LCO No. 514 1 of 8
General Assembly Raised Bill No. 18
February Session, 2022
LCO No. 514
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND
EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)
AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE HIGHER
EDUCATION STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) (a) Not later than January 1, 1
2023, each governing board of an independent institution of higher 2
education in the state shall establish a policy requiring that any new 3
member of such governing board, who has not previously served on 4
such governing board, receive instruction and training in (1) financial 5
management of institutions of higher education, (2) legal and fiduciary 6
responsibilities of a member of such governing board, and (3) applicable 7
standards for accreditation of institutions of higher education and 8
programs of higher learning. A new member shall complete such 9
instruction and training not later than one year after joining a governing 10
board. 11
(b) Not later than January 1, 2023, each independent institution of 12
higher education shall post on its Internet web site (1) the policy 13
established by its governing board pursuant to subsection (a) of this 14 Raised Bill No. 18
LCO No. 514 2 of 8
section, and (2) a summary of the instruction and training received by 15
the members of its governing board in accordance with such policy. 16
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) (a) Not later than January 1, 2023, 17
the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees of 18
The University of Connecticut shall each adopt a policy requiring that 19
any new member of either of said boards receive instruction and 20
training in (1) a board member's duties to the state and the public 21
institution of higher education governed by the board, (2) each 22
committee of the board, including, but not limited to, the executive 23
committee, and its functions, (3) professional accounting and reporting 24
standards, (4) methods for meeting the statutory, regulatory and 25
fiduciary obligations of the board, (5) the provisions of the Freedom of 26
Information Act, as defined in section 1-200 of the general statutes, (6) a 27
board member's institutional and statutory ethical responsibilities, (7) 28
the development and implementation of institutional policies, (8) 29
business operations, administration, budgeting, financing, financial 30
reporting, financial reserves and endowment managing relevant to 31
institutions of higher education, (9) student tuition, mandatory fees and 32
student debt trends, (10) oversight of planning, construction, 33
maintenance, expansion and renovation projects that impact the 34
infrastructure, physical facilities and natural environment of the public 35
institution of higher education governed by the board, (11) workforce 36
planning, strategy and investment, (12) institutional advancement, 37
including, but not limited to, philanthropic giving, fundraising 38
initiatives, alumni programming, communications and media, 39
government and public relations and community affairs, (13) student 40
welfare issues, including, but not limited to, academic studies, 41
curriculum, residence life, student governance and activities and the 42
general physical and mental well-being of students, (14) current and 43
anticipated issues in higher education, and (15) any other topics each 44
governing board deems necessary. A member shall complete such 45
instruction and training not later than one year after being appointed or 46
elected to either of said boards. 47
(b) Not later than January 1, 2023, each public institution of higher 48 Raised Bill No. 18
LCO No. 514 3 of 8
education shall post on its Internet web site (1) the policy established by 49
its governing board pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (2) a 50
summary of the instruction and training received by the members of its 51
governing board in accordance with such policy. 52
Sec. 3. Section 10a-8 of the general statutes is repealed and the 53
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 54
(a) The provisions of sections 4-77 and 4-78 shall not apply to the 55
constituent units of the state system of higher education, and for the 56
purposes of said sections only, the Board of Regents for Higher 57
Education shall be deemed the budgeted agency for the Connecticut 58
State University System, the regional community-technical college 59
system, [and] Charter Oak State College and the central office of the 60
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. The Board of Regents for 61
Higher Education shall develop a formula or program-based budgeting 62
system to be used by each institution in preparing operating budgets. 63
The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall prepare a single 64
budget request itemized by the Connecticut State University System, the 65
regional community-technical college system, [and] Charter Oak State 66
College and the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and 67
Universities using the formula or program-based budgeting system and 68
shall submit such budget request displaying all operating funds to the 69
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management in accordance with 70
sections 4-77 and 4-78, subject to procedures developed by the Board of 71
Regents for Higher Education and approved by said secretary. The 72
budget request shall set forth, in the form prescribed by the Board of 73
Regents for Higher Education, a proposed expenditure plan which shall 74
include: (1) The total amount requested for such appropriation account; 75
(2) the amount to be appropriated from the General Fund; and (3) the 76
amount to be paid from the tuition revenues of the regional community-77
technical college system, [and] the Connecticut State University System 78
and Charter Oak State College. After review and comment by the Board 79
of Regents for Higher Education, the proposed expenditure plans shall 80
be incorporated into the single public higher education budget request 81
including recommendations, if any, by said board. Any tuition increase 82 Raised Bill No. 18
LCO No. 514 4 of 8
proposed by the regional community-technical college system, [and] the 83
Connecticut State University System and Charter Oak State College for 84
the fiscal year to which the budget request relates shall be included in 85
the single public higher education budget request submitted by the 86
Board of Regents for Higher Education for such fiscal year, provided if 87
the General Assembly does not appropriate the amount requested by 88
any such system or college, such system or college may increase tuition 89
and fees by an amount greater than that included in the budget request 90
in response to which the appropriation was made. The General 91
Assembly shall make appropriations directly to the constituent units. 92
Allotment reductions made pursuant to the provisions of subsections 93
(b) and (c) of section 4-85 shall be applied by the Board of Regents for 94
Higher Education among the appropriations to the constituent units and 95
the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities 96
without regard to the limitations on reductions provided in said section, 97
except that said limitations shall apply to the total of the amounts 98
appropriated. The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall apply 99
such reductions after consultation with the Secretary of the Office of 100
Policy and Management. Any reductions of more than five per cent of 101
the appropriations of any constituent units shall be submitted to the 102
appropriations committee which shall, within thirty days, approve or 103
reject such reduction. 104
(b) The boards of trustees of each of the constituent units may transfer 105
to or from any specific appropriation of such constituent unit a sum or 106
sums totaling up to fifty thousand dollars or ten per cent of any such 107
specific appropriation, whichever is less, in any fiscal year without the 108
consent of the Finance Advisory Committee. Any such transfer shall be 109
reported to the Finance Advisory Committee within thirty days of such 110
transfer and such report shall be a record of said committee. 111
Sec. 4. Subsection (b) of section 10a-77 of the 2022 supplement to the 112
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 113
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 114
(b) The Board of [Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges] 115 Raised Bill No. 18
LCO No. 514 5 of 8
Regents for Higher Education shall establish and administer a fund to 116
be known as the Regional Community-Technical Colleges Operating 117
Fund. Appropriations from general revenues of the state and, upon 118
request by the board and with an annual review and approval by the 119
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the amount of the 120
appropriations for fringe benefits and workers' compensation 121
applicable to the regional community-technical colleges pursuant to 122
subsection (a) of section 4-73, shall be transferred from the Comptroller, 123
and all tuition revenue received by the regional community-technical 124
colleges in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this 125
section shall be deposited in said fund. Income from student fees or 126
related charges; the proceeds of auxiliary activities and business 127
enterprises, gifts and donations; federal funds and grants for purposes 128
other than research, and all receipts derived from the conduct by the 129
colleges of their education extension programs and summer school 130
sessions shall be credited to said fund but shall be allocated to the central 131
office and institutional operating accounts which shall be established 132
and maintained for the central office and each community-technical 133
college. If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 134
disapproves such transfer, the secretary may require the amount of the 135
appropriation for operating expenses to be used for personal services 136
and fringe benefits to be excluded from said fund. The State Treasurer 137
shall review and approve the transfer prior to such request by the board. 138
[of trustees.] The board shall establish an equitable policy, in accordance 139
with section 10a-8, as amended by this act, for allocation of 140
appropriations from general revenues of the state, fringe benefits 141
transferred from the Comptroller and tuition revenue deposited in the 142
Regional Community-Technical Colleges Operating Fund. At the 143
beginning of each quarter of the fiscal year, the board shall allocate and 144
transfer, in accordance with said policy, moneys for expenditure in such 145
institutional operating accounts, exclusive of amounts retained for 146
central office operations and reasonable reserves for future distribution. 147
All costs of waiving or remitting tuition pursuant to subsection (f) of this 148
section shall be charged to the Regional Community-Technical Colleges 149
Operating Fund. Repairs, alterations or additions to facilities supported 150 Raised Bill No. 18
LCO No. 514 6 of 8
by operating funds and costing one million dollars or more shall require 151
the approval of the General Assembly, or when the General Assembly 152
is not in session, of the Finance Advisory Committee. Any balance of 153
receipts above expenditures shall remain in said fund, except such sums 154
as may be required for deposit into a debt service fund or the General 155
Fund for further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on general 156
obligation bonds of the state issued for purposes of the regional 157
community-technical colleges. 158
Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 10a-99 of the 2022 supplement to the 159
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 160
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 161
(b) The Board of [Trustees of the Connecticut State University 162
System] Regents for Higher Education shall establish and administer a 163
fund to be known as the Connecticut State University System Operating 164
Fund. Appropriations from general revenues of the state and upon 165
request by the Connecticut State University System and with the annual 166
review and approval by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 167
Management, the amount of the appropriations for fringe benefits 168
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4-73, shall be transferred from the 169
State Comptroller and all tuition revenue received by the Connecticut 170
State University System in accordance with the provisions of subsection 171
(a) of this section shall be deposited in said fund. Income from student 172
fees or related charges, the proceeds of auxiliary activities and business 173
enterprises, gifts and donations, federal funds and grants, subject to the 174
provisions of sections 10a-98 to 10a-98g, inclusive, and all receipts 175
derived from the conduct by a state university of its education extension 176
program and its summer school session shall be credited to said fund 177
but shall be allocated to the central office and institutional operating 178
accounts which shall be established and maintained for the central office 179
and each state university. Any such gifts and donations, federal funds 180
and grants for purposes of research shall be allocated to separate 181
accounts within such central office and institutional operating accounts. 182
If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management disapproves 183
such transfer, [he] the secretary may require the amount of the 184 Raised Bill No. 18
LCO No. 514 7 of 8
appropriation for operating expenses to be used for personal services 185
and fringe benefits to be excluded from said fund. The State Treasurer 186
shall review and approve the transfer prior to such request by the 187
university. The board [of trustees] shall establish an equitable policy, in 188
accordance with section 10a-8, as amended by this act, for allocation of 189
appropriations from general revenues of the state, fringe benefits 190
transferred from the State Comptroller and tuition revenue deposited in 191
the Connecticut State University System Operating Fund. At the 192
beginning of each quarter of the fiscal year, the board shall allocate and 193
transfer, in accordance with said policy, moneys for expenditure in such 194
institutional operating accounts, exclusive of amounts retained for 195
central office operations and reasonable reserves for future distribution. 196
All costs of waiving or remitting tuition pursuant to subsection (f) of this 197
section shall be charged to the Connecticut State University System 198
Operating Fund. Repairs, alterations or additions to facilities supported 199
by the Connecticut State University System Operating Fund and costing 200
one million dollars or more shall require the approval of the General 201
Assembly, or when the General Assembly is not in session, of the 202
Finance Advisory Committee. Any balance of receipts above 203
expenditures shall remain in said fund, except such sums as may be 204
required for deposit into a debt service fund or the General Fund for 205
further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on general obligation 206
bonds of the state issued for purposes of the Connecticut State 207
University System. 208
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2022 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2022 New section
Sec. 3 July 1, 2022 10a-8
Sec. 4 July 1, 2022 10a-77(b)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2022 10a-99(b)
Statement of Purpose:
To make various revisions to the higher education statutes. Raised Bill No. 18
LCO No. 514 8 of 8
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]