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Connecticut Senate Bill SB00427

Connecticut 2022 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00427 Compare Versions

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77 General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 427
88 February Session, 2022
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14-AN ACT CONCERNING THE EXPANSION OF THE OPEN CHOICE
15-PROGRAM AND CREATION OF THE STATE TEACHER SHORTAGE
16-AND RETENTION TASK FORCE.
14+AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS AND ADDITIONS TO
15+THE EDUCATION STATUTES.
1716 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
1817 Assembly convened:
1918
2019 Section 1. Subsection (c) of section 10-266aa of the 2022 supplement 1
2120 to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2
2221 thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 3
2322 (c) The program shall be phased in as provided in this subsection. (1) 4
2423 For the school year commencing in 1998, and for each school year 5
2524 thereafter, the program shall be in operation in the Hartford, New 6
2625 Haven and Bridgeport regions. The Hartford program shall operate as 7
2726 a continuation of the program described in section 10-266j. Students 8
2827 who reside in Hartford, New Haven or Bridgeport may attend school in 9
2928 another school district in the region and students who reside in such 10
3029 other school districts may attend school in Hartford, New Haven or 11
3130 Bridgeport, provided, beginning with the 2001-2002 school year, the 12
3231 proportion of students who are not minority students to the total 13
3332 number of students leaving Hartford, Bridgeport or New Haven to 14
3433 participate in the program shall not be greater than the proportion of 15
3534 students who were not minority students in the prior school year to the 16
36-total number of students enrolled in Hartford, Bridgeport or New 17 Substitute Bill No. 427
35+total number of students enrolled in Hartford, Bridgeport or New 17
36+Haven in the prior school year. The regional educational service center 18 Substitute Bill No. 427
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43-Haven in the prior school year. The regional educational service center 18
4443 operating the program shall make program participation decisions in 19
4544 accordance with the requirements of this subdivision. (2) For the school 20
4645 year commencing in 2000, and for each school year thereafter, the 21
4746 program shall be in operation in New London, provided beginning with 22
4847 the 2001-2002 school year, the proportion of students who are not 23
4948 minority students to the total number of students leaving New London 24
5049 to participate in the program shall not be greater than the proportion of 25
5150 students who were not minority students in the prior year to the total 26
5251 number of students enrolled in New London in the prior school year. 27
5352 The regional educational service center operating the program shall 28
5453 make program participation decisions in accordance with this 29
5554 subdivision. (3) The Department of Education may provide, within 30
5655 available appropriations, grants for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, 31
5756 to the remaining regional educational service centers to assist school 32
5857 districts in planning for a voluntary program of student enrollment in 33
5958 every priority school district, pursuant to section 10-266p, which is 34
6059 interested in participating in accordance with this subdivision. For the 35
6160 school year commencing in 2003, and for each school year thereafter, the 36
6261 voluntary enrollment program may be in operation in every priority 37
6362 school district in the state. Students from other school districts in the 38
6463 area of a priority school district, as determined by the regional 39
6564 educational service center pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, may 40
6665 attend school in the priority school district, provided such students 41
6766 bring racial, ethnic and economic diversity to the priority school district 42
6867 and do not increase the racial, ethnic and economic isolation in the 43
6968 priority school district. (4) For the school year commencing July 1, 2022, 44
7069 there shall be a pilot program in operation in Danbury and Norwalk. 45
7170 The pilot program shall serve (A) up to fifty students who reside in 46
7271 Danbury, and such students may attend school in the school districts for 47
7372 the towns of New Fairfield, Brookfield, Bethel, Ridgefield and Redding, 48
7473 and (B) up to fifty students who reside in Norwalk, and such students 49
7574 may attend school in the school districts for the towns of Darien, New 50
7675 Canaan, Wilton, Weston and Westport. School districts which receive 51
77-students from Danbury and Norwalk under the pilot program during 52 Substitute Bill No. 427
76+students from Danbury and Norwalk under the pilot program during 52
77+the school year commencing July 1, 2022, shall allow such students to 53 Substitute Bill No. 427
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84-the school year commencing July 1, 2022, shall allow such students to 53
8584 attend school in the district until they graduate from high school. (5) For 54
8685 the school year commencing July 1, 2022, and each school year 55
8786 thereafter, the town of Guilford shall be eligible to participate in the 56
8887 program as a receiving district and a sending district with New Haven. 57
89-Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established the state teacher 58
90-shortage and retention task force. The task force shall develop a 59
91-comprehensive report that includes recommendations that address (1) 60
92-strategies to address attrition rates of teachers leaving the teaching 61
93-profession, (2) the retention of teachers, (3) teacher shortages across 62
94-subject matter disciplines, (4) the impact of retention and shortages in 63
95-financially distressed school districts, and (5) streamlining teacher 64
96-certification without diminishing standards or the professional value of 65
97-a teaching certificate. In developing the report, the task force shall 66
98-address issues relating to equity, diversity and inclusion, and examine 67
99-strategies being used in other states to address teacher shortages and to 68
100-attract and retain teachers. 69
101-(b) The task force shall consist of the following members: 70
102-(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 71
103-one of whom is a certified teacher teaching in grades six to twelve, 72
104-inclusive, and recommended by the Connecticut Education Association, 73
105-and one of whom is a certified teacher teaching in grades six to twelve, 74
106-inclusive, and recommended by the American Federation of Teachers-75
107-Connecticut; 76
108-(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of 77
109-whom is a certified teacher teaching in grades kindergarten to five, 78
110-inclusive, and recommended by the Connecticut Education Association, 79
111-and one of whom is a certified teacher teaching in grades kindergarten 80
112-to five, inclusive, and recommended by the American Federation of 81
113-Teachers-Connecticut; 82
114-(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 83 Substitute Bill No. 427
88+Sec. 2. (Effective July 1, 2022) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2023, 58
89+and June 30, 2024, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall use funds 59
90+deposited in the school bus seat belt account to provide a rebate to an 60
91+individual who has obtained a commercial driver's license with a school 61
92+bus endorsement and submitted to a criminal history records check for 62
93+purposes of employment as a school bus driver. Such rebate shall be in 63
94+an amount equal to the fees charged to such individual for obtaining 64
95+such commercial driver's license with a school bus endorsement and 65
96+submitting to such criminal history records check. Such individual may 66
97+submit an application, at a time and in a manner prescribed by the 67
98+commissioner, for a rebate under this section. 68
99+Sec. 3. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established the state teacher 69
100+shortage and retention task force. The task force shall develop a 70
101+comprehensive report that includes recommendations that address (1) 71
102+strategies to address attrition rates of teachers leaving the teaching 72
103+profession, (2) the retention of teachers, (3) teacher shortages across 73
104+subject matter disciplines, (4) the impact of retention and shortages in 74
105+financially distressed school districts, and (5) streamlining teacher 75
106+certification without diminishing standards or the professional value of 76
107+a teaching certificate. In developing the report, the task force shall 77
108+address issues relating to equity, diversity and inclusion, and examine 78
109+strategies being used in other states to address teacher shortages and to 79
110+attract and retain teachers. 80
111+(b) The task force shall consist of the following members: 81
112+(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 82
113+one of whom is a certified teacher teaching in grades six to twelve, 83
114+inclusive, and recommended by the Connecticut Education Association, 84
115+and one of whom is a certified teacher teaching in grades six to twelve, 85 Substitute Bill No. 427
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121-Representatives, who is a certified teacher teaching in a priority school 84
122-district, as described in section 10-266p of the general statutes, and 85
123-recommended by the Connecticut Education Association; 86
124-(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who is a 87
125-certified teacher teaching in a priority school district and recommended 88
126-by the American Federation of Teachers-Connecticut; 89
127-(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 90
128-Representatives, who is a certified administrator and recommended by 91
129-the Connecticut Association of Schools; 92
130-(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who is a 93
131-certified administrator serving as the principal of a school located in a 94
132-priority school district and recommended by the Connecticut 95
133-Association of Schools; 96
134-(7) One appointed by the House chairperson of the joint standing 97
135-committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 98
136-relating to education, who is a certified teacher and is serving as a 99
137-member of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Policy Oversight Council, 100
138-established pursuant to section 10-156bb of the general statutes; 101
139-(8) One appointed by the Senate chairperson of the joint standing 102
140-committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 103
141-relating to education, who is a certified teacher and is serving, or has 104
142-served, as a member of the minority teacher recruitment task force, 105
143-established pursuant to section 10-156aa of the general statutes; 106
144-(9) One appointed jointly by the House and Senate ranking members 107
145-of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 108
146-cognizance of matters relating to education, who is a faculty member of 109
147-an institution of higher education in the state and has expertise in 110
148-teacher recruitment strategies and is recommended by the Connecticut 111
149-chapter of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; 112
150-(10) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; 113 Substitute Bill No. 427
122+inclusive, and recommended by the American Federation of Teachers-86
123+Connecticut; 87
124+(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of 88
125+whom is a certified teacher teaching in grades kindergarten to five, 89
126+inclusive, and recommended by the Connecticut Education Association, 90
127+and one of whom is a certified teacher teaching in grades kindergarten 91
128+to five, inclusive, and recommended by the American Federation of 92
129+Teachers-Connecticut; 93
130+(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 94
131+Representatives who is a certified teacher teaching in a priority school 95
132+district, as described in section 10-266p of the general statutes, and 96
133+recommended by the Connecticut Education Association; 97
134+(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate who is a 98
135+certified teacher teaching in a priority school district and recommended 99
136+by the American Federation of Teachers-Connecticut; 100
137+(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 101
138+Representatives who is a certified administrator and recommended by 102
139+the Connecticut Association of Schools; 103
140+(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate who is a 104
141+certified administrator serving as the principal of a school located in a 105
142+priority school district and recommended by the Connecticut 106
143+Association of Schools; 107
144+(7) One appointed by the House chairperson of the joint standing 108
145+committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 109
146+relating to education who is a certified teacher and is serving as a 110
147+member of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Policy Oversight Council, 111
148+established pursuant to section 10-156bb of the general statutes; 112
149+(8) One appointed by the Senate chairperson of the joint standing 113
150+committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 114
151+relating to education who is a certified teacher and is serving, or has 115 Substitute Bill No. 427
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157-(11) The chief administrator of the Teachers' Retirement Board, or the 114
158-chief administrator's designee; and 115
159-(12) Four persons appointed by the Governor, one of whom is a 116
160-member of the State Board of Education, one of whom is a member of 117
161-the Technical Education and Career System board, and two of whom are 118
162-representatives of the Connecticut Association for Public School 119
163-Superintendents. 120
164-(c) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later 121
165-than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall 122
166-be filled by the appointing authority. 123
167-(d) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president 124
168-pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force 125
169-from among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall 126
170-schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later 127
171-than sixty days after the effective date of this section. 128
172-(e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 129
173-General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education 130
174-shall serve as administrative staff of the task force. 131
175-(f) Not later than January 4, 2023, the task force shall submit a report 132
176-on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 133
177-the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 134
178-education and children, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-135
179-4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that 136
180-it submits such report or January 4, 2023, whichever is later. 137
158+served, as a member of the minority teacher recruitment task force, 116
159+established pursuant to section 10-156aa of the general statutes; 117
160+(9) One appointed jointly by the House and Senate ranking members 118
161+of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 119
162+cognizance of matters relating to education who is a faculty member of 120
163+an institution of higher education in the state and has expertise in 121
164+teacher recruitment strategies and is recommended by the Connecticut 122
165+chapter of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; 123
166+(10) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; 124
167+(11) The chief administrator of the Teachers' Retirement Board, or the 125
168+chief administrator's designee; and 126
169+(12) Four persons appointed by the Governor, one of whom is a 127
170+member of the State Board of Education, one of whom is a member of 128
171+the Technical Education and Career System board, and two of whom are 129
172+representatives of the Connecticut Association for Public School 130
173+Superintendents. 131
174+(c) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later 132
175+than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall 133
176+be filled by the appointing authority. 134
177+(d) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president 135
178+pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force 136
179+from among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall 137
180+schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later 138
181+than sixty days after the effective date of this section. 139
182+(e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 140
183+General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education 141
184+shall serve as administrative staff of the task force. 142
185+(f) Not later than January 4, 2023, the task force shall submit a report 143
186+on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 144 Substitute Bill No. 427
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193+the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 145
194+education and children, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-146
195+4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that 147
196+it submits such report or January 4, 2023, whichever is later. 148
181197 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
182198 sections:
183199
184200 Section 1 July 1, 2022 10-266aa(c)
185-Sec. 2 from passage New section
201+Sec. 2 July 1, 2022 New section
202+Sec. 3 from passage New section
186203
187-ED Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP Substitute Bill No. 427
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194-APP Joint Favorable Subst.
204+ED Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP
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