LCO No. 6286 1 of 19
General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7217
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 6286
Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
Introduced by:
(ED)
AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION
STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) For the fiscal year ending June 1
30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, during the preparation of the 2
itemized estimate of the cost of maintenance of public schools for the 3
ensuing year pursuant to section 10-222 of the general statutes, as 4
amended by this act, the superintendent of schools shall provide the 5
members of the local board of education the original amount and actual 6
amount of each line item for the two fiscal years immediately preceding 7
the fiscal year in which such itemized estimate is being prepared and 8
the original amount and current amount of each line item for the fiscal 9
year in which such itemized estimate being prepared. As used in this 10
section, "itemized estimate" means an estimate in which broad 11
budgetary categories including, but not limited to, salaries, fringe 12
benefits, utilities, supplies and grounds maintenance are divided into 13
one or more line items, "original amount" means the amount of a line 14
item that was appropriated to such line item at the start of the fiscal year, 15
and "actual amount" means the amount of a line item at the conclusion 16
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 2 of 19
of the fiscal year. 17
Sec. 2. Section 10-222 of the general statutes is repealed and the 18
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 19
Each local board of education shall prepare an itemized estimate of 20
the cost of maintenance of public schools for the ensuing year and shall 21
submit such estimate to the board of finance in each town or city having 22
a board of finance, to the board of selectmen in each town having no 23
board of finance or otherwise to the authority making appropriations 24
for the school district, not later than two months preceding the annual 25
meeting at which appropriations are to be made. Such estimate shall 26
include the original amount and actual amount of each line item for the 27
two fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which such 28
estimate is being prepared and the original amount and current amount 29
of each line item for the fiscal year in which such estimate is being 30
prepared. The board or authority that receives such estimate shall, not 31
later than ten days after the date the board of education submits such 32
estimate, make spending recommendations and suggestions to such 33
board of education as to how such board of education may consolidate 34
noneducational services and realize financial efficiencies. Such board of 35
education may accept or reject the suggestions of the board of finance, 36
board of selectmen or appropriating authority and shall provide the 37
board of finance, board of selectmen or appropriating authority with a 38
written explanation of the reason for any rejection. The money 39
appropriated by any municipality for the maintenance of public schools 40
shall be expended by and in the discretion of the board of education. 41
Except as provided in this subsection, any such board may transfer any 42
unexpended or uncontracted-for portion of any appropriation for 43
school purposes to any other item of such itemized estimate. Boards 44
may, by adopting policies and procedures, authorize designated 45
personnel to make limited transfers under emergency circumstances if 46
the urgent need for the transfer prevents the board from meeting in a 47
timely fashion to consider such transfer. All transfers made in such 48
instances shall be announced at the next regularly scheduled meeting of 49
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 3 of 19
the board and a written explanation of such transfer shall be provided 50
to the legislative body of the municipality or, in a municipality where 51
the legislative body is a town meeting, to the board of selectmen. 52
Expenditures by the board of education shall not exceed the 53
appropriation made by the municipality, with such money as may be 54
received from other sources for school purposes. If any occasion arises 55
whereby additional funds are needed by such board, the chairman of 56
such board shall notify the board of finance, board of selectmen or 57
appropriating authority, as the case may be, and shall submit a request 58
for additional funds in the same manner as is provided for departments, 59
boards or agencies of the municipality and no additional funds shall be 60
expended unless such supplemental appropriation shall be granted and 61
no supplemental expenditures shall be made in excess of those granted 62
through the appropriating authority. The annual report of the board of 63
education shall, in accordance with section 10-224, include a summary 64
showing (1) the total cost of the maintenance of schools, (2) the amount 65
received from the state and other sources for the maintenance of schools, 66
and (3) the net cost to the municipality of the maintenance of schools. 67
For purposes of this [subsection] section, "meeting" means a meeting, as 68
defined in section 1-200, [and] "itemized estimate" means an estimate in 69
which broad budgetary categories including, but not limited to, salaries, 70
fringe benefits, utilities, supplies and grounds maintenance are divided 71
into one or more line items, "original amount" means the amount of a 72
line item that was appropriated to such line item at the start of the fiscal 73
year, and "actual amount" means the amount of a line item at the 74
conclusion of the fiscal year. 75
Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 10-51 of the general statutes is 76
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 77
2025): 78
(a) The fiscal year of a regional school district shall be July first to June 79
thirtieth. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, not less than 80
two weeks before the annual meeting held pursuant to section 10-47, the 81
board shall hold a public district meeting to present a proposed budget 82
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 4 of 19
for the next fiscal year. Any public district meeting held pursuant to this 83
section may be accessible to the public by means of electronic equipment 84
or by means of electronic equipment in conjunction with an in-person 85
meeting, in accordance with the provisions of section 1-225a. Such 86
proposed budget shall include the original amount and actual amount 87
of each line item in the budget for the two fiscal years immediately 88
preceding the fiscal year in which such proposed budget is being 89
presented and the original amount and current amount of each line item 90
for the budget of the fiscal year in which such proposed budget is being 91
presented. Any person may recommend the inclusion or deletion of 92
expenditures at such time. After the public hearing, the board shall 93
prepare an annual budget for the next fiscal year, make available on 94
request copies thereof and deliver a reasonable number to the town 95
clerk of each of the towns in the district at least five days before the 96
annual meeting. At the annual meeting on the first Monday in May, the 97
board shall present a budget which includes a statement of (1) estimated 98
receipts and expenditures for the next fiscal year, (2) estimated receipts 99
and expenditures for the current fiscal year, (3) estimated surplus or 100
deficit in operating funds at the end of the current fiscal year, (4) bonded 101
or other debt, (5) estimated per pupil expenditure for the current and 102
for the next fiscal year, (6) the original amount and actual amount of 103
each line item in the budget for the two fiscal years immediately 104
preceding the fiscal year in which such budget is being presented and 105
the original amount and current amount of each line item for the budget 106
of the fiscal year in which such budget is being presented, and [(6)] (7) 107
such other information as is necessary in the opinion of the board. 108
Persons present and eligible to vote under section 7-6 may accept or 109
reject the proposed budget except as provided below. No person who is 110
eligible to vote in more than one town in the regional school district is 111
eligible to cast more than one vote on any issue considered at a regional 112
school district meeting or referendum held pursuant to this section. Any 113
person who violates this section by fraudulently casting more than one 114
vote or ballot per issue shall be fined not more than three thousand five 115
hundred dollars and shall be imprisoned not more than two years and 116
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 5 of 19
shall be disenfranchised. The regional board of education may, in the 117
call to the meeting, designate that the vote on the motion to adopt the 118
budget shall be by paper ballots at the district meeting held on the 119
budget or by a "yes" or "no" vote on the voting tabulators in each of the 120
member towns on the day following the district meeting. If submitted 121
to a vote by voting tabulator, questions may be included on the ballot 122
for persons voting "no" to indicate whether the budget is too high or too 123
low, provided the vote on such questions shall be for advisory purposes 124
only and not binding upon the board. Two hundred or more persons 125
qualified to vote in any regional district meeting called to adopt a 126
budget may petition the regional board, in writing, at least three days 127
prior to such meeting, requesting that any item or items on the call of 128
such meeting be submitted to the persons qualified to vote in the 129
meeting for a vote by paper ballot or on the voting tabulators in each of 130
the member towns on the day following the district meeting and in 131
accordance with the appropriate procedures provided in section 7-7. If 132
a majority of such persons voting reject the budget, the board shall, 133
within four weeks thereafter and upon notice of not less than one week, 134
call a district meeting to consider the same or an amended budget. Such 135
meetings shall be convened at such intervals until a budget is approved. 136
If the budget is not approved before the beginning of a fiscal year, the 137
disbursing officer for each member town, or the designee of such officer, 138
shall make necessary expenditures to such district in amounts equal to 139
the total of the town's appropriation to the district for the previous year 140
and the town's proportionate share in any increment in debt service over 141
the previous fiscal year, pursuant to section 7-405 until the budget is 142
approved. The town shall receive credit for such expenditures once the 143
budget is approved for the fiscal year. After the budget is approved, the 144
board shall estimate the share of the net expenses to be paid by each 145
member town in accordance with subsection (b) of this section and 146
notify the treasurer thereof. With respect to adoption of a budget for the 147
period from the organization of the board to the beginning of the first 148
full fiscal year, the board may use the above procedure at any time 149
within such period. If the board needs to submit a supplementary 150
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 6 of 19
budget, the general procedure specified in this section shall be used. As 151
used in this section, "original amount" means the amount of a line item 152
that was appropriated to such line item at the start of the fiscal year, and 153
"actual amount" means the amount of a line item at the conclusion of the 154
fiscal year. 155
Sec. 4. Subsection (d) of section 10-206 of the general statutes is 156
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 157
2025): 158
(d) The results of each assessment done pursuant to this section and 159
the results of screenings done pursuant to section 10-214, as amended 160
by this act, shall be recorded on forms supplied by the State Board of 161
Education. Each school nurse may reject such results submitted on 162
forms other than the forms supplied by the State Board of Education and 163
require the resubmission of such results on such forms supplied by the 164
State Board of Education. Such information shall be included in the 165
cumulative health record of each pupil and shall be kept on file in the 166
school such pupil attends. If a pupil permanently leaves the jurisdiction 167
of the board of education, the pupil's original cumulative health record 168
shall be sent to the chief administrative officer of the school district to 169
which such student moves. The board of education transmitting such 170
health record shall retain a true copy. Each physician, advanced practice 171
registered nurse, registered nurse, or physician assistant performing 172
health assessments and screenings pursuant to this section and section 173
10-214, as amended by this act, shall completely fill out and sign each 174
form and any recommendations concerning the pupil shall be in 175
writing. 176
Sec. 5. Section 10-233m of the general statutes is repealed and the 177
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 178
Each local or regional board of education that assigns a school 179
resource officer to any school under the jurisdiction of such board shall 180
enter into a memorandum of understanding with a local law 181
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 7 of 19
enforcement agency regarding the role and responsibility of such school 182
resource officer. [Such] Not later than January 1, 2026, such 183
memorandum of understanding shall (1) be maintained in a central 184
location in the school district and posted on the Internet web site of the 185
school district and each school in which such school resource officer is 186
assigned, (2) include provisions addressing daily interactions between 187
students and school personnel with school resource officers, and (3) 188
include a graduated response model for student discipline. Any such 189
memorandum of understanding entered into, extended, updated or 190
amended [(A)] on or after July 1, 2021, shall include a provision that 191
requires all school resource officers to complete, while in the 192
performance of their duties as school resource officers and during 193
periods when such school resource officers are assigned to be at the 194
school, any separate training specifically related to social-emotional 195
learning and restorative practices provided to certified employees of the 196
school pursuant to section 10-148a. [, and (B)] Any such memorandum 197
of understanding entered into, extended, updated or amended on or 198
after July 1, 2023, shall include provisions specifying a school resource 199
officer's duties concerning, and procedures for, the restraint of students, 200
use of firearms, school-based arrests and reporting of any investigations 201
and behavioral interventions of challenging behavior or conflict that 202
escalates to violence or constitutes a crime, pursuant to the provisions 203
of section 10-233p, provided such provisions are in accordance with any 204
laws or policies concerning the duties of police officers. Any such 205
memorandum of understanding entered into, extended, updated or 206
amended on or after July 1, 2025, shall include provisions specifying the 207
guidelines and means for communication between a school safety 208
committee and a school resource officer that include, but are not limited 209
to, mutual sharing of documentation of pre-violence indicators for the 210
intervention and prevention of violence in school. For the purposes of 211
this section, "school resource officer" means a sworn police officer of a 212
local law enforcement agency who has been assigned to a school 213
pursuant to an agreement between the local or regional board of 214
education and the chief of police of a local law enforcement agency. 215
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 8 of 19
Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 1-231 of the general statutes is 216
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 217
2025): 218
(a) At an executive session of a public agency, attendance shall be 219
limited to (1) members of [said] such body, [and] (2) in the case of a local 220
or regional board of education and upon invitation by such board, the 221
superintendent of schools in the superintendent's capacity as chief 222
executive officer of the board, and (3) persons invited by [said] such 223
body to present testimony or opinion pertinent to matters before [said] 224
such body, provided [that] such persons' attendance shall be limited to 225
the period for which their presence is necessary to present such 226
testimony or opinion and, provided further, [that] the minutes of such 227
executive session shall disclose all persons who are in attendance except 228
job applicants who attend for the purpose of being interviewed by such 229
agency. 230
Sec. 7. Subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 10-51 of the general 231
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 232
(Effective July 1, 2025): 233
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and each fiscal year 234
thereafter, a regional board of education, by a majority vote of its 235
members, may create a reserve fund for educational expenditures. Such 236
fund shall thereafter be termed "reserve fund for educational 237
expenditures". The aggregate amount of annual and supplemental 238
appropriations by a district to such fund shall not exceed two per cent 239
of the annual district budget for such fiscal year. Annual appropriations 240
to such fund shall be included in the share of net expenses to be paid by 241
each member town. Supplemental appropriations to such fund may be 242
made from estimated fiscal year end surplus in operating funds. Interest 243
and investment earnings received with respect to amounts held in the 244
fund shall be credited to such fund. The board shall annually submit a 245
complete and detailed report of the condition of such fund to the 246
member towns. Upon the recommendation and approval by the 247
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 9 of 19
regional board of education, any part or the whole of such fund may be 248
used for educational expenditures. Upon the approval of any such 249
expenditure an appropriation shall be set up, plainly designated for the 250
educational expenditure for which it has been authorized. Any 251
unexpended portion of such appropriation remaining shall revert to 252
[said] such fund. If any authorized appropriation is set up pursuant to 253
the provisions of this subsection and through unforeseen circumstances 254
the board is unable to expend the total amount of such appropriation, 255
the board, by a majority vote of its members, may terminate such 256
appropriation which then shall no longer be in effect. Such fund may be 257
discontinued, after the recommendation and approval by the regional 258
board of education, and any amounts held in the fund shall be 259
transferred to the general fund of the district. For the fiscal year ending 260
June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, a regional board of 261
education may deposit any funds previously appropriated to and 262
currently in a separate reserve fund for capital and nonrecurring 263
expenditures under the control of such board in the reserve fund for 264
educational expenditures. 265
Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 10-214 of the general statutes is 266
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 267
2025): 268
(a) Each local or regional board of education shall provide annually 269
to each pupil in kindergarten and grades one and three to five, inclusive, 270
a vision screening and may additionally provide such vision screening 271
annually to each pupil in preschool and grade two. Such vision 272
screening may be performed using a Snellen chart or an equivalent 273
screening device, or an automated vision screening device. The 274
superintendent of schools shall give written notice to the parent or 275
guardian of each pupil (1) who is found to have any defect of vision or 276
disease of the eyes, with a brief statement describing such defect or 277
disease and a recommendation for the pupil to be examined by an 278
optometrist licensed under chapter 380 or an ophthalmologist licensed 279
under chapter 370, and (2) who did not receive such vision screening, 280
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 10 of 19
with a brief statement explaining why such pupil did not receive such 281
vision screening. 282
Sec. 9. Subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-287 of the general 283
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 284
(Effective July 1, 2025): 285
(b) (1) All orders and contracts for school building construction 286
receiving state assistance under this chapter, except as provided in 287
subdivisions (2) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection, shall be awarded to 288
the lowest responsible qualified bidder only after a public invitation to 289
bid, except for (A) school building projects for which the town or 290
regional school district is using a state contract pursuant to subsection 291
(d) of section 10-292 or a cooperative purchasing contract offered 292
through a regional education service center, and (B) change orders, 293
those contracts or orders costing less than ten thousand dollars and 294
those of an emergency nature, as determined by the Commissioner of 295
Administrative Services, in which cases the contractor or vendor may be 296
selected by negotiation, provided no local fiscal regulations, ordinances 297
or charter provisions conflict. [Any of the qualified bidders under this 298
subdivision may be a cooperative purchasing contract offered through 299
a regional educational service center or a council of government.] 300
Sec. 10. Subsection (c) of section 10-266aa of the general statutes is 301
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 302
2025): 303
(c) The program shall be phased in as provided in this subsection. (1) 304
For the school year commencing in 1998, and for each school year 305
thereafter, the program shall be in operation in the Hartford, New 306
Haven and Bridgeport regions. The Hartford program shall operate as 307
a continuation of the program described in section 10-266j. Students 308
who reside in Hartford, New Haven or Bridgeport may attend school in 309
another school district in the region and students who reside in such 310
other school districts may attend school in Hartford, New Haven or 311
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 11 of 19
Bridgeport, provided, beginning with the 2001-2002 school year, the 312
proportion of students who are not minority students to the total 313
number of students leaving Hartford, Bridgeport or New Haven to 314
participate in the program shall not be greater than the proportion of 315
students who were not minority students in the prior school year to the 316
total number of students enrolled in Hartford, Bridgeport or New 317
Haven in the prior school year. The regional educational service center 318
operating the program shall make program participation decisions in 319
accordance with the requirements of this subdivision. (2) For the school 320
year commencing in 2000, and for each school year thereafter, the 321
program shall be in operation in New London, provided beginning with 322
the 2001-2002 school year, the proportion of students who are not 323
minority students to the total number of students leaving New London 324
to participate in the program shall not be greater than the proportion of 325
students who were not minority students in the prior year to the total 326
number of students enrolled in New London in the prior school year. 327
The regional educational service center operating the program shall 328
make program participation decisions in accordance with this 329
subdivision. (3) The Department of Education may provide, within 330
available appropriations, grants for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, 331
to the remaining regional educational service centers to assist school 332
districts in planning for a voluntary program of student enrollment in 333
every priority school district, pursuant to section 10-266p, which is 334
interested in participating in accordance with this subdivision. For the 335
school year commencing in 2003, and for each school year thereafter, the 336
voluntary enrollment program may be in operation in every priority 337
school district in the state. Students from other school districts in the 338
area of a priority school district, as determined by the regional 339
educational service center pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, may 340
attend school in the priority school district, provided such students 341
bring racial, ethnic and economic diversity to the priority school district 342
and do not increase the racial, ethnic and economic isolation in the 343
priority school district. (4) For the school year commencing July 1, 2024, 344
and each school year thereafter, there shall be a pilot program in 345
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 12 of 19
operation in Danbury and Norwalk. The pilot program shall serve (A) 346
up to fifty students who reside in Danbury, and such students may 347
attend school in the school districts for the towns of New Fairfield, 348
Brookfield, Bethel, Ridgefield and Redding, and (B) up to fifty students 349
who (i) reside in Norwalk, and such students may attend school in the 350
school districts for the towns of Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Weston 351
and Westport, and (ii) reside in Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Weston 352
and Westport, and such students may attend school in the school district 353
for the town of Norwalk. School districts which receive students under 354
this subdivision as part of the pilot program shall allow such students 355
to attend school in the district until they graduate from high school. (5) 356
For the school year commencing July 1, 2022, and each school year 357
thereafter, the town of Guilford shall be eligible to participate in the 358
program as a receiving district and a sending district with New Haven. 359
(6) For the school year commencing July 1, 2025, and each school year 360
thereafter, the town of Madison shall be eligible to participate in the 361
program as a receiving district and a sending district with New Haven. 362
Sec. 11. Section 10-153b of the general statutes is amended by adding 363
subsection (g) as follows (Effective July 1, 2025): 364
(NEW) (g) For any negotiation with respect to salaries, hours and 365
other conditions of employment with an organization which has been 366
designated or elected the exclusive representative of a unit defined in 367
this section occurring on or after July 1, 2025, at least one member of the 368
local or regional board of education which employs such unit shall be 369
present for such negotiations. 370
Sec. 12. Section 10-206 of the general statutes is repealed and the 371
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 372
(a) Each local or regional board of education shall require each pupil 373
enrolled in the public schools to have health assessments pursuant to 374
the provisions of this section. Such assessments shall be conducted by 375
(1) a legally qualified practitioner of medicine, (2) an advanced practice 376
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 13 of 19
registered nurse or registered nurse, licensed pursuant to chapter 378, 377
(3) a physician assistant, licensed pursuant to chapter 370, (4) a school 378
medical advisor, or (5) a legally qualified practitioner of medicine, an 379
advanced practice registered nurse or a physician assistant stationed at 380
any military base, to ascertain whether such pupil is suffering from any 381
physical disability tending to prevent such pupil from receiving the full 382
benefit of school work and to ascertain whether such school work 383
should be modified in order to prevent injury to the pupil or to secure 384
for the pupil a suitable program of education. No health assessment 385
shall be made of any [child] pupil enrolled in the public schools unless 386
such examination is made in the presence of the parent or guardian or 387
in the presence of another school employee. The parent or guardian of 388
such [child] pupil shall receive prior written notice and shall have a 389
reasonable opportunity to be present at such assessment or to provide 390
for such assessment himself or herself. A local or regional board of 391
education may deny continued attendance in public school to any 392
[child] pupil who fails to obtain the health assessments required under 393
this section. 394
(b) Each local or regional board of education shall require each [child] 395
pupil to have a health assessment prior to public school enrollment. The 396
assessment shall include: (1) A physical examination which shall 397
include hematocrit or hemoglobin tests, height, weight, blood pressure, 398
a medical risk assessment for lead poisoning and, when indicated by 399
such assessment, a test of the [child's] pupil's blood lead level, and, 400
beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, a chronic disease assessment 401
which shall include, but not be limited to, asthma. The assessment form 402
shall include (A) a check box for the provider conducting the 403
assessment, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, to indicate an 404
asthma diagnosis, (B) screening questions relating to appropriate public 405
health concerns to be answered by the parent or guardian, and (C) 406
screening questions to be answered by such provider; (2) an updating 407
of immunizations as required under section 10-204a, provided a 408
registered nurse may only update said immunizations pursuant to a 409
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 14 of 19
written order by a physician or physician assistant, licensed pursuant to 410
chapter 370, or an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed pursuant 411
to chapter 378; (3) vision, hearing, speech and gross dental screenings; 412
and (4) such other information, including health and developmental 413
history, as the physician feels is necessary and appropriate. The 414
assessment shall also include tests for tuberculosis, sickle cell anemia 415
and Cooley's anemia where the local or regional board of education 416
determines after consultation with the school medical advisor and the 417
local health department, or in the case of a regional board of education, 418
each local health department, that such tests are necessary, provided a 419
registered nurse may only perform said tests pursuant to the written 420
order of a physician or physician assistant, licensed pursuant to chapter 421
370, or an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed pursuant to 422
chapter 378. 423
(c) Each local or regional board of education shall require each pupil 424
enrolled in the public schools to have health assessments in either grade 425
six or grade seven and in either grade nine or grade ten. The assessment 426
shall include: (1) A physical examination which shall include hematocrit 427
or hemoglobin tests, height, weight, blood pressure, and, beginning 428
with the 2003-2004 school year, a chronic disease assessment which shall 429
include, but not be limited to, asthma as defined by the Commissioner 430
of Public Health pursuant to subsection (c) of section 19a-62a. The 431
assessment form shall include (A) a check box for the provider 432
conducting the assessment, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, 433
to indicate an asthma diagnosis, (B) screening questions relating to 434
appropriate public health concerns to be answered by the parent or 435
guardian, and (C) screening questions to be answered by such provider; 436
(2) an updating of immunizations as required under section 10-204a, 437
provided a registered nurse may only update said immunizations 438
pursuant to a written order of a physician or physician assistant, 439
licensed pursuant to chapter 370, or an advanced practice registered 440
nurse, licensed pursuant to chapter 378; (3) vision, hearing, postural and 441
gross dental screenings; and (4) such other information including a 442
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 15 of 19
health history as the physician feels is necessary and appropriate. The 443
assessment shall also include tests for tuberculosis and sickle cell 444
anemia or Cooley's anemia where the local or regional board of 445
education, in consultation with the school medical advisor and the local 446
health department, or in the case of a regional board of education, each 447
local health department, determines that said screening or test is 448
necessary, provided a registered nurse may only perform said tests 449
pursuant to the written order of a physician or physician assistant, 450
licensed pursuant to chapter 370, or an advanced practice registered 451
nurse, licensed pursuant to chapter 378. 452
(d) The results of each assessment done pursuant to this section and 453
the results of screenings done pursuant to section 10-214, as amended 454
by this act, shall be recorded on forms supplied by the State Board of 455
Education. An asthma action plan shall be included with the assessment 456
form of each pupil that indicates an asthma diagnosis pursuant to 457
subsections (b) and (c) of this section. Such information shall be included 458
in the cumulative health record of each pupil and shall be kept on file in 459
the school such pupil attends. If a pupil permanently leaves the 460
jurisdiction of the board of education, the pupil's original cumulative 461
health record shall be sent to the chief administrative officer of the 462
school district to which such student moves. The board of education 463
transmitting such health record shall retain a true copy. Each physician, 464
advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, or physician 465
assistant performing health assessments and screenings pursuant to this 466
section and section 10-214, as amended by this act, shall completely fill 467
out and sign each form and any recommendations concerning the pupil 468
shall be in writing. 469
(e) Appropriate school health personnel shall review the results of 470
each assessment and screening as recorded pursuant to subsection (d) 471
of this section. When, in the judgment of such health personnel, a pupil, 472
as defined in section 10-206a, is in need of further testing or treatment, 473
the superintendent of schools shall give written notice to the parent or 474
guardian of such pupil and shall make reasonable efforts to assure that 475
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 16 of 19
such further testing or treatment is provided. Such reasonable efforts 476
shall include a determination of whether or not the parent or guardian 477
has obtained the necessary testing or treatment for the pupil, and, if not, 478
advising the parent or guardian on how such testing or treatment may 479
be obtained. The results of such further testing or treatment shall be 480
recorded pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, and shall be 481
reviewed by school health personnel pursuant to this subsection. 482
(f) On and after October 1, 2017, each local or regional board of 483
education shall report to the local health department and the 484
Department of Public Health, on an triennial basis, the total number of 485
pupils per school and per school district having a diagnosis of asthma 486
(1) at the time of public school enrollment, (2) in grade six or seven, and 487
(3) in grade nine or ten. The report shall contain the asthma information 488
collected as required under subsections (b) and (c) of this section and 489
shall include pupil age, gender, race, ethnicity and school. Beginning on 490
October 1, 2021, and every three years thereafter, the Department of 491
Public Health shall review the asthma screening information reported 492
pursuant to this section and shall submit a report to the joint standing 493
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 494
relating to public health and education concerning asthma trends and 495
distributions among pupils enrolled in the public schools. The report 496
shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 497
and shall include, but not be limited to, (A) trends and findings based 498
on pupil age, gender, race, ethnicity, school and the education reference 499
group, as determined by the Department of Education for the town or 500
regional school district in which such school is located, and (B) activities 501
of the asthma screening monitoring system maintained under section 502
19a-62a. 503
Sec. 13. Subsection (g) of section 10-233c of the general statutes is 504
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 505
2025): 506
(g) On and after July 1, 2015, all suspensions pursuant to this section 507
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 17 of 19
shall be in-school suspensions, except a local or regional board of 508
education may authorize the administration of schools under its 509
direction to impose an out-of-school suspension on any pupil in (1) 510
grades three to twelve, inclusive, if, during the hearing held pursuant to 511
subsection (a) of this section, (A) the administration determines that the 512
pupil being suspended poses such a danger to persons or property or 513
such a disruption of the educational process that the pupil shall be 514
excluded from school during the period of suspension, or (B) the 515
administration determines that an out-of-school suspension is 516
appropriate for such pupil based on evidence of (i) previous disciplinary 517
problems that have led to suspensions or expulsion of such pupil, and 518
(ii) efforts by the administration to address such disciplinary problems 519
through means other than out-of-school suspension or expulsion, 520
including positive behavioral support strategies, or (2) grades preschool 521
to two, inclusive, if during the hearing held pursuant to subsection (a) 522
of this section, the administration (A) determines that an out-of-school 523
suspension is appropriate for such pupil based on evidence that such 524
pupil's conduct on school grounds is behavior that causes serious 525
physical harm, (B) requires that such pupil receives services that are 526
trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate and align with any 527
behavioral intervention plan, individualized education program or plan 528
pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 529
from time to time, for such pupil upon such pupil's return to school 530
immediately following the out-of-school suspension, and (C) [considers 531
whether to convene a planning and placement team meeting for the 532
purposes of conducting] conducts an evaluation pursuant to the 533
procedures set forth in section 10-76ff to determine whether such pupil 534
may require special education or related services. An out-of-school 535
suspension imposed under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not 536
exceed ten school days, and an out-of-school suspension imposed under 537
subdivision (2) of this subsection shall not exceed [five] two school days. 538
An in-school suspension may be served in the school that the pupil 539
attends, or in any school building under the jurisdiction of the local or 540
regional board of education, as determined by such board. Nothing in 541
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 18 of 19
this section shall limit a person's duty as a mandated reporter pursuant 542
to section 17-101a to report suspected child abuse or neglect. 543
Sec. 14. Subsection (d) of section 10-233d of the general statutes is 544
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 545
2025): 546
(d) No local or regional board of education is required to offer an 547
alternative educational opportunity, except in accordance with this 548
section. Any pupil under sixteen years of age who is expelled shall be 549
offered an alternative educational opportunity, which shall be (1) 550
alternative education, as defined by section 10-74j, with an 551
individualized learning plan, if such board provides such alternative 552
education, or (2) in accordance with the standards adopted by the State 553
Board of Education, pursuant to section 10-233o, during the period of 554
expulsion, provided any parent or guardian of such pupil who does not 555
choose to have such parent's or guardian's child enrolled in an 556
alternative educational opportunity shall not be subject to the 557
provisions of section 10-184. Any pupil expelled for the first time and 558
the second time, who is between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, and 559
who wishes to continue such pupil's education shall be offered such an 560
alternative educational opportunity if such pupil complies with 561
conditions established by such pupil's local or regional board of 562
education. Such alternative educational opportunity may include, but 563
shall not be limited to, the placement of a pupil who is at least seventeen 564
years of age in an adult education program pursuant to section 10-69. 565
Any pupil participating in any such adult education program during a 566
period of expulsion shall not be required to withdraw from school under 567
section 10-184. A local or regional board of education shall count the 568
expulsion of a pupil when the pupil was under sixteen years of age for 569
purposes of determining whether an alternative educational 570
opportunity is required for such pupil when such pupil is between the 571
ages of sixteen and eighteen. A local or regional board of education may 572
offer an alternative educational opportunity to a pupil for whom such 573
alternative educational opportunity is not required pursuant to this 574
Raised Bill No. 7217
LCO No. 6286 19 of 19
section. 575
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 10-222
Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 10-51(a)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 10-206(d)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 10-233m
Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 1-231(a)
Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 10-51(d)(2)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2025 10-214(a)
Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 10-287(b)(1)
Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 10-266aa(c)
Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 10-153b(g)
Sec. 12 July 1, 2025 10-206
Sec. 13 July 1, 2025 10-233c(g)
Sec. 14 July 1, 2025 10-233d(d)
Statement of Purpose:
To make various revisions to the education statutes, including, but not
limited to, statutes concerning board of education budgets, accounts,
meetings and employment negotiations, health assessments and related
forms, school resource officers, open choice, out-of-school suspensions
and expulsions.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]