Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07076 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
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3		-	LCO 1 of 9
	3	+	LCO No. 5441 1 of 9
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5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7076
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7076
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 5441
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(ED)
8	15
9	16
10	17
11	18
12	19		AN ACT PROVIDING EDUCATION MANDATE RELIEF.
13	20		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	21		Assembly convened:
15	22
16	23		Section 1. Section 10-15c of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
17		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, ~~2026~~): 2
	24	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 2
18	25		(a) The public schools shall be open to all children five years of age 3
19	26		and over who reach age five on or before the first day of September of 4
20	27		any school year, and each such child shall have, and shall be so advised 5
21	28		by the appropriate school authorities, an equal opportunity to 6
22	29		participate in the activities, programs and courses of study offered in 7
23	30		such public schools, at such time as the child becomes eligible to 8
24	31		participate in such activities, programs and courses of study, without 9
25	32		discrimination on account of race, as defined in section 46a-51, color, 10
26	33		sex, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, sexual 11
27	34		orientation or disability; provided a child who has not reached the age 12
28	35		of five on or before the first day of September of the school year may be 13
29	36		admitted if the local or regional board of education adopts an early 14
30	37		admission policy that permits such child to be admitted (1) upon a 15
31	38		written request by the parent or guardian of such child to the principal 16
	39	+	Raised Bill No. 7076
	40	+
	41	+
	42	+
	43	+	LCO No. 5441 2 of 9
	44	+
32	45		of the school in which such child would be enrolled, and (2) following 17
33	46		an assessment of such child, conducted by such principal and an 18
34		-	appropriate certified staff member of the school, to ensure that 19 Substitute Bill No. 7076
35		-
36		-
37		-	LCO 2 of 9
38		-
	47	+	appropriate certified staff member of the school, to ensure that 19
39	48		admitting such child is developmentally appropriate. 20
40	49		(b) Nothing in subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed to amend 21
41	50		other provisions of the general statutes with respect to curricula, 22
42	51		facilities or extracurricular activities. 23
43	52		Sec. 2. Subdivision (2) of section 10-76a of the general statutes is 24
44	53		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 25
45	54		2026): 26
46	55		(2) "Child" means any person twenty-two years of age or younger. 27
47	56		[or, for children requiring special education, until such child is 28
48	57		graduated from high school or at the end of the school year during 29
49	58		which such child reaches age twenty-two, whichever occurs first.] 30
50	59		Sec. 3. Subparagraph (C) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 31
51	60		10-76d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is 32
52	61		substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 33
53	62		(C) Not later than the planning and placement team meeting that 34
54	63		occurs approximately two years prior to a child's anticipated graduation 35
55	64		from high school or the end of the school year in which a child will reach 36
56	65		[twenty-two] twenty-one years of age, whichever is expected to occur 37
57	66		first based on such child's individualized education program, the 38
58	67		planning and placement team shall (i) upon the approval of the parent 39
59	68		or guardian of such child, or a surrogate parent of such child appointed 40
60	69		pursuant to section 10-94g or such child if such child is an emancipated 41
61	70		minor or eighteen years of age or older, (I) notify any state agency that 42
62	71		provides a program for adults for which such child may be eligible 43
63	72		about the potential eligibility of such child, (II) invite a representative 44
64	73		from each such agency to attend the planning and placement team 45
65	74		meeting for the purpose of establishing contact with and counseling the 46
66	75		parent, guardian, surrogate parent or child on the process for the 47
	76	+	Raised Bill No. 7076
	77	+
	78	+
	79	+
	80	+	LCO No. 5441 3 of 9
	81	+
67	82		anticipated transfer of services upon such child graduating from high 48
68	83		school or upon [the end of the school year in which] such child [reaches] 49
69	84		reaching twenty-two years of age, whichever is sooner, and (III) permit 50
70		-	and facilitate contact and coordination between each such agency and 51 Substitute Bill No. 7076
71		-
72		-
73		-	LCO 3 of 9
74		-
	85	+	and facilitate contact and coordination between each such agency and 51
75	86		such parent, guardian, surrogate parent or child for the purpose of 52
76	87		easing the process for the transfer of services, (ii) provide such parent, 53
77	88		guardian, surrogate parent or child a listing of each program for adults 54
78	89		for which such child may be eligible that includes, but is not limited to, 55
79	90		(I) a plain language description of such program, (II) eligibility 56
80	91		requirements for such program, and (III) deadlines and instructions for 57
81	92		applications to such programs, and (iii) assist such parent, guardian, 58
82	93		surrogate parent or child in completing an application to any such 59
83	94		programs. 60
84	95		Sec. 4. Subsection (b) of section 10-76d of the general statutes is 61
85	96		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 62
86	97		2026): 63
87	98		(b) In accordance with the regulations of the State Board of Education, 64
88	99		each local and regional board of education shall: (1) Provide special 65
89	100		education for school-age children requiring special education who are 66
90	101		described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (5) of section 10-76a. The 67
91	102		obligation of the school district under this subsection shall terminate 68
92	103		when such child is graduated from high school or [at the end of the 69
93	104		school year during which] upon such child [reaches] reaching age 70
94	105		twenty-two, whichever occurs first; and (2) provide special education 71
95	106		for children requiring special education who are described in 72
96	107		subparagraph (A) or (C) of subdivision (5) of section 10-76a. The State 73
97	108		Board of Education shall define the criteria by which each local or 74
98	109		regional board of education shall determine whether a given child is 75
99	110		eligible for special education pursuant to this subdivision, and such 76
100	111		determination shall be made by the board of education when requested 77
101	112		by a parent or guardian, or upon referral by a physician, clinic or social 78
102	113		worker, provided the parent or guardian so permits. To meet its 79
103	114		obligations under this subdivision, each local or regional board of 80
	115	+	Raised Bill No. 7076
	116	+
	117	+
	118	+
	119	+	LCO No. 5441 4 of 9
	120	+
104	121		education may, with the approval of the State Board of Education, make 81
105	122		agreements with any private school, agency or institution to provide the 82
106	123		necessary preschool special education program, provided such private 83
107	124		facility has an existing program which adequately meets the special 84
108		-	education needs, according to standards established by the State Board 85 Substitute Bill No. 7076
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110		-
111		-	LCO 4 of 9
112		-
	125	+	education needs, according to standards established by the State Board 85
113	126		of Education, of the preschool children for whom such local or regional 86
114	127		board of education is required to provide such an education and 87
115	128		provided such district does not have such an existing program in its 88
116	129		public schools. Such private school, agency or institution may be a 89
117	130		facility which has not been approved by the Commissioner of Education 90
118	131		for special education, provided such private facility is approved by the 91
119	132		commissioner as an independent school or licensed by the Office of 92
120	133		Early Childhood as a child care center, group child care home or family 93
121	134		child care home, as described in section 19a-77, or be both approved and 94
122	135		licensed. The State Board of Education shall adopt or update 95
123	136		regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions 96
124	137		of this subsection. 97
125	138		Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 10-76ll of the general statutes is 98
126	139		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 99
127	140		2026): 100
128	141		(b) On or before July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall draft 101
129	142		a written bill of rights for parents of children receiving special education 102
130	143		services to guarantee that the rights of such parents and children are 103
131	144		adequately safeguarded and protected during the provision of special 104
132	145		education and related services until such children have graduated from 105
133	146		high school or [at the end of the school year during which] upon such 106
134	147		children [reach] reaching age twenty-two, whichever occurs first, under 107
135	148		this chapter. Such bill of rights shall inform parents of: (1) The right to 108
136	149		request consideration of the provision of transition services for a child 109
137	150		receiving special education services who is eighteen years of age until 110
138	151		such child has graduated from high school or [at the end of the school 111
139	152		year during which] upon such child [reaches] reaching age twenty-two, 112
140	153		whichever occurs first, (2) the right to receive transition resources and 113
	154	+	Raised Bill No. 7076
	155	+
	156	+
	157	+
	158	+	LCO No. 5441 5 of 9
	159	+
141	160		materials from the department and the local or regional board of 114
142	161		education responsible for such child, (3) the requirement that the local 115
143	162		or regional board of education responsible for such child shall create a 116
144	163		student success plan for each student enrolled in a public school, 117
145	164		beginning in grade six, pursuant to subsection (k) of section 10-221a, 118
146		-	[and] (4) the right of such child to receive realistic and specific 119 Substitute Bill No. 7076
147		-
148		-
149		-	LCO 5 of 9
150		-
	165	+	[and] (4) the right of such child to receive realistic and specific 119
151	166		postgraduation goals as part of such child's individualized education 120
152	167		program, and (5) the right to an opportunity to establish contact with 121
153	168		and receive information about and assistance with applying for 122
154	169		programs provided by any state agency that provides services in 123
155	170		attaining the postgraduation goals in a child's individualized education 124
156	171		program, pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (9) of subsection 125
157	172		(a) of section 10-76d, as amended by this act. 126
158	173		Sec. 6. Section 10-95p of the general statutes is repealed and the 127
159	174		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 128
160	175		(a) There is established a division of postsecondary educational 129
161	176		programs within the Technical Education and Career System. The 130
162	177		division shall administer any postsecondary educational program that 131
163	178		(1) was offered at a technical education and career school during the 132
164	179		school year commencing July 1, 2016, or (2) is approved by the Technical 133
165	180		Education and Career System board. 134
166	181		(b) Any student admitted for enrollment in a postsecondary 135
167	182		educational program administered by the division shall have a high 136
168	183		school diploma or its equivalent, or have [completed the school year in 137
169		-	which such student reaches] reached twenty-two years of age if such 138
170		-	student was receiving special education and related services and did not 139
171		-	graduate from high school. 140
172		-	Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 10-253 of the general statutes is 141
173		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 142
174		-	2026): 143
175		-	(a) Children placed out by the Commissioner of Children and 144
176		-	Families or by other agencies or persons, including offices of a 145
177		-	government of a federally recognized Native American tribe, private 146
178		-	child-caring or child-placing agencies licensed by the Department of 147
179		-	Children and Families, and eligible residents of facilities operated by the 148
180		-	Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or by the 149
181		-	Department of Public Health who are eighteen to twenty-one years of 150
182		-	age or, for children requiring special education, when such child is 151 Substitute Bill No. 7076
	184	+	which such student reaches] reached twenty-two years of age. 138
	185	+	Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 10-253 of the general statutes is 139
	186	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 140
	187	+	2026): 141
	188	+	(a) Children placed out by the Commissioner of Children and 142
	189	+	Families or by other agencies or persons, including offices of a 143
	190	+	government of a federally recognized Native American tribe, private 144
	191	+	Raised Bill No. 7076
183	192
184	193
185		-	LCO 6 of 9
186	194
187		-	graduated from high school or [at the end of the school year during 152
188		-	which] upon such child [reaches] reaching age twenty-two, whichever 153
189		-	occurs first, shall be entitled to all free school privileges of the school 154
190		-	district where they then reside as a result of such placement, except as 155
191		-	provided in subdivision (4) of subsection (e) of section 10-76d. Except as 156
192		-	provided in subsection (d) of this section and subdivision (4) of 157
193		-	subsection (e) of section 10-76d, payment for such education shall be 158
194		-	made by the board of education of the school district under whose 159
195		-	jurisdiction such child would otherwise be attending school where such 160
196		-	a school district is identified. 161
197		-	Sec. 8. Subdivision (3) of subsection (h) of section 10-253 of the general 162
198		-	statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 163
199		-	(Effective July 1, 2026): 164
200		-	(3) In each district, the liaison shall assist the school district, the Court 165
201		-	Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch and any relevant 166
202		-	educational service providers in ensuring that: 167
203		-	(A) All persons twenty-two years of age or younger in justice system 168
204		-	custody are promptly evaluated for eligibility for special education 169
205		-	services to be provided until such child is graduated from high school 170
206		-	or [at the end of the school year during which] upon such child [reaches] 171
207		-	reaching age twenty-two, whichever occurs first, pursuant to section 172
208		-	17a-65 and any other applicable law; 173
209		-	(B) Students in justice system custody and returning to the 174
210		-	community from justice system custody are promptly enrolled in school 175
211		-	pursuant to this section and section 10-186; 176
212		-	(C) Students in justice system custody and returning to the 177
213		-	community from justice system custody receive appropriate credit for 178
214		-	school work completed in custody, pursuant to this section or section 179
215		-	10-220h; 180
216		-	(D) All relevant school records for students who enter justice system 181
217		-	custody and who return to the community from justice system custody 182 Substitute Bill No. 7076
	195	+	LCO No. 5441 6 of 9
	196	+
	197	+	child-caring or child-placing agencies licensed by the Department of 145
	198	+	Children and Families, and eligible residents of facilities operated by the 146
	199	+	Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or by the 147
	200	+	Department of Public Health who are eighteen to twenty-one years of 148
	201	+	age or, for children requiring special education, when such child is 149
	202	+	graduated from high school or [at the end of the school year during 150
	203	+	which] upon such child [reaches] reaching age twenty-two, whichever 151
	204	+	occurs first, shall be entitled to all free school privileges of the school 152
	205	+	district where they then reside as a result of such placement, except as 153
	206	+	provided in subdivision (4) of subsection (e) of section 10-76d. Except as 154
	207	+	provided in subsection (d) of this section and subdivision (4) of 155
	208	+	subsection (e) of section 10-76d, payment for such education shall be 156
	209	+	made by the board of education of the school district under whose 157
	210	+	jurisdiction such child would otherwise be attending school where such 158
	211	+	a school district is identified. 159
	212	+	Sec. 8. Subdivision (3) of subsection (h) of section 10-253 of the general 160
	213	+	statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 161
	214	+	(Effective July 1, 2026): 162
	215	+	(3) In each district, the liaison shall assist the school district, the Court 163
	216	+	Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch and any relevant 164
	217	+	educational service providers in ensuring that: 165
	218	+	(A) All persons twenty-two years of age or younger in justice system 166
	219	+	custody are promptly evaluated for eligibility for special education 167
	220	+	services to be provided until such child is graduated from high school 168
	221	+	or [at the end of the school year during which] upon such child [reaches] 169
	222	+	reaching age twenty-two, whichever occurs first, pursuant to section 170
	223	+	17a-65 and any other applicable law; 171
	224	+	(B) Students in justice system custody and returning to the 172
	225	+	community from justice system custody are promptly enrolled in school 173
	226	+	pursuant to this section and section 10-186; 174
	227	+	(C) Students in justice system custody and returning to the 175
	228	+	Raised Bill No. 7076
218	229
219	230
220		-	LCO 7 of 9
221	231
222		-	are promptly transferred to the appropriate school district or 183
223		-	educational service provider, pursuant to section 10-220h. 184
224		-	Sec. 9. Section 10-226b of the general statutes is repealed and the 185
225		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 186
226		-	(a) Whenever the State Board of Education finds that racial imbalance 187
227		-	exists in a public school, it shall notify in writing the board of education 188
228		-	having jurisdiction over said school that such finding has been made, 189
229		-	except the State Board of Education shall not notify a board of education 190
230		-	of such finding until July 1, [2025] 2029. 191
231		-	(b) As used in sections 10-226a to 10-226e, inclusive, "racial 192
232		-	imbalance" means a condition wherein the proportion of pupils of racial 193
233		-	minorities in all of the grades of a public school of the secondary level 194
234		-	or below taken together substantially exceeds or falls substantially short 195
235		-	of the proportion of such public school pupils in all of the same grades 196
236		-	of the school district in which said school is situated taken together. 197
237		-	Sec. 10. Section 10-226c of the general statutes is repealed and the 198
238		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 199
239		-	(a) Any board of education receiving notification of the existence of 200
240		-	racial imbalance as specified in section 10-226b, as amended by this act, 201
241		-	shall forthwith prepare a plan to correct such imbalance and file a copy 202
242		-	of said plan with the State Board of Education, except such board of 203
243		-	education shall not be required to prepare and file said plan until July 204
244		-	1, [2025] 2029. Said plan may be limited to addressing the imbalance 205
245		-	existing at any school and need not result in a district-wide plan or 206
246		-	district-wide pupil reassignment. A school district may request an 207
247		-	extension of time in cases in which the number of students causing said 208
248		-	imbalance is fewer than five students at a school. 209
249		-	(b) Any plan submitted by the board of education of any town under 210
250		-	sections 10-226a to 10-226e, inclusive, shall include any proposed 211
251		-	changes in existing school attendance districts, the location of proposed 212
252		-	school building sites as related to the problem, any proposed additions 213 Substitute Bill No. 7076
	232	+	LCO No. 5441 7 of 9
	233	+
	234	+	community from justice system custody receive appropriate credit for 176
	235	+	school work completed in custody, pursuant to this section or section 177
	236	+	10-220h; 178
	237	+	(D) All relevant school records for students who enter justice system 179
	238	+	custody and who return to the community from justice system custody 180
	239	+	are promptly transferred to the appropriate school district or 181
	240	+	educational service provider, pursuant to section 10-220h. 182
	241	+	Sec. 9. Section 10-226b of the general statutes is repealed and the 183
	242	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 184
	243	+	(a) Whenever the State Board of Education finds that racial imbalance 185
	244	+	exists in a public school, it shall notify in writing the board of education 186
	245	+	having jurisdiction over said school that such finding has been made, 187
	246	+	except the State Board of Education shall not notify a board of education 188
	247	+	of such finding until July 1, [2025] 2029. 189
	248	+	(b) As used in sections 10-226a to 10-226e, inclusive, "racial 190
	249	+	imbalance" means a condition wherein the proportion of pupils of racial 191
	250	+	minorities in all of the grades of a public school of the secondary level 192
	251	+	or below taken together substantially exceeds or falls substantially short 193
	252	+	of the proportion of such public school pupils in all of the same grades 194
	253	+	of the school district in which said school is situated taken together. 195
	254	+	Sec. 10. Section 10-226c of the general statutes is repealed and the 196
	255	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 197
	256	+	(a) Any board of education receiving notification of the existence of 198
	257	+	racial imbalance as specified in section 10-226b, as amended by this act, 199
	258	+	shall forthwith prepare a plan to correct such imbalance and file a copy 200
	259	+	of said plan with the State Board of Education, except such board of 201
	260	+	education shall not be required to prepare and file said plan until July 202
	261	+	1, [2025] 2029. Said plan may be limited to addressing the imbalance 203
	262	+	existing at any school and need not result in a district-wide plan or 204
	263	+	district-wide pupil reassignment. A school district may request an 205
	264	+	Raised Bill No. 7076
253	265
254	266
255		-	LCO 8 of 9
256	267
257		-	to existing school buildings and all other means proposed for the 214
258		-	correction of said racial imbalance. The plan shall include projections of 215
259		-	the expected racial composition of all public schools in the district. The 216
260		-	plan may include provision for cooperation with other school districts 217
261		-	to assist in the correction of racial imbalance. 218
262		-	Sec. 11. Section 10-226d of the general statutes is repealed and the 219
263		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 220
264		-	Upon receipt of any plan required under the provisions of subsection 221
265		-	(b) of section 10-226c, the State Board of Education shall review said 222
266		-	plan. If it determines that the plan is satisfactory, it shall approve the 223
267		-	plan and shall provide to the board of education such assistance and 224
268		-	services as may be available. The board of education shall submit annual 225
269		-	reports on the implementation of the approved plan, as the State Board 226
270		-	of Education may require. The State Board of Education shall not take 227
271		-	action on any plan received on or after July 1, 2024, until July 1, [2025] 228
272		-	2029. 229
273		-	Sec. 12. Section 10-234gg of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective 230
274		-	from passage) 231
	268	+	LCO No. 5441 8 of 9
	269	+
	270	+	extension of time in cases in which the number of students causing said 206
	271	+	imbalance is fewer than five students at a school. 207
	272	+	(b) Any plan submitted by the board of education of any town under 208
	273	+	sections 10-226a to 10-226e, inclusive, shall include any proposed 209
	274	+	changes in existing school attendance districts, the location of proposed 210
	275	+	school building sites as related to the problem, any proposed additions 211
	276	+	to existing school buildings and all other means proposed for the 212
	277	+	correction of said racial imbalance. The plan shall include projections of 213
	278	+	the expected racial composition of all public schools in the district. The 214
	279	+	plan may include provision for cooperation with other school districts 215
	280	+	to assist in the correction of racial imbalance. 216
	281	+	Sec. 11. Section 10-226d of the general statutes is repealed and the 217
	282	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 218
	283	+	Upon receipt of any plan required under the provisions of subsection 219
	284	+	(b) of section 10-226c, the State Board of Education shall review said 220
	285	+	plan. If it determines that the plan is satisfactory, it shall approve the 221
	286	+	plan and shall provide to the board of education such assistance and 222
	287	+	services as may be available. The board of education shall submit annual 223
	288	+	reports on the implementation of the approved plan, as the State Board 224
	289	+	of Education may require. The State Board of Education shall not take 225
	290	+	action on any plan received on or after July 1, 2024, until July 1, [2025] 226
	291	+	2029. 227
	292	+	Sec. 12. Section 10-234gg of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective 228
	293	+	from passage) 229
275	294		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
276	295		sections:
277	296
278		-	Section 1 July 1, ~~2026~~ 10-15c
	297	+	Section 1 July 1, 2025 10-15c
279	298		Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 10-76a(2)
280	299		Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 10-76d(a)(9)(C)
281	300		Sec. 4 July 1, 2026 10-76d(b)
282	301		Sec. 5 July 1, 2026 10-76ll(b)
	302	+	Raised Bill No. 7076
	303	+
	304	+
	305	+
	306	+	LCO No. 5441 9 of 9
	307	+
283	308		Sec. 6 July 1, 2026 10-95p
284	309		Sec. 7 July 1, 2026 10-253(a)
285	310		Sec. 8 July 1, 2026 10-253(h)(3)
286	311		Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 10-226b
287	312		Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 10-226c
288	313		Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 10-226d
289	314		Sec. 12 from passage Repealer section
290		-	Substitute Bill No. 7076
291	315
	316	+	Statement of Purpose:
	317	+	To provide local and regional boards of education relief from certain
	318	+	education mandates.
292	319
293		-	LCO 9 of 9
294		-
295		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
296		-	In Section 6(b), "if such student was receiving special education and
297		-	related services and did not graduate from high school" was added for
298		-	clarity.
299		-	ED Joint Favorable Subst.
	320	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	321	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	322	+	underlined.]
300	323