Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01286 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 4643 1 of 8
	3	+	LCO No. 4643 1 of 8
4	4
5	5		General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1286
6	6		January Session, 2025
7	7		LCO No. 4643
8	8
9	9
10	10		Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
11	11
12	12
13	13		Introduced by:
14	14		(ED)
	15	+
15	16
16	17
17	18
18	19		AN ACT CONCERNING THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONERS'
19	20		RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO THE
20	21		EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD STATUTES.
21	22		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
22	23		Assembly convened:
23	24
24	25		Section 1. Subsection (k) of section 10-145b of the general statutes is 1
25	26		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 2
26	27		passage): 3
27	28		(k) For the purposes of this section, "supervisory agent" means the 4
28	29		superintendent of schools or the principal, administrator or supervisor 5
29	30		designated by such superintendent to provide direct supervision to a 6
30	31		provisional certificate holder. 7
31	32		Sec. 2. Subsection (i) of section 10-265r of the general statutes is 8
32	33		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 9
33	34		passage): 10
34	35		(i) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, the 11
35	36		commissioner shall reconsider any application for a grant under this 12
36		-	section that was submitted by a local or regional board of education or 13 Raised Bill No. 1286
	37	+	section that was submitted by a local or regional board of education or 13
	38	+	Raised Bill No. 1286
37	39
38	40
39		-	LCO 4643 2 of 8
	41	+
	42	+	LCO No. 4643 2 of 8
40	43
41	44		regional educational service center prior to July 1, 2024, and which the 14
42	45		commissioner had denied. Such board or center shall not be required to 15
43	46		submit a new application for such reconsideration, unless the reason for 16
44	47		such denial was that such application was incomplete or the 17
45	48		commissioner determines that additional information or revision to 18
46	49		such application is necessary to be able to award a grant. The 19
47	50		commissioner shall provide technical assistance during such 20
48	51		reconsideration period to such boards and centers in order to assist such 21
49	52		boards and centers in being able to be awarded a grant under this 22
50	53		section. 23
51	54		Sec. 3. Subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 10-283 of the general 24
52	55		statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 25
53	56		(Effective from passage): 26
54	57		(2) All applications submitted prior to July first shall be reviewed 27
55	58		promptly by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. The 28
56	59		Commissioner of Administrative Services shall estimate the amount of 29
57	60		the grant for which such project is eligible, in accordance with the 30
58	61		provisions of section 10-285a, provided an application for a school 31
59	62		building project determined by the Commissioner of Education to be a 32
60	63		project that will assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the 33
61	64		decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation 34
62	65		or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, 35
63	66		shall have until September first to submit an application for such a 36
64	67		project and may have until December first of the same year to secure 37
65	68		and report all local and state approvals required to complete the grant 38
66	69		application. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall 39
67	70		annually prepare a listing of all such eligible school building projects 40
68	71		with the amount of the estimated grants for such projects and shall 41
69	72		submit the same to the Governor, the Secretary of the Office of Policy 42
70	73		and Management and the General Assembly on or before the fifteenth 43
71	74		day of December, except as provided in section 10-283a, with a request 44
72	75		for authorization to enter into grant commitments. On or before 45
73	76		December thirty-first annually, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 46
74		-	~~Management may submit comments and recommendations regarding 47~~ Raised Bill No. 1286
	77	+	Raised Bill No. 1286
75	78
76	79
77		-	LCO 4643 3 of 8
78	80
	81	+	LCO No. 4643 3 of 8
	82	+
	83	+	Management may submit comments and recommendations regarding 47
79	84		each eligible project on such listing of eligible school building projects 48
80	85		to the school construction committee, established pursuant to section 10-49
81	86		283a. Each such listing shall include a report on the following factors for 50
82	87		each eligible project: [(i)] (A) An enrollment projection and the capacity 51
83	88		of the school, including who conducted the enrollment projection for the 52
84	89		school and the cost of conducting such enrollment projection, [(ii)] (B) a 53
85	90		substantiation of the estimated total project costs, [(iii)] (C) the readiness 54
86	91		of such eligible project to begin construction, [(iv)] (D) efforts made by 55
87	92		the local or regional board of education to redistrict, reconfigure, merge 56
88	93		or close schools under the jurisdiction of such board prior to submitting 57
89	94		an application under this section, [(v)] (E) enrollment and capacity 58
90	95		information for all of the schools under the jurisdiction of such board 59
91	96		for the five years prior to application for a school building project grant, 60
92	97		[(vi)] (F) enrollment projections and capacity information for all of the 61
93	98		schools under the jurisdiction of such board for the eight years following 62
94	99		the date such application is submitted, including who conducted the 63
95	100		enrollment projection for the school and the cost of conducting such 64
96	101		enrollment projection, [(vii)] (G) the state's education priorities relating 65
97	102		to reducing racial and economic isolation for the school district, and 66
98	103		[(viii)] (H) an estimation of the total ineligible costs and an itemization 67
99	104		of such ineligible costs for such project. On and after July 1, 2022, each 68
100	105		such listing shall include an addendum that contains all grants 69
101	106		approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section during the prior 70
102	107		fiscal year. For the period beginning July 1, 2006, and ending June 30, 71
103	108		2012, no project may appear on the separate schedule of authorized 72
104	109		projects which have changed in cost more than twice. On and after July 73
105	110		1, 2012, no project, other than a project for a technical education and 74
106	111		career school, may appear on the separate schedule of authorized 75
107	112		projects which have changed in cost more than once, except the 76
108	113		Commissioner of Administrative Services may allow a project to appear 77
109	114		on such separate schedule of authorized projects a second time if the 78
110	115		town or regional school district for such project can demonstrate that 79
111	116		exigent circumstances require such project to appear a second time on 80
112		-	such separate schedule of authorized projects. Notwithstanding any 81
113		-	provision of this chapter, no projects which have changed in scope or 82 Raised Bill No. 1286
	117	+	Raised Bill No. 1286
114	118
115	119
116		-	LCO 4643 4 of 8
117	120
	121	+	LCO No. 4643 4 of 8
	122	+
	123	+	such separate schedule of authorized projects. Notwithstanding any 81
	124	+	provision of this chapter, no projects which have changed in scope or 82
118	125		cost to the degree determined by the Commissioner of Administrative 83
119	126		Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall be 84
120	127		eligible for reimbursement under this chapter unless it appears on such 85
121	128		list. The percentage determined pursuant to section 10-285a at the time 86
122	129		a school building project on such schedule was originally authorized 87
123	130		shall be used for purposes of the grant for such project. On and after July 88
124	131		1, 2006, a project that was not previously authorized as an interdistrict 89
125	132		magnet school shall not receive a higher percentage for reimbursement 90
126	133		than that determined pursuant to section 10-285a at the time a school 91
127	134		building project on such schedule was originally authorized. The 92
128	135		General Assembly shall annually authorize the Commissioner of 93
129	136		Administrative Services to enter into grant commitments on behalf of 94
130	137		the state in accordance with the commissioner's categorized listing for 95
131	138		such projects as the General Assembly shall determine. The 96
132	139		Commissioner of Administrative Services may not enter into any such 97
133	140		grant commitments except pursuant to such legislative authorization. 98
134	141		Any regional school district which assumes the responsibility for 99
135	142		completion of a public school building project shall be eligible for a 100
136	143		grant pursuant to subdivision (5) or (6), as the case may be, of subsection 101
137	144		(a) of section 10-286 when such project is completed and accepted by 102
138	145		such regional school district. 103
139	146		Sec. 4. Subsection (b) of section 10-283 of the general statutes is 104
140	147		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 105
141	148		passage): 106
142	149		(b) Notwithstanding the application date requirements of this 107
143	150		section, at any time within the limit of available grant authorization and 108
144	151		within the limit of appropriated funds, the Commissioner of 109
145	152		Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of 110
146	153		Education, may approve applications for grants and make payments for 111
147	154		such grants, for any of the following reasons: [(A)] (1) To assist school 112
148	155		building projects to remedy damage from fire and catastrophe, [(B)] (2) 113
	156	+	Raised Bill No. 1286
	157	+
	158	+
	159	+
	160	+	LCO No. 4643 5 of 8
	161	+
149	162		to correct safety, health and other code violations, [(C)] (3) to replace 114
150	163		roofs, including the replacement or installation of skylights as part of 115
151		-	the roof replacement project, [(D)] (4) to remedy a certified school 116 Raised Bill No. 1286
152		-
153		-
154		-	LCO 4643 5 of 8
155		-
	164	+	the roof replacement project, [(D)] (4) to remedy a certified school 116
156	165		indoor air quality emergency, [(E)] (5) to install insulation for exterior 117
157	166		walls and attics, or [(F)] (6) to purchase and install a limited use and 118
158	167		limited access elevator, windows, photovoltaic panels, wind generation 119
159	168		systems, building management systems or portable classroom 120
160	169		buildings, provided portable classroom building projects shall not 121
161	170		create a new facility or cause an existing facility to be modified so that 122
162	171		the portable buildings comprise a substantial percentage of the total 123
163	172		facility area, as determined by the commissioner. 124
164	173		Sec. 5. Subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of section 10-550g of the 125
165	174		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 126
166	175		thereof (Effective from passage): 127
167	176		(3) On and after July 1, 2030, sixty per cent of the designated qualified 128
168	177		staff members at each Office of Early Childhood funded child care 129
169	178		program shall be designated qualified staff members meeting one of the 130
170	179		criteria at the bachelor's degree level. If the Office of Early Childhood 131
171	180		funded early care and education program is a family child care home, 132
172	181		the designated qualified staff member for such family child care home 133
173	182		shall have achieved or be working toward an early childhood associate 134
174	183		degree or bachelor's degree. 135
175	184		Sec. 6. Subsection (d) of section 17a-101e of the general statutes is 136
176	185		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 137
177	186		passage): 138
178	187		(d) Any person who knowingly makes a false report of child abuse or 139
179	188		neglect pursuant to sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d, inclusive, and 17a-103 140
180	189		shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned not 141
181	190		more than one year, or both. 142
182	191		Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 17b-749 of the general statutes is 143
183	192		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 144
	193	+	Raised Bill No. 1286
	194	+
	195	+
	196	+
	197	+	LCO No. 4643 6 of 8
	198	+
184	199		passage): 145
185	200		(a) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish and operate 146
186		-	a child care subsidy program to increase the availability, affordability 147 Raised Bill No. 1286
187		-
188		-
189		-	LCO 4643 6 of 8
190		-
	201	+	a child care subsidy program to increase the availability, affordability 147
191	202		and quality of child care services for families with a parent or caretaker 148
192	203		who (1) is (A) working or attending high school, or (B) subject to the 149
193	204		provisions of subsection (d) of this section, is enrolled or participating 150
194	205		in (i) a public or independent institution of higher education, (ii) a 151
195	206		private career school authorized pursuant to sections 10a-22a to 10a-22o, 152
196	207		inclusive, (iii) a job training or employment program administered by a 153
197	208		regional workforce development board, (iv) an apprenticeship program 154
198	209		administered by the Labor Department's office of apprenticeship 155
199	210		training, (v) an alternate route to certification program approved by the 156
200	211		State Board of Education, (vi) an adult education program pursuant to 157
201	212		section 10-69 or other high school equivalency program, or (vii) a local 158
202	213		Even Start program or other adult education program approved by the 159
203	214		Commissioner of Early Childhood; (2) receives cash assistance under 160
204	215		the temporary family assistance program from the Department of Social 161
205	216		Services and is participating in an education, training or other job 162
206	217		preparation activity approved pursuant to subsection (b) of section 17b-163
207	218		688i or subsection (b) of section 17b-689d; or (3) is the parent or legal 164
208	219		guardian of a child who is enrolled in Medicaid. Services available 165
209	220		under the child care subsidy program shall include the provision of 166
210	221		child care subsidies for children under the age of thirteen or children 167
211	222		under the age of nineteen with special needs. The Commissioner of 168
212	223		Early Childhood may institute a protective service class in which the 169
213	224		commissioner may waive eligibility requirements for at -risk 170
214	225		populations that meet the guidelines prescribed by the commissioner, 171
215	226		and subject to review by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 172
216	227		Management. Such at-risk populations are (A) children placed in a 173
217	228		foster home by the Department of Children and Families and for whom 174
218	229		the parent or legal guardian receives foster care payments, (B) adopted 175
219	230		through the Department of Children and Families, (C) [who are] 176
220	231		homeless children and youths, as defined in 42 USC 11434a, as amended 177
	232	+	Raised Bill No. 1286
	233	+
	234	+
	235	+
	236	+	LCO No. 4643 7 of 8
	237	+
221	238		from time to time, and (D) under the care of a caregiver who is a 178
222	239		recipient of subsidies under the subsidized guardianship program 179
223	240		pursuant to section 17a-126. Any child described in subparagraph (B) of 180
224	241		this subdivision shall be eligible for a subsidy under this section for a 181
225		-	period not to exceed one year from the date of adoption and any child 182 Raised Bill No. 1286
226		-
227		-
228		-	LCO 4643 7 of 8
229		-
	242	+	period not to exceed one year from the date of adoption and any child 182
230	243		described in subparagraph (D) of this subdivision shall be eligible for a 183
231	244		subsidy under this section for a period not to exceed one year from the 184
232	245		date that such child is approved for a subsidy under this section. The 185
233	246		Office of Early Childhood shall open and maintain enrollment for the 186
234	247		child care subsidy program and shall administer such program within 187
235	248		the existing budgetary resources available. The office shall issue a notice 188
236	249		on the office's Internet web site any time the office closes the program to 189
237	250		new applications, changes eligibility requirements, changes program 190
238	251		benefits or makes any other change to the program's status or terms, 191
239	252		except the office shall not be required to issue such notice when the 192
240	253		office expands program eligibility. Any change in the office's acceptance 193
241	254		of new applications, eligibility requirements, program benefits, or any 194
242	255		other change to the program's status or terms for which the office is 195
243	256		required to give notice pursuant to this subsection, shall not be effective 196
244	257		until thirty days after the office issues such notice. 197
245	258		Sec. 8. Subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 22a-226e of the 198
246	259		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 199
247	260		thereof (Effective from passage): 200
248	261		(3) On and after January 1, 2022, each commercial food wholesaler or 201
249	262		distributor, industrial food manufacturer or processor, supermarket, 202
250	263		resort or conference center that is located not more than twenty miles 203
251	264		from either an authorized source-separated organic material 204
252	265		composting facility or an authorized transfer station, or any collection 205
253	266		location authorized to receive source-separated organic materials, and 206
254	267		that generates an average projected volume of not less than twenty-six 207
255	268		tons per year of source-separated organic materials shall: (A) Separate 208
256	269		such source-separated organic materials from other solid waste; and (B) 209
257	270		ensure that such source-separated organic materials are recycled at any 210
	271	+	Raised Bill No. 1286
	272	+
	273	+
	274	+
	275	+	LCO No. 4643 8 of 8
	276	+
258	277		authorized source-separated organic material composting facility that 211
259	278		has available capacity and that will accept such source-separated 212
260	279		organic material. 213
261	280		Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 19a-430 of the general statutes is 214
262		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 215 Raised Bill No. 1286
263		-
264		-
265		-	LCO 4643 8 of 8
266		-
	281	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 215
267	282		passage): 216
268	283		(d) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall schedule the first 217
269	284		meeting of the council, which shall be held not later than September 15, 218
270	285		2024. The members of the council shall elect the [chairpersons] 219
271	286		chairperson of the council from among the members of the council at 220
272	287		the first meeting of the council. 221
273	288		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
274	289		sections:
275	290
276	291		Section 1 from passage 10-145b(k)
277	292		Sec. 2 from passage 10-265r(i)
278	293		Sec. 3 from passage 10-283(a)(2)
279	294		Sec. 4 from passage 10-283(b)
280	295		Sec. 5 from passage 10-550g(d)(3)
281	296		Sec. 6 from passage 17a-101e(d)
282	297		Sec. 7 from passage 17b-749(a)
283	298		Sec. 8 from passage 22a-226e(a)(3)
284	299		Sec. 9 from passage 19a-430(d)
285	300
286		-	ED Joint Favorable
	301	+	Statement of Purpose:
	302	+	To make technical revisions to the education and early childhood
	303	+	statutes.
	304	+
	305	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	306	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	307	+	underlined.]
287	308