Raised Bill No. 6922 seeks to modernize and streamline the process for school building project grants in Connecticut, implementing recommendations from the Department of Administrative Services. Key changes include the repeal of subsections (a) and (b) of section 10-283, which are replaced with new provisions clarifying the eligibility of towns and regional school districts to apply for grants. The bill mandates that applications be submitted by the superintendent of schools and outlines a review process involving the Commissioner of Administrative Services and the Commissioner of Education. Notably, it removes the requirement for superintendents to consider factors such as natural light and school safety infrastructure in their applications. Additionally, the bill modifies reporting requirements for grant applications, introducing specific factors like enrollment projections and project readiness, while limiting cost changes for projects to once after July 1, 2012, unless exigent circumstances arise.

The bill also expands the types of projects eligible for grants, including those addressing safety and health violations, and introduces provisions for upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, with grants contingent on compliance certification after July 1, 2026. It establishes conditions for regional school districts to receive grants for completed projects and requires refunds of unamortized state grants for abandoned or redirected school buildings. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the State Treasurer to issue bonds for funding school building projects, with a cap of approximately $13.86 billion. The act is set to take effect upon passage, reflecting an urgency in implementing these changes, and has garnered favorable reports from both the Education and Finance committees, indicating strong legislative support.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-287d
ED Joint Favorable: 10-287d
File No. 311: 10-287d
FIN Joint Favorable: 10-287d