Senate Bill 288 (sSB288 File No. 214) proposes amendments to the statutes governing school building projects, with an effective date of July 1, 2024. The bill introduces a requirement for local or regional boards of education to obtain a written determination from the Commissioner of Housing, confirming their municipality as an "inclusive municipality" based on specific housing and zoning criteria, to be eligible for an additional five percentage points of school building project grant money. This determination must be issued within the same year and submitted before December 1st of the year the grant application is made. The bill also includes changes such as the transfer of title to the state for buildings no longer used for their intended purpose within 20 years if state reimbursement was 95% or more, revisions to the audit process, adjustments to the payment schedule for grants, and the authorization for the Commissioner of Administrative Services to prescribe necessary rules and regulations.

Furthermore, the bill authorizes the State Treasurer to issue bonds to fund educational grants and projects, establishing the "School Building Construction Fund" for the payment of these bonds. It substitutes certain sections of the general statutes to reflect these amendments and repeals several obsolete provisions, including those related to past pilot programs and a redundant provision allowing the Commissioner of Administrative Services to waive audit deficiencies. The bill has been given a Joint Favorable Substitute designation by the Education Committee with a unanimous vote.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-285c, 10-286e, 10-287c, 10-287e, 10-66i
ED Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-285c, 10-286e, 10-287c, 10-287e, 10-66i
File No. 214: 10-285c, 10-286e, 10-287c, 10-287e, 10-66i