CT
Connecticut House Bill HB05002

Connecticut 2024 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05002 Compare Versions

OldNewDifferences
1+
2+
3+LCO 1 of 11
4+
5+General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5002
6+February Session, 2024
17
28
39
4-Substitute House Bill No. 5002
510
6-Public Act No. 24-91
7-
8-
9-AN ACT CONCERNING EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND
10-EDUCATION.
11+AN ACT CONCERNING EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION.
1112 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
1213 Assembly convened:
1314
14-Section 1. Section 10-511 of the 2024 supplement to the general
15-statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof
16-(Effective from passage):
17-[The Comptroller shall establish] (a) There is established the Early
18-Childhood Care and Education Fund. Said fund may contain any
19-moneys required or permitted by law to be deposited in the fund and
20-[any funds received from any public or private contributions, gifts,
21-grants, donations, bequests or devises to the fund.] shall receive and
22-hold all payments and deposits for contributions intended for said fund,
23-as well as gifts, bequests, endowments or federal, state or local grants
24-and any other funds from any public or private source and all earnings
25-until disbursed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
26-(b) The amounts on deposit in said fund shall not constitute property
27-of the state and said fund shall not be construed to be a department,
28-institution or agency of the state. Amounts on deposit in said fund shall
29-not be commingled with state funds and the state shall have no claim to
30-or against, or any interest in, such deposits. Any contract entered into Substitute House Bill No. 5002
15+Section 1. Section 10-511 of the 2024 supplement to the general 1
16+statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2
17+(Effective from passage): 3
18+[The Comptroller shall establish] (a) There is established the Early 4
19+Childhood Care and Education Fund. Said fund may contain any 5
20+moneys required or permitted by law to be deposited in the fund and 6
21+[any funds received from any public or private contributions, gifts, 7
22+grants, donations, bequests or devises to the fund.] shall receive and 8
23+hold all payments and deposits for contributions intended for said fund, 9
24+as well as gifts, bequests, endowments or federal, state or local grants 10
25+and any other funds from any public or private source and all earnings 11
26+until disbursed in accordance with the provisions of this section. 12
27+(b) The amounts on deposit in said fund shall not constitute property 13
28+of the state and said fund shall not be construed to be a department, 14
29+institution or agency of the state. Amounts on deposit in said fund shall 15
30+not be commingled with state funds and the state shall have no claim to 16
31+or against, or any interest in, such deposits. Any contract entered into 17
32+by or any obligation of said fund shall not constitute a debt or obligation 18
33+of the state and the state shall have no obligation to any person on 19
34+account of said fund and all amounts obligated to be paid from said 20 Substitute Bill No. 5002
3135
32-Public Act No. 24-91 2 of 18
3336
34-by or any obligation of said fund shall not constitute a debt or obligation
35-of the state and the state shall have no obligation to any person on
36-account of said fund and all amounts obligated to be paid from said
37-fund shall be limited to amounts available for such obligation on deposit
38-in said fund. Said fund shall continue in existence as long as it holds any
39-deposits or has any obligations and until its existence is terminated by
40-law.
41-(c) The Treasurer shall invest the amounts on deposit in said fund in
42-a manner reasonable and appropriate to achieve the objectives of said
43-fund, exercising the discretion and care of a prudent person in similar
44-circumstances with similar objectives. The Treasurer shall give due
45-consideration to rate of return, risk, term or maturity, diversification of
46-the total portfolio within said fund, liquidity, the projected
47-disbursements and expenditures and the expected payments, deposits,
48-contributions and gifts to be received. The Treasurer shall not require
49-said fund to invest directly in obligations of the state or any political
50-subdivision of the state or in any investment or other fund administered
51-by the Treasurer. The assets of said fund shall be continuously invested
52-and reinvested in a manner consistent with the objectives of said fund
53-until disbursed by the Comptroller in accordance with the provisions of
54-this section.
55-(d) The Treasurer, on behalf of said fund and for purposes of said
56-fund, may:
57-(1) Receive and invest moneys in said fund in any instruments,
58-obligations, securities or property in accordance with this section;
59-(2) Enter into one or more contractual agreements, including
60-contracts for legal, actuarial, accounting, custodial, advisory,
61-management, administrative, advertising, marketing and consulting
62-services for said fund and pay for such services from the assets of said
63-fund; Substitute House Bill No. 5002
37+LCO 2 of 11
6438
65-Public Act No. 24-91 3 of 18
39+fund shall be limited to amounts available for such obligation on deposit 21
40+in said fund. Said fund shall continue in existence as long as it holds any 22
41+deposits or has any obligations and until its existence is terminated by 23
42+law. 24
43+(c) The Treasurer shall invest the amounts on deposit in said fund in 25
44+a manner reasonable and appropriate to achieve the objectives of said 26
45+fund, exercising the discretion and care of a prudent person in similar 27
46+circumstances with similar objectives. The Treasurer shall give due 28
47+consideration to rate of return, risk, term or maturity, diversification of 29
48+the total portfolio within said fund, liquidity, the projected 30
49+disbursements and expenditures and the expected payments, deposits, 31
50+contributions and gifts to be received. The Treasurer shall not require 32
51+said fund to invest directly in obligations of the state or any political 33
52+subdivision of the state or in any investment or other fund administered 34
53+by the Treasurer. The assets of said fund shall be continuously invested 35
54+and reinvested in a manner consistent with the objectives of said fund 36
55+until disbursed by the Comptroller in accordance with the provisions of 37
56+this section. 38
57+(d) The Treasurer, on behalf of said fund and for purposes of said 39
58+fund, may: 40
59+(1) Receive and invest moneys in said fund in any instruments, 41
60+obligations, securities or property in accordance with this section; 42
61+(2) Enter into one or more contractual agreements, including 43
62+contracts for legal, actuarial, accounting, custodial, advisory, 44
63+management, administrative, advertising, marketing and consulting 45
64+services for said fund and pay for such services from the assets of said 46
65+fund; 47
66+(3) Procure insurance in connection with said fund's property, assets, 48
67+activities or deposits to said fund; 49
68+(4) Apply for and accept gifts, grants or donations from public or 50
69+private sources to enable said fund to carry out its objectives; 51 Substitute Bill No. 5002
6670
67-(3) Procure insurance in connection with said fund's property, assets,
68-activities or deposits to said fund;
69-(4) Apply for and accept gifts, grants or donations from public or
70-private sources to enable said fund to carry out its objectives;
71-(5) Adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 for purposes of
72-this section;
73-(6) Sue and be sued;
74-(7) Establish one or more accounts within said fund; and
75-(8) Take any other action necessary to carry out the purposes of this
76-section and incidental to the duties imposed on the Treasurer pursuant
77-to this section.
78-(e) The amounts on deposit in said fund shall be used for the
79-purposes of supporting early childhood education in, and child care
80-needs of, the state and shall not be expended for any other purpose.
81-Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) (1) There is established the
82-Early Childhood Care and Education Fund Advisory Commission,
83-which shall be part of the Legislative Department. The commission shall
84-review and report on the financial health and status of the Early
85-Education Childhood Fund, submit and update a five-year plan to the
86-General Assembly on expenditures from said fund that would best
87-support early childhood education in, and child care needs of, the state
88-and make recommendations for legislative changes to further the
89-purposes of said fund.
90-(2) The commission shall consist of the following members:
91-(A) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives,
92-(i) one of whom shall be a parent who is a member of the parent cabinet
93-established by the Office of Early Childhood pursuant to section 10-500 Substitute House Bill No. 5002
9471
95-Public Act No. 24-91 4 of 18
72+LCO 3 of 11
9673
97-of the general statutes, and (ii) one of whom shall be an early childhood
98-teacher;
99-(B) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, (i) one
100-of whom shall be an operator or a representative of a home-based child
101-care services provider in the state, and (ii) one of whom shall be the
102-parent of a child receiving services under the birth-to-three program
103-established under section 17a-248b of the general statutes;
104-(C) Two appointed by the majority leader of the House of
105-Representatives, (i) one of whom shall be a representative of an early
106-childhood education program operator in the state, and (ii) one of whom
107-shall be a representative of a family resource center described under
108-section 10-4o of the general statutes and who is a member of the Early
109-Childhood Cabinet established pursuant to section 10-16z of the general
110-statutes;
111-(D) Two appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, (i) one of
112-whom shall be a representative of a philanthropic organization that is
113-(I) engaged in early childhood education issues or child care issues in
114-the state, and (II) a member of the Early Childhood Funder
115-Collaborative, and (ii) one of whom shall be a representative of the
116-Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office within the Office of
117-Early Childhood and who is a member of the Early Childhood Cabinet
118-established pursuant to section 10-16z of the general statutes;
119-(E) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of
120-Representatives, (i) one of whom shall be a representative of a non-
121-home-based child care services provider in the state, and (ii) one of
122-whom shall be a representative of the Office of Early Childhood and
123-who administers the Childhood Care and Development Fund and who
124-is a member of the Early Childhood Cabinet established pursuant to
125-section 10-16z of the general statutes; Substitute House Bill No. 5002
74+(5) Adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 for purposes of 52
75+this section; 53
76+(6) Sue and be sued; 54
77+(7) Establish one or more accounts within said fund; and 55
78+(8) Take any other action necessary to carry out the purposes of this 56
79+section and incidental to the duties imposed on the Treasurer pursuant 57
80+to this section. 58
81+(e) The amounts on deposit in said fund shall be used for the 59
82+purposes of supporting early childhood education in, and child care 60
83+needs of, the state and shall not be expended for any other purpose. 61
84+Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) (1) There is established the 62
85+Early Childhood Care and Education Fund Advisory Commission, 63
86+which shall be part of the Legislative Department. The commission shall 64
87+review and report on the financial health and status of the Early 65
88+Education Childhood Fund, submit and update a ten-year plan to the 66
89+General Assembly on expenditures from said fund that would best 67
90+support early childhood education in, and child care needs of, the state 68
91+and make recommendations for legislative changes to further the 69
92+purposes of said fund. 70
93+(2) The commission shall consist of the following members: 71
94+(A) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 72
95+one of whom shall be a parent who is a member of the Early Childhood 73
96+Cabinet established pursuant to section 10-16z of the general statutes; 74
97+(B) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of 75
98+whom shall be a representative of a corporation with a significant 76
99+physical presence in the state and that employs individuals who may 77
100+benefit from early childhood education and state child care initiatives; 78
101+(C) Two appointed by the majority leader of the House of 79
102+Representatives, one of whom shall be a representative of a 80 Substitute Bill No. 5002
126103
127-Public Act No. 24-91 5 of 18
128104
129-(F) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, (i) one of
130-whom shall be a representative of a corporation with a significant
131-physical presence in the state and that employs individuals who may
132-benefit from early childhood education and state child care initiatives,
133-and (ii) one of whom shall be a representative of the Office of Early
134-Childhood and who administers Part C of the Individuals with
135-Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1431 et. seq., as amended from time
136-to time;
137-(G) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing
138-committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
139-relating to finance, revenue and bonding;
140-(H) One member of the General Assembly appointed by the speaker
141-of the House of Representatives and one member of the General
142-Assembly appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;
143-(I) The commissioners of Early Childhood and Education, or their
144-designees;
145-(J) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the
146-secretary's designee;
147-(K) The Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee; and
148-(L) The Comptroller, or the Comptroller's designee.
149-(3) Each appointed member shall serve in accordance with the
150-provisions of section 4-1a of the general statutes and the appointing
151-authorities shall appoint members to ensure representation on the
152-commission of all geographic areas in the state, to the extent practicable.
153-(4) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
154-General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance,
155-revenue and bonding shall serve as administrative staff of the Substitute House Bill No. 5002
105+LCO 4 of 11
156106
157-Public Act No. 24-91 6 of 18
107+philanthropic organization engaged in early childhood education issues 81
108+or child care issues in the state; 82
109+(D) Two appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom 83
110+shall be a representative of an early childhood education program 84
111+operator in the state; 85
112+(E) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of 86
113+Representatives, one of whom shall be a representative of a non-home-87
114+based child care services provider in the state; 88
115+(F) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom 89
116+shall be an operator or a representative of a home-based child care 90
117+services provider in the state; 91
118+(G) The commissioners of Early Childhood and Education, or their 92
119+designees; 93
120+(H) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 94
121+secretary's designee; 95
122+(I) The Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee; and 96
123+(J) The Comptroller, or the Comptroller's designee. 97
124+(3) Any member of the commission appointed under subparagraph 98
125+(A), (B), (C), (D), (E) or (F) of subdivision (2) of this subsection may be a 99
126+member of the General Assembly and each such appointed member 100
127+shall serve in accordance with the provisions of section 4-1a of the 101
128+general statutes. 102
129+(4) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 103
130+General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, 104
131+revenue and bonding shall serve as administrative staff of the 105
132+commission. 106
133+(5) The Comptroller and one member of the commission selected by 107
134+the speaker of the House of Representatives and one member of the 108 Substitute Bill No. 5002
158135
159-commission.
160-(5) The members appointed under subparagraph (H) of subdivision
161-(2) of this subsection and the Comptroller shall serve as the chairpersons
162-of the commission. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of
163-the commission, which shall be held not later than ninety days after the
164-effective date of this section. The commission shall meet as often as
165-deemed necessary by the chairpersons or a majority of the commission.
166-Any appointed member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings
167-or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any
168-calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from the commission.
169-(6) Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any
170-vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the
171-balance of the unexpired term.
172-(7) A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the
173-transaction of any business.
174-(8) (A) The members of the commission shall serve without
175-compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be
176-reimbursed for travel expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to and
177-from a commission meeting, except that the following members shall be
178-eligible, within the limit of available funds, for a stipend of twenty-five
179-dollars for each hour or portion thereof that such member attends a
180-commission meeting:
181-(i) The parent member of the parent cabinet established by the Office
182-of Early Childhood and the parent of a child receiving services under
183-the birth-to-three program;
184-(ii) The early childhood teacher;
185-(iii) The representative of an early childhood education program
186-operator, provided such representative is an employee of such program Substitute House Bill No. 5002
187136
188-Public Act No. 24-91 7 of 18
137+LCO 5 of 11
189138
190-operator and is compensated by such program operator on an hourly
191-basis;
192-(iv) The representative of a non-home-based child care services
193-provider, provided such representative is an employee of such provider
194-and is compensated by such provider on an hourly basis; and
195-(v) The operator or representative of a home-based child care services
196-provider, provided such representative is an employee of such provider.
197-(B) The time spent by a member under subparagraph (A)(i) to (A)(v),
198-inclusive, of this subdivision to travel to and from such meeting shall
199-not be counted for purposes of calculating the stipend under this
200-subdivision.
201-(C) Each member seeking the travel expenses or stipend under this
202-subdivision shall submit a request to the executive director of the Office
203-of Legislative Management, in such form and manner as prescribed by
204-said director, and shall provide any documentation required by said
205-director to substantiate the requested amount.
206-(b) The commission shall have the following powers and duties:
207-(1) Review and monitor the Early Childhood Care and Education
208-Fund to assess its financial sustainability;
209-(2) Obtain from any executive department, board, commission or
210-other agency of the state such assistance and data as necessary and
211-available to carry out the purposes of this section; and
212-(3) Perform such other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to
213-carry out the duties described in this section.
214-(c) The commission shall:
215-(1) Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, submit a Substitute House Bill No. 5002
139+commission selected by the president pro tempore of the Senate shall 109
140+serve as the chairpersons of the commission. Such chairpersons shall 110
141+schedule the first meeting of the commission, which shall be held not 111
142+later than ninety days after the effective date of this section. The 112
143+commission shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the 113
144+chairpersons or a majority of the commission. Any appointed member 114
145+who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or who fails to attend 115
146+fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be 116
147+deemed to have resigned from the commission. 117
148+(6) Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any 118
149+vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the 119
150+balance of the unexpired term. 120
151+(7) A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the 121
152+transaction of any business. 122
153+(8) (A) The members of the commission shall serve without 123
154+compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be 124
155+reimbursed for travel expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to and 125
156+from a commission meeting, except that the following members shall be 126
157+eligible, within the limit of available funds, for a stipend of twenty-five 127
158+dollars for each hour or portion thereof that such member attends a 128
159+commission meeting: 129
160+(i) A parent member of the Early Childhood Cabinet; 130
161+(ii) A representative of an early childhood education program 131
162+operator, provided such representative is an employee of such program 132
163+operator and is compensated by such program operator on an hourly 133
164+basis; 134
165+(iii) A representative of a non-home-based child care services 135
166+provider, provided such representative is an employee of such provider 136
167+and is compensated by such provider on an hourly basis; and 137
168+(iv) An operator or a representative of a home-based child care 138 Substitute Bill No. 5002
216169
217-Public Act No. 24-91 8 of 18
218170
219-report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general
220-statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly
221-having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets
222-of state agencies, finance, revenue and bonding, education and children,
223-on the financial health and status of the Early Childhood Care and
224-Education Fund, including, but not limited to, (A) the amounts on
225-deposit in said fund, (B) disbursements made or expected to be made
226-from said fund for the applicable fiscal year, (C) the rates of return on
227-investments made by the Treasurer pursuant to subsection (c) of this
228-section, (D) a statement as to the sufficiency of the amounts on deposit
229-in said fund to achieve the purposes of said fund, and (E) any
230-recommendations for policy changes and amendments to the general
231-statutes necessary to further the purposes of said fund;
232-(2) Not later than January 1, 2026, submit a five-year plan, in
233-accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes,
234-to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having
235-cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state
236-agencies, finance, revenue and bonding, education and children, of
237-recommendations of expenditures from said fund that would best
238-support early childhood education in, and child care needs of, the state.
239-The commission shall, in developing such plan, consider reports on the
240-state of (A) early childhood care and education in the state, and (B)
241-kindergarten readiness in the state, as well as best practices in other
242-states. The commission shall update such plan at least annually and
243-submit such updated plan annually to said committees; and
244-(3) Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, hold a
245-public hearing annually on the state of the fund and of early childhood
246-education and child care in the state.
247-Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) The Office of Early Childhood
248-shall, within available appropriations, establish a Tri-Share Child Care
249-Matching Program serving New London County. Under such program, Substitute House Bill No. 5002
171+LCO 6 of 11
250172
251-Public Act No. 24-91 9 of 18
173+services provider, provided such representative is an employee of such 139
174+provider. 140
175+(B) The time spent by a member under subparagraphs (A)(i) to 141
176+(A)(iv), inclusive, of this subdivision to travel to and from such meeting 142
177+shall not be counted for purposes of calculating the stipend under this 143
178+subdivision. 144
179+(C) Each member seeking the travel expenses or stipend under this 145
180+subdivision shall submit a request to the executive director of the Office 146
181+of Legislative Management, in such form and manner as prescribed by 147
182+said director, and shall provide any documentation required by said 148
183+director to substantiate the requested amount. 149
184+(b) The commission shall have the following powers and duties: 150
185+(1) Review and monitor the Early Childhood Care and Education 151
186+Fund to assess its financial sustainability; 152
187+(2) Obtain from any executive department, board, commission or 153
188+other agency of the state such assistance and data as necessary and 154
189+available to carry out the purposes of this section; and 155
190+(3) Perform such other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to 156
191+carry out the duties described in this section. 157
192+(c) The commission shall: 158
193+(1) Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, submit a 159
194+report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 160
195+statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 161
196+having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets 162
197+of state agencies, finance, revenue and bonding, education and children, 163
198+on the financial health and status of the Early Childhood Care and 164
199+Education Fund, including, but not limited to, (A) the amounts on 165
200+deposit in said fund, (B) disbursements made or expected to be made 166
201+from said fund for the applicable fiscal year, (C) the rates of return on 167
202+investments made by the Treasurer pursuant to subsection (c) of this 168 Substitute Bill No. 5002
252203
253-costs for child care provided by duly licensed child care facilities in the
254-state shall be shared equally among participating employers, employees
255-and the state.
256-(b) (1) The program shall be established for a minimum of two years
257-and the office shall select a regional or state-wide organization as the
258-administrator of the program. Such administrator shall (A) determine
259-employers' and employees' eligibility for participation in the program,
260-(B) ensure that child care facilities to which payments will be made
261-under the program are licensed by the state, (C) collect and ensure
262-timely payment from participating employers, participating employees
263-and the state, (D) disburse funds to the appropriate child care provider,
264-(E) recruit employers to participate in the program, (F) coordinate
265-adequate communication between all parties, and (G) collect and submit
266-to the Office of Early Childhood data concerning participating
267-employees, including, but not limited to, the annual household income
268-of such employees, provided any such submitted data shall be
269-deidentified.
270-(2) To be eligible to participate in the program:
271-(A) An employer shall have a physical facility located in New London
272-County that is the principal workplace of its employees; and
273-(B) An employee shall (i) be employed by a participating employer,
274-(ii) reside in the state, (iii) have as such employee's principal workplace
275-a location in New London County, and (iv) not be receiving other public
276-assistance for child care costs.
277-(c) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall enter into an
278-agreement with such administrator to perform the duties described
279-under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section. Such agreement
280-shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) a provision that the
281-administrator shall receive, for administrative costs of the program, up Substitute House Bill No. 5002
282204
283-Public Act No. 24-91 10 of 18
205+LCO 7 of 11
284206
285-to ten per cent of the funds allocated by the state for the program, (2) a
286-requirement that the administrator not commingle funds received for
287-purposes of the program, other than funds for administrative costs
288-allowed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, with other funds
289-held or controlled by the administrator, (3) any restrictions or
290-prohibitions on the disclosure of data received or collected by the
291-administrator in the performance of its duties under subdivision (1) of
292-subsection (b) of this section, and (4) penalties for violation of a
293-provision of the agreement or of this section.
294-(d) Commencing with the fiscal year immediately following the first
295-year of the program and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall
296-submit to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having
297-cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state
298-agencies, finance, revenue and bonding, education and children, a
299-report on the program. Such report shall include, but need not be limited
300-to, (1) for the fiscal year immediately preceding, (A) the number of
301-participating employers and participating employees, (B) the
302-percentage of participating employees whose household incomes are
303-below the asset limited, income constrained, employed population
304-threshold, as calculated in the most recent ALICE report by the United
305-Way of Connecticut, and (C) the amounts disbursed by the
306-administrator for child care costs and the amounts retained by the
307-administrator for administrative costs, and (2) any programmatic or
308-legislative changes the commissioner recommends to improve the
309-program or further its purposes.
310-Sec. 4. (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section:
311-(1) "Early childhood teacher" means an individual in a state-funded
312-school readiness program or in a state-funded child care program, (A)
313-who has primary responsibility for a classroom of children, (B) who is
314-regularly scheduled in such capacity and has been employed in such
315-capacity by such program for at least six months as of the time of Substitute House Bill No. 5002
207+section, (D) a statement as to the sufficiency of the amounts on deposit 169
208+in said fund to achieve the purposes of said fund, and (E) any 170
209+recommendations for policy changes and amendments to the general 171
210+statutes necessary to further the purposes of said fund; 172
211+(2) Not later than January 1, 2026, submit a ten-year plan, in 173
212+accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 174
213+to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 175
214+cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state 176
215+agencies, finance, revenue and bonding, education and children, of 177
216+recommendations of expenditures from said fund that would best 178
217+support early childhood education in, and child care needs of, the state. 179
218+The commission shall, in developing such plan, consider reports on the 180
219+state of (A) early childhood care and education in the state, and (B) 181
220+kindergarten readiness in the state, as well as best practices in other 182
221+states. The commission shall update such plan at least annually and 183
222+submit such updated plan annually to said committees; and 184
223+(3) Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, hold a 185
224+public hearing annually on the state of the fund and of early childhood 186
225+education and child care in the state. 187
226+Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes described in 188
227+section 10-511 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, the State 189
228+Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize 190
229+the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal 191
230+amounts not exceeding in the aggregate fifty million dollars. 192
231+(b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 193
232+stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Office of Early 194
233+Childhood for the purpose of implementing programs and initiatives 195
234+enacted to support early childhood education in, and child care needs 196
235+of, the state. 197
236+(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise 198
237+of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the 199
238+provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all 200 Substitute Bill No. 5002
316239
317-Public Act No. 24-91 11 of 18
318240
319-submitting an application under subsection (c) of this section, and (C)
320-whose duties in such capacity equal at least fifty per cent of the assigned
321-time of such individual;
322-(2) "Teacher assistant" means an individual in a state-funded school
323-readiness program or in a state-funded child care program, (A) whose
324-primary duty is to assist an early childhood teacher in the provision of
325-early childhood care or as part of a school readiness program, and (B)
326-who is regularly scheduled in such capacity and has been employed in
327-such capacity by such program for at least six months as of the time of
328-submitting an application under subsection (c) of this section; and
329-(3) "School readiness program" has the same meaning as provided in
330-section 10-16p of the general statutes.
331-(b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the Office of Early
332-Childhood shall establish and administer a wage supplement payment
333-program to provide a one-time payment of not less than one thousand
334-eight hundred dollars to eligible early childhood teachers and teacher
335-assistants, provided each eligible applicant receiving a payment under
336-the program shall receive the same payment amount. Such payments
337-shall be provided on a first-come first-served basis up to the amount
338-made available for such payments pursuant to subsection (d) of this
339-section.
340-(2) To the extent permissible under federal law, payments made
341-under this section shall not be considered income or an asset for the
342-purposes of determining eligibility for any state-administered public
343-assistance program, including any HUSKY program described in
344-section 17b-290 of the general statutes.
345-(c) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall determine (1) an
346-application period for early childhood teachers and teacher assistants to
347-apply to the Office of Early Childhood to register for a wage supplement Substitute House Bill No. 5002
241+LCO 8 of 11
348242
349-Public Act No. 24-91 12 of 18
243+bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this 201
244+section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived 202
245+from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in 203
246+accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to 204
247+time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 205
248+exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 206
249+in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 207
250+Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 208
251+authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 209
252+there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 210
253+by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 211
254+and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 212
255+discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 213
256+be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 214
257+of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 215
258+interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 216
259+part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 217
260+appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 218
261+principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 219
262+such principal and interest as the same become due. 220
263+Sec. 4. (Effective July 1, 2024) Not later than June 30, 2025, fifty million 221
264+dollars shall be transferred from the General Fund to the Early 222
265+Childhood Care and Education Fund, established pursuant to section 223
266+10-511 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 224
267+Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) The Office of Early Childhood 225
268+shall, within available appropriations, establish a Tri-Share Child Care 226
269+Matching Program serving New London County. Under such program, 227
270+costs for child care provided by duly licensed child care facilities in the 228
271+state shall be shared equally among participating employers, employees 229
272+and the state. 230
273+(b) (1) The program shall be established for a minimum of two years 231
274+and the office shall select a regional or state-wide organization as the 232
275+administrator of the program. Such administrator shall (A) determine 233 Substitute Bill No. 5002
350276
351-payment, (2) the form and manner of such application, and (3) the form
352-and manner of disseminating information about the program to best
353-achieve the purposes of this section. The office shall review the
354-applications submitted pursuant to this section and confirm the
355-eligibility of the applicant to receive such payment. Not later than thirty
356-days after the office receives an application, the office shall notify the
357-applicant whether such applicant is approved for such payment and if
358-such applicant is not approved, the office shall provide the reason or
359-reasons why.
360-(d) The sum of nine million dollars of the amount appropriated in
361-section 1 of public act 23-204 to the Office of Early Childhood for the
362-fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, for Early Care and Education and used
363-by said office for school readiness and child day care purposes, shall be
364-used to fund the wage supplement payments provided pursuant to this
365-section.
366-(e) Not later than October 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Early
367-Childhood shall submit to the joint standing committees of the General
368-Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and
369-the budgets of state agencies, finance, revenue and bonding, education
370-and children, a report on the program. Such report shall include, but
371-need not be limited to, (1) the number of early childhood teachers and
372-the number of teacher assistants that submitted applications, (2) the
373-number of such applicants who were approved for a wage supplement
374-payment, (3) the amounts of the payments made to eligible early
375-childhood teachers and to eligible teacher assistants and the total
376-amount disbursed under the program, and (4) a recommendation of
377-whether such program should be expanded or extended.
378-Sec. 5. Subsection (c) of section 4b-21 of the general statutes is
379-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
380-2024): Substitute House Bill No. 5002
381277
382-Public Act No. 24-91 13 of 18
278+LCO 9 of 11
383279
384-(c) Not later than thirty days after receipt of such notification from
385-the secretary, the following agencies shall determine and notify the
386-secretary in writing if the land, improvement or interest serves the
387-following needs: (1) The Commissioner of Economic and Community
388-Development, whether it can be used or adapted for economic
389-development or exchanged for property that can be used for economic
390-development; (2) the Commissioner of Transportation, whether it can be
391-used for transportation purposes; (3) the Commissioner of Energy and
392-Environmental Protection, whether it can be used for open space
393-purposes or to otherwise support the department's mission; (4) the
394-Commissioner of Agriculture, whether it can be used for farming or
395-agricultural purposes; (5) the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs,
396-whether it can be used for veterans' housing; (6) the Commissioner of
397-Children and Families, whether it can be used to support the
398-department's mission; (7) the Commissioner of Developmental Services,
399-whether it can be used to support the department's mission; (8) the
400-Commissioner of Administrative Services, whether it can be used to
401-house state agencies or can be leased; [and] (9) the Commissioner of
402-Housing, whether it can be used as an emergency shelter or transitional
403-living facility for homeless persons, or used for the construction,
404-rehabilitation or renovation of housing for persons and families of low
405-and moderate income; and (10) the Commissioner of Early Childhood,
406-whether it can be used for the provision of early childhood care and
407-early childhood education programs. Not later than thirty days after
408-receipt of such notification from the secretary, any state agency,
409-department or institution that is interested in utilizing the land,
410-improvement or interest shall submit a plan to the secretary that sets
411-forth the proposed use for the land, improvement or interest and a
412-budget and timetable for such use. If one or more agencies, departments
413-or institutions submit a plan for such land, improvement or interest to
414-the secretary within such thirty-day period, the secretary shall analyze
415-such agency, department or institution plan or plans and determine
416-whether custody and control of the land, improvement or interest shall Substitute House Bill No. 5002
280+employers' and employees' eligibility for participation in the program, 234
281+(B) ensure that child care facilities to which payments will be made 235
282+under the program are licensed by the state, (C) collect and ensure 236
283+timely payment from participating employers, participating employees 237
284+and the state, (D) disburse funds to the appropriate child care provider, 238
285+(E) recruit employers to participate in the program, and (F) coordinate 239
286+adequate communication between all parties. 240
287+(2) To be eligible to participate in the program: 241
288+(A) An employer shall have a physical facility located in New London 242
289+County that is the principal workplace of its employees; and 243
290+(B) An employee shall (i) be employed by a participating employer, 244
291+(ii) shall reside in the state, (iii) have as such employee's principal 245
292+workplace a location in New London County, (iv) be part of the asset 246
293+limited, income constrained, employed population that is below the 247
294+ALICE threshold, as calculated in the most recent annual report by the 248
295+United Way of Connecticut and provided to the administrator by the 249
296+commissioner, and (v) not be receiving other public assistance for child 250
297+care costs. 251
298+(c) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall enter into an 252
299+agreement with such administrator to perform the duties described 253
300+under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section. Such agreement 254
301+shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) a provision that the 255
302+administrator shall receive, for administrative costs of the program, up 256
303+to ten per cent of the funds allocated by the state for the program, (2) a 257
304+requirement that the administrator not commingle funds received for 258
305+purposes of the program, other than funds for administrative costs 259
306+allowed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, with other funds 260
307+held or controlled by the administrator, and (3) penalties for violation 261
308+of a provision of the agreement or of this section. 262
309+(d) Commencing with the fiscal year immediately following the first 263
310+year of the program and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall 264
311+submit to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 265 Substitute Bill No. 5002
417312
418-Public Act No. 24-91 14 of 18
419313
420-be transferred to one of such agencies, departments or institutions, in
421-which case the agency, department or institution having custody of the
422-land, improvement or interest shall make such transfer.
423-Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than December 1, 2024,
424-the Commissioner of Early Childhood shall, in consultation with a
425-nonprofit organization providing entrepreneurial and financial
426-education services to women, develop a document for distribution to
427-each person, group of persons, association, organization, corporation,
428-institution or agency licensed to maintain a child care center or group
429-child care home pursuant to section 19a-80 of the general statutes or
430-family child care home pursuant to section 19a-87b of the general
431-statutes, explaining the benefits of maintaining liability insurance
432-coverage for such center or home and the potential consequences that
433-may result in the absence of such coverage. Not later than January 1,
434-2025, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall distribute such
435-document electronically to each such licensee.
436-Sec. 7. Section 10-514 of the general statutes is repealed and the
437-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
438-(a) Not later than January 1, 2020, the Office of Early Childhood shall
439-create a one-page document that (1) lists important developmental
440-milestones experienced by children ages birth to five years, and (2)
441-contains notice that any parent or guardian who is concerned that such
442-parent or guardian's child has not met one or more such developmental
443-milestones may access the Office of Early Childhood Child
444-Development Infoline for information concerning appropriate services.
445-The office shall make such document available on its Internet web site.
446-(b) On and after [February 1, 2020] July 1, 2024, each operator of a
447-child care center, group child care home or family child care home, as
448-described in section 19a-77, other than those centers or homes that serve
449-school-age children exclusively, shall post a copy of the document Substitute House Bill No. 5002
314+LCO 10 of 11
450315
451-Public Act No. 24-91 15 of 18
316+cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state 266
317+agencies, finance, revenue and bonding, education and children, a 267
318+report on the program. Such report shall include, but need not be limited 268
319+to, (1) for the fiscal year immediately preceding, (A) the number of 269
320+participating employers and participating employees, and (B) the 270
321+amounts disbursed by the administrator for child care costs and the 271
322+amounts retained by the administrator for administrative costs, and (2) 272
323+any programmatic or legislative changes the commissioner 273
324+recommends to improve the program or further its purposes. 274
325+Sec. 6. (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section: 275
326+(1) "Early childhood education program operator" means a school 276
327+readiness program, private preschool program or program pursuant to 277
328+section 8-210 of the general statutes; and 278
329+(2) "Child care services provider" means a child care center, group 279
330+child care home or family child care home, as those terms are described 280
331+in section 19a-77 of the general statutes. 281
332+(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the Office of Early 282
333+Childhood shall establish and administer a wage supplement and child 283
334+care program enhancement grant program for early childhood 284
335+education program operators and child care services providers. On and 285
336+after August 1, 2025, the office shall provide grants to early childhood 286
337+education program operators and child care services providers that 287
338+meet the eligibility requirements developed by the office pursuant to 288
339+subsection (d) of this section and submit an application for a grant, in 289
340+such form and manner as prescribed by the office. A grant awarded 290
341+under this section may be used by such early childhood education 291
342+program operator or child care services provider to supplement the 292
343+annual salaries of the employees of such operator or provider or to 293
344+address any other programmatic or administrative needs, in accordance 294
345+with the guidelines developed by the office pursuant to subsection (d) 295
346+of this section. 296
347+(c) In determining whether to award a grant under this section, the 297 Substitute Bill No. 5002
452348
453-developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section in a conspicuous
454-place on the premises of such child care center, group child care home
455-or family child care home.
456-Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 17b-749 of the 2024 supplement to the
457-general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
458-thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
459-(a) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish and operate
460-a child care subsidy program to increase the availability, affordability
461-and quality of child care services for families with a parent or caretaker
462-who (1) is (A) working or attending high school, or (B) subject to the
463-provisions of subsection (d) of this section, is enrolled or participating
464-in (i) a public or independent institution of higher education, (ii) a
465-private career school authorized pursuant to sections 10a-22a to 10a-22o,
466-inclusive, (iii) a job training or employment program administered by a
467-regional workforce development board, (iv) an apprenticeship program
468-administered by the Labor Department's office of apprenticeship
469-training, (v) an alternate route to certification program approved by the
470-State Board of Education, (vi) an adult education program pursuant to
471-section 10-69 or other high school equivalency program, or (vii) a local
472-Even Start program or other adult education program approved by the
473-Commissioner of Early Childhood; or (2) receives cash assistance under
474-the temporary family assistance program from the Department of Social
475-Services and is participating in an education, training or other job
476-preparation activity approved pursuant to subsection (b) of section 17b-
477-688i or subsection (b) of section 17b-689d. Services available under the
478-child care subsidy program shall include the provision of child care
479-subsidies for children under the age of thirteen or children under the
480-age of nineteen with special needs. The Commissioner of Early
481-Childhood may institute a protective service class in which the
482-commissioner may w aive eligibility requirements for at-risk
483-populations that meet the guidelines prescribed by the commissioner, Substitute House Bill No. 5002
484349
485-Public Act No. 24-91 16 of 18
350+LCO 11 of 11
486351
487-and subject to review by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and
488-Management. Such at-risk populations are children (A) placed in a
489-foster home by the Department of Children and Families and for whom
490-the parent or legal guardian receives foster care payments, (B) adopted
491-[children for one year from the date of adoption and] through the
492-Department of Children and Families, (C) who are homeless children
493-and youths, as defined in 42 USC 11434a, as amended from time to time,
494-and (D) under the care of a caregiver who is a recipient of subsidies
495-under the subsidized guardianship program pursuant to section 17a-
496-126. Any child described in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision shall
497-be eligible for a subsidy under this section for a period not to exceed one
498-year from the date of adoption and any child described in subparagraph
499-(D) of this subdivision shall be eligible for a subsidy under this section
500-for a period not to exceed one year from the date that such child is
501-approved for a subsidy under this section. The Office of Early
502-Childhood shall open and maintain enrollment for the child care
503-subsidy program and shall administer such program within the existing
504-budgetary resources available. The office shall issue a notice on the
505-office's Internet web site any time the office closes the program to new
506-applications, changes eligibility requirements, changes program
507-benefits or makes any other change to the program's status or terms,
508-except the office shall not be required to issue such notice when the
509-office expands program eligibility. Any change in the office's acceptance
510-of new applications, eligibility requirements, program benefits or any
511-other change to the program's status or terms for which the office is
512-required to give notice pursuant to this subsection, shall not be effective
513-until thirty days after the office issues such notice.
514-Sec. 9. Subsection (h) of section 17b-749 of the 2024 supplement to the
515-general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
516-thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
517-(h) [On or after July 1, 2014, the commissioner shall adopt regulations, Substitute House Bill No. 5002
352+commissioner shall give priority to early childhood education program 298
353+operators and child care services providers that will use such grant 299
354+exclusively to supplement the annual salaries of the employees of such 300
355+operator or provider. 301
356+(d) The office shall develop (1) eligibility criteria for which early 302
357+childhood education program operators and child care services 303
358+providers are eligible to receive a grant under this section, and (2) 304
359+guidelines for the administration of the program and the expenditure of 305
360+a grant awarded under this section by a childhood education program 306
361+operator or child care services provider. Such eligibility criteria shall 307
362+limit grants to early childhood education program operators and child 308
363+care services providers serving high-need populations, as determined 309
364+by the commissioner, taking into account the findings and 310
365+recommendations in the 2023 report issued by the Blue-Ribbon Panel on 311
366+Child Care established by Executive Order Number 23-1 issued by 312
367+Governor Ned Lamont. 313
368+Sec. 7. Section 10-511a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 314
369+is repealed. (Effective from passage) 315
370+This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
371+sections:
518372
519-Public Act No. 24-91 17 of 18
373+Section 1 from passage 10-511
374+Sec. 2 from passage New section
375+Sec. 3 July 1, 2024 New section
376+Sec. 4 July 1, 2024 New section
377+Sec. 5 July 1, 2024 New section
378+Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 New section
379+Sec. 7 from passage Repealer section
520380
521-in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the
522-provisions of this section] On and after July 1, 2024, the commissioner
523-shall implement the provisions of 45 CFR 98, as amended from time to
524-time, to administer the child care subsidy program. The commissioner
525-shall develop policies and procedures necessary to implement the
526-provisions of this section.
527-Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) As used in this section:
528-(1) "Early intervention services" has the same meaning as provided in
529-section 17a-248 of the general statutes; and
530-(2) "Individualized family service plan" has the same meaning as
531-provided in section 17a-248 of the general statutes.
532-(b) A licensed child care center, group child care home or family child
533-care home, as such terms are described in section 19a-77 of the general
534-statutes, shall allow a child who has an individualized family service
535-plan and is eligible for the birth-to-three program, established under
536-section 17a-248b of the general statutes, to receive early intervention
537-services at such child care center, group child care home or family child
538-care home from the service provider designated in such individualized
539-family service plan.
540-Sec. 11. (Effective July 1, 2024) Not later than October 1, 2024, the
541-Secretary of the State shall update the official compilation of the
542-regulations of Connecticut state agencies posted on the eRegulations
543-System to comply with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general
544-statutes and section 12 of this act.
545-Sec. 12. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of
546-chapter 54 of the general statutes, sections 17b-749-01 to 17b-749-23,
547-inclusive, of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies are repealed.
548-Sec. 13. Section 10-511a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes Substitute House Bill No. 5002
549-
550-Public Act No. 24-91 18 of 18
551-
552-is repealed. (Effective from passage)
381+FIN Joint Favorable Subst.
553382