LCO \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008-R02- SB.docx 1 of 16 General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 8 January Session, 2023 AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHER EDUCATION AFFORDABILITY AND GRADUATE RETENTION. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. Section 10a-174 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 2 (a) As used in this section: 3 (1) "Award" means the greater of: (A) The unpaid portion, if any, of 4 a qualifying student's eligible institutional costs after subtracting his or 5 her financial aid, or (B) a minimum award of [two hundred fifty] one 6 thousand dollars for a full-time student or [one hundred fifty] six 7 hundred dollars for a part-time student; 8 (2) "Eligible institutional costs" means the tuition and required fees 9 incurred each semester by an individual student that are established 10 by the Board of Regents for Higher Education for the regional 11 community-technical colleges; 12 (3) "Financial aid" means the sum of all scholarships, grants and 13 federal, state and institutional aid received by a qualifying student. 14 "Financial aid" does not include any federal, state or private student 15 loans received by a qualifying student; 16 (4) "Qualifying student" means any person who (A) graduated from 17 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 2 of 16 a public or nonpublic high school in the state, (B) enrolls as a full-time 18 or part-time student for the fall semester of 2020, or any semester 19 thereafter, [for the first time] at a regional community-technical college 20 in a program leading to a degree or certificate, [and continues to be 21 enrolled as a full-time or part-time student at a regional community-22 technical college,] (C) is classified as an in-state student pursuant to 23 section 10a-29, (D) is making satisfactory academic progress while 24 enrolled at a regional community-technical college, (E) has completed 25 the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and (F) has accepted all 26 available financial aid; 27 (5) "Full-time student" means a student who is enrolled at a regional 28 community-technical college and (A) is carrying twelve or more credit 29 hours in a semester, or (B) has a learning disability documented with 30 the regional community-technical college in which he or she is enrolled 31 and is enrolled in the maximum number of credit hours that is feasible 32 for such student to attempt in a semester, as determined by such 33 student's academic advisor; 34 (6) "Semester" means the fall or spring semester of an academic year. 35 "Semester" does not include a summer semester or session; and 36 (7) "Part-time student" means a student who is enrolled at a regional 37 community-technical college and is carrying not less than six but fewer 38 than twelve credit hours in a semester. 39 (b) [Not later than January 1, 2020, the] The Board of Regents for 40 Higher Education shall (1) establish a debt-free community college 41 program to make awards to qualifying students each semester, (2) 42 adopt rules, procedures and forms necessary to implement the debt-43 free community college program, and (3) submit a report outlining 44 such rules, procedures and forms, in accordance with the provisions of 45 section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 46 having cognizance of matters relating to higher education. 47 (c) For the fall semester of 2020, and each semester thereafter, the 48 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 3 of 16 Board of Regents for Higher Education shall make awards to 49 qualifying students within available appropriations. An award shall be 50 available to a qualifying student for the first seventy-two credit hours 51 earned by the qualifying student [during the first forty-eight months 52 that such student is enrolled] at a regional community-technical 53 college, provided the qualifying student meets and continues to meet 54 the requirements of this section. The board shall not use an award to 55 supplant any financial aid, including, but not limited to, state or 56 institutional aid, otherwise available to a qualifying student. 57 [(d) (1) Any qualifying student who takes an administratively 58 approved medical or personal leave of absence from a regional 59 community-technical college may continue to qualify for the debt-free 60 community college program upon resuming his or her enrollment as a 61 student at a regional community-technical college, provided such 62 student (A) continues to meet the requirements of this section upon 63 reenrollment, and (B) the total amount of time of all approved leaves of 64 absence does not exceed six months. 65 (2) Any qualifying student who is a member of the armed forces 66 called to active duty during any semester may continue to qualify for 67 the debt-free community college program upon resuming his or her 68 enrollment as a student at a regional community-technical college, 69 provided such student (A) continues to meet the requirements of this 70 section upon reenrollment, and (B) reenrolls not later than four years 71 after the date on which such student is released from active duty.] 72 [(e)] (d) Not later than March 1, 2021, and October 1, 2021, and each 73 semester thereafter, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall 74 report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint 75 standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 76 matters relating to higher education and employment advancement 77 and appropriations and the budgets of the state agencies regarding the 78 debt-free community college program, including, but not limited to, (1) 79 the number of qualifying students enrolled at the regional community-80 technical colleges during each semester, (2) the number of qualifying 81 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 4 of 16 students receiving minimum awards and the number of qualifying 82 students receiving awards for the unpaid portion of eligible 83 institutional costs, (3) the average number of credit hours the 84 qualifying students enrolled in each semester and the average number 85 of credit hours the qualifying students completed each semester, (4) 86 the average amount of the award made to qualifying students under 87 this section for the unpaid portion of eligible institutional costs, and (5) 88 the completion rates of qualifying students receiving awards under 89 this section by degree or certificate program. 90 Sec. 2. (Effective July 1, 2023) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, 91 any amount allocated to the regional community-technical college 92 system under the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program, established 93 pursuant to section 10a-173 of the general statutes, from the federal 94 funds designated for the state pursuant to the provisions of Section 602 95 of Subtitle M of Title IX of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 96 117-2, as amended from time to time, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 97 2023, shall be reallocated to the Connecticut State University System to 98 be expended, in accordance with section 10a-173 of the general 99 statutes, as grants under the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program. 100 Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) The Connecticut Higher 101 Education Supplemental Loan Authority shall establish, subject to 102 available funding pursuant to section 4 of this act, the Student Loan 103 Subsidy Program for the purpose of subsidizing interest rates on 104 authority loans, as defined in subdivision (3) of section 10a-223 of the 105 general statutes, to individuals employed in certain high-demand 106 professions, as specified by the Chief Workforce Officer, and who meet 107 the eligibility criteria established by the authority and the Chief 108 Workforce Officer pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 109 (b) The authority and the Office of Workforce Strategy shall jointly 110 establish the eligibility criteria and administrative guidelines for the 111 Student Loan Subsidy Program. Such eligibility criteria and guidelines 112 shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) applicant eligibility, (2) 113 interest rate subsidies and principal limits on authority loans subject to 114 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 5 of 16 the Student Loan Subsidy Program, (3) the process for verifying the 115 employment of the applicants, and (4) the requirement that an interest 116 rate subsidy through the Student Loan Subsidy Program shall 117 terminate for any subsidy recipient who ceases to meet the 118 employment requirements of said program during the term of such 119 recipient's loan from the authority. 120 (c) Not later than September 1, 2023, the Chief Workforce Officer 121 shall identify, and annually update, professions that are in high 122 demand by employers in the state for the purpose of qualifying 123 individuals employed in such professions for the Student Loan 124 Subsidy Program. 125 Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) The Connecticut Higher 126 Education Supplemental Loan Authority shall maintain a separate, 127 nonlapsing account to hold funds for the Student Loan Subsidy 128 Program established pursuant to section 3 of this act. The account shall 129 contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account, 130 including, but not limited to, state appropriations or proceeds from the 131 sale of bonds authorized under section 5 of this act. Moneys in the 132 account shall be expended by the authority for the purposes of the 133 Student Loan Subsidy Program and for reasonable and necessary 134 expenses for the administration of said program. 135 Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) For the purposes described 136 in subsection (b) of this section and section 3 of this act, the State Bond 137 Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize the 138 issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal 139 amounts not exceeding seven million dollars annually. 140 (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the 141 amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the 142 Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority for the 143 purpose of the Student Loan Subsidy Program established under 144 section 3 of this act. 145 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 6 of 16 (c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the 146 exercise of any right or power granted thereby, that are not 147 inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and 148 shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission 149 pursuant to this section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money 150 to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be 151 issued in accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from 152 time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times 153 not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be 154 provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State 155 Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall 156 be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission 157 that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is 158 signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 159 Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, 160 in its discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this 161 section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and 162 credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the 163 principal of and interest on such bonds as the same become due, and 164 accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of 165 such bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual 166 payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State 167 Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become 168 due. 169 Sec. 6. Subparagraph (B) of subdivision (20) of subsection (a) of 170 section 12-701 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is 171 substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2024): 172 (B) There shall be subtracted therefrom: 173 (i) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 174 income tax purposes, any income with respect to which taxation by 175 any state is prohibited by federal law; 176 (ii) To the extent allowable under section 12-718, exempt dividends 177 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 7 of 16 paid by a regulated investment company; 178 (iii) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 179 income tax purposes, the amount of any refund or credit for 180 overpayment of income taxes imposed by this state, or any other state 181 of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, or the District of 182 Columbia; 183 (iv) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 184 income tax purposes and not otherwise subtracted from federal 185 adjusted gross income pursuant to clause (x) of this subparagraph in 186 computing Connecticut adjusted gross income, any tier 1 railroad 187 retirement benefits; 188 (v) To the extent any additional allowance for depreciation under 189 Section 168(k) of the Internal Revenue Code for property placed in 190 service after September 27, 2017, was added to federal adjusted gross 191 income pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ix) of this subdivision in 192 computing Connecticut adjusted gross income, twenty-five per cent of 193 such additional allowance for depreciation in each of the four 194 succeeding taxable years; 195 (vi) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 196 income tax purposes, any interest income from obligations issued by or 197 on behalf of the state of Connecticut, any political subdivision thereof, 198 or public instrumentality, state or local authority, district or similar 199 public entity created under the laws of the state of Connecticut; 200 (vii) To the extent properly includable in determining the net gain 201 or loss from the sale or other disposition of capital assets for federal 202 income tax purposes, any gain from the sale or exchange of obligations 203 issued by or on behalf of the state of Connecticut, any political 204 subdivision thereof, or public instrumentality, state or local authority, 205 district or similar public entity created under the laws of the state of 206 Connecticut, in the income year such gain was recognized; 207 (viii) Any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to 208 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 8 of 16 purchase or carry obligations or securities the interest on which is 209 subject to tax under this chapter but exempt from federal income tax, 210 to the extent that such interest on indebtedness is not deductible in 211 determining federal adjusted gross income and is attributable to a 212 trade or business carried on by such individual; 213 (ix) Ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the 214 taxable year for the production or collection of income which is subject 215 to taxation under this chapter but exempt from federal income tax, or 216 the management, conservation or maintenance of property held for the 217 production of such income, and the amortizable bond premium for the 218 taxable year on any bond the interest on which is subject to tax under 219 this chapter but exempt from federal income tax, to the extent that 220 such expenses and premiums are not deductible in determining federal 221 adjusted gross income and are attributable to a trade or business 222 carried on by such individual; 223 (x) (I) For taxable years commencing prior to January 1, 2019, for a 224 person who files a return under the federal income tax as an 225 unmarried individual whose federal adjusted gross income for such 226 taxable year is less than fifty thousand dollars, or as a married 227 individual filing separately whose federal adjusted gross income for 228 such taxable year is less than fifty thousand dollars, or for a husband 229 and wife who file a return under the federal income tax as married 230 individuals filing jointly whose federal adjusted gross income for such 231 taxable year is less than sixty thousand dollars or a person who files a 232 return under the federal income tax as a head of household whose 233 federal adjusted gross income for such taxable year is less than sixty 234 thousand dollars, an amount equal to the Social Security benefits 235 includable for federal income tax purposes; 236 (II) For taxable years commencing prior to January 1, 2019, for a 237 person who files a return under the federal income tax as an 238 unmarried individual whose federal adjusted gross income for such 239 taxable year is fifty thousand dollars or more, or as a married 240 individual filing separately whose federal adjusted gross income for 241 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 9 of 16 such taxable year is fifty thousand dollars or more, or for a husband 242 and wife who file a return under the federal income tax as married 243 individuals filing jointly whose federal adjusted gross income from 244 such taxable year is sixty thousand dollars or more or for a person who 245 files a return under the federal income tax as a head of household 246 whose federal adjusted gross income for such taxable year is sixty 247 thousand dollars or more, an amount equal to the difference between 248 the amount of Social Security benefits includable for federal income tax 249 purposes and the lesser of twenty-five per cent of the Social Security 250 benefits received during the taxable year, or twenty-five per cent of the 251 excess described in Section 86(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code; 252 (III) For the taxable year commencing January 1, 2019, and each 253 taxable year thereafter, for a person who files a return under the 254 federal income tax as an unmarried individual whose federal adjusted 255 gross income for such taxable year is less than seventy-five thousand 256 dollars, or as a married individual filing separately whose federal 257 adjusted gross income for such taxable year is less than seventy-five 258 thousand dollars, or for a husband and wife who file a return under 259 the federal income tax as married individuals filing jointly whose 260 federal adjusted gross income for such taxable year is less than one 261 hundred thousand dollars or a person who files a return under the 262 federal income tax as a head of household whose federal adjusted 263 gross income for such taxable year is less than one hundred thousand 264 dollars, an amount equal to the Social Security benefits includable for 265 federal income tax purposes; and 266 (IV) For the taxable year commencing January 1, 2019, and each 267 taxable year thereafter, for a person who files a return under the 268 federal income tax as an unmarried individual whose federal adjusted 269 gross income for such taxable year is seventy-five thousand dollars or 270 more, or as a married individual filing separately whose federal 271 adjusted gross income for such taxable year is seventy-five thousand 272 dollars or more, or for a husband and wife who file a return under the 273 federal income tax as married individuals filing jointly whose federal 274 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 10 of 16 adjusted gross income from such taxable year is one hundred 275 thousand dollars or more or for a person who files a return under the 276 federal income tax as a head of household whose federal adjusted 277 gross income for such taxable year is one hundred thousand dollars or 278 more, an amount equal to the difference between the amount of Social 279 Security benefits includable for federal income tax purposes and the 280 lesser of twenty-five per cent of the Social Security benefits received 281 during the taxable year, or twenty-five per cent of the excess described 282 in Section 86(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code; 283 (xi) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 284 income tax purposes, any amount rebated to a taxpayer pursuant to 285 section 12-746; 286 (xii) To the extent properly includable in the gross income for 287 federal income tax purposes of a designated beneficiary, any 288 distribution to such beneficiary from any qualified state tuition 289 program, as defined in Section 529(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, 290 established and maintained by this state or any official, agency or 291 instrumentality of the state; 292 (xiii) To the extent allowable under section 12-701a, contributions to 293 accounts established pursuant to any qualified state tuition program, 294 as defined in Section 529(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, established 295 and maintained by this state or any official, agency or instrumentality 296 of the state; 297 (xiv) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 298 income tax purposes, the amount of any Holocaust victims' settlement 299 payment received in the taxable year by a Holocaust victim; 300 (xv) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 301 income tax purposes of an account holder, as defined in section 31-302 51ww, interest earned on funds deposited in the individual 303 development account, as defined in section 31-51ww, of such account 304 holder; 305 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 11 of 16 (xvi) To the extent properly includable in the gross income for 306 federal income tax purposes of a designated beneficiary, as defined in 307 section 3-123aa, interest, dividends or capital gains earned on 308 contributions to accounts established for the designated beneficiary 309 pursuant to the Connecticut Homecare Option Program for the Elderly 310 established by sections 3-123aa to 3-123ff, inclusive; 311 (xvii) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 312 income tax purposes, any income received from the United States 313 government as retirement pay for a retired member of (I) the Armed 314 Forces of the United States, as defined in Section 101 of Title 10 of the 315 United States Code, or (II) the National Guard, as defined in Section 316 101 of Title 10 of the United States Code; 317 (xviii) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 318 income tax purposes for the taxable year, any income from the 319 discharge of indebtedness in connection with any reacquisition, after 320 December 31, 2008, and before January 1, 2011, of an applicable debt 321 instrument or instruments, as those terms are defined in Section 108 of 322 the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by Section 1231 of the 323 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to the extent any 324 such income was added to federal adjusted gross income pursuant to 325 subparagraph (A)(xi) of this subdivision in computing Connecticut 326 adjusted gross income for a preceding taxable year; 327 (xix) To the extent not deductible in determining federal adjusted 328 gross income, the amount of any contribution to a manufacturing 329 reinvestment account established pursuant to section 32-9zz in the 330 taxable year that such contribution is made; 331 (xx) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 332 income tax purposes, (I) for the taxable year commencing January 1, 333 2015, ten per cent of the income received from the state teachers' 334 retirement system, (II) for the taxable years commencing January 1, 335 2016, to January 1, 2020, inclusive, twenty-five per cent of the income 336 received from the state teachers' retirement system, and (III) for the 337 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 12 of 16 taxable year commencing January 1, 2021, and each taxable year 338 thereafter, fifty per cent of the income received from the state teachers' 339 retirement system or, for a taxpayer whose federal adjusted gross 340 income does not exceed the applicable threshold under clause (xxi) of 341 this subparagraph, the percentage pursuant to said clause of the 342 income received from the state teachers' retirement system, whichever 343 deduction is greater; 344 (xxi) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 345 income tax purposes, except for retirement benefits under clause (iv) of 346 this subparagraph and retirement pay under clause (xvii) of this 347 subparagraph, for a person who files a return under the federal income 348 tax as an unmarried individual whose federal adjusted gross income 349 for such taxable year is less than seventy-five thousand dollars, or as a 350 married individual filing separately whose federal adjusted gross 351 income for such taxable year is less than seventy-five thousand dollars, 352 or as a head of household whose federal adjusted gross income for 353 such taxable year is less than seventy-five thousand dollars, or for a 354 husband and wife who file a return under the federal income tax as 355 married individuals filing jointly whose federal adjusted gross income 356 for such taxable year is less than one hundred thousand dollars, (I) for 357 the taxable year commencing January 1, 2019, fourteen per cent of any 358 pension or annuity income, (II) for the taxable year commencing 359 January 1, 2020, twenty-eight per cent of any pension or annuity 360 income, (III) for the taxable year commencing January 1, 2021, forty-361 two per cent of any pension or annuity income, and (IV) for the taxable 362 year commencing January 1, 2022, and each taxable year thereafter, 363 one hundred per cent of any pension or annuity income; 364 (xxii) The amount of lost wages and medical, travel and housing 365 expenses, not to exceed ten thousand dollars in the aggregate, incurred 366 by a taxpayer during the taxable year in connection with the donation 367 to another person of an organ for organ transplantation occurring on 368 or after January 1, 2017; 369 (xxiii) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 370 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 13 of 16 income tax purposes, the amount of any financial assistance received 371 from the Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund or paid to or on 372 behalf of the owner of a residential building pursuant to sections 8-442 373 and 8-443; 374 (xxiv) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 375 income tax purposes, the amount calculated pursuant to subsection (b) 376 of section 12-704g for income received by a general partner of a 377 venture capital fund, as defined in 17 CFR 275.203(l)-1, as amended 378 from time to time; 379 (xxv) To the extent any portion of a deduction under Section 179 of 380 the Internal Revenue Code was added to federal adjusted gross income 381 pursuant to subparagraph (A)(xiv) of this subdivision in computing 382 Connecticut adjusted gross income, twenty-five per cent of such 383 disallowed portion of the deduction in each of the four succeeding 384 taxable years; 385 (xxvi) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 386 income tax purposes, for a person who files a return under the federal 387 income tax as an unmarried individual whose federal adjusted gross 388 income for such taxable year is less than seventy-five thousand dollars, 389 or as a married individual filing separately whose federal adjusted 390 gross income for such taxable year is less than seventy-five thousand 391 dollars, or as a head of household whose federal adjusted gross income 392 for such taxable year is less than seventy-five thousand dollars, or for a 393 husband and wife who file a return under the federal income tax as 394 married individuals filing jointly whose federal adjusted gross income 395 for such taxable year is less than one hundred thousand dollars, (I) for 396 the taxable year commencing January 1, 2023, twenty-five per cent of 397 any distribution from an individual retirement account other than a 398 Roth individual retirement account, (II) for the taxable year 399 commencing January 1, 2024, fifty per cent of any distribution from an 400 individual retirement account other than a Roth individual retirement 401 account, (III) for the taxable year commencing January 1, 2025, 402 seventy-five per cent of any distribution from an individual retirement 403 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 14 of 16 account other than a Roth individual retirement account, and (IV) for 404 the taxable year commencing January 1, 2026, and each taxable year 405 thereafter, any distribution from an individual retirement account 406 other than a Roth individual retirement account; [and] 407 (xxvii) To the extent properly includable in gross income for federal 408 income tax purposes, for the taxable year commencing January 1, 2022, 409 the amount or amounts paid or otherwise credited to any eligible 410 resident of this state under (I) the 2020 Earned Income Tax Credit 411 enhancement program from funding allocated to the state through the 412 Coronavirus Relief Fund established under the Coronavirus Aid, 413 Relief, and Economic Security Act, P.L. 116-136, and (II) the 2021 414 Earned Income Tax Credit enhancement program from funding 415 allocated to the state pursuant to Section 9901 of Subtitle M of Title IX 416 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2; and 417 (xxviii) To the extent not deductible in determining federal adjusted 418 gross income, and to the extent allowable under section 7 of this act, 419 the amount of interest paid during the taxable year on a student loan. 420 Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2024, and applicable to taxable years 421 commencing on or after January 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes of this 422 section: 423 (1) "Qualified student loan" means a loan taken out solely to pay 424 qualified education expenses (A) for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's 425 spouse or a person who was a dependent of the taxpayer at the time 426 when the taxpayer took out the loan, (B) paid or incurred within a 427 reasonable period of time before or after the taxpayer took out the 428 loan, (C) from a private or governmental lender, and (D) for education 429 provided during an academic period for an eligible student; 430 (2) "Qualified education expenses" means the total costs of attending 431 an eligible institution of higher education, including graduate school, 432 and includes amounts paid for the following items: (A) Tuition and 433 fees; (B) room and board, provided the cost of room and board 434 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 15 of 16 qualifies only to the extent that it is not more than the greater of (i) the 435 allowance for room and board, as determined by the eligible 436 institution of higher education, that was included in the cost of 437 attendance for a particular academic period and living arrangement of 438 the student, or (ii) the actual amount charged if the student is residing 439 in housing owned or operated by the eligible institution of higher 440 education; (C) books, supplies and equipment; and (D) other necessary 441 expenses, including, but not limited to, transportation; 442 (3) "Eligible institution of higher education" means any institution of 443 higher education that is eligible to participate in a student aid program 444 administered by the United States Department of Education; and 445 (4) "Eligible student" means a student who is or was enrolled at least 446 part time in a certificate or degree program at an eligible institution of 447 higher education. 448 (b) The maximum annual modificat ion under subparagraph 449 (B)(xxviii) of subdivision (20) of subsection (a) of section 12-701 of the 450 general statutes, as amended by this act, shall be equal to the amount 451 of interest paid on a qualified student loan, but shall not exceed two 452 thousand five hundred dollars for each taxpayer, provided (1) the 453 taxpayer's filing status is any filing status except married filing 454 separately, (2) the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income is not 455 more than seventy-five thousand dollars for taxpayers whose filing 456 status is single, head of household or qualifying widow or widower or 457 not more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars for taxpayers whose 458 filing status is married filing jointly, (3) no other person is claiming an 459 exemption for the taxpayer on such other person's return, (4) the 460 taxpayer is legally obligated to pay interest on a qualified student loan, 461 and (5) the taxpayer paid interest on a qualified student loan. 462 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 July 1, 2023 10a-174 Substitute Bill No. 8 LCO {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00008- R02-SB.docx } 16 of 16 Sec. 2 July 1, 2023 New section Sec. 3 July 1, 2023 New section Sec. 4 July 1, 2023 New section Sec. 5 July 1, 2023 New section Sec. 6 January 1, 2024 12-701(a)(20)(B) Sec. 7 January 1, 2024, and applicable to taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2024 New section Statement of Legislative Commissioners: In Section 7(b), "subparagraph (B)(xxiii)" was changed to "subparagraph (B)(xxviii)" for accuracy. HED Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO