Bill Text: CT HB05043 | 2014 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Implementing The Budget Recommendations Of The Governor Concerning Education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-04-10 - File Number 493 [HB05043 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2014-HB05043-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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February Session, 2014 |
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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. Section 10-264l of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
(a) The Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, establish a grant program (1) to assist (A) local and regional boards of education, (B) regional educational service centers, (C) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of Quinebaug Valley Community College and Three Rivers Community College, and (D) cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and (2) in assisting the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, to assist (A) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (B) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (C) the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (D) the board of governors for an independent college or university, as defined in section 10a-37, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent college or university, and (E) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner with the operation of interdistrict magnet school programs. All interdistrict magnet schools shall be operated in conformance with the same laws and regulations applicable to public schools. For the purposes of this section "an interdistrict magnet school program" means a program which (i) supports racial, ethnic and economic diversity, (ii) offers a special and high quality curriculum, and (iii) requires students who are enrolled to attend at least half-time. An interdistrict magnet school program does not include a regional agricultural science and technology school, a technical high school or a regional special education center. On and after July 1, 2000, the governing authority for each interdistrict magnet school program that is in operation prior to July 1, 2005, shall restrict the number of students that may enroll in the program from a participating district to eighty per cent of the total enrollment of the program. The governing authority for each interdistrict magnet school program that begins operations on or after July 1, 2005, shall restrict the number of students that may enroll in the program from a participating district to seventy-five per cent of the total enrollment of the program, and maintain such a school enrollment that at least twenty-five per cent but not more than seventy-five per cent of the students enrolled are pupils of racial minorities, as defined in section 10-226a. The governing authority of an interdistrict magnet school that the commissioner determines 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., shall restrict the number of students that may enroll in the program from a participating district in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, provided such enrollment is in accordance with the reduced-isolation setting standards of such 2013 stipulation and order.
(b) (1) Applications for interdistrict magnet school program operating grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be submitted annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, except that on and after July 1, 2009, applications for such operating grants for new interdistrict magnet schools, other than those that the commissioner determines 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., shall not be accepted until the commissioner develops a comprehensive state-wide interdistrict magnet school plan. The commissioner shall submit such comprehensive state-wide interdistrict magnet school plan on or before January 1, 2011, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education.
(2) In determining whether an application shall be approved and funds awarded pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to: (A) Whether the program offered by the school is likely to increase student achievement; (B) whether the program is likely to reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation; (C) the percentage of the student enrollment in the program from each participating district; and (D) the proposed operating budget and the sources of funding for the interdistrict magnet school. For a magnet school not operated by a local or regional board of education, the commissioner shall only approve a proposed operating budget that, on a per pupil basis, does not exceed the maximum allowable threshold established in accordance with this subdivision. The maximum allowable threshold shall be an amount equal to one hundred twenty per cent of the state average of the quotient obtained by dividing net current expenditures, as defined in section 10-261, by average daily membership, as defined in said section, for the fiscal year two years prior to the fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. The Department of Education shall establish the maximum allowable threshold no later than December fifteenth of the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year for which the operating grant is requested. If requested by an applicant that is not a local or regional board of education, the commissioner may approve a proposed operating budget that exceeds the maximum allowable threshold if the commissioner determines that there are extraordinary programmatic needs. In the case of an interdistrict magnet school 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the commissioner, the commissioner shall also consider whether the school is meeting the [desegregation] reduced-isolation setting standards set forth in [said] such 2013 stipulation and order. If such school has not met the [desegregation] reduced-isolation setting standards [by the second year of operation] prescribed in such 2013 stipulation and order, it shall not be entitled to receive a grant pursuant to this section unless the commissioner finds that it is appropriate to award a grant for an additional year or years for purposes of compliance with [said] such 2013 stipulation and order. If requested by the commissioner, the applicant shall meet with the commissioner or the commissioner's designee to discuss the budget and sources of funding.
(3) Except as provided in this section, section 197 of public act 11-48 and the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., the commissioner shall not award a grant to (A) a program that is in operation prior to July 1, 2005, if more than eighty per cent of its total enrollment is from one school district, except that the commissioner may award a grant for good cause, for any one year, on behalf of an otherwise eligible magnet school program, if more than eighty per cent of the total enrollment is from one district, [. The commissioner shall not award a grant to] and (B) a program that begins operations on or after July 1, 2005, if more than seventy-five per cent of its total enrollment is from one school district or if less than twenty-five or more than seventy-five per cent of the students enrolled are pupils of racial minorities, as defined in section 10-226a, except that the commissioner may award a grant for good cause, for one year, on behalf of an otherwise eligible interdistrict magnet school program, if more than seventy-five per cent of the total enrollment is from one district or less than twenty-five or more than seventy-five per cent of the students enrolled are pupils of racial minorities. The commissioner may not award grants pursuant to [such an exception for a second consecutive year] the exceptions described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this subdivision for an additional consecutive year or years, except as provided for in section 197 of public act 11-48, the 2008 stipulation for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the commissioner.
(c) (1) The maximum amount each interdistrict magnet school program, except those described in subparagraphs (A) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (3) of this subsection, shall be eligible to receive per enrolled student who is not a resident of the town operating the magnet school shall be (A) six thousand sixteen dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, (B) six thousand seven hundred thirty dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2012, inclusive, and (C) seven thousand eighty-five dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter. The per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is a resident of the town operating the magnet school program shall be three thousand dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, and each fiscal year thereafter.
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, and each fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner may, within available appropriations, provide supplemental grants for the purposes of enhancing educational programs in such interdistrict magnet schools, as the commissioner determines. Such grants shall be made after the commissioner has conducted a comprehensive financial review and approved the total operating budget for such schools, including all revenue and expenditure estimates.
(3) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (C) to (F), inclusive, of this subdivision, each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional educational service center that enrolls less than fifty-five per cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per pupil grant in the amount of (i) six thousand two hundred fifty dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, (ii) six thousand five hundred dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, (iii) seven thousand sixty dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, (iv) seven thousand six hundred twenty dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2012, inclusive, and (v) seven thousand nine hundred dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (C) to (F), inclusive, of this subdivision, each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional educational service center that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students in the amount of (i) six thousand sixteen dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, (ii) six thousand seven hundred thirty dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2012, inclusive, and (iii) seven thousand eighty-five dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter. The per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent of the school's students shall be three thousand dollars.
(C) Each interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional educational service center that began operations for the school year commencing July 1, 2001, and that for the school year commencing July 1, 2008, enrolled at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than eighty per cent of the school's students from a single town shall receive a per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than eighty per cent of the school's students in the amount of eight thousand one hundred eighty dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter, and a per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the district that enrolls at least fifty-five per cent, but no more than eighty per cent of the school's students in the amount of eight thousand one hundred eighty dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter.
(D) Each interdistrict magnet school operated by (i) a regional educational service center, (ii) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (iii) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (iv) the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (v) the board of governors for an independent college or university, as defined in section 10a-37, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent college or university, (vi) cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, (vii) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner, and (viii) the Hartford school district for the operation of Great Path Academy on behalf of Manchester Community College, that enrolls less than sixty per cent of its students from Hartford pursuant to the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., shall receive a per pupil grant in the amount of (I) nine thousand six hundred ninety-five dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, and (II) ten thousand four hundred forty-three dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2015, inclusive.
(E) Each interdistrict magnet school operated by a local or regional board of education, pursuant to the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., shall receive a per pupil grant for each enrolled student who is not a resident of the district in the amount of (i) twelve thousand dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, and (ii) thirteen thousand fifty-four dollars for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2015, inclusive.
(F) In addition to the grants described in subparagraph (E) of this subdivision, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, the commissioner may, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the Finance Advisory Committee, established pursuant to section 4-93, provide supplemental grants to the Hartford school district of up to one thousand fifty-four dollars for each student enrolled at an interdistrict magnet school operated by the Hartford school district who is not a resident of such district.
(4) The amounts of the grants determined pursuant to this subsection shall be proportionately adjusted, if necessary, within available appropriations, and in no case shall any grant pursuant to this section exceed the reasonable operating budget of the interdistrict magnet school program, less revenues from other sources. Any interdistrict magnet school program operating less than full-time, but at least half-time, shall be eligible to receive a grant equal to sixty-five per cent of the grant amount determined pursuant to this subsection.
(5) Within available appropriations, the commissioner may make grants to the following entities that operate an interdistrict magnet school that assists the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the commissioner and that provide academic support programs and summer school educational programs approved by the commissioner to students participating in such interdistrict magnet school program: (A) Regional educational service centers, (B) local and regional boards of education, (C) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (D) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (E) the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (F) the board of governors for an independent college or university, as defined in section 10a-37, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent college or university, (G) cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and (H) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner.
(6) Within available appropriations, the Commissioner of Education may make grants, in an amount not to exceed seventy-five thousand dollars, for start-up costs associated with the development of new interdistrict magnet school programs that 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the commissioner, to the following entities that develop such a program: (A) Regional educational service centers, (B) local and regional boards of education, (C) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (D) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (E) the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (F) the board of governors for an independent college or university, as defined in section 10a-37, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent college or university, (G) cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and (H) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner.
(d) (1) Grants made pursuant to this section, except those made pursuant to subdivision (6) of subsection (c) of this section and subdivision (2) of this subsection, shall be paid as follows: Seventy per cent [by] not later than September first and the balance [by] not later than May first of each fiscal year. The May first payment shall be adjusted to reflect actual interdistrict magnet school program enrollment as of the preceding October first using the data of record as of the intervening March first, if the actual level of enrollment is lower than the projected enrollment stated in the approved grant application. The May first payment shall be further adjusted for the difference between the total grant received by the magnet school operator in the prior fiscal year and the revised total grant amount calculated for the prior fiscal year in cases where the aggregate financial audit submitted by the interdistrict magnet school operator pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (n) of this section indicates an overpayment by the department.
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each fiscal year thereafter, the governing authority of Goodwin College shall receive an annual per pupil grant for the operation of the College Academy interdistrict magnet school as follows: (A) For each student enrolled in the summer term of the fiscal year, fifty per cent of the amount not later than August first and the balance (i) not later than September first of such fiscal year for each such student who enrolls in the second trimester term, or (ii) not later than May first of such fiscal year for each such student who enrolls in the third trimester term; (B) for each student enrolled in the second trimester term of the fiscal year who was not enrolled in the preceding summer term, fifty per cent not later than September first of such fiscal year and the balance not later than May first of such fiscal year for each such student who enrolls in the third trimester term. The May first payment shall be adjusted to reflect the actual enrollment of such interdistrict magnet school program as of the preceding summer and second trimester terms first using the data of record as of the intervening October first and March first, if the actual level of enrollment is lower than the projected enrollment stated in the approved grant application. The May first payment shall be further adjusted for the difference between the total grant received in the prior fiscal year and the revised grant amount calculated for the prior fiscal year in cases where the financial audit submitted by the governing authority of such interdistrict magnet school pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (n) of this section indicates an overpayment by the department.
(e) The Department of Education may retain up to one-half of one per cent of the amount appropriated, in an amount not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars, for purposes of this section for program evaluation and administration.
(f) Each local or regional school district in which an interdistrict magnet school is located shall provide the same kind of transportation to its children enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school as it provides to its children enrolled in other public schools in such local or regional school district. The parent or guardian of a child denied the transportation services required to be provided pursuant to this subsection may appeal such denial in the manner provided in sections 10-186 and 10-187.
(g) On or before October fifteenth of each year, the Commissioner of Education shall determine if interdistrict magnet school enrollment 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 for grants for interdistrict cooperative programs pursuant to section 10-74d.
(h) In the case of a student identified as requiring special education, the school district in which the student resides shall: (1) Hold the planning and placement team meeting for such student and shall invite representatives from the interdistrict magnet school to participate in such meeting; and (2) pay the interdistrict magnet school an amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of educating such student and the sum of the amount received by the interdistrict magnet school for such student pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and amounts received from other state, federal, local or private sources calculated on a per pupil basis. Such school district shall be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g. If a student requiring special education attends an interdistrict magnet school on a full-time basis, such interdistrict magnet school shall be responsible for ensuring that such student receives the services mandated by the student's individualized education program whether such services are provided by the interdistrict magnet school or by the school district in which the student resides.
(i) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the enrollment of nonpublic school students in an interdistrict magnet school program that operates less than full-time, provided (1) such students constitute no more than five per cent of the full-time equivalent enrollment in such magnet school program, and (2) such students are not counted for purposes of determining the amount of grants pursuant to this section and section 10-264i.
(j) After accommodating students from participating districts in accordance with an approved enrollment agreement, an interdistrict magnet school operator that has unused student capacity may enroll directly into its program any interested student. A student from a district that is not participating in an interdistrict magnet school or the interdistrict student attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa to an extent determined by the Commissioner of Education shall be given preference. The local or regional board of education otherwise responsible for educating such student shall contribute funds to support the operation of the interdistrict magnet school in an amount equal to the per student tuition, if any, charged to participating districts.
(k) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year thereafter, any tuition charged to a local or regional board of education by a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school or any tuition charged by the Hartford school district operating the Great Path Academy on behalf of Manchester Community College for any student enrolled in kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, in such interdistrict magnet school shall be in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the average per pupil expenditure of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. If any such board of education fails to pay such tuition, the commissioner may withhold from such board's town or towns a sum payable under section 10-262i, as amended by this act, in an amount not to exceed the amount of the unpaid tuition to the magnet school and pay such money to the fiscal agent for the magnet school as a supplementary grant for the operation of the interdistrict magnet school program. In no case shall the sum of such tuitions exceed the difference between (i) the total expenditures of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (ii) the total per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from other sources. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the operating budget of a magnet school to verify such tuition rate.
(2) (A) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, and June 30, 2014, a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school offering a preschool program that is not located in the Sheff region may charge tuition to the Department of Education for a child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount not to exceed an amount equal to the difference between (i) the average per pupil expenditure of the preschool program offered at the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (ii) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the operating budget of any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate. For purposes of this subdivision, "Sheff region" means the school districts for the towns of Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South Windsor, Suffield, Vernon, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor and Windsor Locks.
(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each fiscal year thereafter, a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school offering a preschool program that is not located in the Sheff region may charge tuition to the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount that is in accordance with the sliding tuition scale adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-264p. The Department of Education shall be financially responsible for any unpaid portion of the tuition not charged to such parent or guardian under such sliding tuition scale. Such tuition shall not exceed an amount equal to the difference between (i) the average per pupil expenditure of the preschool program offered at the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (ii) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of this section plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive financial review of the operating budget of any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate.
(l) A participating district shall provide opportunities for its students to attend an interdistrict magnet school in a number that is at least equal to the number specified in any written agreement with an interdistrict magnet school operator or in a number that is at least equal to the average number of students that the participating district enrolled in such magnet school during the previous three school years.
(m) On or before May 15, 2010, and annually thereafter, each interdistrict magnet school operator shall provide written notification to any school district that is otherwise responsible for educating a student who resides in such school district and will be enrolled in an interdistrict magnet school under the operator's control for the following school year. Such notification shall include the number of any such students, by grade, who will be enrolled in an interdistrict magnet school under the control of such operator, the name of the school in which such student has been placed and the amount of tuition to be charged to the local or regional board of education for such student. Such notification shall represent an estimate of the number of students expected to attend such interdistrict magnet schools in the following school year, but shall not be deemed to limit the number of students who may enroll in such interdistrict magnet schools for such year.
(n) (1) Each interdistrict magnet school operator shall annually file with the Commissioner of Education, at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, (A) a financial audit for each interdistrict magnet school operated by such operator, and (B) an aggregate financial audit for all of the interdistrict magnet schools operated by such operator.
(2) Annually, the commissioner shall randomly select one interdistrict magnet school operated by a regional educational service center to be subject to a comprehensive financial audit conducted by an auditor selected by the commissioner. The regional educational service center shall be responsible for all costs associated with the audit conducted pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision.
(o) For the school years commencing July 1, 2009, to July 1, 2014, inclusive, any local or regional board of education operating an interdistrict magnet school pursuant to the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., shall not charge tuition for any student enrolled in a preschool program or in kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, in an interdistrict magnet school operated by such school district, except the Hartford school district may charge tuition for any student enrolled in the Great Path Academy.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2014) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Education shall award, within available appropriations, a grant in an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars to the Hartford school district for program development and expansion of the Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy to assist the state in meeting the goals of the 2013 stipulation for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William O'Neill, et al. Application for such grant funds awarded pursuant to this section shall be submitted annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes.
(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, any student who is not a resident of the Hartford school district may apply for enrollment in the Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy, provided such student is eligible for enrollment under the school's admissions policies. Any such student enrolled in the Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy shall be so enrolled as a participant in the interdistrict public school attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa of the general statutes.
(c) Grants awarded under this section shall supplement other grant awards to which the Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy is entitled and shall not reduce such academy's eligibility for any other grant that such academy may be entitled to receive.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2014) (a) For purposes of this section, "Sheff Lighthouse School" has the same meaning as "Lighthouse Schools", as defined in the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al.
(b) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2018, inclusive, the Department of Education shall award, within available appropriations, an annual grant, in an amount of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, to the Hartford school district to assist in the development of curricula and the training of staff for the conversion of a neighborhood school to a Sheff Lighthouse School.
(c) Any school identified for conversion to a Sheff Lighthouse School shall be so identified through a collaborative process that has been approved by the Hartford board of education and the Commissioner of Education.
(d) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, any student who is not a resident of the Hartford school district may apply for enrollment in a Sheff Lighthouse School. Any such student enrolled in a Sheff Lighthouse School shall be so enrolled as a participant in the interdistrict public school attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa of the general statutes.
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 10-264i of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
(a) (1) (A) A local or regional board of education, (B) a regional educational service center, (C) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of Quinebaug Valley Community College and Three Rivers Community College, (D) a cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a, or (E) to 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the Commissioner of Education, (i) the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (ii) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (iii) the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (iv) the board of governors for an independent college or university, as defined in section 10a-37, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent college or university, and (v) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner which transports a child to an interdistrict magnet school program, as defined in section 10-264l, as amended by this act, in a town other than the town in which the child resides shall be eligible pursuant to section 10-264e to receive a grant for the cost of transporting such child in accordance with this section.
(2) Except as provided in subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection, the amount of such grant shall not exceed an amount equal to the number of such children transported multiplied by one thousand three hundred dollars.
(3) For districts assisting the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the commissioner, (i) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, the amount of such grant shall not exceed an amount equal to the number of such children transported multiplied by one thousand four hundred dollars, and (ii) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2015, inclusive, the amount of such grant shall not exceed an amount equal to the number of such children transported multiplied by two thousand dollars.
(4) In addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Education may provide supplemental transportation grants to regional educational service centers for the purposes of transportation to interdistrict magnet schools. Any such grant shall be provided within available appropriations and after the commissioner has reviewed and approved the total interdistrict magnet school transportation budget for a regional educational service center, including all revenue and expenditure estimates. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, in addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Education, with the approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, may provide supplemental transportation grants to the Hartford school district and the Capitol Region Education Council for the purposes of transportation of students who are not residents of Hartford to interdistrict magnet schools operated by the Capitol Region Education Council or the Hartford school district. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, in addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Education may provide supplemental transportation grants to regional educational service centers for the purposes of transportation to interdistrict magnet schools that 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. Any such grant shall be provided within available appropriations and upon a comprehensive financial review of all transportation activities as prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner may require the regional educational service center to provide an independent financial review, by an auditor selected by the Commissioner of Education, the costs of which may be paid from funds that are part of the supplemental transportation grant. Any such grant shall be paid as follows: Up to fifty per cent of the grant on or before June 30, 2012, and the balance on or before September 1, 2012, upon completion of the comprehensive financial review. For the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2015, inclusive, in addition to the grants otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Education may provide supplemental transportation to interdistrict magnet schools that assist the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al. and for transportation provided by EASTCONN to interdistrict magnet schools. Any such grant shall be provided within available appropriations and upon a comprehensive financial review, by an auditor selected by the Commissioner of Education, the costs of such review may be paid from funds that are part of the supplemental transportation grant. Any such grant shall be paid as follows: [Up] For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, up to fifty per cent of the grant on or before June 30, 2013, and the balance on or before September 1, 2013, upon completion of the comprehensive financial review; for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, up to fifty per cent of the grant on or before June 30, 2014, and the balance on or before September 1, 2014, upon completion of the comprehensive financial review; and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, up to fifty per cent of the grant on or before June 30, 2015, and the balance on or before September 1, 2015, upon completion of the comprehensive financial review.
(5) The Department of Education shall provide such grants within available appropriations. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent a local or regional board of education, regional educational service center or cooperative arrangement from receiving reimbursement under section 10-266m, as amended by this act, for reasonable transportation expenses for which such board, service center or cooperative arrangement is not reimbursed pursuant to this section.
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 10-264h of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, and each fiscal year thereafter, a local or regional board of education, a regional educational service center, a cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a, or any of the following entities that operate an interdistrict magnet school that assists the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the Commissioner of Education: (1) The Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (2) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (3) the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (4) the board of governors for an independent college or university, as defined in section 10a-37, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent college or university, and (5) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the Commissioner of Education, may be eligible for reimbursement, except as otherwise provided for, up to eighty per cent of the eligible cost of any capital expenditure for the purchase, construction, extension, replacement, leasing or major alteration of interdistrict magnet school facilities, including any expenditure for the purchase of equipment, in accordance with this section. To be eligible for reimbursement under this section a magnet school construction project shall meet the requirements for a school building project established in chapter 173, except that the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, may waive any requirement in said chapter for good cause. On and after July 1, 2011, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall approve only applications for reimbursement under this section that the Commissioner of Education finds will reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation. Applications for reimbursement under this section for the construction of new interdistrict magnet schools shall not be accepted until the Commissioner of Education develops a comprehensive state-wide interdistrict magnet school plan, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-264l, unless the Commissioner of Education determines that such construction 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al.
Sec. 6. Section 10-264o of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, interdistrict magnet schools that begin operations on or after July 1, 2008, pursuant to the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the Commissioner of Education, may operate without district participation agreements and enroll students from any district through a lottery designated by the commissioner.
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter, any tuition charged to a local or regional board of education by a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school [that began operations on or after July 1, 2008, pursuant to] assisting the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the Commissioner of Education, for any student enrolled in kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, in such interdistrict magnet school shall be in an amount equal to the difference between (1) the average per pupil expenditure of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (2) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of section 10-264l plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. If any such board of education fails to pay such tuition, the commissioner may withhold from such board's town or towns a sum payable under section 10-262i, as amended by this act, in an amount not to exceed the amount of the unpaid tuition to the magnet school and pay such money to the fiscal agent for the magnet school as a supplementary grant for the operation of the interdistrict magnet school program. In no case shall the sum of such tuitions exceed the difference between (A) the total expenditures of the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) the total per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of section 10-264l plus any revenue from other sources. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive review of the operating budget of a magnet school to verify such tuition rate.
(c) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school [that began operations on or after July 1, 2008, pursuant to] assisting the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the Commissioner of Education, and offering a preschool program shall not charge tuition for a child enrolled in such preschool program.
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school [that began operations on or after July 1, 2008, pursuant to] assisting the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the Commissioner of Education, and offering a preschool program may charge tuition to the Department of Education for a child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount not to exceed an amount equal to the difference between (A) the average per pupil expenditure of the preschool program offered at the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of section 10-264l plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive review of the operating budget of any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate.
(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each fiscal year thereafter, a regional educational service center operating an interdistrict magnet school [that began operations on or after July 1, 2008, pursuant to] assisting the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the Commissioner of Education, and offering a preschool program may charge tuition to the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in such preschool program in an amount that is in accordance with the sliding tuition scale adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-264p. The Department of Education shall be financially responsible for any unpaid portion of the tuition not charged to such parent or guardian under such sliding tuition scale. Such tuition shall not exceed an amount equal to the difference between (A) the average per pupil expenditure of the preschool program offered at the magnet school for the prior fiscal year, and (B) the amount of any per pupil state subsidy calculated under subsection (c) of section 10-264l plus any revenue from other sources calculated on a per pupil basis. The commissioner may conduct a comprehensive review of the operating budget of any such magnet school charging such tuition to verify such tuition rate.
Sec. 7. Subsection (l) of section 10-66ee of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
(l) Within available appropriations, the state may provide a grant in an amount not to exceed seventy-five thousand dollars to any newly approved state charter school that assists the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the Commissioner of Education, for start-up costs associated with the new charter school program.
Sec. 8. Section 10-262s of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
The Commissioner of Education may, to 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., transfer funds appropriated for the Sheff settlement to the following: (1) Grants for interdistrict cooperative programs pursuant to section 10-74d, (2) grants for state charter schools pursuant to section 10-66ee, (3) grants for the interdistrict public school attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa, (4) grants for interdistrict magnet schools pursuant to section 10-264l, and (5) to technical high schools for programming.
Sec. 9. Subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 10-266m of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Commissioner of Education may provide grants, within available appropriations, in an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars per pupil, to local and regional boards of education and regional educational service centers that transport (A) out-of-district students to technical high schools located in Hartford, or (B) Hartford students attending a technical high school or a regional agricultural science and technology education center outside of the district, to 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the commissioner, for the costs associated with such transportation.
Sec. 10. Subsection (o) of section 10-266aa of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
(o) Within available appropriations, the commissioner may make grants for academic student support for programs pursuant to this section that 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the commissioner.
Sec. 11. Section 10-283 of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
(a) (1) Each town or regional school district shall be eligible to apply for and accept grants for a school building project as provided in this chapter. Any town desiring a grant for a public school building project may, by vote of its legislative body, authorize the board of education of such town to apply to the Commissioner of Education and to accept or reject such grant for the town. Any regional school board may vote to authorize the supervising agent of the regional school district to apply to the Commissioner of Education for and to accept or reject such grant for the district. Applications for such grants under this chapter shall be made by the superintendent of schools of such town or regional school district on the form provided and in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. The application form shall require the superintendent of schools to affirm that the school district considered the maximization of natural light, the use and feasibility of wireless connectivity technology and, on and after July 1, 2014, the school safety infrastructure standards, developed by the School Safety Infrastructure Council, pursuant to section 10-292r, in projects for new construction and alteration or renovation of a school building. The Commissioner of Education shall review each grant application for a school building project for compliance with educational requirements and on the basis of categories for building projects established by the State Board of Education in accordance with this section, and shall evaluate, if appropriate, whether the project 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., provided grant applications submitted for purposes of subsection (a) of section 10-65 or section 10-76e shall be reviewed annually by the commissioner on the basis of the educational needs of the applicant. The Commissioner of Education shall forward each application and the category that the Commissioner of Education has assigned to each such project in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection to the Commissioner of Administrative Services not later than August thirty-first of each fiscal year. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall review each grant application for a school building project for compliance with standards for school building projects pursuant to regulations, adopted in accordance with section 10-287c, and, on and after July 1, 2014, the school safety infrastructure standards, developed by the School Safety Infrastructure Council pursuant to section 10-292r. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of Quinebaug Valley Community College and Three Rivers Community College and the following entities that will operate an interdistrict magnet school 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., as determined by the Commissioner of Education, may apply for and shall be eligible to receive grants for school building projects pursuant to section 10-264h for such a school: (A) The Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (B) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (C) the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (D) the board of governors for an independent college or university, as defined in section 10a-37, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent college or university, (E) cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and (F) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the Commissioner of Education.
(2) The Commissioner of Education shall assign each school building project 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 of Education, who shall forward such application to the Commissioner of Administrative Services. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall estimate the amount of the grant for which such project is eligible, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-285a, provided an application for a school building project determined by the Commissioner of Education 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 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 of Administrative Services shall annually prepare a listing of all such eligible school building projects listed by category together with the amount of the estimated grants for such projects and shall submit the same to the Governor, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 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. On or before December thirty-first annually, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall submit comments and recommendations regarding each eligible project on such listing of eligible school building projects to the school construction committee, established pursuant to section 10-283a. Each such listing submitted after December 15, 2005, until December 15, 2010, inclusive, shall include a separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in scope or cost to a degree determined by the Commissioner of Education once, and a separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in scope or cost to a degree determined by said commissioner twice. Any such listing submitted after December 15, 2010, until December 15, 2011, inclusive, shall include a separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in scope or cost to a degree determined by the Commissioner of Administrative Services once, and a separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in scope or cost to a degree determined by said commissioner twice. On and after July 1, 2011, each such listing shall include a report on the review conducted by the Commissioner of Education of the enrollment projections for each such eligible project. For the period beginning July 1, 2006, and ending June 30, 2012, no project, other than a project for a technical high school, may appear on the separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in cost more than twice. On and after July 1, 2012, no project, other than a project for a technical high school, may appear on the separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in cost more than once, except the Commissioner of Administrative Services may allow a project to appear on such separate schedule of authorized projects a second time if the town or regional school district for such project can demonstrate that exigent circumstances require such project to appear a second time on such separate schedule of authorized projects. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, no projects which have changed in scope or cost to the degree determined by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall be eligible for reimbursement under this chapter unless it appears on such list. 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 of Administrative Services 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 of Administrative Services 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.
(3) (A) All final calculations completed by the Department of Administrative Services for school building projects shall include a computation of the state grant for the school building project amortized on a straight line basis over a twenty-year period for school building projects with costs equal to or greater than two million dollars and over a ten-year period for school building projects with costs less than two million dollars. Any town or regional school district which abandons, sells, leases, demolishes or otherwise redirects the use of such a school building project to other than a public school use during such amortization period shall refund to the state the unamortized balance of the state grant remaining as of the date the abandonment, sale, lease, demolition or redirection occurs. The amortization period for a project shall begin on the date the project was accepted as complete by the local or regional board of education. A town or regional school district required to make a refund to the state pursuant to this subdivision may request forgiveness of such refund if the building is redirected for public use. The Department of Administrative Services shall include as an addendum to the annual school construction priority list all those towns requesting forgiveness. General Assembly approval of the priority list containing such request shall constitute approval of such request. This subdivision shall not apply to projects to correct safety, health and other code violations or to remedy certified school indoor air quality emergencies approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section or projects subject to the provisions of section 10-285c.
(B) Any moneys refunded to the state pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall be deposited in the state's tax-exempt proceeds fund and used not later than sixty days after repayment to pay debt service on, including redemption, defeasance or purchase of, outstanding bonds of the state the interest on which is not included in gross income pursuant to Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended.
(b) Notwithstanding the application date requirements of this section, the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, may approve applications for grants to assist school building projects 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 make payments thereon within the limit of appropriated funds, provided portable classroom building projects shall 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.
(c) No school building project shall be added to the list prepared by the Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to subsection (a) of this section after such list is submitted to the committee of the General Assembly appointed pursuant to section 10-283a unless (1) the project is for a school placed on probation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the project is necessary to preserve accreditation, (2) the project is necessary to replace a school building for which a state agency issued a written notice of its intent to take the school property for public purpose, (3) it is a school building project determined by the Commissioner of Education 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to projects previously authorized by the General Assembly that require special legislation to correct procedural deficiencies.
(d) No application for a school building project shall be accepted by the Commissioner of Education on or after July 1, 2002, unless the applicant has secured funding authorization for the local share of the project costs prior to application. The reimbursement percentage for a project covered by this subsection shall reflect the rates in effect during the fiscal year in which such local funding authorization is secured.
Sec. 12. Subsection (h) of section 13 of public act 13-239 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2014):
(h) For the Department of Education:
(1) Grants-in-aid for capital start-up costs related to the development of new interdistrict magnet school programs to 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et. al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., for the purpose of purchasing a building or portable classrooms, subject to the reversion provisions in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 10-264h of the general statutes, leasing space, and purchasing equipment, including, but not limited to, computers and classroom furniture, not exceeding $17,000,000;
(2) Grants-in-aid to municipalities and organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, for facility improvements and minor capital repairs to that portion of facilities that house school readiness programs and state-funded day care centers operated by such municipalities and organizations, not exceeding $11,500,000;
(3) Grants-in-aid to local or regional boards of education for capital costs related to the expansion of enrollment in the state-wide interdistrict public school attendance program pursuant to section 10-266aa of the general statutes, to 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et. al., for building renovations, classroom expansions and the purchase of equipment, including, but not limited to, computers, laboratory equipment and classroom furniture, not exceeding $750,000.
Sec. 13. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of section 1 of public act 13-243 and section 10-264h of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Departments of Construction Services or Administrative Services concerning the reimbursement rate for the construction of interdistrict magnet schools, the Capitol Region Education Council may use ninety-five per cent as the reimbursement rate for the new interdistrict magnet facility construction and purchase of site project (Project Number 241-0102 MAG/N/PS) at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet School.
Sec. 14. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of section 1 of public act 13-243 and section 10-264h of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Departments of Construction Services or Administrative Services concerning the reimbursement rate for the construction of interdistrict magnet schools, the Capitol Region Education Council may use ninety-five per cent as the reimbursement rate for the new interdistrict magnet facility construction and purchase of site project (Project Number 241-0103 MAG/N/PS) at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Middle Magnet School.
Sec. 15. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of section 1 of public act 13-243 and section 10-264h of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Departments of Construction Services or Administrative Services concerning the reimbursement rate for the construction of interdistrict magnet schools, the Capitol Region Education Council may use ninety-five per cent as the reimbursement rate for the new interdistrict magnet facility construction and purchase of site project (Project Number 241-0104 MAG/N/PS) at the Two Rivers Magnet High School.
Sec. 16. Section 96 of public act 11-57 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2014):
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-287i of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring payment of the state share of eligible project costs and filing notice of authorization of funding for the local share of project costs, the Commissioner of Education may pay both the state share of eligible project costs and the local share of eligible project costs to the Capitol Region Education Council for the following interdistrict magnet school building projects: (1) Reggio Magnet School of the Arts (Project Number 241-0095 MAG/N), (2) International Magnet School for Global Citizenship (Project Number 241-0098 MAG/N), (3) Public Safety Academy (Project Number 241-0097 MAG/N), (4) Medical Professions and Teacher Preparation Academy (Project Number 241-0096 MAG/N), (5) Academy of Aerospace (Project Number 241-0099 MAG/N), (6) Discovery Academy (Project Number 241-0100 MAG/N), [and] (7) Museum Academy (Project Number 241-0101 MAG/N), (8) Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet School, (Project Number 241-0102 MAG/N/PS), (9) Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Middle School (Project Number 241-0103 MAG/N/PS), and (10) Two Rivers Magnet High School (Project Number 241-0104 MAG/N/PS), provided the project is in compliance with the provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes and any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education. Upon completion of each project audit conducted pursuant to section 10-287 of the general statutes, the Department of Construction Services shall (A) compute the local share of the project cost in accordance with the provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes, (B) determine a repayment schedule of the local share based on twenty equal annual principal payments, (C) apply a fixed rate of interest, as determined by the State Treasurer, over the life of the repayment period, and (D) determine a schedule of interest payments due from the Capitol Region Education Council based on the outstanding principal at the time the principal payment is made. The Commissioner of Construction Services shall notify the Commissioner of Education of the annualized repayment amounts for each project that shall be withheld from the operating grant paid to the Capitol Region Education Council pursuant to section 10-264l of the general statutes at such time and in such manner as the Commissioner of Education prescribes. The Commissioner of Education shall annually transfer such withheld annualized repayment amounts to the School Building Construction Fund established pursuant to section 10-287e of the general statutes.
Sec. 17. Subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 32 of public act 13-239 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2014):
(g) For the Department of Education:
(1) Grants-in-aid for capital start-up costs related to the development of new interdistrict magnet school programs to 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., as extended, or the goals of the 2013 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al., for the purpose of purchasing a building or portable classrooms, subject to the reversion provisions in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 10-264h of the general statutes, leasing space, and purchasing equipment, including, but not limited to, computers and classroom furniture, not exceeding $7,500,000;
Sec. 18. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 19 of public act 13-239, grants-in-aid for capital start-up costs paid to the Capitol Region Education Council, in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (h) of section 13 of public act 13-239, as amended by this act, and used pursuant to said subsection (h) shall not be subject to lien or repayment.
Sec. 19. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 38 of public act 13-239, grants-in-aid for capital start-up costs paid to the Capitol Region Education Council, in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 32 of public act 13-239, as amended by this act, and used pursuant to said subsection (g) shall not be subject to lien or repayment.
Sec. 20. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 10-266m of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, to June 30, [2013] 2015, 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. 21. Subsections (f) and (g) of section 10-266p of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(f) In addition to the amounts allocated in subsection (a), and subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of this section, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, the State Board of Education shall allocate two million thirty-nine thousand six hundred eighty-six dollars to the towns that rank one to three, inclusive, in population pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (a), and for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2007, to June 30, [2013] 2015, the State Board of Education shall allocate two million six hundred ten thousand seven hundred ninety-eight dollars to the towns that rank one to three, inclusive, in population pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (a).
(g) In addition to the amounts allocated in subsection (a) and subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, [and each fiscal year thereafter,] the State Board of Education shall allocate three million two hundred sixteen thousand nine hundred eight dollars as follows: Each priority school district shall receive an allocation based on the ratio of the amount it is eligible to receive pursuant to subsection (a) and subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section to the total amount all priority school districts are eligible to receive pursuant to said subsection (a) and said subsections (c) to (f), inclusive. For the fiscal year ending June 30, [2013] 2014, the State Board of Education shall allocate [two million nine hundred twenty-nine thousand three hundred sixty-four dollars] two million nine hundred twenty-five thousand four hundred eighty-one dollars as follows: Each priority school district shall receive an allocation based on the ratio of the amount it is eligible to receive pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section to the total amount all priority school districts are eligible to receive pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section.
Sec. 22. Subdivision (20) of section 10-262f of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(20) "Regular program expenditures" means (A) total current educational expenditures less (B) expenditures for (i) special education programs pursuant to subsection (h) of section 10-76f, (ii) pupil transportation eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 10-266m, as amended by this act, (iii) land and capital building expenditures, and equipment otherwise supported by a state grant pursuant to chapter 173, including debt service, [(iii)] (iv) health services for nonpublic school children, [(iv)] (v) adult education, (C) expenditures directly attributable to (i) state grants received by or on behalf of school districts except grants for the categories of expenditures listed in subparagraphs (B)(i) to (B)(iv), inclusive, of this subdivision and except grants received pursuant to section 10-262i and section 10-262c of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1987, and except grants received pursuant to chapter 173, (ii) federal grants received by or on behalf of school districts except for adult education and federal impact aid, and (iii) receipts from the operation of child nutrition services and student activities services, (D) expenditures of funds from private and other sources, and (E) tuition received on account of nonresident students. The town of Woodstock may include as part of the current expenses of its public schools for each school year the amount expended for current expenses in that year by Woodstock Academy from income from its endowment funds upon receipt from said academy of a certified statement of such current expenses. The town of Winchester may include as part of the current expenses of its public school for each school year the amount expended for current expenses in that year by the Gilbert School from income from its endowment funds upon receipt from said school of a certified statement of such current expenses.
Sec. 23. Subdivision (43) of section 10-262f of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(43) "Median household income adjustment factor" means the ratio of the median household income of the town to one and one-half times the median household income of the town with the median household income when all towns are ranked according to median household income.
Sec. 24. Subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 10-66ee of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) (1) The local board of education of the school district in which a student enrolled in a local charter school resides shall pay, annually, in accordance with its charter, to the fiscal authority for the charter school for each such student the amount specified in its charter, including the reasonable special education costs of students requiring special education. The board of education shall be eligible for reimbursement for such special education costs pursuant to section 10-76g.
(2) The local or regional board of education of the school district in which the local charter school is located shall be responsible for the financial support of such local charter school at a level that is at least equal to the product of (A) the per pupil cost for the [prior fiscal year, less the reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g for the current fiscal year] fiscal year two years prior to the fiscal year for which support will be provided, and (B) the number of students attending such local charter school in the current fiscal year. As used in this subdivision, "per pupil cost" means, for a local or regional board of education, the quotient of the [net current expenditures] current program expenditures, as defined in [subdivision (3) of section 10-261] section 10-262f, as amended by this act, divided by the [average daily membership, as defined in subdivision (2) of section 10-261,] number of resident students, as defined in section 10-262f, as amended by this act, of such local or regional board of education.
(c) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year thereafter, the State Board of Education may approve, within available appropriations, a per student grant to a local charter school described in subsection [(b)] (c) of section [10-66nn] 10-66bb in an amount not to exceed three thousand dollars for each student enrolled in such local charter school, provided the local or regional board of education for such local charter school and the representatives of the exclusive bargaining unit for certified employees, chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, mutually agree on staffing flexibility in such local charter school, and such agreement is approved by the State Board of Education. [For the purposes of equalization aid grants pursuant to section 10-262h, the] The state shall make such payments, in accordance with this subsection, to the town in which a local charter school is located as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than July fifteenth and September first based on estimated student enrollment on May first, and twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than January first and the remaining amount not later than April [fifteenth] first, each based on student enrollment on October first.
(2) The town shall pay to the fiscal authority for a local charter school the portion of the amount paid to the town pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection attributable for students enrolled in such local charter school. Such payments shall be made as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than July twentieth and September fifteenth and twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than January fifteenth and the remaining amount not later than April fifteenth.
(d) (1) For the purposes of equalization aid grants pursuant to section 10-262h, the state shall pay in accordance with this subsection, to the town in which a state charter school is located for each student enrolled in such school, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, ten thousand two hundred dollars, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, ten thousand five hundred dollars, and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each fiscal year thereafter, eleven thousand dollars. Such payments shall be made as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than July fifteenth and September first based on estimated student enrollment on May first, and twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than January first and the remaining amount not later than April [fifteenth] first, each based on student enrollment on October first. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, the payment of the remaining amount made not later than April 15, 2013, shall be within available appropriations and may be adjusted for each student on a pro rata basis.
(2) The town shall pay to the fiscal authority for a state charter school the portion of the amount paid to the town pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection attributable for students enrolled in such state charter school. Such payments shall be made as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than July twentieth and September fifteenth and twenty-five per cent of the amount not later than January fifteenth and the remaining amount not later than April fifteenth.
(3) In the case of a student identified as requiring special education, the school district in which the student resides shall: (A) Hold the planning and placement team meeting for such student and shall invite representatives from the charter school to participate in such meeting; and (B) pay the state charter school, on a quarterly basis, an amount equal to the difference between the reasonable cost of educating such student and the sum of the amount received by the state charter school for such student pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection and amounts received from other state, federal, local or private sources calculated on a per pupil basis. Such school district shall be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 10-76g. The charter school a student requiring special education attends shall be responsible for ensuring that such student receives the services mandated by the student's individualized education program whether such services are provided by the charter school or by the school district in which the student resides.
Sec. 25. Subsection (b) of section 10-10c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, [2015] 2016, and each fiscal year thereafter, each local or regional board of education, regional educational service center and state charter school shall implement such uniform system of accounting by completing and filing annual financial reports with the department using the chart of accounts and meet the provisions of section 10-227.
Sec. 26. Subsection (c) of section 10-262i of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(c) All aid distributed to a town pursuant to the provisions of this section and section 10-262u, as amended by this act, shall be expended for educational purposes only and shall be expended upon the authorization of the local or regional board of education and in accordance with the provisions of section 10-262u, as amended by this act. 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.
Sec. 27. Subsection (c) of section 10-262u of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(c) (1) (A) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, the Comptroller shall withhold from a town designated as an alliance district any increase in funds received over the amount the town received for the prior fiscal year pursuant to section 10-262h. The Comptroller shall transfer such funds to the Commissioner of Education. (B) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2014, and June 30, 2015, the Comptroller shall withhold from a town designated as an alliance district any increase in funds received over the amount the town received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-262i. The Comptroller shall transfer such funds to the Commissioner of Education.
(2) Upon receipt of an application pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commissioner of Education may pay such funds to the town designated as an alliance district and such town shall pay all such funds to the local or regional board of education for such town on the condition that such funds shall be expended in accordance with the plan described in subsection (d) of this section, the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-262i, as amended by this act, and any guidelines developed by the State Board of Education for such funds. Such funds shall be used to improve student achievement in such alliance district and to offset any other local education costs approved by the commissioner.
Sec. 28. Subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 10-16q of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, [2009] 2015, and each fiscal year thereafter, the per child cost of the Department of Education school readiness program offered by a school readiness provider shall not exceed eight thousand [three] six hundred [forty-six] sixty-one dollars.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
July 1, 2014 |
10-264l |
Sec. 2 |
July 1, 2014 |
New section |
Sec. 3 |
July 1, 2014 |
New section |
Sec. 4 |
July 1, 2014 |
10-264i(a) |
Sec. 5 |
July 1, 2014 |
10-264h(a) |
Sec. 6 |
July 1, 2014 |
10-264o |
Sec. 7 |
July 1, 2014 |
10-66ee(l) |
Sec. 8 |
July 1, 2014 |
10-262s |
Sec. 9 |
July 1, 2014 |
10-266m(a)(5) |
Sec. 10 |
July 1, 2014 |
10-266aa(o) |
Sec. 11 |
July 1, 2014 |
10-283 |
Sec. 12 |
July 1, 2014 |
PA 13-239, Sec. 13(h) |
Sec. 13 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 14 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 15 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 16 |
July 1, 2014 |
PA 11-57, Sec. 96 |
Sec. 17 |
July 1, 2014 |
PA 13-239, Sec. 32(g)(1) |
Sec. 18 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 19 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 20 |
from passage |
10-266m(a)(4) |
Sec. 21 |
from passage |
10-266p(f) and (g) |
Sec. 22 |
from passage |
10-262f(20) |
Sec. 23 |
from passage |
10-262f(43) |
Sec. 24 |
from passage |
10-66ee(b) to (d) |
Sec. 25 |
from passage |
10-10c(b) |
Sec. 26 |
from passage |
10-262i(c) |
Sec. 27 |
from passage |
10-262u(c) |
Sec. 28 |
July 1, 2014 |
10-16q(b)(2) |
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In section 10-66ee(b)(2), made a technical change.
ED |
Joint Favorable Subst. |