Connecticut 2024 2024 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05341 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/27/2024

                       
 
LCO No. 2080  	1 of 23 
 
General Assembly  Raised Bill No. 5341  
February Session, 2024 
LCO No. 2080 
 
 
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND 
EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT  
 
 
Introduced by:  
(HED)  
 
 
 
 
AN ACT REQUIRING REPORTING OF PROJECTED AND ACTUAL 
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF 
HIGHER EDUCATION. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. Section 10a-77 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 2 
(a) Subject to the provisions of section 10a-26, the Board of [Trustees 3 
of the Community-Technical Colleges] Regents for Higher Education 4 
shall fix fees for tuition at the regional community-technical colleges and 5 
shall fix fees for such other purposes as the board deems necessary at 6 
the regional community-technical colleges, and may make refunds to 7 
the same. 8 
(b) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall establish and 9 
administer a fund to be known as the Regional Community-Technical 10 
Colleges Operating Fund. Appropriations from general revenues of the 11 
state and, upon request by the board and with an annual review and 12 
approval by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the 13  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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amount of the appropriations for fringe benefits and workers' 14 
compensation applicable to the regional community-technical colleges 15 
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4-73, shall be transferred from the 16 
Comptroller, and all tuition revenue received by the regional 17 
community-technical colleges in accordance with the provisions of 18 
subsection (a) of this section shall be deposited in said fund. Income 19 
from student fees or related charges; the proceeds of auxiliary activities 20 
and business enterprises, gifts and donations; federal funds and grants 21 
for purposes other than research, and all receipts derived from the 22 
conduct by the colleges of their education extension programs and 23 
summer school sessions shall be credited to said fund but shall be 24 
allocated to the central office and institutional operating accounts which 25 
shall be established and maintained for the central office and each 26 
community-technical college. If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 27 
Management disapproves such transfer, the secretary may require the 28 
amount of the appropriation for operating expenses to be used for 29 
personal services and fringe benefits to be excluded from said fund. The 30 
State Treasurer shall review and approve the transfer prior to such 31 
request by the board. The board shall establish an equitable policy, in 32 
accordance with section 10a-8, for allocation of appropriations from 33 
general revenues of the state, fringe benefits transferred from the 34 
Comptroller and tuition revenue deposited in the Regional Community-35 
Technical Colleges Operating Fund. At the beginning of each quarter of 36 
the fiscal year, the board shall allocate and transfer, in accordance with 37 
said policy, moneys for expenditure in such institutional operating 38 
accounts, exclusive of amounts retained for central office operations and 39 
reasonable reserves for future distribution. All costs of waiving or 40 
remitting tuition pursuant to subsection (f) of this section shall be 41 
charged to the Regional Community-Technical Colleges Operating 42 
Fund. Repairs, alterations or additions to facilities supported by 43 
operating funds and costing one million dollars or more shall require 44 
the approval of the General Assembly, or when the General Assembly 45 
is not in session, of the Finance Advisory Committee. Any balance of 46 
receipts above expenditures shall remain in said fund, except such sums 47 
as may be required for deposit into a debt service fund or the General 48  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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Fund for further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on general 49 
obligation bonds of the state issued for purposes of the regional 50 
community-technical colleges. 51 
(c) [Commencing December 1, 1984, and thereafter not] (1) Not later 52 
than sixty days after the close of each quarter, the [board of trustees] 53 
Board of Regents for Higher Education shall submit, in accordance with 54 
the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the 55 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 56 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, the Office of Higher 57 
Education and the Office of Policy and Management a report on the 58 
actual expenditures of the Regional Community-Technical Colleges 59 
Operating Fund. 60 
(2) Not later than August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Board 61 
of Regents for Higher Education shall submit, in accordance with the 62 
provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 63 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 64 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and higher education 65 
and employment advancement the actual revenue and expenditures of 66 
the Regional Community-Technical Colleges Operating Fund during 67 
the prior fiscal year, itemized by the categories specified in subdivision 68 
(4) of this subsection. 69 
(3) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Board 70 
of Regents for Higher Education shall submit, in accordance with the 71 
provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 72 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 73 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and higher education 74 
and employment advancement the projected revenue and expenditures 75 
of the Regional Community-Technical Colleges Operating Fund for the 76 
current fiscal year, itemized by the categories specified in subdivision 77 
(4) of this subsection. 78 
(4) (A) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall categorize 79 
the actual and projected revenue of the Regional Community-Technical 80  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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Colleges Operating Fund by state support and other sources of revenue. 81 
Under the state support category, the board shall itemize revenue by (i) 82 
ongoing state support, (ii) funds allocated for said fund from the federal 83 
funds designated for the state pursuant to the American Rescue Plan 84 
Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, if any, (iii) deficiency funding, (iv) state-paid 85 
fringe benefits, and (v) any other category of funding from the state. 86 
Under the other sources of revenue category, the board shall itemize 87 
revenue by (I) tuition, (II) fees, (III) federal funds, grants and contracts, 88 
(IV) foundation and endowment funds, (V) sales and services, (VI) 89 
auxiliary enterprises, and (VII) any other category of revenue from other 90 
sources. 91 
(B) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall itemize the 92 
actual and projected expenditures of the Regional Community-93 
Technical Colleges Operating Fund by (i) personal services, (ii) fringe 94 
benefits, (iii) energy, (iv) equipment, (v) student financial aid, (vi) debt 95 
service and other projects or transfers, and (vii) any other category of 96 
expenditure. 97 
(d) [Said board of trustees] The Board of Regents for Higher 98 
Education shall waive the payment of tuition at any of the regional 99 
community-technical colleges (1) for any dependent child of a person 100 
whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing 101 
in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed 102 
forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission 103 
to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is 104 
accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions 105 
of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-106 
103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 107 
except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 108 
not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 109 
which veteran has been accepted for admission to such institution and 110 
is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for 111 
admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two 112 
years of age or older, provided, at the end of the regular registration 113 
period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students 114  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this 115 
subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll 116 
and there is space available in such course after accommodating all such 117 
students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut State Police 118 
Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said 119 
academy offered in coordination with a regional community-technical 120 
college which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) for any active 121 
member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has 122 
been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's 123 
designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled 124 
or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time 125 
basis in an undergraduate degree-granting program, (6) for any 126 
dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or 127 
supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in 128 
section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 129 
employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in 130 
the line of duty, (7) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child 131 
or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of 132 
this state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was 133 
killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 134 
10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (9) for any resident of 135 
the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who 136 
was killed in action while performing active military duty with the 137 
armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and 138 
who was a resident of this state. If any person who receives a tuition 139 
waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives 140 
educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be 141 
reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans 142 
and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (5) of this 143 
subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 144 
tuition waivers in registering for courses at regional community-145 
technical colleges. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as 146 
used in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for 147 
less than one year. 148  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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(e) (1) If any veteran described in subsection (d) of this section has 149 
applied for federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans 150 
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the [board of trustees] Board of 151 
Regents for Higher Education shall waive the payment of tuition at any 152 
of the regional community-technical colleges for such veteran in 153 
accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection. If any such veteran 154 
certifies to said board that such veteran's application for such federal 155 
educational assistance has been denied or withdrawn, said board [of 156 
trustees] shall waive the payment of tuition in accordance with 157 
subsection (d) of this section. 158 
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, "veteran tuition benefit" 159 
means the portion of federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 160 
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to be paid to a regional 161 
community-technical college on behalf of a veteran that represents 162 
payment for tuition. Such portion shall be calculated by multiplying (i) 163 
the total amount of such federal educational assistance to be paid to a 164 
regional community-technical college on behalf of such veteran by (ii) 165 
an amount obtained by dividing (I) the actual tuition charged by such 166 
college to such veteran by (II) the sum of the actual tuition and fees 167 
charged by such college to such veteran. 168 
(B) Said board [of trustees] shall waive the payment of tuition in 169 
excess of the veteran tuition benefit at any of the regional community-170 
technical colleges for such veteran. 171 
(f) Said board shall set aside from its anticipated regional community-172 
technical college tuition revenue, an amount not less than that required 173 
by said board's tuition policy. Such funds shall be used to provide 174 
tuition waivers, tuition remissions, grants for educational expenses and 175 
student employment for residents enrolled in regional community-176 
technical colleges as full or part-time matriculated students in a degree-177 
granting program, or enrolled in a precollege remedial program, who 178 
demonstrate substantial financial need. Said board may also set aside 179 
from its anticipated tuition revenue an additional amount equal to one 180 
per cent of said tuition revenue for financial assistance for students who 181  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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would not otherwise be eligible for financial assistance but who do have 182 
a financial need as determined by the college in accordance with this 183 
subsection. In determining such financial need, the college shall exclude 184 
the value of equity in the principal residence of the student's parents or 185 
legal guardians, or in the student's principal residence if the student is 186 
not considered to be a dependent of [his] such student's parents or legal 187 
guardians and shall assess the earnings of a dependent student at the 188 
rate of thirty per cent. 189 
(g) The Regional Community-Technical Colleges Operating Fund 190 
shall be reimbursed for the amount by which the tuition waivers 191 
granted under subsection (d) of this section exceed five per cent of 192 
tuition revenue through an annual state appropriation. The [board of 193 
trustees] Board of Regents for Higher Education shall request such an 194 
appropriation and said appropriation shall be based upon an estimate 195 
of tuition revenue loss using tuition rates in effect for the fiscal year in 196 
which such appropriation will apply. 197 
(h) Said board [of trustees] shall allow any student who is a member 198 
of the armed forces called to active duty during any semester to enroll 199 
in any course for which such student had remitted tuition but which 200 
was not completed due to active duty status. Such course reenrollment 201 
shall be offered to any qualifying student for a period not exceeding four 202 
years after the date of release from active duty without additional 203 
tuition, student fee or related charge, except if such student has been 204 
fully reimbursed for the tuition, fees and charges for the course that was 205 
not completed. 206 
(i) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall not assess or 207 
charge a graduation fee to any student enrolled in a regional 208 
community-technical college for the purpose of graduating from such 209 
regional community-technical college. 210 
Sec. 2. Section 10a-99 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 211 
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 212 
1, 2024): 213  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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(a) Subject to the provisions of section 10a-26, the Board of [Trustees 214 
of the Connecticut State University System] Regents for Higher 215 
Education shall fix fees for tuition and [shall fix fees] for such other 216 
purposes as the board deems necessary at the [university] Connecticut 217 
State University System, and may make refunds of the same. 218 
(b) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall establish and 219 
administer a fund to be known as the Connecticut State University 220 
System Operating Fund. Appropriations from general revenues of the 221 
state and upon request by the Connecticut State University System and 222 
with the annual review and approval by the Secretary of the Office of 223 
Policy and Management, the amount of the appropriations for fringe 224 
benefits pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4-73, shall be transferred 225 
from the State Comptroller and all tuition revenue received by the 226 
Connecticut State University System in accordance with the provisions 227 
of subsection (a) of this section shall be deposited in said fund. Income 228 
from student fees or related charges, the proceeds of auxiliary activities 229 
and business enterprises, gifts and donations, federal funds and grants, 230 
subject to the provisions of sections 10a-98 to 10a-98g, inclusive, and all 231 
receipts derived from the conduct by a state university of its education 232 
extension program and its summer school session shall be credited to 233 
said fund but shall be allocated to the central office and institutional 234 
operating accounts which shall be established and maintained for the 235 
central office and each state university. Any such gifts and donations, 236 
federal funds and grants for purposes of research shall be allocated to 237 
separate accounts within such central office and institutional operating 238 
accounts. If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 239 
disapproves such transfer, the secretary may require the amount of the 240 
appropriation for operating expenses to be used for personal services 241 
and fringe benefits to be excluded from said fund. The State Treasurer 242 
shall review and approve the transfer prior to such request by the 243 
university. The board shall establish an equitable policy, in accordance 244 
with section 10a-8, for allocation of appropriations from general 245 
revenues of the state, fringe benefits transferred from the State 246 
Comptroller and tuition revenue deposited in the Connecticut State 247  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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University System Operating Fund. At the beginning of each quarter of 248 
the fiscal year, the board shall allocate and transfer, in accordance with 249 
said policy, moneys for expenditure in such institutional operating 250 
accounts, exclusive of amounts retained for central office operations and 251 
reasonable reserves for future distribution. All costs of waiving or 252 
remitting tuition pursuant to subsection (f) of this section shall be 253 
charged to the Connecticut State University System Operating Fund. 254 
Repairs, alterations or additions to facilities supported by the 255 
Connecticut State University System Operating Fund and costing one 256 
million dollars or more shall require the approval of the General 257 
Assembly, or when the General Assembly is not in session, of the 258 
Finance Advisory Committee. Any balance of receipts above 259 
expenditures shall remain in said fund, except such sums as may be 260 
required for deposit into a debt service fund or the General Fund for 261 
further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on general obligation 262 
bonds of the state issued for purposes of the Connecticut State 263 
University System. 264 
(c) [Commencing December 1, 1984, and thereafter not] (1) Not later 265 
than sixty days after the close of each quarter, the [board of trustees] 266 
Board of Regents for Higher Education shall submit, in accordance with 267 
the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the 268 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 269 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, the Office of Higher 270 
Education and the Office of Policy and Management a report on the 271 
actual expenditures of the Connecticut State University System 272 
Operating Fund. 273 
(2) Not later than August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Board 274 
of Regents for Higher Education shall submit, in accordance with the 275 
provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 276 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 277 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and higher education 278 
and employment advancement the actual revenue and expenditures of 279 
the Connecticut State University System Operating Fund during the 280 
prior fiscal year, itemized by the categories specified in subdivision (4) 281  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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of this subsection. 282 
(3) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Board 283 
of Regents for Higher Education shall submit, in accordance with the 284 
provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 285 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 286 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and higher education 287 
and employment advancement the projected revenue and expenditures 288 
of the Connecticut State University System Operating Fund for the 289 
current fiscal year, itemized by the categories specified in subdivision 290 
(4) of this subsection. 291 
(4) (A) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall categorize 292 
the actual and projected revenue of the Connecticut State University 293 
System Operating Fund by state support and other sources of revenue. 294 
Under the state support category, the board shall itemize revenue by (i) 295 
ongoing state support, (ii) funds allocated for said fund from the federal 296 
funds designated for the state pursuant to the American Rescue Plan 297 
Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2 if any, (iii) deficiency funding, (iv) state-paid 298 
fringe benefits, and (v) any other category of funding from the state. 299 
Under the other sources of revenue category, the board shall itemize 300 
revenue by (I) tuition, (II) fees, (III) federal funds, grants and contracts, 301 
(IV) foundation and endowment funds, (V) sales and services, (VI) 302 
auxiliary enterprises, and (VII) any other category of revenue from other 303 
sources. 304 
(B) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall itemize the 305 
actual and projected expenditures of the Connecticut State University 306 
System Operating Fund by (i) personal services, (ii) fringe benefits, (iii) 307 
energy, (iv) equipment, (v) student financial aid, (vi) debt service and 308 
other projects or transfers, and (vii) any other category of expenditure. 309 
(d) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 310 
undergraduate and graduate degree programs at the Connecticut State 311 
University System (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the 312 
armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or 313  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after 314 
January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such 315 
institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted 316 
for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of 317 
subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-318 
103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 319 
except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 320 
not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 321 
which veteran has been accepted for admission to such institution and 322 
is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for 323 
admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two 324 
years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to such 325 
institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting 326 
program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are 327 
enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those 328 
residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the 329 
course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space 330 
available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for 331 
any student attending the Connecticut Police Academy who is enrolled 332 
in a law enforcement program at said academy offered in coordination 333 
with the university which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) 334 
for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard 335 
who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant 336 
General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) 337 
is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time 338 
or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting 339 
program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined 340 
in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) 341 
firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire 342 
company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in 343 
section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state 344 
who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist 345 
victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a 346 
resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the 347 
intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, 348  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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and (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or 349 
surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing 350 
active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or 351 
after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state. If any 352 
person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions 353 
of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an 354 
employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such 355 
educational reimbursement. Veterans and members of the National 356 
Guard described in subdivision (5) of this subsection shall be given the 357 
same status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for 358 
courses at Connecticut state universities. Notwithstanding the 359 
provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in 360 
this state" includes domicile for less than one year. 361 
(e) (1) If any veteran described in subsection (d) of this section has 362 
applied for federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans 363 
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the [board of trustees] Board of 364 
Regents for Higher Education shall waive the payment of tuition at the 365 
Connecticut State University System for such veteran in accordance 366 
with subdivision (2) of this subsection. If any such veteran certifies to 367 
said board that such veteran's application for such federal educational 368 
assistance has been denied or withdrawn, said board [of trustees] shall 369 
waive the payment of tuition in accordance with subsection (d) of this 370 
section. 371 
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, "veteran tuition benefit" 372 
means the portion of federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 373 
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to be paid to the 374 
Connecticut State University System on behalf of a veteran that 375 
represents payment for tuition. Such portion shall be calculated by 376 
multiplying (i) the total amount of such federal educational assistance 377 
to be paid to the Connecticut State University System on behalf of such 378 
veteran by (ii) an amount obtained by dividing (I) the actual tuition 379 
charged by the Connecticut State University System to such veteran by 380 
(II) the sum of the actual tuition and fees charged by the Connecticut 381 
State University System to such veteran. 382  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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(B) Said board [of trustees] shall waive the payment of tuition in 383 
excess of the veteran tuition benefit at the Connecticut State University 384 
System for such veteran. 385 
(f) Said board shall set aside from its anticipated tuition revenue, an 386 
amount not less than that required by the [board of governors'] tuition 387 
policy established under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 10a-388 
6. Such funds shall be used to provide tuition waivers, tuition 389 
remissions, grants for educational expenses and student employment 390 
for any undergraduate or graduate student who is enrolled as a full or 391 
part-time matriculated student in a degree-granting program, or 392 
enrolled in a precollege remedial program, and who demonstrates 393 
substantial financial need. Said board may also set aside from its 394 
anticipated tuition revenue an additional amount equal to one per cent 395 
of said tuition revenue for financial assistance for students who would 396 
not otherwise be eligible for financial assistance but who do have a 397 
financial need as determined by the state university within the 398 
Connecticut State University System in accordance with this subsection. 399 
In determining such financial need, the university shall exclude the 400 
value of equity in the principal residence of the student's parents or legal 401 
guardians, or in the student's principal residence if the student is not 402 
considered to be a dependent of [his] such student's parents or legal 403 
guardians and shall assess the earnings of a dependent student at the 404 
rate of thirty per cent. 405 
(g) The Connecticut State University System Operating Fund shall be 406 
reimbursed for the amount by which the tuition waivers granted under 407 
subsection (d) of this section exceed two and one-half per cent of tuition 408 
revenue through an annual state appropriation. The [board of trustees] 409 
Board of Regents for Higher Education shall request such an 410 
appropriation and said appropriation shall be based upon an estimate 411 
of tuition revenue loss using tuition rates in effect for the fiscal year in 412 
which such appropriation will apply. 413 
(h) Said board [of trustees] shall allow any student who is a member 414 
of the armed forces called to active duty during any semester to enroll 415  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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in any course for which such student had remitted tuition but which 416 
was not completed due to active duty status. Such course reenrollment 417 
shall be offered to any qualifying student for a period not exceeding four 418 
years after the date of release from active duty without additional 419 
tuition, student fee or related charge, except if such student has been 420 
fully reimbursed for the tuition, fees and charges for the course that was 421 
not completed. 422 
(i) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall not assess or 423 
charge a graduation fee to any student enrolled in the Connecticut State 424 
University System for the purpose of graduating from a state university 425 
within such system. 426 
Sec. 3. Subsection (f) of section 10a-143 of the general statutes is 427 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 428 
2024): 429 
(f) (1) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall establish and 430 
administer a fund to be known as the Board of Regents for Higher 431 
Education for Charter Oak State College Operating Fund, which shall 432 
be a separate account within the General Fund. The operating fund shall 433 
be used for the expenses of Charter Oak State College, including 434 
personnel expenses and equipment, and for the support of college 435 
activities pursuant to this section, including validation and evaluation 436 
of learning, guidance and public information services, projects of 437 
research and development for the improvement of learning materials 438 
and the technology of delivery systems, and for the purchase of such 439 
services, materials and equipment as are required for use in connection 440 
with said activities. Appropriations from general revenues of the state, 441 
all fees and proceeds of the board's activities on behalf of Charter Oak 442 
State College, including grants and donations, not required by statute 443 
or regulation to be deposited to the credit of the General Fund, shall be 444 
credited to and become a part of the resources of said operating fund. 445 
Any balance of receipts above expenditures shall remain in said 446 
operating fund. Not later than sixty days after the close of each quarter, 447 
the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall submit, in accordance 448  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of 449 
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 450 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, the Office of Higher 451 
Education and the Office of Policy and Management a report on the 452 
actual expenditures of the Board of Regents for Higher Education for 453 
Charter Oak State College Operating Fund. 454 
(2) Not later than August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Board 455 
of Regents for Higher Education shall submit, in accordance with the 456 
provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 457 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 458 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and higher education 459 
and employment advancement the actual revenue and expenditures of 460 
the Board of Regents for Higher Education for Charter Oak State College 461 
Operating Fund during the prior fiscal year, itemized by the categories 462 
specified in subdivision (4) of this subsection. 463 
(3) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Board 464 
of Regents for Higher Education shall submit, in accordance with the 465 
provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 466 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 467 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and higher education 468 
and employment advancement the projected revenue and expenditures 469 
of the Board of Regents for Higher Education for Charter Oak State 470 
College Operating Fund for the current fiscal year, itemized by the 471 
categories specified in subdivision (4) of this subsection. 472 
(4) (A) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall categorize 473 
the actual and projected revenue of the Board of Regents for Higher 474 
Education for Charter Oak State College Operating Fund by state 475 
support and other sources of revenue. Under the state support category, 476 
the board shall itemize revenue by (i) ongoing state support, (ii) funds 477 
allocated for said fund from the federal funds designated for the state 478 
pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, if any, (iii) 479 
deficiency funding, (iv) state-paid fringe benefits, and (v) any other 480 
category of funding from the state. Under the other sources of revenue 481  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
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category, the board shall itemize revenue by (I) tuition, (II) fees, (III) 482 
federal funds, grants and contracts, (IV) foundation and endowment 483 
funds, (V) sales and services, (VI) auxiliary enterprises, and (VII) any 484 
other category of revenue from other sources. 485 
(B) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall itemize the 486 
actual and projected expenditures of the Board of Regents for Higher 487 
Education for Charter Oak State College Operating Fund by (i) personal 488 
services, (ii) fringe benefits, (iii) energy, (iv) equipment, (v) student 489 
financial aid, (vi) debt service and other projects or transfers, and (vii) 490 
any other category of expenditure. 491 
Sec. 4. Section 10a-105 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 492 
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 493 
1, 2024): 494 
(a) Subject to the provisions of sections 10a-8 and 10a-26, the Board of 495 
Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall fix fees for tuition and 496 
[shall fix fees] for such other purposes as the board deems necessary at 497 
The University of Connecticut, and may make refunds of the same. 498 
(b) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall 499 
establish and administer a fund to be known as The University of 500 
Connecticut Operating Fund, and in addition, may establish a Special 501 
External Gift Fund, and an endowment fund, as defined in section 10a-502 
109c, and such other funds as may be established pursuant to 503 
subdivision (13) of subsection (a) of section 10a-109d. Appropriations 504 
from general revenues of the state and, upon request by the university 505 
and with an annual review and approval by the Secretary of the Office 506 
of Policy and Management, the amount of the appropriations for fringe 507 
benefits and workers' compensation applicable to the university 508 
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4-73, shall be transferred from the 509 
Comptroller, and all tuition revenue received by the university in 510 
accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, income 511 
from student fees or related charges, the proceeds of auxiliary activities 512 
and business enterprises, gifts and donations, federal funds and grants 513  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
LCO No. 2080   	17 of 23 
 
for purposes other than research and all receipts derived from the 514 
conduct by The University of Connecticut of its education extension 515 
program and its summer school session, except funds received by The 516 
University of Connecticut Health Center, shall be deposited in said 517 
operating fund. If the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 518 
disapproves such transfer, he may require the amount of the 519 
appropriation for operating expenses to be used for personal services 520 
and fringe benefits to be excluded from said fund. The State Treasurer 521 
shall review and approve the transfer prior to such request by the 522 
university. All costs of waiving or remitting tuition pursuant to 523 
subsection (g) of this section, except the cost of waiving or remitting 524 
tuition for students enrolled in the schools of medicine or dental 525 
medicine, shall be charged to said fund. Repairs, alterations or additions 526 
to facilities supported by said fund costing one million dollars or more 527 
shall require the approval of the General Assembly, or when the General 528 
Assembly is not in session, of the Finance Advisory Committee. Any 529 
balance of receipts above expenditures shall remain in said fund, except 530 
such sums as may be required for deposit into a debt service fund or the 531 
General Fund for further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on 532 
general obligation bonds of the state issued for purposes of The 533 
University of Connecticut. 534 
(c) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall 535 
establish and administer a fund to be known as The University of 536 
Connecticut Health Center Operating Fund. Appropriations from 537 
general revenues of the state except the amount of the appropriation for 538 
operating expenses to be used for personal services and the 539 
appropriations for fringe benefits pursuant to subsection (a) of section 540 
4-73, all tuition revenue received by the health center in accordance with 541 
the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, income from student fees 542 
or related charges, proceeds from auxiliary and business enterprises, 543 
gifts and donations, federal funds and grants for purposes other than 544 
research and other income relative to these activities shall be deposited 545 
in said fund. All costs of waiving or remitting tuition pursuant to 546 
subsection (g) of this section for students enrolled in the schools of 547  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
LCO No. 2080   	18 of 23 
 
medicine or dental medicine shall be charged to said fund. Repairs, 548 
alterations or additions to facilities supported by said fund costing one 549 
million dollars or more shall require the approval of the General 550 
Assembly, or when the General Assembly is not in session, of the 551 
Finance Advisory Committee. Any balance of receipts above 552 
expenditures shall remain in said fund, except such sums as may be 553 
required for deposit into a debt service fund or the General Fund for 554 
further payment by the Treasurer of debt service on general obligation 555 
bonds of the state issued for purposes of The University of Connecticut 556 
Health Center. 557 
(d) [Commencing December 1, 1981, and thereafter not] (1) Not later 558 
than sixty days after the close of each quarter, the board of trustees shall 559 
submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint 560 
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 561 
matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, the 562 
Office of Higher Education and the Office of Policy and Management a 563 
report on the actual expenditures of The University of Connecticut 564 
Operating Fund and The University of Connecticut Health Center 565 
Operating Fund containing such relevant information as the Office of 566 
Policy and Management may require. [in the form prescribed by the 567 
board of regents in accordance with subsection (a) of section 10a-8.] 568 
(2) Not later than August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Board 569 
of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall submit, in accordance 570 
with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of 571 
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 572 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and higher education 573 
and employment advancement the actual revenue and expenditures of 574 
The University of Connecticut Operating Fund and The University of 575 
Connecticut Health Center Operating Fund during the prior fiscal year, 576 
itemized by the categories specified in subdivision (4) of this subsection. 577 
(3) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Board 578 
of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall submit, in accordance 579 
with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of 580  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
LCO No. 2080   	19 of 23 
 
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 581 
appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and higher education 582 
and employment advancement the projected revenue and expenditures 583 
of The University of Connecticut Operating Fund and The University of 584 
Connecticut Health Center Operating Fund for the current fiscal year, 585 
itemized by the categories specified in subdivision (4) of this subsection. 586 
(4) (A) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall 587 
categorize the actual and projected revenue of The University of 588 
Connecticut Operating Fund and The University of Connecticut Health 589 
Center Operating Fund by state support and other sources of revenue. 590 
Under the state support category, the board shall itemize revenue by (i) 591 
ongoing state support, (ii) funds allocated for said fund from the federal 592 
funds designated for the state pursuant to the American Rescue Plan 593 
Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, if any, (iii) deficiency funding, (iv) state-paid 594 
fringe benefits, and (v) any other category of funding from the state. 595 
Under the other sources of revenue category, the board shall itemize 596 
revenue by (I) tuition, (II) fees, (III) federal funds, grants and contracts, 597 
(IV) foundation and endowment funds, (V) sales and services, (VI) 598 
auxiliary enterprises, and (VII) any other category of revenue from other 599 
sources. 600 
(B) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall 601 
itemize the actual and projected expenditures of The University of 602 
Connecticut Operating Fund and The University of Connecticut Health 603 
Center Operating Fund by (i) personal services, (ii) fringe benefits, (iii) 604 
energy, (iv) equipment, (v) student financial aid, (vi) debt service and 605 
other projects or transfers, and (vii) any other category of expenditure. 606 
(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 607 
any undergraduate or graduate degree program at The University of 608 
Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed 609 
forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have 610 
been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 611 
1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University 612 
of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time such child is 613  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
LCO No. 2080   	20 of 23 
 
accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the provisions 614 
of subsection (f) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-615 
103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 616 
except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 617 
not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 618 
which veteran has been accepted for admission to said institution and is 619 
domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission 620 
to said institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age 621 
or older who has been accepted for admission to said institution, 622 
provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or 623 
(B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the 624 
course a sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible 625 
for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which 626 
such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such 627 
course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any active member 628 
of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been 629 
certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee 630 
as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or 631 
accepted for admission to said institution on a full-time or part-time 632 
basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (5) for 633 
any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, 634 
or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined 635 
in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 636 
employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in 637 
the line of duty, (6) for any resident of the state who is the dependent 638 
child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a 639 
resident of the state, (7) for any dependent child of a resident of the state 640 
who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of 641 
Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (8) for 642 
any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse 643 
of a person who was killed in action while performing active military 644 
duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 645 
11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state. If any person who receives 646 
a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also 647 
receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver 648  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
LCO No. 2080   	21 of 23 
 
shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. 649 
Veterans and members of the National Guard described in subdivision 650 
(4) of this subsection shall be given the same status as students not 651 
receiving tuition waivers in registering for courses at The University of 652 
Connecticut. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used 653 
in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less 654 
than one year. 655 
(f) (1) If any veteran described in subsection (e) of this section has 656 
applied for federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans 657 
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the board of trustees shall waive the 658 
payment of tuition at The University of Connecticut for such veteran in 659 
accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection. If any such veteran 660 
certifies to said board that such veteran's application for such federal 661 
educational assistance has been denied or withdrawn, said board of 662 
trustees shall waive the payment of tuition in accordance with 663 
subsection [(d)] (e) of this section. 664 
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, "veteran tuition benefit" 665 
means the portion of federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 666 
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to be paid to The 667 
University of Connecticut on behalf of a veteran that represents 668 
payment for tuition. Such portion shall be calculated by multiplying (i) 669 
the total amount of such federal educational assistance to be paid to The 670 
University of Connecticut on behalf of such veteran by (ii) an amount 671 
obtained by dividing (I) the actual tuition charged by The University of 672 
Connecticut to such veteran by (II) the sum of the actual tuition and fees 673 
charged by The University of Connecticut to such veteran. 674 
(B) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition in excess 675 
of the veteran tuition benefit at The University of Connecticut for such 676 
veteran. 677 
(g) Said board of trustees shall set aside from its anticipated tuition 678 
revenue, an amount not less than that required by [the board of 679 
governors'] said board's tuition policy. [established under subdivision 680  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
LCO No. 2080   	22 of 23 
 
(3) of subsection (a) of section 10a-6.] Such funds shall be used to 681 
provide tuition waivers, tuition remissions, grants for educational 682 
expenses and student employment for any undergraduate, graduate or 683 
professional student who is enrolled as a full or part-time matriculated 684 
student in a degree-granting program, or enrolled in a precollege 685 
remedial program, and who demonstrates substantial financial need. 686 
Said board may also set aside from its anticipated tuition revenue an 687 
additional amount equal to one per cent of said tuition revenue for 688 
financial assistance for students who would not otherwise be eligible for 689 
financial assistance but who do have a financial need as determined by 690 
the university in accordance with this subsection. In determining such 691 
financial need, the university shall exclude the value of equity in the 692 
principal residence of the student's parents or legal guardians, or in the 693 
student's principal residence if the student is not considered to be a 694 
dependent of [his] such student's parents or legal guardians and shall 695 
assess the earnings of a dependent student at the rate of thirty per cent. 696 
(h) The University of Connecticut Operating Fund shall be 697 
reimbursed for the amount by which tuition waivers granted under 698 
subsection (e) of this section exceed two and one-half per cent of tuition 699 
revenue through an annual state appropriation. The board of trustees 700 
shall request such an appropriation and said appropriation shall be 701 
based upon an estimate of tuition revenue loss using tuition rates in 702 
effect for the fiscal year in which such appropriation will apply. 703 
(i) Said board of trustees shall grant remission or waiver of tuition for 704 
graduate assistants at the university. Assistantship payments to 705 
graduate assistants shall not be considered salaries and wages under the 706 
provisions of section 3-119, and shall be paid according to a schedule 707 
prescribed by the university and approved by the State Comptroller. 708 
(j) Said board of trustees may provide health care coverage for 709 
graduate assistants, postdoctoral trainees, graduate fellows and 710 
graduate student interns identified in subdivision (6) of section 3-123aaa 711 
by enrolling such individuals in a partnership plan as defined in section 712 
3-123aaa. All premiums and expenses resulting from the participation 713  Raised Bill No.  5341 
 
 
 
LCO No. 2080   	23 of 23 
 
of such individuals in the partnership plan shall be paid by the 714 
university. No such premiums or expenses shall be charged to the 715 
General Fund. 716 
(k) Said board of trustees shall allow any student who is a member of 717 
the armed forces called to active duty during any semester to enroll in 718 
any course for which such student had remitted tuition but which was 719 
not completed due to active duty status. Such course reenrollment shall 720 
be offered to any qualifying student for a period not exceeding four 721 
years after the date of release from active duty without additional 722 
tuition, student fee or related charge, except if such student has been 723 
fully reimbursed for the tuition, fees and charges for the course that was 724 
not completed. 725 
(l) The Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall not 726 
assess or charge a graduation fee to any student enrolled in The 727 
University of Connecticut for the purpose of graduating from such 728 
university. 729 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 July 1, 2024 10a-77 
Sec. 2 July 1, 2024 10a-99 
Sec. 3 July 1, 2024 10a-143(f) 
Sec. 4 July 1, 2024 10a-105 
 
Statement of Purpose:   
To require the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of 
Trustees of The University of Connecticut to annually report the 
projected and actual revenues and expenditures of the public 
institutions of higher education under each board's governance. 
[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.]