Connecticut House Bill HB05835

Connecticut 2011 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/11
• Refer: 1/24/11

Caption

An Act Concerning The School Building Project At Carrigan Middle School In West Haven.

Impact

This bill directly impacts state laws regarding school construction funding by providing flexibility in the prioritization of projects. Traditionally, regulations may prevent adding new projects once a priority list has been established. By overriding such provisions, HB 5835 seeks to facilitate necessary upgrades to school facilities that could significantly enhance energy efficiency, potentially lowering long-term operational costs for schools.

Summary

House Bill 5835 aims to amend the current regulations concerning the school construction priority list to include a specific project for Carrigan Middle School in West Haven. This project focuses on the installation of new energy-efficient windows, which is estimated to cost around one million dollars. By allowing this project to be added to the priority list, the bill enables the school to be eligible for state-funded grant commitments, assuming all necessary applications and requirements are met.

Contention

While proponents may view this bill as a necessary update to support schools in improving their infrastructure and reducing energy consumption, concerns could arise about prioritizing specific projects over others. Critics may argue that this could set a precedent for preferential treatment in the allocation of state funds for individual projects, which could lead to disparities based on local political influence or lobbying efforts. There could also be discussions around the effectiveness of energy-efficient retrofits versus the need for broader structural improvements in aging school facilities.