Connecticut Seal

House Bill No. 5028

Public Act No. 14-65

AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION STATUTES AND MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING DATA.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subdivision (2) of section 3-22a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

(2) "Institution of higher education in the state" means a constituent unit of the state system of higher education, as defined in section 10a-1, or an independent [college or university] institution of higher education, as defined in [subsection (d) of section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173.

Sec. 2. Section 4a-54 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

Connecticut Children's Medical Center, The American School at Hartford for the Deaf, The Connecticut Institute for the Blind, any other institution or agency [which] that receives at least sixty per cent of its funding from the state or federal government, or both, and, by contract, any independent [college or university] institution of higher education, as defined in [section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173, may each purchase through the Commissioner of Administrative Services such supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services as such institutions require at the cost thereof to the state.

Sec. 3. Section 10-262o of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

The Department of Education shall establish, within available appropriations, a competitive grant program to fund innovative teacher training programs on the integration of technology into the public school curriculum in order to improve student learning. [On and after July 1, 2001, such training programs shall be consistent with the standards developed pursuant to section 4d-85. ]

Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 10-264h of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):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 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] institution of higher education, as defined in [section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent [college or university] institution of higher education, 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.

Sec. 5. Subdivision (1) of 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 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] institution of higher education, as defined in [section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent [college or university] institution of higher education, 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, 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.

Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of 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 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] institution of higher education, as defined in [section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent [college or university] institution of higher education, 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.

Sec. 7. Subsection (c) of 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):

(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] institution of higher education, as defined in [section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent [college or university] institution of higher education, (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. , 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. , 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 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] institution of higher education, as defined in [section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent [college or university] institution of higher education, (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 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] institution of higher education, as defined in [section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent [college or university] institution of higher education, (G) cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and (H) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the commissioner.

Sec. 8. Subdivision (1) of section 10a-55 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

(1) "Institution of higher education" means a constituent unit of the state system of higher education, as defined in section 10a-1, or an independent [college or university] institution of higher education, as defined in [section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173.

Sec. 9. Subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 10a-109d of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

(9) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-150, to receive and accept aid or contributions, from any source, of money, property, labor or other things of value, to be held, used and applied to carry out the purposes of sections 10a-109a to 10a-109y, inclusive, subject to the conditions upon which such aid or contributions may be made, including, but not limited to, gifts or grants from any department or agency of the United States or the state for any purpose consistent with said sections; [provided however, the university shall disclose gifts from foreign sources as provided by sections 10a-150a to 10a-150d, inclusive; ]

Sec. 10. Section 10a-143b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

The Board for State Academic Awards shall establish, within available appropriations, innovative on-line teacher and higher education faculty training programs on the integration of technology into the public school curriculum and courses at public institutions of higher education in order to improve student learning. [On and after July 1, 2001, the training program established for public school teachers shall be consistent with the standards developed pursuant to section 4d-85. ]

Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 10a-156a of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

(a) Not later than October 1, 2013, each constituent unit of the state system of higher education and each independent institution of higher education, as defined in [section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173, shall submit an up-to-date security protocol plan to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Such plan shall identify procedures specifically designed to heighten awareness by all faculty and staff regarding potentially at-risk students and other individuals on campus through effective educational strategies. Such procedures shall be designed to educate faculty and staff on how to recognize and respond to students and such other individuals who may be at risk of harm to themselves or others. Not later than July 1, 2015, and biennially thereafter, each constituent unit and independent institution of higher education shall review the security protocol plan with each of its chiefs of police or heads of campus security to determine whether such plan adequately addresses campus security concerns or requires revisions. In the event that revisions are required, the constituent unit or independent institution of higher education making revisions shall submit a revised security protocol plan to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection not later than August first of the year in which revisions are deemed necessary.

Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 12-20a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

(a) On or before January first, annually, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall determine the amount due to each municipality in the state, in accordance with this section, as a state grant in lieu of taxes with respect to real property owned by any private nonprofit institution of higher learning or any nonprofit general hospital facility or freestanding chronic disease hospital or an urgent care facility that operates for at least twelve hours a day and that had been the location of a nonprofit general hospital for at least a portion of calendar year 1996 to receive payments in lieu of taxes for such property, exclusive of any such facility operated by the federal government, except a campus of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare Systems, or the state of Connecticut or any subdivision thereof. As used in this section "private nonprofit institution of higher learning" means any such institution, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-34, or any independent [college or university] institution of higher education, as defined in [section 10a-37] subsection (a) of section 10a-173, that is engaged primarily in education beyond the high school level, and offers courses of instruction for which college or university-level credit may be given or may be received by transfer, the property of which is exempt from property tax under any of the subdivisions of section 12-81; "nonprofit general hospital facility" means any such facility [which] that is used primarily for the purpose of general medical care and treatment, exclusive of any hospital facility used primarily for the care and treatment of special types of disease or physical or mental conditions; and "freestanding chronic disease hospital" means a facility [which] that provides for the care and treatment of chronic diseases, excluding any such facility having an ownership affiliation with and operated in the same location as a chronic and convalescent nursing home.

Sec. 13. Subsection (e) of section 10a-11b of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

(e) Not later than [October 1] January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the commission shall submit a report [, prepared by the Board of Regents for Higher Education,] to the Governor and [not later than January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, to] the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement, education, commerce, labor and appropriations, in accordance with section 11-4a, on the implementation of the plan and progress made toward achieving the goals specified in the plan. The commission may periodically suggest changes to the goals as necessary.

Sec. 14. Section 14 of substitute house bill 5299 of the current session is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) For the purposes of this section, "licensing authority" means the Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Labor Department, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Public Health, the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the Office of Higher Education, the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut or the Police Officer Standards and Training Council; "service member" means a member of the armed forces or the National Guard or a veteran; "armed forces" has the same meaning as set forth in section 27-103 of the general statutes; and "veteran" means any person who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service in the armed forces.

(b) Each licensing authority shall ask each applicant for a license, a certificate, a registration or an educational credit that is within such licensing authority's purview and where military training or experience is relevant and could be applied whether such applicant is a service member.

(c) (1) On or before January 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, each licensing authority, except the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut, shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to military and veterans' affairs, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, and the Labor Department that shall include the following: [(1)] (A) The number of service members who applied for a military training evaluation pursuant to section 4 of [this act] substitute house bill 5299 of the current session, a license, a certificate, a registration or an educational credit that is within such licensing authority's purview and where military training or experience is relevant and could be applied; [(2)] (B) the number of service members whose application for a license, a certificate, a registration or an educational credit that is within such licensing authority's purview and where military training or experience is relevant and could be applied was approved; [(3)] (C) the number of service members whose application for a license, a certificate, a registration or an educational credit that is within such licensing authority's purview and where military training or experience is relevant and could be applied was denied, and data on the reasons for any such denial; [(4)] (D) the licensing authority's processing time for applications that are within such licensing authority's purview where military training or experience is relevant and could be applied and are submitted by service members and the average processing time for all applications; [(5)] (E) information on the licensing authority's efforts to inform and assist service members in accessing programs that provide the education and training necessary for meeting the requirements for licensure, certification, registration or educational credit; [(6)] (F) information on whether existing law effectively addresses the challenges that service members face when applying for an occupational or professional license, a certificate, a registration or an educational credit upon discharge from military service or relocating to the state; and [(7)] (G) recommendations on improving the licensing authority's ability to meet the occupational needs of service members, including, but not limited to, the issuance of temporary or provisional licenses, certificates or registrations. The Labor Department shall also include in its report the number of service members who were issued or denied a recommendation for review or a deduction from the hours of apprenticeship training pursuant to section 4 of [this act] of substitute house bill 5299 of the current session.

(2) On or before July 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall each submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to military and veterans' affairs, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, and the Labor Department that shall (A) include the information required pursuant to subparagraphs (A), (B), (E), (F) and (G) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, and (B) in aggregate, detail the types of military training presented, the types of educational credit awarded to enrolled service members for such training and the types of military training for which credit was not awarded to enrolled service members.

(d) On or before January 1, 2016, each licensing authority shall, within existing budgetary resources, publish on its Internet web site a link to the Department of Veterans' Affairs informational Internet web site established pursuant to section 27-100f of the general statutes and the Internet web site maintained by the executive branch listing resources and opportunities available to veterans.

(e) On or before January 1, 2016, the Labor Department shall post the reports submitted pursuant to subsection (c) of this section on its Internet web site.

Approved June 3, 2014