Raised Bill No. 5147 proposes comprehensive reforms to the funding and oversight of school building projects in Connecticut, primarily by amending Section 10-285a. The bill repeals existing language and introduces new criteria for grant allocation based on a town's adjusted equalized net grand list per capita, establishing a continuous scale for grant percentages that varies by project type and application date. It also modifies eligibility for regional boards of education, allowing for higher reimbursement percentages for those established or expanded after July 1, 2016, and caps the reimbursement for regional boards at eighty-five percent. Additionally, the bill incentivizes projects that incorporate early childhood education and special education services, with a cap on total reimbursement set at one hundred percent for compliant municipalities.

Furthermore, the bill replaces the School Building Projects Advisory Council with a new School Safety and Security Infrastructure Advisory Council, chaired by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. This new council will focus on enhancing school safety and security infrastructure, meeting quarterly to develop recommendations and conduct studies related to school safety grant processes. The bill also updates the qualifications for council members to better align with current needs in school safety planning, with all changes set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and council appointments required by September 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-292q