Substitute Bill No. 1511 seeks to enhance support for disconnected youth in Connecticut by revising definitions and funding mechanisms within the state's education and workforce systems. The bill repeals certain subdivisions in section 10-262f related to "Foundation" funding amounts and introduces new funding levels for fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and beyond. It also expands the definition of "Total need students" to include a higher percentage of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals and additional categories such as those needing special education services. The bill establishes the Connecticut Preschool through Twenty and Workforce Information Network (CP20 WIN) to enable secure sharing of longitudinal data among agencies and introduces definitions for "Disconnected youth" and "Disconnected young person," targeting individuals aged 14 to 26 who are at risk of disengagement from education or the workforce.

Moreover, the bill mandates that public funds used with private entities must be governed by agreements approved by the Attorney General and establishes a data governing board to create policies for cross-agency data management. It requires the Chief Workforce Officer to submit annual data analysis requests to evaluate the state's workforce system and sets a deadline for developing a data sharing process by January 1, 2027. The bill also establishes youth success oversight boards within regional councils to oversee services for disconnected youth, directs the Department of Public Health to create a telehealth program for mental health services in schools, and reallocates youth employment and training funds for summer programs while creating a competitive grant program for nonprofits supporting disconnected youth. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes technical corrections to ensure clarity and consistency in legal language.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 31-3mm
ED Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference: 31-3mm