Bill Text: CT HB06385 | 2011 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An Act Implementing The Budget Recommendations Of The Governor Concerning Education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-01 - Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Appropriations [HB06385 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2011-HB06385-Introduced.html
General Assembly |
Governor's Bill No. 6385 | ||
January Session, 2011 |
LCO No. 3559 | ||
*03559__________* | |||
Referred to Committee on Education |
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Introduced by: |
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REP. DONOVAN, 84th Dist. REP. SHARKEY, 88th Dist. SEN. WILLIAMS, 29th Dist. SEN. LOONEY, 11th Dist. |
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AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GOVERNOR CONCERNING EDUCATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 10-217a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2008, to June 30, [2011] 2013, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for purposes of this section.
Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 10-281 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, [2011] 2013, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for purposes of this section.
Sec. 3. Subsection (d) of section 10-71 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, [2011] 2013, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to towns, regional boards of education or regional educational service centers in accordance with this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this section for such year.
Sec. 4. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 10-266m of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, [2011] 2013, inclusive, the amount of transportation grants payable to local or regional boards of education shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for such grants for such year.
Sec. 5. Section 10-17g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
Annually, the board of education for each local and regional school district that is required to provide a program of bilingual education, pursuant to section 10-17f, may make application to the State Board of Education and shall thereafter receive a grant in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying the total appropriation available for such purpose by the ratio which the number of eligible children in the school district bears to the total number of such eligible children state-wide. The board of education for each local and regional school district receiving funds pursuant to this section shall annually, on or before September first, submit to the State Board of Education a progress report which shall include (1) measures of increased educational opportunities for eligible students, including language support services and language transition support services provided to such students, (2) program evaluation and measures of the effectiveness of its bilingual education and English as a second language programs, including data on students in bilingual education programs and students educated exclusively in English as a second language programs, and (3) certification by the board of education submitting the report that any funds received pursuant to this section have been used for the purposes specified. The State Board of Education shall annually evaluate programs conducted pursuant to section 10-17f. For purposes of this section, measures of the effectiveness of bilingual education and English as a second language programs include state-wide mastery examination results and graduation and school dropout rates. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2009, to June 30, [2011] 2013, inclusive, the amount of grants payable to local or regional boards of education under this section shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for such grants for such year.
Sec. 6. Subsection (f) of section 10-66j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, [2011] 2013, inclusive, the amount of grants payable to regional educational service centers shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for such grants for such year.
Sec. 7. Subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection (e) of section 10-76d of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, "public agency" includes the offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the general statutes, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1987, and each fiscal year thereafter, whenever a public agency, other than a local or regional board of education, the State Board of Education or the Superior Court acting pursuant to section 10-76h, places a child in a foster home, group home, hospital, state institution, receiving home, custodial institution or any other residential or day treatment facility, and such child requires special education, the local or regional board of education under whose jurisdiction the child would otherwise be attending school or, if no such board can be identified, the local or regional board of education of the town where the child is placed, shall provide the requisite special education and related services to such child in accordance with the provisions of this section. Within one business day of such a placement by the Department of Children and Families or offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe, said department or offices shall orally notify the local or regional board of education responsible for providing special education and related services to such child of such placement. The department or offices shall provide written notification to such board of such placement within two business days of the placement. Such local or regional board of education shall convene a planning and placement team meeting for such child within thirty days of the placement and shall invite a representative of the Department of Children and Families or offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe to participate in such meeting. (A) The local or regional board of education under whose jurisdiction such child would otherwise be attending school shall be financially responsible for the reasonable costs of such special education and related services in an amount equal to the lesser of one hundred per cent of the costs of such education or the average per pupil educational costs of such board of education for the prior fiscal year, determined in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 10-76f. The State Board of Education shall pay on a current basis, except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, any costs in excess of such local or regional board's basic contributions paid by such board of education in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision. (B) Whenever a child is placed pursuant to this subdivision, on or after July 1, 1995, by the Department of Children and Families and the local or regional board of education under whose jurisdiction such child would otherwise be attending school cannot be identified, the local or regional board of education under whose jurisdiction the child attended school or in whose district the child resided at the time of removal from the home by said department shall be responsible for the reasonable costs of special education and related services provided to such child, for one calendar year or until the child is committed to the state pursuant to section 46b-129 or 46b-140 or is returned to the child's parent or guardian, whichever is earlier. If the child remains in such placement beyond one calendar year the Department of Children and Families shall be responsible for such costs. During the period the local or regional board of education is responsible for the reasonable cost of special education and related services pursuant to this subparagraph, the board shall be responsible for such costs in an amount equal to the lesser of one hundred per cent of the costs of such education and related services or the average per pupil educational costs of such board of education for the prior fiscal year, determined in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 10-76f. The State Board of Education shall pay on a current basis, except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, any costs in excess of such local or regional board's basic contributions paid by such board of education in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision. The costs for services other than educational shall be paid by the state agency which placed the child. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the school districts established within the Department of Children and Families, pursuant to section 17a-37, the Department of Correction, pursuant to section 18-99a, or the Department of Developmental Services, pursuant to section 17a-240, provided in any case in which special education is being provided at a private residential institution, including the residential components of regional educational service centers, to a child for whom no local or regional board of education can be found responsible under subsection (b) of this section, Unified School District #2 shall provide the special education and related services and be financially responsible for the reasonable costs of such special education instruction for such children. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2007, inclusive, and for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2010, [and] to June 30, [2011] 2013, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this subdivision shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this subdivision for such year.
(3) Payment for children who require special education and who reside on state-owned or leased property or in permanent family residences as defined in section 17a-154, and who are not the educational responsibility of the unified school districts established pursuant to section 17a-37, section 17a-240 or section 18-99a, shall be made in the following manner: The State Board of Education shall pay to the school district which is responsible for providing instruction for each such child pursuant to the provisions of this subsection one hundred per cent of the reasonable costs of such instruction. In the fiscal year following such payment, the State Board of Education shall deduct from the special education grant due the local or regional board of education under whose jurisdiction the child would otherwise be attending school, where such board has been identified, the amount for which such board would otherwise have been financially responsible pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection. No such deduction shall be made for any school district which is responsible for providing special education instruction for children whose parents or legal guardians do not reside within such district. The amount deducted shall be included as a net cost of special education by the Department of Education for purposes of the state's special education grant calculated pursuant to section 10-76g, as amended by this act. A school district otherwise eligible for reimbursement under the provisions of this subdivision for the costs of education of a child residing in a permanent family residence shall continue to be so eligible in the event that a person providing foster care in such residence adopts the child. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, and June 30, 2005, and for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2012, and June 30, 2013, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this subdivision shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this subdivision for such year.
Sec. 8. Subsection (d) of section 10-76g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2007, inclusive, and for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2010, [and] to June 30, [2011] 2013, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this section, except grants paid in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2007, and for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2010, [and] to June 30, [2011] 2013, inclusive, shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this section for such year.
Sec. 9. Subsection (b) of section 10-253 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(b) The board of education of the school district under whose jurisdiction a child would otherwise be attending school shall be financially responsible for the reasonable costs of education for a child placed out by the Commissioner of Children and Families or by other agencies, including, but not limited to, offices of a government of a federally recognized Native American tribe, in a private residential facility when such child requires educational services other than special education services. Such financial responsibility shall be the lesser of one hundred per cent of the costs of such education or the average per pupil educational costs of such board of education for the prior fiscal year, determined in accordance with subsection (a) of section 10-76f. Any costs in excess of the boards' basic contribution shall be paid by the State Board of Education on a current basis. The costs for services other than educational shall be paid by the state agency which placed the child. Application for the grant to be paid by the state for costs in excess of the local or regional board of education's basic contribution shall be made in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (5) of subsection (e) of section 10-76d. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2007, inclusive, and for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2010, [and] to June 30, [2011] 2013, inclusive, the amount of the grants payable to local or regional boards of education in accordance with this subsection shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this subsection for such year.
Sec. 10. (Effective July 1, 2011) The RESC Alliance shall study issues relating to the feasibility and implementation of regional school transportation services and a uniform school calendar. Not later than October 15, 2011, the RESC Alliance shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
Sec. 11. (Effective July 1, 2011) The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Services, shall develop a plan to integrate child day care services administered by the Department of Social Services offered as part of a school readiness program into the school readiness programs administered by the Department of Education. Such plan shall address program eligibility, slot rates and program requirements. Not later than July 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Education shall submit such plan, with any findings and recommendations, to the Governor.
Sec. 12. Subsection (g) of section 10-266aa of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(g) [The] (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the Department of Education shall provide, within available appropriations, an annual grant to the local or regional board of education for each receiving district in an amount not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars for each out-of-district student who attends school in the receiving district under the program.
(2) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2012, and June 30, 2013, the Department of Education shall provide, within available appropriations, an annual grant to the local and regional board of education for each receiving district in an amount determined by the Commissioner of Education based on the percentage of out-of-district students relative to the total student population of such receiving district.
(3) Each town which receives funds pursuant to this subsection shall make such funds available to its local or regional board of education in supplement to any other local appropriation, other state or federal grant or other revenue to which the local or regional board of education is entitled.
Sec. 13. Subsection (k) of section 10-266aa of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(k) On or before October fifteenth of each year, the Commissioner of Education shall determine if the enrollment in the program pursuant to subsection (c) of this section for the fiscal year is below the number of students for which funds were appropriated. If the commissioner determines that the enrollment is below such number, the additional funds shall not lapse but shall be used by the commissioner in accordance with this subsection.
(1) Any amount up to five hundred thousand dollars of such nonlapsing funds shall be used for supplemental grants to receiving districts on a pro rata basis for each out-of-district student in the program pursuant to subsection (c) of this section who attends the same school in the receiving district as at least nine other such out-of-district students, not to exceed one thousand dollars per student.
(2) Any amount equal to or greater than five hundred thousand dollars, and in an amount determined by the commissioner, of such nonlapsing funds shall be used for supplemental grants to receiving districts on a pro rata basis that report to the commissioner on or before March first of the current school year that the number of out-of-district students enrolled in such receiving district is greater than the number of out-of-district students enrolled in such receiving district from the previous school year.
(3) Any remaining nonlapsing funds, in an amount to be determined by the commissioner, shall be used by the commissioner to increase enrollment in the interdistrict public school attendant program described in this section.
[(2)] (4) Any remaining nonlapsing funds shall be used for interdistrict cooperative grants pursuant to section 10-74d, as amended by this act.
Sec. 14. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to study issues relating to the equalization aid grant formula set forth in section 10-262h of the general statutes and other means of state funding for education pursuant to chapter 172 of the general statutes.
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee;
(2) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; and
(3) Nine persons appointed by the Governor, (A) one of whom shall be a representative of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, (B) one of whom shall be a representative of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, (C) one of whom shall be a representative of the Connecticut Education Association, (D) one of whom shall be a representative of the American Federation of Teachers-Connecticut, (E) one of whom shall be the chief elected official of a municipality with a population of less than thirty thousand, (F) one of whom shall be the chief elected official of a municipality with a population equal to or greater than thirty thousand, but less than eighty thousand, (G) one of whom shall be the chief elected official of a municipality with a population equal to or greater than eighty thousand, and (H) two of whom shall be persons with financial expertise and experience relating to grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive.
(c) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.
(d) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, shall serve as the chairperson of the task force, from among the members of the task force. The chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section.
(e) Not later than January 1, 2012, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2012, whichever is later.
Sec. 15. Section 10-262i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, and for each fiscal year thereafter, each town shall be paid a grant equal to the amount the town is entitled to receive under the provisions of section 10-262h, as calculated using the data of record as of the December first prior to the fiscal year such grant is to be paid, adjusted for the difference between the final entitlement for the prior fiscal year and the preliminary entitlement for such fiscal year as calculated using the data of record as of the December first prior to the fiscal year when such grant was paid.
(b) The amount due each town pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be paid by the Comptroller, upon certification of the Commissioner of Education, to the treasurer of each town entitled to such aid in installments during the fiscal year as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the grant in October, twenty-five per cent of the grant in January and the balance of the grant in April. The balance of the grant due towns under the provisions of this subsection shall be paid in March rather than April to any town which has not adopted the uniform fiscal year and which would not otherwise receive such final payment within the fiscal year of such town.
(c) All aid distributed to a town pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be expended for educational purposes only and shall be expended upon the authorization of the local or regional board of education. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, and each fiscal year thereafter, if a town receives an increase in funds pursuant to this section over the amount it received for the prior fiscal year such increase shall not be used to supplant local funding for educational purposes. The budgeted appropriation for education in any town receiving an increase in funds pursuant to this section shall be not less than the amount appropriated for education for the prior year plus such increase in funds.
[(d) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2011, the budgeted appropriation for education shall be no less than the budgeted appropriation for education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, minus any reductions made pursuant to section 19 of public act 09-1 of the June 19 special session, except that for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, those districts whose number of resident students for the school year commencing July 1, 2009, is lower than such district's number of resident students for the school year commencing July 1, 2008, may reduce such district's budgeted appropriation for education by the difference in number of resident students for such school years multiplied by three thousand.]
[(e)] (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2008, and June 30, 2009, the budgeted appropriation for education in any town receiving an increase in funds pursuant to this section shall be not less than the amount appropriated for education for the prior year plus the percentage of such increase in funds as determined under subsection (f) of this section.
(e) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2011, the budgeted appropriation for education shall be no less than the budgeted appropriation for education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, minus any reductions made pursuant to section 19 of public act 09-1 of the June 19 special session, except that for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, those districts with a number of resident students for the school year commencing July 1, 2009, that is lower than such district's number of resident students for the school year commencing July 1, 2008, may reduce such district's budgeted appropriation for education by the difference in number of resident students for such school years multiplied by three thousand.
(f) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2012, and June 30, 2013, the budgeted appropriation for education shall be no less than the budgeted appropriation for education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.
[(f)] (g) (1) Except as provided for in subdivisions (2), (3) and (4) of this subsection, the percentage of the increase in aid pursuant to this section applicable under subsection [(e)] (d) of this section shall be the average of the results of (A) (i) a town's current program expenditures per resident student pursuant to subdivision (36) of section 10-262f, subtracted from the highest current program expenditures per resident student in this state, (ii) divided by the difference between the highest current program expenditures per resident student in this state and the lowest current program expenditures per resident student in this state, (iii) multiplied by thirty per cent, (iv) plus fifty percentage points, (B) (i) a town's wealth pursuant to subdivision (26) of section 10-262f, subtracted from the wealth of the town with the highest wealth of all towns in this state, (ii) divided by the difference between the wealth of the town with the highest wealth of all towns in this state and the wealth of the town with the lowest wealth of all towns in this state, (iii) multiplied by thirty per cent, (iv) plus fifty percentage points, and (C) (i) a town's grant mastery percentage pursuant to subdivision (12) of section 10-262f, subtracted from one, subtracted from one minus the grant mastery percentage of the town with the highest grant mastery percentage in this state, (ii) divided by the difference between one minus the grant mastery percentage of the town with the highest grant mastery percentage in this state and one minus the grant mastery percentage of the town with the lowest grant mastery percentage in this state, (iii) multiplied by thirty per cent, (iv) plus fifty percentage points.
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, any town whose school district is in its third year or more of being identified as in need of improvement pursuant to section 10-223e, and has failed to make adequate yearly progress in mathematics or reading at the whole district level, the percentage determined pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection for such town shall be increased by an additional twenty percentage points.
(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, any town whose school district is in its third year or more of being identified as in need of improvement pursuant to section 10-223e, and has failed to make adequate yearly progress in mathematics or reading at the whole district level, the percentage of the increase in aid pursuant to this section applicable under subsection [(e)] (d) of this section shall be the percentage of the increase determined under subdivision (1) of this section for such town, plus twenty percentage points, or eighty per cent, whichever is greater.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, and each fiscal year thereafter, any town that (A) is a member of a regional school district that serves only grades seven to twelve, inclusive, or grades nine to twelve, inclusive, (B) appropriates at least the minimum percentage of increase in aid pursuant to the provisions of this section, and (C) has a reduced assessment from the previous fiscal year for students enrolled in such regional school district, excluding debt service for such students, shall be considered to be in compliance with the provisions of this section.
(5) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, charter, special act or home rule ordinance, on or before September 15, 2007, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, a town may request the Commissioner of Education to defer a portion of the town's increase in aid over the prior fiscal year pursuant to this section to be expended in the subsequent fiscal year. If the commissioner approves such request, the deferred amount shall be credited to the increase in aid for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, rather than the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. Such funds shall be expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, in accordance with the provisions of this section. In no case shall a town be allowed to defer increases in aid required to be spent for education as a result of failure to make adequate yearly progress in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection.
[(g)] (h) Upon a determination by the State Board of Education that a town or kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district failed in any fiscal year to meet the requirements pursuant to subsection (c), (d), [or] (e) or (f) of this section, the town or kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district shall forfeit an amount equal to two times the amount of the shortfall. The amount so forfeited shall be withheld by the Department of Education from the grant payable to the town in the second fiscal year immediately following such failure by deducting such amount from the town's equalization aid grant payment pursuant to this section, except that in the case of a kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district, the amount so forfeited shall be withheld by the Department of Education from the grants payable pursuant to this section to the towns which are members of such regional school district. The amounts deducted from such grants to each member town shall be proportional to the number of resident students in each member town. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the State Board of Education may waive such forfeiture upon agreement with the town or kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district that the town or kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, regional school district shall increase its budgeted appropriation for education during the fiscal year in which the forfeiture would occur by an amount not less than the amount of said forfeiture or for other good cause shown. Any additional funds budgeted pursuant to such an agreement shall not be included in a district's budgeted appropriation for education for the purpose of establishing any future minimum budget requirement.
Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2011) The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, the local and regional boards of education for the school districts in which a regional vocational-technical school is located and the regional educational service centers serving areas in which such schools are located, shall develop a plan for the transfer of operations of the regional vocational-technical schools to the local or regional boards of education for the school district in which such schools are located or the regional educational service centers serving areas in which such schools are located. Such plan shall include, but not be limited to, (1) a requirement that the transfer of operations of the regional vocational-technical schools shall be completed on or before the school year commencing July 1, 2015, (2) provisions outlining the procedure for the four-year phase-in of the transfer of operations of the regional vocational-technical schools, and (3) a provision allowing the local or regional board of education for the school district in which the regional vocational-technical school is located to vote to inherit the operations of such school, and a provision requiring the regional educational service center serving the school district in which such school is located to inherit the operations of such school if such local or regional board of education votes to not inherit the operations of such school. On or before January 1, 2012, such plan shall be submitted to the Governor.
Sec. 17. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2011) (a) The Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, establish a grant program to provide grants to local and regional boards of education and regional educational service centers for the implementation of the transfer of operations of the regional vocational-technical schools according to the plan developed pursuant to section 16 of this act and for the operational costs of the regional vocational-technical schools.
(b) Applications for the grants pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be filed with the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes. As part of the application, an applicant shall submit a plan for the expenditure of grant funds.
(c) The Department of Education shall develop and apply appropriate evaluation procedures to measure the effectiveness of the grant program established pursuant to this section.
(d) For purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section, the Department of Education may use federal funding or accept funds from private sources.
(e) The Department of Education shall provide grant recipients with technical assistance, evaluation, program monitoring, professional development and accreditation support.
(f) Grant recipients shall file expenditure reports with the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes. Grant recipients shall refund (1) any unexpended amounts at the close of the school year for which the grant was awarded, and (2) any amounts not expended in accordance with the approved grant application.
Sec. 18. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2011) (a) The transfer of the regional vocational-technical schools' operations to the local or regional board of education for the school district in which such school is located or the regional educational service center serving the school district in which such school is located, in accordance with the plan developed pursuant to section 16 of this act, shall not affect the existing agreement between the State Board of Education and the exclusive bargaining representative, chosen pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-153 of the general statutes, for persons employed in the regional vocational-technical school system. Upon the termination of such agreement, any person employed at a regional vocational-technical school prior to the transfer of such regional vocational-technical school's operations to the local or regional board of education for the school district in which such school is located or the regional educational service center serving the school district in which such school is located shall remain a member of the unit for the exclusive bargaining representative for the regional vocational-technical schools, in accordance with section 5-275 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
(b) Any person hired to work at a regional vocational-technical school after such school's operations have been transferred to a local or regional board of education or a regional educational service center shall become a member of the unit for the exclusive bargaining representative, chosen pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-153 of the general statutes, for the local or regional board of education for the school district in which such school is located or the regional educational service center serving the school district in which such school is located.
Sec. 19. Section 10-1 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
[(a) (1) Prior to July 1, 1998, the State Board of Education shall consist of nine members. On and after July 1, 1998, but prior to July 1, 2010, the State Board of Education shall consist of eleven members, two of whom shall be nonvoting student members.
(2) On and after July 1, 2010, but prior to April 1, 2011, the State Board of Education shall consist of thirteen members, at least two of whom shall have experience in manufacturing or a trade offered at the regional vocational-technical schools or be alumni of or have served as educators at a regional vocational-technical school and two of whom shall be nonvoting student members. Only those members with experience in manufacturing or a trade offered at the regional vocational-technical schools or are alumni of or have served as educators at a regional vocational-technical school shall be eligible to serve as the chairperson for the regional vocational-technical school subcommittee of the board.
(3) On and after April 1, 2011, the State Board of Education shall consist of thirteen members, (A) at least two of whom shall have experience in manufacturing or a trade offered at the regional vocational-technical schools or be alumni of or have served as educators at a regional vocational-technical school, (B) at least one of whom shall have experience in agriculture or be an alumni of or have served as an educator at a regional agricultural science and technology education center, and (C) two of whom shall be nonvoting student members. Only those members described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall be eligible to serve as the chairperson for the regional vocational-technical school subcommittee of the board.]
[(b)] Prior to July 1, 1998, the State Board of Education shall consist of nine members. On and after July 1, 1998, the State Board of Education shall consist of eleven members, two of whom shall be nonvoting student members. The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the General Assembly, the members of said board, provided each student member (1) is on the list submitted to the Governor pursuant to section 10-2a, (2) is enrolled in a public high school in the state, (3) has completed eleventh grade prior to the commencement of his term, (4) has at least a B plus average, and (5) provides at least three references from teachers in the school he is attending. The [nonstudent] nine voting members shall serve for terms of four years commencing on March first in the year of their appointment. The student members shall serve for terms of one year commencing on July first in the year of their appointment. The Commissioner of Higher Education shall serve as an ex-officio member without a vote. Any vacancy in said State Board of Education shall be filled in the manner provided in section 4-19.
Sec. 20. Section 10-95h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
[(a) Not later than November thirtieth each year, the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, higher education and employment advancement and labor shall meet with the superintendent of the regional vocational-technical school system, the director of the Office of Workforce Competitiveness, the Labor Commissioner and such other persons as they deem appropriate to consider the items submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(b) On or before November fifteenth, annually:
(1) The director of the Office of Workforce Competitiveness and the Labor Commissioner shall each submit the following to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, higher education and employment advancement and labor: (A) Information identifying general economic trends in the state; (B) occupational information regarding the public and private sectors, such as continuous data on occupational movements; and (C) information identifying emerging regional, state and national workforce needs over the next thirty years.
(2) The superintendent of the vocational-technical school system shall submit the following to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, higher education and employment advancement and labor: (A) Information ensuring that the curriculum of the regional vocational-technical school system is incorporating those workforce skills that will be needed for the next thirty years, as identified by the director of the Office of Workforce Competitiveness and the Labor Commissioner in subdivision (1) of this subsection, into the regional vocational-technical schools; (B) information regarding the employment status of students who graduate from the regional vocational-technical school system; (C) an assessment of the adequacy of the resources available to the regional vocational-technical school system as the system develops and refines programs to meet existing and emerging workforce needs; and (D) recommendations to the State Board of Education to carry out the provisions of subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of this subdivision.]
There is established a state-wide advisory committee, which shall meet at least semiannually, to (1) identify emerging state and national workforce needs and any trade technology programs that could be offered at the regional vocational-technical schools to meet such workforce needs, (2) identify the workforce skills that will be needed for the next thirty years and incorporate the education and development of such workforce skills into the curriculum of the regional vocational-technical schools, (3) ensure that all students who graduate from regional vocational-technical schools have communication, leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills, in addition to expertise in a trade technology, (4) assess the adequacy of the resources available to regional vocational-technical schools as such schools develop and refine programs to meet existing and emerging workforce needs, and (5) advise and make recommendations to the State Board of Education to carry out the provisions of subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this section. The committee shall consist of the following members: (A) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be representatives of business, holding the title of chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer or the equivalents thereof, drawn from key industry, service and manufacturing firms with five hundred or more full-time employees; (B) two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of business, holding the title of chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer or the equivalents thereof, drawn from key industry, service and manufacturing firms with five hundred or more full-time employees and one of whom shall be a teacher at a regional vocational-technical school; (C) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives who shall be a representative of business, holding the title of chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer or the equivalents thereof, drawn from key industry, service and manufacturing firms with more than fifty, but fewer than five hundred full-time employees; (D) one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate who shall be a representative of business, holding the title of chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer or the equivalents thereof, drawn from key industry, service and manufacturing firms with more than fifty, but fewer than five hundred full-time employees; (E) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives who shall be a representative of business, holding the title of chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer or the equivalents thereof, drawn from key industry, service and manufacturing firms with more than fifty, but fewer than five hundred full-time employees; (F) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate who shall be a representative of business, holding the title of chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer or the equivalents thereof, drawn from key industry, service and manufacturing firms with fifty or fewer full-time employees; (G) two persons appointed by the Governor who shall be representatives of business, holding the title of chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer or the equivalents thereof, drawn from key industry, service and manufacturing firms with fifty or fewer full-time employees; (H) the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; (I) the Labor Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; (J) the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the commissioner's designee; (K) a representative from the Office of Workforce Competitiveness; (L) the chairperson of the State Board of Education, or the chairperson's designee; and (M) the cochairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education. The committee membership shall reflect the state's geographic, racial and ethnic diversity.
Sec. 21. Section 3-20f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
[(a)] Notwithstanding section 3-20, to the extent there is a sufficient balance of bonds approved by the General Assembly pursuant to any bond act for the purposes of agricultural land preservation programs established pursuant to section 22-26cc or 22-26jj, but not allocated by the State Bond Commission, said commission shall vote on whether to authorize the issuance of at least five million dollars of such bonds for the purposes described in said sections at each of said commission's regularly scheduled meetings occurring in August and February of each year. If no meeting is held in said months, said commission shall vote on whether to authorize the issuance of such bonds at its next regularly scheduled meeting. To the extent there is a sufficient balance of bonds so approved by the General Assembly and there are pending agricultural land preservation transactions in excess of five million dollars, the Commissioner of Agriculture may request, and the State Bond Commission shall vote on whether to authorize the issuance of, bonds in excess of five million dollars. To the extent the balance of bonds so approved by the General Assembly is below five million dollars at the time of said commission's August or February meetings, said commission shall vote on whether to authorize the issuance of the remaining balance of such bonds.
[(b) Notwithstanding section 3-20, to the extent there is a sufficient balance of bonds approved by the General Assembly pursuant to any bond act for the purposes of general maintenance and trade and capital equipment for any school in the regional vocational-technical school system, but not allocated by the State Bond Commission, said commission shall vote on whether to authorize the issuance of at least two million dollars of such bonds for such maintenance and equipment at each of said commission's regularly scheduled meetings occurring in August and February of each year. If no meeting is held in said months, said commission shall vote on whether to authorize the issuance of such bonds at its next regularly scheduled meeting. To the extent there is a sufficient balance of bonds so approved by the General Assembly and there are pending general maintenance and trade and capital equipment transactions in excess of two million dollars, the superintendent of the regional vocational-technical school system may request, and the State Bond Commission shall vote on whether to authorize the issuance of, bonds in excess of two million dollars. To the extent the balance of bonds so approved by the General Assembly is below two million dollars at the time of said commission's August or February meetings, said commission shall vote on whether to authorize the issuance of the remaining balance of such bonds.]
Sec. 22. Section 10-99g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
[(a) The] Prior to the transfer of operations of the regional vocational-technical schools to the local or regional boards of education for the school district in which any such school is located or the regional educational service center serving the school district in which such school is located, pursuant to the plan described in section 16 of this act, the superintendent of the regional vocational-technical school system shall biannually submit the operating budget and expenses for each individual regional vocational-technical school, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the director of the legislative Office of Fiscal Analysis and to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education.
[(b) The superintendent of the regional vocational-technical school system shall make available and update on the regional vocational-technical school system web site and the web site of each regional vocational-technical school the operating budget for the current school year of each individual regional vocational-technical school.]
Sec. 23. Subsection (t) of section 1-79 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(t) "State agency" means any office, department, board, council, commission, institution, constituent unit of the state system of higher education, regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education or other agency in the executive, legislative or judicial branch of state government.
Sec. 24. Section 1-84d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, for purposes of this chapter, no foundation or alumni association established for the benefit of a constituent unit of public higher education or regional vocational-technical school shall be deemed to be doing business with or seeking to do business with such constituent unit of public higher education or regional vocational-technical school.
Sec. 25. Subsection (w) of section 1-91 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(w) "State agency" means any office, department, board, council, commission, institution, constituent unit of the state system of higher education, regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education or other agency in the executive, legislative or judicial branch of state government.
Sec. 26. Section 4-124z of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) The Office of Workforce Competitiveness, the Labor Commissioner, the Commissioners of Economic and Community Development, Education and Social Services, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the Chancellor of the regional community-technical colleges, in consultation with the [superintendent of the] principles of regional vocational-technical [school system] schools and one member of industry representing each of the economic clusters identified by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development pursuant to section 32-1m shall (1) review, evaluate and, as necessary, recommend improvements for certification and degree programs offered by [the] regional vocational-technical [school system] schools and the community-technical college system to ensure that such programs meet the employment needs of business and industry, and (2) develop strategies to strengthen the linkage between skill standards for education and training and the employment needs of business and industry.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2002, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, commerce, labor and higher education and employment advancement on (1) the implementation of any recommended programs or strategies [within the] at regional vocational-technical [school system] schools or the community-technical college system to strengthen the linkage between vocational-technical and community-technical college certification and degree programs and the employment needs of business and industry, and (2) any certification or degree programs offered by regional vocational-technical schools or community-technical colleges that do not meet current industry standards.
Sec. 27. Section 4-124gg of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
Not later than October 1, 2005, the Office of Workforce Competitiveness, in consultation with the [superintendent] principals of the regional vocational-technical [school system] schools, shall create an integrated system of state-wide industry advisory committees for each career cluster offered [as part of] at the regional vocational-technical [school] schools and regional community-technical [college systems] colleges. Said committees shall include industry representatives of the specific career cluster. Each committee for a career cluster shall, with support from the Office of Workforce Competitiveness, regional vocational-technical [and] schools, regional community-technical college [systems] system and the Department of Education, establish specific skills standards, corresponding curriculum and a career ladder for the cluster which shall be implemented as part of the schools' core curriculum.
Sec. 28. Subsection (a) of section 4-124hh of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) The Office of Workforce Competitiveness shall, within available appropriations, establish a grant program to provide a flexible source of funding for the creation and generation of talent in institutions of higher education and, with appropriate connections to regional vocational-technical schools and other secondary schools, for student outreach and development. Grants pursuant to this subsection shall be awarded to institutions of higher education and may be used to:
(1) Upgrade instructional laboratories to meet specific industry-standard laboratory and instrumentation skill requirements;
(2) Develop new curriculum and certificate and degree programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctorate levels, tied to industry identified needs;
(3) Develop seamlessly articulated career development programs in workforce shortage areas forecasted pursuant to subdivision (10) of subsection (b) of section 4-124w in collaboration with regional vocational-technical schools and other secondary schools and institutions of higher education;
(4) Support undergraduate and graduate student research projects and experimental learning activities; and
(5) Establish a nanotechnology post-secondary education program and clearinghouse for curriculum development, scholarships and student outreach.
Sec. 29. Subsection (b) of section 4a-11a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be deposited in the Capital Equipment Purchase Fund created by section 4a-9. Any such proceeds shall be allocated to the Department of Education for [state] the grant program, established pursuant to section 17 of this act, for the regional vocational-technical schools and satellites of such schools.
Sec. 30. Subsection (b) of section 5-275 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(b) The board shall determine the appropriateness of a unit which shall be the public employer unit or a subdivision thereof. In determining the appropriateness of the unit, the board shall: (1) Take into consideration, but shall not limit consideration to, the following: (A) Public employees must have an identifiable community of interest, and (B) the effects of overfragmentation; (2) not decide that any unit is appropriate if (A) such unit includes both professional and nonprofessional employees, unless a majority of such professional employees vote for inclusion in such unit, or (B) such unit includes both Department of Correction employees at or above the level of lieutenant and Department of Correction employees below the level of lieutenant; (3) take into consideration that when the state is the employer, it will be bargaining on a state-wide basis unless issues involve working conditions peculiar to a given governmental employment locale; (4) permit the faculties of (A) The University of Connecticut, (B) the Connecticut State University System, and (C) the [state] regional vocational-technical schools, in accordance with the provisions of section 18 of this act, to each comprise a separate unit, which in each case shall have the right to bargain collectively with their respective boards of trustees or their designated representatives; and (5) permit the community college faculty and the technical college faculty as they existed prior to July 1, 1992, to continue to comprise separate units, which in each case shall have the right to bargain collectively with its board of trustees or its designated representative. Nonfaculty professional staff of the above institutions may by mutual agreement be included in such bargaining units, or they may form a separate bargaining unit of their own. This section shall not be deemed to prohibit multiunit bargaining.
Sec. 31. Section 8-265pp of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority shall develop and administer a program of mortgage assistance to certified teachers (1) employed by priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p, (2) employed by transitional school districts pursuant to section 10-263c, (3) employed [by] at regional vocational-technical schools located in such priority or transitional school districts, or (4) who teach in a subject matter shortage area pursuant to section 10-8b. Such assistance shall be available to eligible teachers for the purchase of a house as their principal residence, provided, in the case of a teacher employed by a priority or a transitional school district, or [by] at a regional vocational-technical school located in a priority or transitional school district, the house is located in such district. In making mortgage assistance available under the program, the authority shall utilize down payment assistance or any other appropriate housing subsidies. The terms of any mortgage assistance shall allow the mortgagee to realize a reasonable portion of the equity gain upon sale of the mortgaged property.
Sec. 32. Subsection (b) of section 10-9 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the State Board of Education may receive in the name of the state any money or property given or bequeathed to the State Board of Education or to any of the regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education. Said board shall transfer any such money to the State Treasurer who shall invest the money in accordance with the provisions of section 3-31a. Said board may use any such property for educational purposes.
Sec. 33. Section 10-15d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1987, and annually thereafter, all provisions of the general statutes concerning education, except those provisions relating to the eligibility for noncompetitive state aid unless otherwise provided, shall apply to the operation of the State of Connecticut-Unified School District #2 established pursuant to section 17a-37 within the Department of Children and Families, State of Connecticut-Unified School District #1 established pursuant to section 18-99a within the Department of Correction and State of Connecticut-Unified School District #3 established pursuant to section 17a-240 within the Department of Developmental Services. All provisions of the general statutes concerning education, except those provisions relating to the eligibility for state aid unless otherwise provided, shall apply to the operation of the regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education established pursuant to the provisions of section 10-95, as amended by this act. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, where such a school or school district shows that a particular statutory provision should not apply, the commissioner may grant an exception.
Sec. 34. Section 10-19d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
The Department of Education shall establish, within available appropriations, a high school mathematics and science challenge pilot program, which uses student performance results for mathematics and science on the state-wide tenth grade mastery examination given in accordance with the provisions of section 10-14n, to design and implement mathematics and science curricula for students in the eleventh grade in the public high schools, including regional vocational-technical schools. For purposes of the program, the Commissioner of Education may award grants to local and regional boards of education and regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center for demonstration projects. Local and regional boards of education and regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center seeking to participate in the pilot program shall apply to the department at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes. The commissioner shall select a diverse group of participants based on the population, geographic location and economic characteristics of the local or regional school district or regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center. Local and regional boards of education and regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center awarded grants under the program shall use grant funds for expenses for developing and implementing an instructional program in the mathematics and science subject areas targeting students who did not meet or exceed the level of proficiency in mathematics or science on such state-wide tenth grade mastery examination, and conduct an evaluation of the program, including an analysis of student testing performance before and after participation in the program.
Sec. 35. Section 10-19e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
The Department of Education shall establish, within available appropriations, a "Future Scholars" pilot matching grant program for public schools participating in externally funded programs that provide supplemental mathematics and science programming and instruction to students in grades eight to ten, inclusive, who scored above the level of basic and below the level of proficiency on the mastery examinations given during the previous year in accordance with the provisions of section 10-14n. The Commissioner of Education, for purposes of the program, may award grants to local and regional boards of education and regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center for demonstration projects. Boards of education and regional vocational-technical schools seeking to participate in the pilot program shall apply to the department at such time and in such form as the commissioner prescribes. The commissioner shall select participants based on the quality of proposed programs and evidence of commitment by businesses supporting the project. Local and regional boards of education and regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center awarded grants under the program shall use grant funds for development and implementation of an interdisciplinary mathematics, science and technology curriculum, including the establishment and staffing of mathematics and science laboratories, in middle and high schools that have demonstrated support and involvement by local or state-wide mathematics, science or technology intensive businesses in the state.
Sec. 36. Subsection (a) of section 10-20a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) Local and regional boards of education, [the] regional vocational-technical [school system] schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center, postsecondary institutions and regional educational service centers, may (1) in consultation with regional workforce development boards established pursuant to section 31-3k, local employers, labor organizations and community-based organizations establish career pathway programs leading to a Connecticut career certificate in accordance with this section, and (2) enroll students in such programs based on entry criteria determined by the establishing agency. Such programs shall be approved by the Commissioner of Education and the Labor Commissioner. Applications for program approval shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Education in such form and at such time as the commissioner prescribes. All programs leading to a Connecticut career certificate shall provide equal access for all students and necessary accommodations and support for students with disabilities.
Sec. 37. Section 10-21g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
The Department of Education shall establish, within available appropriations, a "Generation Next" pilot program to provide industry-based job shadowing and internship experiences to high school students and externship experiences to teachers in the public schools, including the regional vocational-technical schools. The Commissioner of Education, for purposes of the program, may award grants to local and regional boards of education, regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center or state-wide or local business associations, in partnership with such boards of education or schools, for demonstration projects. [Boards] Local and regional boards of education, regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center or business associations seeking to participate in the pilot program shall apply to the department at such time and in such form as the commissioner prescribes. The commissioner shall select a diverse group of participants based on the population, geographic location and economic characteristics of the school district or school. Local and regional boards of education, regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center or business associations awarded grants under the program shall use grant funds for developing and implementing a coordinated high school level teacher externship and student job shadowing and internship program with science or mathematics or with technology intensive businesses in the state.
Sec. 38. Section 10-66p of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 4-98, 4-212 to 4-219, inclusive, 4a-51 and 4a-57, the Commissioner of Education may allocate funds to allow regional educational service centers and state education organizations to provide professional development services, technical assistance and evaluation activities to local and regional boards of education, state charter schools, regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center, school readiness providers and other educational entities, as determined by the commissioner. Regional educational service centers and state education organizations shall expend such funds in accordance with procedures and conditions prescribed by the commissioner. For purposes of this section, state education organizations may include, but not be limited to, organizations or associations representing superintendents, boards of education and elementary and secondary schools.
Sec. 39. Subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section 10-69 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(2) Credit for successful completion of courses taken for credit at state-accredited institutions, including public and private community colleges, technical colleges, community-technical colleges, four-year colleges and universities and approved public and private high schools and regional vocational-technical schools;
Sec. 40. Subsection (c) of section 10-74d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(c) The Department of Education may retain (1) up to one per cent of the amount appropriated for interdistrict cooperative grants pursuant to this section for state-wide technical assistance, program monitoring and evaluation, and administration, and (2) up to one per cent of such amount for use by the regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education for interdistrict summer school, weekend and after-school programs.
Sec. 41. Section 10-76q of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) The State Board of Education, in accordance with regulations adopted by said board, shall: (1) Provide the professional services necessary to identify, in accordance with section 10-76a, children requiring special education who are enrolled at [state] regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education, in accordance with section 10-95, as amended by this act; (2) identify each such child; (3) determine the appropriateness of the [state] regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education for the educational needs of each such child; (4) provide an appropriate educational program for each such child; (5) maintain a record thereof; and (6) annually evaluate the progress and accomplishments of special education programs at the [state] regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education.
(b) Where it is deemed appropriate that a child enrolled in a [state] regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education receive special education, the parents or guardian of such child shall have a right to the hearing and appeal process as provided for in section 10-76h.
(c) If a planning and placement team determines that a student requires special education services which preclude such student's participation in the vocational education program offered by a regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education, the student shall be referred to the board of education in the town in which the student resides for the development of an individualized educational program and such board of education shall be responsible for the implementation and financing of such program.
Sec. 42. Section 10-95 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) [The] Prior to July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education may establish and maintain a state-wide system of regional vocational-technical schools offering full-time, part-time and evening programs in vocational, technical and technological education and training. The board may make regulations controlling the admission of students to any such school. The Commissioner of Education, in accordance with policies established by the board, may appoint and remove members of the staffs of such schools and make rules for the management of and expend the funds provided for the support of such schools. The board may enter into cooperative arrangements with local and regional boards of education, private occupational schools, institutions of higher education, job training agencies and employers in order to provide general education, vocational, technical or technological education or work experience. On or before January 1, 2012, the board shall develop a plan, in accordance with the provisions of section 16 of this act, to transfer the operations of the regional vocational-technical schools to the local or regional boards of education for the school district in which any such school is located or the regional educational service center serving the school district in which such school is located.
(b) [If] Prior to July 1, 2015, if the New England Association of Schools and Colleges places a regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education on probation or otherwise notifies the superintendent of the vocational-technical school system that [a] such regional vocational-technical school is at risk of losing its accreditation, the Commissioner of Education shall notify the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education of such placement or problems relating to accreditation.
(c) [The] Prior to July 1, 2012, the State Board of Education shall establish specific achievement goals for students at the vocational-technical schools operated by the board at each grade level. The board shall measure the performance of each such vocational-technical school and shall identify a set of quantifiable measures to be used. The measures shall include factors such as performance on the state-wide tenth grade mastery examination under section 10-14n, trade-related assessment tests, dropout rates and graduation rates.
Sec. 43. Section 10-95a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
[The] Prior to July 1, 2012, the State Board of Education shall establish a student activity program at each of the state regional vocational-technical schools operated by the board. Such programs shall consist of athletic and nonathletic activities. State funds may be expended for the purposes of this section.
Sec. 44. Section 10-95i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) Not later than January 1, 1990, and every five years thereafter until January 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall adopt a long-range plan of priorities and goals for the regional vocational-technical [school system] schools operated by the board. The plan shall address coordination with other providers of vocational, technical or technological education or training and shall include (1) an analysis of the activities described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section and how such activities relate to the long-range plan of priorities and goals, and (2) a summary of activities related to capital improvements and equipment pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. Upon adoption of the plan, the state board shall file the plan with the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, finance, revenue and bonding and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. The state board shall use the plan in preparing its five-year comprehensive plan pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-4.
(b) During the five-year period beginning January 1, 1990, and during each five-year period thereafter until January 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall evaluate each existing regional vocational-technical school trade program in those schools operated by the board in accordance with a schedule which the state board shall establish. A trade program may be reauthorized for a period of not more than five years following each evaluation on the basis of: The projected employment demand for students enrolled in the trade program, including consideration of the employment of graduates of the program during the preceding five years; anticipated technological changes; the availability of qualified instructors; the existence of similar programs at other educational institutions; and student interest in the trade program. As part of the evaluation, the state board shall consider geographic differences that may make a trade program feasible at one school and not another and whether certain combinations of program offerings shall be required. Prior to any final decision on the reauthorization of a trade program, the state board shall consult with the craft committees for the trade program being evaluated.
(c) The state board shall consider the addition of new trade programs. Decisions by the state board to add such programs shall at a minimum be based on the projected employment demand for graduates of the program, the cost of establishing the program, the availability of qualified instructors, the existence of similar programs at other educational institutions and the interest of students in the trade. The state board shall authorize new trade programs for a maximum of five years. The state board shall provide a process for the public, including, but not limited to, employers, parents, students or teachers, to request consideration of the establishment of a new trade program.
(d) The State Board of Education shall maintain a rolling five-year capital improvement and capital equipment plan that identifies: (1) Alterations, renovations and repairs that each vocational-technical school is expected to need, including, but not limited to, grounds and athletic fields, heating and ventilation systems, wiring, roofs, and windows, and the cost of such projects, (2) recommendations for energy efficiency improvements to each school and the cost of such improvements, and (3) the specific equipment each regional vocational-technical school operated by the board is expected to need, based on the useful life of existing equipment and projections of changing technology and the estimated cost of the equipment. The State Board of Education shall submit such plan, annually, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, finance, revenue and bonding and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies.
Sec. 45. Section 10-95j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
The State Board of Education shall include in the report required pursuant to section 10-95k, as amended by this act, a summary of the following:
(1) Admissions policies for the regional vocational-technical schools operated by the board;
(2) Recruitment and retention of faculty;
(3) Efforts to strengthen consideration of the needs of and to develop greater public awareness of the regional vocational-technical schools operated by the board; and
(4) Efforts to strengthen the role of school craft committees and increase employer participation.
Sec. 46. Section 10-95k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) Not later than January 1, 1995, and biennially thereafter until January 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall prepare a summary report concerning the regional vocational-technical [school system] schools operated by the board and shall submit the report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education. The report shall include demographic information for the preceding two school years on applicants for admission, students enrolled and graduates, and a summary of the capital and operating expenditures. Such information shall be provided for [the] each regional vocational-technical school [system and for each regional vocational-technical school and satellite facility] and satellite facility operated by the board. Enrollment information shall be reported by race and sex and by specific trade programs. Applicant information shall include the number of applicants, the number accepted and the number enrolled reported by race and sex. Enrollment capacity for each such school and projected enrollment capacity for the subsequent school year shall be developed on the basis of a standardized format and shall be reported for each such school and satellite facility. The report shall also include assessment of student outcomes including, but not limited to, mastery examination results pursuant to section 10-14n, retention and completion rates, and postsecondary education or employment based on graduate follow-up and, for purposes of employment placement, state unemployment insurance wage records.
(b) Reports prepared and submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section on and after January 1, 1995, shall identify each regional vocational-technical school operated by the board for which enrollment on the preceding October first was less than seventy per cent of the enrollment capacity identified in the report pursuant to this section for the prior year. For each such school the report shall include an analysis of: (1) The reasons for such enrollment, including, but not limited to, the interest in the specific trade programs offered, the resources needed to serve special education students, demographic changes and the existence of alternative vocational, technical and technological educational training programs in the region in which the school is located; (2) the likelihood that enrollment will increase or decrease in the future; (3) any alternative uses for unused space in the facility; and (4) a recommendation on the steps to be taken to improve enrollment or a timetable for closing the school. In preparing the analysis, the State Board of Education shall provide an opportunity for public comment.
Sec. 47. Section 10-95l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
The Department of Education shall provide in-service training programs, in accordance with subsection (a) of section 10-220a, for the teachers, administrators and pupil personnel employed in the regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education who hold the initial educator, provisional educator or professional educator certificate. In addition, the department shall provide programs to enhance the knowledge and skill level of such teachers in their vocational or technical field.
Sec. 48. Section 10-95n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
[Each] Prior to July 1, 2015, each regional vocational-technical school operated by the board shall provide access to directory information and on-campus recruiting opportunities to representatives of the armed forces of the United States of America and state armed services to the extent necessary under federal law to prevent the loss of federal funds to such school or to the state of Connecticut. The disclosure of information pursuant to this section shall otherwise be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200.
Sec. 49. Subsection (e) of section 10-97 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(e) For purposes of this section, a local or regional board of education shall not be required to expend for transporting a student to a regional vocational-technical school operated by the board or an agricultural science and technology education center an amount greater than six thousand dollars, except that a board of education shall continue to pay the reasonable and necessary costs of transporting a student who is enrolled in such a school or center on July 1, 1996, until such student completes the program at such school or center.
Sec. 50. Section 10-98a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
The [director] principal of each regional vocational-technical school shall meet with members of the business community within the geographic area served by the regional vocational-technical school to develop a plan to assess workforce needs and implement curriculum modifications to address those needs.
Sec. 51. Section 10-99f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2011, [and each fiscal year thereafter] to June 30, 2015, inclusive, the budget for [the] regional vocational-technical [school system] schools operated by the State Board of Education shall be a separate budgeted agency from the Department of Education.
Sec. 52. Section 10-215b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) The State Board of Education is authorized to expend in each fiscal year an amount equal to (1) the money required pursuant to the matching requirements of said federal laws and shall disburse the same in accordance with said laws, and (2) ten cents per lunch served in the prior school year in accordance with said laws by any local or regional board of education, [the] regional vocational-technical school [system] operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center or governing authority of a state charter school, interdistrict magnet school or endowed academy approved pursuant to section 10-34 that participates in the National School Lunch Program and certifies pursuant to section 10-215f, as amended by this act, that the nutrition standards established by the Department of Education pursuant to section 10-215e shall be met.
(b) The State Board of Education shall prescribe the manner and time of application by such board of education, [the] regional vocational-technical school [system] operated by the board or a regional educational service center, such governing authority or controlling authority of the nonpublic schools for such funds, provided such application shall include the certification that any funds received pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be used for the program approved. The State Board of Education shall determine the eligibility of the applicant to receive such grants pursuant to regulations provided in subsection (c) of this section and shall certify to the Comptroller the amount of the grant for which the board of education, [the] regional vocational-technical school [system] operated by the board or a regional educational service center, the governing authority or the controlling authority of a nonpublic school is eligible. Upon receipt of such certification, the Comptroller shall draw an order on the Treasurer in the amount, at the time and to the payee so certified.
(c) The State Board of Education may adopt such regulations as may be necessary in implementing sections 10-215 to 10-215b, inclusive, as amended by this act.
(d) The Commissioner of Education shall establish a procedure for monitoring compliance by boards of education, [the] regional vocational-technical [school system] schools operated by the board or a regional educational service center, or governing authorities with certifications submitted in accordance with section 10-215f, as amended by this act, and may adjust grant amounts pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section based on failure to comply with said certification.
Sec. 53. Section 10-215f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) Each local and regional board of education, [the] regional vocational-technical school [system] operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center, and the governing authority for each state charter school, interdistrict magnet school and endowed academy approved pursuant to section 10-34 that participates in the National School Lunch Program shall certify in its annual application to the Department of Education for school lunch funding whether, during the school year for which such application is submitted, all food items made available for sale to students in schools under its jurisdiction and not exempted from the nutrition standards published by the Department of Education pursuant to section 10-215e will meet said standards. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, such certification shall include food not exempted from said nutrition standards and offered for sale to students at all times, and from all sources, including, but not limited to, school stores, vending machines, school cafeterias, and any fundraising activities on school premises, whether or not school sponsored.
(b) Each local or regional board of education, [the] regional vocational-technical school [system] operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center and each governing authority that certifies pursuant to this section compliance with the department's nutrition standards for food may exclude from such certification the sale to students of food items that do not meet such standards, provided (1) such sale is in connection with an event occurring after the end of the regular school day or on the weekend, (2) such sale is at the location of such event, and (3) such food is not sold from a vending machine or school store.
Sec. 54. Section 10-220d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
Each local and regional board of education shall provide full access to regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center, regional agricultural science and technology education centers, interdistrict magnet schools, charter schools and interdistrict student attendance programs for the recruitment of students attending the schools under the board's jurisdiction, provided such recruitment is not for the purpose of interscholastic athletic competition.
Sec. 55. Subsection (e) of section 10-233d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) of this section concerning the provision of an alternative educational opportunity for pupils between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, local and regional boards of education shall not be required to offer such alternative to any pupil between the ages of sixteen and eighteen who is expelled because of conduct which endangers persons if it is determined at the expulsion hearing that the conduct for which the pupil is expelled involved (1) possession of a firearm, as defined in 18 USC 921, as amended from time to time, or deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or martial arts weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, on school property or at a school-sponsored activity, or (2) offering for sale or distribution on school property or at a school-sponsored activity a controlled substance, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 21a-240, whose manufacture, distribution, sale, prescription, dispensing, transporting or possessing with the intent to sell or dispense, offering, or administration is subject to criminal penalties under sections 21a-277 and 21a-278. If a pupil is expelled pursuant to this section for possession of a firearm or deadly weapon the board of education shall report the violation to the local police department or in the case of a student enrolled in a regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center to the state police. If a pupil is expelled pursuant to this section for the sale or distribution of such a controlled substance, the board of education shall refer the pupil to an appropriate state or local agency for rehabilitation, intervention or job training, or any combination thereof, and inform the agency of its action. Whenever a local or regional board of education notifies a pupil between the ages of sixteen and eighteen or the parents or guardian of such pupil that an expulsion hearing will be held, the notification shall include a statement that the board of education is not required to offer an alternative educational opportunity to any pupil who is found to have engaged in the conduct described in this subsection.
Sec. 56. Subsection (a) of section 10-235 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) Each board of education shall protect and save harmless any member of such board or any teacher or other employee thereof or any member of its supervisory or administrative staff, and the State Board of Education, the Board of Governors of Higher Education, the board of trustees of each state institution and each state agency which employs any teacher, and the managing board of any public school, as defined in section 10-183b, including the governing council of any charter school, shall protect and save harmless any member of such boards, or any teacher or other employee thereof or any member of its supervisory or administrative staff employed by it, from financial loss and expense, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of alleged negligence or other act resulting in accidental bodily injury to or death of any person, or in accidental damage to or destruction of property, within or without the school building, or any other acts, including but not limited to infringement of any person's civil rights, resulting in any injury, which acts are not wanton, reckless or malicious, provided such teacher, member or employee, at the time of the acts resulting in such injury, damage or destruction, was acting in the discharge of his or her duties or within the scope of employment or under the direction of such board of education, the Board of Governors of Higher Education, board of trustees, state agency, department or managing board; provided that the provisions of this section shall not limit or otherwise affect application of section 4-165 concerning immunity from personal liability. For the purposes of this section, the terms "teacher" and "other employee" shall include (1) any person who is a cooperating teacher, teacher mentor or assessor pursuant to section 10-220a, (2) any student teacher doing practice teaching under the direction of a teacher employed by a local or regional board of education or by the State Board of Education or Board of Governors of Higher Education, (3) any student enrolled in a regional vocational-technical [high] school operated by the State Board of Education or a regional educational service center who is engaged in a supervised health-related field placement program which constitutes all or part of a course of instruction for credit by [a] such regional vocational-technical school, provided such health-related field placement program is part of the curriculum of such regional vocational-technical school, and provided further such course is a requirement for graduation or professional licensure or certification, (4) any volunteer approved by a board of education to carry out a duty prescribed by said board and under the direction of a certificated staff member including any person, partnership, limited liability company or corporation providing students with community-based career education, (5) any volunteer approved by a board of education to carry out the duties of a school bus safety monitor as prescribed by said board, (6) any member of the faculty or staff or any student employed by The University of Connecticut Health Center or health services, (7) any student enrolled in a constituent unit of the state system of higher education who is engaged in a supervised program of field work or clinical practice which constitutes all or part of a course of instruction for credit by a constituent unit, provided such course of instruction is part of the curriculum of a constituent unit, and provided further such course (i) is a requirement for an academic degree or professional licensure, or (ii) is offered by the constituent unit in partial fulfillment of its accreditation obligations, and (8) any student enrolled in a constituent unit of the state system of higher education who is acting in the capacity of a member of a student discipline committee established pursuant to section 4-188a.
Sec. 57. Subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of section 10-262n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(d) (1) Each school district shall be eligible to receive a minimum grant under the program as follows: (A) Each school district in towns ranked from one to one hundred thirteen, inclusive, when all towns are ranked in ascending order from one to one hundred sixty-nine based on town wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of section 10-262f, shall be eligible to receive a minimum grant in the amount of thirty thousand dollars, and (B) each school district in towns ranked from one hundred fourteen to one hundred sixty-nine, inclusive, when all towns are ranked in ascending order from one to one hundred sixty-nine based on town wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of section 10-262f, shall be eligible to receive a minimum grant under the program in the amount of fifteen thousand dollars. Such minimum grant may be increased for certain school districts pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection. (2) The department shall use (A) one hundred thousand dollars of the amount appropriated for purposes of this section for the regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education for wiring and other technology initiatives at such schools, and (B) fifty thousand dollars of the amount appropriated for purposes of this section for technology grants to state charter schools. The amount of the grant each state charter school receives shall be based on the number of students enrolled in the school. (3) The department may retain up to one per cent of the amount appropriated for purposes of this section for coordination, program evaluation and administration. (4) Any remaining appropriated funds shall be used to increase the grants to (A) priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p, (B) transitional school districts pursuant to section 10-263c, and (C) school districts in towns ranked from one to eighty-five, inclusive, when all towns are ranked in ascending order from one to one hundred sixty-nine based on town wealth, as defined in section 10-262f. Each such school district shall receive an amount based on the ratio of the number of resident students, as defined in said section 10-262f, in such school district to the total number of resident students in all such school districts.
Sec. 58. Subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 10-283 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(2) Each school building project shall be assigned to a category on the basis of whether such project is primarily required to: (A) Create new facilities or alter existing facilities to provide for mandatory instructional programs pursuant to this chapter, for physical education facilities in compliance with Title IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1972 where such programs or such compliance cannot be provided within existing facilities or for the correction of code violations which cannot be reasonably addressed within existing program space; (B) create new facilities or alter existing facilities to enhance mandatory instructional programs pursuant to this chapter or provide comparable facilities among schools to all students at the same grade level or levels within the school district unless such project is otherwise explicitly included in another category pursuant to this section; and (C) create new facilities or alter existing facilities to provide supportive services, provided in no event shall such supportive services include swimming pools, auditoriums, outdoor athletic facilities, tennis courts, elementary school playgrounds, site improvement or garages or storage, parking or general recreation areas. All applications submitted prior to July first shall be reviewed promptly by the commissioner and the amount of the grant for which such project is eligible shall be estimated, provided an application for a school building project determined by the commissioner to be a project that will assist the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., shall have until September first to submit an application for such a project and may have until December first of the same year to secure and report all local and state approvals required to complete the grant application. The commissioner shall annually prepare a listing of all such eligible school building projects listed by category together with the amount of the estimated grants therefor and shall submit the same to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before the fifteenth day of December, except as provided in section 10-283a, with a request for authorization to enter into grant commitments. Each such listing submitted after December 1995 shall include a separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in scope or cost to a degree determined by the commissioner. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, no such project that has changed in scope or cost to the degree determined by the commissioner shall be eligible for reimbursement under this chapter unless it appears on such list. Each such listing submitted after December 2005 shall include a separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in scope or cost to a degree determined by the commissioner once, and a separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in scope or cost to a degree determined by the commissioner twice. On and after July 1, 2006, no project, other than a project for a regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education, may appear on the separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in cost more than twice. The percentage determined pursuant to section 10-285a at the time a school building project on such schedule was originally authorized shall be used for purposes of the grant for such project. On and after July 1, 2006, a project that was not previously authorized as an interdistrict magnet school shall not receive a higher percentage for reimbursement than that determined pursuant to section 10-285a at the time a school building project on such schedule was originally authorized. The General Assembly shall annually authorize the commissioner to enter into grant commitments on behalf of the state in accordance with the commissioner's categorized listing for such projects as the General Assembly shall determine. The commissioner may not enter into any such grant commitments except pursuant to such legislative authorization. Any regional school district which assumes the responsibility for completion of a public school building project shall be eligible for a grant pursuant to subdivision (5) or (6), as the case may be, of subsection (a) of section 10-286, when such project is completed and accepted by such regional school district.
Sec. 59. Subsection (a) of section 10-283b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) On and after July 1, 1999, the Commissioner of Education shall include school building projects for the regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education on the list developed pursuant to section 10-283, as amended by this act. Prior to inclusion on the list, such projects shall be reviewed by the Department of Public Works. The adoption of the list by the General Assembly and authorization by the State Bond Commission of the issuance of bonds pursuant to section 10-287d shall fund the full cost of the projects. On [or] and after July 1, 2007, the commissioner may approve applications for grants to assist school building projects for [the] any regional vocational-technical school [system] operated by the State Board of Education to remedy damage from fire and catastrophe, to correct safety, health and other code violations, to replace roofs, to remedy a certified school indoor air quality emergency, or to purchase and install portable classroom buildings at any time within the limit of available grant authorization and to make payments on such a project within the limit of appropriated funds, provided portable classroom building projects do not create a new facility or cause an existing facility to be modified so that the portable buildings comprise a substantial percentage of the total facility area, as determined by the commissioner. Funds for the projects shall be transferred to the Department of Public Works and, upon such transfer, the projects shall be subject to the requirements of chapters 59 and 60.
Sec. 60. Subsection (a) of section 10-284 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(a) The Commissioner of Education shall have authority to receive, review and approve applications for state grants under this chapter, or to disapprove any such application if (1) it does not comply with the requirements of the State Fire Marshal or the Department of Public Health, (2) it is not accompanied by a life-cycle cost analysis approved by the Commissioner of Public Works pursuant to section 16a-38, (3) it does not comply with the provisions of sections 10-290d and 10-291, (4) it does not meet the standards or school building priorities established by the State Board of Education, or (5) the commissioner determines that the proposed educational specifications for or theme of the project for which the applicant requests a state grant duplicates a program offered by a regional vocational-technical school or an interdistrict magnet school in the same region.
Sec. 61. Section 10a-12a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
There shall be a Technical Education Coordinating Council. The council shall consist of the following members: The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and commerce, or their designees; the Commissioners of Higher Education and Economic and Community Development and the Labor Commissioner or their designees; the chief executive officers of each constituent unit of the state system of higher education, or their designees; the president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges; [the superintendent of the] one member who is the principal of a regional vocational-technical school; [system;] one member who is a teacher at a regional vocational-technical school; [designated by the exclusive representative of the vocational-technical school teachers' bargaining unit;] two members who are parents of students enrolled in a regional vocational-technical [schools] school designated by the regional vocational-technical schools parents' association; one member representing each of the economic clusters identified pursuant to section 32-1m designated by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; one member designated by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association; one member designated by the Manufacturing Assistance Council; and one member designated by the Connecticut Technology Council. The cochairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, or their designees, shall jointly convene a meeting of the council not later than October 1, 1998. The council shall meet at least six times a year to review and evaluate the coordinated delivery of technical and technological education to meet the employment needs of business and industry. The council shall also explore ways to: (1) Encourage students to pursue technical careers, including the development or expansion of alternative training methods that may improve the delivery and accessibility of vocational-technical training; (2) ensure a successful transition for students from the regional vocational-technical schools to post secondary education; and (3) improve public awareness regarding manufacturing careers. On or before January 1, 1999, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and commerce on the activities of the council in the prior year.
Sec. 62. Subsection (b) of section 10a-25b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent hereinafter stated, shall be used to encourage, promote, develop and assist high technology products and programs within Connecticut by infusion of financial assistance in situations when such financial aid would not otherwise reasonably be available from other sources as hereinafter stated: (1) For the State Board of Education: High technology equipment for programs in the regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education, not exceeding two million dollars; (2) for Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated: (A) Matching funds for cooperative high technology research and development projects and programs, not exceeding nine million dollars; (B) financial aid, as defined in subdivision (4) of section 32-34, to public institutions of higher education for high technology projects and programs, not exceeding eleven million five hundred thousand dollars.
Sec. 63. Section 10a-55e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
Each regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education, local or regional boards of education for the school district in which a regional vocational-technical school is located or the regional educational service center serving the school district in which a regional vocational-technical school is located and public institution of higher education shall develop, in such manner as the Commissioners of Education and Higher Education prescribe, agreements to share equipment required for students participating in green jobs certificate or degree programs or enrolled in a course of study concerning green jobs, including, but not limited to, solar photovoltaic installation.
Sec. 64. Section 10a-72d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
The Board of Trustees for the Community-Technical Colleges shall establish procedures for (1) the development of articulation agreements between the regional community-technical colleges and [the] regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education, local or regional boards of education for the school district in which a regional vocational-technical school is located or the regional educational service center serving the school district in which a regional vocational-technical school is located in order to ensure a successful transition to higher education for students attending the regional vocational-technical schools and (2) the awarding of appropriate college credit for persons enrolled in and registered under the terms of a qualified apprenticeship training program, certified in accordance with regulations adopted by the Labor Commissioner and registered with the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council established under section 31-22n.
Sec. 65. Subsection (b) of section 17b-688i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(b) To the extent permitted under section 17b-688c, the Labor Department shall be responsible for the administration of employment services to recipients of temporary family assistance under the employment services program administered by the Department of Social Services pursuant to section 17-688c. The employment services provided by the Labor Department shall include appropriate basic education and occupational skills training combined with subsidized or unsubsidized work experience and employment, as deemed appropriate by the Labor Department, and any other programs or services deemed appropriate by the Labor Department, to the extent permitted under state and federal law, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Employment; (2) work-study, internship or apprenticeship opportunities; (3) adult skills training, including literacy, mathematics and language proficiency with curriculum related to job opportunities and job search skills; (4) occupational skills training; (5) case management and counseling in successful work skills; and (6) access to state-subsidized child care and transportation, where needed. Services may be provided by existing service providers, including, but not limited to, local or regional boards of education or regional educational service centers that offer adult education programs, community-technical colleges and regional vocational-technical schools operated by the State Board of Education.
Sec. 66. Section 31-3c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
The Labor Commissioner, with the approval of the Commissioners of Economic and Community Development and Education, shall establish a customized job training program for preemployment and postemployment job training for the purpose of meeting the labor requirements of manufacturing or economic base businesses, as defined in subsection (l) of section 32-222, and shall implement such job training program. Such job training program shall include training designed to increase the basic skills of employees, including, but not limited to, training in written and oral communication, mathematics or science, or training in technical and technological skills. The Labor Commissioner shall use funds appropriated to the Labor Department for vocational and manpower training in carrying out such job training program, except that not more than four per cent of such funds may be used to pay the cost of its administration. Upon receipt of a request for job training pursuant to this section, the Labor Commissioner shall notify the chancellor of the regional community-technical colleges, or his designee, of such request. The chancellor, or his designee, shall determine if a training program exists or can be designed at a regional community-technical college to meet such training need and shall notify the Labor Commissioner of such determination. The Labor Commissioner shall to the extent possible make arrangements for the participation of the regional community-technical colleges, the Connecticut State University System, other institutions of higher education, other postsecondary institutions, adult education programs, opportunities industrialization centers and [state] regional vocational-technical schools in implementing the program. Nothing in this section shall preclude the Labor Commissioner from considering or choosing other providers to meet such training need. Nothing in this section shall preclude an employer from considering or choosing other providers to meet the training needs of such employer, provided the Labor Commissioner approves such employer's use of such other providers. For the period from July 1, 1996, to June 30, 1999, the Labor Commissioner, or his designee, the chancellor of the community-technical colleges and the chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education shall meet semiannually to review actions taken pursuant to this section and section 32-6j, as amended by this act.
Sec. 67. Subsection (b) of section 31-11s of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(b) On or before February 9, 2000, and annually thereafter, the commission shall make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the appropriation of funds received under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P.L. 105-220, as from time to time amended, for young adult programs for teenage parents, those at risk of dropping out of school and young adults who attend regional vocational-technical [high] schools, adult education programs or other programs to assist such persons in attaining a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Sec. 68. Subdivision (8) of section 31-51ww of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(8) "Education" means (A) a postsecondary program of instruction provided by a college, university, community college, [area] regional vocational-technical school, professional institution or specialized college or school legally authorized to grant degrees, or (B) any related educational program approved by the community-based organization and the department;
Sec. 69. Section 32-6j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
In the assessment and provision of job training for employers, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the executive director of the Connecticut Development Authority shall request the assistance of the Labor Commissioner. Upon receipt of a request for job training pursuant to this section, the Labor Commissioner shall notify the chancellor of the regional community-technical colleges, or his designee, of such request. The chancellor, or his designee, shall determine if a training program exists or can be designed at a regional community-technical college to meet such training need and shall notify the Labor Commissioner of such determination. The Labor Commissioner shall to the extent possible make arrangements for the participation of the regional community-technical colleges, the Connecticut State University System, other institutions of higher education, other postsecondary institutions, adult education programs and [state] regional vocational-technical schools in implementing the program. Nothing in this section shall preclude the Labor Commissioner from considering or choosing other providers to meet such training need.
Sec. 70. Subdivision (12) of section 32-475 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(12) Participate in a Connecticut career certificate program established by a local or regional board of education, regional vocational-technical school operated by the State Board of Education or regional education service center and approved by the Commissioner of Education and the Labor Commissioner.
Sec. 71. Sections 10-4r, 10-95m, 10-95o, 10-97a and 10-97b of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective from passage)
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-217a(i) |
Sec. 2 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-281(b) |
Sec. 3 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-71(d) |
Sec. 4 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-266m(a)(4) |
Sec. 5 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-17g |
Sec. 6 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-66j(f) |
Sec. 7 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-76d(e)(2) and (3) |
Sec. 8 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-76g(d) |
Sec. 9 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-253(b) |
Sec. 10 |
July 1, 2011 |
New section |
Sec. 11 |
July 1, 2011 |
New section |
Sec. 12 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-266aa(g) |
Sec. 13 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-266aa(k) |
Sec. 14 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 15 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-262i |
Sec. 16 |
July 1, 2011 |
New section |
Sec. 17 |
July 1, 2011 |
New section |
Sec. 18 |
July 1, 2011 |
New section |
Sec. 19 |
from passage |
10-1 |
Sec. 20 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-95h |
Sec. 21 |
July 1, 2011 |
3-20f |
Sec. 22 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-99g |
Sec. 23 |
July 1, 2011 |
1-79(t) |
Sec. 24 |
July 1, 2011 |
1-84d |
Sec. 25 |
July 1, 2011 |
1-91(w) |
Sec. 26 |
July 1, 2011 |
4-124z |
Sec. 27 |
July 1, 2011 |
4-124gg |
Sec. 28 |
July 1, 2011 |
4-124hh(a) |
Sec. 29 |
July 1, 2011 |
4a-11a(b) |
Sec. 30 |
July 1, 2011 |
5-275(b) |
Sec. 31 |
July 1, 2011 |
8-265pp |
Sec. 32 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-9(b) |
Sec. 33 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-15d |
Sec. 34 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-19d |
Sec. 35 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-19e |
Sec. 36 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-20a(a) |
Sec. 37 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-21g |
Sec. 38 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-66p |
Sec. 39 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-69(c)(2) |
Sec. 40 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-74d(c) |
Sec. 41 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-76q |
Sec. 42 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-95 |
Sec. 43 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-95a |
Sec. 44 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-95i |
Sec. 45 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-95j |
Sec. 46 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-95k |
Sec. 47 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-95l |
Sec. 48 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-95n |
Sec. 49 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-97(e) |
Sec. 50 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-98a |
Sec. 51 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-99f |
Sec. 52 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-215b |
Sec. 53 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-215f |
Sec. 54 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-220d |
Sec. 55 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-233d(e) |
Sec. 56 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-235(a) |
Sec. 57 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-262n(d)(1) |
Sec. 58 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-283(a)(2) |
Sec. 59 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-283b(a) |
Sec. 60 |
July 1, 2011 |
10-284(a) |
Sec. 61 |
July 1, 2011 |
10a-12a |
Sec. 62 |
July 1, 2011 |
10a-25b(b) |
Sec. 63 |
July 1, 2011 |
10a-55e |
Sec. 64 |
July 1, 2011 |
10a-72d |
Sec. 65 |
July 1, 2011 |
17b-688i(b) |
Sec. 66 |
July 1, 2011 |
31-3c |
Sec. 67 |
July 1, 2011 |
31-11s(b) |
Sec. 68 |
July 1, 2011 |
31-51ww(8) |
Sec. 69 |
July 1, 2011 |
32-6j |
Sec. 70 |
July 1, 2011 |
32-475(12) |
Sec. 71 |
from passage |
Repealer section |
Statement of Purpose:
To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.
[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.]