned to each school under the jurisdiction of the local Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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or regional board of education, including whether any such school
social worker is assigned solely to that school or whether such school
social worker is assigned to multiple schools, (B) school psychologists
assigned to each school under the jurisdiction of the local or regional
board of education, including whether any such school psychologist is
assigned solely to that school or whether such school psychologist is
assigned to multiple schools, (C) school counselors assigned to each
school under the jurisdiction of the local or regional board of education,
including whether any such school counselor is assigned solely to that
school or whether such school counselor is assigned to multiple schools,
[and] (D) school nurses assigned to each school under the jurisdiction of
the local or regional board of education, including whether any such
school nurse is assigned solely to that school or whether such school
nurse is assigned to multiple schools, and (E) licensed marriage and
family therapists assigned to each school under the jurisdiction of the
local or regional board of education, including whether any such
licensed marriage and family therapist is assigned solely to that school
or whether such licensed marriage and family therapist is assigned to
multiple schools; (3) the geographic area covered by (A) any such school
social worker who provides services to more than one local or regional
board of education, (B) any such school psychologist who provides
services to more than one local or regional board of education, (C) any
such school counselor who provides services to more than one local or
regional board of education, [and] (D) any such school nurse who
provides services to more than one local or regional board of education,
and (E) any such licensed marriage and family therapist who provides
services to more than one local or regional board of education; and (4)
an estimate of the annual number of students who have received direct
services from each individual (A) school social worker employed by a
local or regional board of education during the five-year period
preceding completion of the survey, (B) school psychologist employed
by a local or regional board of education during the five-year period
preceding completion of the survey, (C) school counselor employed by Substitute House Bill No. 5466
Public Act No. 22-116 9 of 22
a local or regional board of education during the five-year period
preceding completion of the survey, [and] (D) school nurse employed
by a local or regional board of education during the five-year period
preceding completion of the survey, and (E) licensed marriage and
family therapist employed by a local or regional board of education
during the five-year period preceding completion of the survey.
(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2023, and each school year
thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall annually
complete the survey developed and distributed pursuant to subsection
(a) of this section to the commissioner, and submit such completed
survey to the commissioner, at such time and in such manner as the
commissioner prescribes.
(c) Following the receipt of a completed survey from a local or
regional board of education, the commissioner shall annually calculate
(1) a student-to-school social worker ratio for (A) such board of
education, and (B) each school under the jurisdiction of such board of
education, (2) a student-to-school psychologist ratio for (A) such board
of education, and (B) each school under the jurisdiction of such board of
education, (3) a student-to-school counselor ratio for (A) such board of
education, and (B) each school under the jurisdiction of such board of
education, [and] (4) a student-to-school nurse ratio for (A) such board
of education, and (B) each school under the jurisdiction of such board of
education, and (5) a student-to-licensed marriage and family therapist
ratio for (A) such board of education, and (B) each school under the
jurisdiction of such board of education.
(d) Not later than January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
commissioner shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions
of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on the results of the survey
completed under this section and the student-to-school social worker
ratios, student-to-school psychologist ratios, student-to-school
counselor ratios, [and] student-to-school nurse ratios and student-to- Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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licensed marriage and family therapist ratios calculated pursuant to
subsection (c) of this section, to the joint standing committees of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education
and children.
Sec. 7. Section 4 of public act 22-80, is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022):
(a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2025,
inclusive, the Department of Education shall administer a grant
program to provide grants to local and regional boards of education for
the purpose of hiring and retaining additional school social workers,
school psychologists, school counselors, [and] school nurses and
licensed marriage and family therapists.
(b) Applications for grants pursuant to subsection (a) of this section
shall be filed with the Commissioner of Education at such time and in
such manner as the commissioner prescribes. As part of the application,
an applicant shall submit a (1) plan for the expenditure of grant funds,
and (2) copy of the completed survey described in section 3 of [this act]
public act 22-80. Such plan shall include, but need not be limited to, the
number of additional school social workers, school psychologists,
school counselors, [or] school nurses or licensed marriage and family
therapists to be hired, the number of school social workers, school
psychologists, school counselors, [or] school nurses or licensed marriage
and family therapists being retained who were previously hired with
the assistance of grant funds awarded under this section, whether such
school social workers, school psychologists, school counselors, [or]
school nurses or licensed marriage and family therapists will be
conducting assessments of students or providing services to students
based on the results of assessments, and the type of services that will be
provided by such school social workers, school psychologists, school
counselors, [and] school nurses and licensed marriage and family
therapists. Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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(c) In determining whether to award an applicant a grant under this
section, the commissioner shall give priority to those school districts (1)
with large student-to-school social worker ratios, student-to-school
psychologist ratios, student-to-school counselor ratios, [or] student-to-
school nurse ratios or student-to-licensed marriage and family therapist
ratios, or (2) that have a high volume of student utilization of mental
health services.
(d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the commissioner may
award a grant to an applicant and shall determine the amount of the
grant award based on the plan submitted by such applicant pursuant to
subsection (b) of this section. The commissioner shall pay a grant to each
grant recipient in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2023, to June
30, 2025, inclusive, as follows: (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023,
the amount of the grant shall be as determined by the commissioner
under this subsection; (2) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, the
amount of the grant shall be the same amount as the grant awarded for
the prior fiscal year; and (3) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the
amount of the grant shall be seventy per cent of the amount of the grant
awarded for the prior fiscal year.
(e) Grant recipients shall file annual expenditure reports with the
department at such time and in such manner as the commissioner
prescribes. Grant recipients shall refund to the department (1) any
unexpended amounts at the close of the fiscal year in which the grant
was awarded, and (2) any amounts not expended in accordance with
the plan for which such grant application was approved.
(f) The department shall annually track and calculate the utilization
rate of the grant program for each grant recipient. Such utilization rate
shall be calculated using metrics that include, but need not be limited
to, the number of students served and the hours of service provided
using grant funds awarded under the program. Substitute House Bill No. 5466
Public Act No. 22-116 12 of 22
(g) For purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section, the
Department of Education may accept funds from private sources or any
state agency, gifts, grants and donations, including, but not limited to,
in-kind donations.
(h) (1) Not later than January 1, 2024, and each January first thereafter
until and including January 1, 2026, the commissioner shall submit a
report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general
statutes, on the expenditure report and utilization rate, calculated
pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, for each grant recipient to the
joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance
of matters relating to education and children.
(2) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Education
shall develop recommendations concerning (A) whether such grant
program should be extended and funded for the fiscal year ending June
30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, and (B) the amount of the grant
award under the program. The commissioner shall submit such
recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of
the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and
children.
Sec. 8. Section 5 of public act 22-80, is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022):
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the Department of Education
shall hire a full-time employee to administer the grant program that
provides grants to local and regional boards of education for the
purpose of hiring and retaining additional school social workers, school
psychologists, school counselors, [and] school nurses and licensed
marriage and family therapists, described in section 4 of [this act] public
act 22-80. Substitute House Bill No. 5466
Public Act No. 22-116 13 of 22
Sec. 9. Subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10-76d of the 2022
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022):
(10) (A) Each local and regional board of education responsible for
providing special education and related services to a child or pupil shall
notify the parent or guardian of a child who requires or who may
require special education, a pupil if such pupil is an emancipated minor
or eighteen years of age or older who requires or who may require
special education or a surrogate parent appointed pursuant to section
10-94g, in writing, at least five school days before such board proposes
to, or refuses to, initiate or change the child's or pupil's identification,
evaluation or educational placement or the provision of a free
appropriate public education to the child or pupil.
(B) Upon request by a parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent,
the responsible local or regional board of education shall provide such
parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent an opportunity to meet with
a member of the planning and placement team designated by such
board prior to the referral planning and placement team meeting at
which the assessments and evaluations of the child or pupil who
requires or may require special education is presented to such parent,
guardian, pupil or surrogate parent for the first time. Such meeting shall
be for the sole purpose of discussing the planning and placement team
process and any concerns such parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate
parent has regarding the child or pupil who requires or may require
special education.
(C) Such parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent shall (i) be given
at least five school days' prior notice of any planning and placement
team meeting conducted for such child or pupil, (ii) have the right to be
present at and participate in all portions of such meeting at which an
educational program for such child or pupil is developed, reviewed or
revised, (iii) have the right to have (I) advisors of such person's own Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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choosing and at such person's own expense, (II) the school
paraprofessional assigned to such child or pupil, if any, and (III) such
child or pupil's birth-to-three service coordinator, if any, attend and
participate in all portions of such meeting at which an educational
program for such child or pupil is developed, reviewed or revised, and
(iv) have the right to have each recommendation made in such child or
pupil's birth-to-three individualized transition plan, as required by
section 17a-248e, if any, addressed by the planning and placement team
during such meeting at which an educational program for such child or
pupil is developed.
(D) Immediately upon the formal identification of any child as a child
requiring special education and at each planning and placement team
meeting for such child, the responsible local or regional board of
education shall inform the parent or guardian of such child or surrogate
parent or, in the case of a pupil who is an emancipated minor or eighteen
years of age or older, the pupil of (i) the laws relating to special
education, (ii) the rights of such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or
pupil under such laws and the regulations adopted by the State Board
of Education relating to special education, including the right of a
parent, guardian or surrogate parent to (I) withhold from enrolling such
child in kindergarten, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-
184, and (II) have advisors and the school paraprofessional assigned to
such child or pupil attend and participate in all portions of such meeting
at which an educational program for such child or pupil is developed,
reviewed or revised, in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph
(C) of this subdivision, and (iii) any relevant information and resources
relating to individualized education programs created by the
Department of Education, including, but not limited to, information
relating to transition resources and services for high school students. If
such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil does not attend a
planning and placement team meeting, the responsible local or regional
board of education shall mail such information to such person. Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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(E) Each local and regional board of education shall have in effect at
the beginning of each school year an educational program for each child
or pupil who has been identified as eligible for special education.
(F) At each initial planning and placement team meeting for a child
or pupil, the responsible local or regional board of education shall
inform the parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil of (i) the laws
relating to physical restraint and seclusion pursuant to section 10-236b
and the rights of such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil under
such laws and the regulations adopted by the State Board of Education
relating to physical restraint and seclusion, and (ii) the right of such
parent, guardian, surrogate parent or pupil, during such meeting at
which an educational program for such child or pupil is developed, to
have (I) such child or pupil's birth-to-three service coordinator attend
and participate in all portions of such meeting, and (II) each
recommendation made in the transition plan, as required by section 17a-
248e, by such child or pupil's birth-to-three service coordinator
addressed by the planning and placement team.
(G) Upon request by a parent, guardian, pupil or surrogate parent,
the responsible local or regional board of education shall provide the
results of the assessments and evaluations used in the determination of
eligibility for special education for a child or pupil to such parent,
guardian, surrogate parent or pupil at least three school days before the
referral planning and placement team meeting at which such results of
the assessments and evaluations will be discussed for the first time.
(H) Each local or regional board of education shall monitor the
development of each child who, pursuant to subsection (a) of section
17a-248e, has been (i) referred for a registration on a mobile application
designated by the Commissioner of Early Childhood, in partnership
with such child's parent, guardian or surrogate parent, or (ii) provided
a form for such child's parent, guardian or surrogate parent to complete
and submit to such local or regional board of education that screens for Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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developmental and social-emotional delays using a validated screening
tool, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Ages and Stages
Social-Emotional Questionnaire, or its equivalent. If such monitoring
results in suspecting a child of having a developmental delay, the board
shall schedule a planning and placement team meeting with such child's
parent, guardian or surrogate parent for the purposes of identifying
services for which such child may be eligible, including, but not limited
to, a preschool program under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities
Act, 20 USC 1471 et seq. If a parent, guardian or surrogate parent of any
child referred for a registration on the mobile application or provided a
form to complete and submit, pursuant to subsection (a) of section 17a-
248e, fails to complete such registration or complete and submit such
form after a period of six months from the date of such referral or
provision of such form, the board shall send a reminder, in the form and
manner determined by the board, to such parent, guardian or surrogate
parent to complete such registration or complete and submit such form.
The board shall send another reminder after a period of one year from
such referral or provision of such form if such registration remains
incomplete or such form is not submitted.
(I) Prior to any planning and placement team meeting for a child or
pupil in which an educational program for such child or pupil is
developed, reviewed or revised, if the parent, guardian, pupil or
surrogate parent has requested that the school paraprofessional
assigned to such child or pupil attend such meeting, then the
responsible local or regional board of education shall provide (i)
adequate notice of such meeting to such school paraprofessional so that
such school paraprofessional may adequately prepare for such meeting,
and (ii) training, upon request of such school paraprofessional, on the
role of such school paraprofessional at such meeting. Following such
meeting, such school paraprofessional, or any other paraprofessional
who is providing special education or related services to such child,
shall be permitted to view such educational program in order to be able Substitute House Bill No. 5466
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to provide special education or related services to such child or pupil in
accordance with such educational program.
Sec. 10. Section 13 of public act 22-47, is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2025,
inclusive, the Department of Education shall administer a grant
program to provide grants to local and regional boards of education for
the purpose of hiring additional school mental health specialists. As
used in this section, "school mental health specialist" has the same
meaning as provided in section 12 of [this act] public act 22-47.
(b) On and after January 1, 2023, a local or regional board of education
may submit an application for a grant under this section, in such form
and manner as the Commissioner of Education prescribes. As part of the
application, the applicant shall submit (1) a plan for the expenditure of
grant funds, and (2) (A) for an application submitted before July 1, 2023,
the information described in subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of
subsection (b) of section 12 of [this act] public act 22-47, and (B) for an
application submitted on or after July 1, 2023, a copy of the completed
survey described in section 12 of [this act] public act 22-47. Such plan
shall include, but need not be limited to, the number of additional school
mental health specialists to be hired, if such grant funds will be used to
retain any of the school mental health specialists hired with the
assistance of grant funds awarded under this section, whether such
school mental health specialists will be conducting assessments of
students or providing services to students based on the results of
assessments, [and] the type of services that will be provided by such
school mental health specialists, and a description of how such board
will implement the provisions of subsection (f) of this section.
(c) In determining whether to award an applicant a grant under this
section, the Commissioner of Education shall give priority to those Substitute House Bill No. 5466
Public Act No. 22-116 18 of 22
school districts (1) with large student-to- school mental health specialist
ratios, or (2) that have a high volume of student utilization of mental
health services.
(d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the Commissioner of
Education may award a grant to an applicant and shall determine the
amount of the grant award based on the plan submitted by such
applicant pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. The commissioner
shall pay a grant to each grant recipient in each of the fiscal years ending
June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2025, inclusive, as follows: (1) For the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2023, the amount of the grant shall be as
determined by the commissioner under this subsection; (2) for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2024, the amount of the grant shall be the same
amount as the grant awarded for the prior fiscal year; and (3) for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the amount of the grant shall be seventy
per cent of the amount of the grant awarded for the prior fiscal year.
(e) Grant recipients shall file annual expenditure reports with the
Department of Education at such time, and in such manner, as the
commissioner prescribes. A grant recipient shall only expend grant
funds received under this section in accordance with the plan submitted
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and a grant recipient may not
use such grant funds received under this section for the purpose of any
operating expenses that existed prior to receipt of such grant. Grant
recipients shall refund to the department (1) any unexpended amounts
at the close of the fiscal year in which the grant was awarded, and (2)
any amounts not expended in accordance with the plan for which such
grant application was approved.
(f) If a local or regional board of education receives a grant under this
section for the hiring of a school counselor, such school counselor shall
provide one-on-one consultations with each student in grades eleven
and twelve on the completion of the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid. If such board can provide evidence to the Commissioner Substitute House Bill No. 5466
Public Act No. 22-116 19 of 22
of Education that the student completion rate of the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid for the school district has increased by at least five
per cent, such board shall receive an additional grant in the amount of
ten per cent of the grant received under this section for the fiscal year in
which such board provided such evidence.
[(f)] (g) (1) The Department of Education shall annually track and
calculate the utilization rate of the grant program for each grant
recipient. Such utilization rate shall be calculated using metrics that
include, but need not be limited to, the number of students served and
the hours of service provided using grant funds awarded under the
program.
(2) The department shall annually calculate the return on investment
for the grant program using the expenditure reports filed pursuant to
subsection (e) of this section and the utilization rates calculated
pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection.
[(g)] (h) For purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section,
the Department of Education may accept funds from private sources or
any state agency, gifts, grants and donations, including, but not limited
to, in-kind donations.
[(h)] (i) (1) Not later than January 1, 2024, and each January first
thereafter, until and including January 1, 2026, the Commissioner of
Education shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of
section 11-4a of the general statutes, on the utilization rate for each grant
recipient and the return on investment for the grant program, calculated
pursuant to subsection [(f)] (g) of this section, to the joint standing
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
relating to education and children.
(2) Not later than January 1, 2026, the commissioner shall develop
recommendations concerning (A) whether such grant program should Substitute House Bill No. 5466
Public Act No. 22-116 20 of 22
be extended and funded for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and
each fiscal year thereafter, and (B) the amount of the grant award under
the program. The commissioner shall submit such recommendations, in
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes,
to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having
cognizance of matters relating to education and children.
Sec. 11. Section 11 of public act 22-80, is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) There is established a task force to study the governance structure
and internal procedures of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic
Conference. Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, an
examination of the leadership structure of the conference and how
leadership positions are filled, and how the conference receives and
resolves complaints filed by members of the conference and individuals.
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives,
who [has expertise in coaching] is a coach for a public school district that
is member of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference;
(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, each
of whom are the parent or guardian of a student athlete for a school that
is a member of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference;
(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of
Representatives, who is an expert in diversity in sports that is a member
of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference;
(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who is an
athletic director for a public school district that is a member of the
Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference; Substitute House Bill No. 5466
Public Act No. 22-116 21 of 22
(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of
Representatives, who has expertise in sports management;
(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who is an
administrator at a school that is a member of the Connecticut
Interscholastic Athletic Conference; and
(7) The director of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic
Conference, or the director's designee.
(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1),
(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member
of the General Assembly.
(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later
than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall
be filled by the appointing authority.
(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro
tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from
among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule
the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty
days after the effective date of this section.
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education
shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.
(g) Not later than January 1, 2023, the task force shall submit a report,
in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes,
on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to
education. The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such
report or January 1, 2023, whichever is later. Substitute House Bill No. 5466
Public Act No. 22-116 22 of 22