You asked about the status of a bill to fund the Children's Rights Council and whether it was customary for the General Assembly to provide money for nonprofit organizations.

HB 5186, An Act Authorizing Bonds of the State for the Renovation of the Ansonia Opera House, provides $ 2. 5 million to the Department of Economic and Community Development for a grant to the Children's Rights Council to renovate the Ansonia Opera House. The Commerce Committee favorably reported the bill to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee on March 12. The council intends to use the renovated facility for a variety of cultural arts programs.

The legislature frequently authorizes funding for nonprofit organizations. Public Health Committee bills this session, for example, authorize bond funds to renovate space in the Charter Oak Health Center and to provide additional parking at the Datahr Rehabilitation Institute and authorize appropriations for the Best Buddies mentoring program and the Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Connecticut, Inc. , both of which assist people with retardation and their families.

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