| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | - | LCO 1 of | |
| 3 | + | LCO No. 4034 1 of 31 | |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| 5 | - | General Assembly | |
| 5 | + | General Assembly Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 6 | 6 | January Session, 2025 | |
| 7 | + | LCO No. 4034 | |
| 8 | + | ||
| 9 | + | ||
| 10 | + | Referred to Committee on EDUCATION | |
| 11 | + | ||
| 12 | + | ||
| 13 | + | Introduced by: | |
| 14 | + | Request of the Governor Pursuant | |
| 15 | + | to Joint Rule 9 | |
| 7 | 16 | ||
| 8 | 17 | ||
| 9 | 18 | ||
| 10 | 19 | ||
| 11 | 20 | ||
| 12 | 21 | AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET | |
| 13 | 22 | RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EDUCATION. | |
| 14 | 23 | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General | |
| 15 | 24 | Assembly convened: | |
| 16 | 25 | ||
| 17 | - | Section 1. Subsection (d) of section 10-71 of the general statutes is 1 | |
| 18 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2 | |
| 19 | - | 2025): 3 | |
| 20 | - | (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years 4 | |
| 21 | - | ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2022, inclusive, and for the fiscal years 5 | |
| 22 | - | ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, the amount of the grants 6 | |
| 23 | - | payable to towns, regional boards of education or regional educational 7 | |
| 24 | - | service centers in accordance with this section shall be reduced 8 | |
| 25 | - | proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the 9 | |
| 26 | - | amount appropriated for the purposes of this section for such year. 10 | |
| 27 | - | Sec. 2. Subsection (i) of section 10-217a of the general statutes is 11 | |
| 28 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 12 | |
| 29 | - | 2025): 13 | |
| 30 | - | (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years 14 | |
| 31 | - | ending June 30, 2008, to June 30, [2025] 2027, inclusive, the amount of 15 | |
| 32 | - | the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance 16 | |
| 33 | - | with this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such 17 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 26 | + | Section 1. (Effective July 1, 2025) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1 | |
| 27 | + | subdivision (7) of subsection (a) of section 10-261 of the general statutes, 2 | |
| 28 | + | for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, the total 3 | |
| 29 | + | population for the town of Mansfield shall be nineteen thousand one 4 | |
| 30 | + | hundred sixty-nine for purposes of calculating grants under chapter 172 5 | |
| 31 | + | of the general statutes. 6 | |
| 32 | + | Sec. 2. Subsection (d) of section 10-71 of the general statutes is 7 | |
| 33 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 8 | |
| 34 | + | 2025): 9 | |
| 35 | + | (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years 10 | |
| 36 | + | ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2022, inclusive, and for the fiscal years 11 | |
| 37 | + | ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, the amount of the grants 12 | |
| 38 | + | payable to towns, regional boards of education or regional educational 13 | |
| 39 | + | service centers in accordance with this section shall be reduced 14 | |
| 40 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 34 | 41 | ||
| 35 | 42 | ||
| 36 | - | LCO 2 of 12 | |
| 37 | 43 | ||
| 38 | - | grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for purposes of 18 | |
| 39 | - | this section. 19 | |
| 40 | - | Sec. 3. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 10-266m of the 20 | |
| 41 | - | general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 21 | |
| 42 | - | thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 22 | |
| 43 | - | (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years 23 | |
| 44 | - | ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2019, inclusive, and for the fiscal [years] 24 | |
| 45 | - | year ending June 30, 2024, [and June 30, 2025, inclusive] and each fiscal 25 | |
| 46 | - | year thereafter, the amount of transportation grants payable to local or 26 | |
| 47 | - | regional boards of education shall be reduced proportionately if the 27 | |
| 48 | - | total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for 28 | |
| 49 | - | such grants for such year. 29 | |
| 50 | - | Sec. 4. Subsection (e) of section 10-66j of the general statutes is 30 | |
| 51 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 31 | |
| 52 | - | 2025): 32 | |
| 53 | - | (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years 33 | |
| 54 | - | ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2019, inclusive, and for the fiscal years 34 | |
| 55 | - | ending June 30, 2022, to June 30, [2025] 2027, inclusive, the amount of 35 | |
| 56 | - | grants payable to regional educational service centers shall be reduced 36 | |
| 57 | - | proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the 37 | |
| 58 | - | amount appropriated for such grants for such year. 38 | |
| 59 | - | Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) The Department of Education 39 | |
| 60 | - | shall, within available appropriations, administer a matching grant 40 | |
| 61 | - | program to provide support to local and regional boards of education 41 | |
| 62 | - | for the implementation of policies relating to the use of personal 42 | |
| 63 | - | technology devices in schools. Such support shall include, but not be 43 | |
| 64 | - | limited to, training for families about the use of such devices. A local or 44 | |
| 65 | - | regional board of education may apply for a grant under this section in 45 | |
| 66 | - | a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Education. 46 | |
| 67 | - | Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 47 | |
| 68 | - | 30, 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Education 48 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 44 | + | LCO No. 4034 2 of 31 | |
| 45 | + | ||
| 46 | + | proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the 15 | |
| 47 | + | amount appropriated for the purposes of this section for such year. 16 | |
| 48 | + | Sec. 3. Subsection (i) of section 10-217a of the general statutes is 17 | |
| 49 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 18 | |
| 50 | + | 2025): 19 | |
| 51 | + | (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years 20 | |
| 52 | + | ending June 30, 2008, to June 30, [2025] 2027, inclusive, the amount of 21 | |
| 53 | + | the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance 22 | |
| 54 | + | with this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such 23 | |
| 55 | + | grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for purposes of 24 | |
| 56 | + | this section. 25 | |
| 57 | + | Sec. 4. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 10-266m of the 26 | |
| 58 | + | general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 27 | |
| 59 | + | thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 28 | |
| 60 | + | (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years 29 | |
| 61 | + | ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2019, inclusive, and for the fiscal [years] 30 | |
| 62 | + | year ending June 30, 2024, [and June 30, 2025, inclusive] and each fiscal 31 | |
| 63 | + | year thereafter, the amount of transportation grants payable to local or 32 | |
| 64 | + | regional boards of education shall be reduced proportionately if the 33 | |
| 65 | + | total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for 34 | |
| 66 | + | such grants for such year. 35 | |
| 67 | + | Sec. 5. Subsection (e) of section 10-66j of the general statutes is 36 | |
| 68 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 37 | |
| 69 | + | 2025): 38 | |
| 70 | + | (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years 39 | |
| 71 | + | ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2019, inclusive, and for the fiscal years 40 | |
| 72 | + | ending June 30, 2022, to June 30, [2025] 2027, inclusive, the amount of 41 | |
| 73 | + | grants payable to regional educational service centers shall be reduced 42 | |
| 74 | + | proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the 43 | |
| 75 | + | amount appropriated for such grants for such year. 44 | |
| 76 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 69 | 77 | ||
| 70 | 78 | ||
| 71 | - | LCO 3 of 12 | |
| 72 | 79 | ||
| 73 | - | shall, within available appropriations, administer the Learner 49 | |
| 74 | - | Engagement and Attendance Program. Under the program, the 50 | |
| 75 | - | department shall provide grants to local and regional boards of 51 | |
| 76 | - | education for the purpose of implementing a home visiting program to 52 | |
| 77 | - | reduce chronic absenteeism in the school district. A local or regional 53 | |
| 78 | - | board of education may submit an application for a grant under this 54 | |
| 79 | - | section in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of 55 | |
| 80 | - | Education. 56 | |
| 81 | - | (b) In awarding grants under the program, the Department of 57 | |
| 82 | - | Education shall give priority to those school districts with the highest 58 | |
| 83 | - | levels of chronic absenteeism. The department shall award grants to at 59 | |
| 84 | - | least ten boards of education in any fiscal year that the department 60 | |
| 85 | - | awards grants under the program. 61 | |
| 86 | - | (c) Not later than December 31, 2028, and biennially thereafter, the 62 | |
| 87 | - | department shall prepare a report on the implementation of the 63 | |
| 88 | - | program. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, an 64 | |
| 89 | - | evaluation of the success of the program in each school district that 65 | |
| 90 | - | received an award in either of the two prior fiscal years. In preparing 66 | |
| 91 | - | such report, the department may consult with organizations that have 67 | |
| 92 | - | expertise in reducing chronic absenteeism and increasing student 68 | |
| 93 | - | engagement. 69 | |
| 94 | - | Sec. 7. Section 10-221w of the general statutes is repealed and the 70 | |
| 95 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 71 | |
| 96 | - | (a) As used in this section: 72 | |
| 97 | - | (1) "Advanced course or program" means an honors class, advanced 73 | |
| 98 | - | placement class, International Baccalaureate program, Cambridge 74 | |
| 99 | - | International program, dual enrollment, dual credit, early college or any 75 | |
| 100 | - | other advanced or accelerated course or program offered by a local or 76 | |
| 101 | - | regional board of education in grades nine to twelve, inclusive; and 77 | |
| 102 | - | (2) "Prior academic performance" means the course or courses that a 78 | |
| 103 | - | student has taken, the grades received for such course or courses and a 79 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 80 | + | LCO No. 4034 3 of 31 | |
| 81 | + | ||
| 82 | + | Sec. 6. Subsection (c) of section 10-262i of the general statutes is 45 | |
| 83 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 46 | |
| 84 | + | 2025): 47 | |
| 85 | + | (c) (1) All aid distributed to a town pursuant to the provisions of this 48 | |
| 86 | + | section and section 10-262u shall be expended for educational purposes 49 | |
| 87 | + | only and shall be expended upon the authorization of the local or 50 | |
| 88 | + | regional board of education and in accordance with the provisions of 51 | |
| 89 | + | section 10-262u. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, and each fiscal 52 | |
| 90 | + | year thereafter, and subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this 53 | |
| 91 | + | subsection, if a town receives an increase in funds pursuant to this 54 | |
| 92 | + | section over the amount it received for the prior fiscal year, such 55 | |
| 93 | + | increase shall not be used to supplant local funding for educational 56 | |
| 94 | + | purposes. The budgeted appropriation for education in any town 57 | |
| 95 | + | receiving an increase in funds pursuant to this section shall be not less 58 | |
| 96 | + | than the amount appropriated for education for the prior year plus such 59 | |
| 97 | + | increase in funds. 60 | |
| 98 | + | (2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year 61 | |
| 99 | + | thereafter, if a town receives an increase in funds pursuant to this section 62 | |
| 100 | + | over the amount it received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, such 63 | |
| 101 | + | increase shall be used for direct supports to classroom instruction that 64 | |
| 102 | + | may include, but need not be limited to, evidence-based programs 65 | |
| 103 | + | designed to address chronic absenteeism, student disengagement and 66 | |
| 104 | + | academic recovery. Any town whose increase is greater than one 67 | |
| 105 | + | hundred thousand dollars shall submit, at such time and in such manner 68 | |
| 106 | + | as prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, a plan to the 69 | |
| 107 | + | Department of Education indicating how such increase will be 70 | |
| 108 | + | expended in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. 71 | |
| 109 | + | Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) The Department of Education 72 | |
| 110 | + | shall, within available appropriations, administer a matching grant 73 | |
| 111 | + | program to provide support to local and regional boards of education 74 | |
| 112 | + | for the implementation of policies relating to the use of personal 75 | |
| 113 | + | technology devices in schools. Such support shall include, but not be 76 | |
| 114 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 104 | 115 | ||
| 105 | 116 | ||
| 106 | - | LCO 4 of 12 | |
| 107 | 117 | ||
| 108 | - | student's grade point average. 80 | |
| 109 | - | (b) Not later than July 1, 2022, each local and regional board of 81 | |
| 110 | - | education shall adopt a policy, or revise an existing policy, concerning 82 | |
| 111 | - | the eligibility criteria for student enrollment in an advanced course or 83 | |
| 112 | - | program. Such policy shall provide for multiple methods by which a 84 | |
| 113 | - | student may satisfy the eligibility criteria for enrollment in an advanced 85 | |
| 114 | - | course or program, including, but not limited to, recommendations 86 | |
| 115 | - | from teachers, administrators, school counselors or other school 87 | |
| 116 | - | personnel. Such eligibility criteria shall not be based exclusively on a 88 | |
| 117 | - | student's prior academic performance and any use of a student's prior 89 | |
| 118 | - | academic performance shall rely on evidence-based indicators of how a 90 | |
| 119 | - | student will perform in an advanced course or program. 91 | |
| 120 | - | (c) Any policy adopted or revised and implemented under this 92 | |
| 121 | - | section shall be in accordance with guidance provided by the 93 | |
| 122 | - | Department of Education. 94 | |
| 123 | - | (d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year 95 | |
| 124 | - | thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall, within available 96 | |
| 125 | - | appropriations, establish a fee-waiver grant program to expand 97 | |
| 126 | - | opportunities for high-need high school students to access advanced 98 | |
| 127 | - | courses or programs. A local or regional board of education may apply, 99 | |
| 128 | - | in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, for 100 | |
| 129 | - | reimbursement for any fees charged to such board for any high-need 101 | |
| 130 | - | student who enrolls in an advanced course or program. 102 | |
| 131 | - | (e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year 103 | |
| 132 | - | thereafter, the Commissioner of Education may, within available 104 | |
| 133 | - | appropriations, pay up to five hundred thousand dollars in a fiscal year 105 | |
| 134 | - | to the State Education Resource Center for programming that provides 106 | |
| 135 | - | direct support to local and regional boards of education in the 107 | |
| 136 | - | articulation and expansion of dual credit courses. In expending such 108 | |
| 137 | - | funds under this subsection, the State Education Resource Center shall 109 | |
| 138 | - | give priority to providing funds to alliance districts. 110 | |
| 139 | - | Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, "high-111 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 118 | + | LCO No. 4034 4 of 31 | |
| 119 | + | ||
| 120 | + | limited to, training for families about the use of such devices. A local or 77 | |
| 121 | + | regional board of education may apply for a grant under this section in 78 | |
| 122 | + | a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Education. 79 | |
| 123 | + | Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 80 | |
| 124 | + | 30, 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Education 81 | |
| 125 | + | shall, within available appropriations, administer the Learner 82 | |
| 126 | + | Engagement and Attendance Program. Under the program, the 83 | |
| 127 | + | department shall provide grants to local and regional boards of 84 | |
| 128 | + | education for the purpose of implementing a home visiting program to 85 | |
| 129 | + | reduce chronic absenteeism in the school district. A local or regional 86 | |
| 130 | + | board of education may submit an application for a grant under this 87 | |
| 131 | + | section in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of 88 | |
| 132 | + | Education. 89 | |
| 133 | + | (b) In awarding grants under the program, the Department of 90 | |
| 134 | + | Education shall give priority to those school districts with the highest 91 | |
| 135 | + | levels of chronic absenteeism. The department shall award grants to at 92 | |
| 136 | + | least ten boards of education in any fiscal year that the department 93 | |
| 137 | + | awards grants under the program. 94 | |
| 138 | + | (c) Not later than December 31, 2028, and biennially thereafter, the 95 | |
| 139 | + | department shall prepare a report on the implementation of the 96 | |
| 140 | + | program. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, an 97 | |
| 141 | + | evaluation of the success of the program in each school district that 98 | |
| 142 | + | received an award in either of the two prior fiscal years. In preparing 99 | |
| 143 | + | such report, the department may consult with organizations that have 100 | |
| 144 | + | expertise in reducing chronic absenteeism and increasing student 101 | |
| 145 | + | engagement. 102 | |
| 146 | + | Sec. 9. Subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 10-252a of the 103 | |
| 147 | + | general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 104 | |
| 148 | + | thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 105 | |
| 149 | + | (b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (2) of this 106 | |
| 150 | + | subsection, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 107 | |
| 151 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 140 | 152 | ||
| 141 | 153 | ||
| 142 | - | LCO 5 of 12 | |
| 143 | 154 | ||
| 144 | - | dosage tutoring" means tutoring that contains two or more of the 112 | |
| 145 | - | following elements: 113 | |
| 146 | - | (1) One tutor per group of four or fewer students; 114 | |
| 147 | - | (2) Is provided for a minimum of three sessions per week and for at 115 | |
| 148 | - | least thirty minutes per tutoring session; 116 | |
| 149 | - | (3) Occurs during the regular school day and is not a before or after 117 | |
| 150 | - | school program or an at-home, on-demand program; 118 | |
| 151 | - | (4) Supplements core academic instruction and does not replace core 119 | |
| 152 | - | instruction; 120 | |
| 153 | - | (5) Is provided in person by an in-person tutor; 121 | |
| 154 | - | (6) Is provided by high-quality tutors that may include certified 122 | |
| 155 | - | teachers, paraeducators, community providers, private tutoring 123 | |
| 156 | - | providers or other individuals who have received training to provide 124 | |
| 157 | - | tutoring services; 125 | |
| 158 | - | (7) Uses a high-quality curriculum and instructional materials that 126 | |
| 159 | - | are aligned with academic standards and core classroom, grade-level 127 | |
| 160 | - | content approved by the State Board of Education; 128 | |
| 161 | - | (8) Is data driven and, where applicable, includes state-provided 129 | |
| 162 | - | interim assessment blocks and other materials that are aligned with the 130 | |
| 163 | - | state's summative assessment; 131 | |
| 164 | - | (9) Provides tutors with training and professional learning 132 | |
| 165 | - | opportunities throughout the school year; and 133 | |
| 166 | - | (10) Requires collaboration between tutors and regular classroom 134 | |
| 167 | - | educators to ensure such tutoring is instructionally aligned with 135 | |
| 168 | - | classroom content. 136 | |
| 169 | - | (b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year 137 | |
| 170 | - | thereafter, the Department of Education shall, within available 138 | |
| 171 | - | appropriations, establish a competitive high-dosage tutoring matching 139 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 155 | + | LCO No. 4034 5 of 31 | |
| 156 | + | ||
| 157 | + | thereafter, an interdistrict magnet school program operator that is not a 108 | |
| 158 | + | local or regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant in an 109 | |
| 159 | + | amount equal to the sum of (A) forty-two per cent of the difference 110 | |
| 160 | + | between (i) the product of the foundation and its total magnet school 111 | |
| 161 | + | program need students, and (ii) the per student amount such operator 112 | |
| 162 | + | received under section 10-264l, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year 113 | |
| 163 | + | ending June 30, 2024, multiplied by the number of students enrolled in 114 | |
| 164 | + | such program for the current fiscal year, [ending June 30, 2025,] and (B) 115 | |
| 165 | + | the amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this subdivision. 116 | |
| 166 | + | (2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 117 | |
| 167 | + | thereafter, if (A) the quotient of the sum of the total revenue per pupil 118 | |
| 168 | + | during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and the total number of such 119 | |
| 169 | + | students enrolled in such program of such operator during the fiscal 120 | |
| 170 | + | year ending June 30, 2024, is greater than (B) the quotient of the sum of 121 | |
| 171 | + | the adjusted total revenue per pupil and the number of such students 122 | |
| 172 | + | enrolled in such program of such operator during the current fiscal year, 123 | |
| 173 | + | [ending June 30, 2025,] then such operator shall be entitled to a grant in 124 | |
| 174 | + | an amount equal to the sum of (i) the amount described in subdivision 125 | |
| 175 | + | (1) of this subsection, and (ii) the product of the difference between the 126 | |
| 176 | + | amount described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision and the 127 | |
| 177 | + | amount described in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision and the total 128 | |
| 178 | + | number of students enrolled in such program of such operator during 129 | |
| 179 | + | the current fiscal year. [ending June 30, 2025.] 130 | |
| 180 | + | (c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 131 | |
| 181 | + | thereafter, an interdistrict magnet school operator that is a local or 132 | |
| 182 | + | regional board of education shall be entitled to a grant in an amount 133 | |
| 183 | + | equal to the sum of (1) forty-two per cent of the difference between (A) 134 | |
| 184 | + | the sum of (i) the sending town adjustment factors for each sending 135 | |
| 185 | + | town, and (ii) the product of the number of in-district students enrolled 136 | |
| 186 | + | in the interdistrict magnet school program of such board and the per 137 | |
| 187 | + | student amount of the grant under section 10-264l, as amended by this 138 | |
| 188 | + | act, for an in-district student enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school 139 | |
| 189 | + | program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and (B) the appropriate 140 | |
| 190 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 172 | 191 | ||
| 173 | 192 | ||
| 174 | - | LCO 6 of 12 | |
| 175 | 193 | ||
| 176 | - | grant program for local and regional boards of education to accelerate 140 | |
| 177 | - | student learning by supporting the implementation of high-dosage 141 | |
| 178 | - | tutoring programs. 142 | |
| 179 | - | (c) The Commissioner of Education shall develop an application for 143 | |
| 180 | - | local and regional boards of education to apply for grants under this 144 | |
| 181 | - | section and shall develop the criteria for reviewing and approving such 145 | |
| 182 | - | grant applications. The commissioner may award a grant under this 146 | |
| 183 | - | section to any program that provides high-dosage tutoring and such 147 | |
| 184 | - | grant shall be for a two-year period. 148 | |
| 185 | - | (d) Not later than January 31, 2029, the commissioner shall develop a 149 | |
| 186 | - | report on the implementation and outcomes of the competitive high-150 | |
| 187 | - | dosage tutoring matching grant program for the two-year period in 151 | |
| 188 | - | which grants were awarded. The commissioner shall submit such report 152 | |
| 189 | - | to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 153 | |
| 190 | - | cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the 154 | |
| 191 | - | provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 155 | |
| 192 | - | (e) The department may retain up to three per cent of the total amount 156 | |
| 193 | - | appropriated for the purposes of this section for grant administration, 157 | |
| 194 | - | technical assistance and program evaluation purposes. 158 | |
| 195 | - | Sec. 9. Section 10-183t of the general statutes is repealed and the 159 | |
| 196 | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 160 | |
| 197 | - | (a) The board shall offer one or more health benefit plans to: Any 161 | |
| 198 | - | member receiving retirement benefits or a disability allowance from the 162 | |
| 199 | - | system; the spouse or surviving spouse of such member, and a disabled 163 | |
| 200 | - | dependent of such member if there is no spouse or surviving spouse, 164 | |
| 201 | - | provided such member, spouse, surviving spouse, or disabled 165 | |
| 202 | - | dependent is participating in Medicare Part A hospital insurance and 166 | |
| 203 | - | Medicare Part B medical insurance. The board may offer one or more 167 | |
| 204 | - | basic plans, the cost of which to any such member, spouse, surviving 168 | |
| 205 | - | spouse or disabled dependent shall be one-third of the basic plan's 169 | |
| 206 | - | premium equivalent, and one or more optional plans, provided such 170 | |
| 207 | - | member, spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent shall pay one-171 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 194 | + | LCO No. 4034 6 of 31 | |
| 195 | + | ||
| 196 | + | per student amounts, for in-district students and out-of-district 141 | |
| 197 | + | students, such operator received under section 10-264l, as amended by 142 | |
| 198 | + | this act, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, multiplied by the 143 | |
| 199 | + | appropriate numbers of in-district students and out-of-district students 144 | |
| 200 | + | enrolled in such program for the current fiscal year, [ending June 30, 145 | |
| 201 | + | 2025,] and (2) the amount described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision 146 | |
| 202 | + | (1) of this subsection. 147 | |
| 203 | + | (d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 148 | |
| 204 | + | thereafter, a local or regional board of education that operates a regional 149 | |
| 205 | + | agricultural science and technology center shall be entitled to a grant in 150 | |
| 206 | + | an amount equal to the sum of (1) forty-two per cent of the difference 151 | |
| 207 | + | between (A) the sum of (i) the sending town adjustment factors for each 152 | |
| 208 | + | sending town, and (ii) the product of the number of in-district students 153 | |
| 209 | + | enrolled in such center and five thousand two hundred, and (B) five 154 | |
| 210 | + | thousand two hundred multiplied by the number of students enrolled 155 | |
| 211 | + | in such center for the current fiscal year, [ending June 30, 2025,] and (2) 156 | |
| 212 | + | the amount described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this 157 | |
| 213 | + | subsection. 158 | |
| 214 | + | Sec. 10. Subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 10-264l of the 159 | |
| 215 | + | general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 160 | |
| 216 | + | thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 161 | |
| 217 | + | (c) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 162 | |
| 218 | + | thereafter, each interdistrict magnet school operator shall be paid a 163 | |
| 219 | + | grant equal to the amount the operator is entitled to receive under the 164 | |
| 220 | + | provisions of section 10-252a, as amended by this act. 165 | |
| 221 | + | Sec. 11. Subsections (j) to (m), inclusive, of section 10-264l of the 166 | |
| 222 | + | general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 167 | |
| 223 | + | thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 168 | |
| 224 | + | (j) (1) After accommodating students from participating districts in 169 | |
| 225 | + | accordance with an approved enrollment agreement, an interdistrict 170 | |
| 226 | + | magnet school operator that has unused student capacity may enroll 171 | |
| 227 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 208 | 228 | ||
| 209 | 229 | ||
| 210 | - | LCO 7 of 12 | |
| 211 | 230 | ||
| 212 | - | third of the basic plan's premium equivalent plus the difference in cost 172 | |
| 213 | - | between any such basic plans and any such optional plans. The board 173 | |
| 214 | - | shall designate those plans which are basic and those plans which are 174 | |
| 215 | - | optional for the purpose of determining such cost and the amount to be 175 | |
| 216 | - | charged or withheld from benefit payments for such plans. The 176 | |
| 217 | - | surviving spouse of a member, or a disabled dependent of a member if 177 | |
| 218 | - | there is no surviving spouse, shall not be ineligible for participation in 178 | |
| 219 | - | any such plan solely because such surviving spouse or disabled 179 | |
| 220 | - | dependent is not receiving benefits from the system. With respect to any 180 | |
| 221 | - | person participating in any such plan, the state shall appropriate to the 181 | |
| 222 | - | board one-third of the cost of such basic plan or plans, or one-third of 182 | |
| 223 | - | the cost of the rate in effect during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, 183 | |
| 224 | - | whichever is greater, except that, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 184 | |
| 225 | - | 2026, and June 30, 2027, the state shall appropriate twenty-five per cent 185 | |
| 226 | - | of the cost of the basic plan. 186 | |
| 227 | - | (b) (1) Any member who (A) is receiving retirement benefits or a 187 | |
| 228 | - | disability allowance from the system, the spouse or surviving spouse of 188 | |
| 229 | - | such member, or a disabled dependent of such member if there is no 189 | |
| 230 | - | spouse or surviving spouse, and who is not participating in Medicare 190 | |
| 231 | - | Part A hospital insurance and Medicare Part B medical insurance, and 191 | |
| 232 | - | (B) meets the state's eligibility criteria for health insurance or is eligible 192 | |
| 233 | - | to participate in the group health insurance plan offered by such 193 | |
| 234 | - | member's last employing board of education, may fully participate in 194 | |
| 235 | - | any or all group health insurance plans maintained for active teachers 195 | |
| 236 | - | by such member's last employing board of education, or by the state in 196 | |
| 237 | - | the case of a member who was employed by the state, upon payment to 197 | |
| 238 | - | such board of education or to the state, as applicable, by such member, 198 | |
| 239 | - | spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent, of the premium 199 | |
| 240 | - | charged for the member's form of coverage. Such premium shall be no 200 | |
| 241 | - | greater than that charged for the same form of coverage for active 201 | |
| 242 | - | teachers. 202 | |
| 243 | - | (2) The member's spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent 203 | |
| 244 | - | shall not be ineligible for participation in any such plan solely because 204 | |
| 245 | - | such spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent is not receiving 205 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 231 | + | LCO No. 4034 7 of 31 | |
| 232 | + | ||
| 233 | + | directly into its program any interested student. A student from a 172 | |
| 234 | + | district that is not participating in an interdistrict magnet school or the 173 | |
| 235 | + | interdistrict student attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa 174 | |
| 236 | + | to an extent determined by the Commissioner of Education shall be 175 | |
| 237 | + | given preference. The local or regional board of education otherwise 176 | |
| 238 | + | responsible for educating such student shall contribute funds to support 177 | |
| 239 | + | the operation of the interdistrict magnet school in an amount equal to 178 | |
| 240 | + | the per student tuition, if any, charged to participating districts, except 179 | |
| 241 | + | (A) for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2025, [and each fiscal year 180 | |
| 242 | + | thereafter] to June 30, 2027, inclusive, such per student tuition charged 181 | |
| 243 | + | to such participating districts shall not exceed fifty-eight per cent the per 182 | |
| 244 | + | student tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and 183 | |
| 245 | + | (B) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year 184 | |
| 246 | + | thereafter, such per student tuition charged to such participating 185 | |
| 247 | + | districts shall not exceed the amount calculated pursuant to subdivision 186 | |
| 248 | + | (2) of this subsection. 187 | |
| 249 | + | (2) (A) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, the maximum amount 188 | |
| 250 | + | of the per student tuition that may be charged to participating districts 189 | |
| 251 | + | for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, may be adjusted in accordance 190 | |
| 252 | + | with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers 191 | |
| 253 | + | for the preceding two calendar years, less food and energy, as published 192 | |
| 254 | + | by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 193 | |
| 255 | + | Such adjusted tuition amount shall be published by the Department of 194 | |
| 256 | + | Education not later than April 1, 2027. 195 | |
| 257 | + | (B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, the per student tuition 196 | |
| 258 | + | charged to participating districts shall be the amount calculated 197 | |
| 259 | + | pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. 198 | |
| 260 | + | (C) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 199 | |
| 261 | + | thereafter, the maximum amount of the per student tuition that may be 200 | |
| 262 | + | charged to participating districts during the prior two fiscal years may 201 | |
| 263 | + | be adjusted in accordance with any change in the consumer price index 202 | |
| 264 | + | for all urban consumers for the preceding two calendar years, less food 203 | |
| 265 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 246 | 266 | ||
| 247 | 267 | ||
| 248 | - | LCO 8 of 12 | |
| 249 | 268 | ||
| 250 | - | benefits from the system. No person shall be ineligible for participation 206 | |
| 251 | - | in such plans for failure to enroll in such plans at the time the member's 207 | |
| 252 | - | retirement benefit or disability allowance became effective. 208 | |
| 253 | - | (3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impair or alter the 209 | |
| 254 | - | provisions of any collective bargaining agreement relating to the 210 | |
| 255 | - | payment by a board of education of group health insurance premiums 211 | |
| 256 | - | on behalf of any member receiving benefits from the system. Prior to the 212 | |
| 257 | - | cancellation of coverage for any member, spouse, surviving spouse or 213 | |
| 258 | - | disabled dependent for failure to pay the required premiums or cost 214 | |
| 259 | - | due, the board of education or the state, if applicable, shall notify the 215 | |
| 260 | - | Teachers' Retirement Board of its intention to cancel such coverage at 216 | |
| 261 | - | least thirty days prior to the date of cancellation. Absent any contractual 217 | |
| 262 | - | provisions to the contrary, the payments made pursuant to subsection 218 | |
| 263 | - | (c) of this section shall be first applied to any cost borne by the member, 219 | |
| 264 | - | spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent participating in any 220 | |
| 265 | - | such plan. 221 | |
| 266 | - | (4) As used in this subsection, "last employing board of education" 222 | |
| 267 | - | means the board of education by which such member was employed 223 | |
| 268 | - | when such member filed his or her initial application for retirement, and 224 | |
| 269 | - | "health insurance plans" means hospital, medical, major medical, dental, 225 | |
| 270 | - | prescription drug or auditory benefit plans that are available to active 226 | |
| 271 | - | teachers. 227 | |
| 272 | - | (c) (1) On and after July 1, 2022, the board shall pay a subsidy of two 228 | |
| 273 | - | hundred twenty dollars, to the board of education or to the state, if 229 | |
| 274 | - | applicable, on behalf of any member who is receiving retirement 230 | |
| 275 | - | benefits or a disability allowance from the system, the spouse of such 231 | |
| 276 | - | member, the surviving spouse of such member, or a disabled dependent 232 | |
| 277 | - | of such member if there is no spouse or surviving spouse, who is 233 | |
| 278 | - | participating in a health insurance plan maintained by a board of 234 | |
| 279 | - | education or by the state, if applicable. Such payment shall not exceed 235 | |
| 280 | - | the actual cost of such insurance. 236 | |
| 281 | - | (2) With respect to any person participating in any such plan 237 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 269 | + | LCO No. 4034 8 of 31 | |
| 270 | + | ||
| 271 | + | and energy, as published by the United States Department of Labor, 204 | |
| 272 | + | Bureau of Labor Statistics. Such adjusted amount shall be charged to 205 | |
| 273 | + | participating districts for two fiscal years. Such adjusted tuition amount 206 | |
| 274 | + | shall be published by the Department of Education not later than April 207 | |
| 275 | + | first of the fiscal year prior to when such adjusted tuition amount will 208 | |
| 276 | + | be charged. 209 | |
| 277 | + | (k) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year 210 | |
| 278 | + | thereafter, any tuition charged to a local or regional board of education 211 | |
| 279 | + | by (A) a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict 212 | |
| 280 | + | magnet school, (B) the Hartford school district operating the Great Path 213 | |
| 281 | + | Academy on behalf of Manchester Community College, or (C) any 214 | |
| 282 | + | interdistrict magnet school operator described in section 10-264s, for any 215 | |
| 283 | + | student enrolled in kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, in such 216 | |
| 284 | + | interdistrict magnet school shall be in an amount equal to the difference 217 | |
| 285 | + | between (i) the average per pupil expenditure of the magnet school for 218 | |
| 286 | + | the prior fiscal year, and (ii) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy 219 | |
| 287 | + | calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from 220 | |
| 288 | + | other sources calculated on a per pupil basis, except for the fiscal [year] 221 | |
| 289 | + | years ending June 30, 2025, [and each fiscal year thereafter] to June 30, 222 | |
| 290 | + | 2027, inclusive, the per student tuition charged to a local or regional 223 | |
| 291 | + | board of education shall not exceed fifty-eight per cent the per student 224 | |
| 292 | + | tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and for the 225 | |
| 293 | + | fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the per 226 | |
| 294 | + | student tuition charged to a local or regional board of education shall 227 | |
| 295 | + | not exceed the amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (3) of this 228 | |
| 296 | + | subsection. If any such board of education fails to pay such tuition, the 229 | |
| 297 | + | commissioner may withhold from such board's town or towns a sum 230 | |
| 298 | + | payable under section 10-262i in an amount not to exceed the amount of 231 | |
| 299 | + | the unpaid tuition to the magnet school and pay such money to the fiscal 232 | |
| 300 | + | agent for the magnet school as a supplementary grant for the operation 233 | |
| 301 | + | of the interdistrict magnet school program. In no case shall the sum of 234 | |
| 302 | + | such tuitions exceed the difference between (I) the total expenditures of 235 | |
| 303 | + | the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (II) the total per pupil 236 | |
| 304 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 282 | 305 | ||
| 283 | 306 | ||
| 284 | - | LCO 9 of 12 | |
| 285 | 307 | ||
| 286 | - | pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the state shall appropriate to 238 | |
| 287 | - | the board one-third of the cost of the subsidy, except that, for the fiscal 239 | |
| 288 | - | [year] years ending June 30, 2013, June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, the 240 | |
| 289 | - | state shall appropriate twenty-five per cent of the cost of the subsidy. 241 | |
| 290 | - | On and after July 1, 2018, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, and 242 | |
| 291 | - | for each fiscal year thereafter, fifty per cent of the total amount 243 | |
| 292 | - | appropriated by the state in each such fiscal year for the state's share of 244 | |
| 293 | - | the cost of such subsidies shall be paid to the board on or before July 245 | |
| 294 | - | first of such fiscal year, and the remaining fifty per cent of such total 246 | |
| 295 | - | amount shall be paid to the board on or before December first of such 247 | |
| 296 | - | fiscal year. 248 | |
| 297 | - | (3) No payment to a board of education pursuant to this subsection 249 | |
| 298 | - | may be used to reduce the amount of any premium payment on behalf 250 | |
| 299 | - | of any such member, spouse, surviving spouse, or disabled dependent, 251 | |
| 300 | - | made by such board pursuant to any agreement in effect on July 1, 1990. 252 | |
| 301 | - | On and after July 1, 2022, the board shall pay a subsidy of four hundred 253 | |
| 302 | - | forty dollars per month on behalf of the member, spouse or the 254 | |
| 303 | - | surviving spouse of such member who: (A) Has attained the normal 255 | |
| 304 | - | retirement age to participate in Medicare, (B) is not eligible for Medicare 256 | |
| 305 | - | Part A without cost, and (C) contributes at least four hundred forty 257 | |
| 306 | - | dollars per month towards his or her medical and prescription drug 258 | |
| 307 | - | plan provided by the board of education. 259 | |
| 308 | - | (d) The Treasurer shall establish a separate retired teachers' health 260 | |
| 309 | - | insurance premium account within the Teachers' Retirement Fund. 261 | |
| 310 | - | Commencing July 1, 1989, and annually thereafter all health benefit plan 262 | |
| 311 | - | contributions withheld under this chapter in excess of five hundred 263 | |
| 312 | - | thousand dollars shall, upon deposit in the Teachers' Retirement Fund, 264 | |
| 313 | - | be credited to such account. Interest derived from the investment of 265 | |
| 314 | - | funds in the account shall be credited to the account. Funds in the 266 | |
| 315 | - | account shall be used for (1) payments to boards of education pursuant 267 | |
| 316 | - | to subsection (c) of this section and for payment of premiums on behalf 268 | |
| 317 | - | of members, spouses of members, surviving spouses of members or 269 | |
| 318 | - | disabled dependents of members participating in one or more health 270 | |
| 319 | - | insurance plans pursuant to subsection (a) of this section in an amount 271 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 308 | + | LCO No. 4034 9 of 31 | |
| 309 | + | ||
| 310 | + | state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any 237 | |
| 311 | + | revenue from other sources. The commissioner may conduct a 238 | |
| 312 | + | comprehensive financial review of the operating budget of a magnet 239 | |
| 313 | + | school to verify such tuition rate. 240 | |
| 314 | + | (2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year 241 | |
| 315 | + | thereafter, a regional educational service center operating an 242 | |
| 316 | + | interdistrict magnet school offering a preschool program that is not 243 | |
| 317 | + | located in the Sheff region shall charge tuition to the parent or guardian 244 | |
| 318 | + | of a child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount up to four 245 | |
| 319 | + | thousand fifty-three dollars, except such regional educational service 246 | |
| 320 | + | center shall (A) not charge tuition to such parent or guardian with a 247 | |
| 321 | + | family income at or below seventy-five per cent of the state median 248 | |
| 322 | + | income, [and] (B) for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2025, [and 249 | |
| 323 | + | each fiscal year thereafter] to June 30, 2027, inclusive, charge tuition to 250 | |
| 324 | + | such parent or guardian in an amount not to exceed fifty-eight per cent 251 | |
| 325 | + | of the tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and 252 | |
| 326 | + | (C) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year 253 | |
| 327 | + | thereafter, charge tuition to such parent or guardian in an amount not 254 | |
| 328 | + | to exceed the amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (3) of this 255 | |
| 329 | + | subsection. The Department of Education shall, within available 256 | |
| 330 | + | appropriations, be financially responsible for any unpaid tuition 257 | |
| 331 | + | charged to such parent or guardian with a family income at or below 258 | |
| 332 | + | seventy-five per cent of the state median income. The commissioner 259 | |
| 333 | + | may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the operating budget 260 | |
| 334 | + | of any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition 261 | |
| 335 | + | rate. 262 | |
| 336 | + | (3) (A) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, the maximum amount 263 | |
| 337 | + | of the tuition that may be charged pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) 264 | |
| 338 | + | of this subsection during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, may be 265 | |
| 339 | + | adjusted in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for 266 | |
| 340 | + | all urban consumers for the preceding two calendar years, less food and 267 | |
| 341 | + | energy, as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau 268 | |
| 342 | + | of Labor Statistics. Such adjusted tuition amount shall be published by 269 | |
| 343 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 320 | 344 | ||
| 321 | 345 | ||
| 322 | - | LCO 10 of 12 | |
| 323 | 346 | ||
| 324 | - | equal to the difference between the amount paid pursuant to subsection 272 | |
| 325 | - | (a) of this section and the amount paid pursuant to subsection (c) of this 273 | |
| 326 | - | section, and (2) payments for professional fees associated with the 274 | |
| 327 | - | administration of the health benefit plans offered pursuant to this 275 | |
| 328 | - | section. If, during any fiscal year, there are insufficient funds in the 276 | |
| 329 | - | account for the purposes of all such payments, the General Assembly 277 | |
| 330 | - | shall appropriate sufficient funds to the account for such purpose. 278 | |
| 331 | - | (e) (1) Not later than the first business day of February, May, August 279 | |
| 332 | - | and November of each year, each employer shall submit to the board, in 280 | |
| 333 | - | a format required by the board, any information the board determines 281 | |
| 334 | - | to be necessary concerning additions, deletions and premium changes 282 | |
| 335 | - | for the health insurance subsidy program described in subsection (c) of 283 | |
| 336 | - | this section. Any report received by the board after the due date shall be 284 | |
| 337 | - | processed in the following quarterly cycle. An employer's failure to 285 | |
| 338 | - | timely submit a quarterly report shall result in a delay of the subsidy for 286 | |
| 339 | - | that quarter and the board shall pay the subsidy as a retroactive subsidy, 287 | |
| 340 | - | as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection. 288 | |
| 341 | - | (2) Retroactive subsidy payments shall be limited to six months prior 289 | |
| 342 | - | to the first day of the month in which the board receives an untimely 290 | |
| 343 | - | report that includes newly eligible retired members or dependents. The 291 | |
| 344 | - | board shall pay the subsidy retroactively to the effective date of the 292 | |
| 345 | - | disability, provided any eligible members or dependents are added to 293 | |
| 346 | - | the report not later than the first quarter following the board's approval 294 | |
| 347 | - | of the disability and the member's disability allowance is initiated 295 | |
| 348 | - | within four months of board approval. The employer shall hold any 296 | |
| 349 | - | member or dependent harmless for any costs associated with, arising 297 | |
| 350 | - | from or out of the loss of the benefit of the subsidy as a result of the 298 | |
| 351 | - | employer's untimely or inaccurate filing of the quarterly report. 299 | |
| 352 | - | Sec. 10. Section 32 of public act 24-78 is repealed and the following is 300 | |
| 353 | - | substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 301 | |
| 354 | - | (a) As part of Early Start CT, the Commissioner of Early Childhood 302 | |
| 355 | - | shall establish a state-funded competitive program in which contracts 303 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 347 | + | LCO No. 4034 10 of 31 | |
| 348 | + | ||
| 349 | + | the Department of Education not later than April 1, 2027. 270 | |
| 350 | + | (B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, the amount of the tuition 271 | |
| 351 | + | charged pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be 272 | |
| 352 | + | the amount calculated pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. 273 | |
| 353 | + | (C) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 274 | |
| 354 | + | thereafter, the maximum amount of the tuition that may be charged 275 | |
| 355 | + | pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection during the prior 276 | |
| 356 | + | two fiscal years may be adjusted in accordance with any change in the 277 | |
| 357 | + | consumer price index for all urban consumers for the preceding two 278 | |
| 358 | + | calendar years, less food and energy, as published by the United States 279 | |
| 359 | + | Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Such adjusted amount 280 | |
| 360 | + | shall be charged pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection 281 | |
| 361 | + | for two fiscal years. Such adjusted tuition amount shall be published by 282 | |
| 362 | + | the Department of Education not later than April first of the fiscal year 283 | |
| 363 | + | prior to when such adjusted tuition amount will be charged. 284 | |
| 364 | + | (l) A participating district shall provide opportunities for its students 285 | |
| 365 | + | to attend an interdistrict magnet school in a number that is at least equal 286 | |
| 366 | + | to the number specified in any written agreement with an interdistrict 287 | |
| 367 | + | magnet school operator or in a number that is at least equal to the 288 | |
| 368 | + | average number of students that the participating district enrolled in 289 | |
| 369 | + | such magnet school during the previous three school years. 290 | |
| 370 | + | (m) (1) On or before May 15, 2010, and annually thereafter, each 291 | |
| 371 | + | interdistrict magnet school operator shall provide written notification to 292 | |
| 372 | + | any school district that is otherwise responsible for educating a student 293 | |
| 373 | + | who resides in such school district and will be enrolled in an interdistrict 294 | |
| 374 | + | magnet school under the operator's control for the following school 295 | |
| 375 | + | year. Such notification shall include (A) the number of any such 296 | |
| 376 | + | students, by grade, who will be enrolled in an interdistrict magnet 297 | |
| 377 | + | school under the control of such operator, (B) the name of the school in 298 | |
| 378 | + | which such student has been placed, and (C) the amount of tuition to be 299 | |
| 379 | + | charged to the local or regional board of education for such student. 300 | |
| 380 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 356 | 381 | ||
| 357 | 382 | ||
| 358 | - | LCO 11 of 12 | |
| 359 | 383 | ||
| 360 | - | are entered into with nonprofit agencies and local and regional boards 304 | |
| 361 | - | of education, which are federal Head Start grant recipients, to assist in 305 | |
| 362 | - | (1) establishing extended-day and full-day, year-round, Head Start 306 | |
| 363 | - | programs or expanding existing Head Start programs to extended-day 307 | |
| 364 | - | or full-day, year-round programs, (2) enhancing program quality, (3) 308 | |
| 365 | - | increasing the number of children served in those programs that are 309 | |
| 366 | - | both Head Start and Early Head Start grant recipients or delegates, (4) 310 | |
| 367 | - | increasing the number of Early Head Start children served above those 311 | |
| 368 | - | who are federally funded, and (5) increasing the hours for children 312 | |
| 369 | - | currently receiving Early Head Start services. Nonprofit agencies or 313 | |
| 370 | - | boards of education seeking contracts pursuant to this section shall 314 | |
| 371 | - | make application to the commissioner on such forms and at such times 315 | |
| 372 | - | as the commissioner shall prescribe. The commissioner shall include 316 | |
| 373 | - | contract provisions that mandate at least twenty-five per cent of the 317 | |
| 374 | - | funding for such contracts shall be for the purpose of enhancing 318 | |
| 375 | - | program quality. All contracts entered into under this section shall be 319 | |
| 376 | - | funded within the limits of available appropriations or otherwise from 320 | |
| 377 | - | federal funds and private donations. All Head Start programs funded 321 | |
| 378 | - | pursuant to this section shall be in compliance with federal Head Start 322 | |
| 379 | - | program performance standards. 323 | |
| 380 | - | (b) The Commissioner may, within available appropriations, allocate 324 | |
| 381 | - | funds pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to Head Start on Housing 325 | |
| 382 | - | in a manner consistent with the objectives of such funds. 326 | |
| 383 | - | Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 10-500 of the general statutes is 327 | |
| 384 | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 328 | |
| 385 | - | 2025): 329 | |
| 386 | - | (a) There is established an Office of Early Childhood. The office shall 330 | |
| 387 | - | be under the direction of the Commissioner of Early Childhood, whose 331 | |
| 388 | - | appointment shall be made by the Governor. Such appointment shall be 332 | |
| 389 | - | in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive. The 333 | |
| 390 | - | commissioner shall be responsible for implementing the policies and 334 | |
| 391 | - | directives of the office. The commissioner shall have the authority to 335 | |
| 392 | - | designate any employee as his or her agent to exercise all or part of the 336 Substitute Bill No. 6866 | |
| 384 | + | LCO No. 4034 11 of 31 | |
| 385 | + | ||
| 386 | + | Such notification shall represent an estimate of the number of students 301 | |
| 387 | + | expected to attend such interdistrict magnet schools in the following 302 | |
| 388 | + | school year, but shall not be deemed to limit the number of students 303 | |
| 389 | + | who may enroll in such interdistrict magnet schools for such year. 304 | |
| 390 | + | (2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year 305 | |
| 391 | + | thereafter, any interdistrict magnet school operator that is a local or 306 | |
| 392 | + | regional board of education and did not charge tuition to another local 307 | |
| 393 | + | or regional board of education for the school year commencing July 1, 308 | |
| 394 | + | 2014, may not charge tuition to such board unless (A) such operator 309 | |
| 395 | + | receives authorization from the Commissioner of Education to charge 310 | |
| 396 | + | the proposed tuition, and (B) if such authorization is granted, such 311 | |
| 397 | + | operator provides written notification on or before September first of 312 | |
| 398 | + | the school year prior to the school year in which such tuition is to be 313 | |
| 399 | + | charged to such board of the tuition to be charged to such board for each 314 | |
| 400 | + | student that such board is otherwise responsible for educating and is 315 | |
| 401 | + | enrolled at the interdistrict magnet school under such operator's control, 316 | |
| 402 | + | except (i) for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2025, [and each fiscal 317 | |
| 403 | + | year thereafter] to June 30, 2027, inclusive, the amount of such tuition 318 | |
| 404 | + | charged to such other local or regional board of education shall not 319 | |
| 405 | + | exceed fifty-eight per cent the per student tuition charged during the 320 | |
| 406 | + | fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and (ii) for the fiscal year ending June 321 | |
| 407 | + | 30, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of such tuition 322 | |
| 408 | + | charged to such other local or regional board of education shall not 323 | |
| 409 | + | exceed the amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (3) of this 324 | |
| 410 | + | subsection. In deciding whether to authorize an interdistrict magnet 325 | |
| 411 | + | school operator to charge tuition under this subdivision, the 326 | |
| 412 | + | commissioner shall consider [(i)] (I) the average per pupil expenditure 327 | |
| 413 | + | of such operator for each interdistrict magnet school under the control 328 | |
| 414 | + | of such operator, and [(ii)] (II) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy 329 | |
| 415 | + | and any revenue from other sources received by such operator. The 330 | |
| 416 | + | commissioner may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the 331 | |
| 417 | + | operating budget of the magnet school of such operator to verify that 332 | |
| 418 | + | the tuition is appropriate. The provisions of this subdivision shall not 333 | |
| 419 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 393 | 420 | ||
| 394 | 421 | ||
| 395 | - | LCO 12 of 12 | |
| 396 | 422 | ||
| 397 | - | authority, powers and duties of the commissioner in his or her absence. 337 | |
| 398 | - | [Said office shall be within the Department of Education for 338 | |
| 399 | - | administrative purposes only.] 339 | |
| 423 | + | LCO No. 4034 12 of 31 | |
| 424 | + | ||
| 425 | + | apply to any interdistrict magnet school operator that is a regional 334 | |
| 426 | + | educational service center or assisting the state in meeting its obligations 335 | |
| 427 | + | pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any 336 | |
| 428 | + | related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 337 | |
| 429 | + | Commissioner of Education. 338 | |
| 430 | + | (3) (A) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, the maximum amount 339 | |
| 431 | + | of the tuition that may be charged to another local or regional board of 340 | |
| 432 | + | education during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, may be adjusted 341 | |
| 433 | + | in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban 342 | |
| 434 | + | consumers for the preceding two calendar years, less food and energy, 343 | |
| 435 | + | as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor 344 | |
| 436 | + | Statistics. Such adjusted tuition amount shall be published by the 345 | |
| 437 | + | Department of Education not later than April 1, 2027. 346 | |
| 438 | + | (B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, the amount of the tuition 347 | |
| 439 | + | charged to another local or regional board of education shall be the 348 | |
| 440 | + | amount calculated pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. 349 | |
| 441 | + | (C) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 350 | |
| 442 | + | thereafter, the maximum amount of the tuition that may be charged to 351 | |
| 443 | + | another local or regional board of education during the prior two fiscal 352 | |
| 444 | + | years may be adjusted in accordance with any change in the consumer 353 | |
| 445 | + | price index for all urban consumers for the preceding two calendar 354 | |
| 446 | + | years, less food and energy, as published by the United States 355 | |
| 447 | + | Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Such adjusted amount 356 | |
| 448 | + | shall be charged to such other local or regional board of education 357 | |
| 449 | + | districts for two fiscal years. Such adjusted tuition amount shall be 358 | |
| 450 | + | published by the Department of Education not later than April first of 359 | |
| 451 | + | the fiscal year prior to when such adjusted tuition amount will be 360 | |
| 452 | + | charged. 361 | |
| 453 | + | [(3)] (4) Not later than two weeks following an enrollment lottery for 362 | |
| 454 | + | an interdistrict magnet school conducted by a magnet school operator, 363 | |
| 455 | + | the parent or guardian of a student (A) who will enroll in such 364 | |
| 456 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 457 | + | ||
| 458 | + | ||
| 459 | + | ||
| 460 | + | LCO No. 4034 13 of 31 | |
| 461 | + | ||
| 462 | + | interdistrict magnet school in the following school year, or (B) whose 365 | |
| 463 | + | name has been placed on a waiting list for enrollment in such 366 | |
| 464 | + | interdistrict magnet school for the following school year, shall provide 367 | |
| 465 | + | written notification of such prospective enrollment or waiting list 368 | |
| 466 | + | placement to the school district in which such student resides and is 369 | |
| 467 | + | otherwise responsible for educating such student. 370 | |
| 468 | + | Sec. 12. Section 10-264o of the general statutes is repealed and the 371 | |
| 469 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 372 | |
| 470 | + | (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, interdistrict 373 | |
| 471 | + | magnet schools that begin operations on or after July 1, 2008, pursuant 374 | |
| 472 | + | to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related 375 | |
| 473 | + | stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of 376 | |
| 474 | + | Education, may operate without district participation agreements and 377 | |
| 475 | + | enroll students from any district through a lottery designated by the 378 | |
| 476 | + | commissioner. 379 | |
| 477 | + | (b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year 380 | |
| 478 | + | thereafter, any tuition charged to a local or regional board of education 381 | |
| 479 | + | by a regional educational service center or by Goodwin University 382 | |
| 480 | + | Magnet Schools operating an interdistrict magnet school assisting the 383 | |
| 481 | + | state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. 384 | |
| 482 | + | O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, 385 | |
| 483 | + | as determined by the Commissioner of Education, for any student 386 | |
| 484 | + | enrolled in kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, in such interdistrict 387 | |
| 485 | + | magnet school shall be in an amount equal to the difference between (1) 388 | |
| 486 | + | the average per pupil expenditure of the magnet school for the prior 389 | |
| 487 | + | fiscal year, and (2) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated 390 | |
| 488 | + | under subsection (c) of section 10-264l, as amended by this act, plus any 391 | |
| 489 | + | revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis, except (A) 392 | |
| 490 | + | for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2025, [and each fiscal year 393 | |
| 491 | + | thereafter] to June 30, 2027, inclusive, the per student tuition charged to 394 | |
| 492 | + | a local or regional board of education shall not exceed fifty-eight per 395 | |
| 493 | + | cent of the per student tuition charged during the fiscal year ending June 396 | |
| 494 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 495 | + | ||
| 496 | + | ||
| 497 | + | ||
| 498 | + | LCO No. 4034 14 of 31 | |
| 499 | + | ||
| 500 | + | 30, 2024, and (B) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal 397 | |
| 501 | + | year thereafter, the per student tuition charged to a local or regional 398 | |
| 502 | + | board of education shall not exceed the amount calculated pursuant to 399 | |
| 503 | + | subsection (e) of this section. If any such board of education fails to pay 400 | |
| 504 | + | such tuition, the commissioner may withhold from such board's town 401 | |
| 505 | + | or towns a sum payable under section 10-262i in an amount not to 402 | |
| 506 | + | exceed the amount of the unpaid tuition to the magnet school and pay 403 | |
| 507 | + | such money to the fiscal agent for the magnet school as a supplementary 404 | |
| 508 | + | grant for the operation of the interdistrict magnet school program. In no 405 | |
| 509 | + | case shall the sum of such tuitions exceed the difference between [(A)] 406 | |
| 510 | + | (i) the total expenditures of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, 407 | |
| 511 | + | and [(B)] (ii) the total per pupil state subsidy calculated under 408 | |
| 512 | + | subsection (c) of section 10-264l, as amended by this act, plus any 409 | |
| 513 | + | revenue from other sources. The commissioner may conduct a 410 | |
| 514 | + | comprehensive review of the operating budget of a magnet school to 411 | |
| 515 | + | verify such tuition rate. 412 | |
| 516 | + | (c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and each fiscal year 413 | |
| 517 | + | thereafter, a regional educational service center or Goodwin University 414 | |
| 518 | + | Magnet Schools operating an interdistrict magnet school assisting the 415 | |
| 519 | + | state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. 416 | |
| 520 | + | O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, 417 | |
| 521 | + | as determined by the Commissioner of Education, and offering a 418 | |
| 522 | + | preschool program shall (1) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, to 419 | |
| 523 | + | June 30, 2027, inclusive, charge tuition to the parent or guardian of a 420 | |
| 524 | + | child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount not to exceed 421 | |
| 525 | + | fifty-eight per cent the per child tuition charged during the fiscal year 422 | |
| 526 | + | ending June 30, 2024, and (2) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and 423 | |
| 527 | + | each fiscal year thereafter, charge tuition to the parent or guardian of a 424 | |
| 528 | + | child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount calculated 425 | |
| 529 | + | pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, except such regional 426 | |
| 530 | + | educational service center or Goodwin University Magnet Schools shall 427 | |
| 531 | + | not charge tuition to such parent or guardian with a family income at or 428 | |
| 532 | + | below seventy-five per cent of the state median income. The Department 429 | |
| 533 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 534 | + | ||
| 535 | + | ||
| 536 | + | ||
| 537 | + | LCO No. 4034 15 of 31 | |
| 538 | + | ||
| 539 | + | of Education shall, within available appropriations, be financially 430 | |
| 540 | + | responsible for any unpaid tuition charged to such parent or guardian 431 | |
| 541 | + | with a family income at or below seventy-five per cent of the state 432 | |
| 542 | + | median income. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive 433 | |
| 543 | + | financial review of the operating budget of any such magnet school 434 | |
| 544 | + | charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate. 435 | |
| 545 | + | (d) [For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 436 | |
| 546 | + | thereafter, any] Any interdistrict magnet school operator described in 437 | |
| 547 | + | section 10-264s that offers a preschool program shall (1) for the fiscal 438 | |
| 548 | + | years ending June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2027, inclusive, charge tuition to 439 | |
| 549 | + | the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool program in 440 | |
| 550 | + | an amount not to exceed fifty-eight per cent the per child tuition charged 441 | |
| 551 | + | during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and (2) for the fiscal year 442 | |
| 552 | + | ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, charge tuition to 443 | |
| 553 | + | the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool program in 444 | |
| 554 | + | an amount calculated pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, except 445 | |
| 555 | + | such interdistrict magnet school operator shall not charge tuition to such 446 | |
| 556 | + | parent or guardian with a family income at or below seventy-five per 447 | |
| 557 | + | cent of the state median income. The Department of Education shall, 448 | |
| 558 | + | within available appropriations, be financially responsible for any 449 | |
| 559 | + | unpaid tuition charged to such parent or guardian with a family income 450 | |
| 560 | + | at or below seventy-five per cent of the state median income. The 451 | |
| 561 | + | commissioner may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the 452 | |
| 562 | + | operating budget of any such interdistrict magnet school operator 453 | |
| 563 | + | charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate. 454 | |
| 564 | + | (e) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, the maximum amount 455 | |
| 565 | + | of the tuition that may be charged under this section during the fiscal 456 | |
| 566 | + | year ending June 30, 2027, may be adjusted in accordance with any 457 | |
| 567 | + | change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers for the 458 | |
| 568 | + | preceding two calendar years, less food and energy, as published by the 459 | |
| 569 | + | United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Such 460 | |
| 570 | + | adjusted tuition amount shall be published by the Department of 461 | |
| 571 | + | Education not later than April 1, 2027. 462 | |
| 572 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 573 | + | ||
| 574 | + | ||
| 575 | + | ||
| 576 | + | LCO No. 4034 16 of 31 | |
| 577 | + | ||
| 578 | + | (2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, the amount of the tuition 463 | |
| 579 | + | charged under this section shall be the amount calculated pursuant to 464 | |
| 580 | + | subdivision (1) of this subsection. 465 | |
| 581 | + | (3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 466 | |
| 582 | + | thereafter, the maximum amount of the tuition that may be charged 467 | |
| 583 | + | under this section during the prior two fiscal years may be adjusted in 468 | |
| 584 | + | accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban 469 | |
| 585 | + | consumers for the preceding two calendar years, less food and energy, 470 | |
| 586 | + | as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor 471 | |
| 587 | + | Statistics. Such adjusted amount shall be the tuition amount charged 472 | |
| 588 | + | under this section for two fiscal years. Such adjusted tuition amount 473 | |
| 589 | + | shall be published by the Department of Education not later than April 474 | |
| 590 | + | first of the fiscal year prior to when such adjusted tuition amount will 475 | |
| 591 | + | be charged. 476 | |
| 592 | + | Sec. 13. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 10-65 of the general statutes 477 | |
| 593 | + | are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 478 | |
| 594 | + | 1, 2025): 479 | |
| 595 | + | (a) Each local or regional school district operating an agricultural 480 | |
| 596 | + | science and technology education center approved by the State Board of 481 | |
| 597 | + | Education for program, educational need, location and area to be served 482 | |
| 598 | + | shall be eligible for the following grants: (1) In accordance with the 483 | |
| 599 | + | provisions of chapter 173, through progress payments in accordance 484 | |
| 600 | + | with the provisions of section 10-287i, (A) for projects for which an 485 | |
| 601 | + | application was filed prior to July 1, 2011, ninety-five per cent, and (B) 486 | |
| 602 | + | for projects for which an application was filed on or after July 1, 2011, 487 | |
| 603 | + | eighty per cent of the net eligible costs of constructing, acquiring, 488 | |
| 604 | + | renovating and equipping approved facilities to be used exclusively for 489 | |
| 605 | + | such agricultural science and technology education center, for the 490 | |
| 606 | + | expansion or improvement of existing facilities or for the replacement 491 | |
| 607 | + | or improvement of equipment therein, and (2) subject to the provisions 492 | |
| 608 | + | of section 10-65b, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal 493 | |
| 609 | + | year thereafter, a grant equal to the amount such board is entitled to 494 | |
| 610 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 611 | + | ||
| 612 | + | ||
| 613 | + | ||
| 614 | + | LCO No. 4034 17 of 31 | |
| 615 | + | ||
| 616 | + | receive under the provisions of section 10-252a, as amended by this act. 495 | |
| 617 | + | (b) (1) Each local or regional board of education not maintaining an 496 | |
| 618 | + | agricultural science and technology education center shall provide 497 | |
| 619 | + | opportunities for its students to enroll in one or more such centers. If a 498 | |
| 620 | + | local or regional board of education provided opportunities for students 499 | |
| 621 | + | to enroll in more than one center for the school year commencing July 1, 500 | |
| 622 | + | 2007, such board of education shall continue to provide such 501 | |
| 623 | + | opportunities to students in accordance with this subsection. 502 | |
| 624 | + | (2) The board of education operating an agricultural science and 503 | |
| 625 | + | technology education center may charge, subject to the provisions of 504 | |
| 626 | + | section 10-65b, tuition for a school year in an amount not to exceed fifty-505 | |
| 627 | + | nine and two-tenths per cent of the foundation level pursuant to 506 | |
| 628 | + | subdivision (9) of section 10-262f, per student for the fiscal year in which 507 | |
| 629 | + | the tuition is paid, except that (A) such board may charge tuition for (i) 508 | |
| 630 | + | students enrolled under shared-time arrangements on a pro rata basis, 509 | |
| 631 | + | and (ii) special education students which shall not exceed the actual 510 | |
| 632 | + | costs of educating such students minus the amounts received pursuant 511 | |
| 633 | + | to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section and subsection (c) of 512 | |
| 634 | + | this section, [and] (B) for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2025, 513 | |
| 635 | + | [and each fiscal year thereafter] to June 30, 2027, inclusive, such board 514 | |
| 636 | + | may charge such tuition in an amount not to exceed fifty-eight per cent 515 | |
| 637 | + | of the amount such board charged during the fiscal year ending June 30, 516 | |
| 638 | + | 2024, and (C) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year 517 | |
| 639 | + | thereafter, such board may charge such tuition in an amount calculated 518 | |
| 640 | + | pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection. Any tuition paid by such 519 | |
| 641 | + | board for special education students in excess of the tuition paid for 520 | |
| 642 | + | non-special-education students shall be reimbursed pursuant to section 521 | |
| 643 | + | 10-76g. 522 | |
| 644 | + | (3) (A) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, the board of education 523 | |
| 645 | + | operating an agricultural science and technology center may adjust the 524 | |
| 646 | + | maximum amount of the tuition that may be charged during the fiscal 525 | |
| 647 | + | year ending June 30, 2027, in accordance with any change in the 526 | |
| 648 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 649 | + | ||
| 650 | + | ||
| 651 | + | ||
| 652 | + | LCO No. 4034 18 of 31 | |
| 653 | + | ||
| 654 | + | consumer price index for all urban consumers for the preceding two 527 | |
| 655 | + | calendar years, less food and energy, as published by the United States 528 | |
| 656 | + | Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, subject to the 529 | |
| 657 | + | provisions of section 10-65b. Such adjusted tuition amount shall be 530 | |
| 658 | + | published by the Department of Education not later than April 1, 2027. 531 | |
| 659 | + | (B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, the board of education 532 | |
| 660 | + | operating an agricultural science and technology center shall charge 533 | |
| 661 | + | tuition in an amount equal to the amount calculated pursuant to 534 | |
| 662 | + | subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. 535 | |
| 663 | + | (C) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and each fiscal year 536 | |
| 664 | + | thereafter, the board of education operating an agricultural science and 537 | |
| 665 | + | technology center may adjust the maximum amount of tuition that may 538 | |
| 666 | + | be charged during the prior two fiscal years in accordance with any 539 | |
| 667 | + | change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers for the 540 | |
| 668 | + | preceding two calendar years, less food and energy, as published by the 541 | |
| 669 | + | United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, subject 542 | |
| 670 | + | to the provisions of section 10-65b. Such board shall charge such 543 | |
| 671 | + | adjusted amount for two fiscal years. Such adjusted tuition amount shall 544 | |
| 672 | + | be published by the Department of Education not later than April first 545 | |
| 673 | + | of the fiscal year prior to when such adjusted tuition amount will be 546 | |
| 674 | + | charged. 547 | |
| 675 | + | Sec. 14. Section 10-221w of the general statutes is repealed and the 548 | |
| 676 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 549 | |
| 677 | + | (a) As used in this section: 550 | |
| 678 | + | (1) "Advanced course or program" means an honors class, advanced 551 | |
| 679 | + | placement class, International Baccalaureate program, Cambridge 552 | |
| 680 | + | International program, dual enrollment, dual credit, early college or any 553 | |
| 681 | + | other advanced or accelerated course or program offered by a local or 554 | |
| 682 | + | regional board of education in grades nine to twelve, inclusive; and 555 | |
| 683 | + | (2) "Prior academic performance" means the course or courses that a 556 | |
| 684 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 685 | + | ||
| 686 | + | ||
| 687 | + | ||
| 688 | + | LCO No. 4034 19 of 31 | |
| 689 | + | ||
| 690 | + | student has taken, the grades received for such course or courses and a 557 | |
| 691 | + | student's grade point average. 558 | |
| 692 | + | (b) Not later than July 1, 2022, each local and regional board of 559 | |
| 693 | + | education shall adopt a policy, or revise an existing policy, concerning 560 | |
| 694 | + | the eligibility criteria for student enrollment in an advanced course or 561 | |
| 695 | + | program. Such policy shall provide for multiple methods by which a 562 | |
| 696 | + | student may satisfy the eligibility criteria for enrollment in an advanced 563 | |
| 697 | + | course or program, including, but not limited to, recommendations 564 | |
| 698 | + | from teachers, administrators, school counselors or other school 565 | |
| 699 | + | personnel. Such eligibility criteria shall not be based exclusively on a 566 | |
| 700 | + | student's prior academic performance and any use of a student's prior 567 | |
| 701 | + | academic performance shall rely on evidence-based indicators of how a 568 | |
| 702 | + | student will perform in an advanced course or program. 569 | |
| 703 | + | (c) Any policy adopted or revised and implemented under this 570 | |
| 704 | + | section shall be in accordance with guidance provided by the 571 | |
| 705 | + | Department of Education. 572 | |
| 706 | + | (d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year 573 | |
| 707 | + | thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall, within available 574 | |
| 708 | + | appropriations, establish a fee-waiver grant program to expand 575 | |
| 709 | + | opportunities for high-need high school students to access advanced 576 | |
| 710 | + | courses or programs. A local or regional board of education may apply, 577 | |
| 711 | + | in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Education, for 578 | |
| 712 | + | reimbursement for any fees charged to such board for any high-need 579 | |
| 713 | + | student who enrolls in an advanced course or program. 580 | |
| 714 | + | (e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year 581 | |
| 715 | + | thereafter, the Commissioner of Education may, within available 582 | |
| 716 | + | appropriations, pay up to five hundred thousand dollars in a fiscal year 583 | |
| 717 | + | to the State Education Resource Center for programming that provides 584 | |
| 718 | + | direct support to local and regional boards of education in the 585 | |
| 719 | + | articulation and expansion of dual credit courses. In expending such 586 | |
| 720 | + | funds under this subsection, the State Education Resource Center shall 587 | |
| 721 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 722 | + | ||
| 723 | + | ||
| 724 | + | ||
| 725 | + | LCO No. 4034 20 of 31 | |
| 726 | + | ||
| 727 | + | give priority to providing funds to alliance districts. 588 | |
| 728 | + | Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) The Department of Education 589 | |
| 729 | + | shall, within available appropriations, establish the competitive student 590 | |
| 730 | + | support grant program. Under the program, the department shall 591 | |
| 731 | + | award grants to municipalities, local and regional boards of education 592 | |
| 732 | + | and not-for-profit organizations that are exempt from taxation under 593 | |
| 733 | + | Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any 594 | |
| 734 | + | subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, 595 | |
| 735 | + | as amended from time to time, for after school, before school, summer 596 | |
| 736 | + | and other wrap-around programming for students that prioritize one or 597 | |
| 737 | + | more of the following: (1) Academic growth and recovery, (2) mental, 598 | |
| 738 | + | social and emotional health, (3) trade, vocational or career education, 599 | |
| 739 | + | and (4) building connections and service opportunities within the 600 | |
| 740 | + | community. 601 | |
| 741 | + | (b) The department shall post an application for participation in the 602 | |
| 742 | + | program on the department's Internet web site every two years. In 603 | |
| 743 | + | considering whether to award a grant under the program, the 604 | |
| 744 | + | department shall give priority to those applications that include 605 | |
| 745 | + | programming that (1) utilizes evidence-based interventions and models, 606 | |
| 746 | + | (2) contains identifiable and measurable outcomes, (3) demonstrates a 607 | |
| 747 | + | need for such programming, and (4) includes the number of students 608 | |
| 748 | + | being served by such programming. 609 | |
| 749 | + | (c) The department shall award grants for a two-year period. 610 | |
| 750 | + | Following such two-year period, the department shall conduct and 611 | |
| 751 | + | publish an evaluation of the programming that received grants under 612 | |
| 752 | + | the program during such two-year period. 613 | |
| 753 | + | (d) The department may reserve up to three per cent of the 614 | |
| 754 | + | appropriation for this section for the purposes of administration and 615 | |
| 755 | + | evaluation. 616 | |
| 756 | + | Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, "high-617 | |
| 757 | + | dosage tutoring" means tutoring that contains one or more of the 618 | |
| 758 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 759 | + | ||
| 760 | + | ||
| 761 | + | ||
| 762 | + | LCO No. 4034 21 of 31 | |
| 763 | + | ||
| 764 | + | following elements: 619 | |
| 765 | + | (1) One tutor per group of four or fewer students; 620 | |
| 766 | + | (2) Is provided for a minimum of three sessions per week and for at 621 | |
| 767 | + | least thirty minutes per tutoring session; 622 | |
| 768 | + | (3) Occurs during the regular school day and is not a before or after 623 | |
| 769 | + | school program or an at-home, on-demand program; 624 | |
| 770 | + | (4) Supplements core academic instruction and does not replace core 625 | |
| 771 | + | instruction; 626 | |
| 772 | + | (5) Is provided in person by an in-person tutor; 627 | |
| 773 | + | (6) Is provided by high-quality tutors that may include certified 628 | |
| 774 | + | teachers, paraeducators, community providers, private tutoring 629 | |
| 775 | + | providers or other individuals who have received training to provide 630 | |
| 776 | + | tutoring services; 631 | |
| 777 | + | (7) Uses a high-quality curriculum and instructional materials that 632 | |
| 778 | + | are aligned with academic standards and core classroom, grade-level 633 | |
| 779 | + | content approved by the State Board of Education; 634 | |
| 780 | + | (8) Is data driven and, where applicable, includes state-provided 635 | |
| 781 | + | interim assessment blocks and other materials that are aligned with the 636 | |
| 782 | + | state's summative assessment; 637 | |
| 783 | + | (9) Provides tutors with training and professional learning 638 | |
| 784 | + | opportunities throughout the school year; and 639 | |
| 785 | + | (10) Requires collaboration between tutors and regular classroom 640 | |
| 786 | + | educators to ensure such tutoring is instructionally aligned with 641 | |
| 787 | + | classroom content. 642 | |
| 788 | + | (b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year 643 | |
| 789 | + | thereafter, the Department of Education shall, within available 644 | |
| 790 | + | appropriations, establish a competitive high-dosage tutoring matching 645 | |
| 791 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 792 | + | ||
| 793 | + | ||
| 794 | + | ||
| 795 | + | LCO No. 4034 22 of 31 | |
| 796 | + | ||
| 797 | + | grant program for local and regional boards of education to accelerate 646 | |
| 798 | + | student learning by supporting the implementation of high-dosage 647 | |
| 799 | + | tutoring programs. 648 | |
| 800 | + | (c) The Commissioner of Education shall develop an application for 649 | |
| 801 | + | local and regional boards of education to apply for grants under this 650 | |
| 802 | + | section and shall develop the criteria for reviewing and approving such 651 | |
| 803 | + | grant applications. The commissioner may award a grant under this 652 | |
| 804 | + | section to any program that provides high-dosage tutoring and such 653 | |
| 805 | + | grant shall be for a two-year period. 654 | |
| 806 | + | (d) Not later than January 31, 2029, the commissioner shall develop a 655 | |
| 807 | + | report on the implementation and outcomes of the competitive high-656 | |
| 808 | + | dosage tutoring matching grant program for the two-year period in 657 | |
| 809 | + | which grants were awarded. The commissioner shall submit such report 658 | |
| 810 | + | to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 659 | |
| 811 | + | cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the 660 | |
| 812 | + | provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 661 | |
| 813 | + | (e) The department may retain up to three per cent of the total amount 662 | |
| 814 | + | appropriated for the purposes of this section for grant administration, 663 | |
| 815 | + | technical assistance and program evaluation purposes. 664 | |
| 816 | + | Sec. 17. Section 17a-248g of the general statutes is repealed and the 665 | |
| 817 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 666 | |
| 818 | + | (a) Subject to the provisions of this section, funds appropriated to the 667 | |
| 819 | + | lead agency for purposes of section 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-668 | |
| 820 | + | 248f, inclusive, this section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a shall not 669 | |
| 821 | + | be used to satisfy a financial commitment for services that would have 670 | |
| 822 | + | been paid from another public or private source but for the enactment 671 | |
| 823 | + | of said sections, except for federal funds available pursuant to Part C of 672 | |
| 824 | + | the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1431 et seq., 673 | |
| 825 | + | except that whenever considered necessary to prevent the delay in the 674 | |
| 826 | + | receipt of appropriate early intervention services by the eligible child or 675 | |
| 827 | + | family in a timely fashion, funds provided under said sections may be 676 | |
| 828 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 829 | + | ||
| 830 | + | ||
| 831 | + | ||
| 832 | + | LCO No. 4034 23 of 31 | |
| 833 | + | ||
| 834 | + | used to pay the service provider pending reimbursement from the 677 | |
| 835 | + | public or private source that has ultimate responsibility for the payment. 678 | |
| 836 | + | (b) Nothing in section 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248f, 679 | |
| 837 | + | inclusive, this section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a shall be 680 | |
| 838 | + | construed to permit the Department of Social Services or any other state 681 | |
| 839 | + | agency to reduce medical assistance pursuant to this chapter or other 682 | |
| 840 | + | assistance or services available to eligible children. Notwithstanding 683 | |
| 841 | + | any provision of the general statutes, costs incurred for early 684 | |
| 842 | + | intervention services that otherwise qualify as medical assistance that 685 | |
| 843 | + | are furnished to an eligible child who is also eligible for benefits 686 | |
| 844 | + | pursuant to this chapter shall be considered medical assistance for 687 | |
| 845 | + | purposes of payments to providers and state reimbursement to the 688 | |
| 846 | + | extent that federal financial participation is available for such services. 689 | |
| 847 | + | (c) Providers of early intervention services shall, in the first instance 690 | |
| 848 | + | and where applicable, seek payment from all third-party payers prior to 691 | |
| 849 | + | claiming payment from the birth-to-three system for services rendered 692 | |
| 850 | + | to eligible children, provided, for the purpose of seeking payment from 693 | |
| 851 | + | the Medicaid program or from other third-party payers as agreed upon 694 | |
| 852 | + | by the provider, the obligation to seek payment shall not apply to a 695 | |
| 853 | + | payment from a third-party payer who is not prohibited from applying 696 | |
| 854 | + | such payment, and who will apply such payment, to an annual or 697 | |
| 855 | + | lifetime limit specified in the third-party payer's policy or contract. 698 | |
| 856 | + | (d) The commissioner, in consultation with the Office of Policy and 699 | |
| 857 | + | Management and the Insurance Commissioner, shall adopt regulations, 700 | |
| 858 | + | pursuant to chapter 54, providing public reimbursement for deductibles 701 | |
| 859 | + | and copayments imposed under an insurance policy or health benefit 702 | |
| 860 | + | plan to the extent that such deductibles and copayments are applicable 703 | |
| 861 | + | to early intervention services. 704 | |
| 862 | + | (e) The commissioner shall not charge a fee for early intervention 705 | |
| 863 | + | services to the parents or legal guardians of eligible children. 706 | |
| 864 | + | (f) With respect to early intervention services rendered prior to June 707 | |
| 865 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 866 | + | ||
| 867 | + | ||
| 868 | + | ||
| 869 | + | LCO No. 4034 24 of 31 | |
| 870 | + | ||
| 871 | + | 16, 2021, the commissioner shall develop and implement procedures to 708 | |
| 872 | + | hold a recipient harmless for the impact of pursuit of payment for such 709 | |
| 873 | + | services against lifetime insurance limits. 710 | |
| 874 | + | (g) Notwithstanding any provision of title 38a relating to the 711 | |
| 875 | + | permissible exclusion of payments for services under governmental 712 | |
| 876 | + | programs, no such exclusion shall apply with respect to payments made 713 | |
| 877 | + | pursuant to section 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248f, inclusive, this 714 | |
| 878 | + | section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a. Except as provided in this 715 | |
| 879 | + | subsection, nothing in this section shall increase or enhance coverages 716 | |
| 880 | + | provided for within an insurance contract subject to the provisions of 717 | |
| 881 | + | section 10-94f, subsection (a) of section 10-94g, sections 17a-248, 17a-718 | |
| 882 | + | 248b to 17a-248f, inclusive, this section, and sections 38a-490a and 38a-719 | |
| 883 | + | 516a. 720 | |
| 884 | + | [(h) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year 721 | |
| 885 | + | thereafter, the commissioner shall make a general administrative 722 | |
| 886 | + | payment to providers in the amount of two hundred dollars for each 723 | |
| 887 | + | child with an individualized family service plan on the first day of the 724 | |
| 888 | + | billing month and whose plan accounts for less than nine hours of 725 | |
| 889 | + | service during such billing month, provided at least one service is 726 | |
| 890 | + | provided by such provider during such billing month.] 727 | |
| 891 | + | Sec. 18. Section 10-183t of the general statutes is repealed and the 728 | |
| 892 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 729 | |
| 893 | + | (a) The board shall offer one or more health benefit plans to: Any 730 | |
| 894 | + | member receiving retirement benefits or a disability allowance from the 731 | |
| 895 | + | system; the spouse or surviving spouse of such member, and a disabled 732 | |
| 896 | + | dependent of such member if there is no spouse or surviving spouse, 733 | |
| 897 | + | provided such member, spouse, surviving spouse, or disabled 734 | |
| 898 | + | dependent is participating in Medicare Part A hospital insurance and 735 | |
| 899 | + | Medicare Part B medical insurance. The board may offer one or more 736 | |
| 900 | + | basic plans, the cost of which to any such member, spouse, surviving 737 | |
| 901 | + | spouse or disabled dependent shall be one-third of the basic plan's 738 | |
| 902 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 903 | + | ||
| 904 | + | ||
| 905 | + | ||
| 906 | + | LCO No. 4034 25 of 31 | |
| 907 | + | ||
| 908 | + | premium equivalent, and one or more optional plans, provided such 739 | |
| 909 | + | member, spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent shall pay one-740 | |
| 910 | + | third of the basic plan's premium equivalent plus the difference in cost 741 | |
| 911 | + | between any such basic plans and any such optional plans. The board 742 | |
| 912 | + | shall designate those plans which are basic and those plans which are 743 | |
| 913 | + | optional for the purpose of determining such cost and the amount to be 744 | |
| 914 | + | charged or withheld from benefit payments for such plans. The 745 | |
| 915 | + | surviving spouse of a member, or a disabled dependent of a member if 746 | |
| 916 | + | there is no surviving spouse, shall not be ineligible for participation in 747 | |
| 917 | + | any such plan solely because such surviving spouse or disabled 748 | |
| 918 | + | dependent is not receiving benefits from the system. With respect to any 749 | |
| 919 | + | person participating in any such plan, the state shall appropriate to the 750 | |
| 920 | + | board one-third of the cost of such basic plan or plans, or one-third of 751 | |
| 921 | + | the cost of the rate in effect during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, 752 | |
| 922 | + | whichever is greater, except that, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 753 | |
| 923 | + | 2026, and June 30, 2027, the state shall appropriate twenty-five per cent 754 | |
| 924 | + | of the cost of the basic plan. 755 | |
| 925 | + | (b) (1) Any member who (A) is receiving retirement benefits or a 756 | |
| 926 | + | disability allowance from the system, the spouse or surviving spouse of 757 | |
| 927 | + | such member, or a disabled dependent of such member if there is no 758 | |
| 928 | + | spouse or surviving spouse, and who is not participating in Medicare 759 | |
| 929 | + | Part A hospital insurance and Medicare Part B medical insurance, and 760 | |
| 930 | + | (B) meets the state's eligibility criteria for health insurance or is eligible 761 | |
| 931 | + | to participate in the group health insurance plan offered by such 762 | |
| 932 | + | member's last employing board of education, may fully participate in 763 | |
| 933 | + | any or all group health insurance plans maintained for active teachers 764 | |
| 934 | + | by such member's last employing board of education, or by the state in 765 | |
| 935 | + | the case of a member who was employed by the state, upon payment to 766 | |
| 936 | + | such board of education or to the state, as applicable, by such member, 767 | |
| 937 | + | spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent, of the premium 768 | |
| 938 | + | charged for the member's form of coverage. Such premium shall be no 769 | |
| 939 | + | greater than that charged for the same form of coverage for active 770 | |
| 940 | + | teachers. 771 | |
| 941 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 942 | + | ||
| 943 | + | ||
| 944 | + | ||
| 945 | + | LCO No. 4034 26 of 31 | |
| 946 | + | ||
| 947 | + | (2) The member's spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent 772 | |
| 948 | + | shall not be ineligible for participation in any such plan solely because 773 | |
| 949 | + | such spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent is not receiving 774 | |
| 950 | + | benefits from the system. No person shall be ineligible for participation 775 | |
| 951 | + | in such plans for failure to enroll in such plans at the time the member's 776 | |
| 952 | + | retirement benefit or disability allowance became effective. 777 | |
| 953 | + | (3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impair or alter the 778 | |
| 954 | + | provisions of any collective bargaining agreement relating to the 779 | |
| 955 | + | payment by a board of education of group health insurance premiums 780 | |
| 956 | + | on behalf of any member receiving benefits from the system. Prior to the 781 | |
| 957 | + | cancellation of coverage for any member, spouse, surviving spouse or 782 | |
| 958 | + | disabled dependent for failure to pay the required premiums or cost 783 | |
| 959 | + | due, the board of education or the state, if applicable, shall notify the 784 | |
| 960 | + | Teachers' Retirement Board of its intention to cancel such coverage at 785 | |
| 961 | + | least thirty days prior to the date of cancellation. Absent any contractual 786 | |
| 962 | + | provisions to the contrary, the payments made pursuant to subsection 787 | |
| 963 | + | (c) of this section shall be first applied to any cost borne by the member, 788 | |
| 964 | + | spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent participating in any 789 | |
| 965 | + | such plan. 790 | |
| 966 | + | (4) As used in this subsection, "last employing board of education" 791 | |
| 967 | + | means the board of education by which such member was employed 792 | |
| 968 | + | when such member filed his or her initial application for retirement, and 793 | |
| 969 | + | "health insurance plans" means hospital, medical, major medical, dental, 794 | |
| 970 | + | prescription drug or auditory benefit plans that are available to active 795 | |
| 971 | + | teachers. 796 | |
| 972 | + | (c) (1) On and after July 1, 2022, the board shall pay a subsidy of two 797 | |
| 973 | + | hundred twenty dollars, to the board of education or to the state, if 798 | |
| 974 | + | applicable, on behalf of any member who is receiving retirement 799 | |
| 975 | + | benefits or a disability allowance from the system, the spouse of such 800 | |
| 976 | + | member, the surviving spouse of such member, or a disabled dependent 801 | |
| 977 | + | of such member if there is no spouse or surviving spouse, who is 802 | |
| 978 | + | participating in a health insurance plan maintained by a board of 803 | |
| 979 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 980 | + | ||
| 981 | + | ||
| 982 | + | ||
| 983 | + | LCO No. 4034 27 of 31 | |
| 984 | + | ||
| 985 | + | education or by the state, if applicable. Such payment shall not exceed 804 | |
| 986 | + | the actual cost of such insurance. 805 | |
| 987 | + | (2) With respect to any person participating in any such plan 806 | |
| 988 | + | pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the state shall appropriate to 807 | |
| 989 | + | the board one-third of the cost of the subsidy, except that, for the fiscal 808 | |
| 990 | + | [year] years ending June 30, 2013, June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, the 809 | |
| 991 | + | state shall appropriate twenty-five per cent of the cost of the subsidy. 810 | |
| 992 | + | On and after July 1, 2018, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, and 811 | |
| 993 | + | for each fiscal year thereafter, fifty per cent of the total amount 812 | |
| 994 | + | appropriated by the state in each such fiscal year for the state's share of 813 | |
| 995 | + | the cost of such subsidies shall be paid to the board on or before July 814 | |
| 996 | + | first of such fiscal year, and the remaining fifty per cent of such total 815 | |
| 997 | + | amount shall be paid to the board on or before December first of such 816 | |
| 998 | + | fiscal year. 817 | |
| 999 | + | (3) No payment to a board of education pursuant to this subsection 818 | |
| 1000 | + | may be used to reduce the amount of any premium payment on behalf 819 | |
| 1001 | + | of any such member, spouse, surviving spouse, or disabled dependent, 820 | |
| 1002 | + | made by such board pursuant to any agreement in effect on July 1, 1990. 821 | |
| 1003 | + | On and after July 1, 2022, the board shall pay a subsidy of four hundred 822 | |
| 1004 | + | forty dollars per month on behalf of the member, spouse or the 823 | |
| 1005 | + | surviving spouse of such member who: (A) Has attained the normal 824 | |
| 1006 | + | retirement age to participate in Medicare, (B) is not eligible for Medicare 825 | |
| 1007 | + | Part A without cost, and (C) contributes at least four hundred forty 826 | |
| 1008 | + | dollars per month towards his or her medical and prescription drug 827 | |
| 1009 | + | plan provided by the board of education. 828 | |
| 1010 | + | (d) The Treasurer shall establish a separate retired teachers' health 829 | |
| 1011 | + | insurance premium account within the Teachers' Retirement Fund. 830 | |
| 1012 | + | Commencing July 1, 1989, and annually thereafter all health benefit plan 831 | |
| 1013 | + | contributions withheld under this chapter in excess of five hundred 832 | |
| 1014 | + | thousand dollars shall, upon deposit in the Teachers' Retirement Fund, 833 | |
| 1015 | + | be credited to such account. Interest derived from the investment of 834 | |
| 1016 | + | funds in the account shall be credited to the account. Funds in the 835 | |
| 1017 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 1018 | + | ||
| 1019 | + | ||
| 1020 | + | ||
| 1021 | + | LCO No. 4034 28 of 31 | |
| 1022 | + | ||
| 1023 | + | account shall be used for (1) payments to boards of education pursuant 836 | |
| 1024 | + | to subsection (c) of this section and for payment of premiums on behalf 837 | |
| 1025 | + | of members, spouses of members, surviving spouses of members or 838 | |
| 1026 | + | disabled dependents of members participating in one or more health 839 | |
| 1027 | + | insurance plans pursuant to subsection (a) of this section in an amount 840 | |
| 1028 | + | equal to the difference between the amount paid pursuant to subsection 841 | |
| 1029 | + | (a) of this section and the amount paid pursuant to subsection (c) of this 842 | |
| 1030 | + | section, and (2) payments for professional fees associated with the 843 | |
| 1031 | + | administration of the health benefit plans offered pursuant to this 844 | |
| 1032 | + | section. If, during any fiscal year, there are insufficient funds in the 845 | |
| 1033 | + | account for the purposes of all such payments, the General Assembly 846 | |
| 1034 | + | shall appropriate sufficient funds to the account for such purpose. 847 | |
| 1035 | + | (e) (1) Not later than the first business day of February, May, August 848 | |
| 1036 | + | and November of each year, each employer shall submit to the board, in 849 | |
| 1037 | + | a format required by the board, any information the board determines 850 | |
| 1038 | + | to be necessary concerning additions, deletions and premium changes 851 | |
| 1039 | + | for the health insurance subsidy program described in subsection (c) of 852 | |
| 1040 | + | this section. Any report received by the board after the due date shall be 853 | |
| 1041 | + | processed in the following quarterly cycle. An employer's failure to 854 | |
| 1042 | + | timely submit a quarterly report shall result in a delay of the subsidy for 855 | |
| 1043 | + | that quarter and the board shall pay the subsidy as a retroactive subsidy, 856 | |
| 1044 | + | as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection. 857 | |
| 1045 | + | (2) Retroactive subsidy payments shall be limited to six months prior 858 | |
| 1046 | + | to the first day of the month in which the board receives an untimely 859 | |
| 1047 | + | report that includes newly eligible retired members or dependents. The 860 | |
| 1048 | + | board shall pay the subsidy retroactively to the effective date of the 861 | |
| 1049 | + | disability, provided any eligible members or dependents are added to 862 | |
| 1050 | + | the report not later than the first quarter following the board's approval 863 | |
| 1051 | + | of the disability and the member's disability allowance is initiated 864 | |
| 1052 | + | within four months of board approval. The employer shall hold any 865 | |
| 1053 | + | member or dependent harmless for any costs associated with, arising 866 | |
| 1054 | + | from or out of the loss of the benefit of the subsidy as a result of the 867 | |
| 1055 | + | employer's untimely or inaccurate filing of the quarterly report. 868 | |
| 1056 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 1057 | + | ||
| 1058 | + | ||
| 1059 | + | ||
| 1060 | + | LCO No. 4034 29 of 31 | |
| 1061 | + | ||
| 1062 | + | Sec. 19. Section 32 of public act 24-78 is repealed and the following is 869 | |
| 1063 | + | substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 870 | |
| 1064 | + | (a) As part of Early Start CT, the Commissioner of Early Childhood 871 | |
| 1065 | + | shall establish a state-funded competitive program in which contracts 872 | |
| 1066 | + | are entered into with nonprofit agencies and local and regional boards 873 | |
| 1067 | + | of education, which are federal Head Start grant recipients, to assist in 874 | |
| 1068 | + | (1) establishing extended-day and full-day, year-round, Head Start 875 | |
| 1069 | + | programs or expanding existing Head Start programs to extended-day 876 | |
| 1070 | + | or full-day, year-round programs, (2) enhancing program quality, (3) 877 | |
| 1071 | + | increasing the number of children served in those programs that are 878 | |
| 1072 | + | both Head Start and Early Head Start grant recipients or delegates, (4) 879 | |
| 1073 | + | increasing the number of Early Head Start children served above those 880 | |
| 1074 | + | who are federally funded, and (5) increasing the hours for children 881 | |
| 1075 | + | currently receiving Early Head Start services. Nonprofit agencies or 882 | |
| 1076 | + | boards of education seeking contracts pursuant to this section shall 883 | |
| 1077 | + | make application to the commissioner on such forms and at such times 884 | |
| 1078 | + | as the commissioner shall prescribe. The commissioner shall include 885 | |
| 1079 | + | contract provisions that mandate at least twenty-five per cent of the 886 | |
| 1080 | + | funding for such contracts shall be for the purpose of enhancing 887 | |
| 1081 | + | program quality. All contracts entered into under this section shall be 888 | |
| 1082 | + | funded within the limits of available appropriations or otherwise from 889 | |
| 1083 | + | federal funds and private donations. All Head Start programs funded 890 | |
| 1084 | + | pursuant to this section shall be in compliance with federal Head Start 891 | |
| 1085 | + | program performance standards. 892 | |
| 1086 | + | (b) The Commissioner may, within available appropriations, allocate 893 | |
| 1087 | + | funds pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to Head Start on Housing 894 | |
| 1088 | + | in a manner consistent with the objectives of such funds. 895 | |
| 1089 | + | Sec. 20. Subsection (a) of section 10-500 of the general statutes is 896 | |
| 1090 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 897 | |
| 1091 | + | 2025): 898 | |
| 1092 | + | (a) There is established an Office of Early Childhood. The office shall 899 | |
| 1093 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 1094 | + | ||
| 1095 | + | ||
| 1096 | + | ||
| 1097 | + | LCO No. 4034 30 of 31 | |
| 1098 | + | ||
| 1099 | + | be under the direction of the Commissioner of Early Childhood, whose 900 | |
| 1100 | + | appointment shall be made by the Governor. Such appointment shall be 901 | |
| 1101 | + | in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive. The 902 | |
| 1102 | + | commissioner shall be responsible for implementing the policies and 903 | |
| 1103 | + | directives of the office. The commissioner shall have the authority to 904 | |
| 1104 | + | designate any employee as his or her agent to exercise all or part of the 905 | |
| 1105 | + | authority, powers and duties of the commissioner in his or her absence. 906 | |
| 1106 | + | [Said office shall be within the Department of Education for 907 | |
| 1107 | + | administrative purposes only.] 908 | |
| 1108 | + | Sec. 21. (Effective July 1, 2025) Sections 7-127d to 7-127g, inclusive, of 909 | |
| 1109 | + | the general statutes are repealed. 910 | |
| 400 | 1110 | This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following | |
| 401 | 1111 | sections: | |
| 402 | 1112 | ||
| 403 | - | Section 1 July 1, 2025 | |
| 404 | - | Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 10- | |
| 405 | - | Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 10- | |
| 406 | - | Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 10- | |
| 407 | - | Sec. 5 July 1, | |
| 408 | - | Sec. 6 July 1, | |
| 409 | - | Sec. 7 July 1, | |
| 1113 | + | Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section | |
| 1114 | + | Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 10-71(d) | |
| 1115 | + | Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 10-217a(i) | |
| 1116 | + | Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 10-266m(a)(4) | |
| 1117 | + | Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 10-66j(e) | |
| 1118 | + | Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 10-262i(c) | |
| 1119 | + | Sec. 7 July 1, 2026 New section | |
| 410 | 1120 | Sec. 8 July 1, 2026 New section | |
| 411 | - | Sec. 9 from passage 10-183t | |
| 412 | - | Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 PA 24-78, Sec. 32 | |
| 413 | - | Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 10-500(a) | |
| 1121 | + | Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 10-252a(b) to (d) | |
| 1122 | + | Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 10-264l(c)(1) | |
| 1123 | + | Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 10-264l(j) to (m) | |
| 1124 | + | Sec. 12 July 1, 2025 10-264o | |
| 1125 | + | Sec. 13 July 1, 2025 10-65(a) and (b) | |
| 1126 | + | Sec. 14 July 1, 2025 10-221w | |
| 1127 | + | Sec. 15 July 1, 2025 New section | |
| 1128 | + | Sec. 16 July 1, 2026 New section | |
| 1129 | + | Sec. 17 July 1, 2026 17a-248g | |
| 1130 | + | Sec. 18 from passage 10-183t | |
| 1131 | + | Sec. 19 July 1, 2025 PA 24-78, Sec. 32 | |
| 1132 | + | Sec. 20 July 1, 2025 10-500(a) | |
| 1133 | + | Sec. 21 July 1, 2025 Repealer section | |
| 414 | 1134 | ||
| 415 | - | ED Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP | |
| 1135 | + | Governor’s Bill No. 6866 | |
| 1136 | + | ||
| 1137 | + | ||
| 1138 | + | ||
| 1139 | + | LCO No. 4034 31 of 31 | |
| 1140 | + | ||
| 1141 | + | Statement of Purpose: | |
| 1142 | + | To implement the Governor's budget recommendations. | |
| 1143 | + | ||
| 1144 | + | [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except | |
| 1145 | + | that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not | |
| 1146 | + | underlined.] | |
| 416 | 1147 |