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OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5523
Emergency Certification
AN ACT CONCERNING ALLOCATIONS OF FEDERAL AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO
GENERAL GOVERNMENT, HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION AND
THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2025.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
§§ 1-16 & 19-21 — ARPA ALLOCATION ADJUSTMENTS AND
BUDGET PROVISIONS
Adjusts ARPA allocations and makes various other budget-related changes; please refer to
the fiscal note for a summary of these sections
§ 17 — DOC VOCATIONAL VILLAGE PROGRAM
Requires the DOC commissioner to prepare and equip the department and its post-
secondary education partners to use allocated funding under the vocational village
program for programs that produce economic and other benefits, including inmate
employment opportunities
§ 18 — NEEDS ASSESSMENT ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
PROGRAMS IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
Requires OPM’s Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division, in consultation with
DOC, to do a needs assessment of the facilities, materials, and staffing required to deliver
postsecondary education programs in correctional facilities
§ 22 — STUDENT LOAN REIMBURSEMENT PILOT PROGRAM
Modifies eligibility requirements for the OHE Student Loan Reimbursement Pilot
Program, including (1) expanding the program to students who have attended and
graduated with an associate degree, (2) requiring the OHE executive director to establish
hardship waiver qualifications and forms, and (3) requires specific documentation from
participants as part of their annual reporting requirements
§§ 23 & 24 — SEWERAGE GRANT PROGRAM FOR H ARTFORD
RESIDENTS
Primarily (1) caps at $50,000 the grant amount each applicant may receive under the
fund for repairs to real property and personal property used for business purposes; (2)
generally, beginning May 1, 2025, limits eligibility for assistance to those who requested
an assessment from the MDC’s sewer back-up prevention program by April 30, 2025; and
(3) establishes procedures for judge trial referees, rather than the comptroller, to hear
appeals of the Hartford Sewerage System Repair and Improvement Fund administrator’s
decisions about an applicant’s eligibility or grant amount
§§ 25-30 — ASSETS OF STATE HUMANE INSTITUTION RESIDENTS 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Prohibits DAS from recovering from a deceased person’s estate charges for care in a state
humane institution except under certain circumstances; requires DAS to release any liens
filed for recovery of such charges.
§§ 31-33 — COST OF INCARCERATION
Regarding the state’s claim for an individual’s incarceration costs, generally (1)
terminates claims associated with crimes on his or her erased criminal record and
prohibits the reimbursement of claims paid before July 1, 2024; (2) exempts up to $50,000
from the lien the state may place on an inmate’s inheritance; and (3) specifies that any
property the probate court deems an asset must be used to pay the state’s claim against the
estate of certain inmates
§ 34 — DESPP MISSING PERSONS CLEARINGHOU SE
Limits the requirement that the DESPP missing persons information clearinghouse
include information on missing people with IDD to those who are adults
§ 35 — HOSPITAL PILOT FOR ASD SERVICES
Narrows the type of hospital DSS must select for a two-year pilot program on ASD to one
in Hartford County with an established program
§ 36 — HUMAN SERVICES CAREER PIPELINE
Removes the July 1, 2024, deadline to establish the career pipeline program and requires
CWO to report on its plan for the program by that date; requires CWO to establish the
pipeline program within available appropriations
§ 37 — LOCAL VOLUNTARY PUBLIC SAFETY REGISTRATION
SYSTEM
Eliminates the local voluntary public safety registration system for children with IDD and
the requirement that PSAP emergency dispatchers search this system’s database when
dispatching emergency services to a residential address
§§ 38 & 39 — HUSKY A AND HUSKY C INCOME LIMITS
Lowers the income limit for HUSKY A parents and caretaker relatives from 155% of FPL
to 133% of FPL; reduces the scheduled October 1 HUSKY C eligibility expansion by
calculating income before, rather than after, any authorized disregards
§§ 40-43 — PASSPORT TO THE PARKS
Increases the Passport to the Parks motor vehicle registration fee; provides funding for
Batterson Park and Thames River Heritage Park; requires DEEP to enter into
memorandums of agreement for the (1) operation and funding of Batterson Park and (2)
funding of Thames River Heritage Park
§ 44 — UCONN HEALTH CENTER EMPLOYEE FRINGE BENEFITS
Requires the comptroller to use up to $4.5 million of funds appropriated for State
Comptroller-Fringe Benefits to fund a portion of the fringe benefits for UCHC employees
§§ 45 & 46 — EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON INTIMATE PARTNER
VIOLENCE TOWARDS PRE GNANT AND POSTPARTUM PEOPLE
Requires DPH to develop educational materials on intimate partner violence toward
pregnant and postpartum people; requires DPH to distribute the educational materials to
certain health care providers and facilities to give to patients; transfers, from the
Maternal Mortality Review Committee to DPH, responsibility for developing educational
materials on certain other topics 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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§§ 47 & 48 — XL CENTER
Specifies that the XL Center includes the adjoining garage, for purposes of CRDA’s
agreements with contractors to manage and operate and reconstruct and renovate the
center; exempts from the sales and use tax any purchase or lease needed to operate the
center while CRDA or the contractor owns, leases, or operates it; increases the maximum
amount that the state, CRDA, or both must contribute to the center’s renovation
§ 49 — NEEDS ASSESSMENT ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
PROGRAMS IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
Contains identical provisions as in § 18; see above for analysis
§ 50 — ROBERTA B. WILLIS SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING
Makes several changes to a 2023-enacted allocation of Roberta B. Willis scholarship
program funds, including that all ARPA funds allocated for the program be disbursed,
rather than used, by December 31, 2024, and requires OHE to reserve up to $15 million
from the program’s FY 25 appropriation for disbursement during FY 26
§ 51 — CONNECTICUT PORT AUTHORITY REPORT
Requires CPA, by January 1, 2025, to begin quarterly reporting to the Transportation and
Appropriations committees on a staffing plan to handle its needs and its efforts for certain
activities and programs
§ 52 — THE TRANSFORMING CHILDREN’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
POLICY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
Expands the Transforming Children’s Behavioral Health Policy and Planning
Committee’s membership by adding two representatives from the federally recognized
Indian Tribes in the state; extends, by two years, the committee’s reporting deadlines
§ 53 — 2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR CHANGES TO THE ROBERTA B.
WILLIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Prohibits the OHE from requiring that Roberta B. Willis scholarship program need-based
grants be reduced based on a student’s initial qualifications as determined from his or her
FAFSA and pauses the requirement that the program’s need and merit-based grants be
awarded in a higher amount than its need-based grants
§§ 54 & 55 — CONNECTICUT HYDROGEN AND ELECTRI C VEHICLE
PURCHASE PROGRAM (CH EAPR)
Modifies the CHEAPR rebate amount for residents of environmental justice communities
from up to 100% more than the standard rebate to at least 200% more than the standard
rebate; requires certain proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to be used
for the CHEAPR program (rather than the CHEAPR account) and other programs that
support DEEP’s engagement with environmental justice communities
§ 56 — DISTRESSED MUNICIPALITY DESIGNATION
Extends, from five years to 10, the time period for which certain municipalities are deemed
to be distressed municipalities after being removed from the annual list published by
DECD
§§ 57-59 — CIGARETTE DEALER LICENSES AND RENEWALS
Requires cigarette dealer’s license applicants to post certain notices at their businesses and
provides a remonstrance process; allows municipalities to adopt ordinances to require
these dealers to notify the chief law enforcement official of license renewals and allows the 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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official to comment; requires DRS to consider these comments and report certain statistics
on these notifications to the legislature
§ 60 — UNION AVENUE DETENTION CENTER
Starting in 2026, requires that the Union Avenue detention center in New Haven be
under the jurisdiction of an OPM-determined state agency rather than that of the local
police
§§ 61-63 — MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR SCHOOL -BASED HEALTH
SERVICES
Requires DSS to amend the Medicaid state plan to expand coverage for health care
services provided to eligible students (1) by or on behalf of an LEA and (2) in school
nurse’s offices; establishes an interagency coalition to coordinate and make
recommendations to maximize federal funding for Medicaid-eligible health care services in
public schools
§ 64 — PHASING OUT MED CONNECT INCOME AN D ASSET LIMITS
Phases out income and asset eligibility limits in the Med Connect program and eliminates
them by July 1, 2029
§§ 65 & 68 — BUREAU OF SERVICES FOR PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF,
DEAFBLIND OR HARD OF HEARING
Establishes the bureau within ADS and requires the department to hire a bureau director;
requires state agencies to appoint an employee to serve as a point of contact for concerns
related to people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing
§§ 66, 67, 69 & 71 — ADVISORY BOARD FOR PERSONS WHO ARE
DEAF, DEAFBLIND OR HARD OF HEARING
Renames the board, changes its membership, and expands its duties and reporting
requirements
§§ 70 & 72 — ADS SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAFBLIND
Expands ADS responsibilities to include providing services for people who are deafblind,
generally conforming to current practice
§ 73 — METHADONE MAI NTENANCE RATE INCREA SE
Requires DSS to increase Medicaid rates, within available appropriations, for chemical
maintenance providers who currently receive the lowest weekly reimbursement rate
§ 74 — MEDICAID AMBULANCE RATES
Requires DSS to increase FY 25 ambulance rates within available appropriations,
including increasing the mileage rate for ambulance transportation covered under
Medicaid by $1.18 and providing mileage reimbursement for in-town trips
§ 75 — PACT PROGRAM
Expands the PACT Program’s eligibility to include transition program students;
increases the program’s minimum award amounts; names the awards the “Mary Ann
Handley Grant”; requires BOR’s upcoming semesterly reports on certain program
metrics by November 1, 2024, and March 1, 2025
§ 76 — DEADLINE EXTENSION TO SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS
ON CREATING A NEW SOLID WASTE-RELATED ENTITY 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Extends, until July 1, 2025, the deadline for OPM to give the Environment and Energy
and Technology committees recommendations on the feasibility and advisability of
creating a new solid waste-related quasi-public state agency, waste authority, or other
entity
§ 77 — SMALL TOWN ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (STEAP)
Increases, from $500,000 to $1 million, the maximum STEAP grant amount
municipalities can receive per fiscal year
§ 78 — VACATION AND PERSONAL DAYS DURING WORKING TEST
PERIODS
Gives full-time permanent state employees paid vacation days and personal days during
their initial working test periods
§ 79 — STATE AGENCY DEPUTY DUAL EMPLOYME NT
Eliminates a provision that prohibits certain state agency deputies from having other
employment
§§ 80 & 81 — JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM AMORTIZATION
Changes the method for determining the state’s contribution for JRS unfunded liability
from a 40-year amortization to a 15-year layered amortization, which effectively extends
the contributions for an additional seven years; requires the state retirement commission
to revise the JRS actuarial valuation using the new amortization method
§§ 82-85 — CONNECTICUT MUNICIPAL REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
Requires MRDA to provide members, by request, assistance on developing project criteria
and regulations to increase housing production; authorizes it to establish criteria to
evaluate its projects’ potential impacts; and eliminates a requirement that members
appoint a local development board
§ 86 — INVESTMENT ADVISORY COUNCI L “GIFTS”
Allows the IAC’s public members to receive travel expenses, lodging, food, beverages, and
other benefits customarily provided in the course of employment
§ 87 — REPEAL OF STUDENT LOAN REIMBURSE MENT AND
RELATED PROGRAMS
Repeals several student loan reimbursement, scholarship, and related programs
§ 88 — REPEAL OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNER EDUCATOR
INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Repeals the Multilingual Learner Educator Incentive Program
§ 89 — CONNECTICUT PORT AUTHORITY QUARTE RLY STATUS
REPORT REVIEW
Eliminates the requirement that DAS and OPM review and comment on the Port
Authority’s quarterly report before it is submitted to the Transportation Committee
§§ 90, 91 & 137-242 — HEALTH STRATEGY AN D HIGHER
EDUCATION COMMISSION ERS
Renames the title of OHS’s and OHE’s executive heads as “commissioners” rather than
“executive directors” 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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§ 92 — TOBACCO AND HEALT H TRUST FUND TRANSFER
Suspends the annual $12 million disbursement from the Tobacco Settlement Fund to the
Tobacco and Health Trust Fund for FY 25 and redirects it to the General Fund
§§ 93 & 94 — DSS PHARMACY APPROVALS
Increases, from two to 24 hours, how much time DSS has to grant or deny pharmacy
requests for prior authorization or dispensing name brand drug products before they are
deemed approved
§§ 95-97 — BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH TRUST FUND
Eliminates the Biomedical Research Trust Fund and requires the state comptroller to
transfer its remaining balance to the General Fund
§ 98 — EMS REGIONAL COORDINATOR POSITION S TO CLASSIFIED
SERVICE
Requires DAS to transition EMS regional coordinators and assistant regional
coordinators to classified service
§ 99 — INFORMATION REQUESTS TO ORIGINATING AGENCIES
Requires requests for certain information to be directed to the state agency where the
information originated
§ 100 — AGREEMENTS OR SOLICITATIONS TO LOCATE
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
Expands requirements and processes regarding agreements and solicitations to locate
unclaimed property
§§ 101-104 — COPAYMENT-ONLY HEALTH PLANS
Exempts copayment-only health plans from the insurance law’s copayment limitations for
certain in-network imaging services and physical and occupational therapy services
§ 105 — PRESUMPTIVE MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY FOR HOMECARE
Eliminates Section 10 of sHB 5001, as amended by House Amendment “A” and replaces
it with generally similar provisions; requires the DSS commissioner to establish a
presumptive Medicaid eligibility system for people applying to the Medicaid-funded
portion of CHCPE; and requires the state to pay for up to 90 days of home care applicants
determined to be presumptively Medicaid eligible
§ 106 — MEN’S HEALTH PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
CAMPAIGN
Requires the DPH commissioner to create a campaign promoting community-based
screening and education for common diseases affecting high-risk male populations
§ 107 — HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
ADVISORY BOARD
Establishes the Higher Education Financial Sustainability Advisory Board, designates its
members, assigns the board powers and duties, and requires public higher education
institutions and the UConn Health Center to submit certain information to the board at
the chairpersons’ request
§ 108 — EDUCATION MANDATE REVIEW ADVISOR Y COUNCIL
Modifies criteria for two of the council’s 10 appointees 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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§ 109 — POPULATION CENSUS USED FOR MUNICIPAL GRANTS
For FY 25, requires OPM to use DPH’s 2021 population estimates to calculate municipal
grants
§ 110 — BOARD OF REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
EXPANSION
Expands BOR to include the OPM secretary as an ex-officio, nonvoting member
§ 111 — TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS DURING COD IFICATION
Requires the Legislative Commissioners’ Office to make necessary technical, grammatical,
and punctuation changes when codifying the bill
§§ 112-121 — REVISIONS TO MAGNET SCHOOL AND VO -AG
CENTER FUNDING PROGRAMS; CREATION OF NEW CHOICE
PROGRAM GRANT
Makes significant changes to education funding grant programs for (1) interdistrict
magnet schools, and (2) regional agricultural science and technology centers (i.e., “vo-ag
centers”); eliminates, for FY 25, the existing magnet school and vo-ag center grants, and
replaces them with new grants under the choice program
§ 121 — SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING AMOUNTS FOR ECS, CHARTER
SCHOOL, MAGNET SCHOO L, OPEN CHOICE, AND VO-AG CENTER
GRANTS
Requires SDE to apportion the $150 million appropriated for FY 25 for “Education
Finance Reform” in specific amounts for (1) supplemental funds for the following grants:
ECS, charter schools, interdistrict magnet schools, Open Choice Program, and agriscience
and technology centers, and (2) grants for specific projects, programs, towns, and agencies
§ 122 — PLAN TO CONVERT STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION INTO
AN ADVISORY BOARD
Requires the education commissioner to develop a plan to convert SBE into an advisory
board and make the education commissioner the department head
§ 123 — ASSET AND CAPACITY MAPPING FOR NONPRO FITS
Requires UConn’s School of Public Policy to conduct a study and comprehensive asset
and capacity mapping for nonprofit organizations to support information-sharing and
collaboration between nonprofits and communities; requires the school to provide an
interim report and a final report to the Education Committee
§ 124 — EXPANDS ECS REGIONAL BONUS TO INCLUDE TRIBES
Creates an ECS bonus for towns with students who reside in tribal reservations
§ 125 — SDE DISTRIBUTION OF PARAEDUCATOR FUNDING
Sets a September 1, 2024, deadline for SDE to distribute to school boards the FY 23
amount allocated to the department from ARPA funding for paraeducator professional
development
§§ 126 & 128 — PARAEDUCATOR HEALTH INSUR ANCE PROGRAMS
Extends by one year an HSA subsidy program for paraeducators and expands it to cover
high deductible health plans for Medicare-eligible paraeducators; requires the comptroller
to establish a one-year premium subsidy program for school boards that provide
paraeducators with certain health plans; requires the comptroller and SDE commissioner 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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to enter into an MOU related to these programs; and repeals a program providing
stipends to paraeducators to purchase a qualified health plan through Access Health CT
§ 127 — SERC FUNDING ALLOCATION
Requires, rather than allows, the SDE commissioner to allocate funds to the State
Education Resource Center
§§ 129-132 — PUBLIC HEARING EXEMPTION FO R CERTAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHOR IZATIONS
For certain transportation capital projects, establishes an exemption from the requirement
to have a public hearing when there is a petition signed by 25 people on an application for
a (1) structures, dredging, and fill permit; (2) tidal or inland wetland activity permit; or
(3) certification to conduct certain work in a floodplain
§§ 133-136 — STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR
BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF CERTAIN QUASI-PUBLIC AGENCIES
Allows members of the boards of directors of SERC, CLC, CPA, and CAA to join the state
employee health insurance plan if they meet certain criteria and requirements
§§ 243-249 — DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATIONS
Please refer to the fiscal note for a summary of these sections
§§ 1-16 & 19-21 — ARPA ALLOCATION ADJUST MENTS AND
BUDGET PROVISIONS
Adjusts ARPA allocations and makes various other budget-related changes; please refer to
the fiscal note for a summary of these sections
§ 17 — DOC VOCATIONAL VILLAGE PROGRAM
Requires the DOC commissioner to prepare and equip the department and its post-
secondary education partners to use allocated funding under the vocational village
program for programs that produce economic and other benefits, including inmate
employment opportunities
By law, the Department of Correction (DOC), in consultation with the
Department of Economic and Community Development, administers a
vocational village program to provide skilled trades training to inmates,
including opportunities to earn nationally recognized industry
certifications and credentials. The Office of Policy and Management
(OPM) must allocate funds to DOC for the program from the federal
funds the state has received from certain laws, including the American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The bill requires the DOC commissioner to prepare and equip the
department and its post-secondary education partners to use this
allocated funding for programs that produce economic and other 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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benefits, including employment opportunities for inmates.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 18 — NEEDS ASSESSM ENT ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
PROGRAMS IN CORRECTI ONAL FACILITIES
Requires OPM’s Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division, in consultation with
DOC, to do a needs assessment of the facilities, materials, and staffing required to deliver
postsecondary education programs in correctional facilities
The bill requires OPM’s Criminal Justice Policy and Planning
Division, in consultation with the Department of Correction (DOC), to
do a needs assessment of the facilities, materials, and staffing required
to deliver postsecondary education programs in correctional facilities.
The assessment must include at least the following:
1. feedback solicitation from higher education institutions that
provide postsecondary education programs in correctional
facilities to understand current needs;
2. an analysis of DOC’s policies on incarcerated individuals’
postsecondary education;
3. an estimate of the level of unmet demand for this type of
education;
4. an inventory of (a) correctional facilities (including classrooms,
multi-purpose rooms, libraries, and study rooms), (b) staffing,
and (c) materials currently available for education delivery
(including education technology and internet access);
5. recommendations for and a cost analysis of improving facilities,
staffing, and materials to meet the unmet demand;
6. a survey of (a) students of postsecondary education programs in
correctional facilities; (b) former students of these programs, in
consultation with regional reentry programs; and (c) any person
or group the division deems necessary; and
7. a listing of any other barriers to the effective delivery of these
education programs. 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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The bill requires the OPM secretary to report on the needs assessment
to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee by
January 1, 2025.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 22 — STUDENT LOAN REIMBURSEMENT PILOT PROGRAM
Modifies eligibility requirements for the OHE Student Loan Reimbursement Pilot
Program, including (1) expanding the program to students who have attended and
graduated with an associate degree, (2) requiring the OHE executive director to establish
hardship waiver qualifications and forms, and (3) requires specific documentation from
participants as part of their annual reporting requirements
PA 23-204, § 174, requires the Office of Higher Education (OHE)
executive director, by January 1, 2025, to establish a student loan
reimbursement pilot program to annually reimburse eligible people for
up to $5,000 of their student loan payments, within available
appropriations, for up to four years per participant. This bill expands
the program and adjusts its eligibility requirements.
Program Expansion
Under current law, OHE may allow anyone to participate in the
program who has a student loan and who, among other things, attended
and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from an in-state college (public
or private). The bill expands the program to those who have attended
and graduated with an associate degree.
Eligibility Requirements
The bill requires each program participant to annually submit to
OHE, in a manner the executive director prescribes, a statement from a
student loan servicer that includes the amounts for the outstanding loan
balance for each student loan and the total of the year-to-date payments
made on each student loan, rather than student loan payment receipts
as required under current law.
The law also requires participants to (1) be state residents as defined
under state law and (2) have been so for at least five years. The bill
specifies the OHE executive director determines if applicants meet this
residency requirement. 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Hardship Waiver
The bill no longer requires OHE to require a student to leave a college
or university in good academic standing before graduation to be eligible
to participate in the program. It instead allows the OHE executive
director to grant a hardship waiver as part of the program eligibility
requirements.
The bill requires the OHE executive director, by January 1, 2025, to
post on the office’s website (1) hardship waiver qualifications and (2)
required application forms for the student loan reimbursement program
and hardship waiver. The application must include an option for a
person to disclose their demographic information.
Volunteer Requirement
Existing law requires program participant to volunteer at a nonprofit
for at least 50 unpaid hours. The bill requires the nonprofit to be
registered with the Department of Consumer Protection or a municipal
government.
Under the bill, a program participant must annually submit to OHE,
in a manner the executive director prescribes, a notarized form
documenting the number of volunteer hours the program participant
completed that is signed by the participant’s supervisor or other
nonprofit or municipal employee for which the participant volunteered.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§§ 23 & 24 — SEWERAGE GRANT PROGRAM FOR HARTFOR D
RESIDENTS
Primarily (1) caps at $50,000 the grant amount each applicant may receive under the
fund for repairs to real property and personal property used for business purposes; (2)
generally, beginning May 1, 2025, limits eligibility for assistance to those who requested
an assessment from the MDC’s sewer back-up prevention program by April 30, 2025; and
(3) establishes procedures for judge trial referees, rather than the comptroller, to hear
appeals of the Hartford Sewerage System Repair and Improvement Fund administrator’s
decisions about an applicant’s eligibility or grant amount
By law, the Hartford Sewerage System Repair and Improvement
Fund must be used for specified purposes, including a program to
provide grants to eligible Hartford residents and property owners to 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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compensate them for damage caused by flooding since 2021 (see
Background — Hartford Sewerage System Repair and Improvement Fund
Program).
As described below, the bill does the following:
1. caps grant amounts for damages to certain types of property;
2. generally limits grant eligibility to individuals who requested a
sewer back up assessment by a specified date;
3. designates judge trial referees, rather than the comptroller, as the
hearing authority for applicants’ appeals of decisions about their
eligibility or grant amounts; and
4. modifies who may conduct assessments of applicants’ damages.
The bill additionally authorizes the administrator to make grant
payments directly to a contractor or vendor an applicant hired to make
repairs and also makes minor and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
Grant Amount Cap
The bill caps at $50,000 the grant amount each applicant may receive
for costs incurred for repairs to real property and damage to personal
property that was used for business purposes when the damage
occurred.
Eligibility Requirement
Beginning May 1, 2025, to be eligible for financial assistance for real
property repairs under the bill, new applicants generally must have
requested an assessment from the Metropolitan District Commission
(MDC) sewer backup prevention program by April 30, 2025. (This
program provides free technical assistance, on-site plumbing surveys,
and other assistance to help customers avoid sewer backups into their
homes.)
Under the bill, an applicant who did not request this sewer backup 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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assessment may still be eligible for assistance if the grant program
administrator determines, in accordance with criteria the comptroller
approves, that the applicant was prevented from doing so due to
extenuating circumstances. Otherwise, the administrator must, in
consultation with MDC, verify that applicants requested an assessment
by the specified date.
Appeals
By law, a grant program applicant may appeal the administrator’s
decision on the applicant’s program eligibility or the grant amount
awarded to him or her. Under current law, the applicant may appeal to
the comptroller, who may hire an administrator to conduct these
appeals. Under the bill, these appeals must instead be heard by a judge
trial referee the chief court administrator assigns.
The bill specifies that the applicant has the burden of showing that he
or she is eligible for the grant program and payment for real property
repairs or damaged personal property. The judge trial referee may
consider evidence (e.g., testimony and reports) presented by the
applicant, program administrator, or other interested party.
If the applicant shows his or her eligibility, by a preponderance of the
evidence, the judge trial referee must award the applicant the grant
amount he or she is owed under the law. The judge trial referee must
issue a decision within 60 days after the hearing ends, and as under
current law, the decision is final.
Inspectors
Under existing law, inspectors must evaluate damage to each eligible
applicant’s property and provide a report on it to the administrator. The
bill specifies that these inspectors must be licensed home inspectors or
insurance adjusters. It allows the comptroller to contract with these
inspectors (rather than allowing inspectors employed by MDC to serve
this function).
Background — Hartford Sewerage System Repair and
Improvement Fund Program 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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By law, the Hartford Sewerage System Repair and Improvement
Fund program must provide grants to (1) give financial assistance to
eligible owners of real property in Hartford to pay for necessary repairs
from flood damage caused on or after January 1, 2021, and (2) reimburse
residents for costs associated with damage to personal property due to
flooding occurring on or after that date.
§§ 25-30 — ASSETS OF STATE HUMANE INSTITUTION RESIDENTS
Prohibits DAS from recovering from a deceased person’s estate charges for care in a state
humane institution except under certain circumstances; requires DAS to release any liens
filed for recovery of such charges.
Beginning July 1, 2024, this bill prohibits the Department of
Administrative Services (DAS) commissioner from recovering from a
deceased person’s estate charges for the aid, care, or treatment the
person received in a state humane institution except in the following
circumstances:
1. recovery of the charges is required under federal law or
2. if the billing rate for care in the institution was set using
fraudulent information, DAS may recover the difference between
the amount billed and paid and the amount that would have been
billed if not for fraud.
The bill requires the DAS commissioner to release any liens filed for
recovery of charges prohibited under the bill. However, it does not
authorize the commissioner to return to any person or estate payments
recovered before July 1, 2024, for charges related to care in a state
humane institution.
The bill also makes related technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
Background — State Humane Institutions
A “state humane institution” is a state mental hospital, community
mental health center, treatment facility for children and adolescents, or
any other facility or program administered by the departments of
Children and Families, Developmental Services, or Mental Health and 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Addiction Services.
§§ 31-33 — COST OF INCARCERATION
Regarding the state’s claim for an individual’s incarceration costs, generally (1)
terminates claims associated with crimes on his or her erased criminal record and
prohibits the reimbursement of claims paid before July 1, 2024; (2) exempts up to $50,000
from the lien the state may place on an inmate’s inheritance; and (3) specifies that any
property the probate court deems an asset must be used to pay the state’s claim against the
estate of certain inmates
The law requires the DOC commissioner to charge an inmate for the
cost of his or her incarceration. The bill makes the following changes to
the mechanisms through which the commissioner may recover the
incarceration costs under current law:
1. terminates the state’s claims for incarceration costs that it
incurred during time the inmate was serving for crimes that were
later erased from his or her criminal record (as described below)
and specifies that these inmates are not entitled to
reimbursement for state claims paid before July 1, 2024;
2. exempts up to $50,000 from the lien the state may place on an
inmate’s inheritance, except in cases where the inmate was
incarcerated for a capitol felony; murder with special
circumstances; felony murder; 1st and 2nd degree sexual assault;
1st degree aggravated sexual assault; or 1st degree aggravated
sexual assault of a minor; and
3. specifies that any property the probate court deems an asset must
be used to pay the state’s claim against the estate of a former
inmate who dies within 20 years after his or her release.
By law, record erasure eligibility is generally as follows: (1)
misdemeanors are subject to erasure seven years after the person’s most
recent conviction and (2) felonies are subject to erasure 10 years after the
most recent conviction. The periods are calculated from the date the
court entered the person’s most recent conviction for any crime (with an
exception for certain drug possession crimes). These erasure provisions
generally apply to (1) classified or unclassified misdemeanors; (2) class
D or E felonies; and (3) unclassified felonies with up to five-year prison 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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terms. Existing law, unchanged by the bill, specifically makes several of
these crimes ineligible for this erasure (e.g., family violence crimes and
nonviolent or violent sexual offenses requiring sex offender
registration).
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 34 — DESPP MISSING PERSONS CLEARINGHOU SE
Limits the requirement that the DESPP missing persons information clearinghouse
include information on missing people with IDD to those who are adults
By law, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
(DESPP) administers a missing persons information clearinghouse that
holds information to help law enforcement agencies locate those (1) ages
65 or older, (2) ages 18 or older with a mental impairment, or (3) with
intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The bill modifies the
current requirement that the clearinghouse include information on
missing people with IDD by limiting it to those who are at least age 18.
It also makes a conforming change.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 35 — HOSPITAL PILOT FOR ASD SERVICES
Narrows the type of hospital DSS must select for a two-year pilot program on ASD to one
in Hartford County with an established program
Current law requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to
establish a two-year pilot program in partnership with a hospital to
provide nonresidential outpatient day services for people with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD). The bill specifically requires DSS to partner
with a free-standing, long-term acute care hospital in Hartford County
with an established, specialized interdisciplinary program for younger
children and adolescents with an ASD diagnosis. By law and under the
bill, DSS must select a hospital by September 1, 2024, and the hospital
must start providing services under the pilot by October 1, 2024.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 36 — HUMAN SERVICES CAREER PIPELINE 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Removes the July 1, 2024, deadline to establish the career pipeline program and requires
CWO to report on its plan for the program by that date; requires CWO to establish the
pipeline program within available appropriations
Current law requires the chief workforce officer (CWO) to establish
the Human Services Career Pipeline by July 1, 2024. The bill makes this
requirement within available appropriations and eliminates the
deadline. By law, the career pipeline must (1) ensure enough trained
providers are available to serve elderly people and people with
intellectual or IDD, physical disabilities, cognitive impairment, or
mental illness and (2) include training and certification in specified areas
and incentives to retain workers in the human services sector after the
program ends.
By law, the CWO must develop a plan for the career pipeline
program that includes (1) a strategy to increase the number of state
residents pursuing careers in human services, (2) recommended salary
and working conditions needed to retain an adequate number of human
services providers to serve state residents, (3) estimated funding needed
to support the program. The bill requires the CWO to report on the plan
by July 1, 2024, to the Aging, Appropriations, Higher Education and
Employment Advancement, Human Services, Labor, and Public Health
committees. The report must include the CWO’s recommendations for
establishing the career pipeline and estimated funding needed to
implement it.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 37 — LOCAL VOLUNTARY PUBLIC SAFETY REGISTRATION
SYSTEM
Eliminates the local voluntary public safety registration system for children with IDD and
the requirement that PSAP emergency dispatchers search this system’s database when
dispatching emergency services to a residential address
The bill eliminates the 2023-enacted local voluntary public safety
registration system for children with IDD, including autism spectrum
disorder, cognitive impairments, and nonverbal learning disorders, as
well as related provisions (CGS § 7-294qq). It correspondingly
eliminates the requirement that, starting July 15, 2024, each emergency
dispatcher employed by a public safety answering point (PSAP), when 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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practicable, search the system when dispatching emergency services to
a residential address (CGS § 28-25c).
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§§ 38 & 39 — HUSKY A AND HUSKY C INCOME LIMITS
Lowers the income limit for HUSKY A parents and caretaker relatives from 155% of FPL
to 133% of FPL; reduces the scheduled October 1 HUSKY C eligibility expansion by
calculating income before, rather than after, any authorized disregards
The bill reduces the income limit for HUSKY A parents and caretaker
relatives from 155% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL) to 133% of FPL.
(In 2024, 155% of FPL for a family of three is $40,021 annually and 133%
of FPL for a family of three is $34,340 annually.)
Last year’s budget implementing act expanded eligibility for HUSKY
C by increasing the income limit to 105% of FPL, after any authorized
income disregards, beginning October 1, 2024. The bill repeals this and
instead sets the same income limit, beginning on the same date, but
calculates it before any authorized income disregards. This effectively
reduces the scheduled eligibility expansion by requiring applicants to
have income under the limit before applying disregards that lower the
amount of counted income. HUSKY C provides Medicaid coverage to
people who are age 65 or older, blind, or living with a disability (CGS §
17b-290(15)).
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2024, except the provision repeal is
effective upon passage.
§§ 40-43 — PASSPORT TO THE PARKS
Increases the Passport to the Parks motor vehicle registration fee; provides funding for
Batterson Park and Thames River Heritage Park; requires DEEP to enter into
memorandums of agreement for the (1) operation and funding of Batterson Park and (2)
funding of Thames River Heritage Park
Fee Increase
The bill increases the Passport to the Parks fee that people registering
vehicles in the state must pay. Under current law, the fee is $15 for a
triennial registration, $10 for a biennial registration, and $5 for an annual
registration. (Annual registrations are only available to those age 65 or
over.) The bill increases the fee to $24 for a triennial registration, $16 for 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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a biennial registration, and $8 for an annual registration. By law,
collected fees must be deposited in the Passport to the Parks account
(see Background — Passport to the Parks Account).
Account Purposes Expanded
The bill expands the purposes for which money in the Passport to the
Parks account must be spent. It requires the account to fund the (1) care,
maintenance, and operation of Batterson Park and (2) Thames River
Heritage Park.
Batterson Park is a municipal park owned by Hartford and located in
Farmington and New Britain. Thames River Heritage Park consists of
numerous historic sites along the Thames River. The heritage park’s
foundation operates water taxis to sites in New London and Groton.
Memorandums of Agreement
The bill requires the Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection (DEEP), Hartford, and Riverfront Recapture to enter into a
memorandum of agreement about Batterson Park’s care, maintenance,
and operation. Riverfront Recapture is a nonprofit organization that
manages, maintains, and operates four riverfront parks and their
connected riverwalks and trails.
Under the bill, the agreement may authorize (1) Riverfront
Recapture’s agents and employees to enter, maintain, and operate
Batterson Park and (2) DEEP to give Riverfront Recapture a grant each
fiscal year from the Passport to the Parks account for these purposes.
Additionally, the bill requires DEEP to enter into a memorandum of
agreement with the Thames River Heritage Park Foundation to fund the
heritage park. (Presumably, the funding will come from the Passport to
the Parks account.)
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024, except the memorandums of
agreement requirements take effect upon passage and the Passport to
the Parks fee increase takes effect July 1, 2025.
Background — Passport to the Parks Account 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Under existing law, the Passport to the Parks account is a separate,
nonlapsing General Fund account. It must be used to (1) pay for the care,
maintenance, operation, and improvement of state parks and
campgrounds; (2) fund soil and water conservation districts and
environmental review teams; and (3) pay the Council on Environmental
Quality’s expenses. In addition, the law requires DEEP to pay $100,000
each fiscal year to each of the following entities from the account:
1. Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District,
2. Eastern Conservation District,
3. North Central Conservation District,
4. Northwest Conservation District,
5. Southwest Conservation District,
6. Connecticut Environmental Review Team, and
7. Connecticut Council on Water and Soil Conservation.
§ 44 — UCONN HEALTH CENTER EMPLOYEE FRIN GE BENEFITS
Requires the comptroller to use up to $4.5 million of funds appropriated for State
Comptroller-Fringe Benefits to fund a portion of the fringe benefits for UCHC employees
For FY 24 and each fiscal year after it, the bill requires the comptroller
to use up to $4.5 million of the resources appropriated for State
Comptroller-Fringe Benefits to fund the fringe benefit cost differential
between the average rate for fringe benefits of private hospitals in the
state and the fringe benefit rate for University of Connecticut Health
Center (UCHC) employees. Under the bill, the “fringe benefit cost
differential” is the difference between the (1) state fringe benefit rate
calculated on UCHC payroll and (2) average member fringe benefit rate
of all of Connecticut acute care hospitals as contained in the annual
reports submitted to the Office of Health Strategy’s (OHS) Health
Systems Planning Unit as required by law.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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§§ 45 & 46 — EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON INTIMATE PARTNER
VIOLENCE TOWAR DS PREGNANT AND POST PARTUM PEOPLE
Requires DPH to develop educational materials on intimate partner violence toward
pregnant and postpartum people; requires DPH to distribute the educational materials to
certain health care providers and facilities to give to patients; transfers, from the
Maternal Mortality Review Committee to DPH, responsibility for developing educational
materials on certain other topics
The bill requires the Department of Public Health (DPH), by January
1, 2025, to develop educational materials on intimate partner violence
toward pregnant and postpartum people. In doing so, the department
must consult with organizations that advocate on behalf of domestic
violence victims.
Under the bill, DPH must distribute the educational materials (1) in
print to each birthing hospital and birth center in the state and (2)
electronically to obstetricians and other health care providers who
practice obstetrics. It correspondingly requires these facilities and
providers to give the educational materials to their pregnant and
postpartum patients.
The bill also transfers, from the state’s Maternal Mortality Review
Committee to DPH, the responsibility for developing educational
materials on the following topics required under current law:
1. the health and safety of pregnant and postpartum persons with
mental health disorders, including perinatal mood and anxiety
disorders, for DPH to distribute to the state’s birthing hospitals;
2. evidenced-based screening tools for screening patients for
intimate partner violence, peripartum mood disorders, and
substance use disorder for DPH to distribute to obstetricians and
other health care providers who practice obstetrics; and
3. indicators of intimate partner violence for DPH to distribute to
(1) hospitals for emergency department health care providers
and social workers to use and (2) obstetricians and other health
care providers who practice obstetrics.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§§ 47 & 48 — XL CENTER 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Specifies that the XL Center includes the adjoining garage, for purposes of CRDA’s
agreements with contractors to manage and operate and reconstruct and renovate the
center; exempts from the sales and use tax any purchase or lease needed to operate the
center while CRDA or the contractor owns, leases, or operates it; increases the maximum
amount that the state, CRDA, or both must contribute to the center’s renovation
Existing law allows the Capital Region Development Authority
(CRDA) to enter into two separate agreements concerning the XL
Center’s (1) management and operation and (2) reconstruction and
renovation. The bill specifies that for purposes of these projects,
agreements, and related requirements (e.g., for the management and
operation agreement, allocating net profits and losses between the
contractor and CRDA), the XL Center includes the adjoining CRDA-
owned garage on Church Street, in addition to the civic center and
coliseum complex as existing law provides.
With respect to operations, existing law allows CRDA, by December
31, 2025, to enter into an agreement with the contractor that is managing
and operating the XL Center on July 1, 2023, to continue doing so. The
bill exempts from the sales and use taxes any purchase or lease
necessary for operating the XL Center while it is owned, leased, or
operated by CRDA or the contractor.
For the reconstruction and renovation, existing law allows CRDA to
enter into one or more agreements by December 31, 2025, for a project
to renovate and reconstruct the XL Center. The bill increases, from $80
million to $125 million, the maximum amount of funding that CRDA,
the state, or both together, must contribute under the agreement toward
the cost of any renovation or reconstruction occurring after January 1,
2023. By law, the contractor must contribute at least $20 million.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 49 — NEEDS ASSESSM ENT ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
PROGRAMS IN CORRECTI ONAL FACILITIES
Contains identical provisions as in § 18; see above for analysis
§ 50 — ROBERTA B. WILLIS SCHOLARSHIP FUN DING
Makes several changes to a 2023-enacted allocation of Roberta B. Willis scholarship
program funds, including that all ARPA funds allocated for the program be disbursed, 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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rather than used, by December 31, 2024, and requires OHE to reserve up to $15 million
from the program’s FY 25 appropriation for disbursement during FY 26
The bill makes several changes to a 2023-enacted allocation of
Roberta B. Willis scholarship program funds. PA 23-208 required OHE
to use the funds appropriated or allocated for the program for FY 24 to
make its awards for the need and merit-based grants and allocate funds
for the need-based and Charter Oak grants for the 2023-24 and 2024-25
academic years. Additionally, it required all ARPA funds allocated for
the program to be used by December 31, 2024.
The bill instead requires OHE to disburse the funds appropriated or
allocated for the program for FYs 24 and 25 to make its awards for the
need and merit-based grants and allocate funds for the need-based and
Charter Oak grants according to a plan developed by the office. It also
requires that all ARPA funds allocated for the program be disbursed,
rather than used, by December 31, 2024.
Additionally, the bill requires OHE to reserve up to $15 million from
the amount appropriated for the program for FY 25 for disbursement
during FY 26.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 51 — CONNECTICUT PORT AUTHORITY REPORT
Requires CPA, by January 1, 2025, to begin quarterly reporting to the Transportation and
Appropriations committees on a staffing plan to handle its needs and its efforts for certain
activities and programs
The bill requires the Connecticut Port Authority (CPA), by January 1,
2025, and then quarterly, to submit a report to the Transportation and
Appropriations committees that describes its (1) work to support grants
under the Small Harbor Improvement Projects Program (SHIPP), (2)
dredging activities and the dredging needs of harbors in the state, and
(3) marketing activities for maritime communities. The report must also
include a staffing plan to handle CPA’s needs.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
Background — SHIPP
SHIPP is a competitive grant program, established and administered 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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by CPA, that provides funds for harbor improvement projects unrelated
to the deep water ports in Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London.
Harbor improvement projects generally must be within, near, or on an
active navigational channel and include dredging, marina repair, boat
ramp facilities improvement, harbor management plans, and feasibility
studies. SHIPP is funded with state general obligation bonds.
§ 52 — THE TRANSFORM ING CHILDREN’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
POLICY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
Expands the Transforming Children’s Behavioral Health Policy and Planning
Committee’s membership by adding two representatives from the federally recognized
Indian Tribes in the state; extends, by two years, the committee’s reporting deadlines
By law, the Transforming Children’s Behavioral Health Policy and
Planning Committee must evaluate the availability and efficacy of
prevention, early intervention, and behavioral health treatment services
and options for children from birth to age 18. The bill expands the
committee’s membership by adding two members jointly appointed by
the Appropriations Committee chairpersons, each of whom must be a
representative of one of the two federally recognized Indian tribes in the
state (i.e., the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes).
Under current law, among other things, the committee must, by (1)
December 1, 2023, report to the Appropriations, Children, Human
Services, and Public Health committees and OPM on specific subjects
(e.g., recommendations on any statutory or budgetary changes
concerning the behavioral health system); and (2) December 1, 2024,
report on the progress of the strategic plan it must develop to integrate
its recommendations. The bill extends these deadlines to December 1,
2025, and December 1, 2026, respectively.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 53 — 2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR CHANGES TO THE ROBERTA B.
WILLIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Prohibits the OHE from requiring that Roberta B. Willis scholarship program need-based
grants be reduced based on a student’s initial qualifications as determined from his or her
FAFSA and pauses the requirement that the program’s need and merit-based grants be
awarded in a higher amount than its need-based grants
This bill prohibits the Office of Higher Education (OHE), for the 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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academic year beginning July 1, 2024, from requiring higher education
institutions participating in the Roberta B. Willis scholarship program
to reduce the amount of a need-based grant awarded under the program
to an eligible student based on the initial qualifications determined from
the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), even if
the U.S. Department of Education subsequently revises the
qualifications. The bill relatedly requires OHE to deem participating
higher education institutions to be in compliance with the state law
governing the program if the initial qualifications qualified an eligible
student for the need-based grant that the student was awarded.
Additionally, the bill pauses, for the academic year beginning July 1,
2024, the requirement that Roberta B. Willis scholarship program’s need
and merit-based grants be awarded in a higher amount than its need-
based grants.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§§ 54 & 55 — CONNECTICUT HYDROGEN AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE
PURCHASE PROGRAM (CH EAPR)
Modifies the CHEAPR rebate amount for residents of environmental justice communities
from up to 100% more than the standard rebate to at least 200% more than the standard
rebate; requires certain proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to be used
for the CHEAPR program (rather than the CHEAPR account) and other programs that
support DEEP’s engagement with environmental justice communities
Rebate Amount
By law, the CHEAPR program gives rebates and v ouchers to
residents, municipalities, businesses, nonprofits, and tribal entities that
buy new or used battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and
fuel cell electric vehicles. CHEAPR rebate or voucher amounts are set
administratively by DEEP, subject to certain statutory parameters,
including a requirement to provide a higher rebate to residents of
environmental justice communities. Current law requires the rebate or
voucher amount for residents of environmental justice communities be
up to 100% more than a standard rebate (see Background —
Environmental Justice Communities). The bill increases the amount to at
least 200% greater than the standard amount.
Funding From Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Current law diverts a portion of RGGI (see Background — RGGI)
proceeds to the CHEAPR account, which is used to fund CHEAPR and
certain activities related to the zero-emission school bus program. The
bill instead requires that this funding be diverted to DEEP to fund the
CHEAPR program and other programs established to support the
department’s engagement with environmental justice communities.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
Background — Environmental Justice Communities
By law, an “environmental justice community” is (a) any U.S. census
block group, as determined by the most recent census, for which at least
30% of the population consists of low-income people who are not
institutionalized and have an income below 200% of the federal poverty
level or (b) a distressed municipality (CGS § 22a-20a).
Background — RGGI
RGGI is a regional interstate “cap and trade” program to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The program subjects the region’s power
plants to a declining cap on the amount of carbon dioxide they may emit
and requires them to purchase emission allowances at quarterly
auctions. Those that exceed the cap may buy credits from those that do
not. Auction sales proceeds fund energy efficiency and renewal
programs.
§ 56 — DISTRESSED MUNICIPALITY DESIGNATION
Extends, from five years to 10, the time period for which certain municipalities are deemed
to be distressed municipalities after being removed from the annual list published by
DECD
By law, distressed municipalities are those that the Department of
Economic and Community Development (DECD) determines have the
highest levels of fiscal and economic distress. He annually designates 25
municipalities as distressed using statistical indicators that measure
municipal fiscal capacity (e.g., tax base, residents’ personal income, and,
indirectly, the residents’ need for public services).
Under current law, a municipality removed from the list of distressed
municipalities in a given year does not immediately lose its designation 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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but is instead deemed to be a distressed municipality for an additional
five years. The bill extends this period to 10 years for municipalities
whose populations exceed 100,000 at the time they were removed from
the annual list, based on the most recent U.S. census. Under current law
and the bill, the municipality may reject the extension by a vote of its
legislative body no more than three months after being notified by the
DECD commissioner that it was removed from the list.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2024
§§ 57-59 — CIGARETTE DEALER LICENSES AND RENEWALS
Requires cigarette dealer’s license applicants to post certain notices at their businesses and
provides a remonstrance process; allows municipalities to adopt ordinances to require
these dealers to notify the chief law enforcement official of license renewals and allows the
official to comment; requires DRS to consider these comments and report certain statistics
on these notifications to the legislature
The bill (1) requires applicants for a Department of Revenue Services
(DRS) cigarette dealer’s license to notify the town and post certain
notices at their businesses about their license applications, and (2)
provides a process for 10 or more people to object to an initial or renewal
applicant’s suitability or the proposed place of business. Similar
provisions apply under existing law for liquor permits.
The bill also allows municipalities to adopt ordinances requiring
anyone applying to renew a cigarette dealer’s license to simultaneously
give written notice of the application to the chief law enforcement
official or his or her designee in the municipality where the business is
located. (By law, municipalities may already do this for those applying
to renew a liquor permit that allows on-premises serving or
consumption.) The bill (1) allows the official or designee to send written
comments on the application to the DRS commissioner within 15 days
after receiving the notice and (2) requires the DRS commissioner to
consider the comments before renewing the license.
Lastly, the bill requires the DRS commissioner to report, by January
1, 2026, to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding; Planning and
Development; and Public Safety and Security committees on:
1. the number and copies of written comments submitted; 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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2. a summary of actions DRS took in granting or denying any
cigarette dealer’s license renewal applications for which written
comments were submitted; and
3. the commissioner’s conclusions and recommendations, after
consulting with chief law enforcement officials or their
designees, about this notice (i.e., comment) requirement.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2024
Notice of Application for Cigarette Dealer’s License
Under the bill, DRS is prohibited from issuing an initial license to an
applicant until the applicant complies with the following notice
provision.
The bill requires a cigarette dealer license applicant, after filing the
application with DRS, to give notice of the application to the clerk of the
municipality where the business is to be located. The notice must
contain the applicant’s name and residential address and the place of
business for which the license is to be issued. Upon receiving the notice,
the clerk must post and maintain the notice on the municipality’s
website for at least two weeks.
By the day following the date an applicant provides the notice, the
applicant must affix a copy of the notice, in legible condition, on the
outer door of the proposed business location. When a license application
is filed for an unconstructed building, the applicant must build and
maintain a legible sign that is at least six feet by four feet. The sign must
include the license applied for and the proposed licensee’s name and be
clearly visible from the street.
The applicant must make a return to DRS, under oath, of compliance
with the notice requirements, on a DRS form. The department may
require additional proof of compliance. Upon receiving sufficient
evidence of compliance, DRS may hold a hearing on the proposed
location’s suitability.
Objections to a Proposed or Renewed Cigarette Dealer’s License 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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The bill allows any 10 individuals who are at least age 18 and reside
in the town in which the cigarette dealer’s business is proposed or
currently located, to file a “remonstrance” (i.e., objection) with DRS. For
initial licenses, they must file a remonstrance within three weeks after
the last day the license applicant’s notice was posted. For renewals, they
must file it at least 21 days before the license renewal date.
The remonstrance must include any objection to the suitability of the
applicant or proposed business place, provided the issue is not
controlled by local zoning. If a remonstrance is filed and the individuals
apply in writing, DRS must hold a hearing and give at least five days’
notice.
The remonstrants (i.e., the people making the objection) must
designate one or more agents for service to receive all DRS notices. At
any time before DRS issues a decision, the remonstrants or their agents
may withdraw a remonstrance and DRS may cancel the hearing or
withdraw the case. The DRS decision on the application is final for the
remonstrance.
The bill allows the remonstrants who are aggrieved by the granting
of a license to appeal under the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act.
§ 60 — UNION AVENUE DETENTION CENTER
Starting in 2026, requires that the Union Avenue detention center in New Haven be
under the jurisdiction of an OPM-determined state agency rather than that of the local
police
Starting on January 1, 2026, the bill places New Haven’s Union
Avenue detention center under the jurisdiction of a state agency, as the
OPM secretary determines. Under current practice, the facility is under
local police jurisdiction.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§§ 61-63 — MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR SCHOOL -BASED HEALTH
SERVICES
Requires DSS to amend the Medicaid state plan to expand coverage for health care
services provided to eligible students (1) by or on behalf of an LEA and (2) in school
nurse’s offices; establishes an interagency coalition to coordinate and make 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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recommendations to maximize federal funding for Medicaid-eligible health care services in
public schools
The bill makes several changes to expand access to Medicaid-covered
health care for Connecticut schoolchildren. Specifically, it:
1. requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) commissioner,
in consultation with the education commissioner, to, within
appropriations, seek federal approval to amend the Medicaid
state plan to expand Medicaid coverage for health services
provided by or on behalf of a local educational agency (LEA; i.e.,
public board of education or other public school administrative
authority) to any student enrolled in Medicaid;
2. requires the DSS commissioner, within available appropriations
and subject to federal approval, to amend the Medicaid state plan
to cover health care services in school nurse’s offices for eligible
students enrolled in Medicaid; and
3. establishes an interagency coalition to coordinate and make
recommendations to maximize federal funding for Medicaid-
eligible health services in Connecticut public schools.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except that the provision on
nurse’s offices is effective July 1, 2024.
Medicaid Coverage for School-Based Health Services
The bill requires the DSS commissioner, in consultation with the
education commissioner and by October 1, 2025, to seek approval to
amend the Medicaid state plan to give Medicaid coverage for health
services provided by or on behalf of a LEA to any student enrolled in
Medicaid, regardless of whether a student qualifies for federal services
for students with disabilities.
The bill authorizes a LEA, to the extent permissible by federal law
and within available appropriations, to submit Medicaid claims for each
Medicaid-eligible student who receives Medicaid-eligible school-based
services unless the student’s parent or legal guardian opts out of
authorizing the LEA to do so. 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Under the bill, the DSS commissioner, in consultation with the
education commissioner, must develop and distribute to each local or
regional school board written guidance on health care services eligible
for Medicaid reimbursement.
The bill requires the DSS commissioner, annually by January 1, and
in consultation with the education commissioner, to report to the
Appropriations, Children, Education, and Human Services committees
on Medicaid reimbursement for school-based health services and
recommendations for expanding Medicaid services provided in schools.
Interagency Coalition
The bill establishes an interagency coalition consisting of the
education and DSS commissioners and the OPM secretary, or their
designees, to coordinate and make recommendations on maximizing
federal Medicaid funding for health services in public schools. The
coalition must (1) hold its first meeting within 60 days after the bill
passes and (2) meet at least quarterly.
The bill requires the coalition to report annually by January 1 to the
Appropriations, Children, Education, and Human Services committees
on the following:
1. the number of students receiving Medicaid-covered health
services in the previous school year and any change in their
proportion of the school’s total enrollment;
2. steps taken to expand Medicaid coverage for student health
services, including any Medicaid waivers or state plan
amendments; and
3. a survey of what other states are doing to expand Medicaid-
covered health services for students.
§ 64 — PHASING OUT MED CONNECT INCOME AN D ASSET LIMITS
Phases out income and asset eligibility limits in the Med Connect program and eliminates
them by July 1, 2029
The bill phases out income and asset eligibility limits in Med Connect, 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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DSS’s medical assistance program for working people with disabilities.
The bill increases current law’s income limit from $75,000 to $85,000;
and doubles the asset limit for individuals and married couples to
$20,000 and $30,000 respectively.
Beginning July 1, 2026, the bill requires DSS to phase out income and
asset limits for Med Connect over four fiscal years by annually
increasing the (1) income limit by $10,000 and (2) asset limit by $10,000
for individuals and $15,000 for married couples. Under the bill, income
and asset limits must be eliminated from the program by July 1, 2029.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 2025
§§ 65 & 68 — BUREAU OF SERVICES FOR PERSONS WHO ARE
DEAF, DEAFBLIND OR HARD OF HEARING
Establishes the bureau within ADS and requires the department to hire a bureau director;
requires state agencies to appoint an employee to serve as a point of contact for concerns
related to people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing
The bill establishes a Bureau of Services for Persons who are Deaf,
Deafblind or Hard of Hearing within the Department of Aging and
Disability Services (ADS).
The bill requires ADS, in consultation with the Advisory Board for
Persons who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing (see below) to hire
a bureau director by October 1, 2024, who reports to the ADS
commissioner. The commissioner must also hire the bureau director’s
administrative assistant. The bill requires the bureau director to (1) have
professional experience serving deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing
people, (2) be able to communicate in American Sign Language, and (3)
be familiar with effective interpretation methods to help deafblind
people.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024, except the provision on state agency
points of contact is effective October 1, 2024.
Bureau Director Duties
Under the bill, the bureau director has the following duties: 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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1. assist in overseeing ADS employees who provide counseling,
interpreting, and other help to people who are deaf, deafblind, or
hard of hearing, excluding federally-funded vocational
rehabilitation employees;
2. create a separate webpage for the bureau on ADS’s website that
includes (a) the advisory board’s meeting schedule, agenda,
minutes, and other board resources, (b) an instructional video
with audio and captions on the home page on how to navigate
the webpage, resources, and tools, and (c) other materials under
the bill;
3. annually update a resource guide for people who are deaf,
deafblind, or hard of hearing, and publish it on the ADS website
and the bureau’s webpage;
4. help register interpreters, including by maintaining a list of
interpreters categorized by the settings where they are qualified
to interpret and publishing it on the ADS website and the
bureau’s webpage;
5. coordinate ADS’s efforts to provide information and referral
services to people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing on
available resources;
6. coordinate responses to consumer concerns, requests for help,
and referrals to resources, including from state agencies;
7. coordinate education and training initiatives (e.g., working with
local and state public safety and public health officials and first
responders on best practices to serve and communicate with
deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing people or working with
interpreters to maintain or enhance their skills in various
settings);
8. collaborate with interpreting services providers and training
organizations to increase opportunities for mentorships,
internships, apprenticeships, and specialized training in 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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interpreting services;
9. partner with civic and community organizations serving deaf,
deafblind, or hard of hearing people on workshops and
information sessions on new laws, regulations, or developments
related to services, programs, or health care needs;
10. raise public awareness of programs and services available to
deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing people;
11. work with the governor and Connecticut television stations on
ways to make television broadcasts more accessible to people
who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing; and
12. consult with the advisory board to identify needs and address
needed policy changes.
The bill also requires the bureau director to help the Public Utilities
Regulatory Authority (PURA) implement telecommunication relay
service (TRS) programs for people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of
hearing. The bill requires PURA to consult with ADS and the bureau
director when awarding a contract for this service. TRS enables
telephone communication between (1) a hearing or speech impaired
person using a text telephone or a telecommunications device for the
deaf and (2) a person using a telephone. In practice, PURA opens a
docket every five years to review proposals and choose a TRS provider.
State Agency Point of Contact
The bill requires each state agency to (1) appoint an employee to serve
as point of contact for concerns related to people who are deaf,
deafblind, or hard of hearing, (2) identify the employee’s name and
contact information in a prominent place on the agency’s website, and
(3) require this employee to collaborate with the bureau director to
resolve these concerns. This requirement applies to the executive,
legislative, and judicial branches, including any such office, department,
board, council, commission, institution, constituent unit of the state
system of higher education, or technical education and career school. 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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The bill requires the bureau director to help each state agency appoint
an employee to serve as this point of contact and coordinate with them
to resolve concerns.
§§ 66, 67, 69 & 71 — ADVISORY BOARD FOR PERSONS WHO ARE
DEAF, DEAFBLIND OR HARD OF HEARING
Renames the board, changes its membership, and expands its duties and reporting
requirements
The bill renames the advisory board from “the Advisory Board for
Persons who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Deafblind” to “the Advisory
Board for Persons who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing” and
makes conforming changes. Among other related changes, the bill also
modifies the board’s membership and expands its duties and reporting
requirements.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2024
Membership and Administration
The bill replaces two members on the 15-member board. It does so by
(1) removing the ADS commissioner or he r designee and the
Connecticut Chapter of We the Deaf People director and (2) adding the
Hear Here Hartford (the Connecticut chapter of the Hearing Loss
Association of America) president or her designee and a Connecticut
hospital organization representative appointed by the House speaker.
The bill makes conforming changes to allow appointing authorities to
fill vacancies.
The bill requires the bureau director to serve as the advisory board’s
administrator beginning October 1, 2024.
Annual Leadership Roundtable Meeting
The bill requires the advisory board to hold an annual leadership
roundtable meeting with various executive branch agencies to discuss
best practices and gaps in services for people who are deaf, hard of
hearing, or deafblind, and make recommendations to rectify these gaps.
The meeting includes the following participants or their designees:
1. commissioners of aging and disability services, public health, 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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social services, mental health and addiction services, education,
developmental services, children and families, early childhood,
economic and community development, emergency services and
public protection, correction, housing, and labor;
2. the Office of Higher Education (OHE) executive director; and
3. the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR).
The bill eliminates a similar requirement that the advisory board
meet periodically with some of the same agencies to discuss similar
topics.
Reporting Requirement
Under current law, the advisory board must make recommendations
for (1) technical assistance and resources for state agencies to serve
people who are deaf or hard of hearing, (2) public policy and legislative
changes needed to address gaps in services, and (3) interpreter
qualifications and registration. The bill additionally requires the
advisory board to make recommendations on technical assistance and
resources for state agencies to serve deafblind people.
Current law requires the advisory board to submit these
recommendations to the governor and the Human Services Committee,
but does not set a deadline or frequency for this requirement. The bill
requires the board to submit a report on these recommendations
annually, starting by January 1, 2025, to the Appropriations, Aging,
Commerce, Education, Higher Education, Housing, Human Services,
Judiciary, Labor, Public Health, and Public Safety committees. The bill
additionally requires the report to include the bureau’s activities in the
previous calendar year.
§§ 70 & 72 — ADS SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAFBLIND
Expands ADS responsibilities to include providing services for people who are deafblind,
generally conforming to current practice
Under current law, ADS is responsible for providing services to,
among others, people who are deaf or hard of hearing and the
department may provide necessary services to them. The bill 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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additionally makes ADS responsible for providing services to people
who are deafblind.
Under the bill, as under current law, ADS must annually report on its
services to the governor and the Appropriations and Human Services
committees.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2024
§ 73 — METHADONE MAI NTENANCE RATE INCREA SE
Requires DSS to increase Medicaid rates, within available appropriations, for chemical
maintenance providers who currently receive the lowest weekly reimbursement rate
Current law sets the minimum weekly Medicaid reimbursement rate
at $88.52 for chemical maintenance providers who give methadone
maintenance treatment to Medicaid beneficiaries. For FY 25, the bill
requires DSS to amend the Medicaid state plan to increase rates, within
available appropriations, to those providers who receive the lowest
weekly reimbursement rate for this treatment. The bill prohibits its rate
increase for the lowest paid providers from causing a rate decrease for
higher paid providers.
By law, methadone maintenance is a chemical maintenance program
under which an addiction to one drug (e.g., heroin) is treated with
methadone in a weekly program that includes methadone
administration, drug testing, and counseling. Chemical maintenance
providers are certified and licensed by state and federal agencies and
meet state and federal requirements.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 74 — MEDICAID AMBULANCE RATES
Requires DSS to increase FY 25 ambulance rates within available appropriations,
including increasing the mileage rate for ambulance transportation covered under
Medicaid by $1.18 and providing mileage reimbursement for in-town trips
For FY 25, the bill requires DSS to increase the following rates, within
available appropriations:
1. the Medicaid ambulance mileage rate for all emergency and
nonemergency transports by $1.18 and 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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2. all other emergency and nonemergency ambulance service rates.
The bill also requires the DSS commissioner to provide mileage
reimbursement for in-town trips for FY 25, within available
appropriations. The bill authorizes her to seek federal approval for a
Medicaid state plan amendment if needed to implement these rates.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 75 — PACT PROGRAM
Expands the PACT Program’s eligibility to include transition program students;
increases the program’s minimum award amounts; names the awards the “Mary Ann
Handley Grant”; requires BOR’s upcoming semesterly reports on certain program
metrics by November 1, 2024, and March 1, 2025
This bill makes various changes to the Pledge to Advance CT (PACT)
program, which gives eligible Connecticut high school graduates the
opportunity to attend a Connecticut community college debt-free by
awarding them grants for the difference between the cost of tuition and
fees and their scholarships, grants, and federal, state, or institutional aid.
Program Expansion
This bill expands PACT eligibility to include transition program
students who (1) are state residents, (2) have not graduated from high
school, (3) are enrolled in a transition program under their
individualized education program, and (4) enroll in one or more courses
at a regional community-technical college.
Award Increase
The bill increases the program’s minimum awards from $250 to $500
for full-time students, and from $150 to $300 for part-time students.
Mary Ann Handley Grant
The bill requires all grants made to eligible students under the debt-
free community college program to be designated as the “Mary Ann
Handley Grant.”
Reporting Requirements
Current law requires BOR to report certain information about the
PACT program to the Higher Education and Employment 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Advancement and Appropriations committees each semester. The bill
sets specific deadlines of November 1, 2024, and March 1, 2025, for two
of the upcoming reports. Under existing law, the reports must include
information on, among other things, the (1) number of qualifying
students enrolled at the regional community-technical college, (2)
number of qualifying students receiving minimum awards, and (3)
completion rates of qualifying students by degree or certificate
program.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 76 — DEADLINE EXTENSION TO SUBMIT RECO MMENDATIONS
ON CREATING A NEW SO LID WASTE-RELATED ENTITY
Extends, until July 1, 2025, the deadline for OPM to give the Environment and Energy
and Technology committees recommendations on the feasibility and advisability of
creating a new solid waste-related quasi-public state agency, waste authority, or other
entity
The bill extends by one year, from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, the
deadline for the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to submit
recommendations to the Environment and Energy and Technology
committees on the feasibility and advisability of creating a new quasi-
public state agency, waste authority, or other entity for developing new
solid waste infrastructure, operate and maintain new or existing solid
waste infrastructure, and for other purposes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 77 — SMALL TOWN EC ONOMIC ASSISTANCE PR OGRAM
(STEAP)
Increases, from $500,000 to $1 million, the maximum STEAP grant amount
municipalities can receive per fiscal year
The bill increases, from $500,000 to $1 million, the maximum total
Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant amount a
municipality may receive in a fiscal year. By law, STEAP grants provide
funding to municipalities that are ineligible for Urban Action grants and
must be used for economic development, community conservation, and
quality-of-life capital projects.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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§ 78 — VACATION AND PERSONAL DA YS DURING WORKING
TEST PERIODS
Gives full-time permanent state employees paid vacation days and personal days during
their initial working test periods
Existing law gives full-time permanent state employees 21 paid
vacation days annually once they have worked at least one full calendar
year (which, in practice, accrue incrementally throughout the year) and
three paid personal days each calendar year (which are granted all at
once). The bill gives this same paid time off to these employees during
their initial working test period. For those that begin working on or after
July 1, it requires the amount of personal days to be prorated during
their first calendar year of employment. The proration must be based on
the number of full calendar months remaining the year after the
employee began employment, divided by six.
The bill requires the administrative services commissioner, by June
30, 2025, to adopt or amend regulations to implement these provisions
on vacation and personal days during employees’ initial working test
periods. Before adopting the regulations, and by January 1, 2025, she
must also adopt policies and procedures to implement them, which
have the force and effect of law. The bill requires the commissioner to
post the policies and procedures on the department’s website and
submit them to the secretary of the state to post on the eRegulations
System at least 15 days before their effective date. The policies and
procedures stop being effective once they are adopted as a final
regulation.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2025
§ 79 — STATE AGENCY DEPUTY DUAL EMPLOYME NT
Eliminates a provision that prohibits certain state agency deputies from having other
employment
Existing law requires each department head (e.g., state agency
commissioner) to designate one deputy to exercise the department’s
head’s powers and duties during his or her absence or disqualification.
The bill removes a provision in current law that (1) requires these
deputies to devote their full time to their department or agency duties
and (2) prohibits them from having any other employment. It also 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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makes technical changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§§ 80 & 81 — JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM AMORTIZATION
Changes the method for determining the state’s contribution for JRS unfunded liability
from a 40-year amortization to a 15-year layered amortization, which effectively extends
the contributions for an additional seven years; requires the state retirement commission
to revise the JRS actuarial valuation using the new amortization method
Starting July 1, 2024, the bill requires the state’s contribution for the
Judicial Retirement System’s (JRS) unfunded past service liability to be
based on a 15-year layered amortization of the unfunded liability. The
15-year period for the amortization must begin with the valuation for
FY 23. Under current law, the unfunded liability payment is based on
40-year amortization, which began on July 1, 1991. In effect, the bill
extends the unfunded liability’s repayment from 2032 to 2039. In
general, a layered amortization creates a new amortization schedule for
each year’s actuarial experience and helps reduce volatility in the
required amortization payments.
The bill requires the State Employees Retirement Commission, which
oversees the JRS, to prepare and submit (presumably, to the legislature)
a revised actuarial valuation for JRS as of June 30, 2023, that incorporates
the bill’s change to the 15-year layered amortization. The commission
must do this by June 30, 2024.
Current law generally prohibits the legislature from liberalizing JRS
benefits unless the retirement commission certifies the unfunded
liability created by the change and the change’s cost using full normal
cost plus a 30-year amortization. The bill requires the commission to use
a 15-year layered, rather than 30-year, amortization. It correspondingly
requires that any unfunded liability created by the change be amortized
over a 15-year, rather than 30-year, period.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§§ 82-85 — CONNECTICUT MUNICIPAL REDEVEL OPMENT
AUTHORITY 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Requires MRDA to provide members, by request, assistance on developing project criteria
and regulations to increase housing production; authorizes it to establish criteria to
evaluate its projects’ potential impacts; and eliminates a requirement that members
appoint a local development board
The bill requires the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment
Authority (MRDA) to provide, by request, technical support to member
municipalities (and joint member entities) on developing project criteria
and local regulations to substantially increase housing production. (By
law unchanged by the bill, municipalities that opt to collaborate with
MRDA must establish an area (a “housing growth zone”) in which
zoning regulations facilitate substantial new housing development.)
The bill also authorizes MRDA to set criteria to evaluate the potential
impact of its projects. If it does so, these criteria must include the impact
the project may have on the tax base of the municipality or
municipalities involved. It additionally eliminates the requirement that
MRDA’s member municipalities appoint a local development board to
serve as liaison to the authority.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2024
§ 86 — INVESTMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL “GIFTS”
Allows the IAC’s public members to receive travel expenses, lodging, food, beverages, and
other benefits customarily provided in the course of employment
The bill exempts certain items received by the Investment Advisory
Council’s (IAC) public members from being considered “gifts” under
the state code of ethics for public officials. More specifically, it exempts
travel expenses, lodging, food, beverage, and other benefits customarily
provided in the course of employment when given to these members.
The bill’s exemption generally allows the members to receive these
items without violating the code.
By law, the IAC generally advises the state treasurer on investing the
state’s pension and other trust funds, including reviewing the
treasurer’s investment policy statement and trust fund investment. The
12-member council has five public members, all of whom must have
investment experience. The governor, Senate president pro tempore
and minority leader, and House speaker and minority leader each 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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appoints one of the public members.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 87 — REPEAL OF STUD ENT LOAN REIMBURSEME NT AND
RELATED PROGRAMS
Repeals several student loan reimbursement, scholarship, and related programs
The bill repeals the following programs that OHE administers:
1. the “Engineering Connecticut” student loan reimbursement
program, which under current law, requires the office to provide,
within available appropriations, student loan reimbursement
grants for people with undergraduate or graduate degrees in
engineering and who are newly employed in the state as
engineers;
2. “You Belong” student loan reimbursement program, which
under current law, requires the office to provide, within available
appropriations, student loan reimbursement grants for people
who (a) have been awarded a doctoral degree from any higher
education institution, and (b) are newly employed in the state in
an economically valuable field as the Department of Economic
and Community Development (DECD) determines, or by a
company or higher education institution that registers with or
has been qualified by DECD;
3. the Connecticut green technology, life science, and health
information technology student loan reimbursement program,
which under current law, provides eligible residents who hold
degrees in and work in these fields with student loan
reimbursements; and
4. a program, which under current law, requires the office to
provide grants in FYs 23-25 to public and private colleges and
universities for delivery of student mental health services on
campus.
The bill also repeals the information technology student loan 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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reimbursement pilot program, administered by BOR. (This program
was restricted to a cohort who received grants in FY 02.)
The bill also repeals (1) a state scholarship program, which under
current law, forgives loans provided by the state to residents for nursing
education if the resident remains in the nursing field in the state for five
years; and (2) a scholarship program for Vietnam era veterans, which
under current law, requires a scholarship fund to be established for
these veterans who have been accepted for full-time admission in a
degree granting program at any independent, nontheological college in
the state as long as the veteran is a state resident at the time of
acceptance.
Lastly, the bill also repeals the Department of Public Health’s (DPH)
primary care direct services program. Under current law, the program
provides, within available resources, three-year grants to community-
based primary care providers to expand health care access to the
uninsured by (1) funding direct services, (2) recruiting and retaining
primary care clinicians and registered nurses through salary subsidies
or a loan repayment program, and (3) funding capital expenditures.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 88 — REPEAL OF MUL TILINGUAL LEARNER ED UCATOR
INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Repeals the Multilingual Learner Educator Incentive Program
The bill repeals the OHE-administered multilingual learner educator
incentive program. Under current law, the program provides a grant,
within available appropriations, to any student who (1) is in the last two
years of a teacher preparation program leading to professional
certification at any four-year higher education institution in the state,
and (2) will pursue an endorsement in bilingual education or teaching
English to speakers of other languages. Under the program, students
receive a grant of up to $5,000 a year for up to two years, and after
graduating, are eligible for up to $2,500 of student loan reimbursement
for up to four years if they teach at an in-state public school.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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§ 89 — CONNECTICUT PORT AUTHORITY QUARTE RLY STATUS
REPORT REVIEW
Eliminates the requirement that DAS and OPM review and comment on the Port
Authority’s quarterly report before it is submitted to the Transportation Committee
Under existing law, the Connecticut Port Authority must submit a
quarterly report to the Transportation Committee on the status of
current and pending contacts, small harbor projects, and the State Pier
project in New London. The bill eliminates the requirement that DAS
and OPM review and comment on the report before it is submitted to
the committee.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§§ 90, 91 & 137-242 — HEALTH STRATEGY AN D HIGHER
EDUCATION COMMISSION ERS
Renames the title of OHS’s and OHE’s executive heads as “commissioners” rather than
“executive directors”
The bill renames the title of the Office of Health Strategy’s (OHS)
head as a “commissioner” rather than an “executive director.” It makes
the same change to the title of the Office of Higher Education’s (OHE)
head. The bill also makes numerous conforming changes.
Under existing law, these two positions are already classified as
statutory department heads, subject to the same nomination and
appointment process, terms, and general qualifications, duties, and
powers as other agency commissioners (see §§ 138 & 187 and CGS §§ 4-
6 to 4-8).
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 92 — TOBACCO AND HEALTH TRUST FUND TRA NSFER
Suspends the annual $12 million disbursement from the Tobacco Settlement Fund to the
Tobacco and Health Trust Fund for FY 25 and redirects it to the General Fund
For FY 25, the bill suspends the annual $12 million disbursement
from the Tobacco Settlement Fund to the Tobacco and Health Trust
Fund and instead redirects this amount to the General Fund.
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§§ 93 & 94 — DSS PHARMACY APPROVALS
Increases, from two to 24 hours, how much time DSS has to grant or deny pharmacy
requests for prior authorization or dispensing name brand drug products before they are
deemed approved
The bill increases the length of time, from two hours to 24 hours,
during which the Department of Social Services (DSS) may approve or
deny certain pharmacy requests before they are deemed approved
under DSS’s medical assistance programs (e.g., Medicaid). This applies
to a (1) physician’s or pharmacist’s prior authorization request for
prescription drugs and (2) pharmacist’s request to dispense a name
brand drug when a chemically equivalent generic drug product
substation is available.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§§ 95-97 — BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH TRUST FUN D
Eliminates the Biomedical Research Trust Fund and requires the state comptroller to
transfer its remaining balance to the General Fund
The bill eliminates the Biomedical Research Trust Fund and requires
the state comptroller to transfer its remaining balance to the General
Fund by June 30, 2025.
Under current law, the public health commissioner can make grants
from this fund to Connecticut-based (1) nonprofit colleges and
universities and (2) hospitals that do biomedical research in heart
disease, cancer, and other tobacco-related diseases; Alzheimer’s disease;
stroke; and diabetes. The fund is a separate, nonlapsing fund that can
accept transfers from the Tobacco Settlement Fund and receive funds
from public or private sources.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2025, except that the funds transfer is
effective upon passage.
§ 98 — EMS REGIONAL COORDINATOR POSITION S TO
CLASSIFIED SERVICE
Requires DAS to transition EMS regional coordinators and assistant regional
coordinators to classified service
The bill requires the Department of Administrative Services (DAS)
commissioner to transition the regional emergency medical services 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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(EMS) coordinator and assistant regional EMS coordinator positions
and incumbents into the classified service. To the extent these
employees are performing jobs that would normally be within a current
executive branch bargaining unit, the bill requires (1) the jobs to be
added to the bargaining unit’s descriptions and (2) employees in the jobs
to be deemed part of the bargaining unit. The DAS commissioner must
transition these employees beginning June 30, 2024, and do so in
consultation with the Department of Public Health commissioner.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 99 — INFORMATION REQUESTS TO ORIGINATING AGENCIES
Requires requests for certain information to be directed to the state agency where the
information originated
The bill requires anyone requesting data, records, or files that were
shared between state agencies under a statute, regulation, data sharing
agreement, memorandum of agreement or understanding, or court
order, including requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA),
to direct the request to the state agency where the information
originated. For this provision, a “state agency” is any office; department;
board; council; commission; institution; constituent unit of the state
system of higher education; technical education and career school; or
other agency in the state’s executive, legislative, or judicial branch.
Under the bill and regardless of FOIA, when a state agency receives
one of these requests but is not the originating agency, it must (1)
promptly refer the request to the state agency where the data, records,
or files originated and (2) notify the requestor that the request has been
referred to the originating agency. The notification must be in writing
and include the originating agency’s name, address, and phone number,
and the date the referral was made.
Lastly, the bill specifies that this provision does not (1) require
disclosure of any data, records, or files if the disclosure would not have
been required had the request been made directly to the originating
agency or (2) apply to certain requests for data in the criminal justice
information system available to the public under FOIA (by law, this data 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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must be obtained from the originating agency).
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 100 — AGREEMENTS O R SOLICITATIONS TO L OCATE
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
Expands requirements and processes regarding agreements and solicitations to locate
unclaimed property
The bill establishes disclosure requirements for agreements to locate
unclaimed property, beyond those in existing law. Under existing
practice, people, businesses, and other entities assist property owners,
for payment, in finding unclaimed property and reclaiming it on the
owner’s behalf.
Under current law, these agreements are only valid if they are (1) in
writing, (2) signed by the owner, (3) disclose the nature and value of the
property, and (4) clearly stipulate the owner’s share after subtracting the
fee or compensation.
The bill establishes additional requirements for these agreements
entered into on or after January 1, 2025. In addition to the current
requirements, these disclosures must also conspicuously and clearly
disclose that the owner may file a claim directly with the treasurer at no
cost and the method for doing so. The bill also requires the disclosure of
the property’s nature and value and the owner’s share be clear and
conspicuous.
The bill also requires that any solicitation to locate unclaimed
property clearly and conspicuously disclose in writing that anyone may
search for and file a claim directly with the treasurer at no cost and how
to do so.
Under the bill, any claim for property filed with the treasurer under
such an agreement or solicitation must include an unredacted version
of the document to allow the treasurer to determine if the requirements
under the bill and existing law have been met. The treasurer may
withhold payment of a claim to anyone except an owner if the
agreement or solicitation (1) is not provided or (2) fails to meet these
requirements. 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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As under existing law, nothing in these provisions may be construed
to prevent an owner from asserting that an agreement to locate or obtain
an interest in unclaimed property is based upon excessive or unjust
consideration. By law, the maximum fee or compensation for a person
helping to locate unclaimed property is 10% of its value.
Under existing law, an agreement is invalid if it is entered into (1)
within two years of the unclaimed property’s required reporting date or
(2) in the period between when the report is required to be filed and
when it is filed, whichever period is longer.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§§ 101-104 — COPAYMENT-ONLY HEALTH PLANS
Exempts copayment-only health plans from the insurance law’s copayment limitations for
certain in-network imaging services and physical and occupational therapy services
Existing law limits the copayments that certain fully insured
individual and group health insurance policies can charge for in-
network imaging services (i.e., MRIs, CAT or PET scans) and in-network
physical and occupational therapy services. For the imaging services,
the law exempts high-deductible health plans from the copayment
limitations. The bill exempts copayment-only health plans from the
copayment limitations for in-network (1) MRIs and CAT or PET scans
and (2) physical and occupational therapy services.
Under the bill, a ”copayment-only health plan” is a health plan that
(1) imposes a specific dollar amount that the insured pays for a covered
health care service or prescription drug and (2) does not include
deductibles or coinsurance.
For physical and occupational therapy services, the bill applies to
individual and group health insurance policies delivered, issued,
renewed, amended, or continued in Connecticut that cover (1) basic
hospital expenses; (2) basic medical-surgical expenses; (3) major medical
expenses; or (4) hospital or medical services, including those provided
under an HMO plan. For MRIs and CAT or PET scans, the bill applies
to all fully insured individual and group health insurance plans.
Because of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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(ERISA), state insurance benefit mandates do not apply to self-insured
benefit plans.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2025
§ 105 — PRESUMPTIVE MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY FOR HOMECARE
Eliminates Section 10 of sHB 5001, as amended by House Amendment “A” and replaces
it with generally similar provisions; requires the DSS commissioner to establish a
presumptive Medicaid eligibility system for people applying to the Medicaid-funded
portion of CHCPE; and requires the state to pay for up to 90 days of home care applicants
determined to be presumptively Medicaid eligible
The bill eliminates Section 10 of sHB 5001, as amended by House
Amendment “A,” and replaces it with generally similar provisions. It
requires the DSS commissioner to establish a presumptive Medicaid
eligibility system for people applying to the Medicaid-funded portion
of the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE). It requires
the commissioner to adopt regulations to implement and administer the
system.
A presumptive eligibility determination deems an applicant
immediately eligible for CHCPE services prior to a full Medicaid-
eligibility determination. Under the bill, the state will pay for up to 90
days of care for applicants who (1) require a skilled level of nursing care
and (2) are determined presumptively eligible for Medicaid.
The bill requires the commissioner, to the extent federal law allows,
to seek a federal Medicaid waiver or state plan amendment needed to
try to get federal reimbursement for the costs of providing coverage to
those determined presumptively eligible for Medicaid. Under the bill,
the presumptive eligibility system does not take effect until the
commissioner gets the federal reimbursement.
The bill allows the commissioner, in her discretion, to discontinue the
system if (1) it has been operational for at least two years and (2) she
determines it is not cost effective.
The bill also makes related minor, technical, and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Eligibility Determinations
By law, DSS contracts with “access” agencies to determine CHCPE
participants’ service needs and develop individualized care plans. The
bill requires the commissioner to develop a screening tool for these
agencies to use to determine if a presumptive eligibility applicant is (1)
functionally able to live in a home or community setting (“functionally
eligible”) and (2) likely to be financially eligible for Medicaid.
Under the bill, applicants must complete a Medicaid application on
the day they are screened for functional eligibility or within 10 days
after.
If the applicant meets the two criteria, DSS must make a presumptive
eligibility determination and approve a care plan authorizing home care
services within 10 days. The bill requires DSS to make a final Medicaid-
eligibility determination by the end of the 90-day presumptive eligibility
period, and may do so before then if the department receives
information that the applicant is ineligible for Medicaid.
For a person determined presumptively eligible for Medicaid, the
commissioner must, in keeping with federal law, determine the person
retroactively eligible for Medicaid for up to 90 days before the date of
his or her Medicaid application.
Written Agreement
The bill requires applicants to sign a written agreement attesting to
the accuracy of the information they provide. The agreement must also
(1) acknowledge that applicants will receive state-funded services up to
90 days after the home care services begin and (2) waive applicants’
right to receive continued coverage while waiting for a hearing they
request in response to the department’s determination, during or at the
end of the presumptive eligibility period, that they are either ineligible
for Medicaid or did not provide information necessary for DSS to make
the determination.
Reporting Requirements
By law, the commissioner must annually report certain CHCPE 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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information to the Human Services Committee. The bill adds the
following to this required information:
1. the number of people determined presumptively eligible for
Medicaid,
2. state savings based on institutional care costs that were averted
by correctly determining people presumptively eligible, and
3. the number of people incorrectly determined presumptively
eligible and the costs to provide them with the home care services
before the final eligibility determination.
§ 106 — MEN’S HEALTH PUBLIC AWARENESS AN D EDUCATION
CAMPAIGN
Requires the DPH commissioner to create a campaign promoting community-based
screening and education for common diseases affecting high-risk male populations
The bill requires the public health commissioner to create a public
awareness and educational campaign promoting community-based
screening and education for common diseases (e.g., colorectal or
prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, infectious diseases, depression,
and anxiety) affecting high-risk male populations. She must annually
report on the campaign to the Public Health Committee, starting by
January 1, 2025.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 107 — HIGHER EDUCA TION FINANCIAL SUSTA INABILITY
ADVISORY BOARD
Establishes the Higher Education Financial Sustainability Advisory Board, designates its
members, assigns the board powers and duties, and requires public higher education
institutions and the UConn Health Center to submit certain information to the board at
the chairpersons’ request
The bill establishes, within the legislative department, the Higher
Education Financial Sustainability Advisory Board.
Membership and Administration
The advisory board must consist of the following members: 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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1. the chairpersons and ranking members of the Appropriations
Committee,
2. the chairpersons and ranking members of the Appropriations
Higher Education subcommittee,
3. the chairpersons and ranking members of the Higher Education
and Employment Advancement Committee,
4. the OPM secretary, and
5. the Auditors of Public Accounts.
The Appropriations Committee chairpersons and the OPM secretary
must jointly serve as board chairpersons and schedule the first board
meeting by September 1, 2024. The board must meet at least quarterly,
and a majority of its members constitutes a quorum.
The Appropriations Committee’s administrative staff must serve in
that capacity for the board.
Board Powers and Duties
Under the bill, the board has the following powers and duties:
1. meet with public higher education institution and UConn Health
Center administrators to accept and review financial and related
reports (see below) and to discuss (a) barriers to meeting state
workforce needs, (b) developing economic growth, and (c)
achieving or maintaining affordable tuition;
2. obtain from any executive department, board, commission, or
other state agency the assistance and data needed to carry out
board powers and duties; and
3. perform other acts that may be necessary and appropriate to
carry out the board’s duties.
Reporting Requirements
The bill requires each public higher education institution and the 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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UConn Health Center to submit to the board, at the request of the board
chairpersons, the following information:
1. a detailed financial report for the current fiscal year, subsequent
fiscal year, and five preceding fiscal years, that identifies each
revenue source, expense category, and any assumptions upon
which the reports are based;
2. a detailed plan that eliminates a deficiency if the current or
subsequent year’s financial report projects one;
3. a summary and general ledger account code analysis of the
institution’s unrestricted net position for the most recently
completed fiscal year;
4. the number of full- and part-time enrolled students
disaggregated by in-state and out-of-state;
5. the number of vacant and filled employmen t positions
disaggregated by bargaining unit and management confidential
type with corresponding average salaries from the first payroll in
October of the most recently completed fiscal year;
6. a summary of the institution’s cost drivers;
7. a summary of budget constraints affecting (a) workforce
developments, economic development efforts, and student
quality of life, including time required for degree completion,
and (b) research productivity and faculty retention and
recruitment; and
8. any other financial, operational, performance, or other outcome
information, metrics, or data the board requests.
Under the bill, the board may require an institution to submit the
above information on a disaggregated basis.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 108 — EDUCATION MANDATE REVIEW ADVISORY COUNCI L 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Modifies criteria for two of the council’s 10 appointees
sHB 5437, § 1 (as amended by House “A”), establishes an Education
Mandate Review Advisory Council to advise and provide annual
reports to the Education Committee on the (1) cost and implementation
of existing education mandates on local and regional boards of
education and (2) impact of proposals to add to or revise these
mandates. The council consists of 10 legislative appointees (six by the
legislative leaders and four by the Education Committee’s leadership).
This bill modifies the criteria for the Education Committee’s Senate
chairperson’s and ranking member’s appointments. sHB 5437 requires
them to each appoint a public school teacher in Connecticut. This bill
instead requires the (1) chairperson to appoint a representative of the
Connecticut Education Association and (2) ranking member to appoint
a representative of the American Federation of Teachers-Connecticut.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 109 — POPULATION CENSUS USED FOR MUNICIPAL GRANTS
For FY 25, requires OPM to use DPH’s 2021 population estimates to calculate municipal
grants
For FY 25, the bill requires OPM to use DPH’s 2021 population
estimates when calculating municipal grants that are based, at least in
part, on a municipality’s current population.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 110 — BOARD OF REG ENTS FOR HIGHER EDUC ATION
EXPANSION
Expands BOR to include the OPM secretary as an ex-officio, nonvoting member
By law, the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) is the
governing body for CT State (i.e., the recent consolidation of the state’s
12 regional community-technical colleges), the Connecticut State
Universities, and Charter Oak State College. The bill expands BOR ’s
membership by requiring the OPM secretary to serve as an ex-officio,
nonvoting member. Under existing law, unchanged by the bill, the chief
workforce officer and the commissioners of the Education, Economic
and Community Development, Labor, and Public Health departments 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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must serve as ex-officio, nonvoting members.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 111 — TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS DURING COD IFICATION
Requires the Legislative Commissioners’ Office to make necessary technical, grammatical,
and punctuation changes when codifying the bill
The bill requires the Legislative Commissioners’ Office to make
technical, grammatical, and punctuation changes as necessary to codify
the bill, including internal reference corrections.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§§ 112-121 — REVISIONS TO MAGNET SCHOOL AND VO -AG
CENTER FUNDING PROGRAMS; CREAT ION OF NEW CHOICE
PROGRAM GRANT
Makes significant changes to education funding grant programs for (1) interdistrict
magnet schools, and (2) regional agricultural science and technology centers (i.e., “vo-ag
centers”); eliminates, for FY 25, the existing magnet school and vo-ag center grants, and
replaces them with new grants under the choice program
The bill makes significant changes to education funding grant
programs for (1) interdistrict magnet schools, and (2) regional
agricultural science and technology centers (i.e., “vo-ag centers”).
The bill eliminates, for FY 25, the existing magnet school and vo-ag
center grants and replaces them with new grants under the choice
program, which the bill creates. Under the bill, the choice program grant
provides funding for local or regional boards of education (i.e., “school
boards”) that operate a magnet school or a vo-ag center. It also creates a
grant for any magnet school operated by an entity that is not a board of
education, such as an independent institution of higher education.
The bill uses student need weightings in the choice program grants
that mirror existing law’s weighting for education cost sharing (ECS)
grants and charter school grants. This gives additional weight for
students eligible for free or reduced-priced meals or free milk (FRPM)
or designated as an English language learner. By doing this, these grants
give added funding for students that meet those criteria.
After FY 25, the bill sunsets the law that limits the tuition that magnet 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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schools can charge sending districts to 58% of the tuition the magnet
charged in FY 24. Currently, that limit is ongoing. It also sunsets the
general authority for any magnet school operator to charge tuition after
FY 25. Under existing law, the per-student state charter school grant
increases for FY 25 but will not be fully funded.
Finally, the bill requires the State Department of Education (SDE), by
June 30, 2024, and again on February 1, 2025, to calculate and give
estimates to the relevant operators or towns for the new grants. It creates
a similar estimate requirement for SDE regarding ECS and state charter
school grants.
New Choice Program Grants (§ 112)
For FY 25, the bill provides choice program grants for vo-ag centers
and two different interdistrict magnet school grants, based on who
operates the magnet school.
The state’s vo-ag centers serve high school students from multiple
sending towns and provide an agricultural career education in addition
to the comprehensive high school education.
Under the bill, one magnet school grant is for school board-operated
magnets and the other is for operators that are not school boards, such
as an independent institution of higher education. By law, an inter-
district magnet school (i.e., magnet school) must (1) enroll no more than
75% of its students from the same district with at least 25% coming from
other districts; (2) maintain an enrollment that meets state standards for
a reduced-isolation setting; (3) support racial, ethnic, and economic
diversity; and (4) enroll students who are at least half time.
Grant Student Weights. For choice program grants, the bill creates
a grant formula that applies weights for certain students, such as
whether the students are (1) from families that qualify for FRPM or (2)
English language learners.
The weights increase the grant amounts for those students because
the grant amount is produced by multiplying the need student number
by the foundation number (see below). For example, the bill uses a 30% 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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weighting for student poverty (i.e., students that qualify for FRPM) for
each of these grants. If 100 students from a district qualify, then those
students count as 130 students for grant purposes. This increases the
grant as the weighted number becomes the new student number that is
multiplied by the foundation amount.
Foundation. Under the bill, the foundation amount is $11,525 per
pupil, which is the same as in the ECS law.
Host Magnet and Vo-Ag Grants. Under the bill, grants for the
magnets operated by a school board (i.e., a host magnet) and vo-ag
center use similar factors.
For FY 25, the new amount the magnet operator or vo-ag center
receives must be (1) the grant they would receive with the FY 24 grant
method (current law) using FY 25 enrollment plus (2) 42% of the
difference between the new grant calculation component (see below)
and the amount they would have received if using the FY 24 method.
Grant Calculation Component. For FY 25, the new grant component
is the sum of the (1) sending town adjustment factors for each sending
town added together and (2) number of in-district students for the
choice program multiplied by the applicable per-student grant (magnet
or vo-ag). The sending town is the student’s town of residence that
would otherwise be responsible for educating the student.
Sending Town Adjustment Factor. The “sending town adjustment
factor” is the number of the town’s resident choice program students
multiplied by the greater of the sending town’s (1) weighted funding
amount per pupil or (2) total revenue per pupil. The “weighted funding
amount per pupil” is the (1) foundation amount multiplied by a town’s
total need students for the fiscal year before the grant payment year and
(2) resulting product divided by the number of a town’s resident
students. The “total revenue per pupil” is the sum of the (1) per-pupil
amount of state grants for FY 24; (2) tuition received for choice students
for FY 24; and (3) where appropriate, tuition received for children in a
regional educational service center (RESC)-operated preschool program
at a magnet school for FY 24. This means the FY 24 amounts become the 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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hold-harmless minimum for these grants.
Additional Definitions. Additionally, the bill defines the following
terms for the new grants:
1. “total need students” is a student poverty weighting (as under
ECS law) of (a) 30% of students eligible for FRPM plus 15% of any
FRPM-eligible students above 60% of the total number of resident
students and (b) 25% of the number of students identified as
English language learners;
2. “resident students” is generally the number of students in a town
enrolled in its public schools at the town’s expense as of October
1 of each year (as under the ECS law);
3. “resident choice program students” is the number of part-time
and full-time students of a town enrolled or participating in a
particular choice program; and
4. “out-of-district student” is a student (a) enrolled or participating
in a choice program operated or maintained by a local or regional
board of education and (b) who does not reside in the town or a
member town of the local or regional board.
Non-Board of Education Magnet Schools. For this FY 25 grant, a
magnet school operator is an entity that is (1) not a board of education
(presumably, this includes RESCs); (2) a nonprofit private institution of
higher education that has its main campus in the state; or (3) a third-
party nonprofit corporation that the education commissioner approves.
Under the bill, a magnet school operator that is not a board of
education is entitled to a grant for FY 25 that is (1) the grant amount they
would receive with the FY 24 grant method (current law) using FY 25
student enrollment plus (2) 42% of the difference between the non-board
of education calculation component (see below) and the amount they
would have received using the FY 24 method with the FY 25 enrollment.
Non-Board of Education Calculation Component. This grant
calculation component equals the product of the foundation and its total 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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magnet school program need students.
Hold Harmless Provision. The bill includes a specific hold harmless
provision for FY 25 grants for operators that are not boards of education.
This hold harmless grant is triggered when the revenue per student for
FY 24 is greater than the per student revenue for FY 25.
The first measure for the comparison to make this determination is
the sum of the total revenue per pupil during FY 24, divided by the total
number of students enrolled in the same program during FY 24. The
second measure is the sum of the adjusted total revenue per pupil
divided by the number of students enrolled in the same program during
FY 25. If the first measure is greater than the second, then the operator
receives a hold harmless grant that is the sum of the (1) new grant as
calculated above and (2) product of the (a) difference between total
revenue per pupil for FY 24 and the new grant plus tuition for FY 25
(i.e., the adjusted total revenue per pupil) and (b) total number of
students enrolled in the program during FY 25.
Under the bill, the “adjusted total revenue per pupil” is the sum of
the following three things:
1. per student grant amount for a choice program student for FY 25,
2. per student amount of any general education tuition for a student
in the choice program for FY 25, and
3. per child amount of any tuition charged for a child enrolled in a
preschool program offered by a RESC operating an interdistrict
magnet school preschool program for FY 25.
The bill creates a formula for calculating total magnet school program
need students that (1) counts full- and part-time students at the magnet
schools, (2) generally uses the ECS student weighting percentages, and
(3) includes a Sheff region additional student weighting (see Background
— Sheff Region). The foundation component for this grant also has an
annual cost-of-living factor that potentially increases the foundation
from one year to the next. 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Student Weighting. The student need weighting reflects the ECS
formula weighting as follows: (1) student poverty weighting is 30% of
students eligible for FRPM plus 15% of any FRPM-eligible students
above 60% of the total number of resident students and (2) a 25%
weighting for the number of students identified as English language
learners.
For FY 25, the bill includes a 30% additional student weighting for
magnet schools that help the state meet its obligations under the Sheff v.
O’Neill desegregation decision and related agreements or orders (see
Background — Sheff v. O’Neill State Supreme Court Decision).
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
Choice Program, ECS, and Charter School Grant Estimates (§
113)
The bill requires SDE, by June 30, 2024, to calculate and give the
relevant operators or towns estimates for the following grants for the
next fiscal year (FY 25):
1. each choice program grant the bill establishes (SDE must notify
each local and regional board of education and inter-district
magnet school program operator that is not a local or regional
board of education),
2. ECS grants (SDE must notify each town), and
3. charter school grants (SDE must notify the fiscal authority for
each school).
The bill also requires SDE to annually prepare the estimates by
February 1, 2025, for the charter school grants, and by December 31,
2024, for the ECS grants.
For each of these calculations, SDE must calculate the estimates for
the next fiscal year using data collected during the current one.
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Magnet School Grant Programs and Tuition (§§ 114 & 115)
For FY 25, the bill eliminates the current per-student magnet school
grants and replaces them with the new choice program grants the bill
creates. Under current law, a magnet school generally receives a $3,060
state grant for each student from the district that hosts the school (home
district) and, depending on the type of magnet school, one of the grants
listed in the table below for students from sending towns. In 2023, the
legislature added a provision, beginning in FY 25, that instead sets these
amounts as the minimum per-student grant amounts, which allows SDE
to increase the grants within available appropriations.
In addition to repealing the $3,060 grant for host district students, the
bill repeals all the magnet school grants shown in the following table for
students from sending districts.
Table: Magnet School Grants Repealed Under the Bill
Type of Magnet Bill § Current Law Minimum Amount
for Sending Students
Non-Sheff host magnet 114(c)(1) $7,227
Non-Sheff RESC magnet with less
than 55% enrollment from one town
114(c)(3)(A) 8,058
Non-Sheff RESC magnet with 55% or
more of enrollment from one town
114(c)(3)(B) 7,227
Sheff host magnet 114(c)(3)(F) 13,315
RESC magnet enrolling less than 60%
of its students from Hartford (i.e.,
Sheff magnet)
114(c)(3)(D)(i) 10,652
RESC magnet enrolling less than 50%
of its students from Hartford (i.e.,
Sheff magnet)
114(c)(3)(D)(ii) 8,058
(for half of the non-Hartford
students enrolled over 50% of
total enrollment)
10,652
(for all the other students)
Magnet operated by independent
institution of higher education and that
meets certain criteria (Goodwin
University)
114(c)(3)(E) 65% of the 10,652 grant for
students enrolled in both
semesters each year
32.5% of 10,652 for those
enrolled in one semester a year
Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts 114(c)(3)(H) 65% of 8,058 (the grant for
RESC magnets with less than
55% from a single town) 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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The bill eliminates the requirement that magnet school programs
operating at least half-time, but at less than full-time, receive a grant
equal to 65% of what a full-time program would receive. (The bill’s
provisions on choice grants treat half-time students the same as full-time
students.)
By law and unchanged by the bill, the total grant SDE pays to a
magnet school operator must not exceed the aggregate of the operator’s
reasonable operating budget, less revenue from other sources, and SDE
must make these grants within available appropriations.
Tuition. Under current law, beginning in FY 25, magnet school
operators can charge up to 58% of the FY 24 tuition to the towns that
send students to the magnets for grades kindergarten to 12. (For FY 24,
as in earlier years, tuition was determined as the difference between the
(1) average per pupil expenditure for the magnet school for the previous
year and (2) total per pupil grant amount received from the state and
any other revenue from other sources on a per pupil basis.)
The bill sunsets at the end of FY 25, the magnet school operators
tuition limit of 58% of the FY 24 tuition. It does not give magnet
operators authority to charge tuition for FY 26 and the following years.
Magnet Preschool Tuition Charged to Parents. Currently, RESC
magnets (both in and outside the Sheff region) may charge FY 24 tuition
of up to $4,053 to parents or guardians of children attending preschool,
but they cannot charge tuition to any parent or guardian with a family
income at or below 75% of the state median income. Beginning in FY 25,
current law limits the tuition amount to no more than 58% of the tuition
charged during FY 24. The bill sunsets the 58% limit in FY 25, and does
not give magnet operators the authority to charge tuition for FY 26 and
the following years.
The bill creates the same tuition provisions mentioned above (58%
tuition limit for FY 25, ban on charging tuition in FY 25 to any family
below 75% of the state median income, and tuition ban for following
years with the exception mentioned above) for an independent higher 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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education institution or an approved nonprofit operating a preschool as
part of a magnet school. It similarly does not give these operators
authority to charge tuition beginning in FY 26.
Under the bill, SDE is responsible for any unpaid tuition charged to
a parent or guardian with a family income at or below 75% of the state
median. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive financial
review of the operating budget of any magnet school charging tuition to
verify the tuition rate.
Magnet Students and ECS Count. Under the bill, magnet school
students are counted in the town where they reside for the student count
for ECS grants, which codifies current practice.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
Background — Sheff v. O’Neill State Supreme Court Decision
In this 1996 decision, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that the
state had a constitutional obligation to remedy the educational
inequities in the Hartford schools caused by racial and ethnic isolation
(Sheff v. O’Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996)). The court ordered the state
legislature and the governor to craft a solution and legislation was
passed to create voluntary desegregation in Hartford by creating
magnet schools and using other programs, such as Open Choice.
Background — Sheff Region
This region includes the school districts for the towns of Avon,
Bloomfield, Canton, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor,
Ellington, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford, Manchester,
Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South Windsor, Suffield, Vernon,
West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks.
Charter School Grant Increases (§ 116)
Currently, the per-student state charter school grant for FY 25 and
each following year is the foundation amount plus 56.7% of the charter
grant adjustment. The bill eliminates the provision that the grants be
provided each following year. By law, the grants go to the charter
school’s governing authority. 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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Charter Grant Factors. By law, the state charter grant has the same
student need weighting percentages with the same factors (FRPM and
English learner status) used in existing ECS law and in the bill for choice
grants.
Under current law, the increase in the state grant is a percentage of a
school’s charter grant adjustment, which is the absolute value of the
difference between the (1) foundation ($11,525) and (2) charter full
weighted funding per student for the state charter schools under a
governing authority’s control for the school year.
The “charter full weighted funding per student” is a value calculated
as (1) the product of the total charter need students and the foundation,
divided by (2) the number of enrolled students under the charter school
governing authority’s control for the school year. Total charter need
students includes the weighting for FRPM and English learner status.
Grant. The current (FY 24) per-student grant for charter school
governing authorities is the foundation amount plus 36.08% of its
charter grant adjustment. Under current law, the per-student grant for
FY 25 and each following year is the foundation plus 56.7% of the charter
grant adjustment. The bill leaves the grant unchanged for FY 25, and
sunsets it at the end that year.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
Vo-Ag Center Grants and Tuition (§§ 117-120)
Beginning with FY 25, the bill repeals the current $5,200 per-student
state grant minimum for vo-ag centers and replaces it with the vo-ag
choice grant the bill creates. It also repeals related supplementary grants
for vo-ag centers ranging from $60 to $500 per student.
Under current law, a vo-ag center can charge the sending towns
tuition for the students they send to the program, up to 59.2% of the
foundation ($11,525) used for ECS, resulting in a maximum tuition of
$6,823. Beginning with FY 25, current law prohibits a vo-ag center from
charging tuition that is more than 58% of the amount a vo-ag center
charged in FY 24. At the end of FY 25, the bill sunsets the 58% limit on 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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tuition and does not give vo-ag centers the authority to charge tuition
for FY 26 and beyond.
The bill repeals the requirement that a sending district provide
students in their district an equivalent number of seats from one year to
the next to enroll in the vo-ag program. Current law requires the
districts to make available (1) at least the same number of seats as in any
written agreement or, in the absence of one, the average number
enrolled over the last three years and (2) specifically for each ninth-
grade class, either the agreement number or the average number who
enrolled in ninth grade in the last three years.
The bill also (1) repeals the requirement for districts that send
students to a vo-ag program to pay tuition and (2) specifies that for a
town’s student count for the ECS grant, a student enrolled in a vo-ag
center is counted in the town where the student resides, which codifies
current practice.
For vo-ag grants under current law, the bill removes the requirement
that they be within available appropriations for FY 24.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 121 — SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING AMOUNTS FOR ECS,
CHARTER SCHOOL, MAGN ET SCHOOL, OPEN CHOI CE, AND VO-
AG CENTER GRANTS
Requires SDE to apportion the $150 million appropriated for FY 25 for “Education
Finance Reform” in specific amounts for (1) supplemental funds for the following grants:
ECS, charter schools, interdistrict magnet schools, Open Choice Program, and agriscience
and technology centers, and (2) grants for specific projects, programs, towns, and agencies
Last year’s budget act required SDE to apportion the $150 million
appropriated for “Education Finance Reform” for FY 25 to five major
education grants: ECS, charter schools, magnet schools, Open Choice,
and vo-ag centers. The bill modifies how the money is allocated
including providing funds for new projects or programs.
The bill allocates $139,626,522 to (1) supplement ECS grants and
charter school grants and (2) provide the choice program grants (magnet
schools, Open Choice, and vo-ag) the bill establishes (see above). 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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The bill specifically provides $1,473,478 to supplement the amount
appropriated to SDE’s charter schools account and to be used for grants
for the following charter school seat expansion:
1. Brass City Charter School, 40 seats;
2. Odyssey Community School, 36 seats;
3. Interdistrict School for the Arts and Communication, 52 seats;
and
4. Integrated Day Charter School, 22 seats.
5. This charter school supplement must take into account reducing
the funds for Booker T. Washington Academy by 40 seats.
Funds for Plan, Database, and Mapping Project
The bill allocates the following funds for certain plans, a database,
and a mapping project and requires SDE to make all payments below
no later than September 30, 2024:
1. $50,000 to be used by the education commissioner to develop a
plan to convert the State Board of Education (SBE) into an
advisory board and make the education commissioner the
department head (see § 122 below);
2. $400,000 to provide a grant-in-aid to the Connecticut Association
of Boards of Education to develop a new or expand an existing
database to collect and retain educator professional development
records; and
3. $100,000 for SDE to enter into a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) (under a statute that allows one agency to designate
another through an MOU to use funds for a purpose) with
UConn to provide the funds to the UConn School of Public Policy
to conduct a study and comprehensive asset and capacity
mapping for nonprofit organizations (see § 123 below).
Funds for Program, Municipalities, and Organizations 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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The bill allocates the following funds for certain programs,
municipalities, or organizations and requires SDE to make all the
payments below no later than September 30, 2024:
1. $175,000 to provide a grant-in-aid to the New Haven Board of
Education to purchase bus passes for state-owned or state-
controlled bus public transportation service for students who are
enrolled in grades nine to twelve, inclusive, in New Haven public
schools;
2. $175,000 to provide a grant-in-aid to the Hartford Board of
Education to purchase bus passes for state-owned or state-
controlled bus public transportation service for students who are
enrolled in grades nine to 12, inclusive, in Hartford public
schools;
3. $5,000,000 to provide a grant-in-aid to the Hartford board of
education for magnet school tuition assistance;
4. $1,200,000 to provide a grant-in-aid to the Goodwin University
Magnet Schools, Inc. for student enrollment expansion and
compliance with the Sheff decision and settlement, as determined
by the education commissioner;
5. $650,000 to provide a grant-in-aid to InterCommunity Health
Care to provide mental health services to students at the school-
based health centers in the East Hartford school district;
6. $200,000 to provide a grant-in-aid to the Connecticut Association
of Schools for operating and personnel expenses, including
hiring an assistant director of leadership and development;
7. $150,000 to provide a grant-in-aid to the Artist Collective for arts
enrichment for students in grades kindergarten to 12, inclusive;
and
8. $800,000 to provide a grant-in-aid to the Brother Carl Institute for
tutoring and mentoring services for students in grades four to 12,
inclusive, and developing a summer college preparation 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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program.
Under the current budget act, the funds are allocated as shown
below:
1. $68,499,497 to the ECS grants account in SDE to provide ECS
grants;
2. $9,378,313 to SDE’s Charter Schools account to provide charter
school operating grants;
3. $40,188,429 to SDE’s Magnet Schools account to increase per
student grant amounts to magnet school operators that are not
local or regional school boards (including magnets operated by
RESCs, independent institutions of higher education, or other
approved operators);
4. $13,254,358 to SDE’s Magnet Schools account to increase per
student grant amounts to local and regional school boards that
operate magnet schools;
5. $11,430,343 to SDE’s Open Choice Program account to increase
per student grant amounts to local and regional school boards
that are receiving districts under the Open Choice program; and
6. $7,249,060 to school boards of education that operate vo-ag
centers.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 122 — PLAN TO CONVERT STATE BOARD OF E DUCATION INTO
AN ADVISORY BOARD
Requires the education commissioner to develop a plan to convert SBE into an advisory
board and make the education commissioner the department head
The bill requires the education commissioner to develop a plan to (1)
convert SBE from its legal status as the agency department head to an
advisory board within the department and (2) empower the education
commissioner to become the department head. By January 1, 2026, the
commissioner must submit the plan and any legislative 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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recommendations to the Education Committee.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 123 — ASSET AND CAPACITY MAPPING FOR N ONPROFITS
Requires UConn’s School of Public Policy to conduct a study and comprehensive asset
and capacity mapping for nonprofit organizations to support information-sharing and
collaboration between nonprofits and communities; requires the school to provide an
interim report and a final report to the Education Committee
The bill requires UConn’s School of Public Policy to conduct a study
and comprehensive asset and capacity mapping for nonprofit
organizations in Connecticut to support information-sharing and
collaboration between the nonprofits and the communities they serve.
The School of Public Policy must consult with state agencies, nonprofit
organizations, and philanthropic associations while conducting the
study.
Under the bill, the study and mapping must do the following:
1. assess the nonprofit organizations’ capacity to assist the state in
addressing public needs and identifying assets’ availability and
strength and services’ gaps or weaknesses;
2. provide an effective tool for sharing data, documents, and
communication among the nonprofit organizations to strengthen
their capacity to serve state residents;
3. provide a resource for policymakers to determine gaps in
services and capacity and enhance collaboration among different
nonprofit organizations working in the same geographic areas
and serving the same target population;
4. provide information to policymakers on ways to ensure that
resources are invested in areas and populations with the greatest
need; and
5. present data by town, by county, and statewide, as well as by
each regional council of government, and include a summary of
available resources, including nonprofit organizations and state 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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agencies, to create a database of the state’s nonprofit
organizations by target service population, mission, and
geography.
The bill requires OPM, the Department of Consumer Protection, the
secretary of the state, and any other state agency that contracts with
nonprofits to provide the School of Public Policy, upon its request, with
any data needed to conduct the study and mapping.
The school must submit to the Education Committee a preliminary
report by October 1, 2024, and a final report by June 30, 2025.
The final report must include (1) the comprehensive asset and
capacity mapping for nonprofit organizations in Connecticut, (2) a
model to enhance collaboration among nonprofit organizations to
ensure that state investments are addressing service gaps and not
contributing to duplicative efforts or competition among the
organizations, and the extent that the lack of resources, including
budget deficits or other fiscal shortfalls, or state agency policies or
regulations impede collaboration and lead to duplicative efforts and
services, and (3) guidance on how to use the comprehensive asset and
capacity mapping to create a continuum of care document.
The bill also requires the School of Public Policy to make the final
report and the comprehensive asset and capacity mapping available on
its website by June 30, 2025.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 124 — EXPANDS ECS REGIONAL BONUS TO IN CLUDE TRIBES
Creates an ECS bonus for towns with students who reside in tribal reservations
By law, the ECS grant formula provides a regional bonus for towns
that are part of a regional school district or that pay tuition for their
students to attend an endowed academy that functions as the public
high school for the town it is located in.
The bill adds a new regional bonus for any town with resident
students who reside within the boundaries of reservations set aside for 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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the following tribes:
1. the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot tribe,
2. the Schaghticoke tribe,
3. the Golden Hill Paugussett tribe,
4. the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, and
5. the Mohegan tribe.
The grant bonus equals $100 for each student multiplied by the
number of grades, kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, in the school
district for the town.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 125 — SDE DISTRIBUTION OF PARAEDUCATOR FUNDING
Sets a September 1, 2024, deadline for SDE to distribute to school boards the FY 23
amount allocated to the department from ARPA funding for paraeducator professional
development
The bill requires the State Department of Education (SDE), by
September 1, 2024, to distribute to local and regional boards of
education the amount allocated to the department for paraeducator
professional development for FY 23 from ARPA funding. SDE must
distribute the funds to school boards, proportionately based on the
number of paraeducators each board employs, to cover the cost of
providing them professional development and in-service training.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§§ 126 & 128 — PARAEDUCATOR HEALTH INSUR ANCE
PROGRAMS
Extends by one year an HSA subsidy program for paraeducators and expands it to cover
high deductible health plans for Medicare-eligible paraeducators; requires the comptroller
to establish a one-year premium subsidy program for school boards that provide
paraeducators with certain health plans; requires the comptroller and SDE commissioner
to enter into an MOU related to these programs; and repeals a program providing
stipends to paraeducators to purchase a qualified health plan through Access Health CT
HSA and High-Deductible Health Plan Subsidy Program 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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PA 23-204, § 203, required the comptroller to establish a program for
FY 24, within available appropriations, providing subsidies to
paraeducators who (1) open a health savings account (HSA) and (2) are
employed by a local or regional board of education.
The bill extends the program to FY 25 and expands it to also provide
subsidies to paraeducators, employed by boards of education, who are
eligible for Medicare and enroll in a high deductible health plan
(HDHP).
Under current law, the subsidy is a percentage of the initial
investment made to open the account. The bill instead sets the subsidy
as a percentage of the deductible for the paraeducator’s health plan,
minus the amount of any employer contributions to an HSA or health
reimbursement account. As under current law, (1) the comptroller
specifies the percentage and maximum subsidy and (2) no paraeducator
may receive more than one subsidy.
The bill (1) allows the comptroller to work with boards of education
to distribute the subsidies and (2) eliminates the requirement for
paraeducators to apply to the comptroller to participate in the program.
Premium Subsidy Program for School Boards
The bill requires the comptroller, for FY 25, to set up a program
providing subsidies to boards of education that provide coverage to
paraeducators and their dependents under a health benefit plan
(generally, a health insurance plan) or partnership plan (a health benefit
plan the comptroller offers to nonstate public employers and certain
others), but not under an HDHP. The subsidies must be given from any
funds appropriated for this purpose.
Under this program, the subsidy must be no more than 10% of the
aggregate premium cost, including the employee and employer shares,
the board paid for coverage under the plan, divided by the number of
paraeducators employed by the board and enrolled in health coverage.
The subsidy must be used to offset the employee’s share of the premium
that is deducted from the paychecks of each paraeducator the board 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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employed during any pay period in FY 25.
MOU
The bill requires the comptroller and SDE commissioner to enter into
a memorandum of understanding, under existing procedures, to allow
the comptroller to use the $5 million appropriated to SDE for assistance
to paraeducators under the FY 24-25 budget act, to implement these two
subsidy programs.
Repealer
The bill also repeals a program that, under current law, gives stipends
to eligible paraeducators to buy silver-level health insurance plans
through Access Health CT.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024, except the repealer is effective upon
passage.
§ 127 — SERC FUNDING ALLOCATION
Requires, rather than allows, the SDE commissioner to allocate funds to the State
Education Resource Center
Current law allows the SDE commissioner to allocate funds to the
State Education Resource Center (SERC) so that it may provide
professional development services, technical assistance and evaluation
activities, policy analysis, and other forms of assistance to the following
entities: (1) local and regional boards of education, (2) SDE, (3) state and
local charter schools, (4) the Technical Education and Career System, (5)
school readiness program providers, and (6) other education entities
and providers. The bill makes the commissioner’s fund allocation to
SERC required rather than optional.
Under existing law, SERC must spend these funds in line with
procedures and conditions set by the SDE commissioner.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§§ 129-132 — PUBLIC HEARING EXEMPTION FO R CERTAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHOR IZATIONS
For certain transportation capital projects, establishes an exemption from the requirement
to have a public hearing when there is a petition signed by 25 people on an application for 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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a (1) structures, dredging, and fill permit; (2) tidal or inland wetland activity permit; or
(3) certification to conduct certain work in a floodplain
Under certain circumstances, existing law requires the Department of
Energy and Environmental Protection commissioner to hold a public
hearing on an application for authorization to:
1. conduct a regulated activity in a tidal or inland wetland (e.g.,
draining, dredging, excavating, removing soil, depositing
material);
2. perform certain work in the tidal, coastal, or navigable waters of
the state waterward of the coastal jurisdiction line (e.g., dredge,
erect structures, place fill); or
3. undertake activities or critical activities (i.e., those with a certain
chance of flooding) by a state agency in or affecting a floodplain
(generally, a “regulated activity”).
One of these circumstances is when the commissioner receives a
petition signed by at least 25 people asking for a hearing.
The bill exempts the commissioner from having to hold a public
hearing after receiving one of these petitions if the:
1. regulated activity is a transportation capital project, but not one
at an airport;
2. federal government requires public participation on the activity;
and
3. person proposing to do the activity (a) sought public input on it
by implementing a plan a federal agency approved and (b) gave
the commissioner a copy of the plan, a written summary of the
public participation opportunities involved, and a copy or record
of the comments received and how they were responded to or
addressed.
Despite the above exemption, the bill requires the commissioner to
hold a public hearing when she receives a petition that includes specific 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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facts to show either that:
1. the legal rights, duties, or privileges of at least one signatory will
or may reasonably be expected to be affected by the regulated
activity or
2. the regulated activity involves conduct that has or is reasonably
likely to unreasonably pollute, impair, or destroy the public trust
in the state’s air, water, or other natural resources.
In the above cases, the petition must identify the relevant law or
regulation that the proposed regulated activity is alleged to not meet.
The commissioner must give a copy of the petition to the person
proposing the activity, who then has seven business days to object to the
petition for failing to have the specific facts required above.
Under the bill, the commissioner must (1) determine if the petition
meets the above requirements and (2) give written notice of her decision
to the person who submitted the petition and the person who proposed
the regulated activity. (It does not specify a timeframe for her to do this.)
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§§ 133-136 — STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSUR ANCE FOR
BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF CERTAIN QUASI-PUBLIC AGENCIES
Allows members of the boards of directors of SERC, CLC, CPA, and CAA to join the state
employee health insurance plan if they meet certain criteria and requirements
The bill allows the members of the boards of directors of SERC, the
Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC), the Connecticut Port Authority
(CPA), and the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) to participate in
the state employee health insurance plan if they meet certain criteria.
For all of these members, the bill limits eligibility to those who are not
otherwise eligible to participate in the plan. For the SERC and CLC
members, the bill further limits eligibility to only those members whose
nominations must be confirmed by both chambers of the General
Assembly.
Under the bill, each member who opts to join the health insurance
plan must pay the same percentage of the premium that state employees 2024HB-05523-R00-BA.docx
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pay for the type of coverage selected. SERC, CLC, CPA, or CAA (as
applicable) must reimburse the appropriate state agency for the
remainder of the premium and any other costs incurred due to the
member’s participation.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§§ 243-249 — DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATIONS
Please refer to the fiscal note for a summary of these sections