General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5247 establishes a Test Bed Technologies Program to facilitate operational cost reductions in state agencies through innovative technologies. An independent advisory board will be formed within the Department of Economic and Community Development to oversee the program, evaluate applications from businesses for pilot test bed programs, and assess their effectiveness, with findings due by October 1, 2030. The bill also repeals and replaces Section 32-7t of the general statutes, which governs the JobsCT Tax Rebate Program, introducing new definitions and clarifying the criteria for full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, including the concept of "discretionary FTEs."

The legislation modifies eligibility criteria for the tax rebate program by removing the two-year look-back period for job creation and establishing a minimum wage threshold of $37,500 for new FTEs. It emphasizes the importance of net economic benefits and allows the commissioner to approve applications with amendments for businesses making significant investments in sustainable practices. The bill also introduces a rebate structure based on the number of new FTEs created or maintained, with specific calculations for opportunity zones and distressed municipalities, while capping the maximum rebate at $5,000 per calendar year. Additionally, it mandates annual reporting requirements and clarifies the calculation of tax obligations under chapter 228z, with the bill set to take effect on October 1, 2026, for taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2027.