LCO No. 4307 1 of 42 General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1028 January Session, 2023 LCO No. 4307 Referred to Committee on EDUCATION Introduced by: (ED) AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 10-262u of the 1 general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2 thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 3 (a) As used in this section and section 10-262i: 4 (1) "Alliance district" means (A) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 5 2012, to June 30, 2027, inclusive, a school district for a town that [(A)] (i) 6 is among the towns with the thirty-three lowest accountability index 7 scores, as calculated by the Department of Education, or [(B)] (ii) was 8 previously designated as an alliance district by the Commissioner of 9 Education, [for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2022, 10 inclusive] and (B) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal 11 year thereafter, a school district for a town that is among the towns with 12 the thirty-three lowest accountability index scores, as calculated by the 13 Department of Education. 14 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 2 of 42 (2) "Accountability index" has the same meaning as provided in 15 section 10-223e. 16 (3) "Mastery test data of record" has the same meaning as provided 17 in section 10-262f. 18 (4) "Educational reform district" means an alliance district that is 19 among the ten lowest accountability index scores when all towns are 20 ranked highest to lowest in accountability index scores. 21 (b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, the Commissioner of 22 Education shall designate thirty school districts as alliance districts. Any 23 school district designated as an alliance district shall be so designated 24 for a period of five years. On or before June 30, 2016, the Department of 25 Education shall determine if there are any additional alliance districts. 26 (2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, the commissioner shall 27 designate thirty-three school districts as alliance districts. Any school 28 district designated as an alliance district shall be so designated for a 29 period of five years. 30 (3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the commissioner shall 31 designate thirty-six school districts as alliance districts. Any school 32 district designated as an alliance district shall be so designated for a 33 period of five years. 34 (4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and every five years 35 thereafter, the commissioner shall designate thirty-three school districts 36 as alliance districts. Any school district designated as an alliance district 37 shall be so designated for a period of five years. Any school district that 38 was previously designated as an alliance district, but is no longer among 39 the towns with the thirty-three lowest accountability index scores, as 40 calculated by the Department of Education, shall retain the designation 41 for the purposes of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section and 42 section 10-262h, as amended by this act. 43 (c) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, [and each fiscal year 44 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 3 of 42 thereafter,] the Comptroller shall withhold from any town that (A) was 45 designated as an alliance district pursuant to subdivision (2) of 46 subsection (b) of this section any increase in funds received over the 47 amount the town received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, 48 pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-262i, and (B) was designated as 49 an alliance district for the first time pursuant to subdivision (3) of 50 subsection (b) of this section, any increase in funds received over the 51 amount the town received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, 52 pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-262i. For the fiscal year ending 53 June 30, 2024, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Comptroller shall 54 withhold from any town that was designated as an alliance district 55 pursuant to subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection (b) of this section any 56 increase in funds received over the amount the town received for the 57 fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-58 262i. The Comptroller shall transfer such funds to the Commissioner of 59 Education. 60 (2) Upon receipt of an application pursuant to subsection (d) of this 61 section or section 10-156gg, the Commissioner of Education may pay 62 such funds to the town designated as an alliance district and such town 63 shall pay all such funds to the local or regional board of education for 64 such town on the condition that such funds shall be expended in 65 accordance with (A) the plan described in subsection (d) of this section, 66 (B) the minority candidate certification, retention or residency year 67 program pursuant to section 10-156gg, (C) the provisions of subsection 68 (c) of section 10-262i, and (D) any guidelines developed by the State 69 Board of Education for such funds. Such funds shall be used to improve 70 student achievement and recruit and retain minority teachers in such 71 alliance district and to offset any other local education costs approved 72 by the commissioner. 73 Sec. 2. Subsections (j) to (l), inclusive, of section 10-262h of the general 74 statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 75 (Effective July 1, 2023): 76 (j) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, each town maintaining 77 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 4 of 42 public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 78 grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 79 its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 80 entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 81 funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 82 equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 83 entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 84 equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus thirty-85 three and thirty-three-one-hundredths per cent of its grant adjustment; 86 and (3) any town designated as an alliance district and any town that 87 was previously designated as an alliance district pursuant to section 10-88 262u, as amended by this act, shall be entitled to an equalization aid 89 grant in an amount that is the greater of (A) the amount described in 90 either subdivision (1) of this subsection or subdivision (2) of this 91 subsection, as applicable, (B) its base grant amount, or (C) its 92 equalization aid grant entitlement for the previous fiscal year. 93 (k) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, each town maintaining 94 public schools according to law shall be entitled to an equalization aid 95 grant as follows: (1) Any town whose fully funded grant is greater than 96 its equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 97 entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 98 funded grant; (2) any town whose fully funded grant is less than its 99 equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year shall be 100 entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its 101 equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year minus fifty 102 per cent of its grant adjustment; and (3) any town designated as an 103 alliance district and any town that was previously designated as an 104 alliance district pursuant to section 10-262u, as amended by this act, 105 shall be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount that is the 106 greater of (A) the amount described in either subdivision (1) of this 107 subsection or subdivision (2) of this subsection, as applicable, (B) its base 108 grant amount, or (C) its equalization aid grant entitlement for the 109 previous fiscal year. 110 (l) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 111 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 5 of 42 thereafter, each town maintaining public schools according to law shall 112 be entitled to an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to its fully 113 funded grant, except any town designated as an alliance district and any 114 town that was previously designated as an alliance district pursuant to 115 section 10-262u, as amended by this act, shall be entitled to an 116 equalization aid grant in an amount that is the greater of (1) its fully 117 funded grant, (2) its base grant amount, or (3) its equalization aid grant 118 entitlement for the previous fiscal year. 119 Sec. 3. Section 10-151b of the general statutes is repealed and the 120 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 121 (a) The superintendent of each local or regional board of education 122 shall annually evaluate or cause to be evaluated each teacher, and for 123 the school year commencing July 1, [2013] 2023, and each school year 124 thereafter, such annual evaluations shall be the teacher evaluation and 125 support program adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. The 126 superintendent may conduct additional formative evaluations toward 127 producing an annual summative evaluation. An evaluation pursuant to 128 this subsection shall include, but need not be limited to, strengths, areas 129 needing improvement, strategies for improvement and multiple 130 indicators of student academic growth. Claims of failure to follow the 131 established procedures of such teacher evaluation and support program 132 shall be subject to the grievance procedure in collective bargaining 133 agreements negotiated subsequent to July 1, 2004. In the event that a 134 teacher does not receive a summative evaluation during the school year, 135 such teacher shall receive a "not rated" designation for such school year. 136 The superintendent shall report (1) the status of teacher evaluations to 137 the local or regional board of education on or before June first of each 138 year, and (2) the status of the implementation of the teacher evaluation 139 and support program, including the frequency of evaluations, aggregate 140 evaluation ratings, the number of teachers who have not been evaluated 141 and other requirements as determined by the Department of Education, 142 to the Commissioner of Education on or before September fifteenth of 143 each year. For purposes of this section, the term "teacher" shall include 144 each professional employee of a board of education, below the rank of 145 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 6 of 42 superintendent, who holds a certificate or permit issued by the State 146 Board of Education. 147 (b) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, not later than 148 [September 1, 2013] October first of each year, each local and regional 149 board of education shall adopt and implement a teacher evaluation and 150 support program that is consistent with the guidelines for a model 151 teacher evaluation and support program adopted by the State Board of 152 Education, pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Such teacher 153 evaluation and support program shall be developed through mutual 154 agreement between the local or regional board of education and the 155 professional development and evaluation committee for the school 156 district, established pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-220a. If a 157 local or regional board of education is unable to develop a teacher 158 evaluation and support program through mutual agreement with such 159 professional development and evaluation committee, then such board 160 of education and such professional development and evaluation 161 committee shall consider the model teacher evaluation and support 162 program adopted by the State Board of Education, pursuant to 163 subsection (c) of this section, and such board of education may adopt, 164 through mutual agreement with such professional development and 165 evaluation committee, such model teacher evaluation and support 166 program. If a local or regional board of education and the professional 167 development and evaluation committee are unable to mutually agree on 168 the adoption of such model teacher evaluation and support program, 169 then such board of education shall adopt and implement a teacher 170 evaluation and support program developed by such board of education, 171 provided such teacher evaluation and support program is consistent 172 with the guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education, pursuant 173 to subsection (c) of this section. Each local and regional board of 174 education may commence implementation of the teacher evaluation and 175 support program adopted pursuant to this subsection in accordance 176 with a teacher evaluation and support program implementation plan 177 adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. 178 (c) (1) On or before July 1, [2012] 2023, the State Board of Education 179 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 7 of 42 shall adopt, in consultation with the Performance Evaluation Advisory 180 Council established pursuant to section 10-151d, guidelines for a model 181 teacher evaluation and support program. Such guidelines shall include, 182 but not be limited to, (A) the use of [four] performance evaluations 183 designators; [: Exemplary, proficient, developing and below standard;] 184 (B) the use of multiple indicators of student academic growth and 185 development in teacher evaluations; (C) methods for assessing student 186 academic growth and development; (D) a consideration of control 187 factors tracked by the state-wide public school information system, 188 pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-10a, that may influence teacher 189 performance ratings, including, but not limited to, student 190 characteristics, student attendance and student mobility; (E) minimum 191 requirements for teacher evaluation instruments and procedures, 192 including scoring systems to determine [exemplary, proficient, 193 developing and below standard] summative ratings; (F) the 194 development and implementation of periodic training programs 195 regarding the teacher evaluation and support program to be offered by 196 the local or regional board of education or regional educational service 197 center for the school district to teachers who are employed by such local 198 or regional board of education and whose performance is being 199 evaluated and to administrators who are employed by such local or 200 regional board of education and who are conducting performance 201 evaluations; (G) the provision of professional development services 202 based on the individual or group of individuals' needs that are 203 identified through the evaluation process; (H) the creation of individual 204 teacher improvement and remediation plans for teachers whose 205 [performance is developing or below standard] summative rating 206 demonstrates a need for additional support to meet criteria established 207 for educator practice and performance or student academic growth and 208 development, designed in consultation with such teacher and his or her 209 exclusive bargaining representative for certified teachers chosen 210 pursuant to section 10-153b, and that (i) identify resources, support and 211 other strategies to be provided by the local or regional board of 212 education to address documented deficiencies, (ii) indicate a timeline 213 for implementing such resources, support, and other strategies, in the 214 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 8 of 42 course of the same school year as the plan is issued, and (iii) include 215 indicators of success including a summative rating of proficient or better 216 immediately at the conclusion of the improvement and remediation 217 plan; (I) opportunities for career development and professional growth; 218 and (J) a validation procedure to audit [evaluation] summative ratings 219 [of exemplary or below standard] by the department or a third-party 220 entity approved by the department. 221 (2) The State Board of Education [shall, following the completion of 222 the teacher evaluation and support pilot program, pursuant to section 223 10-151f, and the submission of the study of such pilot program, 224 pursuant to section 10-151g, review and] may revise, as necessary, the 225 guidelines for a model teacher evaluation and support program and the 226 model teacher evaluation and support program adopted under this 227 subsection. 228 (d) A local or regional board of education may phase in full 229 implementation of the teacher evaluation and support program adopted 230 pursuant to subsection (b) of this section during the school years 231 commencing July 1, [2013] 2023, and July 1, [2014] 2024, pursuant to a 232 teacher evaluation and support program implementation plan adopted 233 by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Performance 234 Evaluation Advisory Council, not later than July 1, [2013] 2023. The 235 Commissioner of Education may, upon request of a local or regional 236 board of education, waive the provisions of subsection (b) of this section 237 and the implementation plan provisions of this subsection for [any local 238 or regional board of education that has expressed an intent, not later 239 than July 1, 2013,] any such board, provided such board submits an 240 explanation for why such board would like to adopt [a] an alternate 241 teacher evaluation program. [for which such board requests a waiver in 242 accordance with this subsection.] 243 Sec. 4. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 10-264l of the general statutes 244 are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 245 1, 2023): 246 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 9 of 42 (a) The Department of Education shall, within available 247 appropriations, establish a grant program (1) to assist (A) local and 248 regional boards of education, (B) regional educational service centers, 249 (C) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on 250 behalf of Quinebaug Valley Community College and Three Rivers 251 Community College, and (D) cooperative arrangements pursuant to 252 section 10-158a, and (2) in assisting the state in meeting its obligations 253 pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any 254 related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 255 commissioner, to assist (A) the Board of Trustees of the Community-256 Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, 257 (B) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on 258 behalf of a state university, (C) the Board of Trustees of The University 259 of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (D) the board of governors 260 for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in 261 subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on 262 behalf of the independent institution of higher education, and (E) any 263 other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the 264 commissioner with the operation of interdistrict magnet school 265 programs. All interdistrict magnet schools shall be operated in 266 conformance with the same laws and regulations applicable to public 267 schools. For the purposes of this section "an interdistrict magnet school 268 program" means a program which (i) supports racial, ethnic and 269 economic diversity, (ii) offers a special and high quality curriculum, and 270 (iii) requires students who are enrolled to attend at least half-time. An 271 interdistrict magnet school program does not include a regional 272 agricultural science and technology school, a technical education and 273 career school or a regional special education center. For the school 274 [years] year commencing July 1, 2017, [to July 1, 2023, inclusive] and 275 each school year thereafter, the governing authority for each 276 interdistrict magnet school program shall (I) restrict the number of 277 students that may enroll in the school from a participating district to 278 seventy-five per cent of the total school enrollment, and (II) maintain a 279 total school enrollment that is in accordance with the reduced-isolation 280 setting standards for interdistrict magnet school programs, developed 281 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 10 of 42 by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to section 10-264r, as 282 amended by this act. 283 (b) (1) Applications for interdistrict magnet school program 284 operating grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be submitted 285 annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such 286 manner as the commissioner prescribes, except that on and after July 1, 287 2009, applications for such operating grants for new interdistrict magnet 288 schools, other than those that the commissioner determines will assist 289 the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. 290 O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, 291 as determined by the commissioner, shall not be accepted until the 292 commissioner develops a comprehensive state-wide interdistrict 293 magnet school plan. The commissioner shall submit such 294 comprehensive state-wide interdistrict magnet school plan on or before 295 October 1, 2016, to the joint standing committees of the General 296 Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and 297 appropriations. 298 (2) In determining whether an application shall be approved and 299 funds awarded pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall 300 consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to: (A) Whether the 301 program offered by the school is likely to increase student achievement; 302 (B) whether the program is likely to reduce racial, ethnic and economic 303 isolation; (C) the percentage of the student enrollment in the program 304 from each participating district; and (D) the proposed operating budget 305 and the sources of funding for the interdistrict magnet school. For a 306 magnet school not operated by a local or regional board of education, 307 the commissioner shall only approve a proposed operating budget that, 308 on a per pupil basis, does not exceed the maximum allowable threshold 309 established in accordance with this subdivision. The maximum 310 allowable threshold shall be an amount equal to one hundred twenty 311 per cent of the state average of the quotient obtained by dividing net 312 current expenditures, as defined in section 10-261, by average daily 313 membership, as defined in said section, for the fiscal year two years 314 prior to the fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. The 315 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 11 of 42 Department of Education shall establish the maximum allowable 316 threshold no later than December fifteenth of the fiscal year prior to the 317 fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. If requested by an 318 applicant that is not a local or regional board of education, the 319 commissioner may approve a proposed operating budget that exceeds 320 the maximum allowable threshold if the commissioner determines that 321 there are extraordinary programmatic needs. For the fiscal years ending 322 June 30, 2017, June 30, 2018, June 30, 2020, and June 30, 2021, in the case 323 of an interdistrict magnet school that will assist the state in meeting its 324 obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 325 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 326 commissioner, the commissioner shall also consider whether the school 327 is meeting the reduced-isolation setting standards for interdistrict 328 magnet school programs, developed by the commissioner pursuant to 329 section 10-264r, as amended by this act. If such school has not met such 330 reduced-isolation setting standards, it shall not be entitled to receive a 331 grant pursuant to this section unless the commissioner finds that it is 332 appropriate to award a grant for an additional year or years and 333 approves a plan to bring such school into compliance with such 334 reduced-isolation setting standards. If requested by the commissioner, 335 the applicant shall meet with the commissioner or the commissioner's 336 designee to discuss the budget and sources of funding. 337 (3) For the fiscal [years] year ending June 30, 2018, [to June 30, 2023, 338 inclusive] and each fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner shall not 339 award a grant to an interdistrict magnet school program that (A) has 340 more than seventy-five per cent of the total school enrollment from one 341 school district, or (B) does not maintain a total school enrollment that is 342 in accordance with the reduced-isolation setting standards for 343 interdistrict magnet school programs, developed by the Commissioner 344 of Education pursuant to section 10-264r, as amended by this act, except 345 the commissioner may award a grant to such school for an additional 346 year or years if the commissioner finds it is appropriate to do so and 347 approves a plan to bring such school into compliance with such 348 residency or reduced-isolation setting standards. 349 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 12 of 42 (4) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, to June 30, 2021, 350 inclusive, if an interdistrict magnet school program does not maintain a 351 total school enrollment that is in accordance with the reduced-isolation 352 setting standards for interdistrict magnet school programs, developed 353 by the commissioner pursuant to section 10-264r, as amended by this 354 act, for two or more consecutive years, the commissioner may impose a 355 financial penalty on the operator of such interdistrict magnet school 356 program, or take any other measure, in consultation with such operator, 357 as may be appropriate to assist such operator in complying with such 358 reduced-isolation setting standards. 359 Sec. 5. Subparagraph (C) of subdivision (3) of subsection (c) of section 360 10-264l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is 361 substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 362 (C) (i) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2019, 363 inclusive, each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional 364 educational service center that began operations for the school year 365 commencing July 1, 2001, and that for the school year commencing July 366 1, 2008, enrolled at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than eighty per 367 cent of the school's students from a single town, shall receive a per pupil 368 grant (I) for each enrolled student who is a resident of the district that 369 enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than eighty per cent of the 370 school's students, up to an amount equal to the total number of such 371 enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the 372 amount of eight thousand one hundred eighty dollars, (II) for each 373 enrolled student who is a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-374 five per cent, but not more than eighty per cent of the school's students, 375 in an amount greater than the total number of such enrolled students as 376 of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the amount of three 377 thousand dollars, (III) for each enrolled student who is not a resident of 378 the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than 379 eighty per cent of the school's students, up to an amount equal to the 380 total number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the 381 data of record, in the amount of eight thousand one hundred eighty 382 dollars, and (IV) for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the 383 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 13 of 42 district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but not more than eighty 384 per cent of the school's students, in an amount greater than the total 385 number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the data 386 of record, in the amount of seven thousand eighty-five dollars. 387 (ii) For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2020, [and each fiscal 388 year thereafter] to June 30, 2023, each interdistrict magnet school 389 operated by a regional educational service center that began operations 390 for the school year commencing July 1, 2001, and that for the school year 391 commencing July 1, 2008, enrolled at least fifty-five per cent, but not 392 more than eighty per cent of the school's students from a single town, 393 shall receive a per pupil grant (I) for each enrolled student who is a 394 resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but not 395 more than eighty per cent of the school's students, up to an amount 396 equal to the total number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, 397 using the data of record, in the amount of eight thousand three hundred 398 forty-four dollars, (II) for each enrolled student who is a resident of the 399 district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but not more than eighty 400 per cent of the school's students, in an amount greater than the total 401 number of such enrolled students as of October 1, 2013, using the data 402 of record, in the amount of three thousand sixty dollars, (III) for each 403 enrolled student who is not a resident of the district that enrolls at least 404 fifty-five per cent, but no more than eighty per cent of the school's 405 students, up to an amount equal to the total number of such enrolled 406 students as of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the amount 407 of eight thousand three hundred forty-four dollars, and (IV) for each 408 enrolled student who is not a resident of the district that enrolls at least 409 fifty-five per cent, but not more than eighty per cent of the school's 410 students, in an amount greater than the total number of such enrolled 411 students as of October 1, 2013, using the data of record, in the amount 412 of seven thousand two hundred twenty-seven dollars. 413 Sec. 6. Subsection (o) of section 10-264l of the general statutes is 414 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 415 2023): 416 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 14 of 42 (o) For the school years commencing July 1, 2009, to July 1, 2018, 417 inclusive, and for the school year commencing July 1, 2023, and each 418 school year thereafter, any local or regional board of education 419 operating an interdistrict magnet school pursuant to the decision in 420 Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order 421 in effect, shall not charge tuition for any student enrolled in a preschool 422 program or in kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, in an interdistrict 423 magnet school operated by such school district, except the Hartford 424 school district may charge tuition for any student enrolled in the Great 425 Path Academy. 426 Sec. 7. Section 10-264r of the general statutes is repealed and the 427 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 428 Not later than July 1, 2017, the Commissioner of Education shall 429 develop reduced-isolation [setting] enrollment standards for 430 interdistrict magnet school programs that shall serve as the enrollment 431 requirements for purposes of section 10-264l, as amended by this act. 432 Such standards shall (1) comply with the decision of Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 433 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, for an 434 interdistrict magnet school program located in the Sheff region, (2) 435 define the term "reduced-isolation student" for purposes of the 436 standards, [(2)] (3) establish a requirement for the minimum percentage 437 of reduced-isolation students that can be enrolled in an interdistrict 438 magnet school program, provided such minimum percentage is not less 439 than twenty per cent of the total school enrollment, [(3)] (4) allow an 440 interdistrict magnet school program to have a total school enrollment of 441 reduced-isolation students that is not more than one per cent below the 442 minimum percentage established by the commissioner, provided the 443 commissioner approves a plan that is designed to bring the number of 444 reduced-isolation students of such interdistrict magnet school program 445 into compliance with the minimum percentage, and [(4)] (5) for the 446 school year commencing July 1, 2018, authorize the commissioner to 447 establish on or before May 1, 2018, and revise as necessary thereafter, an 448 alternative reduced-isolation student enrollment percentage for an 449 interdistrict magnet school program located in the Sheff region, as 450 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 15 of 42 defined in subsection (k) of section 10-264l, provided the commissioner 451 (A) determines that such alternative (i) increases opportunities for 452 students who are residents of Hartford to access an educational setting 453 with reduced racial isolation or other categories of diversity, including, 454 but not limited to, geography, socioeconomic status, special education, 455 English language learners and academic achievement, (ii) complies with 456 the decision of Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 457 stipulation or order in effect, and (B) approves a plan for such 458 interdistrict magnet school program that is designed to bring the 459 number of reduced-isolation students of such interdistrict magnet 460 school program into compliance with such alternative or the minimum 461 percentage described in subdivision (2) of this section. Not later than 462 May 1, 2018, the commissioner shall submit a report on each alternative 463 reduced-isolation student enrollment percentage established, pursuant 464 to subdivision (4) of this section, for an interdistrict magnet school 465 program located in the Sheff region to the joint standing committee of 466 the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 467 education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. The 468 reduced-isolation setting standards for interdistrict magnet school 469 programs shall not be deemed to be regulations, as defined in section 4-470 166. 471 Sec. 8. Section 10-262s of the general statutes is repealed and the 472 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 473 (a) The Commissioner of Education may, to assist the state in meeting 474 its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 475 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 476 Commissioner of Education, transfer funds appropriated for the Sheff 477 settlement to the following: (1) Grants for interdistrict cooperative 478 programs pursuant to section 10-74d, (2) grants for state charter schools 479 pursuant to section 10-66ee, (3) grants for the interdistrict public school 480 attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa, (4) grants for 481 interdistrict magnet schools pursuant to section 10-264l, as amended by 482 this act, and (5) to the Technical Education and Career System for 483 programming. 484 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 16 of 42 (b) The Commissioner of Education may, to assist the state in meeting 485 its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 486 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 487 Commissioner of Education, award grants with funds appropriated for 488 the Sheff settlement for academic and social student support programs 489 for the following voluntary interdistrict programs: (1) Interdistrict 490 cooperative programs pursuant to section 10-74d, (2) the interdistrict 491 public school attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa, (3) 492 interdistrict magnet school programs pursuant to section 10-264l, as 493 amended by this act, and (4) the Technical Education and Career 494 System. 495 Sec. 9. Section 10-15f of the general statutes is repealed and the 496 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 497 Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military 498 Children. 499 ARTICLE I 500 PURPOSE 501 It is the purpose of this compact to remove barriers to educational 502 success imposed on children of military families because of frequent 503 moves and deployment of their parents by: 504 A. Facilitating the timely enrollment of children of military families 505 and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty 506 in the transfer of education records from the previous school districts or 507 variations in entrance or age requirements. 508 B. Facilitating the student placement process through which children 509 of military families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance 510 requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content or 511 assessment. 512 C. Facilitating the qualification and eligibility for enrollment, 513 educational programs, and participation in extracurricular academic, 514 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 17 of 42 athletic, and social activities. 515 D. Facilitating the on-time graduation of children of military families. 516 E. Providing for the promulgation and enforcement of administrative 517 rules implementing the provisions of this compact. 518 F. Providing for the uniform collection and sharing of information 519 between and among member states, schools and military families under 520 this compact. 521 G. Promoting coordination between this compact and other compacts 522 affecting military children. 523 H. Promoting flexibility and cooperation between the educational 524 system, parents and the student in order to achieve educational success 525 for the student. 526 ARTICLE II 527 DEFINITIONS 528 As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different 529 construction: 530 A. "Active duty" means full-time duty status in the active uniformed 531 service of the United States, including members of the National Guard 532 and Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10 USC [Section] 533 Chapters 1209 and 1211. 534 B. "Children of military families" means school-aged children, 535 enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade, in the household of an 536 active duty member. 537 C. "Compact commissioner" means the voting representative of each 538 compacting state appointed pursuant to Article VIII of this compact. 539 D. "Deployment" means the period one month prior to the service 540 members' departure from their home station on military orders to six 541 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 18 of 42 months after return to their home station. 542 E. "Educational records" means the official records, files, and data 543 directly related to a student and maintained by the school or local 544 education agency, including, but not limited, to records encompassing 545 all the material kept in the student's cumulative folder such as general 546 identifying data, records of attendance and of academic work 547 completed, records of achievement and results of evaluative tests, health 548 data, disciplinary status, test protocols and individualized education 549 programs. 550 F. "Extracurricular activities" means a voluntary activity sponsored 551 by the school or local education agency or an organization sanctioned 552 by the local education agency. Extracurricular activities include, but are 553 not limited to, preparation for and involvement in public performances, 554 contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays and club 555 activities. 556 G. "Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military 557 Children" means the commission that is created under Article IX of this 558 compact, which is generally referred to as the Interstate Commission. 559 H. "Local education agency" means a public authority legally 560 constituted by the state as an administrative agency to provide control 561 of and direction for kindergarten through twelfth grade public 562 educational institutions. 563 I. "Member state" means a state that has enacted this compact. 564 J. "Military installation" means a base, camp, post, station, yard, 565 center, homeport facility for any ship, or other activity under the 566 jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, including any leased facility, 567 which is located within any of the several states, the District of 568 Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, 569 Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands and any other 570 U.S. Territory. Such term does not include any facility used primarily 571 for civil works, rivers and harbors projects, or flood control projects. 572 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 19 of 42 K. "Nonmember state" means a state that has not enacted this 573 compact. 574 L. "Receiving state" means the state to which a child of a military 575 family is sent, brought or caused to be sent or brought. 576 M. "Rule" means a written statement by the Interstate Commission 577 promulgated pursuant to Article XII of this compact that is of general 578 applicability, implements, interprets or prescribes a policy or provision 579 of the compact, or an organizational, procedural or practice requirement 580 of the Interstate Commission, and has the force and effect of statutory 581 law in a member state, and includes the amendment, repeal or 582 suspension of an existing rule. 583 N. "Sending state" means the state from which a child of a military 584 family is sent, brought or caused to be sent or brought. 585 O. "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, 586 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 587 American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands and any other U.S. 588 territory. 589 P. "Student" means the child of a military family for whom the local 590 education agency receives public funding and who is formally enrolled 591 in kindergarten through twelfth grade. 592 Q. "Transition" means (1) the formal and physical process of 593 transferring from school to school, or (2) the period of time in which a 594 student moves from one school in the sending state to another school in 595 the receiving state. 596 R. "Uniformed services" means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine 597 Corps, Coast Guard as well as the Commissioned Corps of the National 598 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Public Health Services. 599 S. "Veteran" means a person who served in the uniformed services 600 and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other 601 than dishonorable. 602 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 20 of 42 ARTICLE III 603 APPLICABILITY 604 A. Except as otherwise provided in Section B, this compact shall 605 apply to the children of: 606 1. Active duty members of the uniformed services as defined in this 607 compact, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on 608 active duty orders pursuant to 10 USC [Section] Chapters 1209 and 1211; 609 2. Members or veterans of the uniformed services who are severely 610 injured and medically discharged or retired for a period of one year after 611 medical discharge or retirement; and 612 3. Members of the uniformed services who die on active duty or as a 613 result of injuries sustained on active duty for a period of one year after 614 death. 615 B. The provisions of this interstate compact shall only apply to local 616 education agencies as defined in this compact. 617 C. The provisions of this compact shall not apply to the children of: 618 1. Inactive members of the National Guard and military reserves; 619 2. Members of the uniformed services now retired, except as 620 provided in Section A; 621 3. Veterans of the uniformed services, except as provided in Section 622 A of this Article; and 623 4. Other U.S. Dept. of Defense personnel and other federal agency 624 civilian and contract employees not defined as active duty members of 625 the uniformed services. 626 ARTICLE IV 627 EDUCATIONAL RECORDS & ENROLLMENT 628 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 21 of 42 A. In the event that official education records cannot be released to 629 the parents for the purpose of transfer, the custodian of the records in 630 the sending state shall prepare and furnish to the parent a complete set 631 of unofficial educational records containing uniform information as 632 determined by the Interstate Commission. Upon receipt of the unofficial 633 education records by a school in the receiving state, the school shall 634 enroll and appropriately place the student based on the information 635 provided in the unofficial records pending validation by the official 636 records, as quickly as possible. 637 B. Simultaneous with the enrollment and conditional placement of 638 the student, the school in the receiving state shall request the student's 639 official education record from the school in the sending state. Upon 640 receipt of this request, the school in the sending state will process and 641 furnish the official education records to the school in the receiving state 642 within ten days or within such time as is reasonably determined under 643 the rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission. 644 C. Compacting states shall give thirty days from the date of 645 enrollment or within such time as is reasonably determined under the 646 rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission, for students to obtain 647 any immunizations required by the receiving state. For a series of 648 immunizations, initial vaccinations must be obtained within thirty days 649 or within such time as is reasonably determined under the rules 650 promulgated by the Interstate Commission. 651 D. Students shall be allowed to continue their enrollment at grade 652 level in the receiving state commensurate with their grade level, 653 including kindergarten, from a local education agency in the sending 654 state at the time of transition, regardless of age. A student that has 655 satisfactorily completed the prerequisite grade level in the local 656 education agency in the sending state shall be eligible for enrollment in 657 the next highest grade level in the receiving state, regardless of age. A 658 student transferring after the start of the school year in the receiving 659 state shall enter the school in the receiving state on their validated level 660 from an accredited school in the sending state. 661 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 22 of 42 ARTICLE V 662 PLACEMENT & ATTENDANCE 663 A. When the student transfers before or during the school year, the 664 receiving state school shall initially honor placement of the student in 665 educational courses based on the student's enrollment in the sending 666 state school and educational assessments conducted at the school in the 667 sending state if the courses are offered. Course placement includes, but 668 is not limited to, honors, International Baccalaureate, advanced 669 placement, vocational, technical and career pathways courses. 670 Continuing the student's academic program from the previous school 671 and promoting placement in academically and career challenging 672 courses should be paramount when considering placement. This does 673 not preclude the school in the receiving state from performing 674 subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement and continued 675 enrollment of the student in the courses. 676 B. The receiving state school shall initially honor placement of the 677 student in educational programs based on current educational 678 assessments conducted at the school in the sending state or participation 679 and placement in like programs in the sending state. Such programs 680 include, but are not limited to: (1) Gifted and talented programs; and (2) 681 English as a second language. This does not preclude the school in the 682 receiving state from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure 683 appropriate placement of the student. 684 C. (1) In compliance with the federal requirements of the Individuals 685 with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C.A. Section 1400 et seq., the 686 receiving state shall initially provide comparable services to a student 687 with disabilities based on his current individualized education 688 program; and (2) In compliance with the requirements of Section 504 of 689 the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C.A. Section 794, and with Title II of the 690 Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.A. Sections 12131-12165, the 691 receiving state shall make reasonable accommodations and 692 modifications to address the needs of incoming students with 693 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 23 of 42 disabilities, subject to an existing 504 or Title II Plan, to provide the 694 student with equal access to education. This does not preclude the 695 school in the receiving state from performing subsequent evaluations to 696 ensure appropriate placement of the student. 697 D. Local education agency administrative officials shall have 698 flexibility in waiving course and program prerequisites, or other 699 preconditions for placement in courses and programs offered under the 700 jurisdiction of the local education agency. 701 E. A student whose parent or legal guardian is an active duty member 702 of the uniformed services, as defined by the compact, and has been 703 called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from 704 deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be 705 granted additional excused absences at the discretion of the local 706 education agency superintendent to visit with his parent or legal 707 guardian relative to such leave or deployment of the parent or guardian. 708 ARTICLE VI 709 ELIGIBILITY 710 A. Eligibility for enrollment 711 1. Special power of attorney, relative to the guardianship of a child of 712 a military family and executed under applicable law shall be sufficient 713 for the purposes of enrollment and all other actions requiring parental 714 participation and consent. 715 2. A local education agency shall be prohibited from charging local 716 tuition to a transitioning military child placed in the care of a 717 noncustodial parent or other person standing in loco parentis who lives 718 in a jurisdiction other than that of the custodial parent. 719 3. A transitioning military child, placed in the care of a noncustodial 720 parent or other person standing in loco parentis who lives in a 721 jurisdiction other than that of the custodial parent, may continue to 722 attend the school in which he was enrolled while residing with the 723 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 24 of 42 custodial parent. 724 B. State and local education agencies shall facilitate the opportunity 725 for transitioning military children's inclusion in extracurricular 726 activities, regardless of application deadlines, to the extent they are 727 otherwise qualified. 728 ARTICLE VII 729 GRADUATION 730 In order to facilitate the on-time graduation of children of military 731 families states and local education agencies shall incorporate the 732 following procedures: 733 A. Local education agency administrative officials shall waive 734 specific courses required for graduation if similar course work has been 735 satisfactorily completed in another local education agency or shall 736 provide reasonable justification for denial. Should a waiver not be 737 granted to a student who would qualify to graduate from the sending 738 school, the local education agency shall provide an alternative means of 739 acquiring required coursework so that graduation may occur on time. 740 B. States shall accept: (1) Exit or end-of-course exams required for 741 graduation from the sending state; or (2) national norm-referenced 742 achievement tests; or (3) alternative testing, in lieu of testing 743 requirements for graduation in the receiving state. In the event the 744 above alternatives cannot be accommodated by the receiving state for a 745 student transferring in his senior year, then the provisions of Article VII, 746 Section C shall apply. 747 C. Should a military student transferring at the beginning or during 748 his or her senior year be ineligible to graduate from the receiving local 749 education agency after all alternatives have been considered, the 750 sending and receiving local education agencies shall ensure the receipt 751 of a diploma from the sending local education agency, if the student 752 meets the graduation requirements of the sending local education 753 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 25 of 42 agency. In the event that one of the states in question is not a member of 754 this compact, the member state shall use best efforts to facilitate the on-755 time graduation of the student in accordance with Sections A and B of 756 this Article. 757 ARTICLE VIII 758 STATE COORDINATION 759 A. Each member state shall, through the creation of a State Council or 760 use of an existing body or board, provide for the coordination among its 761 agencies of government, local education agencies and military 762 installations concerning the state's participation in, and compliance 763 with, this compact and Interstate Commission activities. While each 764 member state may determine the membership of its own State Council, 765 its membership must include at least: The state superintendent of 766 education, superintendent of a school district with a high concentration 767 of military children, representative from a military installation, one 768 representative each from the legislative and executive branches of 769 government, and other offices and stakeholder groups the State Council 770 deems appropriate. A member state that does not have a school district 771 deemed to contain a high concentration of military children may 772 appoint a superintendent from another school district to represent local 773 education agencies on the State Council. 774 B. The State Council of each member state shall appoint or designate 775 a military family education liaison to assist military families and the 776 state in facilitating the implementation of this compact. 777 C. The compact commissioner responsible for the administration and 778 management of the state's participation in the compact shall be 779 appointed by the Governor or as otherwise determined by each member 780 state. 781 D. The compact commissioner and the military family education 782 liaison designated herein shall be ex-officio members of the State 783 Council, unless either is already a full voting member of the State 784 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 26 of 42 Council. 785 ARTICLE IX 786 INTERSTATE COMMISSION ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY 787 FOR MILITARY CHILDREN 788 The member states hereby create the "Interstate Commission on 789 Educational Opportunity for Military Children". The activities of the 790 Interstate Commission are the formation of public policy and are a 791 discretionary state function. The Interstate Commission shall: 792 A. Be a body corporate and joint agency of the member states and 793 shall have all the responsibilities, powers and duties set forth herein, 794 and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by a 795 subsequent concurrent action of the respective legislatures of the 796 member states in accordance with the terms of this compact. 797 B. Consist of one Interstate Commission voting representative from 798 each member state who shall be that state's compact commissioner. 799 1. Each member state represented at a meeting of the Interstate 800 Commission is entitled to one vote. 801 2. A majority of the total member states shall constitute a quorum for 802 the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the 803 bylaws of the Interstate Commission. 804 3. A representative shall not delegate a vote to another member state. 805 In the event the compact commissioner is unable to attend a meeting of 806 the Interstate Commission, the Governor or State Council may delegate 807 voting authority to another person from their state for a specified 808 meeting. 809 4. The bylaws may provide for meetings of the Interstate Commission 810 to be conducted by telecommunication or electronic communication. 811 C. Consist of ex-officio, nonvoting representatives who are members 812 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 27 of 42 of interested organizations. Such ex-officio members, as defined in the 813 bylaws, may include, but not be limited to, members of the 814 representative organizations of military family advocates, local 815 education agency officials, parent and teacher groups, the U.S. 816 Department of Defense, the Education Commission of the States, the 817 Interstate Agreement on the Qualification of Educational Personnel and 818 other interstate compacts affecting the education of children of military 819 members. 820 D. Meet at least once each calendar year. The chairperson may call 821 additional meetings and, upon the request of a simple majority of the 822 member states, shall call additional meetings. 823 E. Establish an executive committee, whose members shall include 824 the officers of the Interstate Commission and such other members of the 825 Interstate Commission as determined by the bylaws. Members of the 826 executive committee shall serve a one-year term. Members of the 827 executive committee shall be entitled to one vote each. The executive 828 committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Interstate 829 Commission, with the exception of rulemaking, during periods when 830 the Interstate Commission is not in session. The executive committee 831 shall oversee the day-to-day activities of the administration of the 832 compact including enforcement and compliance with the provisions of 833 the compact, its bylaws and rules, and other such duties as deemed 834 necessary. The U.S. Dept. of Defense, shall serve as an ex-officio, 835 nonvoting member of the executive committee. 836 F. Establish bylaws and rules that provide for conditions and 837 procedures under which the Interstate Commission shall make its 838 information and official records available to the public for inspection or 839 copying. The Interstate Commission may exempt from disclosure 840 information or official records to the extent they would adversely affect 841 personal privacy rights or proprietary interests. 842 G. Give public notice of all meetings and all meetings shall be open 843 to the public, except as set forth in the rules or as otherwise provided in 844 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 28 of 42 the compact. The Interstate Commission and its committees may close a 845 meeting, or portion thereof, where it determines by two-thirds vote that 846 an open meeting would be likely to: 847 1. Relate solely to the Interstate Commission's internal personnel 848 practices and procedures; 849 2. Disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal 850 and state statute; 851 3. Disclose trade secrets or commercial or financial information which 852 is privileged or confidential; 853 4. Involve accusing a person of a crime, or formally censuring a 854 person; 855 5. Disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would 856 constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; 857 6. Disclose investigative records compiled for law enforcement 858 purposes; or 859 7. Specifically relate to the Interstate Commission's participation in a 860 civil action or other legal proceeding. 861 H. Cause its legal counsel or designee to certify that a meeting may 862 be closed and shall reference each relevant exemptible provision for any 863 meeting, or portion of a meeting, which is closed pursuant to this 864 provision. The Interstate Commission shall keep minutes which shall 865 fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in a meeting and shall 866 provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, and the reasons 867 therefor, including a description of the views expressed and the record 868 of a roll call vote. All documents considered in connection with an action 869 shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a 870 closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by a majority 871 vote of the Interstate Commission. 872 I. Collect standardized data concerning the educational transition of 873 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 29 of 42 the children of military families under this compact as directed through 874 its rules which shall specify the data to be collected, the means of 875 collection and data exchange and reporting requirements. Such 876 methods of data collection, exchange and reporting shall, insofar as is 877 reasonably possible, conform to current technology and coordinate its 878 information functions with the appropriate custodian of records as 879 identified in the bylaws and rules. 880 J. Create a process that permits military officials, education officials 881 and parents to inform the Interstate Commission if and when there are 882 alleged violations of the compact or its rules or when issues subject to 883 the jurisdiction of the compact or its rules are not addressed by the state 884 or local education agency. This section shall not be construed to create a 885 private right of action against the Interstate Commission or any member 886 state. 887 ARTICLE X 888 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION 889 The Interstate Commission shall have the following powers: 890 A. To provide for dispute resolution among member states. 891 B. To promulgate rules and take all necessary actions to effect the 892 goals, purposes and obligations as enumerated in this compact. The 893 rules shall have the force and effect of statutory law and shall be binding 894 in the compact states to the extent and in the manner provided in this 895 compact. 896 C. To issue, upon request of a member state, advisory opinions 897 concerning the meaning or interpretation of the interstate compact, its 898 bylaws, rules and actions. 899 D. To enforce compliance with the compact provisions, the rules 900 promulgated by the Interstate Commission, and the bylaws, using all 901 necessary and proper means, including but not limited to the use of 902 judicial process. 903 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 30 of 42 E. To establish and maintain offices which shall be located within one 904 or more of the member states. 905 F. To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds. 906 G. To borrow, accept, hire or contract for services of personnel. 907 H. To establish and appoint committees including, but not limited to, 908 an executive committee as required by Article IX, Section E, which shall 909 have the power to act on behalf of the Interstate Commission in carrying 910 out its powers and duties hereunder. 911 I. To elect or appoint such officers, attorneys, employees, agents, or 912 consultants, and to fix their compensation, define their duties and 913 determine their qualifications; and to establish the Interstate 914 Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts of 915 interest, rates of compensation, and qualifications of personnel. 916 J. To accept any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, 917 supplies, materials, and services, and to receive, utilize, and dispose of 918 it. 919 K. To lease, purchase, accept contributions or donations of, or 920 otherwise to own, hold, improve or use any property, real, personal or 921 mixed. 922 L. To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or 923 otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal or mixed. 924 M. To establish a budget and make expenditures. 925 N. To adopt a seal and bylaws governing the management and 926 operation of the Interstate Commission. 927 O. To report annually to the legislatures, governors, judiciary, and 928 state councils of the member states concerning the activities of the 929 Interstate Commission during the preceding year. Such reports shall 930 also include any recommendations that may have been adopted by the 931 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 31 of 42 Interstate Commission. 932 P. To coordinate education, training and public awareness regarding 933 the compact, its implementation and operation for officials and parents 934 involved in such activity. 935 Q. To establish uniform standards for the reporting, collecting and 936 exchanging of data. 937 R. To maintain corporate books and records in accordance with the 938 bylaws. 939 S. To perform such functions as may be necessary or appropriate to 940 achieve the purposes of this compact. 941 T. To provide for the uniform collection and sharing of information 942 between and among member states, schools and military families under 943 this compact. 944 ARTICLE XI 945 ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE INTERST ATE 946 COMMISSION 947 A. The Interstate Commission shall, by a majority of the members 948 present and voting, within twelve months after the first Interstate 949 Commission meeting, adopt bylaws to govern its conduct as may be 950 necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the compact, 951 including, but not limited to: 952 1. Establishing the fiscal year of the Interstate Commission; 953 2. Establishing an executive committee, and such other committees as 954 may be necessary; 955 3. Providing for the establishment of committees and for governing 956 any general or specific delegation of authority or function of the 957 Interstate Commission; 958 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 32 of 42 4. Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting 959 meetings of the Interstate Commission, and ensuring reasonable notice 960 of each such meeting; 961 5. Establishing the titles and responsibilities of the officers and staff 962 of the Interstate Commission; 963 6. Providing a mechanism for concluding the operations of the 964 Interstate Commission and the return of surplus funds that may exist 965 upon the termination of the compact after the payment and reserving of 966 all of its debts and obligations; 967 7. Providing start-up rules for initial administration of the compact. 968 B. The Interstate Commission shall, by a majority of the members, 969 elect annually from among its members a chairperson, a vice-970 chairperson, and a treasurer, each of whom shall have such authority 971 and duties as may be specified in the bylaws. The chairperson or, in the 972 chairperson's absence or disability, the vice-chairperson, shall preside at 973 all meetings of the Interstate Commission. The officers so elected shall 974 serve without compensation or remuneration from the Interstate 975 Commission provided that, subject to the availability of budgeted 976 funds, the officers shall be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary costs 977 and expenses incurred by them in the performance of their 978 responsibilities as officers of the Interstate Commission. 979 C. Executive Committee, Officers and Personnel 980 1. The executive committee shall have such authority and duties as 981 may be set forth in the bylaws, including, but not limited to: 982 a. Managing the affairs of the Interstate Commission in a manner 983 consistent with the bylaws and purposes of the Interstate Commission; 984 b. Overseeing an organizational structure within, and appropriate 985 procedures for the Interstate Commission to provide for the creation of 986 rules, operating procedures, and administrative and technical support 987 functions; and 988 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 33 of 42 c. Planning, implementing, and coordinating communications and 989 activities with other state, federal and local government organizations 990 in order to advance the goals of the Interstate Commission. 991 2. The executive committee may, subject to the approval of the 992 Interstate Commission, appoint or retain an executive director for such 993 period, upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation, as 994 the Interstate Commission may deem appropriate. The executive 995 director shall serve as secretary to the Interstate Commission, but shall 996 not be a member of the Interstate Commission. The executive director 997 shall hire and supervise such other persons as may be authorized by the 998 Interstate Commission. 999 D. The Interstate Commission's executive director and its employees 1000 shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their 1001 official capacity, for a claim for damage to or loss of property or personal 1002 injury or other civil liability caused or arising out of or relating to an 1003 actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that such 1004 person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred, within the scope 1005 of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities 1006 provided, such person shall not be protected from suit or liability for 1007 damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and 1008 wanton misconduct of such person. 1009 1. The liability of the Interstate Commission's executive director and 1010 employees or Interstate Commission representatives, acting within the 1011 scope of such person's employment or duties for acts, errors, or 1012 omissions occurring within such person's state may not exceed the 1013 limits of liability set forth under the Constitution and laws of that state 1014 for state officials, employees, and agents. The Interstate Commission is 1015 considered to be an instrumentality of the states for the purposes of any 1016 such action. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to protect 1017 such person from suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability 1018 caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such 1019 person. 1020 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 34 of 42 2. The Interstate Commission shall defend the executive director and 1021 its employees and, subject to the approval of the Attorney General or 1022 other appropriate legal counsel of the member state represented by an 1023 Interstate Commission representative, shall defend such Interstate 1024 Commission representative in any civil action seeking to impose 1025 liability arising out of an actual or alleged act, error or omission that 1026 occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties 1027 or responsibilities, or that the defendant had a reasonable basis for 1028 believing occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission 1029 employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or 1030 alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful 1031 and wanton misconduct on the part of such person. 1032 3. To the extent not covered by the state involved, member state, or 1033 the Interstate Commission, the representatives or employees of the 1034 Interstate Commission shall be held harmless in the amount of a 1035 settlement or judgment, including attorney's fees and costs, obtained 1036 against such persons arising out of an actual or alleged act, error, or 1037 omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission 1038 employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such persons had a 1039 reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate 1040 Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the 1041 actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional 1042 or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such persons. 1043 ARTICLE XII 1044 RULEMAKING FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION 1045 A. The Interstate Commission shall promulgate reasonable rules in 1046 order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of this compact. 1047 Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Interstate Commission 1048 exercises its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the scope 1049 of the purposes of this compact, or the powers granted hereunder, then 1050 such an action by the Interstate Commission shall be invalid and have 1051 no force or effect. 1052 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 35 of 42 B. Rules shall be made pursuant to a rulemaking process that 1053 substantially conforms to the "Model State Administrative Procedure 1054 Act," of 1981 Act, Uniform Laws Annotated, Vol. 15, p.1 (2000) as 1055 amended, as may be appropriate to the operations of the Interstate 1056 Commission. 1057 C. Not later than thirty days after a rule is promulgated, any person 1058 may file a petition for judicial review of the rule provided, the filing of 1059 such a petition shall not stay or otherwise prevent the rule from 1060 becoming effective unless the court finds that the petitioner has a 1061 substantial likelihood of success. The court shall give deference to the 1062 actions of the Interstate Commission consistent with applicable law and 1063 shall not find the rule to be unlawful if the rule represents a reasonable 1064 exercise of the Interstate Commission's authority. 1065 D. If a majority of the legislatures of the compacting states rejects a 1066 rule by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to 1067 adopt the compact, then such rule shall have no further force and effect 1068 in any compacting state. 1069 ARTICLE XIII 1070 OVERSIGHT, ENFORCEMENT, AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION 1071 A. Oversight 1072 1. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government 1073 in each member state shall enforce this compact and shall take all actions 1074 necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and 1075 intent. The provisions of this compact and the rules promulgated 1076 hereunder shall have standing as statutory law. 1077 2. All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact and the rules in 1078 any judicial or administrative proceeding in a member state pertaining 1079 to the subject matter of this compact which may affect the powers, 1080 responsibilities or actions of the Interstate Commission. 1081 3. The Interstate Commission shall be entitled to receive all service of 1082 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 36 of 42 process in any such proceeding, and shall have standing to intervene in 1083 the proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide service of process to 1084 the Interstate Commission shall render a judgment or order void as to 1085 the Interstate Commission, this compact or promulgated rules. 1086 B. If the Interstate Commission determines that a member state has 1087 defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under 1088 this compact, or the bylaws or promulgated rules, the Interstate 1089 Commission shall: 1090 1. Provide written notice to the defaulting state and other member 1091 states of the nature of the default, the means of curing the default and 1092 any action taken by the Interstate Commission. The Interstate 1093 Commission shall specify the conditions by which the defaulting state 1094 must cure its default. 1095 2. Provide remedial training and specific technical assistance 1096 regarding the default. 1097 3. If the defaulting state fails to cure the default, the defaulting state 1098 shall be terminated from the compact upon an affirmative vote of a 1099 majority of the member states and all rights, privileges and benefits 1100 conferred by this compact shall be terminated from the effective date of 1101 termination. A cure of the default does not relieve the offending state of 1102 obligations or liabilities incurred during the period of the default. 1103 4. Suspension or termination of membership in the compact shall be 1104 imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have been 1105 exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be given by the 1106 Interstate Commission to the Governor, the majority and minority 1107 leaders of the defaulting state's legislature, and each of the member 1108 states. 1109 5. The state which has been suspended or terminated is responsible 1110 for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the 1111 effective date of suspension or termination including obligations, the 1112 performance of which extends beyond the effective date of suspension 1113 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 37 of 42 or termination. 1114 6. The Interstate Commission shall not bear any costs relating to any 1115 state that has been found to be in default or which has been suspended 1116 or terminated from the compact, unless otherwise mutually agreed 1117 upon in writing between the Interstate Commission and the defaulting 1118 state. 1119 7. The defaulting state may appeal the action of the Interstate 1120 Commission by petitioning the U.S. District Court for the District of 1121 Columbia or the federal district where the Interstate Commission has its 1122 principal offices. The prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such 1123 litigation including reasonable attorney's fees. 1124 C. Dispute Resolution 1125 1. The Interstate Commission shall attempt, upon the request of a 1126 member state, to resolve disputes which are subject to the compact and 1127 which may arise among member states and between member and 1128 nonmember states. 1129 2. The Interstate Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for 1130 both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes as 1131 appropriate. 1132 D. Enforcement 1133 1. The Interstate Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its 1134 discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of this compact. 1135 2. The Interstate Commission may, by majority vote of the members, 1136 initiate legal action in the United States District Court for the District of 1137 Columbia or, at the discretion of the Interstate Commission, in the 1138 federal district where the Interstate Commission has its principal offices, 1139 to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact, its 1140 promulgated rules and bylaws, against a member state in default. The 1141 relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the 1142 event judicial enforcement is necessary the prevailing party shall be 1143 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 38 of 42 awarded all costs of such litigation including reasonable attorney's fees. 1144 3. The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies of the 1145 Interstate Commission. The Interstate Commission may avail itself of 1146 any other remedies available under state law or the regulation of a 1147 profession. 1148 ARTICLE XIV 1149 FINANCING OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION 1150 A. The Interstate Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment 1151 of, the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization and 1152 ongoing activities. 1153 B. The Interstate Commission may levy on and collect an annual 1154 assessment from each member state to cover the cost of the operations 1155 and activities of the Interstate Commission and its staff which must be 1156 in a total amount sufficient to cover the Interstate Commission's annual 1157 budget as approved each year. The aggregate annual assessment 1158 amount shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the 1159 Interstate Commission, which shall promulgate a rule binding upon all 1160 member states. 1161 C. The Interstate Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind 1162 prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor shall the 1163 Interstate Commission pledge the credit of any of the member states, 1164 except by and with the authority of the member state. 1165 D. The Interstate Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all 1166 receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the 1167 Interstate Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting 1168 procedures established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and 1169 disbursements of funds handled by the Interstate Commission shall be 1170 audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the 1171 report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual 1172 report of the Interstate Commission. 1173 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 39 of 42 ARTICLE XV 1174 MEMBER STATES, EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENT 1175 A. Any state is eligible to become a member state. 1176 B. The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative 1177 enactment of the compact into law by no less than ten of the states. The 1178 effective date shall be no earlier than December 1, 2007. Thereafter it 1179 shall become effective and binding as to any other member state upon 1180 enactment of the compact into law by that state. The governors of 1181 nonmember states or their designees shall be invited to participate in 1182 the activities of the Interstate Commission on a nonvoting basis prior to 1183 adoption of the compact by all states. 1184 C. The Interstate Commission may propose amendments to the 1185 compact for enactment by the member states. No amendment shall 1186 become effective and binding upon the Interstate Commission and the 1187 member states unless and until it is enacted into law by unanimous 1188 consent of the member states. 1189 ARTICLE XVI 1190 WITHDRAWAL AND DISSOLUTION 1191 A. Withdrawal 1192 1. Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain 1193 binding upon each and every member state provided a member state 1194 may withdraw from the compact by specifically repealing the statute, 1195 which enacted the compact into law. 1196 2. Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment of a 1197 statute repealing the same, but shall not take effect until one year after 1198 the effective date of such statute and until written notice of the 1199 withdrawal has been given by the withdrawing state to the Governor of 1200 each other member jurisdiction. 1201 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 40 of 42 3. The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the chairperson of 1202 the Interstate Commission in writing upon the introduction of 1203 legislation repealing this compact in the withdrawing state. The 1204 Interstate Commission shall notify the other member states of the 1205 withdrawing state's intent to withdraw within sixty days of its receipt 1206 thereof. 1207 4. The withdrawing state is responsible for all assessments, 1208 obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of 1209 withdrawal, including obligations, the performance of which extend 1210 beyond the effective date of withdrawal. 1211 5. Reinstatement following withdrawal of a member state shall occur 1212 upon the withdrawing state reenacting the compact or upon such later 1213 date as determined by the Interstate Commission. 1214 B. Dissolution of Compact 1215 1. This compact shall dissolve effective upon the date of the 1216 withdrawal or default of the member state which reduces the 1217 membership in the compact to one member state. 1218 2. Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact becomes null 1219 and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and 1220 affairs of the Interstate Commission shall be concluded and surplus 1221 funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws. 1222 ARTICLE XVII 1223 SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION 1224 A. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and if any 1225 phrase, clause, sentence or provision is deemed unenforceable, the 1226 remaining provisions of the compact shall be enforceable. 1227 B. The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to 1228 effectuate its purposes. 1229 Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 41 of 42 C. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prohibit the 1230 applicability of other interstate compacts to which the states are 1231 members. 1232 ARTICLE XVIII 1233 BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS 1234 A. Other Laws 1235 1. Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a 1236 member state that is not inconsistent with this compact. 1237 2. All member states' laws conflicting with this compact are 1238 superseded to the extent of the conflict. 1239 B. Binding Effect of the Compact 1240 1. All lawful actions of the Interstate Commission, including all rules 1241 and bylaws promulgated by the Interstate Commission, are binding 1242 upon the member states. 1243 2. All agreements between the Interstate Commission and the 1244 member states are binding in accordance with their terms. 1245 3. In the event any provision of this compact exceeds the 1246 constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any member state, 1247 such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of the conflict with the 1248 constitutional provision in question in that member state. 1249 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 July 1, 2023 10-262u(a) to (c) Sec. 2 July 1, 2023 10-262h(j) to (l) Sec. 3 July 1, 2023 10-151b Sec. 4 July 1, 2023 10-264l(a) and (b) Sec. 5 July 1, 2023 10-264l(c)(3)(C) Sec. 6 July 1, 2023 10-264l(o) Sec. 7 July 1, 2023 10-264r Raised Bill No. 1028 LCO No. 4307 42 of 42 Sec. 8 July 1, 2023 10-262s Sec. 9 July 1, 2023 10-15f Statement of Purpose: To implement the recommendations of the Department of Education. [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.]