Senate Bill No. 1555 seeks to combat concentrated poverty in specific census tracts within the state by instituting a comprehensive ten-year plan. The bill repeals Section 32-7z of the general statutes and introduces new provisions that recognize concentrated poverty as a significant issue impacting both impoverished and non-impoverished residents. It establishes the Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement within the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to oversee the plan's implementation, monitor progress, and facilitate stakeholder communication. The bill also introduces a pilot program for municipalities and community development corporations to apply for participation in addressing concentrated poverty, requiring the DECD to develop a detailed plan with measurable steps and educational benchmarks.

Additionally, the bill eliminates a previously established seven-member working group that was intended to create best practices and metrics for the ten-year plan, as it never convened. It introduces provisions allowing community development corporations to take legal action against state or municipal officials who fail to meet their responsibilities under the plan. The DECD commissioner is mandated to report on the plan's progress by specific deadlines, with the aim of reducing poverty levels to 20% or lower in targeted areas. The bill also establishes a framework for improving educational outcomes in these areas, requiring measurable implementation steps and benchmarks for educational metrics. The provisions are effective upon passage and are expected to incur a one-time cost of up to $250,000 for the DECD to develop necessary consulting services.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 32-7z
FIN Joint Favorable: 32-7z
File No. 881: 32-7z