Substitute House Bill No. 6707
Substitute House Bill No. 6707
PUBLIC ACT NO. 97-265
AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORIZATION OF STATE GRANT
COMMITMENTS FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS AND
CLARIFICATION AND SEPARATION OF THE GRANT AND BOND
PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS AND THE GRANT
AND BOND PROGRAM FOR INTEREST PAYMENT SUBSIDIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. The Commissioner of Education
having reviewed applications for state grants for
public school building projects in accordance with
section 10-283 of the general statutes on the
basis of priorities for such projects and
standards for school construction established by
the State Board of Education, and having prepared
a listing of all such eligible projects ranked in
order of priority, including a separate schedule
of previously authorized projects which have
changed substantially in scope or cost, as
determined by said commissioner together with the
amount of estimated grant with respect to each
eligible project, and having submitted such
listing of eligible projects, prior to December
15, 1996, to a committee of the General Assembly
established under section 10-283a of the general
statutes for the purpose of reviewing such
listing, is hereby authorized to enter into grant
commitments on behalf of the state in accordance
with said section 10-283 with respect to the
priority listing of such projects and in such
estimated amounts as approved by said committee
prior to February 1, 1997, as follows:
(a) Estimated Grant Commitments
Town Site and Total
School Building Including
Project Number Interest
Subsidy
E. OF THE RIVER
CO-OP
E. of River Co-op
Magnet School
001 MAG 27,971,548 27,971,548
Metro Learning
Magnet
088 MAG 33,273,713 33,273,713
COVENTRY
George
Robertson
045 RE 131,420 213,387
COVENTRY
George Hersey
Robertson
047 EA 4,054,509 6,583,306
COVENTRY
Coventry Jr./Sr.
High School
048 EA 7,321,468 11,887,868
FAIRFIELD
Osborn (Reopening)
093 EA 1,421,100 2,307,440
LEDYARD
Gales Ferry School
060 RE 125,494 125,494
MANCHESTER
Illing Jr. High
School
114 RE 55,611 55,611
MILFORD
Harborside Middle
School
154 EA 1,110,205 1,802,640
NEW CANAAN
Saxe Middle School
038 EA/RR 5,426,393 8,810,834
NEW FAIRFIELD
Consolidated School
031 A/RR 185,700 301,521
NEW FAIRFIELD
Meeting House Hill
School
034 EA 631,380 1,025,172
NEW HAVEN
New Fair Haven K-8
317 N 21,135,330 34,317,435
NORWALK
Marvin Elementary
186 EA 1,219,931 1,980,802
NORWICH
Samuel Huntington
School
068 EA 5,483,853 8,904,132
RIDGEFIELD
East Ridge Middle
School
042 EA 5,670,244 9,206,775
SIMSBURY
Central School
086 EA 1,245,425 2,022,197
SOUTH WINDSOR
Timothy Edwards
Middle School
066 EA 10,586,450 17,189,219
STAMFORD
Rogers Elementary
School
181 RE 71,454 116,020
STONINGTON
Mystic Middle School
045 EA 3,265,281 5,301,837
WEST HARTFORD
Braeburn Elementary
School
170 E 289,619 470,254
WESTPORT
Coleytown Middle
School
083 RE 16,145 26,215
WESTPORT
Bedford Middle School
084 RE 68,410 111,077
WESTPORT
Coleytown Elementary
School
085 RE 17,306 28,100
WILTON
Cider Mill School
048 EA 5,229,600 8,491,302
WOLCOTT
Frisbie Elementary
School
051 EA 4,709,405 7,646,661
WOLCOTT
Wakelee Elementary
School
052 EA 1,359,015 2,206,633
WOLCOTT
Alcott Middle
School
053 EA 11,016,871 17,888,093
REGIONAL DISTRICT
14
Nonnewaug High
School
079 RE 119,650 194,276
REGIONAL DISTRICT
14
Woodbury Middle
School
080 RE 119,650 194,276
BRISTOL
Bristol Central
High School
068 A 7,425,000 12,055,973
BRISTOL
Bristol Eastern
High School
069 A 7,762,500 12,603,971
COVENTRY
Coventry Grammar
School
046 EA 2,367,286 3,843,762
DEEP RIVER
Deep River
Elementary School
009 EA 2,003,757 3,253,500
ELLINGTON
Ellington Middle
School
047 EA 5,173,125 8,399,603
HARTFORD
New East Central
Middle School
215 N 20,827,800 33,818,099
KILLINGLY
Killingly High
School
052 VE 100,000 100,000
MIDDLETOWN
Middletown High
School
098 VE 90,000 90,000
MILFORD
Joseph A. Foran
High School
148 A 42,716 42,716
NEW HAVEN
Katherine Brennan
School
318 A 8,171,280 13,267,707
NORWALK
Norwalk High School
187 A/TCH 303,899 493,441
NORWALK
Briggs HS/Ctr. for
Vocational Arts
188 A/TCH 116,175 188,633
NORWALK
Nathan Hale Middle
School
189 A/TCH 149,473 242,699
NORWALK
Ponus Ridge Middle
School
190 A/TCH 248,249 403,082
NORWALK
Roton Middle School
191 A/TCH 146,407 237,721
NORWALK
West Rocks Middle
School
192 A/TCH 148,780 241,574
NORWALK
Brien McMahon High
School
193 A/TCH 193,226 313,741
NORWICH
Bishop Elementary
School
069 EA 3,229,168 5,243,200
NORWICH
Bishop Elementary
School
070 A/TCH 170,708 277,179
NORWICH
William A. Buckingham
Elementary School
071 A/TCH 219,213 355,936
NORWICH
Greeneville
Elementary School
072 A/TCH 353,853 574,551
NORWICH
Samuel Huntington
Elementary School
073 A/TCH 198,710 322,645
NORWICH
Uncas Elementary
School
074 A/TCH 196,573 319,176
NORWICH
Wequonnoc Elementary
School
075 A/TCH 200,317 325,255
NORWICH
Kelly Jr. High School
076 A/TCH 359,039 582,972
NORWICH
Teacher's Memorial
Jr. High School
077 A/TCH 302,203 490,687
NORWICH
John M. Moriarty
Elementary School
080 A/TCH 297,438 482,950
NORWICH
John B. Stanton
Elementary School
081 A/TCH 229,172 372,107
PLAINFIELD
Plainfield Grammar
School
037 A 2,335,800 3,792,638
SOUTHINGTON
Southington High
School
107 VE 53,600 53,600
SPRAGUE
Sayles Elementary
School
010 EA/RR 2,887,372 4,688,226
SUFFIELD
Suffield High
School
034 VA/VE 230,000 230,000
WALLINGFORD
Lyman Hall High
School
132 VE 239,960 239,960
REGIONAL DISTRICT 1
Housatonic Valley
Regional High School
031 VA/N 3,880,000 3,880,000
REGIONAL DISTRICT 1
Housatonic Valley
Regional High School
032 A 1,811,269 2,940,957
REGIONAL DISTRICT 7
Northwestern Regional
High School
022 VA/VE 1,350,000 1,350,000
CREC
Residential Ed. Ctr.
(Polaris Ctr.)
087 SP/EA 2,500,000 2,500,000
BERLIN
Berlin High School
057 RR 178,432 289,720
BERLIN
Berlin High School
059 EC 65,247 105,942
BETHEL
Frank A. Berry
School
043 RR 158,032 256,597
BETHEL
Anna H. Rockwell
School
044 RR 136,406 221,482
CANAAN
Lee H. Kellogg
School
009 RR 20,142 20,142
COLEBROOK
Colebrook
Consolidated School
008 RR 9,654 9,654
COVENTRY
Central
Administration
050 BE/N 197,130 320,080
CROMWELL
Edna C. Stevens
School
027 EC/CV 58,633 95,202
CROMWELL
Cromwell Middle
School
028 EC/CV 32,260 52,381
CROMWELL
Cromwell High
School
029 EC 28,231 45,839
CROMWELL
Edna C. Stevens
School
030 EC 154,727 251,230
CROMWELL
Cromwell Middle
School
031 EC 218,789 355,248
DARIEN
Holmes Elementary
School
102 RR 25,000 40,593
EAST LYME
Niantic Center
School
045 RR 98,580 160,064
EAST LYME
Flanders School
046 RR 246,450 400,161
ENFIELD
Enrico Fermi High
School
116 RR 671,400 1,090,152
FARMINGTON
Union School
049 RR 13,750 13,750
GRISWOLD
Griswold Elementary
School
033 RR 176,849 176,849
GROTON
Charles Barnum
Elementary School
140 RR 169,936 169,936
GROTON
Pleasant Valley
School
141 EC 138,890 138,890
GROTON
Charles Barnum
Elementary School
142 EC 39,216 39,216
HARTFORD
Central
Administration
211 BE/A 188,993 188,993
HARTFORD
Fisher School
214 RR 424,270 424,270
LEBANON
Lebanon Elementary
School
044 RR/HV 129,280 209,912
LITCHFIELD
Litchfield
Intermediate School
032 RR 84,150 136,634
MANCHESTER
Highland Park
School
120 RR 80,327 80,327
MANCHESTER
Central
Administration
121 BE/RR 46,343 46,343
MILFORD
East Shore Middle
School (Seabreeze)
152 EC 40,545 65,833
MONROE
Masuk High School
044 RR 346,850 563,180
MONROE
Stepney Elementary
School
045 RR 25,766 41,836
MONTVILLE
Palmer Memorial
School (Alt. Ed. Ctr.)
074 RR/HV 48,860 48,860
MONTVILLE
Montville High School
075 RR/HV 302,163 302,163
NEW FAIRFIELD
New Fairfield
High School
029 EC 92,850 150,761
NEW FAIRFIELD
New Fairfield
High School
030 RR 185,700 301,521
NEW HAVEN
East Rock Community
School
312 RR 447,849 727,172
NEW HAVEN
Quinnipiac School
313 RR 137,498 223,256
NORWICH
Central
Administration
at John Mason
078 BE/TC 41,517 67,411
NORWICH
Central
Administration
079 BE/TC 32,271 52,398
PLAINFIELD
Plainfield Memorial
School
038 RR 60,980 99,013
PLAINFIELD
Plainfield High
School
039 RR 103,666 168,322
PLYMOUTH
Harry S. Fisher
School
044 RR 319,815 519,284
ROCKY HILL
Dr. Oran A. Moser
School
045 RR 43,271 70,259
SOUTHINGTON
Hatton School
104 RR 162,724 264,215
SOUTHINGTON
South End School
105 RR 141,187 229,245
SPRAGUE
Central
Administration
011 BE/N 14,645 23,779
STAFFORD
West Stafford
Elementary School
038 RR 42,426 42,426
STAMFORD
Rippowam Center
184 RR 65,862 106,940
STAMFORD
Springdale
Elementary School
185 RR 24,305 39,464
STAMFORD
Rogers Elementary
School
186 RR 64,050 103,998
STAMFORD
Springdale
Elementary School
191 A 24,427 39,662
STAMFORD
Dolan Middle
School
192 A 12,342 20,040
STAMFORD
Turn of River
Middle School
193 A 11,571 18,788
STAMFORD
K.T. Murphy
Elementary School
194 A 17,481 28,384
THOMPSON
Thompson Middle
School
017 RR/EC 81,001 131,521
VERNON
Rockville High
School
109 RR 383,580 383,580
WEST HARTFORD
Braeburn
Elementary School
166 RR 109,290 177,454
WEST HARTFORD
Charter Oak
Elementary School
169 RR 91,075 147,878
WINDSOR
Clover Street
School (Library)
075 RR 26,309 26,309
WINDSOR
Clover Street School
(Main Building)
076 RR 60,846 60,846
WINDSOR
Clover Street School
(Buildings 5 & 6)
077 RR 73,146 73,146
REGIONAL DISTRICT 14
Nonnewaug High School
078 RR 203,405 330,269
(b) Previously Authorized Projects Which Have
Changed Substantially in Scope or Cost
Town Site and Total
School Building Including
Project Number Interest
Subsidy
NEW HAVEN
Clarence Rogers
School
293 RR/A 3,982,000 6,465,573
NEW HAVEN
Strong School
304 RE 282,852 459,267
NEW HAVEN
Prince/Welch School
306N 17,285,400 28,066,304
NEW HAVEN
Betsy Ross Arts
School
307N 18,856,800 30,617,786
TORRINGTON
Torrington High
School
052 EA 10,201,640 16,564,403
WILTON
Middlebrook School
043 EA 3,704,300 6,014,672
HARTFORD
Batchelder School
176 E 5,856,800 9,509,686
MERIDEN
Magnet Middle
School
076 MAG 26,500,000 26,500,000
Sec. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Hebron may let out for bid on and
commence a code violation project (Project Number
067-026) at Hebron Elementary School and shall be
eligible to subsequently be considered for a grant
commitment from the state, provided plans and
specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit.
Sec. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
projects for roof replacement at Wesley Elementary
and Lawrence Elementary Schools in Middletown are
included in section 1 of this act and shall be
eligible to be subsequently considered for grant
commitments from the state, provided the school
district files applications for such school
building projects prior to June 30, 1997, and
meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the
general statutes and any regulation adopted by the
State Board of Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that the scope of a school building
project be set at the time of application for a
school building project grant, the town of New
Milford may change the scope of the extension and
alteration project of the high school (Project
Number 096-032) to construction of a new high
school.
Sec. 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for alteration of New Milford High School
to convert it to an elementary school in New
Milford is included in section 1 of this act and
shall be eligible to subsequently be considered
for a grant commitment from the state, provided
the school district files an application for such
school building project prior to June 30, 1997,
and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of
the general statutes and any regulation adopted by
the State Board of Education pursuant to said
chapter.
Sec. 6. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes and any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that the scope of a school building
project be set at the time of application for a
school building project grant, the town of New
Milford may change the project for board of
education offices as part of the renovation of the
high school (Project Number 096-033) to board of
education offices as part of the project to
convert the high school to an elementary school.
Sec. 7. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Monroe may let out for bid on and
commence a project for code violation (Project
Number 085-043) at Chalk Hill Middle School and
shall be eligible to subsequently be considered
for a grant commitment from the state, provided
plans and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit.
Sec. 8. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of West Hartford may let out for bid on
and commence projects for asbestos removal at Hall
High School (Project numbers 155-150 and 155-137)
and extension of Braeburn School (Project Number
155-170) and shall be eligible to subsequently be
considered for grant commitments from the state,
provided plans and specifications have been
approved by the Department of Education's school
facilities unit.
Sec. 9. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a description of a project type for
a school building project be made at the time of
application for a school building project grant,
the town of West Hartford may expand the scope of
phase two of the project for roof replacement at
Sedgwick Middle School (Project Number 155-167) to
include additional work associated with phase one
of the project.
Sec. 10. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Woodstock may let out for bid on and
commence a project for boiler replacement and
asbestos abatement (Project Number 169-019) at
Woodstock Elementary School and shall be eligible
to subsequently be considered for a grant
commitment from the state, provided plans and
specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit.
Sec. 11. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for an extension and alteration at
Langford School in East Hartford is included in
section 1 of this act and shall be eligible to be
subsequently considered for a grant commitment
from the state, provided the school district files
an application for such school building project
prior to June 30, 1997, and meets all other
provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes
and any regulation adopted by the State Board of
Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 12. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
code violation project at the Multi-Cultural
Magnet School in New London is included in section
1 of this act and shall be eligible to be
subsequently considered for a grant commitment
from the state, provided the LEARN files an
application for such school building project prior
to June 30, 1997, and meets all other provisions
of chapter 173 of the general statutes and any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 13. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring plans and specifications to be approved
by the Department of Education's school facilities
unit, the town of Waterbury may commence a project
for roof replacement (Project Number 151-157) at
Chase Elementary School without such approval and
shall be eligible to subsequently be considered
for a grant commitment from the state.
Sec. 14. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-287 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring a bidding process for school building
projects, the town of Waterbury may commence the
roof replacement projects at Hopeville Elementary
School (Project Number 151-158), Bunker Hill
Elementary School (Project Number 151-156) and
Chase Elementary School (Project Number 151-157)
without meeting such bidding requirements and
shall be eligible to subsequently be considered
for grant commitments from the state.
Sec. 15. Notwithstanding the provisions of
chapter 173 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
setting square footage specifications in effect at
the time the construction project for Montville
High School (Project Number 086-051) was
authorized, the town of Montville may use the
square footage specifications in effect after July
28, 1986 for purposes of such projects.
Sec. 16. Notwithstanding the provisions of
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section
10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation
adopted by the State Board of Education concerning
projected enrolment for a school building project,
the town of Montville may increase the projected
enrolment for the new Tyl Middle School (Project
Number 086-059).
Sec. 17. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for construction of an administration
building for the Board of Education in Weston is
included in section 1 of this act and shall be
eligible to be subsequently considered for a grant
commitment from the state, provided the school
district files an application for such school
building project prior to June 30, 1997, and meets
all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general
statutes and any regulation adopted by the State
Board of Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 18. Notwithstanding the provisions of
sections 10-283 and 10-284 of the general statutes
or any regulations adopted by the State Board of
Education requiring that local legislative
authorizations be obtained within one year of the
authorization by the General Assembly of a grant
commitment or requiring that the town begin
constructing within two years after the effective
date of the act of the General Assembly
authorizing the Commissioner of Education to enter
into grant commitments for such projects, the town
of New Hartford shall have until June 30, 1998, to
authorize and until June 30, 1999, to begin
construction on a new school (Project Number
092-87-014N) or extension and alteration to the
New Hartford Elementary or Bakerville Consolidated
School (Project Numbers 092-022E, 092-021E) and
shall be eligible to subsequently be considered
for a grant commitment from the state.
Sec. 19. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
projects for roof replacement at Central High
School and Harding High School in Bridgeport are
included in section 1 of this act and shall be
eligible to be subsequently considered for grant
commitments from the state, provided the school
district files applications for such school
building projects prior to June 30, 1997, and
meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the
general statutes and any regulation adopted by the
State Board of Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 20. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
technology projects at Thomas W. Mahan Elementary
School (Project Number 104-082) and Veterans'
Memorial Elementary School (Project Number
104-083) in Norwich are included in section 1 of
this act and shall be eligible to be subsequently
considered for grant commitments from the state,
provided the school district files applications
for such school building project prior to June 30,
1997, and meets all other provisions of chapter
173 of the general statutes and any regulation
adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant
to said chapter.
Sec. 21. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that the scope of a school building
project be set at the time of application for the
school building project grant, the town of
Torrington may expand the scope of the renovation
and expansion project (Project Number 143-052) at
Torrington High School to include a natatorium.
Sec. 22. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for portable classrooms at Voluntown
Elementary School in Voluntown is included in
section 1 of this act and shall be eligible to be
subsequently considered for a grant commitment
from the state, provided the school district files
an application for such school building project
prior to June 30, 1997, and meets all other
provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes
and any regulation adopted by the State Board of
Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 23. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for the Magnet Regional Science, Math,
Technology and Arts Resource High School in
Hartford is included in section 1 of this act and
shall be eligible to be subsequently considered
for a grant commitment from the state, provided
the Hartford school district files an application
for such school building project prior to June 30,
1997, and meets all other provisions of section
10-264h and chapter 173 of the general statutes
and any regulation adopted by the State Board of
Education pursuant to said chapter except as may
be waived by the Commissioner of Education
pursuant to subsection (a) of said section
10-264h.
Sec. 24. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
alteration project for the central administration
facility (Project Number 113-034) in Portland is
included in section 1 of this act and shall be
eligible to be subsequently considered for a grant
commitment from the state, provided the school
district files an application for such school
building project prior to June 30, 1997, and meets
all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general
statutes and any regulation adopted by the State
Board of Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 25. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
projects for portable classrooms at Jackter
Elementary School (Project Number 028-028) and
William J. Johnston School (Project Number
028-029) in Colchester are included in section 1
of this act and shall be eligible to be
subsequently considered for grant commitments from
the state, provided the school district files
applications for such school building projects
prior to June 30, 1997, and meets all other
provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes
and any regulation adopted by the State Board of
Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 26. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that the scope of a school building
project be set at the time of application for a
school building project grant, the town of
Naugatuck may expand the scope of the extension
and alteration project (Project Number 088-032) at
City Hill Middle School to include the purchase of
land adjacent to the school.
Sec. 27. Notwithstanding the provisions of
sections 10-283 and 10-284 of the general statutes
or any regulations adopted by the State Board of
Education requiring that local legislative
authorizations be obtained within one year of the
authorization by the General Assembly of a grant
commitment or requiring that the town begin
constructing within two years after the effective
date of the act of the General Assembly
authorizing the Commissioner of Education to enter
into grant commitments for such projects, the town
of Fairfield shall have until June 30, 1998, to
authorize and until June 30, 1999, to begin
construction on the alteration project (Project
Number 051-081) at the Ludlow High School and
shall be eligible to subsequently be considered
for a grant commitment from the state.
Sec. 28. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that the description of a project type
for a school building project be made at the time
of application for a school building project
grant, the town of Fairfield may reduce the scope
of the project for alteration of the former Ludlow
High School building for use as an elementary and
middle school (Project Number 051-081) to include
an extension of the building only for a middle
school.
Sec. 29. Notwithstanding the provisions of
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section
10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation
adopted by the State Board of Education requiring
that the highest projected enrolment for a school
building project be calculated for the eight year
period from the date the local board of education
files an application for a school building project
grant with the State Department of Education, the
town of Fairfield may calculate the projected
enrolment for the alteration project (Project
Number 051-081) at the former Ludlow School
building for the twelve year period from said
date.
Sec. 30. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
pursuant to said section, the extension and
alteration project at East Lyme High School in
East Lyme, the application for which is submitted
pursuant to a cooperative arrangement pursuant to
section 10-158a of the general statutes between
the East Lyme Board of Education and the Salem
Board of Education, is included in section 1 of
this act and shall be eligible to be subsequently
considered for a grant commitment from the state,
provided the East Lyme school district, on behalf
of the cooperative arrangement, submits an
application for such school building project no
later than June 30, 1997, and meets all other
provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes
and any regulations adopted by the State Board of
Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 31. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for roof replacement at Salem School in
Salem is included in section 1 of this act and
shall be eligible to be subsequently considered
for a grant commitment from the state, provided
the school district files an application for such
school building project prior to June 30, 1997,
and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of
the general statutes and any regulation adopted by
the State Board of Education pursuant to said
chapter.
Sec. 32. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Bethany may let out for bid on and
commence a project for septic system work as part
of the alteration and extension project (Project
Number 008-014) at Bethany Community School and
shall be eligible to subsequently be considered
for a grant commitment from the state, provided
plans and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit.
Sec. 33. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted that a bid not be let out until
plans and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Enfield may let out for bid on and
commence the roofing project (Project Number
049-115RR) at the E.H. Parkman Elementary School
and shall be eligible to subsequently be
considered for a grant commitment from the state,
provided plans and specifications have been
approved by the Department of Education's School
Facilities Unit.
Sec. 34. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Tolland may let out for bid on and
commence a project for a new elementary school
(Project Number 142-052) and shall be eligible to
subsequently be considered for a grant commitment
from the state, provided plans and specifications
have been approved by the Department of
Education's school facilities unit.
Sec. 35. Notwithstanding the provisions of
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section
10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation
adopted by the State Board of Education concerning
projected enrolment for a school building project,
the town of Tolland may increase the projected
enrolment for the new elementary school project
(Project Number 142-052) to six hundred students.
Sec. 36. Notwithstanding the provisions of
sections 10-283 and 10-284 of the general statutes
or any regulations adopted by the State Board of
Education requiring that local legislative
authorizations be obtained within one year of the
authorization by the General Assembly of a grant
commitment or requiring that the town begin
constructing within two years after the effective
date of the act of the General Assembly
authorizing the Commissioner of Education to enter
into grant commitments for such projects, the town
of Tolland shall have until June 30, 1998, to
authorize and until June 30, 1999, to begin
construction on the technology project (Project
Number 142-053) at the Tolland High School and
shall be eligible to subsequently be considered
for a grant commitment from the state.
Sec. 37. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
technology projects at Tolland Middle School and
Parker Memorial School in Tolland are included in
section 1 of this act and shall be eligible to be
subsequently considered for grant commitments from
the state, provided the school district files
applications for such school building projects
prior to June 30, 1997, and meets all other
provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes
and any regulation adopted by the State Board of
Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 38. Notwithstanding the provisions of
chapter 173 of the general statutes concerning the
date of application for qualification as a
renovation project, the project for Bethany
Community School (Project Number 008-014) in
Bethany shall qualify as a renovation project,
provided the project meets all the other
requirements of said chapter for renovation
projects.
Sec. 39. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
providing that grant commitments lapse on the June
thirtieth of the year following the year of
legislative authorization unless prior to such
date the town has filed notice with the department
that the town has completed all necessary steps
under its charter and the general statutes to
appropriate sufficient funds to pay for the
project and any site acquisition costs for the
project; authorized bonding or other means of
financing the appropriation; been authorized to
apply for and accept state grants for the project;
and authorized the building committee to carry out
the project, the town of Meriden shall be eligible
for a grant for code update, educational addition
and reroofing project (Project Number 080-074) at
the John Barry Elementary School.
Sec. 40. Notwithstanding the provisions of
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section
10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation
adopted by the State Board of Education requiring
that the highest projected enrolment for a school
building project be calculated for the eight
year-to-year period from the date the local Board
of Education files a notification of a proposed
school building project with the State Department
of Education, the town of Bristol may amend its
project enrolments for the extension and
alteration project at the Ellen P. Hubbell
Elementary School (Project Number 017-046).
Sec. 41. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that the scope of a school building
project be set at the time of application for a
school building project grant, the town of Bristol
may expand the scope of the additions and
alterations project (Project Number 017-046) at
the Ellen P. Hubbell Elementary School.
Sec. 42. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Bristol may let out for bid on and
commence a project for the roof replacement at the
Clara T. O'Connell Elementary School and shall be
eligible to subsequently be considered for a grant
commitment from the state, provided plans and
specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's School Facilities Unit.
Sec. 43. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a description of the project type
for a school building project be made at the time
of application for a school building project
grant, the town of Wolcott may change the
description of the project (Project Number
166-049) for a new middle school to an extension
and alteration project at a school within the town
of Wolcott.
Sec. 44. Notwithstanding the provisions of
sections 10-283 and 10-284 of the general statutes
or any regulations adopted by the State Board of
Education requiring that local legislative
authorizations be obtained within one year of the
authorization by the General Assembly of a grant
commitment or requiring that the town begin
constructing within two years after the effective
date of the act of the General Assembly
authorizing the Commissioner of Education to enter
into grant commitments for such projects, the town
of Wolcott shall have until June 30, 1998, to
authorize and until June 30, 1999, to begin
construction on an extension and alteration
project (Project Number 166-049) at a school
within the town.
Sec. 45. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Cheshire may let out for bid on and
commence a project for code violation, asbestos
abatement (Project Number 025-043) at Cheshire
High School and shall be eligible to subsequently
be considered for a grant commitment from the
state, provided plans and specifications have been
approved by the Department of Education's school
facilities unit.
Sec. 46. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that the description of a project type
for a school building project be made at the time
of application for a school building project
grant, the town of East Hampton may expand the
scope of the extension and alteration project at
East Hampton High School (Project Number 042-029)
to include roof replacement.
Sec. 47. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
Regional School District Number 14 may let out for
bid on and commence a project for roof replacement
(Project Number 214-075) at Mitchell Elementary
School and shall be eligible to subsequently be
considered for a grant commitment from the state,
provided plans and specifications have been
approved by the Department of Education's school
facilities unit.
Sec. 48. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that the scope of a school building
project be set at the time of application for a
school building project grant, the town of
Westport may change the scope of the extension
project (Project Number 158-077) at Coleytown
Middle School to include alterations and to
decrease the number of classrooms.
Sec. 49. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for extension and alteration of a school
in Ridgefield or construction of a new school in
Ridgefield is included in section 1 of this act
and shall be eligible to be subsequently
considered for a grant commitment from the state,
provided the school district files an application
for such school building project prior to June 30,
1997, and meets all other provisions of chapter
173 of the general statutes and any regulation
adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant
to said chapter.
Sec. 50. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
providing that grant commitments lapse on the June
thirtieth of the year following the year of
legislative authorization unless prior to such
date the town has filed notice with the department
that the town has completed all necessary steps
under its charter and the general statutes to
appropriate sufficient funds to pay for the
projects and any site acquisition costs for the
projects; authorized bonding or other means of
financing the appropriation; been authorized to
apply for and accept state grants for the
projects; and authorized the building committee to
carry out the projects, the town of Ansonia shall
be eligible for grants for roof replacements for
Ansonia High School (Project Number 002-036RR),
Prendergast School (Project Number 002-038RR),
Willis School (Project Number 002-039RR), Peck
School (Project Number 002-040RR), John C. Mead
School (Project Number (002-041RR) and
Lincoln-Hayes School (Project Number 002-042RR).
Sec. 51. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
projects for modular classrooms at Kennelly School
(Project Number 064-213) and the renovation and
code compliance projects at Hartford Public High
School, Naylor, Burr, West Middle, Webster,
Rawson, Hooker, Twain, LCC, Wish, Dwight, Barbour
and Barnard-Brown Schools (Project Numbers 064-217
to 064-229, inclusive) in Hartford are included in
section 1 of this act and shall be eligible to be
subsequently considered for grant commitments from
the state, provided the school district files
applications for such school building projects
prior to June 30, 1997, and meets all other
provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes
and any regulation adopted by the State Board of
Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 52. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Hartford may let out for bid on and
commence projects for renovations and code
compliance (Project Numbers 064-217 to 064-229,
inclusive) at Hartford Public High School, Naylor,
Burr, West Middle, Webster, Rawson, Hooker, Twain,
LCC, Wish, Dwight, Barbour and Barnard-Brown
Schools and shall be eligible to subsequently be
considered for grant commitments from the state,
provided plans and specifications have been
approved by the Department of Education's school
facilities unit.
Sec. 53. Notwithstanding the provisions of
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section
10-286 of the general statutes or any regulations
adopted by the State Board of Education requiring
that the highest projected enrolment for a school
building project be calculated for the eight-year
period from the date the local Board of Education
files a notification of a school building project
with the State Department of Education, the town
of Berlin may calculate projected enrolment for
the extension and alteration project (Project
Number 007-038EA) at Willard Elementary school for
the ten-year period from such date.
Sec. 54. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for alteration at Wells Road School in
Granby is included in section 1 of this act and
shall be eligible to be subsequently considered
for a grant commitment from the state, provided
the school district files an application for such
school building project prior to June 30, 1997,
and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of
the general statutes and any regulation adopted by
the State Board of Education pursuant to said
chapter.
Sec. 55. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Bridgeport may let out for bid on and
commence a project for code violation corrections
(Project Number 015-79-049CV) at Roosevelt School
and shall be eligible to subsequently be
considered for a grant commitment from the state,
provided plans and specifications have been
approved by the Department of Education's school
facilities unit.
Sec. 56. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the Town of Waterford may let out for bid on and
commence a project for window replacement (Project
Number 152-066EC) at Cohanzie Elementary School
and shall be eligible to subsequently be
considered for a grant commitment from the state,
provided plans and specifications have been
approved by the Department of Education's school
facilities unit.
Sec. 57. Section 12 of special act 97-4 is
amended to read as follows:
Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 173
of the general statutes, special act, regulation
adopted pursuant to said chapter or the charter of
the City of Hartford, the Hartford City Council
may approve and authorize local funding,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ISSUANCE OF
BONDS OR NOTES OF THE CITY, for the renovation
project for Hartford Public High School.
Sec. 58. Notwithstanding the provisions of a
local charter or ordinance, any municipality, by
ordinance adopted by its legislative body, may
waive any rules, regulations or other requirements
established in such charter concerning the design,
construction, operation or maintenance of a public
school building, the awarding of contracts or the
acquisition, use or disposition of property for or
in connection with a cooperative or regional
school building project on land designated for
such purpose prior to July 1, 2000, to the extent
any such building is part of a cooperative or
regional school building project, provided such
ordinance requires that all construction contracts
and orders be awarded in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (b) of section 10-287 of
the general statutes.
Sec. 59. (a) The Commissioner of Public Works
may contract with the Vernon Street Bus Garage
Clean Up Corporation for the investigation,
analysis and remediation, in accordance with
applicable environmental requirements and
standards, of those certain parcels of property
bounded by Vernon, Brownell, Washington and Broad
Streets in the city of Hartford. Such contract
shall be exempt from state bidding and contracting
statutes and procedures, except for the provisions
of chapter 35 of the general statutes. The
Commissioner of Public Works may pay said Vernon
Street Bus Garage Clean Up Corporation for all
costs and expenses which have been incurred and
which may be incurred in connection with such
investigation, analysis and remediation work, in
accordance with the contract to be entered into by
said parties. The Commissioner of Public Works
shall grant to such corporation access to said
properties which is necessary to accomplish such
work. The state shall have and retain any and all
liabilities arising from conditions on said
properties, except to the extent such liabilities
arise from the acts of said corporation.
(b) Those parcels of property bounded by
Vernon, Brownell, Washington and Broad Streets in
the city of Hartford, and any environmental
investigation, analysis and development occurring
on said properties, shall not be subject to the
provisions of sections 22a-1b and 22a-12 of the
general statutes.
Sec. 60. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Granby may let out for bid on and
commence a project for alteration at Wells Road
School and shall be eligible to subsequently be
considered for a grant commitment from the state,
provided plans and specifications have been
approved by the Department of Education's school
facilities unit.
Sec. 61. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
providing that grant commitments lapse on the June
thirtieth of the year following the year of
legislative authorization unless prior to such
date the town has filed notice with the department
that the town has completed all necessary steps
under its charter and the general statutes to
appropriate sufficient funds to pay for the
project and any site acquisition costs for the
project; authorized bonding or other means of
financing the appropriation; been authorized to
apply for and accept state grants for the project;
and authorized the building committee to carry out
the project, the town of New London shall be
eligible for grants for roof replacement and code
and renovations at Little Red Schoolhouse (Project
Number 095-064), technology projects at Jennings
Elementary School (Project Number 095-070),
Edgerton Elementary School (Project Number
095-071), Winthrop Elementary School (Project
Number 095-067), Bennie Dover Jackson Middle
School (Project Number 095-066), New London High
School (Project Number 095-065), Nathan Hale
Elementary School (Project Number 095-068) and
Harbor Elementary School (Project Number 095-069).
Sec. 62. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of New London may let out for bid on and
commence projects for Nathan Hale Elementary
(Project Numbers 095-060, 095-068), Winthrop
Elementary (Project Numbers 095-058, 095-067),
Harbor Elementary (Project Numbers 095-061,
095-069 and 095-053) New London High (Project
Numbers 095-052 and 095-065), Edgerton Elementary
(Project Numbers 095-057 and 095-071), Jennings
Elementary (Project Numbers 095-070 and 095-056),
Bennie Dover Jackson Middle (Project Number
095-066), and Little Red Schoolhouse (Project
Number 095-064) and shall be eligible to
subsequently be considered for grant commitments
from the state, provided plans and specifications
have been approved by the Department of
Education's school facilities unit.
Sec. 63. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for code compliance and alterations at
Bunker Hill School in Waterbury is included in
section 1 of this act and shall be eligible to be
subsequently considered for a grant commitment
from the state, provided the school district files
an application for such school building project
prior to June 30, 1997, and meets all other
provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes
and any regulation adopted by the State Board of
Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 64. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for construction of a new elementary
school at Chapel Street School in the town of
Stratford is included in section 1 of this act and
shall be eligible to be subsequently considered
for a grant commitment from the state, provided
the town files applications for such school
building project prior to June 30, 1997, and meets
all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general
statutes and any regulation adopted by the State
Board of Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 65. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that the description of a project type
for a school building project be made at the time
of application for a school building project
grant, the town of Plymouth may change the code
violation project at Fisher Middle School (Project
Number 111-045) to an alteration project.
Sec. 66. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for alteration at Fisher Middle School in
Plymouth is included in section 1 of this act and
shall be eligible to be subsequently considered
for a grant commitment from the state, provided
the school district files an application for such
school building project prior to June 30, 1997,
and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of
the general statutes and any regulation adopted by
the State Board of Education pursuant to said
chapter.
Sec. 67. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
projects for relocatable classrooms at Western,
Cross Street and Prospect Street Schools in
Naugatuck are included in section 1 of this act
and shall be eligible to be subsequently
considered for grant commitments from the state,
provided the school district files applications
for such school building projects prior to June
30, 1997, and meets all other provisions of
chapter 173 of the general statutes and any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 68. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for extension at Timothy Dwight School in
New Haven is included in section 1 of this act and
shall be eligible to be subsequently considered
for a grant commitment from the state, provided
the school district files an application for such
school building project prior to June 30, 1997,
and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of
the general statutes and any regulation adopted by
the State Board of Education pursuant to said
chapter.
Sec. 69. Notwithstanding the provisions of
chapter 173 of the general statutes concerning the
date of application for qualification as a
renovation project, the project for a school in
Wolcott (Project Number 166-049) shall qualify as
a renovation project, provided the project meets
all the other requirements of said chapter for
renovation projects.
Sec. 70. Notwithstanding the provisions of
chapter 173 of the general statutes and any
regulations adopted by the State Board of
Education pursuant to said chapter requiring roofs
to be replaced rather than repaired for
eligibility for a school building project grant,
the town of Mansfield shall be eligible for
reimbursement for repair of the roof of Mansfield
Middle School.
Sec. 71. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for repair of the roof at Mansfield Middle
School in Mansfield is included in section 1 of
this act and shall be eligible to be subsequently
considered for a grant commitment from the state,
provided the school district files an application
for such school building project prior to June 30,
1997, and meets all other provisions of chapter
173 of the general statutes and any regulation
adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant
to said chapter.
Sec. 72. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-292 of the general statutes or any
regulation adopted by the State Board of Education
requiring that a bid not be let out until plans
and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit,
the town of Hartford may let out for bid on and
commence projects for construction of three
schools in the learning corridor in Hartford and
shall be eligible to subsequently be considered
for grant commitments from the state, provided
plans and specifications have been approved by the
Department of Education's school facilities unit.
Sec. 73. Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any
regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the
project for a new building for the regional
vocational agriculture center (Project Number
144-094) at Trumbull High School in Trumbull is
included in section 1 of this act and shall be
eligible to be subsequently considered for a grant
commitment from the state, provided the school
district files an application for such school
building project prior to June 30, 1997, and meets
all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general
statutes and any regulation adopted by the State
Board of Education pursuant to said chapter.
Sec. 74. Section 10-66i of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
All state statutes concerning education,
including provisions for eligibility for state aid
and the payment of grants in accordance with the
provisions of sections 10-283, AS AMENDED BY
SECTION 76 OF THIS ACT, 10-286d, [10-287h and]
10-287, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 79 THIS ACT, 10-288
AND SECTIONS 86 AND 94 OF THIS ACT with respect to
bonds, notes or other obligations issued by a
regional educational service center to finance
building projects approved by the Commissioner of
Education, shall apply to the operation of
regional educational service centers.
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other
section of the general statutes, the board of a
center shall be eligible to receive direct payment
pursuant to the provisions of section 10-76g.
Sec. 75. Subdivision (3) of section 10-282 of
the general statutes is repealed and the following
is substituted in lieu thereof:
(3) "School building project", except as used
in section 10-289, means (A) the construction,
purchase, extension, replacement, renovation or
major alteration of a building to be used for
public school purposes, including the equipping
and furnishing of any such construction, purchase,
extension, replacement, renovation or major
alteration, the improvement of land therefor, or
the improvement of the site of an existing
building for public school purposes, but shall not
include the cost of a site; (B) the construction
and equipping and furnishing of any such
construction of any building which the towns of
Norwich, Winchester and Woodstock may provide by
lease or otherwise for use by the Norwich Free
Academy, Gilbert School and Woodstock Academy,
respectively, in furnishing education for public
school pupils under the provisions of section
10-34; AND (C) the addition to, renovation of and
equipping and furnishing of any such addition to
or renovation of any building which may be leased,
upon the approval of the State Board of Education,
to any local or regional board of education for a
term of twenty years or more for use by such local
or regional board in furnishing education of
public school pupils. [; and (D) the lease of a
facility by a regional educational service center
for use in furnishing educational programs and
services;]
Sec. 76. Section 10-283 of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
(a) 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
Education. Grant applications for school building
projects shall be reviewed by the Commissioner of
Education on the basis of categories for building
projects and standards for school construction
established by the State Board of Education in
accordance with this section, 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. Each
SCHOOL BUILDING project shall be assigned to a
category on the basis of whether such project is
primarily required to: (1) 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; (2)
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 (3) 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 the first day of July in any
year shall be reviewed promptly by the
commissioner and the amount of the grant for which
such project is eligible shall be estimated. The
commissioner shall annually prepare a listing of
all such eligible SCHOOL BUILDING projects listed
by category together with the amount of the
estimated grants therefor [including an estimate
of the grant for payment of interest cost] and
shall submit the same to the Governor and the
General Assembly on or before the fifteenth day of
December, except as provided in section 10-283a,
with a request for authorization to enter into
grant commitments. Each such listing submitted
after December 1995 shall include a separate
schedule of authorized projects which have changed
in scope or cost to a degree determined by the
commissioner. 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. The General Assembly shall annually
authorize the commissioner to enter into grant
commitments on behalf of the state in accordance
with the commissioner's categorized listing for
such projects as the General Assembly shall
determine. The commissioner may not enter into any
such grant commitments except pursuant to such
legislative authorization. [The State Board of
Education shall issue regulations to carry out the
duties of the board and the commissioner under
this section.] 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, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 78 OF THIS ACT, when
such project is completed and accepted by such
regional school district. For the purpose of any
final grant calculation completed during the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, and for each
fiscal year thereafter, in computing the amount of
a state grant for a school building project
involving the construction of a new school
facility or the purchase or lease of a facility
for which a grant application is submitted within
five years after any abandonment, sale, lease,
demolition or redirection of use of any school
facility constructed or renovated with state
assistance, the Commissioner of Education shall
deduct from the net eligible cost of such school
building project any grant amounts paid or due on
the abandoned, sold, leased, demolished or
redirected facility from the date such facility
was abandoned, sold, leased, demolished or
redirected. No such deduction shall be made for
any grant which was paid or is being paid pursuant
to subsection (b) of this section, subsection (a)
of section 10-65 or section 10-76e.
(b) Notwithstanding the application date
requirements of this section, the Commissioner of
Education may approve applications [for grants
pursuant to subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of
section 10-286 and] for grants to assist school
building projects to remedy damage from fire and
catastrophe or to correct safety, health and other
code violations at any time within the limit of
available grant authorization and make payments
thereon within the limit of appropriated funds.
Sec. 77. Subsection (b) of section 10-285b of
the general statutes is repealed and the following
is substituted in lieu thereof:
(b) In the case of a school building project,
as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3)
of section 10-282, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 75 OF
THIS ACT, the amount of the grant approved by said
commissioner shall be computed pursuant to the
provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of
section 10-286, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 78 OF THIS
ACT, and in the case of an administrative or
service facility the amount of the grant approved
by said commissioner shall be computed as one-half
of the eligible percentage, as determined for
school building projects computed pursuant to the
provisions of said subdivision (3) of subsection
(a) of section 10-286, of the eligible project
cost, provided that the percentage of eligible
costs shall be determined pursuant to subsection
(c) of this section. The calculation of the grant
pursuant to this section shall be made in
accordance with the state standard space
specifications in effect at the time of final
grant calculation. In the case of projects to
correct code violations, as defined in subdivision
(7) of section 10-282, the amount of the grant
approved by said commissioner shall be computed in
the manner specified for a secondary regional
school district pursuant to subdivision [(8)] (7)
of SAID subsection (a) of section 10-286 provided
that the percentage of eligible costs shall be
determined pursuant to subsection (c) of this
section. [For purposes of calculating grants
pursuant to this subsection "eligible project
costs" shall include interest on obligations
issued by any incorporated or endowed high school
or academy, approved by the State Board of
Education pursuant to section 10-34, for school
building projects authorized pursuant to this
section.] Grant payments shall be made in
accordance with this chapter, as deemed applicable
by the state Department of Education.
Sec. 78. Subsection (a) of section 10-286 of
the general statutes is repealed and the following
is substituted in lieu thereof:
(a) The amount of the grant approved by the
Commissioner of Education under the provisions of
this chapter for any completed school building
project shall be computed as follows:
(1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984,
and each fiscal year thereafter, in the case of a
new school plant, an extension of an existing
school building or projects involving the major
alteration of any existing building to be used for
school purposes, the eligible percentage, as
determined in section 10-285a, of the result of
multiplying together the number representing the
highest projected enrolment, based on data
acceptable to the Commissioner of Education, for
such building during the eight-year period from
the date a local or regional board of education
files a notification of a proposed school building
project with the state Department of Education,
the number of gross square feet per pupil
determined by the Commissioner of Education to be
adequate for the kind of educational program or
programs intended, and the eligible cost of such
project, divided by the gross square feet of such
building, or the eligible percentage, as
determined in section 10-285a, of the eligible
cost of such project, whichever is less, provided,
(A) any such project on which construction was
started prior to July 1, 1975, shall be reimbursed
under the formula in effect prior to said date,
(B) any such project on which construction or
payments under this chapter were started after
June 30, 1975, but prior to July 31, 1983, shall
be reimbursed based upon the data, submitted for
each such project and accepted by the state
Department of Education during said period,
representing the number of pupils the plant was
designed to accommodate, (C) any project for which
final grant calculation has been made after June
30, 1975, but prior to July 31, 1983, shall be
reimbursed based upon such final calculation and
(D) any such project for which estimated grant
payments were begun prior to July 31, 1983, shall
be reimbursed based upon the calculation formula
used in making such estimated grant payments;
(2) In case of projects involving the purchase
of an existing building to be used for school
purposes, the eligible percentage, as determined
in section 10-285a, of the eligible cost as
determined by the Commissioner of Education,
provided any project for which an application is
made on or after July 1, 1995, involving the
purchase and renovation of an existing facility,
may be exempt from the standard space
specifications, and otherwise ineligible repairs
and replacements may be considered eligible for
reimbursement as part of such a project, if
information is provided acceptable to the
commissioner documenting the need for such work
and the cost savings to the state and the school
district of such purchase and renovation project
in comparison to alternative construction options;
(3) If any school building project described
in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection
includes the construction, extension or major
alteration of outdoor athletic facilities, tennis
courts or a natatorium, gymnasium or auditorium,
the grant for the construction of such outdoor
athletic facilities, tennis courts and natatorium
shall be limited to one-half of the eligible
percentage for subdivisions (1) and (2) of the net
eligible cost of construction thereof; the grant
for the construction of an area of spectator
seating in a gymnasium shall be one-half of the
eligible percentage for subdivisions (1) and (2)
of the net eligible cost of construction thereof;
and the grant for the construction of the seating
area in an auditorium shall be limited to one-half
of the eligible percentage for subdivisions (1)
and (2) of the net eligible cost of construction
of the portion of such area that seats one-half of
the projected enrolment of the building, as
defined in subdivision (1) of this subsection,
which it serves;
(4) In the case of a regional vocational
agriculture center or the purchase of equipment
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-65 or a
regional special education facility pursuant to
section 10-76e, an amount equal to the eligible
cost of such project, as determined by the
Commissioner of Education;
(5) In the case of a public school
administrative or service facility, one-half of
the eligible percentage for subdivisions (1) and
(2) of this subsection of the eligible project
cost as determined by the Commissioner of
Education, or in the case of a regional
educational service center administrative or
service facility, the eligible percentage, as
determined pursuant to subsection (c) of section
10-285a, of the eligible project cost as
determined by the commissioner;
(6) In the case of the total replacement of a
roof or the total replacement of a portion of a
roof which has existed for at least twenty years,
or in the case of the total replacement of a roof
or the total replacement of a portion of a roof
which has existed for fewer than twenty years when
it is determined by a registered architect or
registered engineer that such roof was improperly
designed or improperly constructed and the town is
prohibited from recovery of damages or has no
other recourse at law or in equity, the eligible
percentage for subdivisions (1) and (2) of this
subsection, of the eligible cost as determined by
the Commissioner of Education. In the case of the
total replacement of a roof or the total
replacement of a portion of a roof which has
existed for fewer than twenty years when it is
determined by a registered architect or registered
engineer that such roof was improperly designed or
improperly constructed and the town has recourse
at law or in equity and recovers less than such
eligible cost, the eligible percentage for
subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection of the
difference between such recovery and such eligible
cost;
(7) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984,
and for each fiscal year thereafter, in the case
of projects to correct code violations, the
eligible percentage, as determined in section
10-285a, of the eligible cost as determined by the
Commissioner of Education;
[(8) Commencing with applications filed on or
after July 1, 1991, in the case of a project
involving the lease of a facility by a regional
educational service center for use in furnishing
educational programs and services, the eligible
percentage, as determined pursuant to subsection
(c) of section 10-285a, of the eligible project
cost as determined by the Commissioner of
Education. Grants pursuant to this subdivision
shall be paid on a current year basis if the
regional educational service center files an
application to lease a facility with the state
Department of Education on or before August first
of each year. No such facility or portion thereof
may be eligible for a grant unless the local fire
marshal has declared the facility suitable for
occupancy as a facility for use in furnishing
educational programs and services. Eligible cost
pursuant to this subdivision shall be limited to
the lease cost of the building net of any other
costs. Grant payments shall be made as follows:
Twenty-five per cent of the estimated cost in
October, twenty-five per cent of the estimated
cost in January, and the balance of the estimated
cost in April. The actual cost will be reported on
or before September first following the year of
application on the end of school year report filed
by each regional educational service center. If
the Commissioner of Education determines that
there has been an underpayment or overpayment in a
grant made pursuant to this subdivision, the
commissioner shall calculate the amount of the
underpayment or overpayment and shall adjust the
amount of the grant payment for the fiscal year
next following the fiscal year in which such
underpayment or overpayment was made. The amount
of the adjustment shall be equal to the amount of
the underpayment or overpayment. If the amount of
the overpayment exceeds the grant payment for the
fiscal year next following the fiscal year in
which such overpayment was made, the regional
educational service center shall, upon the request
of the commissioner, pay the department the
difference. Any lease pursuant to this subdivision
shall be for a period not to exceed twenty years.
In no event shall the reimbursement pursuant to
this subdivision be based upon a cost per square
foot which exceeds the cost determined to be
reasonable by the Commissioner of Education;
(9)] (8) In the case of a renovation project
for which an application is made on or after July
1, 1995, the eligible percentage as determined in
subsection (b) of section 10-285a, multiplied by
the eligible costs as determined by the
commissioner, provided the project may be exempt
from the standard space specifications, and
otherwise ineligible repairs and replacements may
be considered eligible for reimbursement as part
of such a project, if information is provided
acceptable to the commissioner documenting the
need for such work and the cost savings to the
state and the school district of such renovation
project in comparison to alternative construction
options.
Sec. 79. Subsection (a) of section 10-287 of
the general statutes is repealed and the following
is substituted in lieu thereof:
(a) A grant FOR A SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT
under this chapter to meet project costs not
eligible for state financial assistance under
section 10-287a shall be paid in instalments, the
number and time of payment of which shall
correspond to the number and time of PRINCIPAL
instalment payments on municipal bonds, including
PRINCIPAL payments to retire temporary notes
renewed for the third and subsequent years
pursuant to section 7-378a or 7-378e, issued for
the purpose of financing such costs and shall be
equal to the state's share of project costs per
PRINCIPAL instalment on municipal bonds or notes,
except in cases where the project has been fully
paid for, in which case the number of instalments
shall be five or, in the case of a regional
vocational agriculture center or a cooperative
regional special educational facility, shall be
one; provided final payment shall not be made
prior to an audit conducted by the State Board of
Education for each project for which a final
calculation was not made prior to July 31, 1983.
Grants under twenty-five thousand dollars shall be
paid in one lump sum. THE COMMISSIONER OF
EDUCATION SHALL CERTIFY TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER,
UPON COMPLETION OF THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS OR SUCH
RENEWAL OF TEMPORARY NOTES TO FINANCE EACH SCHOOL
BUILDING PROJECT, THE DATES AND AMOUNTS OF GRANT
PAYMENTS TO BE MADE PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER AND
THE STATE COMPTROLLER SHALL DRAW AN ORDER ON THE
STATE TREASURER UPON SUCH CERTIFICATION TO PAY THE
AMOUNTS SO CERTIFIED WHEN DUE. ALL SITE
ACQUISITION AND PROJECT COST GRANT PAYMENTS SHALL
BE MADE AT LEAST TEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE PRINCIPAL
PAYMENT ON BONDS OR TEMPORARY NOTES RELATED
THERETO OR SHORT-TERM FINANCING ISSUED TO FINANCE
SUCH SITE ACQUISITION OR PROJECT. Annual grant
instalments paid pursuant to this section on
PRINCIPAL instalment payments to retire temporary
notes renewed pursuant to section 7-378a or 7-378e
shall be based each year on the amount required to
be retired pursuant to said sections, as adjusted
for any ineligible project costs, and shall be
paid only if at the time such temporary notes are
renewed the rate of interest applicable to such
notes is less than the rate of interest that would
be applicable with respect to twenty-year bonds if
issued at the time of such renewal. The
determination related to such rates of interest
pursuant to this subsection may be reviewed and
shall be subject to approval by the Commissioner
of Education prior to renewal of such notes. IN
THE EVENT THAT A SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT IS NOT
COMPLETED AT THE TIME BONDS OR TEMPORARY NOTES
RELATED THERETO ARE ISSUED TO FINANCE THE PROJECT,
THE CERTIFICATION OF THE GRANT PAYMENTS MADE
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION BY THE COMMISSIONER OF
EDUCATION MAY BE BASED ON ESTIMATES, PROVIDED UPON
COMPLETION OF SUCH PROJECT AND NOTIFICATION OF
FINAL ACCEPTANCE TO THE STATE, THE COMMISSIONER OF
EDUCATION SHALL ADJUST AND RECERTIFY THE DATES AND
AMOUNTS OF SUBSEQUENT GRANT PAYMENTS BASED ON THE
STATE'S SHARE OF FINAL ELIGIBLE COSTS.
Sec. 80. Section 10-287c of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
The State Board of Education is authorized to
prescribe such rules and regulations as may be
necessary to implement the provisions of this
chapter, provided any rules or regulations to
implement the provisions of sections 10-283, AS
AMENDED BY SECTION 76 OF THIS ACT, 10-287, AS
AMENDED BY SECTION 79 OF THIS ACT, 10-287a, [and
10-287g] SECTION 86 OF THIS ACT AND SUBSECTION (b)
OF SECTION 95 OF THIS ACT shall be prescribed in
consultation with the Secretary of the Office of
Policy and Management. Whenever the Commissioner
of Education has made a commitment for a grant
prior to the completion of a project as provided
in section 10-287a, and said commissioner has made
advances thereon as provided in said section, any
such rules or regulations prescribed in accordance
with this section which were in effect at the time
of such commitment and advances shall be
applicable to any additional commitment and
subsequent advances with respect to said project.
Sec. 81. Section 10-287d of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
For the purposes of FUNDING grants to projects
that have received approval of the State Board of
Education pursuant to sections 10-287, AS AMENDED
BY SECTION 79 OF THIS ACT, and 10-287a, subsection
(a) of section 10-65 and section 10-76e, and to
assist school building projects to remedy safety
and health violations and damage from fire and
catastrophe, the State Treasurer is authorized and
directed, subject to and in accordance with the
provisions of section 3-20, to issue bonds of the
state from time to time in one or more series in
an aggregate amount not exceeding one billion
[four] SIX hundred [forty-six] NINETY-NINE million
[one] FIVE hundred SIXTY thousand dollars,
provided one hundred [thirty] THIRTY-FOUR million
EIGHT HUNDRED TEN THOUSAND dollars of said
authorization shall be effective July 1, [1996]
1998. Bonds of each series shall bear such date or
dates and mature at such time or times not
exceeding thirty years from their respective dates
and be subject to such redemption privileges, with
or without premium, as may be fixed by the State
Bond Commission. They shall be sold at not less
than par and accrued interest and the full faith
and credit of the state is pledged for the payment
of the interest thereon and the principal thereof
as the same shall become due, and accordingly and
as part of the contract of the state with the
holders of said bonds, appropriation of all
amounts necessary for punctual payment of such
principal and interest is hereby made, and the
State Treasurer shall pay such principal and
interest as the same become due. The State
Treasurer is authorized to invest temporarily in
direct obligations of the United States, United
States agency obligations, certificates of
deposit, commercial paper or bank acceptances such
portion of the proceeds of such bonds or of any
notes issued in anticipation thereof as may be
deemed available for such purpose.
Sec. 82. Section 10-287e of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
All moneys received by the state in payment of
the principal of and the interest on bonds
purchased and held by the state under the
provisions of section 10-287b of the 1969
supplement to the general statutes, together with
all net earnings on the temporary investment
thereof, shall comprise a fund to be designated
"School Building Construction Fund" and the moneys
in said fund shall be used to pay the principal of
and the interest on bonds issued by the State
Treasurer under [section] SECTIONS 10-287d, AS
AMENDED BY SECTION 81 OF THIS ACT, AND 93 OF THIS
ACT, and of notes, to the extent not paid by
renewal notes, issued in anticipation of the
receipt of the proceeds of such bonds.
Sec. 83. Section 10-289a of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof:
Notwithstanding any other provision of the
general statutes, in the case of any school
building project for which the total cost is less
than one million dollars, the state shall not
require permanent local financing prior to the
payment of a grant FOR A SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT
under this chapter. In any such case, the school
district may pay off its debt on any such project
over a period not to exceed four years if the
school district promptly applies all project grant
payments toward project costs or toward payment of
temporary notes as the same become due and payable
and provides for the payment of such notes in
equal annual instalments commencing no later than
one year from the date of issue. [The state shall
pay the same portion of the interest on the short
term financial obligations of the district as if
permanent financing had been used.]
Sec. 84. Subsection (a) of section 10-264h of
the general statutes is repealed and the following
is substituted in lieu thereof:
(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996,
and each fiscal year thereafter, a local or
regional board of education or regional
educational service center may be eligible for
reimbursement up to the full reasonable 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 may waive any requirement in such
chapter for good cause.
Sec. 85. (NEW) As used in sections 54 to 65,
inclusive, of this act:
(1) "Bonds or municipal bonds" means (A) any
bond, note, certificate or other evidence of
indebtedness, and (B) any energy conservation
lease purchase agreement.
(2) "Energy conservation lease purchase
agreement" means an energy conservation lease
purchase agreement, as defined in subdivision (17)
of section 10-282 of the general statutes, as
amended by section 75 of this act.
(3) "Interest subsidy grants" means the grant
payments by the state to pay the interest cost on
bonds, or on temporary notes renewed in accordance
with section 7-378a or 7-378e of the general
statutes into the third or any subsequent year of
such renewal following the date of issuance of the
original notes, issued by a town, regional school
district or regional educational service center to
finance a school building project.
(4) "Regional educational service center"
means a body corporate and politic established
pursuant to the provisions of part IVa of chapter
164 of the general statutes.
(5) "School building project" means school
building project, as defined in subsection (3) of
section 10-282 of the general statutes, as amended
by section 75 of this act.
Sec. 86. (NEW) (a) For school building
projects authorized by the General Assembly prior
to July 1, 1996, and for projects pursuant to
subsection (b) of section 10-283 of the general
statutes, as amended by section 76 of this act,
for which application was made prior to July 1,
1997, each town and regional school district shall
be eligible to apply for and accept interest
subsidy grants, as provided in sections 85 to 96,
inclusive, of this act. Any town desiring an
interest subsidy grant 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 grants 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 grants
for the district. Applications for such grants
under sections 85 to 96, inclusive, of this act
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 Education. Grant applications
under sections 85 to 96, inclusive, of this act
shall be received, reviewed and approved or
disapproved by the Commissioner of Education. All
applications submitted prior to the first day of
July in any year shall be reviewed promptly by the
commissioner and the amount of the grant shall be
estimated. The commissioner shall annually prepare
a listing of all such eligible grants under
sections 85 to 96, inclusive, of this act together
with the amount of the estimated grants therefor
and shall submit the same to the Governor and the
General Assembly on or before the fifteenth day of
December, except as provided in section 87 of this
act, with a request for authorization to enter
into grant commitments. The General Assembly shall
annually authorize the commissioner to enter into
grant commitments on behalf of the state in
accordance with the commissioner's listing for
such grants as the General Assembly shall
determine. The commissioner shall not enter into
any such grant commitments except pursuant to such
legislative authorization.
(b) Notwithstanding the application date
requirements of this section, the Commissioner of
Education may approve applications for interest
subsidy grants in connection with school building
projects to remedy damage from fire and
catastrophe or to correct safety, health and other
code violations at any time within the limit of
available grant authorization and make payments
thereon within the limit of appropriated funds.
Sec. 87. (NEW) A committee to review the
listing of eligible grants submitted pursuant to
sections 85 to 96, inclusive, of this act shall be
appointed annually on or before July first. Such
committee may be the same committee that is
appointed pursuant to section 10-283a of the
general statutes. The listing of eligible grants
shall be submitted to said committee prior to
December fifteenth annually to determine if said
listing is in compliance with section 86 of this
act. The committee may modify the listing if it
finds that the Commissioner of Education acted in
an arbitrary or unreasonable manner in
establishing the listing. Prior to February first
annually, the committee shall submit the approved
or modified listing of grants to the Governor and
the General Assembly.
Sec. 88. (NEW) (a) The Commissioner of
Education is authorized to receive, review and
approve applications for state grants under
sections 85 to 96, inclusive, of this act, or to
disapprove any such application if it does not
meet the standards or school building priorities
established by the State Board of Education.
(b) When any such application is approved,
said commissioner shall certify to the State
Comptroller the amount of the grant for which the
town, regional school district or regional
educational service center is eligible under
sections 85 to 96, inclusive, of this act and the
amount and time of the payment thereunder. Upon
receipt of such certification, the State
Comptroller is authorized and directed to draw his
order on the State Treasurer in such amount and at
such time as certified by said commissioner.
Sec. 89. (NEW) (a) The percentage of interest
subsidy grant money a local board of education may
be eligible to receive under the provisions of
section 91 of this act shall be determined as
follows: (1) Each town shall be ranked in
descending order from one to one hundred
sixty-nine according to such town's adjusted
equalized net grand list per capita, as defined in
section 10-261 of the general statutes; (2) based
upon such ranking, a percentage of not less than
twenty nor more than eighty shall be determined
for each town on a continuous scale.
(b) The percentage of interest subsidy grant
money a regional board of education may be
eligible to receive under the provisions of
section 91 of this act shall be determined by its
ranking. Such ranking shall be determined by (1)
multiplying the total population, as defined in
section 10-261 of the general statutes, of each
town in the district by such town's ranking, as
determined in subsection (a) of this section, (2)
adding together the figures determined under
subdivision (1) of this subsection, and (3)
dividing the total computed under subdivision (2)
of this subsection by the total population of all
towns in the district. The ranking of each
regional board of education shall be rounded to
the next higher whole number and each such board
shall receive the same reimbursement percentage as
would a town with the same rank. In the case of an
interest subsidy grant (A) for a secondary
regional school district, such reimbursement
percentage shall be increased by five per cent and
(B) for a regional school district accommodating
pupils in kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive,
such reimbursement percentage shall be increased
by ten per cent, except that no such percentage
shall exceed eighty-five per cent.
(c) The percentage of interest subsidy grant
money a regional educational service center may be
eligible to receive shall be determined by its
ranking. Such ranking shall be determined by (1)
multiplying the population of each member town in
the regional educational service center by such
town's ranking, as determined in subsection (a) of
this section, (2) adding together the figures for
each town determined under subdivision (1) of this
subsection and (3) dividing the total computed
under subdivision (2) of this subsection by the
total population of all member towns in the
regional educational service center. The ranking
of each regional educational service center shall
be rounded to the next higher whole number and
each such center shall receive the same
reimbursement percentage as would a town with the
same rank.
Sec. 90. (NEW) (a) For school building
projects authorized by the General Assembly prior
to July 1, 1996, and for projects pursuant to
subsection (b) of section 10-283 of the general
statutes, as amended by section 76 of this act,
for which application was made prior to July 1,
1997, any incorporated or endowed high school or
academy approved by the State Board of Education
pursuant to section 10-34 of the general statutes
may apply and be eligible subsequently to be
considered for interest subsidy grant commitments
from the state pursuant to sections 85 to 96,
inclusive, of this act. Applications pursuant to
this subsection shall be filed at such time and on
such forms as the state Department of Education
prescribes. The Commissioner of Education shall
approve such applications pursuant to the
provisions of section 88 of this act deemed
applicable by the state Department of Education.
(b) The amount of any interest subsidy grant
approved by said commissioner under this section
shall be computed pursuant to the provisions of
section 91 of this act. Grant payments shall be
made in accordance with sections 85 to 96,
inclusive, of this act, as deemed applicable by
the state Department of Education.
(c) The percentage of interest subsidy grant
money each incorporated or endowed high school or
academy may be eligible to receive under the
provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall
be determined by its ranking. The ranking shall be
determined by (1) multiplying the total
population, as defined in section 10-261 of the
general statutes, of each town which, at the time
of application for such grant commitment, has
designated such school as the high school for such
town for a period of not less than five years from
the date of such application, by such town's
percentile ranking, as determined in subsection
(a) of section 89 of this act, (2) adding together
the figures for each town determined under
subdivision (1) of this subsection and (3)
dividing the total computed under subdivision (2)
of this subsection by the total population of all
towns which designate the school as their high
school under subdivision (1) of this subsection.
The ranking determined pursuant to this
subdivision shall be rounded to the next higher
whole number. Such high school or academy shall
receive the same reimbursement percentage as would
a town with the same rank.
(d) In order for an incorporated or endowed
high school or academy to be eligible for an
interest subsidy grant commitment pursuant to this
section, such high school or academy shall (1)
provide educational services to the town or towns
designating it as the high school for such town or
towns for a period of not less than ten years
after completion of the interest subsidy grant
payments under this section and (2) provide that
at least half of the governing board which
exercises final educational, financial and legal
responsibility for the high school or academy,
exclusive of the chairman of such board, be
representatives of the board or boards of
education designating the high school or academy
as the high school for each such board's town.
Sec. 91. (NEW) (a) The amount of the interest
subsidy grant approved by the Commissioner of
Education under the provisions of sections 85 to
96, inclusive, of this act shall be the eligible
percentage, as determined in section 89 of this
act, times the eligible interest costs, provided
such interest subsidy grant amount and percentage
may be adjusted by the Commissioner of Education
to the same extent that the grant for the school
building project financed by the bonds of the
town, regional school district or regional
educational service center to which such interest
subsidy grant relates is adjusted pursuant to
section 10-286 of the general statutes, as amended
by section 78 of this act.
(b) In the case of any grants computed under
this section, any federal funds or other state
funds received for such costs covered by the grant
shall be deducted from cost estimates prior to
computation of the grant.
Sec. 92. (NEW) (a) An interest subsidy grant
approved under sections 85 to 96, inclusive, of
this act shall be paid in instalments, the number
and time of payment of which shall correspond to
the number and time of interest instalment
payments on municipal bonds, including payments to
retire temporary notes renewed for the third and
subsequent years pursuant to section 7-378a or
7-378e of the general statutes issued for the
purpose of financing the school building project
to which such interest subsidy grant relates and
shall be equal to the state's share of interest
costs per interest instalment on municipal bonds
or notes, provided final payment shall not be made
prior to an audit conducted by the state Board of
Education. Annual interest subsidy grant
installments paid pursuant to this section on
interest installment payments to retire temporary
notes renewed pursuant to said section 7-378a or
7-378e shall be paid only if at the time such
temporary notes are renewed, the rate of interest
applicable to such notes is less than the rate of
interest that would be applicable with respect to
twenty-year bonds if issued at the time of such
renewal. The determination related to such rates
of interest pursuant to this subsection may be
reviewed and shall be subject to approval by the
Commissioner of Education prior to renewal of such
notes.
(b) If the commissioner determines that a
school building project has not met the approved
conditions of the original application, the State
Board of Education may withhold subsequent state
interest subsidy grant payments related to said
school building project until appropriate action,
as determined by the commissioner, is taken to
cause the school building project to be in
compliance with the approved conditions or may
require repayment of all state interest subsidy
grant payments for said school building project
when such appropriate action is not undertaken
within a reasonable time.
Sec. 93. (NEW) For purposes of funding
interest subsidy grants, except for interest
subsidy grants made pursuant to subsection (b) of
section 95 of this act, the State Treasurer is
authorized and directed, subject to and in
accordance with the provisions of section 3-20 of
the general statutes, to issue bonds of the state
from time to time in one or more series in an
aggregate amount not exceeding one hundred
thirteen million one hundred thousand dollars
provided fifty-five million dollars of said
authorization shall be effective July 1, 1998.
Bonds of each series shall bear such date or dates
and mature at such time or times not exceeding
thirty years from their respective dates and be
subject to such redemption privileges, with or
without premium, as may be fixed by the State Bond
Commission. They shall be sold at not less than
par and accrued interest and the full faith and
credit of the state is pledged for the payment of
the interest thereon and the principal thereof as
the same shall become due, and accordingly and as
part of the contract of the state with the holders
of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts
necessary for punctual payment of such principal
and interest is hereby made, and the State
Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as
the same become due. The State Treasurer is
authorized to invest temporarily in direct
obligations of the United States, United States
agency obligations, certificates of deposit,
commercial paper or bank acceptances, such portion
of the proceeds of such bonds or of any notes
issued in anticipation thereof as may be deemed
available for such purpose.
Sec. 94. (NEW) Any grant commitment entered
into by the Commissioner of Education on or prior
to July 1, 1997, which includes a commitment to
pay the interest cost on bonds or temporary notes
renewed in accordance with section 7-378a or
7-378e of the general statutes into the third or
any subsequent year of such renewal following the
date of issuance of the original notes, issued by
a town or regional school district to finance the
state share of the cost of a school building
project as determined by the Commissioner of
Education, and if not paid prior to July 1, 1997,
shall be considered to have been properly made
pursuant to, and is subject to, sections 85 to 96,
inclusive, of this act. On or after July 1, 1997,
each town and regional school district shall
submit a separate application to the Commissioner
of Education for interest subsidy grants described
in sections 85 to 96, inclusive, of this act. The
Commissioner of Education shall certify to the
State Comptroller, upon completion of the issuance
of bonds or such renewal of temporary notes, the
dates and amount of interest subsidy grant
payments to be made pursuant to sections 85 to 96,
inclusive, of this act, and the State Comptroller
is authorized and directed to draw an order on the
State Treasurer upon such certification to pay the
amounts so certified when due. The State Treasurer
shall make such interest subsidy grant payments at
least ten days prior to the interest payment dates
on bonds or temporary notes related thereto. In
the event that a school building project is not
completed at the time bonds or temporary notes
related thereto or short-term financing are issued
to finance the project, the certification of the
interest subsidy grant amounts by the Commissioner
of Education may be based on estimates, provided,
upon completion of such project and notification
of final acceptance to the state, the Commissioner
of Education shall adjust and recertify the dates
and amounts of subsequent interest subsidy grant
payments based on the state's share of final
eligible costs.
Sec. 95. (NEW) (a) Notwithstanding any other
provision of the general statutes, in the case of
any school building project for which the total
cost is less than one million dollars, the state
shall not require permanent local financing prior
to the payment of an interest subsidy grant under
sections 85 to 96, inclusive, of this act. In any
such case, the school district may pay off its
debt on any such project over a period not to
exceed four years if the school district promptly
applies all interest subsidy grant payments toward
interest costs on such debt as the same becomes
due and payable and provides for the payment of
such debt in equal annual installments commencing
no later than one year from the date of issue. The
interest subsidy grant percentage on such debt of
the district shall be the same as if permanent
financing had been used.
(b) Interest subsidy grants shall be available
for bonds issued after July 1, 1971, for the local
share of the cost of a school building project
eligible for assistance under section 10-287a of
the general statutes. The State Comptroller is
authorized and directed to draw an order on the
State Treasurer upon certification of the
Commissioner of Education to pay any regional
school district, town, consolidated town and city,
and consolidated town and borough an interest
subsidy grant on such bonds issued after July 1,
1971, for the local share of the cost of such
school building project but not in excess of the
amount certified as such share by the Commissioner
of Education for such project. The local share of
the cost of such project shall be the total cost
of such project, as determined by the Commissioner
of Education to be eligible for assistance under
section 10-287a of the general statutes, less the
total grant payments made by the state. Such
interest subsidy shall be the difference between
four per cent per annum and the lower of six per
cent per annum or the net interest cost on such
bonds. Such payments may be made on a
reimbursement basis in the event the bonds were
issued prior to the date of certification from the
commissioner to the State Comptroller in
accordance with sections 85 to 96, inclusive, of
this act.
Sec. 96. (NEW) The loan obligation of a
private academy and the bonds or notes issued to
finance such loan pursuant to sections 10-289d to
10-289g, inclusive, of the general statutes, as
amended by this act, shall be secured by all
interest subsidy grants committed by the state to
the private academy in connection with such
financing. Whenever it is established that a
qualifying municipality or private academy has
defaulted in the payment of the principal or
redemption premium or interest on its bonds or
notes or on any payment obligation due under any
loan agreement authorized by said sections 10-289d
to 10-289g, inclusive, or any other event of
default under any such loan agreement or guaranty
agreement or the trust indenture for the bonds or
notes occurs, the payment of interest subsidy
grants to such qualifying municipality or private
academy pursuant to any provision of the general
statutes in effect at the time the default is
established shall be withheld by the state. If the
trustee, on behalf of a holder or owner of any
such bond or note or such qualifying municipality
or private academy, files with the State
Comptroller a verified statement describing such
default, the State Comptroller may investigate the
circumstances of the alleged default, prepare and
file in his office a certificate setting forth his
finding with respect to the default and serve a
copy of such finding, by registered or certified
mail, upon the State Treasurer or chief fiscal
officer of each such qualifying municipality and
the private academy and the indenture trustee.
Upon the filing of such a verified statement in
the office of the State Comptroller, the State
Comptroller shall deduct and withhold from all
succeeding interest subsidy grant payments
otherwise due each such qualifying municipality or
private academy such amounts as are necessary to
pay the interest on such bonds and notes of such a
qualifying municipality until such time as the
indenture trustee files a verified statement with
the State Comptroller that all defaults have been
cured. Payments of interest subsidy grants so
deducted and withheld shall be forwarded promptly
by the State Comptroller and the State Treasurer
to the paying agent or agents for the bonds and
notes for the sole purpose of payment of interest
on such bonds or notes. The State Comptroller
shall promptly notify the State Treasurer or the
chief fiscal officer of each such qualifying
municipality and the private academy of any
payment or payments made to any paying agent or
paying agents pursuant to this section. The state
of Connecticut hereby covenants with the
purchasers, holders and owners, from time to time,
of bonds and notes issued by a qualifying
municipality for school purposes that it will not
limit or impair the rights and remedies granted by
this section, provided nothing in this section
shall be construed as requiring the state to
continue the payment of state aid or assistance to
any qualifying municipality or private academy or
as limiting or prohibiting the state from
repealing or amending any law relating to state
aid or assistance, the manner and time of payment
or apportionment thereof or the amount thereof.
Sec. 97. (NEW) (a) For purposes of this
section, "regional educational service center
leases" means the lease of a facility by a
regional educational service center for use in
furnishing educational programs and services.
(b) Each regional educational service center
may apply for and accept grants for regional
educational service center leases as provided in
this section. Any regional educational service
center desiring a grant for a regional educational
service center lease may vote to authorize the
regional educational service center to apply to
the Commissioner of Education for and to accept or
reject such grant. Applications for a regional
educational service center lease grant shall be
made on the form provided and in the manner
prescribed by the Commissioner of Education.
(c) The Commissioner of Education shall
receive, review, approve and disapprove
applications for regional educational service
center lease grants under this section.
(d) The amount of the regional educational
service center lease grant approved by the
Commissioner of Education under the provisions of
this section shall be the eligible percentage, as
determined in subsection (c) of section 10-285a of
the general statutes, times the eligible lease
costs as determined by the Commissioner of
Education. Grants pursuant to this section shall
be paid on a current year basis if the regional
educational service center files an application to
lease a facility with the state Department of
Education on or before August first of each year.
No such facility or portion thereof shall be
eligible for a grant under this section unless the
local fire marshal has declared the facility
suitable for occupancy as a facility for use in
furnishing educational programs and services.
Eligible costs pursuant to this section shall be
limited to the lease cost of the building, net of
any other costs. Grant payments shall be made as
follows: Twenty-five per cent of the estimated
cost in October, twenty-five per cent of the
estimated cost in January, and the balance of the
estimated cost in April. The actual cost will be
reported on or before September first following
the year of application on the end of school year
report filed by each regional educational service
center. If the Commissioner of Education
determines that there has been an underpayment or
overpayment in a grant made pursuant to this
section, the commissioner shall calculate the
amount of the underpayment or overpayment and
shall adjust the amount of the grant payment for
the fiscal year next following the fiscal year in
which such underpayment or overpayment was made.
The amount of the adjustment shall be equal to the
amount of the underpayment or overpayment. If the
amount of the overpayment exceeds the grant
payment for the fiscal year next following the
fiscal year in which such overpayment was made,
the regional educational service center shall,
upon the request of the commissioner, pay the
department the difference. Any lease pursuant to
this section shall be for a period not to exceed
twenty years. In no event shall the reimbursement
pursuant to this section be based upon a cost per
square foot which exceeds the cost determined to
be reasonable by the Commissioner of Education. In
the case of any grants computed under this
section, any federal funds or other state funds
received for such costs covered by the grant shall
be deducted from cost estimates prior to
computation of the grant.
Sec. 98. This act shall take effect from its
passage, except that sections 75 to 97, inclusive,
shall take effect July 1, 1997.
Approved June 26, 1997