Connecticut 2023 2023 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01201 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 05/01/2023

                     
 
LCO    \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-R02-
SB.docx  
1 of 11 
  
General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 1201  
January Session, 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORIZATION OF STATE GRANT 
COMMITMENTS FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS AND 
REVISIONS TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS STATUTES.  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of 1 
Administrative Services, having reviewed applications for state grants 2 
for public school building projects in accordance with section 10-283 of 3 
the general statutes on the basis of priorities for such projects and 4 
standards for school construction established by the State Board of 5 
Education, and having prepared a listing of all such eligible projects 6 
ranked in order of priority, as determined by said commissioner 7 
together with the amount of the estimated grant with respect to each 8 
eligible project, and having submitted such listing of eligible projects, 9 
prior to December 15, 2022, to a committee of the General Assembly 10 
established under section 10-283a of the general statutes for the 11 
purpose of reviewing such listing, is hereby authorized to enter into 12 
grant commitments on behalf of the state in accordance with said 13 
section 10-283a with respect to the priority listing of such projects and 14 
in such estimated amounts as approved by said committee prior to 15 
February 1, 2023, as follows: 16 
(1) Estimated Grant Commitments. 17 
T1  School District 	Estimated Estimated  Substitute Bill No. 1201 
 
 
LCO    {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-
R02-SB.docx }   
2 of 11 
 
T2  School 	Project Costs Grant 
T3  Project Number   
T4     
T5  BRISTOL   
T6  New Northeast Middle School   
T7  23DASY017088N0623 	$89,068,965 $52,800,082 
T8     
T9  CHESHIRE   
T10  New Norton Elementary School   
T11  23DASY025102N0623 	$76,656,200 $38,328,100 
T12     
T13  CHESHIRE   
T14  New North End Elementary School   
T15  23DASY025103N0623 	$89,942,900 $44,971,450 
T16     
T17  CROMWELL   
T18  New Cromwell Middle School   
T19  23DASY033055N0623 	$55,933,717 $22,172,125 
T20     
T21  MADISON   
T22  New Elementary School   
T23  23DASY076067N0623 	$61,150,000 $11,135,415 
T24     
T25  NORWALK   
T26  New South Norwalk Elementary    
T27   School   
T28  23DASY103264N0623 	$76,000,000 $45,600,000 
T29     
T30  STAMFORD   
T31  New Roxbury Elementary School   
T32  23DASY135281N0623 	$86,000,000 $51,600,000 
T33     
T34  DARIEN   
T35  Hindley Elementary School   
T36  23DASY035121EA0623 	$27,550,000 $5,705,605 
T37     
T38  DARIEN   
T39  Holmes Elementary School   
T40  23DASY035122EA0623 	$25,600,000 $5,301,760 
T41     
T42  DARIEN    Substitute Bill No. 1201 
 
 
LCO    {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-
R02-SB.docx }   
3 of 11 
 
T43  Royle Elementary School   
T44  23DASY035123EA0623 	$29,100,000 $6,026,610 
T45     
T46  HARTFORD   
T47  Expeditionary Learning Academy at    
T48   Moylan School   
T49  23DASY064319A0623 	$94,571,305 $89,842,740 
T50     
T51  HARTFORD   
T52  Parkville Community School   
T53  23DASY064320A0623 	$60,888,341 $57,843,924 
T54     
T55  HARTFORD   
T56  McDonough Middle School   
T57  23DASY064321A0623 	$59,859,491 $56,866,516 
T58     
T59  REGIONAL DISTRICT 18   
T60  Mile Creek Elementary School   
T61  22DASY218040EA0623 	$24,911,028 $9,075,088 
T62     
T63  ACES   
T64  ACES @ Bassett   
T65  23DASY244043SP0623 	$65,533,047 $52,426,438 
T66     
T67  ACES   
T68  ACES @ Chase   
T69  23DASY244044MAG0623 	$69,624,095 $55,699,276 
T70     
T71  ACES   
T72  Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet    
T73   School   
T74  23DASY244045MAG0623 	$20,180,514 $16,144,411 
T75     
T76  CROMWELL   
T77  Central Administration   
T78  23DASY033056BE0623 	$2,670,683 $529,329 
T79     
T80  STRATFORD   
T81  Franklin Elementary School   
T82  23DASY138113A0623 	$521,920 $311,273 
T83      Substitute Bill No. 1201 
 
 
LCO    {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-
R02-SB.docx }   
4 of 11 
 
T84  STRATFORD   
T85  Wilcoxson Elementary School   
T86  23DASY138114A0623 	$400,946 $239,124 
T87     
T88  NORWICH   
T89  John B. Stanton Elementary School   
T90  104-0118N 	$66,078,262 $52,862,610 
T91     
T92  NORWICH   
T93  Greeneville Elementary School   
T94  104-0119N 	$60,368,429 $48,294,743 
 
(2) Previously Authorized Projects That Have Changed 18 
Substantially in Scope or Cost which are Seeking Reauthorization. 19 
T95  School District 	Authorized Requested 
T96  School   
T97  Project Number   
T98     
T99  FARMINGTON   
T100  Farmington High School   
T101  052-0076 N   
T102     
T103  Estimated…   
T104  Total Project Costs 	$131,666,047 $141,366,047 
T105  Total Grant 	$24,924,383 $42,409,814 
T106     
T107  STAMFORD   
T108  Westhill High School   
T109  135-0280 N   
T110     
T111  Estimated…   
T112   Total Project Costs 	$257,938,824 $301,313,888 
T113   Total Grant 	$51,587,765 $241,051,110 
 
Sec. 2. Section 10-292q of the general statutes is repealed and the 20 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 21 
(a) There is established a School Building Projects Advisory Council. 22  Substitute Bill No. 1201 
 
 
LCO    {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-
R02-SB.docx }   
5 of 11 
 
The council shall consist of: (1) The Secretary of the Office of Policy 23 
and Management, or the secretary's designee, (2) the Commissioner of 24 
Administrative Services, or the commissioner's designee, (3) the 25 
Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, (4) the 26 
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or the 27 
commissioner's designee, (5) the chairperson of the Technical 28 
Education and Career System board, or the chairperson's designee, 29 
and [(4)] (6) six members appointed by the Governor, one of whom 30 
shall be a person with experience in school building project matters, 31 
one of whom shall be a person with experience in architecture, one of 32 
whom shall be a person with experience in engineering, one of whom 33 
shall be a person with experience in school safety, one of whom shall 34 
be a person with experience with the administration of the State 35 
Building Code, and one of whom shall be a person with experience 36 
and expertise in construction for students with disabilities and the 37 
accessibility provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USC 38 
12101 et seq. The chairperson of the council shall be the Commissioner 39 
of Administrative Services, or the commissioner's designee. A person 40 
employed by the Department of Administrative Services who is 41 
responsible for school building projects shall serve as the 42 
administrative staff of the council. The council shall meet at least 43 
quarterly to discuss matters relating to school building projects. 44 
(b) The School Building Projects Advisory Council shall (1) develop 45 
model blueprints for new school building projects that are in 46 
accordance with industry standards for school buildings and the 47 
school safety infrastructure criteria, developed pursuant to section 10-48 
292r, (2) conduct studies, research and analyses, (3) make 49 
recommendations for improvements to the school building projects 50 
processes to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the 51 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters rela ting to 52 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, education and 53 
finance, revenue and bonding, and (4) periodically review and update, 54 
as necessary, the school safety infrastructure criteria developed 55 
pursuant to section 10-292r. 56  Substitute Bill No. 1201 
 
 
LCO    {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-
R02-SB.docx }   
6 of 11 
 
Sec. 3. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10-285a of the 57 
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 58 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 59 
(a) (1) The percentage of school building project grant money a local 60 
board of education may be eligible to receive, under the provisions of 61 
section 10-286, as amended by this act, shall be assigned by the 62 
Commissioner of Administrative Services in accordance with the 63 
percentage calculated by the Commissioner of Education as follows: 64 
(A) For grants approved pursuant to section 10-283 for which 65 
application is made on and after July 1, 1991, and before July 1, 2011, 66 
(i) each town shall be ranked in descending order from one to one 67 
hundred sixty-nine according to such town's adjusted equalized net 68 
grand list per capita, as defined in section 10-261; and (ii) based upon 69 
such ranking, a percentage of not less than twenty nor more than 70 
eighty shall be determined for each town on a continuous scale; (B) for 71 
grants approved pursuant to section 10-283 for which application is 72 
made on and after July 1, 2011, and before July 1, 2017, (i) each town 73 
shall be ranked in descending order from one to one hundred sixty-74 
nine according to such town's adjusted equalized net grand list per 75 
capita, as defined in section 10-261, and (ii) based upon such ranking, 76 
(I) a percentage of not less than ten nor more than seventy shall be 77 
determined for new construction or replacement of a school building 78 
for each town on a continuous scale, and (II) a percentage of not less 79 
than twenty nor more than eighty shall be determined for renovations, 80 
extensions, code violations, roof replacements and major alterations of 81 
an existing school building and the new construction or replacement of 82 
a school building when a town or regional school district can 83 
demonstrate that a new construction or replacement is less expensive 84 
than a renovation, extension or major alteration of an existing school 85 
building for each town on a continuous scale; (C) for grants approved 86 
pursuant to section 10-283 for which application is made on and after 87 
July 1, 2017, and before June 1, 2022, (i) each town shall be ranked in 88 
descending order from one to one hundred sixty-nine according to the 89 
adjusted equalized net grand list per capita, as defined in section 10-90  Substitute Bill No. 1201 
 
 
LCO    {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-
R02-SB.docx }   
7 of 11 
 
261, of the town two, three and four years prior to the fiscal year in 91 
which application is made, (ii) based upon such ranking, (I) a 92 
percentage of not less than ten nor more than seventy shall be 93 
determined for new construction or replacement of a school building 94 
for each town on a continuous scale, and (II) a percentage of not less 95 
than twenty nor more than eighty shall be determined for renovations, 96 
extensions, code violations, roof replacements and major alterations of 97 
an existing school building and the new construction or replacement of 98 
a school building when a town or regional school district can 99 
demonstrate that a new construction or replacement is less expensive 100 
than a renovation, extension or major alteration of an existing school 101 
building for each town on a continuous scale; [and] (D) except as 102 
otherwise provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, for grants 103 
approved pursuant to section 10-283 for which application is made on 104 
and after June 1, 2022, (i) each town shall be ranked in descending 105 
order from one to one hundred sixty-nine according to the adjusted 106 
equalized net grand list per capita, as defined in section 10-261, of the 107 
town two, three and four years prior to the fiscal year in which 108 
application is made, and (ii) based upon such ranking, (I) a percentage 109 
of not less than ten nor more than seventy shall be determined for new 110 
construction or replacement of a school building for each town on a 111 
continuous scale, and (II) a percentage of not less than twenty nor 112 
more than eighty shall be determined for renovations, extensions, code 113 
violations, roof replacements and major alterations of an existing 114 
school building and the new construction or replacement of a school 115 
building when a town or regional school district can demonstrate that 116 
a new construction or replacement is less expensive than a renovation, 117 
extension or major alteration of an existing school building for each 118 
town on a continuous scale; and (E) except as otherwise provided in 119 
subdivision (2) of this subsection, for grants approved pursuant to 120 
section 10-283 for which application is made on and after June 1, 2022, 121 
(i) each town shall be ranked in descending order from one to one 122 
hundred sixty-nine according to the adjusted equalized net grand list 123 
per capita, as defined in section 10-261, of the town two, three and four 124 
years prior to the fiscal year in which application is made, and (ii) 125  Substitute Bill No. 1201 
 
 
LCO    {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-
R02-SB.docx }   
8 of 11 
 
based upon such ranking, (I) a percentage of not less than ten nor more 126 
than eighty shall be determined for new construction or replacement of 127 
a school building for each town on a continuous scale, and (II) a 128 
percentage of not less than twenty nor more than eighty shall be 129 
determined for renovations, extensions, code violations, roof 130 
replacements and major alterations of an existing school building and 131 
the new construction or replacement of a school building when a town 132 
or regional school district can demonstrate that a new construction or 133 
replacement is less expensive than a renovation, extension or major 134 
alteration of an existing school building for each town on a continuous 135 
scale. 136 
Sec. 4. Subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 10-286 of the 137 
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 138 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 139 
(2) (A) In the case of any grants computed under this section for a 140 
school building project authorized pursuant to section 10-283 after July 141 
1, 1979, but prior to July 1, 2023, any federal funds or other state funds 142 
received for such school building project shall be deducted from 143 
project costs prior to computation of the grant. 144 
(B) In the case of any grants computed under this section for a 145 
school building project authorized pursuant to section 10-283 after July 146 
1, 2023, any other state funds received for such school building project 147 
shall be deducted from project costs prior to computation of the grant. 148 
Sec. 5. Section 10-283d of the general statutes is repealed and the 149 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 150 
[Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any regulations 151 
adopted under this chapter, if the town, whose school district is the 152 
priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p with the largest 153 
student enrollment as of October 2003, uses] A town may use any 154 
federal funds received by [the] such town to finance a school 155 
[construction projects] building project pursuant to this chapter, and 156  Substitute Bill No. 1201 
 
 
LCO    {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-
R02-SB.docx }   
9 of 11 
 
such federal funds shall be deemed to be part or all of the town's local 157 
share for such [projects] project. 158 
Sec. 6. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 159 
section 10-283 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the 160 
State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 161 
pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 162 
submitted prior to June 30, 2022, for any school building project that 163 
was previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope 164 
or cost and is seeking reauthorization, the renovation project at 165 
Bulkeley High School (Project Number 064-0313 RNV) in the town of 166 
Hartford with costs not to exceed two hundred ten million three 167 
hundred thousand dollars shall be included in section 1 of this act and 168 
shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the 169 
state, provided the town of Hartford meets all other provisions of 170 
chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the 171 
State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 172 
pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to 173 
said chapter. 174 
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general 175 
statutes, as amended by this act, or any regulation adopted by the State 176 
Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 177 
pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that 178 
a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school 179 
building project for any school building project that was previously 180 
authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or cost and is 181 
seeking reauthorization, the town of Hartford may use the 182 
reimbursement rate of ninety-five per cent for the renovation project at 183 
Bulkeley High School (Project Number 064-0313 RNV) for the purpose 184 
of implementing the District Model for Excellence Restructuring 185 
Recommendations and School Closures approved by the board of 186 
education for the Hartford school district on January 23, 2018. 187 
Sec. 7. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 188 
section 10-283 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the 189  Substitute Bill No. 1201 
 
 
LCO    {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-
R02-SB.docx }   
10 of 11 
 
State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 190 
pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 191 
submitted prior to June 30, 2022, for any school building project that 192 
was previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope 193 
or cost and is seeking reauthorization, the board of education/central 194 
administration facility project at Bulkeley High School (Project 195 
Number 064-0314 BE) in the town of Hartford with costs not to exceed 196 
thirty-four million eight hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be 197 
included in section 1 of this act and shall subsequently be considered 198 
for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Hartford 199 
meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any 200 
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department 201 
of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for 202 
grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 203 
(b) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the 204 
general statutes, as amended by this act, or any regulation adopted by 205 
the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative 206 
Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement 207 
percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for 208 
a school building project for any school building project that was 209 
previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or 210 
cost and is seeking reauthorization, the town of Hartford may use the 211 
reimbursement rate of ninety-five per cent for the construction of a 212 
central administration facility as part of the board of education/central 213 
administration facility project at Bulkeley High School. 214 
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection 215 
(a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted 216 
by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative 217 
Services limiting reimbursement to one-half of the eligible percentage 218 
of the net eligible cost of construction to a town for the construction, 219 
extension or major alteration of a public school administrative or 220 
service facility, the town of Hartford shall receive full reimbursement 221 
of the reimbursement percentage described in subdivision (1) of this 222  Substitute Bill No. 1201 
 
 
LCO    {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-01201-
R02-SB.docx }   
11 of 11 
 
subsection of the net eligible cost of the board of education/central 223 
administration facility project at Bulkeley High School. 224 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 from passage New section 
Sec. 2 July 1, 2023 10-292q 
Sec. 3 July 1, 2023 10-285a(a)(1) 
Sec. 4 July 1, 2023 10-286(b)(2) 
Sec. 5 July 1, 2023 10-283d 
Sec. 6 from passage New section 
Sec. 7 from passage New section 
 
ED  Joint Favorable Subst. C/R 	FIN 
FIN Joint Favorable Subst.