Substitute Senate Bill No. 18
Public Act No. 22-16
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,
2023, the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of
Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall each adopt a policy
requiring that any new appointed member of either of said boards
receive instruction and training in (1) a board member's duties to the
state and the public institution of higher education governed by the
board, (2) each committee of the board, including, but not limited to, the
executive committee, and its functions, (3) professional accounting and
reporting standards, (4) methods for meeting the statutory, regulatory
and fiduciary obligations of the board, (5) the provisions of the Freedom
of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200 of the general statutes, (6)
a board member's institutional and statutory ethical responsibilities, (7)
the development and implementation of institutional policies, (8)
business operations, administration, budgeting, financing, financial
reporting, financial reserves and endowment managing relevant to
institutions of higher education, (9) student tuition, mandatory fees and
student debt trends, (10) oversight of planning, construction,
maintenance, expansion and renovation projects that impact the
infrastructure, physical facilities and natural environment of the public Substitute Senate Bill No. 18
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institution of higher education governed by the board, (11) workforce
planning, strategy and investment, (12) institutional advancement,
including, but not limited to, philanthropic giving, fundraising
initiatives, alumni programming, communications and media,
government and public relations and community affairs, (13) student
welfare issues, including, but not limited to, academic studies,
curriculum, residence life, student governance and activities and the
general physical and mental well-being of students, (14) current and
anticipated issues in higher education, and (15) any other topics each
governing board deems necessary. A member shall complete such
instruction and training not later than one year after being appointed or
elected to either of said boards.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2023, each public institution of higher
education shall post on its Internet web site (1) the policy established by
its governing board pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (2) a
summary of the instruction and training received by the members of its
governing board in accordance with such policy.
Sec. 2. Section 10a-8 of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022):
(a) The provisions of sections 4-77 and 4-78 shall not apply to the
constituent units of the state system of higher education, and for the
purposes of said sections only, the Board of Regents for Higher
Education shall be deemed the budgeted agency for the Connecticut
State University System, the regional community-technical college
system, [and] Charter Oak State College and the central office of the
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. The Board of Regents for
Higher Education shall develop a formula or program-based budgeting
system to be used by each institution in preparing operating budgets.
The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall prepare a single
budget request itemized by the Connecticut State University System, the
regional community-technical college system, [and] Charter Oak State Substitute Senate Bill No. 18
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College and the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and
Universities using the formula or program-based budgeting system and
shall submit such budget request displaying all operating funds to the
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management in accordance with
sections 4-77 and 4-78, subject to procedures developed by the Board of
Regents for Higher Education and approved by said secretary. The
budget request shall set forth, in the form prescribed by the Board of
Regents for Higher Education, a proposed expenditure plan which shall
include: (1) The total amount requested for such appropriation account;
(2) the amount to be appropriated from the General Fund; and (3) the
amount to be paid from the tuition revenues of the regional community-
technical college system, [and] the Connecticut State University System
and Charter Oak State College. After review and comment by the Board
of Regents for Higher Education, the proposed expenditure plans shall
be incorporated into the single public higher education budget request
including recommendations, if any, by said board. Any tuition increase
proposed by the regional community-technical college system, [and] the
Connecticut State University System and Charter Oak State College for
the fiscal year to which the budget request relates shall be included in
the single public higher education budget request submitted by the
Board of Regents for Higher Education for such fiscal year, provided if
the General Assembly does not appropriate the amount requested by
any such system or college, such system or college may increase tuition
and fees by an amount greater than that included in the budget request
in response to which the appropriation was made. The General
Assembly shall make appropriations directly to the constituent units.
Allotment reductions made pursuant to the provisions of subsections
(b) and (c) of section 4-85 shall be applied by the Board of Regents for
Higher Education among the appropriations to the constituent units and
the central office of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities
without regard to the limitations on reductions provided in said section,
except that said limitations shall apply to the total of the amounts
appropriated. The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall apply Substitute Senate Bill No. 18
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such reductions after consultation with the Secretary of the Office of
Policy and Management. Any reductions of more than five per cent of
the appropriations of any constituent units shall be submitted to the
appropriations committee which shall, within thirty days, approve or
reject such reduction.
(b) The [boards of trustees of each of the constituent units] Board of
Regents for Higher Education may transfer to or from any specific
appropriation of [such] a constituent unit a sum or sums totaling up to
fifty thousand dollars or ten per cent of any such specific appropriation,
whichever is less, in any fiscal year without the consent of the Finance
Advisory Committee. Any such transfer shall be reported to the Finance
Advisory Committee within thirty days of such transfer and such report
shall be a record of said committee.
Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 10a-77 of the 2022 supplement to the
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022):
(b) The Board of [Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges]
Regents for Higher Education shall establish and administer a fund to
be known as the Regional Community-Technical Colleges Operating
Fund. Appropriations from general revenues of the state and, upon
request by the board and with an annual review and approval by the
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the amount of the
appropriations for fringe benefits and workers' compensation
applicable to the regional community-technical colleges pursuant to
subsection (a) of section 4-73, shall be transferred from the Comptroller,
and all tuition revenue received by the regional community-technical
colleges in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
section shall be deposited in said fund. Income from student fees or
related charges; the proceeds of auxiliary activities and business
enterprises, gifts and donations; federal funds and grants for purposes
other than research, and all receipts derived from the conduct by the Substitute Senate Bill No. 18
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colleges of their education extension programs and summer school
sessions shall be credited to said fund but shall be allocated to the central
office and institutional operating accounts which shall be established
and maintained for the central office and each community-technical
college. If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management
disapproves such transfer, the secretary may require the amount of the
appropriation for operating expenses to be used for personal services
and fringe benefits to be excluded from said fund. The State Treasurer
shall review and approve the transfer prior to such request by the board.
[of trustees.] The board shall establish an equitable policy, in accordance
with section 10a-8, as amended by this act, for allocation of
appropriations from general revenues of the state, fringe benefits
transferred from the Comptroller and tuition revenue deposited in the
Regional Community-Technical Colleges Operating Fund. At the
beginning of each quarter of the fiscal year, the board shall allocate and
transfer, in accordance with said policy, moneys for expenditure in such
institutional operating accounts, exclusive of amounts retained for
central office operations and reasonable reserves for future distribution.
All costs of waiving or remitting tuition pursuant to subsection (f) of this
section shall be charged to the Regional Community-Technical Colleges
Operating Fund. Repairs, alterations or additions to facilities supported
by operating funds and costing one million dollars or more shall require
the approval of the General Assembly, or when the General Assembly
is not in session, of the Finance Advisory Committee. Any balance of
receipts above expenditures shall remain in said fund, except such sums
as may be required for deposit into a debt service fund or the General
Fund for further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on general
obligation bonds of the state issued for purposes of the regional
community-technical colleges.
Sec. 4. Subsection (b) of section 10a-99 of the 2022 supplement to the
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): Substitute Senate Bill No. 18
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(b) The Board of [Trustees of the Connecticut State University
System] Regents for Higher Education shall establish and administer a
fund to be known as the Connecticut State University System Operating
Fund. Appropriations from general revenues of the state and upon
request by the Connecticut State University System and with the annual
review and approval by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and
Management, the amount of the appropriations for fringe benefits
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4-73, shall be transferred from the
State Comptroller and all tuition revenue received by the Connecticut
State University System in accordance with the provisions of subsection
(a) of this section shall be deposited in said fund. Income from student
fees or related charges, the proceeds of auxiliary activities and business
enterprises, gifts and donations, federal funds and grants, subject to the
provisions of sections 10a-98 to 10a-98g, inclusive, and all receipts
derived from the conduct by a state university of its education extension
program and its summer school session shall be credited to said fund
but shall be allocated to the central office and institutional operating
accounts which shall be established and maintained for the central office
and each state university. Any such gifts and donations, federal funds
and grants for purposes of research shall be allocated to separate
accounts within such central office and institutional operating accounts.
If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management disapproves
such transfer, [he] the secretary may require the amount of the
appropriation for operating expenses to be used for personal services
and fringe benefits to be excluded from said fund. The State Treasurer
shall review and approve the transfer prior to such request by the
university. The board [of trustees] shall establish an equitable policy, in
accordance with section 10a-8, as amended by this act, for allocation of
appropriations from general revenues of the state, fringe benefits
transferred from the State Comptroller and tuition revenue deposited in
the Connecticut State University System Operating Fund. At the
beginning of each quarter of the fiscal year, the board shall allocate and
transfer, in accordance with said policy, moneys for expenditure in such Substitute Senate Bill No. 18
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institutional operating accounts, exclusive of amounts retained for
central office operations and reasonable reserves for future distribution.
All costs of waiving or remitting tuition pursuant to subsection (f) of this
section shall be charged to the Connecticut State University System
Operating Fund. Repairs, alterations or additions to facilities supported
by the Connecticut State University System Operating Fund and costing
one million dollars or more shall require the approval of the General
Assembly, or when the General Assembly is not in session, of the
Finance Advisory Committee. Any balance of receipts above
expenditures shall remain in said fund, except such sums as may be
required for deposit into a debt service fund or the General Fund for
further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on general obligation
bonds of the state issued for purposes of the Connecticut State
University System.
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 10a-6 of the 2022 supplement to the
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022):
(a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall: (1) Establish
policies and guidelines for the Connecticut State University System, the
regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State
College; (2) develop a master plan for higher education and
postsecondary education at the Connecticut State University System,
the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State
College consistent with the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (3)
establish tuition and student fee policies for the Connecticut State
University System, the regional community-technical college system
and Charter Oak State College; (4) monitor and evaluate the
effectiveness and viability of the state universities, the regional
community-technical colleges and Charter Oak State College in
accordance with criteria established by the board; (5) merge or close
institutions within the Connecticut State University System, the regional Substitute Senate Bill No. 18
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community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College in
accordance with criteria established by the board, provided (A) such
recommended merger or closing shall require a two-thirds vote of the
board, and (B) notice of such recommended merger or closing shall be
sent to the committee having cognizance over matters relating to
education and to the General Assembly; (6) review and approve mission
statements for the Connecticut State University System, the regional
community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College and
role and scope statements for the individual institutions and campuses
of such constituent units; (7) review and approve any recommendations
for the establishment of new academic programs submitted to the board
by the state universities within the Connecticut State University System,
the regional community-technical colleges and Charter Oak State
College, and, in consultation with the affected constituent units, provide
for the initiation, consolidation or termination of academic programs;
(8) develop criteria to ensure acceptable quality in (A) programs at the
Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical
college system and Charter Oak State College, and (B) institutions
within the Connecticut State University System and the regional
community-technical college system and enforce standards through
licensing and accreditation; (9) prepare and present to the Governor and
General Assembly, in accordance with section 10a-8, as amended by this
act, consolidated operating and capital expenditure budgets for the
Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical
college system, [and] Charter Oak State College and the central office of
the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities developed in
accordance with the provisions of said section 10a-8, as amended by this
act; (10) review and make recommendations on plans received from the
Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical
college system and Charter Oak State College to implement the goals
identified in section 10a-11c; (11) appoint advisory committees with
representatives from public and independent institutions of higher
education to study methods and proposals for coordinating efforts of Substitute Senate Bill No. 18
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the public institutions of higher education under its jurisdiction with
The University of Connecticut and the independent institutions of
higher education to implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c;
(12) evaluate (A) means of implementing the goals identified in section
10a-11c, and (B) any recommendations made by the Planning
Commission for Higher Education in implementing the strategic master
plan pursuant to section 10a-11b through alternative and nontraditional
approaches such as external degrees and credit by examination; (13)
coordinate programs and services among the Connecticut State
University System, the regional community-technical college system
and Charter Oak State College; (14) assess opportunities for
collaboration with The University of Connecticut and the independent
institutions of higher education to implement the goals identified in
section 10a-11c; (15) make or enter into contracts, leases or other
agreements in connection with its responsibilities under this part,
provided all acquisitions of real estate by lease or otherwise shall be
subject to the provisions of section 4b-23; (16) be responsible for the care
and maintenance of permanent records of institutions of higher
education dissolved after September 1, 1969; (17) prepare and present to
the Governor and General Assembly legislative proposals affecting the
Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical
college system and Charter Oak State College; (18) develop and
maintain a central higher education information system and establish
definitions and data requirements for the Connecticut State University
System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter
Oak State College; (19) until June 30, 2024, report all new programs and
program changes at the Connecticut State University System, the
regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State
College to the Office of Higher Education; and (20) undertake such
studies and other activities as will best serve the higher educational
interests of the Connecticut State University System, the regional
community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College. Substitute Senate Bill No. 18
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