Text of CT HB 5524 (2024)

LCO No. 6080 1 of 254 General Assembly Bill No. 5524 February Session, 2024 LCO No. 6080 *06080__________* Referred to Committee on No Committee Introduced by: REP. RITTER M., 1st Dist. SEN. LOONEY, 11th Dist. REP. ROJAS, 9th Dist. SEN. DUFF, 25th Dist. AN ACT AUTHORIZING AND ADJUSTING BONDS OF THE STATE AND CONCERNING PROVISIONS RELATED TO STATE AND MUNICIPAL TAX ADMINISTRATION, GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. (Effective July 1, 2024) The State Bond Commission shall 1 have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and 2 sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act, from time to time to authorize the 3 issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal 4 amounts in the aggregate not exceeding $100,100,000. 5 Sec. 2. (Effective July 1, 2024) The proceeds of the sale of bonds 6 described in sections 1 to 7, inclusive, of this act, to the extent hereinafter 7 stated, shall be used for the purpose of acquiring, by purchase or 8 condemnation, undertaking, constructing, reconstructing, improving or 9 equipping, or purchasing land or buildings or improving sites for the 10 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 2 of 254 projects hereinafter described, including payment of architectural, 11 engineering, demolition or related costs in connection therewith, or of 12 payment of the cost of long-range capital programming and space 13 utilization studies as hereinafter stated: 14 (a) For the Office of Legislative Management: Alterations, 15 renovations and restoration of the State Capitol and Legislative Office 16 Building, including interior and exterior restoration and compliance 17 with the Americans with Disabilities Act, not exceeding $45,000,000. 18 (b) For the Department of Administrative Services: 19 (1) Reimbursement for environmental remediation at the former 20 Long Lane School in Middletown, in accordance with public act 99-26, 21 not exceeding $14,100,000; 22 (2) Renovations and improvements for an opportunity center, not 23 exceeding $1,000,000. 24 (c) For the Labor Department: Alterations, renovations and 25 improvements to buildings and grounds, including utilities, mechanical 26 systems and energy conservation projects, not exceeding $5,000,000. 27 (d) For the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: For 28 programs to support solid waste reduction strategies, not exceeding 29 $10,000,000. 30 (e) For the Department of Correction: Alterations, renovations and 31 improvements to the Manson Youth Institution in Cheshire, not 32 exceeding $5,000,000. 33 (f) For the Judicial Department: Acquisition and development of a 34 secure residential treatment center, not exceeding $20,000,000. 35 Sec. 3. (Effective July 1, 2024) All provisions of section 3-20 of the 36 general statutes or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby 37 which are not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 1 to 7, 38 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 3 of 254 inclusive, of this act are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds 39 authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to sections 1 to 7, 40 inclusive, of this act and temporary notes issued in anticipation of the 41 money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may 42 be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time 43 renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding 44 twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or 45 pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission 46 authorizing such bonds. 47 Sec. 4. (Effective July 1, 2024) None of the bonds described in sections 48 1 to 7, inclusive, of this act shall be authorized except upon a finding by 49 the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for 50 such authorization, which is signed by the Secretary of the Office of 51 Policy and Management or by or on behalf of such state officer, 52 department or agency and stating such terms and conditions as said 53 commission, in its discretion, may require. 54 Sec. 5. (Effective July 1, 2024) For the purposes of sections 1 to 7, 55 inclusive, of this act, "state moneys" means the proceeds of the sale of 56 bonds authorized pursuant to said sections 1 to 7, inclusive, or of 57 temporary notes issued in anticipation of the moneys to be derived from 58 the sale of such bonds. Each request filed as provided in section 4 of this 59 act for an authorization of bonds shall identify the project for which the 60 proceeds of the sale of such bonds are to be used and expended and, in 61 addition to any terms and conditions required pursuant to said section 62 4, shall include the recommendation of the person signing such request 63 as to the extent to which federal, private or other moneys then available 64 or thereafter to be made available for costs in connection with any such 65 project should be added to the state moneys available or becoming 66 available hereunder for such project. If the request includes a 67 recommendation that some amount of such federal, private or other 68 moneys should be added to such state moneys, then, if and to the extent 69 directed by the State Bond Commission at the time of authorization of 70 such bonds, such amount of such federal, private or other moneys then 71 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 4 of 254 available, or thereafter to be made available for costs in connection with 72 such project, may be added to any state moneys available or becoming 73 available hereunder for such project and shall be used for such project. 74 Any other federal, private or other moneys then available or thereafter 75 to be made available for costs in connection with such project shall, 76 upon receipt, be used by the State Treasurer, in conformity with 77 applicable federal and state law, to meet the principal of outstanding 78 bonds issued pursuant to sections 1 to 7, inclusive, of this act, or to meet 79 the principal of temporary notes issued in anticipation of the money to 80 be derived from the sale of bonds theretofore authorized pursuant to 81 said sections 1 to 7, inclusive, for the purpose of financing such costs, 82 either by purchase or redemption and cancellation of such bonds or 83 notes or by payment thereof at maturity. Whenever any of the federal, 84 private or other moneys so received with respect to such project are used 85 to meet the principal of such temporary notes or whenever principal of 86 any such temporary notes is retired by application of revenue receipts 87 of the state, the amount of bonds theretofore authorized in anticipation 88 of which such temporary notes were issued, and the aggregate amount 89 of bonds which may be authorized pursuant to section 1 of this act, shall 90 each be reduced by the amount of the principal so met or retired. 91 Pending use of the federal, private or other moneys so received to meet 92 principal as hereinabove directed, the amount thereof may be invested 93 by the State Treasurer in bonds or obligations of, or guaranteed by, the 94 state or the United States or agencies or instrumentalities of the United 95 States, shall be deemed to be part of the debt retirement funds of the 96 state, and net earnings on such investments shall be used in the same 97 manner as the moneys so invested. 98 Sec. 6. (Effective July 1, 2024) Any balance of proceeds of the sale of 99 said bonds authorized for any project described in section 2 of this act 100 in excess of the cost of such project may be used to complete any other 101 project described in said section 2, if the State Bond Commission shall 102 so determine and direct. Any balance of proceeds of the sale of said 103 bonds in excess of the costs of all the projects described in said section 2 104 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 5 of 254 shall be deposited to the credit of the General Fund. 105 Sec. 7. (Effective July 1, 2024) The bonds issued pursuant to this section 106 and sections 1 to 6, inclusive, of this act shall be general obligations of 107 the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are 108 pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds 109 as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of 110 the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts 111 necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby 112 made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as 113 the same become due. 114 Sec. 8. (Effective July 1, 2024) The State Bond Commission shall have 115 power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 9 116 to 15, inclusive, of this act, from time to time to authorize the issuance 117 of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in 118 the aggregate, not exceeding $30,000,000. 119 Sec. 9. (Effective July 1, 2024) The proceeds of the sale of the bonds 120 described in sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act shall be used for the 121 purpose of providing grants-in-aid and other financing for the projects, 122 programs and purposes hereinafter stated: 123 (a) For the Office of Policy and Management: For transit-oriented 124 development and predevelopment activities, not exceeding $2,000,000. 125 (b) For the Department of Economic and Community Development: 126 Grants-in-aid to nonprofit organizations sponsoring cultural and 127 historic sites, not exceeding $12,000,000. 128 (c) For the Department of Housing: Grants-in-aid to nonprofit 129 organizations for capital improvements to facilities that are used to 130 house the homeless or provide services to the homeless pursuant to 131 section 56 of this act, not exceeding $15,000,000. 132 (d) For the Department of Aging and Disability Services: Grants-in- 133 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 6 of 254 aid for aging in place, not exceeding $1,000,000. 134 Sec. 10. (Effective July 1, 2024) All provisions of section 3-20 of the 135 general statutes or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby 136 which are not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 8 to 15, 137 inclusive, of this act are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds 138 authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to sections 8 to 15, 139 inclusive, of this act and temporary notes issued in anticipation of the 140 money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may 141 be issued in accordance with said sections 8 to 15, inclusive, and from 142 time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 143 exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 144 in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 145 Commission authorizing such bonds. 146 Sec. 11. (Effective July 1, 2024) None of the bonds described in sections 147 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act shall be authorized except upon a finding 148 by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request 149 for such authorization, which is signed by the Secretary of the Office of 150 Policy and Management or by or on behalf of such state officer, 151 department or agency and stating such terms and conditions as said 152 commission, in its discretion, may require. 153 Sec. 12. (Effective July 1, 2024) For the purposes of sections 8 to 15, 154 inclusive, of this act, "state moneys" means the proceeds of the sale of 155 bonds authorized pursuant to said sections 8 to 15, inclusive, or of 156 temporary notes issued in anticipation of the moneys to be derived from 157 the sale of such bonds. Each request filed as provided in section 11 of 158 this act for an authorization of bonds shall identify the project for which 159 the proceeds of the sale of such bonds are to be used and expended and, 160 in addition to any terms and conditions required pursuant to said 161 section 11, include the recommendation of the person signing such 162 request as to the extent to which federal, private or other moneys then 163 available or thereafter to be made available for costs in connection with 164 any such project should be added to the state moneys available or 165 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 7 of 254 becoming available under said sections 8 to 15, inclusive, for such 166 project. If the request includes a recommendation that some amount of 167 such federal, private or other moneys should be added to such state 168 moneys, then, if and to the extent directed by the State Bond 169 Commission at the time of authorization of such bonds, such amount of 170 such federal, private or other moneys then available or thereafter to be 171 made available for costs in connection with such project may be added 172 to any state moneys available or becoming available hereunder for such 173 project and be used for such project. Any other federal, private or other 174 moneys then available or thereafter to be made available for costs in 175 connection with such project upon receipt shall, in conformity with 176 applicable federal and state law, be used by the State Treasurer to meet 177 the principal of outstanding bonds issued pursuant to said sections 8 to 178 15, inclusive, or to meet the principal of temporary notes issued in 179 anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of bonds 180 theretofore authorized pursuant to said sections 8 to 15, inclusive, for 181 the purpose of financing such costs, either by purchase or redemption 182 and cancellation of such bonds or notes or by payment thereof at 183 maturity. Whenever any of the federal, private or other moneys so 184 received with respect to such project are used to meet the principal of 185 such temporary notes or whenever the principal of any such temporary 186 notes is retired by application of revenue receipts of the state, the 187 amount of bonds theretofore authorized in anticipation of which such 188 temporary notes were issued, and the aggregate amount of bonds which 189 may be authorized pursuant to section 8 of this act shall each be reduced 190 by the amount of the principal so met or retired. Pending use of the 191 federal, private or other moneys so received to meet the principal as 192 directed in this section, the amount thereof may be invested by the State 193 Treasurer in bonds or obligations of, or guaranteed by, the state or the 194 United States or agencies or instrumentalities of the United States, shall 195 be deemed to be part of the debt retirement funds of the state, and net 196 earnings on such investments shall be used in the same manner as the 197 moneys so invested. 198 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 8 of 254 Sec. 13. (Effective July 1, 2024) The bonds issued pursuant to sections 199 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act shall be general obligations of the state and 200 the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the 201 payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same 202 become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with 203 the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for 204 punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and 205 the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same 206 become due. 207 Sec. 14. (Effective July 1, 2024) In accordance with section 9 of this act, 208 the state, through the state agencies specified in said section 9, may 209 provide grants-in-aid and other financings to or for the agencies for the 210 purposes and projects as described in said section 9. All financing shall 211 be made in accordance with the terms of a contract at such time or times 212 as shall be determined within authorization of funds by the State Bond 213 Commission. 214 Sec. 15. (Effective July 1, 2024) In the case of any grant-in-aid made 215 pursuant to subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) of section 9 of this act that is 216 made to any entity which is not a political subdivision of the state, the 217 contract entered into pursuant to section 9 of this act shall provide that 218 if the premises for which such grant-in-aid was made ceases, within ten 219 years of the date of such grant, to be used as a facility for which such 220 grant was made, an amount equal to the amount of such grant, minus 221 ten per cent per year for each full year which has elapsed since the date 222 of such grant, shall be repaid to the state and that a lien shall be placed 223 on such land in favor of the state to ensure that such amount shall be 224 repaid in the event of such change in use, provided if the premises for 225 which such grant-in-aid was made are owned by the state, a 226 municipality or a housing authority, no lien need be placed. 227 Sec. 16. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 4-66c of the 2024 supplement 228 to the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in 229 lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 230 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 9 of 254 (a) For the purposes of subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond 231 Commission shall have power, from time to time to authorize the 232 issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal 233 amounts not exceeding in the aggregate [two billion five hundred forty- 234 four million four hundred eighty-seven thousand five hundred forty- 235 four dollars, provided one hundred million dollars of said authorization 236 shall be effective July 1, 2024] two billion six hundred forty-four million 237 four hundred eighty-seven thousand five hundred forty-four dollars. 238 All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power 239 granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this 240 section, are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by 241 the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary 242 notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any 243 such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 244 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such 245 time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as 246 may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the 247 State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds 248 shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond 249 Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such 250 authorization, which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the 251 Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions 252 as said commission in its discretion may require. Said bonds issued 253 pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the 254 full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the 255 payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same 256 become due, and accordingly as part of the contract of the state with the 257 holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for 258 punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and 259 the Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become 260 due. 261 (b) (1) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent hereinafter 262 stated, shall be used, subject to the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) 263 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 10 of 254 of this section, for the purpose of redirecting, improving and expanding 264 state activities which promote community conservation and 265 development and improve the quality of life for urban residents of the 266 state as hereinafter stated: (A) For the Department of Economic and 267 Community Development: Economic and community development 268 projects, including administrative costs incurred by the Department of 269 Economic and Community Development, not exceeding sixty-seven 270 million [five hundred ninety-one thousand] eight hundred forty-one 271 thousand six hundred forty-two dollars, one million dollars of which 272 shall be used for a grant to the development center program and the 273 nonprofit business consortium deployment center approved pursuant 274 to section 32-411; (B) for the Department of Transportation: Urban mass 275 transit, not exceeding two million dollars; (C) for the Department of 276 Energy and Environmental Protection: Recreation development and 277 solid waste disposal projects, not exceeding one million nine hundred 278 ninety-five thousand nine hundred two dollars; (D) for the Department 279 of Social Services: Child day care projects, elderly centers, shelter 280 facilities for victims of domestic violence, emergency shelters and 281 related facilities for the homeless, multipurpose human resource centers 282 and food distribution facilities, not exceeding thirty-nine million one 283 hundred thousand dollars, provided four million dollars of said 284 authorization shall be effective July 1, 1994; (E) for the Department of 285 Economic and Community Development: Housing projects, not 286 exceeding three million dollars; (F) for the Department of Housing: 287 Homeownership initiative in collaboration with one or more local 288 community development financial institutions in qualified census tracts 289 for the purpose of construction or redevelopment, performed by 290 developers or nonprofit organizations residing in that municipality, 291 which leads to new homeownership opportunities for residents of such 292 qualified census tracts, not exceeding twenty million dollars; (G) for the 293 Office of Policy and Management: (i) Grants-in-aid to municipalities for 294 a pilot demonstration program to leverage private contributions for 295 redevelopment of designated historic preservation areas, not exceeding 296 one million dollars; (ii) grants-in-aid for urban development projects 297 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 11 of 254 including economic and community development, transportation, 298 environmental protection, public safety, children and families and social 299 services projects and programs, including, in the case of economic and 300 community development projects administered on behalf of the Office 301 of Policy and Management by the Department of Economic and 302 Community Development, administrative costs incurred by the 303 Department of Economic and Community Development, not exceeding 304 [two billion four hundred nine million eight hundred thousand dollars] 305 two billion five hundred nine million eight hundred thousand dollars, 306 not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars of which shall be used 307 for a grant to the town of Cromwell for lights at a field used by Little 308 League teams. For purposes of this subdivision, "local community 309 development financial institution" means an entity that meets the 310 requirements of 12 CFR 1805.201, and "qualified census tract" means a 311 census tract designated as a qualified census tract by the Secretary of 312 Housing and Urban Development in accordance with 26 USC 313 42(d)(5)(B)(ii), as amended from time to time. 314 (2) (A) Five million dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in 315 subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection may be made 316 available to private nonprofit organizations for the purposes described 317 in said subparagraph (G)(ii). (B) Twelve million dollars of the grants-in- 318 aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this 319 subsection may be made available for necessary renovations and 320 improvements of libraries. (C) Five million dollars of the grants-in-aid 321 authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection 322 shall be made available for small business gap financing. (D) Ten million 323 dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of 324 subdivision (1) of this subsection may be made available for regional 325 economic development revolving loan funds. (E) One million four 326 hundred thousand dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in 327 subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be made 328 available for rehabilitation and renovation of the Black Rock Library in 329 Bridgeport. (F) Two million five hundred thousand dollars of the grants- 330 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 12 of 254 in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this 331 subsection shall be made available for site acquisition, renovation and 332 rehabilitation for the Institute for the Hispanic Family in Hartford. (G) 333 Three million dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph 334 (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be made available for 335 the acquisition of land and the development of commercial or retail 336 property in New Haven. (H) Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars of 337 the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) 338 of this subsection shall be made available for repairs and replacement of 339 the fishing pier at Cummings Park in Stamford. (I) Ten million dollars 340 of the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision 341 (1) of this subsection shall be made available for development of an 342 intermodal transportation facility in northeastern Connecticut. 343 Sec. 17. Subsection (a) of section 8-37mm of the general statutes is 344 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 345 2024): 346 (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the 347 State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time to 348 authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in 349 principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate [thirty million] 350 eighteen million three hundred twenty-nine thousand nine hundred 351 ninety-three dollars. [, provided fifteen million dollars of said 352 authorization shall be effective July 1, 2016.] 353 Sec. 18. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 8-240b of the 2024 354 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 355 substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 356 (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the 357 State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to 358 authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in 359 principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred twenty- 360 five million dollars, provided seventy-five million dollars of said 361 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 13 of 254 authorization shall be effective July 1, 2024. 362 (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 363 stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department 364 of Energy and Environmental Protection for the purpose of financing 365 and awarding grants for retrofitting projects for multifamily residences 366 as provided in section 8-240a. Not more than twenty million dollars of 367 the bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be utilized by said 368 department for grants for such projects. 369 Sec. 19. Subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10a-109d of the 370 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 371 substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 372 (10) To borrow money and issue securities to finance the acquisition, 373 construction, reconstruction, improvement or equipping of any one 374 project, or more than one, or any combination of projects, or to refund 375 securities issued after June 7, 1995, or to refund any such refunding 376 securities or for any one, or more than one, or all of those purposes, or 377 any combination of those purposes, and to provide for the security and 378 payment of those securities and for the rights of the holders of them, 379 except that the amount of any such borrowing, the special debt service 380 requirements for which are secured by the state debt service 381 commitment, exclusive of the amount of borrowing to refund securities, 382 or to fund issuance costs or necessary reserves, may not exceed the 383 aggregate principal amount of (A) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 384 1996, to June 30, 2005, inclusive, one billion thirty million dollars, (B) for 385 the fiscal years ending June 30, 2006, to June 30, [2027] 2031, inclusive, 386 three billion [two hundred eighty-three million nine hundred thousand 387 dollars] nine hundred eight million nine hundred thousand dollars, and 388 (C) such additional amount or amounts: (i) Required from time to time 389 to fund any special capital reserve fund or other debt service reserve 390 fund in accordance with the financing transaction proceedings, and (ii) 391 to pay or provide for the costs of issuance and capitalized interest, if any; 392 the aggregate amounts of subparagraphs (A), (B) and (C) of this 393 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 14 of 254 subdivision are established as the authorized funding amount, and no 394 borrowing within the authorized funding amount for a project or 395 projects may be effected unless the project or projects are included in 396 accordance with subsection (a) of section 10a-109e; 397 Sec. 20. Subsection (a) of section 10a-109e of the general statutes is 398 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 399 2024): 400 (a) The university may administer, manage, schedule, finance, 401 further design and construct UConn 2000, to operate and maintain the 402 components thereof in a prudent and economical manner and to reserve 403 for and make renewals and replacements thereof when appropriate, it 404 being hereby determined and found to be in the best interest of the state 405 and the university to provide this independent authority to the 406 university along with providing assured revenues therefor as the 407 efficient and cost effective course to achieve the objective of avoiding 408 further decline in the physical infrastructure of the university and to 409 renew, modernize, enhance and maintain such infrastructure, the 410 particular project or projects, each being hereby approved as a project of 411 UConn 2000, and the presently estimated cost thereof being as follows: 412 T1 UConn 2000 Project Phase I Phase II Phase III T2 Fiscal Years Fiscal Years Fiscal Years T3 1996-1999 2000-2005 2005-[2027] 2031 T4 T5 Academic and Research T6 Facilities 450,000,000 T7 T8 Agricultural Biotechnology T9 Facility 9,400,000 T10 T11 Agricultural Biotechnology T12 Facility Completion 10,000,000 T13 T14 Alumni Quadrant Bill No. LCO No. 6080 15 of 254 T15 Renovations 14,338,000 T16 T17 Arjona and Monteith T18 (new classroom buildings) 66,100,000 T19 T20 Avery Point Campus T21 Undergraduate and T22 Library Building 35,000,000 T23 T24 Avery Point Marine T25 Science Research Center – T26 Phase I 34,000,000 T27 T28 Avery Point Marine T29 Science Research Center – T30 Phase II 16,682,000 T31 T32 Avery Point Renovation 5,600,000 15,000,000 T33 T34 Babbidge Library 0 T35 T36 Balancing Contingency 5,506,834 T37 T38 Beach Hall Renovations 10,000,000 T39 T40 Benton State Art Museum T41 Addition 1,400,000 3,000,000 T42 T43 Biobehavioral Complex T44 Replacement 4,000,000 T45 T46 Bishop Renovation 8,000,000 T47 T48 Budds Building T49 Renovation 2,805,000 T50 T51 Business School T52 Renovation 4,803,000 T53 T54 Chemistry Building 53,700,000 T55 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 16 of 254 T56 Commissary Warehouse 1,000,000 T57 T58 Deferred Maintenance/ T59 Code Compliance/ T60 ADA Compliance/ T61 Infrastructure T62 Improvements & T63 Renovation Lump Sum and T64 Utility, Administrative 39,332,000 [805,000,000] T65 and Support Facilities 863,500,000 T66 T67 Deferred Maintenance & T68 Renovation Lump Sum T69 Balance 104,668,000 T70 T71 East Campus North T72 Renovations 11,820,000 T73 T74 Engineering Building T75 (with Environmental T76 Research Institute) 36,700,000 T77 T78 Equine Center 1,000,000 T79 T80 Equipment, Library T81 Collections & T82 Telecommunications 60,500,000 470,000,000 T83 T84 Equipment, Library T85 Collections & T86 Telecommunications T87 Completion 182,118,146 T88 T89 Family Studies (DRM) T90 Renovation 6,500,000 T91 T92 Farm Buildings Repairs/ T93 Replacement 6,000,000 T94 T95 Fine Arts Phase II 20,000,000 T96 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 17 of 254 T97 Floriculture Greenhouse 3,000,000 T98 T99 Gant Building Renovations and [34,000,000] T100 New Life Sciences Building 403,500,000 T101 T102 Gant Plaza Deck 0 T103 T104 Gentry Completion 10,000,000 T105 T106 Gentry Renovation 9,299,000 T107 T108 Grad Dorm Renovations 7,548,000 T109 T110 Gulley Hall Renovation 1,416,000 T111 T112 Harry A. Gampel Pavilion and 160,000,000 T113 Hugh S. Greer Field House T114 T115 Hartford Relocation T116 Acquisition/Renovation 56,762,020 70,000,000 T117 T118 Hartford Relocation Design 1,500,000 T119 T120 Hartford Relocation T121 Feasibility Study 500,000 T122 T123 Heating Plant Upgrade 10,000,000 T124 T125 Hilltop Dormitory New 30,000,000 T126 T127 Hilltop Dormitory T128 Renovations 3,141,000 T129 T130 Ice Rink Enclosure 2,616,000 T131 T132 Incubator Facilities 10,000,000 T133 T134 International House T135 Conversion 800,000 T136 T137 Intramural, Recreational Bill No. LCO No. 6080 18 of 254 T138 and Intercollegiate T139 Facilities 31,000,000 T140 T141 Jorgensen Renovation 7,200,000 T142 T143 Koons Hall Renovation/ T144 Addition 7,000,000 T145 T146 Lakeside Renovation 3,800,000 T147 T148 Law School Renovations/ T149 Improvements 15,000,000 T150 T151 Library Storage Facility 5,000,000 T152 T153 Litchfield Agricultural T154 Center – Phase I 1,000,000 T155 T156 Litchfield Agricultural T157 Center – Phase II 700,000 T158 T159 Manchester Hall T160 Renovation 6,000,000 T161 T162 Mansfield Apartments T163 Renovation 2,612,000 T164 T165 Mansfield Training School T166 Improvements 27,614,000 29,000,000 T167 T168 Natural History Museum T169 Completion 4,900,000 T170 T171 North Campus Renovation 2,654,000 T172 T173 North Campus Renovation T174 Completion 21,049,000 T175 T176 North Hillside Road T177 Completion 11,500,000 T178 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 19 of 254 T179 North Superblock Site T180 and Utilities 8,000,000 T181 T182 Northwest Quadrant T183 Renovation 2,001,000 T184 T185 Northwest Quadrant T186 Renovation 15,874,000 T187 T188 Observatory 1,000,000 T189 T190 Old Central Warehouse 18,000,000 T191 T192 Parking Garage #3 78,000,000 T193 T194 Parking Garage – North 10,000,000 T195 T196 Parking Garage – South 15,000,000 T197 T198 Pedestrian Spinepath 2,556,000 T199 T200 Pedestrian Walkways 3,233,000 T201 T202 Psychology Building T203 Renovation/Addition 20,000,000 T204 T205 Residential Life Facilities 162,000,000 T206 T207 Roadways 10,000,000 T208 T209 School of Business 20,000,000 T210 T211 School of Pharmacy/ T212 Biology 3,856,000 T213 T214 School of Pharmacy/ T215 Biology Completion 61,058,000 T216 T217 Shippee/Buckley T218 Renovations 6,156,000 T219 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 20 of 254 T220 Social Science K Building 20,964,000 T221 T222 South Campus Complex 13,127,000 T223 T224 Stamford Campus T225 Improvements/Housing 13,000,000 T226 T227 Stamford Downtown T228 Relocation – Phase I 45,659,000 T229 T230 Stamford Downtown T231 Relocation – Phase II 17,392,000 T232 T233 Storrs Hall Addition 4,300,000 T234 T235 Student Health Services 12,000,000 T236 T237 Student Union Addition 23,000,000 T238 T239 Support Facility T240 (Architectural and T241 Engineering Services) 2,000,000 T242 T243 Technology Quadrant – T244 Phase IA 38,000,000 T245 T246 Technology Quadrant – T247 Phase IB 16,611,000 T248 T249 Technology Quadrant – T250 Phase II 72,000,000 T251 T252 Technology Quadrant – T253 Phase III 15,000,000 T254 T255 Torrey Life Science T256 Renovation and Demolition 17,000,000 25,000,000 T257 T258 Torrey Renovation T259 Completion and Biology T260 Expansion 42,000,000 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 21 of 254 T261 T262 Torrington Campus T263 Improvements 1,000,000 T264 T265 Towers Renovation 17,794,000 T266 T267 UConn Products Store 1,000,000 T268 T269 Undergraduate Education T270 Center 650,000 T271 T272 Undergraduate Education T273 Center 7,450,000 T274 T275 Underground Steam & T276 Water Upgrade 3,500,000 T277 T278 Underground Steam & T279 Water Upgrade T280 Completion 9,000,000 T281 T282 University Programs T283 Building – Phase I 8,750,000 T284 T285 University Programs T286 Building – Phase II T287 Visitors Center 300,000 T288 T289 Waring Building T290 Conversion 7,888,000 T291 T292 Waterbury Downtown T293 Campus 3,000,000 T294 T295 Waterbury Property T296 Purchase 325,000 T297 T298 West Campus Renovations 14,897,000 T299 T300 West Hartford Campus T301 Renovations/ Bill No. LCO No. 6080 22 of 254 T302 Improvements 25,000,000 T303 T304 White Building Renovation 2,430,000 T305 T306 Wilbur Cross Building T307 Renovation 3,645,000 T308 T309 Young Building T310 Renovation/Addition 17,000,000 T311 T312 HEALTH CENTER T313 T314 CLAC Renovation T315 Biosafety Level 3 Lab 14,000,000 T316 T317 Deferred Maintenance/ T318 Code Compliance/ADA T319 Compliance/Infrastructure T320 & Improvements T321 Renovation Lump Sum T322 and Utility, Administrative T323 and Support Facilities T324 – Health Center 86,000,000 T325 T326 Dental School Renovation 5,000,000 T327 T328 Equipment, Library T329 Collections and T330 Telecommunications – T331 Health Center 75,000,000 T332 T333 Library/Student Computer T334 Center Renovation 5,000,000 T335 T336 Main Building Renovation 125,000,000 T337 T338 Medical School Academic T339 Building Renovation 9,000,000 T340 T341 Parking Garage – Health T342 Center 8,400,000 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 23 of 254 T343 T344 Research Tower 60,000,000 T345 T346 Support Building T347 Addition/Renovation 4,000,000 T348 T349 The University of T350 Connecticut T351 Health Center T352 New Construction and T353 Renovation 394,900,000 T354 T355 Planning and Design Costs 25,000,000 T356 T357 Total – Storrs and Regional T358 Campus Project List [2,583,000,000] T359 3,196,000,000 T360 T361 Total – Health Center T362 Project List 786,300,000 T363 T364 TOTAL 382,000,000 868,000,000 [3,394,300,000] T365 4,007,300,000 Sec. 21. Section 10a-109f of the general statutes is repealed and the 413 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 414 (a) The university may, when directed by vote of its board of trustees, 415 borrow money and enter into financing transactions proceedings in 416 anticipation of assured revenues, project revenues or other funding 417 sources in the name of the university, on behalf of the state, and issue 418 securities in connection with such proceedings, as follows: (1) To finance 419 the cost of UConn 2000 or any one project thereof, or more than one, or 420 any combination of projects thereof; (2) to refund securities issued 421 pursuant to sections 10a-109a to 10a-109y, inclusive; and (3) to refund 422 any such refunding borrowings. All securities issued in connection with 423 assured revenues, project revenues, or other funding sources financing 424 transaction proceedings entered into pursuant to this section shall be 425 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 24 of 254 authorized by a resolution approved by not less than a majority vote of 426 its board of trustees. Nothing in this subsection shall increase the annual 427 or aggregate cap on the amount of securities the special debt service 428 requirements of which are secured by the state debt service commitment 429 pursuant to section 10a-109g. 430 (b) The board of trustees shall submit each resolution for the issuance 431 of securities approved pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, to the 432 Governor accompanied by a summary report of the estimated total 433 completion costs of projects that will not be completed within the 434 issuance which is the subject of the resolution. The Governor may, not 435 later than thirty days after such submission, disapprove such resolution 436 by notifying the board in writing of his disapproval and the reasons for 437 it. If the Governor does not act within such thirty-day period, the 438 resolution is deemed approved. 439 (c) (1) For purposes of this subsection, "UConn 2000 philanthropic 440 commitments and gifts" means commitments or gifts received by the 441 university or the foundation of the university operating pursuant to 442 section 4-37f designated to support the construction or renovation of a 443 new life sciences building to replace the George Stafford Torrey Life 444 Sciences Building, the North Wing of the Edward V. Gant Science 445 Complex, the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, the Hugh S. Greer Field House, 446 the Volleyball Center, the Boathouse or the Tennis Courts, or to support 447 operational expenses associated with departments or programs housed 448 in such facilities. "UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and gifts" 449 shall not include more than twenty million dollars of commitments or 450 gifts made prior to July 1, 2024. 451 (2) Not later than June 30, 2031, the university or the foundation of 452 the university operating pursuant to section 4-37f shall raise one 453 hundred million dollars of UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and 454 gifts, at least ten million dollars of which shall be endowed. At least sixty 455 million dollars of such commitments and gifts shall be designated for 456 construction or renovation expenses. 457 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 25 of 254 (3) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2031, 458 inclusive, if the cumulative amount of UConn 2000 philanthropic 459 commitments and gifts received during a specified period in 460 subdivision (4) of this subsection is less than the target milestone 461 applicable to such period as set forth in subdivision (4) of this 462 subsection, the total amount of securities requested by the board of 463 trustees in resolutions during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and 464 each subsequent fiscal year through June 30, 2031, inclusive, pursuant 465 to this subsection for such year, shall not exceed an amount which shall 466 be calculated by: 467 (A) Taking the sum of the annual caps provided in subdivision (1) of 468 subsection (a) of section 10a-109g for the fiscal years ending June 30, 469 2025, to the then current fiscal year, inclusive, and 470 (B) Multiplying such sum by a fraction equal to the UConn 2000 471 philanthropic commitments and gifts received during the specified 472 period divided by the target milestone for the then current fiscal year. 473 (4) The university shall meet the following target milestones for 474 UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and gifts during the following 475 periods: 476 T366 Fiscal Year Ending Cumulative Target Milestone for UConn 2000 Philanthropic Commitments and Gifts Specified Period to Achieve Target Milestone T367 June 30, 2025 $20,000,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024 T368 June 30, 2026 $31,500,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025 T369 June 30, 2027 $43,000,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2026 T370 June 30, 2028 $54,500,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2027 T371 June 30, 2029 $66,000,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2028 T372 June 30, 2030 $77,500,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2029 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 26 of 254 T373 June 30, 2031 $89,000,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2030 T374 June 30, 2032 $100,000,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2031 (5) On or before September 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the 477 university shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 478 section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 479 having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and 480 employment advancement and finance, revenue and bonding. Such 481 report shall include the total amount of philanthropic commitments and 482 gifts, including UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and gifts, 483 received during the prior fiscal year. 484 Sec. 22. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10a-109g of the 485 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 486 substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 487 (a) (1) The university is authorized to provide by resolution, at one 488 time or from time to time, for the issuance and sale of securities, in its 489 own name on behalf of the state, pursuant to section 10a-109f. The board 490 of trustees of the university is hereby authorized by such resolution to 491 delegate to its finance committee such matters as it may determine 492 appropriate other than the authorization and maximum amount of the 493 securities to be issued, the nature of the obligation of the securities as 494 established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the projects for 495 which the proceeds are to be used. The finance committee may act on 496 such matters unless and until the board of trustees elects to reassume 497 the same. The amount of securities the special debt service requirements 498 of which are secured by the state debt service commitment that the 499 board of trustees is authorized to provide for the issuance and sale in 500 accordance with this subsection shall be capped in each fiscal year in the 501 following amounts, provided, to the extent the board of trustees does 502 not provide for the issuance of all or a portion of such amount in a fiscal 503 year, all or such portion, as the case may be, may be carried forward to 504 any succeeding fiscal year and provided further, the actual amount for 505 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 27 of 254 funding, paying or providing for the items described in subparagraph 506 (C) of subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10a-109d may be 507 added to the capped amount in each fiscal year: 508 T375 Fiscal Year Amount T376 T377 1996 $112,542,000 T378 1997 112,001,000 T379 1998 93,146,000 T380 1999 64,311,000 T381 2000 130,000,000 T382 2001 100,000,000 T383 2002 100,000,000 T384 2003 100,000,000 T385 2004 100,000,000 T386 2005 100,000,000 T387 2006 79,000,000 T388 2007 89,000,000 T389 2008 115,000,000 T390 2009 140,000,000 T391 2010 0 T392 2011 138,800,000 T393 2012 157,200,000 T394 2013 143,000,000 T395 2014 204,400,000 T396 2015 315,500,000 T397 2016 312,100,000 T398 2017 240,400,000 T399 2018 200,000,000 T400 2019 200,000,000 T401 2020 197,200,000 T402 2021 260,000,000 T403 2022 215,500,000 T404 2023 125,100,000 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 28 of 254 T405 2024 84,700,000 T406 2025 [44,000,000] T407 122,000,000 T408 2026 [14,000,000] T409 124,000,000 T410 2027 [9,000,000] T411 116,000,000 T412 2028 103,500,000 T413 2029 101,500,000 T414 2030 100,000,000 T415 2031 25,000,000 Sec. 23. Subsection (a) of section 10a-109n of the 2024 supplement to 509 the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 510 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 511 (a) For the period from July 1, 2001, to June 30, [2027] 2031, or until 512 completion of the UConn 2000 infrastructure improvement program, 513 whichever is later, the university shall have charge and supervision of 514 the design, planning, acquisition, remodeling, alteration, repair, 515 enlargement or demolition of any real asset or any other project on its 516 campuses. 517 Sec. 24. Subsection (a) of section 10a-109x of the general statutes is 518 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 519 2024): 520 (a) Not later than October 1, 1995, and semiannually thereafter, the 521 university shall report to the Governor and the joint standing 522 committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 523 relating to the Department of Education, to finance, revenue and 524 bonding, and to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies on the 525 status and progress of UConn 2000. Each report shall include, but not be 526 limited to: (1) Information on the number of projects and securities 527 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 29 of 254 authorized, approved and issued hereunder including, relative to such 528 projects, project costs, timeliness of completion and any problems which 529 have developed in implementation, and a schedule of projects 530 remaining and their expected costs; (2) the amount of revenue available 531 from all sources for such remaining projects and expected receipts for 532 such remaining projects for the succeeding four quarters; (3) the amount 533 of money raised from private sources for the capital and endowment 534 programs and the progress made in the development and 535 implementation of the fund-raising program; and (4) any cooperative 536 activities with other public and independent institutions of higher 537 education commenced in the preceding six months. Each such report 538 shall, for the preceding six-month period, (A) specify the moneys 539 credited to such fund on account of, or derived from, each source of state 540 and federal revenue, (B) specify the amount of investment earnings 541 from the fund, (C) specify the moneys from such fund applied and 542 expended for (i) the payment of debt service requirements, (ii) the 543 payment of the principal of and interest on securities issued hereunder 544 and general obligation bonds of the state issued for university capital 545 improvement purposes, and (iii) each budgeted account under the 546 annual budget appropriation made to the university. The joint standing 547 committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 548 relating to finance, revenue and bonding may require the university to 549 appear before the committee to present and comment on any report filed 550 pursuant to this subsection. 551 Sec. 25. Subsection (b) of section 13b-74 of the general statutes is 552 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 553 2024): 554 (b) The purposes for which special tax obligation bonds may be 555 issued pursuant to sections 13b-74 to 13b-77, inclusive, are as follows: 556 (1) Planning, acquisition, removal, construction, equipping, 557 reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of, and 558 acquisition of easements and rights-of-way with respect to, state 559 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 30 of 254 highways and bridges; 560 (2) Payment of the state's share of the costs of planning, acquisition, 561 removal, construction, equipping, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation 562 and improvement of, and acquisition of easements and rights-of-way 563 with respect to, (A) state highways, (B) projects on the interstate 564 highway system, (C) alternate highway projects in the interstate 565 highway substitution program, commonly referred to as the interstate 566 trade-in program, (D) state bridges, (E) mass transportation and transit 567 facilities, (F) aeronautic facilities, excluding Bradley International 568 Airport, and (G) waterway projects; 569 (3) Payment of the state's share of the costs of planning, acquisition, 570 removal, construction, equipping, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation 571 and improvement of, and acquisition of easements and rights-of-way 572 with respect to, the local bridge program established under sections 13a- 573 175p to 13a-175u, inclusive, and payment of state contributions to the 574 Local Bridge Revolving Fund established under section 13a-175r; 575 (4) Planning, acquisition, removal, construction, equipping, 576 reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of, and 577 acquisition of easements and rights-of-way with respect to, the highway 578 safety program, including the rail-highway crossing, hazard elimination 579 and other highway safety programs on the state highway system; 580 (5) Planning, acquisition, removal, construction, equipping, 581 reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of, and 582 acquisition of easements and rights-of-way with respect to, the 583 maintenance garages and administrative facilities of the Department of 584 Transportation; 585 (6) Planning, acquisition, removal, construction, equipping, 586 reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of, and 587 acquisition of easements and rights-of-way with respect to, projects and 588 purposes included in section 13b-57h; 589 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 31 of 254 (7) Payment of funds made available to towns, as provided in sections 590 13a-175a to 13a-175e, inclusive, 13a-175i and 13a-175j, for the purposes 591 set forth in sections 13a-175a, 13a-175d and 13a-175j; [and] 592 (8) Payment of funds to any municipality or local planning agency 593 for transportation improvements pursuant to section 13a-98n; and 594 (9) Grants for commercial rail freight lines pursuant to section 13b- 595 236. 596 Sec. 26. Section 13b-236 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 597 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 598 1, 2024): 599 (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the 600 State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time to 601 authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in 602 principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate [twenty-seven] 603 seventeen million five hundred thousand dollars. 604 (b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount 605 stated in subsection (a) of this section and subdivision (3) of subsection 606 (b) of section 46 of public act 23-205, as amended by section 55 of this 607 act, shall be used by the Department of Transportation for a program of 608 competitive grants for commercial rail freight lines operating in the state 609 for improvements and repairs to, and the modernization of, existing rail, 610 rail beds and related facilities. Such program shall include the following: 611 (1) (A) Grants of one hundred per cent of the amount necessary to 612 improve, repair or modernize state-owned rights of way, and (B) grants 613 of seventy per cent of the amount necessary to improve, repair or 614 modernize privately owned rail lines, provided the commissioner may 615 waive the requirement for a thirty per cent matching grant if such 616 improvement, repair or modernization demonstrably increases rail 617 freight traffic; and (2) preference for grants shall be given to (A) freight 618 rail projects that improve at-grade rail crossings to eliminate hazards or 619 increase safety, (B) freight rail projects that provide connection to major 620 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 32 of 254 freight generators, (C) projects that further the goals and objectives of 621 the Department of Transportation's Connecticut State Rail Plan, and (D) 622 freight rail projects that improve freight rail infrastructure by increasing 623 the capacity for rail freight traffic. 624 (c) All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power 625 granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this 626 section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by 627 the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary 628 notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any 629 such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 630 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such 631 time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as 632 may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the 633 State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds 634 shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond 635 Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such 636 authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the 637 Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions 638 as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued 639 pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the 640 full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the 641 payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same 642 become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with 643 the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for 644 punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and 645 the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same 646 become due. 647 Sec. 27. Subsection (b) of section 17a-250 of the 2024 supplement to 648 the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 649 thereof (Effective from passage): 650 (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 651 stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the 652 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 33 of 254 Commissioner of [Developmental Services] Housing for the grant-in- 653 aid program established pursuant to section 17a-249, for supportive 654 housing for persons with an intellectual disability or other 655 developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, autism 656 spectrum disorder. 657 Sec. 28. Subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 29-1bb of the 658 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 659 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 660 (e) (1) An eligible nonprofit organization may receive a grant of not 661 more than fifty thousand dollars pursuant to this section, provided fifty 662 per cent of such grant shall be made available to such eligible nonprofit 663 organization when such eligible nonprofit organization presents to the 664 commissioner a contract in which such eligible nonprofit organization 665 will incur eligible expenses for security infrastructure, and fifty per cent 666 of such grant shall be made available to such eligible nonprofit 667 organization when such eligible nonprofit organization demonstrates to 668 the commissioner that the eligible nonprofit organization has incurred 669 all of the eligible expenses pursuant to such contract. Nothing in this 670 section shall prohibit an eligible nonprofit organization from applying 671 for a federal grant in addition to a grant pursuant to this section, 672 provided such organization shall not receive both a federal grant and a 673 grant pursuant to this section for the same project. 674 Sec. 29. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 32-39y of the general statutes 675 are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 676 1, 2024): 677 (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the 678 State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to 679 authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in 680 principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate [sixty-four million] 681 twenty million two hundred thousand dollars. [, provided (1) two 682 hundred thousand dollars of such authorization shall be effective July 683 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 34 of 254 1, 2021, (2) thirteen million five hundred thousand dollars of such 684 authorization shall be effective July 1, 2022, (3) twenty-three million five 685 hundred thousand dollars of such authorization shall be effective July 686 1, 2023, (4) thirteen million five hundred thousand dollars of such 687 authorization shall be effective July 1, 2024, and (5) thirteen million five 688 hundred thousand dollars of such authorization shall be effective July 689 1, 2025.] 690 (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 691 stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by (1) CTNext for 692 [the purpose of recapitalizing the innovation place program established 693 under section 32-39k for existing and new innovation places, provided 694 (1) two hundred thousand dollars shall be used for] an economic 695 feasibility study of certain lands in Trumbull in the fiscal year 696 commencing July 1, 2021, and (2) [ten million dollars shall be deposited 697 in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2023, in] by CTNext, or the 698 Department of Economic and Community Development as a successor 699 agency to CTNext, for the CTNext Fund established under section 32- 700 39i [for general operational purposes] and for the purposes described in 701 said section. 702 Sec. 30. Subsection (b) of section 32-235 of the 2024 supplement to the 703 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 704 thereof (Effective from passage): 705 (b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount 706 stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department 707 of Economic and Community Development (1) for the purposes of 708 sections 32-220 to 32-234, inclusive, including economic cluster-related 709 programs and activities, and for the Connecticut job training finance 710 demonstration program pursuant to sections 32-23uu and 32-23vv, 711 provided (A) three million dollars shall be used by said department 712 solely for the purposes of section 32-23uu, (B) not less than one million 713 dollars shall be used for an educational technology grant to the 714 deployment center program and the nonprofit business consortium 715 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 35 of 254 deployment center approved pursuant to section 32-41l, (C) not less 716 than two million dollars shall be used by said department for the 717 establishment of a pilot program to make grants to businesses in 718 designated areas of the state for construction, renovation or 719 improvement of small manufacturing facilities, provided such grants 720 are matched by the business, a municipality or another financing entity. 721 The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall 722 designate areas of the state where manufacturing is a substantial part of 723 the local economy and shall make grants under such pilot program 724 which are likely to produce a significant economic development benefit 725 for the designated area, (D) five million dollars may be used by said 726 department for the manufacturing competitiveness grants program, (E) 727 one million dollars shall be used by said department for the purpose of 728 a grant to the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, for the 729 purposes of subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 32-7f, (F) fifty 730 million dollars shall be used by said department for the purpose of 731 grants to the United States Department of the Navy, the United States 732 Department of Defense or eligible applicants for projects related to the 733 enhancement of infrastructure for long-term, on-going naval operations 734 at the United States Naval Submarine Base-New London, located in 735 Groton, which will increase the military value of said base. Such projects 736 shall not be subject to the provisions of sections 4a-60 and 4a-60a, (G) 737 two million dollars shall be used by said department for the purpose of 738 a grant to the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc., for 739 manufacturing initiatives, including aerospace and defense, and (H) 740 four million dollars shall be used by said department for the purpose of 741 a grant to companies adversely impacted by the construction at the 742 Quinnipiac Bridge, where such grant may be used to offset the increase 743 in costs of commercial overland transportation of goods or materials 744 brought to the port of New Haven by ship or vessel, (2) for the purposes 745 of the small business assistance program established pursuant to section 746 32-9yy, provided fifteen million dollars shall be deposited in the small 747 business assistance account established pursuant to said section 32-9yy, 748 (3) to deposit twenty million dollars in the small business express 749 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 36 of 254 assistance account established pursuant to section 32-7h, (4) to deposit 750 four million nine hundred thousand dollars per year in each of the fiscal 751 years ending June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2019, inclusive, and June 30, 2021, 752 and nine million nine hundred thousand dollars in the fiscal year ending 753 June 30, 2020, in the CTNext Fund established pursuant to section 32- 754 39i, which shall be used by CTNext to provide grants-in-aid to 755 designated innovation places, as defined in section 32-39j, planning 756 grants-in-aid pursuant to section 32-39l, and grants-in-aid for projects 757 that network innovation places pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32- 758 39m, provided not more than three million dollars be used for grants- 759 in-aid for such projects, and further provided any portion of any such 760 deposit that remains unexpended in a fiscal year subsequent to the date 761 of such deposit may be used by CTNext for any purpose described in 762 subsection (e) of section 32-39i, (5) to deposit two million dollars per 763 year in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2019, to June 30, 2021, 764 inclusive, in the CTNext Fund established pursuant to section 32-39i, 765 which shall be used by CTNext for the purpose of providing higher 766 education entrepreneurship grants-in-aid pursuant to section 32-39g, 767 provided any portion of any such deposit that remains unexpended in 768 a fiscal year subsequent to the date of such deposit may be used by 769 CTNext for any purpose described in subsection (e) of section 32-39i, (6) 770 for the purpose of funding the costs of the Technology Talent Advisory 771 Committee established pursuant to section 32-7p, provided not more 772 than ten million dollars may be used on or after July 1, 2023, for such 773 purpose, (7) to provide (A) a grant-in-aid to the Connecticut Supplier 774 Connection in an amount equal to two hundred fifty thousand dollars 775 in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2021, 776 inclusive, and (B) a grant-in-aid to the Connecticut Procurement 777 Technical Assistance Program in an amount equal to three hundred 778 thousand dollars in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2017, to June 779 30, 2021, inclusive, (8) to deposit four hundred fifty thousand dollars per 780 year, in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2021, 781 inclusive, in the CTNext Fund established pursuant to section 32-39i, 782 which shall be used by CTNext to provide growth grants-in-aid 783 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 37 of 254 pursuant to section 32-39g, provided any portion of any such deposit 784 that remains unexpended in a fiscal year subsequent to the date of such 785 deposit may be used by CTNext for any purpose described in subsection 786 (e) of section 32-39i, (9) to transfer fifty million dollars to the Labor 787 Department which shall be used by said department for the purpose of 788 funding workforce pipeline programs selected pursuant to section 31- 789 11rr, provided, notwithstanding the provisions of section 31-11rr, (A) 790 not less than five million dollars shall be provided to the workforce 791 development board in Bridgeport serving the southwest region, for 792 purposes of such program, and the board shall distribute such money 793 in proportion to population and need, and (B) not less than five million 794 dollars shall be provided to the workforce development board in 795 Hartford serving the north central region, for purposes of such program, 796 (10) to transfer twenty million dollars to Connecticut Innovations, 797 Incorporated, provided ten million dollars shall be used by Connecticut 798 Innovations, Incorporated for the purpose of the proof of concept fund 799 established pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32-39x and ten million 800 dollars shall be used by Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated for the 801 purpose of the venture capital fund program established pursuant to 802 section 32-41oo, (11) to provide a grant to The University of Connecticut 803 of eight million dollars for the establishment, development and 804 operation of a center for sustainable aviation pursuant to subsection (a) 805 of section 10a-110o, and (12) for up to twenty million dollars in 806 investments in federally designated opportunity zones through an 807 impact investment firm including, subject to the approval of the 808 Governor, funding from the Economic Assistance Revolving Fund, 809 established pursuant to section 32-231. Not later than thirty days prior 810 to any use of unexpended funds under subdivision (4), (5) or (8) of this 811 subsection, the CTNext board of directors shall provide notice of and 812 the reason for such use to the joint standing committees of the General 813 Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce and 814 finance, revenue and bonding. 815 Sec. 31. Section 1 of public act 13-239, as amended by section 214 of 816 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 38 of 254 public act 15-1 of the June special session, section 161 of public act 16-4 817 of the May special session and section 491 of public act 17-2 of the June 818 special session, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 819 The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the 820 provisions of this section and sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of public act 13- 821 239, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in 822 one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate, not 823 exceeding [$297,885,986] $298,007,634. 824 Sec. 32. Subdivision (4) of subsection (l) of section 2 of public act 13- 825 239, as amended by section 27 of public act 18-178, is amended to read 826 as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 827 (4) At Middlesex Community College: Renovations and additions to 828 the Wheaton and Snow Classroom Buildings, not exceeding [$4,800,000] 829 $4,921,648. 830 Sec. 33. Section 1 of public act 15-1 of the June special session, as 831 amended by section 196 of public act 16-4 of the May special session, 832 section 522 of public act 17-2 of the June special session and section 75 833 of public act 20-1, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 834 The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the 835 provisions of this section and sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of public act 15- 836 1 of the June special session, from time to time to authorize the issuance 837 of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in 838 the aggregate not exceeding [$349,413,300] $350,421,300. 839 Sec. 34. Subdivision (4) of subsection (n) of section 2 of public act 15- 840 1 of the June special session, as amended by section 338 of public act 22- 841 118, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 842 (4) At Gateway Community College: For acquisition, design and 843 construction of facilities for workforce development programs, 844 including such programs for the transportation, alternative energy, 845 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 39 of 254 advanced manufacturing and health sectors, not exceeding [$28,800,000] 846 $29,808,000; 847 Sec. 35. Section 20 of public act 15-1 of the June special session, as 848 amended by section 207 of public act 16-4 of the May special session and 849 section 534 of public act 17-2 of the June special session, is amended to 850 read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 851 The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the 852 provisions of this section and sections 21 to 26, inclusive, of public act 853 15-1 of the June special session, from time to time to authorize the 854 issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal 855 amounts in the aggregate, not exceeding [$275,372,176] $276,583,746. 856 Sec. 36. Subdivision (5) of subsection (n) of section 21 of public act 15- 857 1 of the June special session is amended to read as follows (Effective July 858 1, 2024): 859 (5) At Asnuntuck Community College: Alterations renovations and 860 improvements for expansion of library and student services, not 861 exceeding [$3,800,000] $5,011,570. 862 Sec. 37. Section 377 of public act 17-2 of the June special session, as 863 amended by section 75 of public act 21-111, is amended to read as 864 follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 865 The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the 866 provisions of this section and sections 378 to 383, inclusive, of public act 867 17-2 of the June special session, from time to time to authorize the 868 issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal 869 amounts in the aggregate not exceeding [$235,836,905] $239,336,905. 870 Sec. 38. Subdivision (5) of subsection (i) of section 378 of public act 871 17-2 of the June special session is amended to read as follows (Effective 872 July 1, 2024): 873 (5) Norwalk Community College: Alterations, renovations and 874 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 40 of 254 improvements to the B wing building, not exceeding [$18,600,000] 875 $22,100,000; 876 Sec. 39. Subsection (c) of section 397 of public act 17-2 of the June 877 special session is amended to read as follows (Effective from passage): 878 (c) For the Military Department: Acquisition of property for 879 development of readiness centers, [in Litchfield county,] not exceeding 880 $2,000,000. 881 Sec. 40. Section 407 of public act 17-2 of the June special session, as 882 amended by section 35 of public act 18-178, section 81 of public act 21- 883 111 and section 71 of public act 23-205, is amended to read as follows 884 (Effective July 1, 2024): 885 The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the 886 provisions of this section and sections 408 to 414, inclusive, of public act 887 17-2 of the June special session, from time to time to authorize the 888 issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal 889 amounts in the aggregate, not exceeding [$184,000,000] $182,000,000. 890 Sec. 41. Subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 408 of public act 891 17-2 of the June special session is repealed. (Effective July 1, 2024) 892 Sec. 42. Section 1 of public act 20-1, as amended by section 339 of 893 public act 22-118, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 894 The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the 895 provisions of this section and sections [307 to 312] 2 to 7, inclusive, of 896 [this act] public act 20-1, from time to time to authorize the issuance of 897 bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the 898 aggregate not exceeding [$198,450,000] $199,944,240. 899 Sec. 43. Subdivision (4) of subsection (j) of section 2 of public act 20-1 900 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 901 (4) Naugatuck Valley Community College: Design for the renovation 902 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 41 of 254 of Kinney Hall, not exceeding [$6,000,000] $7,494,240. 903 Sec. 44. Subdivision (2) of subsection (o) of section 2 of public act 23- 904 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 905 (2) Advanced manufacturing and emerging technology programs, 906 including at Tunxis Community College, not exceeding $4,000,000; 907 Sec. 45. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 13 of public act 23- 908 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective from passage): 909 (4) Grants-in-aid for the development of an advanced manufacturing 910 facility in the Hartford region, not exceeding $15,000,000; 911 Sec. 46. Section 20 of public act 23-205 is amended to read as follows 912 (Effective July 1, 2024): 913 The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the 914 provisions of this section and sections 21 to 26, inclusive, of [this act] 915 public act 23-205, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds 916 of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the 917 aggregate not exceeding [$520,345,000] $514,345,000. 918 Sec. 47. Subdivision (2) of subsection (l) of section 21 of public act 23- 919 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 920 (2) Advanced manufacturing and emerging technology programs, 921 including at Tunxis Community College, not exceeding [$3,000,000] 922 $7,000,000; 923 Sec. 48. Subdivision (4) of subsection (l) of section 21 of public act 23- 924 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 925 (4) All universities: Deferred maintenance, code compliance and 926 infrastructure improvements, not exceeding [$65,200,000] $60,200,000; 927 Sec. 49. Subdivision (6) of subsection (l) of section 21 of public act 23- 928 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 929 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 42 of 254 (6) All community colleges: Deferred maintenance, code compliance 930 and infrastructure improvements, not exceeding [$27,600,000] 931 $22,600,000; 932 Sec. 50. Section 31 of public act 23-205 is amended to read as follows 933 (Effective July 1, 2024): 934 The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the 935 provisions of this section and sections 32 to 38, inclusive, of [this act] 936 public act 23-205, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds 937 of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the 938 aggregate, not exceeding [$306,000,000] $321,000,000. 939 Sec. 51. Subdivision (6) of subsection (b) of section 32 of public act 23- 940 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 941 (6) Microgrid and resilience grant and loan pilot program, not 942 exceeding [$25,000,000] $40,000,000; 943 Sec. 52. Section 45 of public act 23-205 is amended to read as follows 944 (Effective July 1, 2024): 945 The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the 946 provisions of this section and sections 46 to 50, inclusive, of [this act] 947 public act 23-205, from time to time to authorize the issuance of special 948 tax obligation bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal 949 amounts in the aggregate, not exceeding [$1,530,772,000] $1,642,372,000. 950 Sec. 53. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 46 of public act 23- 951 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 952 (4) Environmental compliance, soil and groundwater remediation, 953 hazardous materials abatement, demolition, salt shed construction and 954 renovation, storage tank replacement and environmental emergency 955 response at or in the vicinity of state-owned properties or related to 956 Department of Transportation operations, including, but not limited to, 957 the provision of a grant to the Department of Natural Resources and the 958 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 43 of 254 Environment at The University of Connecticut to conduct a study in 959 accordance with section 63 of this act, not exceeding [$17,065,000] 960 $18,665,000; 961 Sec. 54. Subdivision (7) of subsection (a) of section 46 of public act 23- 962 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 963 (7) Fix-it-First program to repair the state's bridges, not exceeding 964 [$62,250,000] $162,250,000; 965 Sec. 55. Subsection (b) of section 46 of public act 23-205 is amended to 966 read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 967 (b) For the Bureau of Public Transportation: 968 (1) Bus and rail facilities and equipment, including rights-of-way, 969 other property acquisition and related projects, not exceeding 970 $273,450,000; 971 (2) Northeast Corridor Modernization Match Program, not exceeding 972 $438,175,000; 973 (3) Grants for commercial rail freight lines pursuant to section 13b- 974 236 of the general statutes not exceeding $10,000,000. 975 Sec. 56. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For each fiscal year in which 976 funding is available, the Department of Housing shall administer a 977 program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that own and 978 operate facilities that are used to house or provide services to homeless 979 individuals, including, but not limited to, shelters, day shelters, 980 homeless hubs and other facilities, to make capital improvements. Such 981 capital improvements may include, but need not be limited to, 982 renovations, rehabilitations, architectural and engineering costs and any 983 other related costs, but shall not include acquisitions, demolitions, 984 purchases of land or buildings or capital improvements to permanent 985 supportive housing. 986 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 44 of 254 (b) Not later than October 1, 2024, the department shall develop 987 eligibility criteria to be used in selecting among applicants for such 988 grants, develop application forms and deadlines and post in a 989 conspicuous location on the department's Internet web site a description 990 of the grant program that includes, but is not limited to, such criteria, 991 forms and deadlines. 992 (c) Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the 993 department shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 994 section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of 995 the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing 996 and finance, revenue and bonding. Such report shall include 997 information for the preceding calendar year on the number of 998 applications for grants that were received, the number of grants that 999 were awarded and a list of the nonprofit organizations that received 1000 grants and the amount of such grants. 1001 Sec. 57. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes described in 1002 subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the 1003 power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state 1004 in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the 1005 aggregate twenty-five million dollars. 1006 (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 1007 stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department 1008 of Energy and Environmental Protection for the purpose of a program 1009 to provide rebates, at the point of sale, for the purchase of heat pumps 1010 intended for heating systems in the state, pursuant to section 16 of 1011 substitute house bill 5004 of the current session, as amended by House 1012 Amendment Schedule "A". 1013 (c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise 1014 of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the 1015 provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all 1016 bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this 1017 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 45 of 254 section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived 1018 from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in 1019 accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to 1020 time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 1021 exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 1022 in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 1023 Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 1024 authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 1025 there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 1026 by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 1027 and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 1028 discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 1029 be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 1030 of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 1031 interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 1032 part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 1033 appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 1034 principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 1035 such principal and interest as the same become due. 1036 Sec. 58. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes described in 1037 subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the 1038 power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state 1039 in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the 1040 aggregate ten million dollars. 1041 (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 1042 stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department 1043 of Energy and Environmental Protection for the purpose of providing 1044 low interest loans for climate resiliency projects pursuant to section 59 1045 of this act. 1046 (c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise 1047 of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the 1048 provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all 1049 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 46 of 254 bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this 1050 section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived 1051 from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in 1052 accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to 1053 time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 1054 exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 1055 in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 1056 Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 1057 authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 1058 there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 1059 by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 1060 and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 1061 discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 1062 be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 1063 of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 1064 interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 1065 part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 1066 appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 1067 principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 1068 such principal and interest as the same become due. 1069 Sec. 59. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) There is established a 1070 revolving loan fund to be known as the "Climate Resiliency Revolving 1071 Loan Fund". The fund may be funded from the proceeds of bonds issued 1072 pursuant to section 58 of this act or from any moneys available to the 1073 Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or from other 1074 sources. Investment earnings credited to the fund shall become part of 1075 the assets of the fund. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of 1076 any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the next fiscal 1077 year. Payments of principal or interest on a low interest loan made 1078 pursuant to this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit 1079 in the Climate Resiliency Revolving Loan Fund. The fund shall be used 1080 to make low interest loans pursuant to this section and to pay reasonable 1081 and necessary expenses incurred in administering loans under this 1082 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 47 of 254 section. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection 1083 may enter into contracts with nonprofit corporations to provide for the 1084 administration of the Climate Resiliency Revolving Loan Fund by such 1085 nonprofit corporations, provided no low interest loan shall be made 1086 from the fund without the authorization of the commissioner as 1087 provided in this section. 1088 (b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 1089 establish a program to provide low interest loans from the fund 1090 established in subsection (a) of this section to municipalities and private 1091 entities for infrastructure repairs and resiliency projects in response to 1092 unplanned climate events. Such repairs and projects may not include 1093 rehousing or temporary assistance costs. The commissioner shall 1094 develop eligibility criteria and application forms to be used in selecting 1095 among applicants for such loans. On and after October 1, 2024, the 1096 commissioner, or any program administrator the commissioner may 1097 designate, shall accept applications from any municipality or private 1098 entity for such loans. 1099 (c) On or before January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 1100 Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall file a 1101 report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 1102 statutes, with the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 1103 having cognizance of matters relating to the environment regarding the 1104 status of the program, including information on the number of loans 1105 issued, the individual amount of each loan and the total amount of loans 1106 issued and any recommendations for legislation related to the program. 1107 Sec. 60. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes described in 1108 subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the 1109 power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state 1110 in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the 1111 aggregate three million dollars. 1112 (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 1113 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 48 of 254 stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department 1114 of Emergency Services and Public Protection for the purpose of 1115 providing grants to municipalities to purchase unmanned aircraft, 1116 accessories or both, pursuant to section 61 of this act. 1117 (c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise 1118 of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the 1119 provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all 1120 bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this 1121 section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived 1122 from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in 1123 accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to 1124 time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 1125 exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 1126 in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 1127 Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 1128 authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 1129 there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 1130 by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 1131 and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 1132 discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 1133 be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 1134 of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 1135 interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 1136 part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 1137 appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 1138 principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 1139 such principal and interest as the same become due. 1140 Sec. 61. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For purposes of this section: 1141 (1) "Accessories" means devices associated with an unmanned 1142 aircraft, including, but not limited to, cameras with night vision, thermal 1143 or infrared capabilities and other devices that are necessary for the 1144 operation of the unmanned aircraft to fulfill its public safety mission; 1145 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 49 of 254 (2) "Municipality" has the same meaning as provided in section 7-148 1146 of the general statutes; and 1147 (3) "Unmanned aircraft" means a powered aircraft that (A) uses 1148 aerodynamic forces to provide vertical lift, (B) is operated remotely by 1149 a pilot in command or is capable of autonomous flight, (C) does not 1150 carry a human operator, and (D) can be expendable or recoverable. 1151 (b) (1) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection 1152 shall, within available resources, administer a program to provide 1153 grants to municipalities to purchase unmanned aircraft, accessories or 1154 both. If state or federal law prohibits the purchase of a specific 1155 unmanned aircraft based on the country of the unmanned aircraft's 1156 manufacture, a municipality may not use a grant issued pursuant to this 1157 section to purchase such unmanned aircraft. 1158 (2) Any such grant shall be for up to thirty-three per cent of the cost 1159 of such purchase of such unmanned aircraft or accessories. 1160 (c) Not later than January 1, 2025, the department shall develop 1161 technical standards for unmanned aircraft and accessories eligible for 1162 grants, develop eligibility criteria to be used in selecting among 1163 applicants for such grants, develop application forms and deadlines and 1164 post in a conspicuous location on the department's Internet web site a 1165 description of the grant program that includes, but is not limited to, such 1166 standards, criteria, forms and deadlines. 1167 (d) Not later than January 1, 2026, and each year thereafter in which 1168 grants are issued, the department shall submit a report, in accordance 1169 with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 1170 standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 1171 matters relating to public safety and security. Such report shall include 1172 information for the preceding calendar year on the number of 1173 applications for grants that were received, the number of grants that 1174 were awarded and a list of the municipalities that received grants. 1175 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 50 of 254 Sec. 62. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) Not later than September 1, 2024, 1176 and every six months thereafter until September 1, 2026, the Department 1177 of Housing shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 1178 section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of 1179 the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, 1180 revenue and bonding. Such report shall include for the prior fiscal year, 1181 and the prior six months, the following information regarding funds 1182 obtained by the department pursuant to bond authorizations in section 1183 8-336n of the general statutes, sections 8 to 10, inclusive, and sections 27 1184 to 29, inclusive, of public act 23-205, or any similar public act: 1185 (1) The specific programs for which the department used funds 1186 obtained pursuant to said bond authorizations, and the amount from 1187 each authorization used for each specific program; 1188 (2) A description of the department's activities that address 1189 supportive housing under the programs described in subdivision (1) of 1190 this section, and the amount of funds obtained from each authorization 1191 used for such activities; and 1192 (3) The amount of funds obtained pursuant to each of said bond 1193 authorizations that was provided by the department to the Connecticut 1194 Housing Finance Authority for administration of programs related to 1195 housing. 1196 Sec. 63. (Effective July 1, 2024) The Department of Transportation shall 1197 provide a grant from available resources to the Department of Natural 1198 Resources and the Environment at The University of Connecticut for the 1199 purpose of studying the carbon sequestration by trees and other 1200 vegetation along highways and other areas in the state. The Department 1201 of Natural Resources and the Environment shall (1) submit an interim 1202 report, not later than January 1, 2025, and a final report, not later than 1203 July 1, 2025, concerning the department's findings and any 1204 recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General 1205 Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation and 1206 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 51 of 254 the environment, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of 1207 the general statutes, and (2) present either or both such reports at a 1208 hearing held jointly by said joint standing committees. 1209 Sec. 64. Section 8-240a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 1210 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 1211 October 1, 2024): 1212 (a) As used in this section: 1213 (1) "Alliance district" has the same meaning as provided in section 10- 1214 262u; 1215 (2) "Environmental justice community" has the same meaning as 1216 provided in section 22a-20a; and 1217 (3) "Low-income resident" means, after adjustments for family size, 1218 individuals or families whose income is not greater than (A) sixty per 1219 cent of the state median income, [or] (B) eighty per cent of the area 1220 median income for the area in which the resident resides, as determined 1221 by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1222 or (C) any other definition of "low-income resident" included in any 1223 program in the state that utilizes federal funding, as determined by the 1224 Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. 1225 (b) There is established a revolving loan and grant fund to be known 1226 as the "Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and 1227 Grant Fund". The fund may be funded from the proceeds of bonds 1228 issued pursuant to section 8-240b or from any moneys available to the 1229 Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or from other 1230 sources. Investment earnings credited to the fund shall become part of 1231 the assets of the fund. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of 1232 any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the next fiscal 1233 year. Payments of principal or interest on a low interest loan made 1234 pursuant to this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit 1235 in the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant 1236 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 52 of 254 Fund. The fund shall be used to make grants or low interest loans 1237 pursuant to this section [and] to pay reasonable and necessary 1238 [expenses] fees incurred in administering loans under this section. The 1239 Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may enter into 1240 contracts with quasi-public agencies or nonprofit corporations to 1241 provide for the administration of the Housing Environmental 1242 Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant Fund by such [nonprofit 1243 corporations] entity or entities, provided no grant or low interest loan 1244 shall be made from the fund without the authorization of the 1245 commissioner as provided in this section. 1246 (c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 1247 collaboration with the Commissioner of Housing, shall establish a pilot 1248 program or programs to provide financing or grants from the fund 1249 established in subsection (b) of this section for retrofitting projects for 1250 multifamily residences located in environmental justice communities or 1251 alliance districts that (1) improve the energy efficiency of such 1252 residences, which may include, but need not be limited to, the 1253 installation of heat pumps, solar power generating systems, improved 1254 roofing, exterior doors and windows, improved insulation, air sealing, 1255 improved ventilation, appliance upgrades and any electric system or 1256 wiring upgrades necessary for such retrofit, (2) remediate health and 1257 safety concerns that are barriers to any such retrofit, including, but not 1258 limited to, mold, vermiculite, asbestos, lead and radon, or (3) provide 1259 services to assist residents and building owners to access and implement 1260 the programs established pursuant to this section or other available state 1261 or federal programs that enable the implementation of energy efficiency 1262 retrofitting. 1263 (d) On and after July 1, [2024] 2025, the Commissioner of Energy and 1264 Environmental Protection, or any program administrator the 1265 commissioner may designate, shall accept applications, in a form 1266 specified by the commissioner, from any owner of a residential dwelling 1267 unit for financing or a grant under the program or programs. Any such 1268 financing or grant may be awarded to an owner of a residential dwelling 1269 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 53 of 254 unit, as defined in section 47a-1. [that is (1) not owner-occupied, and (2) 1270 occupied by a tenant or, if vacant, to be occupied by a tenant not more 1271 than one hundred eighty days after the award. If such dwelling unit is 1272 not occupied within one hundred eighty days of the award, the owner 1273 shall return any funds received by the owner to the commissioner.] 1274 (e) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 1275 prioritize the awarding of financing or grants for projects that benefit 1276 any resident or prospective resident who is a low-income resident. 1277 (f) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 1278 exclude from the program or programs any owner of a residential 1279 dwelling unit determined by the Commissioner of Housing to be in 1280 violation of chapter 830. 1281 (g) On or before October 1, [2027] 2028, the Commissioner of Energy 1282 and Environmental Protection shall file a report, in accordance with the 1283 provisions of section 11-4a, with the joint standing committee of the 1284 General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing (1) 1285 analyzing the success of the pilot program or programs, and (2) 1286 recommending whether a permanent program should be established in 1287 the state and, if so, any proposed legislation for such program. 1288 (h) The pilot program or programs established pursuant to this 1289 section shall terminate on September 30, [2028] 2029. 1290 Sec. 65. Section 20 of house bill 5474 of the current session, as 1291 amended by House Amendment Schedules "A", "B" and "C", is repealed. 1292 (Effective from passage) 1293 Sec. 66. Section 7-294rr of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 1294 is repealed. (Effective July 1, 2024) 1295 Sec. 67. Section 12-204 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1296 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1297 (a) The commissioner shall, not later than three years after the due 1298 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 54 of 254 date for the filing of a return or not later than three years after the date 1299 of receipt of such return by the commissioner, whichever period expires 1300 later, examine [it] or reexamine such return and, in case any error is 1301 disclosed by such examination or reexamination, shall, not later than 1302 thirty days after such disclosure, notify the taxpayer of such error. 1303 (1) When it appears that any part of the deficiency for which a 1304 deficiency assessment or reassessment is made is due to negligence or 1305 intentional disregard of the provisions of this chapter or regulations 1306 promulgated thereunder, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to ten 1307 per cent of the amount of such deficiency assessment or reassessment, 1308 or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. 1309 (2) When it appears that any part of the deficiency for which a 1310 deficiency assessment or reassessment is made is due to fraud or intent 1311 to evade the provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated 1312 thereunder, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to twenty-five per 1313 cent of the amount of such deficiency assessment or reassessment. No 1314 taxpayer shall be subject to more than one penalty under this section in 1315 relation to the same tax period. 1316 (3) Not later than thirty days after the mailing of such notice, the 1317 taxpayer shall pay to the commissioner, in cash or by check, draft or 1318 money order drawn to the order of the Commissioner of Revenue 1319 Services, any additional amount of tax shown to be due by the 1320 examination or reexamination, or shall be paid by the State Treasurer, 1321 upon order of the Comptroller, any amount shown to be due it by such 1322 examination or reexamination. The failure of the taxpayer to receive any 1323 notice required by this section shall not relieve the taxpayer of the 1324 obligation to pay the tax or any interest or penalties thereon. 1325 (4) If, before the expiration of the time prescribed by this section for 1326 the examination or reexamination of the return or the assessment or 1327 reassessment of the tax, both the commissioner and the taxpayer consent 1328 in writing to such examination, [or] reexamination, assessment or 1329 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 55 of 254 reassessment after such time, the return may be examined or 1330 reexamined and the tax may be assessed or reassessed at any time prior 1331 to the expiration of the period agreed upon. The period so agreed upon 1332 may be extended by subsequent agreements in writing made before the 1333 expiration of the period agreed upon. The commissioner may also in 1334 such a case extend the period during which a claim for refund may be 1335 made by such taxpayer. 1336 (b) To any taxes [which] that are assessed or reassessed under this 1337 section, there shall be added interest at the rate of one per cent per 1338 month or fraction thereof from the date when the original tax became 1339 due and payable. The amount of any tax, penalty or interest due and 1340 unpaid under the provisions of this chapter may be collected under the 1341 provisions of section 12-35. The warrant therein provided for shall be 1342 signed by the commissioner or [his] the commissioner's authorized 1343 agent. The amount of any such tax, penalty or interest shall be a lien on 1344 the real estate of the taxpayer from the thirty-first day of December next 1345 preceding the due date of such tax until such tax is paid. The 1346 commissioner may, at any time after such December thirty-first, record 1347 such lien in the records of any town in which the real estate of such 1348 company is situated, but no such lien shall be enforceable against a bona 1349 fide purchaser or qualified encumbrancer of such real estate. When any 1350 tax with respect to which a lien has been recorded under the provisions 1351 of this section has been satisfied, the commissioner upon request of any 1352 interested party, shall issue a certificate discharging such lien, which 1353 certificate shall be recorded in the same office in which the lien was 1354 recorded. Any action for the foreclosure of such lien shall be brought by 1355 the Attorney General in the name of the state in the superior court for 1356 the judicial district in which the property subject to such lien is situated, 1357 or, if such property is located in two or more judicial districts, in the 1358 superior court for any one such judicial district, and the court may limit 1359 the time for redemption or order the sale of such property or make such 1360 other or further decree as it judges equitable. 1361 Sec. 68. Subsection (a) of section 12-210 of the general statutes is 1362 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 56 of 254 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 1363 passage): 1364 (a) Each newly licensed insurance company incorporated by or 1365 organized under the laws of any other state or foreign government shall 1366 pay to the Commissioner of Revenue Services, [within forty-five] not 1367 later than ninety days [of] after the effective date of such company's 1368 initial license to transact business in this state, a tax on the net direct 1369 premiums received by such company in the next five preceding 1370 calendar years from policies written on property or risks located or 1371 resident in this state, except ocean marine insurance, at the rate in effect 1372 for each such calendar year. 1373 Sec. 69. Section 12-705 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1374 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2025, and 1375 applicable to taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2025): 1376 (a) (1) Each employer, as defined in section 12-707, maintaining an 1377 office or transacting business within this state and making payment of 1378 any wages taxable under this chapter to a resident or nonresident 1379 individual shall deduct and withhold from such wages for each payroll 1380 period a tax computed in such manner as to result, so far as practicable, 1381 in withholding from the employee's wages during each calendar year 1382 an amount substantially equivalent to the tax reasonably estimated to 1383 be due from the employee under this chapter with respect to the amount 1384 of such wages during the calendar year. The method of determining the 1385 amount to be withheld shall be prescribed by regulations of the 1386 Commissioner of Revenue Services adopted in accordance with chapter 1387 54. 1388 (2) [Each] (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this 1389 subdivision, each payer, as defined in section 12-707, of distributions 1390 from a profit-sharing plan, a stock bonus, a deferred compensation plan, 1391 an individual retirement arrangement, an endowment or a life 1392 insurance contract, or of pension payments or annuity distributions, 1393 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 57 of 254 that [(A)] maintains an office or transacts business within this state [,] 1394 and [(B)] makes payment of any amounts taxable under this chapter to 1395 a resident individual, shall, upon request by such individual, deduct 1396 and withhold an amount from the taxable portion of any such 1397 distribution. [a tax computed in such manner as to result, so far as 1398 practicable, in withholding from the distributions paid during each 1399 calendar year an amount substantially equivalent to the tax reasonably 1400 estimated to be due from the payee, as defined in section 12-707, under 1401 this chapter with respect to such distributions during the calendar year. 1402 The method of determining the amount to be withheld from taxable 1403 payments, other than lump sum distributions, shall be determined in 1404 accordance with instructions provided by the commissioner. The 1405 amount to be withheld from] Such request and the determination of the 1406 amount to be withheld shall be made in accordance with regulations 1407 promulgated by the commissioner for pension payments and annuity 1408 distributions. 1409 (B) With respect to a lump sum distribution, [shall be equal to] if a 1410 payee does not make a request to have an amount withheld from such 1411 distribution, the payer shall withhold from the taxable portion of the 1412 distribution [multiplied by] at the highest marginal rate, except that no 1413 withholding shall be required if (i) any portion of the lump sum 1414 distribution was previously subject to tax, or (ii) the lump sum 1415 distribution is a rollover that is effected as a direct trustee-to-trustee 1416 transfer or as a direct rollover in the form of a check made payable to 1417 another qualified account. For purposes of this [section] subdivision, 1418 "lump sum distribution" means a payment from a payer to a resident 1419 payee of an amount exceeding fifty per cent of such resident payee's 1420 entire account balance or more than five thousand dollars, whichever is 1421 less, exclusive of any other tax withholding and any administrative 1422 charges and fees. 1423 (3) In no event shall the requirements of this subsection result in 1424 nonpayment of any distribution to a resident individual. For the 1425 calendar year ending December 31, 2018, no taxpayer shall be assessed 1426 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 58 of 254 interest by the commissioner pursuant to section 12-722 solely on the 1427 basis of a payer's failure to comply with the provisions of this 1428 subsection. 1429 (b) The commissioner may, if such action is deemed necessary for the 1430 protection of the revenue and under such regulations as the 1431 commissioner may adopt in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1432 54, require persons other than employers and payers (1) to deduct and 1433 withhold taxes from payments made by such persons to residents of this 1434 state, nonresidents and part-year residents, (2) to file a withholding 1435 return as prescribed by the commissioner, and (3) to pay over to the 1436 commissioner, or to a depositary designated by the commissioner, the 1437 taxes so required to be deducted and withheld, in accordance with a 1438 schedule established in such regulations. 1439 (c) The commissioner may adopt regulations providing for 1440 withholding from (1) remuneration for services performed by an 1441 employee for his or her employer that does not constitute wages, (2) 1442 wages paid to an employee by an employer not maintaining an office or 1443 transacting business within this state, or (3) any other type of payment 1444 with respect to which the commissioner finds that withholding would 1445 be appropriate under the provisions of this chapter if the employer and 1446 the employee, or, in the case of any other type of payment, the person 1447 making and the person receiving such payment, agree to such 1448 withholding. Such agreement shall be made in such form and manner 1449 as the commissioner may prescribe by regulations adopted in 1450 accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. For purposes of this 1451 chapter, remuneration, wages or other payments with respect to which 1452 such an agreement is made shall be regarded as if they were wages paid 1453 to an employee by an employer maintaining an office or transacting 1454 business within this state to the extent that such remuneration or wages 1455 are paid or other payments are made during the period for which the 1456 agreement is in effect. 1457 Sec. 70. Section 12-91 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1458 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 59 of 254 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1459 (a) All farm machinery, except motor vehicles, as defined in section 1460 14-1, to the assessed value of one hundred thousand dollars, any horse 1461 or pony [which] that is actually and exclusively used in farming, as 1462 defined in section 1-1, when owned and kept in this state by, or when 1463 held in trust for, any farmer or group of farmers operating as a unit, a 1464 partnership or a corporation, a majority of the stock of which 1465 corporation is held by members of a family actively engaged in farm 1466 operations, shall be exempt from local property taxation; provided each 1467 such farmer, whether operating individually or as one of a group, 1468 partnership or corporation, shall qualify for such exemption in 1469 accordance with the standards set forth in subsection (d) of this section 1470 for the assessment year for which such exemption is sought. Only one 1471 such exemption shall be allowed to each such farmer, group of farmers, 1472 partnership or corporation. Subdivision (38) of section 12-81 shall not 1473 apply to any person, group, partnership or corporation receiving the 1474 exemption provided for in this subsection. 1475 (b) Any municipality, upon approval by its legislative body, may 1476 provide an additional exemption from property tax for such machinery 1477 to the extent of an additional assessed value of [one hundred] two 1478 hundred fifty thousand dollars. Any such exemption shall be subject to 1479 the same limitations as the exemption provided under subsection (a) of 1480 this section and the application and qualification process provided in 1481 subsection (d) of this section. 1482 (c) Any municipality, upon approval by its legislative body, may 1483 provide an exemption from property tax for any building used actually 1484 and exclusively in farming, as defined in section 1-1, or for any building 1485 used to provide housing for seasonal employees of such farmer. The 1486 municipality shall establish the amount of such exemption from the 1487 assessed value, provided such amount may not exceed [one] five 1488 hundred thousand dollars with respect to each eligible building. Such 1489 exemption shall not apply to the residence of such farmer and shall be 1490 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 60 of 254 subject to the application and qualification process provided in 1491 subsection (d) of this section. 1492 (d) Annually, on or before the first day of November or the extended 1493 filing date granted by the assessor pursuant to section 12-42, each such 1494 individual farmer, group of farmers, partnership or corporation shall 1495 make written application for the exemption provided for in subsection 1496 (a) of this section to the assessor or board of assessors in the town in 1497 which such farm is located, including therewith a notarized affidavit 1498 certifying that such farmer, individually or as part of a group, 1499 partnership or corporation, derived at least fifteen thousand dollars in 1500 gross sales from such farming operation, or incurred at least fifteen 1501 thousand dollars in expenses related to such farming operation, with 1502 respect to the most recently completed taxable year of such farmer prior 1503 to the commencement of the assessment year for which such application 1504 is made, on forms to be prescribed by the Commissioner of Agriculture. 1505 Failure to file such application in said manner and form on or before the 1506 first day of November shall be considered a waiver of the right to such 1507 exemption for the assessment year. Any person aggrieved by any action 1508 of the assessors shall have the same rights and remedies for appeal and 1509 relief as are provided in the general statutes for taxpayers claiming to be 1510 aggrieved by the doings of the assessors or board of assessment appeals. 1511 Sec. 71. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Any municipality may, upon 1512 approval by its legislative body or, in a municipality where the 1513 legislative body is a town meeting, by vote of the board of selectmen, 1514 provide an exemption from property tax of not less than five per cent 1515 and not more than thirty-five per cent of the assessed value, for owner- 1516 occupied dwellings, including condominiums, as defined in section 47- 1517 68a of the general statutes, and units in a common interest community, 1518 as defined in section 47-202 of the general statutes, that are the primary 1519 residences of such owners and consist of not more than two units. 1520 Sec. 72. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1521 subdivision (76) of section 12-81 of the general statutes, any person 1522 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 61 of 254 otherwise eligible for a 2023 grand list exemption pursuant to said 1523 subdivision (76) in the town of Litchfield, except that such person failed 1524 to file the required exemption application within the time period 1525 prescribed, shall be regarded as having filed said application in a timely 1526 manner if such person files said application not later than thirty days 1527 after the effective date of this section, and pays the late filing fee 1528 pursuant to section 12-81k of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of 1529 the receipt of such fee and verification of the exemption eligibility of the 1530 machinery and equipment included in such application, the assessor 1531 shall approve the exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or 1532 penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemption is 1533 approved, the town of Litchfield shall reimburse such person in an 1534 amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest or penalties 1535 exceed any taxes payable if the application had been filed in a timely 1536 manner. 1537 Sec. 73. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1538 section 12-89 of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible for a 1539 2021 grand list exemption pursuant to subdivision (58) of section 12-81 1540 of the general statutes in the town of Manchester, except that such 1541 person failed to file the required exemption application within the time 1542 period prescribed, shall be regarded as having filed such application in 1543 a timely manner if such person files such application not later than thirty 1544 days after the effective date of this section and pays any applicable late 1545 filing fee prescribed by the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the 1546 receipt of such fee, if applicable, and verification of the exemption 1547 eligibility of such property, the assessor shall approve the exemption for 1548 such property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been paid on the 1549 property for which such exemption is approved, the town of 1550 Manchester shall reimburse such person in an amount equal to the 1551 amount by which such taxes, interest and penalties exceed any taxes 1552 payable if the application had been filed in a timely manner. 1553 Sec. 74. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1554 subparagraph (A) of subdivision (7) of section 12-81 of the general 1555 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 62 of 254 statutes and section 12-87a of the general statutes, any person otherwise 1556 eligible for a 2021 and 2022 grand list exemption pursuant to said 1557 subdivision in the city of Meriden, except that such person failed to file 1558 the required statements within the time period prescribed, shall be 1559 regarded as having filed such statements in a timely manner if such 1560 person files such statements not later than thirty days after the effective 1561 date of this section and pays the late filing fees pursuant to section 12- 1562 87a of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fees 1563 and verification of the exemption eligibility of such property, the 1564 assessor shall approve the exemptions for such property. If taxes, 1565 interest or penalties have been paid on the property for which such 1566 exemptions are approved, the city of Meriden shall reimburse such 1567 person in an amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest 1568 and penalties exceed any taxes payable if the statements had been filed 1569 in a timely manner. 1570 Sec. 75. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1571 subsection (c) of subdivision (11) of section 12-81 of the general statutes 1572 and section 12-87a of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible 1573 for a 2021 and 2022 grand list exemption in the town of Middletown, 1574 except that such person failed to submit evidence of certification 1575 pursuant to section 12-89a of the general statutes within the time period 1576 prescribed by the assessor or board of assessors or failed to file the 1577 required statements within the time period prescribed, or both, shall be 1578 regarded as having filed such evidence of certification or statements in 1579 a timely manner if such person files such evidence of certification or 1580 statements, or both, as required by the assessor, not later than thirty 1581 days after the effective date of this section and pays the late filing fees 1582 pursuant to section 12-87a of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of 1583 the receipt of such fees and verification of the exemption eligibility of 1584 such property, the assessor shall approve the exemptions for such 1585 property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been paid on the property 1586 for which such exemptions are approved, the town of Middletown shall 1587 reimburse such person in an amount equal to the amount by which such 1588 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 63 of 254 taxes, interest and penalties exceed any taxes payable if the evidence of 1589 certification or statements, or both, had been filed in a timely manner. 1590 Sec. 76. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1591 subdivision (76) of section 12-81 of the general statutes, any person 1592 otherwise eligible for a 2022 grand list exemption pursuant to said 1593 subdivision (76) in the town of Thomaston, except that such person 1594 failed to file the required exemption application within the time period 1595 prescribed, shall be regarded as having filed said application in a timely 1596 manner if such person files said application not later than thirty days 1597 after the effective date of this section and pays the late filing fee 1598 pursuant to section 12-81k of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of 1599 the receipt of such fee and verification of the exemption eligibility of the 1600 machinery and equipment included in such application, the assessor 1601 shall approve the exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or 1602 penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemption is 1603 approved, the town of Thomaston shall reimburse such person in an 1604 amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest or penalties 1605 exceed any taxes payable if the application had been filed in a timely 1606 manner. 1607 Sec. 77. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1608 subparagraph (A) of subdivision (7) of section 12-81 of the general 1609 statutes and section 12-87a of the general statutes, any person otherwise 1610 eligible for a 2021 grand list exemption pursuant to said subdivision in 1611 the city of Waterbury, except that such person failed to file the required 1612 statement within the time period prescribed, shall be regarded as having 1613 filed such statement in a timely manner if such person files such 1614 statement not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section 1615 and pays the late filing fee pursuant to section 12-87a of the general 1616 statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fee and verification of 1617 the exemption eligibility of such property, the assessor shall approve the 1618 exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been 1619 paid on the property for which such exemption is approved, the city of 1620 Waterbury shall reimburse such person in an amount equal to the 1621 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 64 of 254 amount by which such taxes, interest and penalties exceed any taxes 1622 payable if the statement had been filed in a timely manner. 1623 Sec. 78. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1624 subsection (c) of subdivision (11) of section 12-81 of the general statutes 1625 and section 12-87a of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible 1626 for a 2022 grand list exemption in the city of Waterbury, except that such 1627 person failed to submit evidence of certification pursuant to section 12- 1628 89a of the general statutes within the time period prescribed by the 1629 assessor or board of assessors or failed to file the required statement 1630 within the time period prescribed, or both, shall be regarded as having 1631 filed such evidence of certification or statement in a timely manner if 1632 such person files such evidence of certification or statement, or both, as 1633 required by the assessor, not later than thirty days after the effective date 1634 of this section and pays the late filing fee pursuant to section 12-87a of 1635 the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fee and 1636 verification of the exemption eligibility of such property, the assessor 1637 shall approve the exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or 1638 penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemption is 1639 approved, the city of Waterbury shall reimburse such person in an 1640 amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest and penalties 1641 exceed any taxes payable if the evidence of certification or statement, or 1642 both, had been filed in a timely manner. 1643 Sec. 79. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1644 subdivision (76) of section 12-81 of the general statutes, any person 1645 otherwise eligible for a 2023 grand list exemption pursuant to said 1646 subdivision (76) in the city of West Haven, except that such person failed 1647 to file the required exemption application within the time period 1648 prescribed, shall be regarded as having filed said application in a timely 1649 manner if such person files said application not later than thirty days 1650 after the effective date of this section, and pays the late filing fee 1651 pursuant to section 12-81k of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of 1652 the receipt of such fee and verification of the exemption eligibility of the 1653 machinery and equipment included in such application, the assessor 1654 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 65 of 254 shall approve the exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or 1655 penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemption is 1656 approved, the city of West Haven shall reimburse such person in an 1657 amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest or penalties 1658 exceed any taxes payable if the application had been filed in a timely 1659 manner. 1660 Sec. 80. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1661 section 12-62 of the general statutes or any municipal charter, special act 1662 or home rule ordinance, the town of Derby may defer the 1663 implementation of the revaluation of real property required for the 1664 assessment year commencing October 1, 2024, until the assessment year 1665 commencing October 1, 2025, provided such deferral is approved by the 1666 legislative body of said town. The rate maker, as defined in section 12- 1667 131 of the general statutes, in said town may prepare new rate bills 1668 under the provisions of chapter 204 of the general statutes in order to 1669 carry out the provisions of this section. Any required revaluation 1670 subsequent to any deferred implementation of a revaluation pursuant 1671 to this section shall recommence at the point in the schedule prescribed 1672 pursuant to section 12-62 of the general statutes that said town was 1673 following prior to such deferral. 1674 Sec. 81. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1675 section 12-62 of the general statutes or any municipal charter, special act 1676 or home rule ordinance, the town of Stratford may defer the 1677 implementation of the revaluation of real property required for the 1678 assessment year commencing October 1, 2024, until the assessment year 1679 commencing October 1, 2025, provided such deferral is approved by the 1680 legislative body of said town. The rate maker, as defined in section 12- 1681 131 of the general statutes, in said town may prepare new rate bills 1682 under the provisions of chapter 204 of the general statutes in order to 1683 carry out the provisions of this section. Any required revaluation 1684 subsequent to any deferred implementation of a revaluation pursuant 1685 to this section shall recommence at the point in the schedule prescribed 1686 pursuant to section 12-62 of the general statutes that said town was 1687 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 66 of 254 following prior to such deferral. 1688 Sec. 82. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) (1) On and after January 1, 1689 2025, the general administration and responsibility for the proper 1690 operation of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund under 1691 part V of chapter 104 of the general statutes and the municipal 1692 employees' retirement system under part II of chapter 113 of the general 1693 statutes is vested in a board of trustees to be known as the Connecticut 1694 Municipal Employees Retirement Commission. The Connecticut 1695 Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall constitute a 1696 successor commission to the Connecticut State Employees Retirement 1697 Commission, with respect to the provisions of part V of chapter 104 of 1698 the general statutes and part II of chapter 113 of the general statutes, in 1699 accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d and 4-39 of the general 1700 statutes. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement 1701 Commission shall be within the Retirement Services Division of the 1702 office of the State Comptroller for administrative purposes only. 1703 (2) The Retirement Services Division shall (A) provide record 1704 keeping, reporting and related administrative and clerical functions for 1705 the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission to the 1706 extent deemed necessary by the State Comptroller, (B) disseminate for 1707 said commission any required notices or rules or orders adopted, 1708 amended or repealed by said commission, and (C) provide staff for said 1709 commission subject to the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) 1710 of section 4-38f of the general statutes. The office of the State 1711 Comptroller shall include in its budget the Connecticut Municipal 1712 Employees Retirement Commission's budgetary request, if any, as a 1713 separate part of such budget, exactly as prepared and submitted to the 1714 office by said commission. 1715 (3) The State Comptroller shall serve as secretary of the Connecticut 1716 Municipal Employees Retirement Commission and provide secretariat 1717 support to said commission. The Connecticut Municipal Employees 1718 Retirement Commission shall meet at least monthly and shall report to 1719 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 67 of 254 the Governor in accordance with the provisions of section 4-60 of the 1720 general statutes. 1721 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-9a of the general 1722 statutes, the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission 1723 shall consist of the following: 1724 (1) The State Comptroller, or the State Comptroller's designee, who 1725 shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member and shall preside at meetings of 1726 the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission; 1727 (2) The State Treasurer, or the State Treasurer's designee, who shall 1728 be a nonvoting, ex-officio member; 1729 (3) Four trustees who represent employees and shall be appointed by 1730 the Governor from a list of four nominees submitted to the Governor by 1731 a federation of labor organizations in the state that represent private and 1732 public employees and workers in the building trades, (A) one of whom 1733 shall be (i) a municipal public safety employee who is a member of the 1734 municipal employees' retirement system, or (ii) an elected leader of a 1735 labor organization representing such public safety employees, (B) two 1736 of whom shall be (i) a municipal employee, other than a public safety 1737 employee, who is a member of the municipal employees' retirement 1738 system, or (ii) an elected leader of a labor organization representing such 1739 municipal employees, and (C) one of whom shall be a retired member 1740 of the municipal employees' retirement system; 1741 (4) Four trustees who represent government employers, who shall 1742 not be required to represent or be in the active service of a participating 1743 municipality, as defined in section 7-425 of the general statutes, (A) one 1744 of whom shall represent a municipal employer and shall be appointed 1745 by the Governor, with the advice and consent of an organization in the 1746 state that represents small towns, (B) two of whom shall represent 1747 municipal employers and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the 1748 advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents 1749 municipalities, and (C) one of whom shall represent municipal housing 1750 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 68 of 254 authorities in the state and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the 1751 advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents 1752 housing and redevelopment officials in the state; 1753 (5) Two trustees who shall be appointed by the State Comptroller, 1754 with the approval by simple majority of the trustees appointed under 1755 subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection, who possess expertise and 1756 experience in financial management, actuarial science or pension 1757 management; and 1758 (6) One neutral trustee who shall serve as the chairperson of the 1759 Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission and be 1760 appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the trustees 1761 appointed under subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection. The 1762 chairperson shall cast a vote on a matter before said commission only in 1763 the event of a tie vote. 1764 (c) (1) All initial appointments to the Connecticut Municipal 1765 Employees Retirement Commission shall be made not later than 1766 October 1, 2024, and shall terminate, except as provided in subdivision 1767 (2) of this subsection, on September 30, 2028, regardless of when the 1768 initial appointment was made. 1769 (2) Two of the trustees appointed under subdivision (3) of subsection 1770 (b) of this section, two of the trustees appointed under subdivision (4) 1771 of subsection (b) of this section and one of the trustees appointed under 1772 subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of this section, as selected by the 1773 appointing authority, shall serve an initial term of two years, which shall 1774 terminate on September 30, 2026, regardless of when the initial 1775 appointment was made. 1776 (3) Subsequent terms shall be for four years. Any vacancy shall be 1777 filled by the appointing authority in accordance with the provisions of 1778 subsection (b) of this section. Any vacancy occurring other than by 1779 expiration of term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term. 1780 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 69 of 254 (d) (1) Each trustee shall act as a fiduciary with respect to the 1781 Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal 1782 employees' retirement system and the members of said fund and such 1783 retirement system. The trustees shall discharge their duties solely in the 1784 interest of the members and the beneficiaries and contingent annuitants 1785 of said fund and such retirement system, for the exclusive purposes of 1786 providing benefits to such members, beneficiaries and annuitants and 1787 defraying reasonable expenses of administering said fund and such 1788 retirement system. 1789 (2) Each trustee shall, not later than ten days after appointment, take 1790 an oath of office that so far as it devolves upon the trustee, the trustee 1791 will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the Policemen and 1792 Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' 1793 retirement system and will not knowingly violate or willingly permit to 1794 be violated any provision of law applicable to said fund or such 1795 retirement system. 1796 (e) The State Comptroller shall establish an orientation program and 1797 fiduciary training for new trustees. Each trustee shall, not later than 1798 thirty days after appointment, complete such program and training and 1799 shall annually complete continuing education hours, as required by the 1800 State Comptroller, in financial management, actuarial science or 1801 pension management. The State Comptroller shall publish the activities 1802 and courses the State Comptroller deems acceptable for purposes of 1803 fulfilling the continuing education requirement under this subsection. 1804 (f) A majority of the members of the Connecticut Municipal 1805 Employees Retirement Commission shall constitute a quorum for the 1806 transaction of any business, the exercise of any power or the 1807 performance of any duty authorized or imposed by law. 1808 (g) The trustees of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement 1809 Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall, within the 1810 limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily 1811 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 70 of 254 incurred in the performance of their duties. 1812 (h) All assets of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund 1813 and the municipal employees' retirement system shall be held in trust 1814 by the State Treasurer, who shall act as a fiduciary of said fund and such 1815 retirement system. The State Treasurer shall manage and control such 1816 assets, except as the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement 1817 Commission or a municipal retirement plan expressly may otherwise 1818 provide. The State Treasurer shall discharge the State Treasurer's duties 1819 solely in the interest of the members and the beneficiaries and 1820 contingent annuitants of said fund and such retirement system, for the 1821 exclusive purposes of providing benefits to such members, beneficiaries 1822 and annuitants, by diversifying the investments of said fund and such 1823 retirement system so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless, 1824 under the circumstances, it is clearly prudent not to do so. 1825 (i) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission 1826 shall have general supervision of the operation of the Policemen and 1827 Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' 1828 retirement system and shall conduct the business and activities of said 1829 fund and such retirement system in accordance with the provisions of 1830 part V of chapter 104 of the general statutes and part II of chapter 113 of 1831 the general statutes, as applicable, and applicable law. The Connecticut 1832 Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall act, in conducting 1833 the business of said fund and such retirement system, including said 1834 commission's supervisory functions: (1) With the care, skill, prudence 1835 and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent 1836 person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would 1837 use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; 1838 (2) in accordance with strict fiduciary standards and responsibilities; 1839 and (3) in accordance with the provisions of the general statutes and 1840 applicable collective bargaining agreements. 1841 (j) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission 1842 may, by resolution or regulation, allocate fiduciary responsibilities and 1843 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 71 of 254 various administrative duties to committees or subcommittees of said 1844 commission and may delegate such responsibilities and duties to the 1845 Retirement Services Division of the office of the State Comptroller or to 1846 other individuals the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement 1847 Commission deems appropriate or necessary, provided such delegation 1848 is consistent with the provisions of this section. 1849 (k) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission 1850 may hold hearings when said commission deems them necessary in the 1851 performance of its duties. The hearings shall be governed by rules and 1852 regulations adopted by said commission and said commission shall not 1853 be bound by technical rules of evidence. 1854 (l) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission 1855 may hire a general counsel who shall serve at the pleasure of said 1856 commission, have offices in the Retirement Services Division of the 1857 office of the State Comptroller and perform duties as directed by said 1858 commission. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement 1859 Commission may obtain such additional legal advice and assistance as 1860 it deems advisable. 1861 (m) (1) All municipal retirement plans, descriptions and reports and 1862 all legal, financial and actuarial documents dealing with the general 1863 operations of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and 1864 the municipal employees' retirement system shall be available for 1865 inspection and copying by members of said fund or such retirement 1866 system, as applicable, and their representatives. The cost of any copying 1867 shall be borne by the member or representative but shall not exceed 1868 twenty-five cents per page. 1869 (2) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission 1870 shall notify members of any substantial statutory amendments to the 1871 Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund or to the municipal 1872 employees' retirement system, not later than two hundred ten days after 1873 the effective date of such amendments. 1874 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 72 of 254 (3) Not later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 1875 State Treasurer shall publish and forward to the Connecticut Municipal 1876 Employees Retirement Commission a consolidated report showing the 1877 fiscal transactions of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit 1878 Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system for the preceding 1879 fiscal year, including gain or loss by category of security, a reconciliation 1880 of assets showing the progression of the funds of said fund and such 1881 retirement system from one year to the next, the amount of the 1882 accumulated cash and securities of said fund and such retirement 1883 system and the last balance sheet showing the financial condition of said 1884 fund and such retirement system by means of an actuarial valuation of 1885 their assets and liabilities. Assets shall be shown at book and market 1886 value and by type or term of investment. Gain or loss shall be reported 1887 by category of security type. The reporting requirement under this 1888 subdivision shall be satisfied if the State Treasurer completes an Internal 1889 Revenue Service form 5500 and submits it to the Connecticut Municipal 1890 Employees Retirement Commission, provided the information included 1891 therein is sufficient to allow the computation of the investment yields of 1892 the funds of said fund and such retirement system on an annual basis. 1893 (n) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission 1894 may adopt such regulations, in accordance with the provisions of 1895 chapter 54 of the general statutes, as are necessary to carry out the 1896 provisions of part V of chapter 104 of the general statutes and part II of 1897 chapter 113 of the general statutes and may establish rules and 1898 regulations that said commission deems necessary or desirable to 1899 facilitate the proper administration of the Policemen and Firemen 1900 Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement 1901 system. Rules and regulations established by the Connecticut Municipal 1902 Employees Retirement Commission shall be binding upon all parties 1903 dealing with said commission and all persons claiming any benefits 1904 from said fund or such retirement system. 1905 Sec. 83. Subsection (a) of section 7-438 of the general statutes is 1906 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 1907 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 73 of 254 passage): 1908 (a) Any member retired under this part who again accepts 1909 employment from the state or from any municipality of the state other 1910 than a participating municipality, shall continue to receive his or her 1911 retirement allowance while so employed, and shall be eligible to 1912 participate, and shall be entitled to credit, in the state retirement system 1913 or such retirement system of such municipality, as applicable, for the 1914 period of such [state] employment. [, but he or she shall not be eligible 1915 to participate or be entitled to credit in any municipal retirement system 1916 for the period of such municipal employment.] 1917 Sec. 84. Subsection (a) of section 7-459b of the 2024 supplement to the 1918 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1919 thereof (Effective from passage): 1920 (a) On or after July 1, 2025, the Retirement Commission may create a 1921 deferred retirement option plan [and prescribe the manner in which 1922 such option plan may be offered to] for members [by] of a municipality 1923 participating in the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund. Any plan 1924 created shall permit members of the Municipal Employees' Retirement 1925 Fund who are eligible for a service retirement allowance to elect 1926 participation in such plan. 1927 Sec. 85. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) On or after July 1, 2025, the 1928 State Comptroller shall create a municipal defined contribution 1929 retirement plan and prescribe the manner in which such retirement plan 1930 may be adopted by any municipality, as defined in section 7-425 of the 1931 general statutes. 1932 (b) Any such retirement plan shall provide that a municipality that 1933 adopts such plan shall have the option to transfer to such plan the 1934 accounts and assets of any defined contribution retirement plan 1935 previously adopted by such municipality. Payroll deductions for each 1936 member of the defined contribution plan created under this section shall 1937 be made by the appropriate municipal employer. 1938 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 74 of 254 (c) The State Comptroller shall serve as the administrator of the 1939 retirement plan created under this section. The State Comptroller may 1940 (1) enter into contractual agreements on behalf of the state with 1941 members of such plan to defer any portion of such member's 1942 compensation from the adopting municipality, (2) make deposits or 1943 payments to such plan, subject to the terms of such plan, and (3) contract 1944 with a private corporation or private institution for the provision of 1945 consolidated billing services and other administrative services for such 1946 plan. 1947 Sec. 86. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 5-155a of the 1948 general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1949 thereof (Effective January 1, 2025): 1950 (a) The general administration and responsibility for the proper 1951 operation of the state employees retirement system is vested in a single 1952 board of trustees to be known as the Connecticut State Employees 1953 Retirement Commission. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4- 1954 9a, the Retirement Commission shall consist of the following: (1) The 1955 Treasurer or a designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member; 1956 (2) the Comptroller or a designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio 1957 member; (3) six trustees representing employees who shall (A) be 1958 appointed by the bargaining agents in accordance with the provisions 1959 of applicable collective bargaining agreements, (B) serve three-year 1960 terms, and (C) not be members of the same bargaining unit; (4) six 1961 management trustees who shall (A) be members of the state employees 1962 retirement system, (B) serve three-year terms, and (C) be appointed by 1963 the Governor; (5) two actuarial trustees who shall (A) be enrolled 1964 actuaries and Fellows of the Society of Actuaries, (B) serve three-year 1965 terms, and (C) be appointed by the Governor. One actuarial trustee shall 1966 be nominated by the management trustees and one shall be nominated 1967 by the trustees representing employees; and (6) one neutral trustee who 1968 shall be chairman of the commission and who shall (A) be enrolled in 1969 the National Academy of Arbitrators, (B) serve a two-year term, and (C) 1970 be nominated by the employee and management trustees and appointed 1971 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 75 of 254 by the Governor. If a vacancy occurs in the office of a trustee, the 1972 vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the 1973 office was previously filled. The trustees, with the exception of the 1974 chairman and the actuarial trustees, shall serve without compensation 1975 but shall be reimbursed in accordance with the standard travel 1976 regulations for all necessary expenses that they may incur through 1977 service on the commission. The chairman and the actuarial trustees shall 1978 be compensated at their normal and usual per diem fee, plus travel 1979 expenses, from the funds of the retirement system for each day of service 1980 to the commission. Each trustee shall, within ten days after appointment 1981 or election, take an oath of office that so far as it devolves upon the 1982 trustee, the trustee will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of 1983 the commission, and will not knowingly violate or willingly permit to 1984 be violated any of the provisions of law applicable to the state retirement 1985 system. Each trustee's term shall begin from the date the trustee takes 1986 such an oath. [The trustees shall appoint a representative from among 1987 the municipalities that have accepted the provisions of part II of chapter 1988 113, who shall serve as a municipal liaison to the commission, at the 1989 commission's pleasure and under such terms and conditions as the 1990 commission may prescribe.] Each trustee shall be entitled to one vote on 1991 the commission. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum 1992 for the transaction of any business, the exercise of any power or the 1993 performance of any duty authorized or imposed by law. The State 1994 Employee Retirement Commission shall be within the Retirement 1995 Division of the office of the Comptroller for administrative purposes 1996 only. The Comptroller shall be the secretary of the commission and shall 1997 provide secretariat support to the commission. 1998 (b) The Retirement Commission shall meet at least monthly and shall 1999 report to the Governor as provided in section 4-60. 2000 (c) The Retirement Commission shall administer this retirement 2001 system [, the municipal employees' retirement system established by 2002 part II of chapter 113] and all other state retirement and pension plans 2003 except the Teachers' Retirement Fund. The Retirement Commission 2004 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 76 of 254 shall have general supervision of the operation of the retirement system, 2005 shall conduct the business and activities of the system, in accordance 2006 with this chapter and applicable law and each trustee shall be a fiduciary 2007 with respect to the retirement system and its members. The Retirement 2008 Commission shall authorize the participation in an alternate retirement 2009 program by the eligible unclassified employees of the constituent units 2010 of the state system of higher education and the central office staff of the 2011 Board of Regents for Higher Education. Such program may be 2012 underwritten by a life insurance company licensed to do business in this 2013 state. In conducting the business of the system, including its oversight 2014 functions, the Retirement Commission shall act: (1) With the care, skill, 2015 prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a 2016 prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters 2017 would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with 2018 like aims; (2) in accordance with strict fiduciary standards and 2019 responsibilities; and (3) in accordance with the provisions of the general 2020 statutes and applicable collective bargaining agreements. 2021 Sec. 87. Section 7-323a of the general statutes is repealed and the 2022 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2025): 2023 As used in this part: "Municipality" and "legislative body" shall each 2024 have the same meaning ascribed to it in section 7-425; "participating 2025 municipality" means any municipality which votes to accept the 2026 provisions of this part; "fund" means the Policemen and Firemen 2027 Survivors' Benefit Fund established by this part; "Retirement 2028 Commission" means the [State Retirement Commission created by 2029 chapter 66] Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission 2030 established under section 82 of this act; "member" means any active 2031 uniformed policeman or active uniformed fireman receiving pay from a 2032 participating municipality who has been included by such municipality 2033 under the provisions of this part, and "compensation" means one- 2034 twelfth of the annual rate of pay of a full-time paid policeman or fireman 2035 of a participating municipality who is in active service and one-twelfth 2036 of the annual rate of pay immediately prior to the retirement of a full- 2037 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 77 of 254 time paid policeman or fireman of a participating municipality who is 2038 retired. 2039 Sec. 88. Subdivision (4) of section 7-425 of the 2024 supplement to the 2040 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2041 thereof (Effective January 1, 2025): 2042 (4) "Retirement Commission" means the [State Retirement 2043 Commission created by chapter 66] Connecticut Municipal Employees 2044 Retirement Commission established under section 82 of this act; 2045 Sec. 89. Subdivision (2) of section 7-452 of the general statutes is 2046 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 2047 1, 2025): 2048 (2) "Commission" means the [State] Connecticut Municipal 2049 Employees Retirement Commission established under section 82 of this 2050 act; 2051 Sec. 90. Section 7-439f of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective 2052 from passage) 2053 Sec. 91. Section 12-15 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 2054 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 2055 October 1, 2024): 2056 (a) No officer or employee, including any former officer or former 2057 employee, of the state or of any other person who has or had access to 2058 returns or return information in accordance with subdivision (12) of 2059 subsection (b) of this section shall disclose or inspect any return or 2060 return information, except as provided in this section. 2061 (b) The commissioner may disclose: 2062 (1) [returns] Returns or return information to (A) an authorized 2063 representative of another state agency or office, upon written request by 2064 the head of such agency or office, when required in the course of duty 2065 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 78 of 254 or when there is reasonable cause to believe that any state law is being 2066 violated, or (B) an authorized representative of an agency or office of the 2067 United States, upon written request by the head of such agency or office, 2068 when required in the course of duty or when there is reasonable cause 2069 to believe that any federal law is being violated, provided no such 2070 agency or office shall disclose such returns or return information, other 2071 than in a judicial or administrative proceeding to which such agency or 2072 office is a party pertaining to the enforcement of state or federal law, as 2073 the case may be, in a form which can be associated with, or otherwise 2074 identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer except that the 2075 names and addresses of jurors or potential jurors and the fact that the 2076 names were derived from the list of taxpayers pursuant to chapter 884 2077 may be disclosed by the Judicial Branch; 2078 (2) [returns] Returns or return information to the Auditors of Public 2079 Accounts, when required in the course of duty under chapter 23; 2080 (3) [returns] Returns or return information to tax officers of another 2081 state or of a Canadian province or of a political subdivision of such other 2082 state or province or of the District of Columbia or to any officer of the 2083 United States Treasury Department or the United States Department of 2084 Health and Human Services, authorized for such purpose in accordance 2085 with an agreement between this state and such other state, province, 2086 political subdivision, the District of Columbia or department, 2087 respectively, when required in the administration of taxes imposed 2088 under the laws of such other state, province, political subdivision, the 2089 District of Columbia or the United States, respectively, and when a 2090 reciprocal arrangement exists; 2091 (4) [returns] Returns or return information in any action, case or 2092 proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction, when the 2093 commissioner or any other state department or agency is a party, and 2094 when such information is directly involved in such action, case or 2095 proceeding; 2096 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 79 of 254 (5) [returns] Returns or return information to a taxpayer or its 2097 authorized representative, upon written request for a return filed by or 2098 return information on such taxpayer; 2099 (6) [returns] Returns or return information to a successor, receiver, 2100 trustee, executor, administrator, assignee, guardian or guarantor of a 2101 taxpayer, when such person establishes, to the satisfaction of the 2102 commissioner, that such person has a material interest which will be 2103 affected by information contained in such returns or return information; 2104 (7) [information] Information to the assessor or an authorized 2105 representative of the chief executive officer of a Connecticut 2106 municipality, when the information disclosed is limited to (A) a list of 2107 real or personal property that is or may be subject to property taxes in 2108 such municipality, or (B) a list containing the name of each person who 2109 is issued any license, permit or certificate which is required, under the 2110 provisions of this title, to be conspicuously displayed and whose 2111 address is in such municipality; 2112 (8) [real] Real estate conveyance tax return information or controlling 2113 interest transfer tax return information to the town clerk or an 2114 authorized representative of the chief executive officer of a Connecticut 2115 municipality to which the information relates; 2116 (9) [estate] Estate tax returns and estate tax return information to the 2117 Probate Court Administrator or to the court of probate for the district 2118 within which a decedent resided at the date of the decedent's death, or 2119 within which the commissioner contends that a decedent resided at the 2120 date of the decedent's death or, if a decedent died a nonresident of this 2121 state, in the court of probate for the district within which real estate or 2122 tangible personal property of the decedent is situated, or within which 2123 the commissioner contends that real estate or tangible personal property 2124 of the decedent is situated; 2125 (10) [returns] Returns or return information to the (A) Secretary of the 2126 Office of Policy and Management for purposes of subsection (b) of 2127 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 80 of 254 section 12-7a, and (B) Office of Fiscal Analysis for purposes of, and 2128 subject to the provisions of, subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of section 2129 12-7b; 2130 (11) [return] Return information to the Jury Administrator or Clerk of 2131 the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, when the 2132 information disclosed is limited to the names, addresses, federal Social 2133 Security numbers and dates of birth, if available, of residents of this 2134 state, as defined in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 12-701; 2135 (12) [returns] Returns or return information to any person to the 2136 extent necessary in connection with the processing, storage, 2137 transmission or reproduction of such returns or return information, and 2138 the programming, maintenance, repair, testing or procurement of 2139 equipment, or the providing of other services, for purposes of tax 2140 administration; 2141 (13) [without] Without written request and unless the commissioner 2142 determines that disclosure would identify a confidential informant or 2143 seriously impair a civil or criminal tax investigation, returns and return 2144 information which may constitute evidence of a violation of any civil or 2145 criminal law of this state or the United States to the extent necessary to 2146 apprise the head of such agency or office charged with the responsibility 2147 of enforcing such law, in which event the head of such agency or office 2148 may disclose such return information to officers and employees of such 2149 agency or office to the extent necessary to enforce such law; 2150 (14) [names] Names and addresses of operators, as defined in section 2151 12-407, to tourism districts, as defined in section 10-397; 2152 (15) [names] Names of each licensed dealer, as defined in section 12- 2153 285, and the location of the premises covered by the dealer's license; 2154 (16) [to] To a tobacco product manufacturer that places funds into 2155 escrow pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of section 4-28i, 2156 return information of a distributor licensed under the provisions of 2157 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 81 of 254 chapter 214 or chapter 214a, provided the information disclosed is 2158 limited to information relating to such manufacturer's sales to 2159 consumers within this state, whether directly or through a distributor, 2160 dealer or similar intermediary or intermediaries, of cigarettes, as 2161 defined in section 4-28h, and further provided there is reasonable cause 2162 to believe that such manufacturer is not in compliance with section 4- 2163 28i; 2164 (17) [returns] Returns or return information to the State Elections 2165 Enforcement Commission, upon written request by said commission, 2166 when necessary to investigate suspected violations of state election 2167 laws; 2168 (18) [returns] Returns or return information for purposes of, and 2169 subject to the conditions of, subsection (e) of section 5-240; 2170 (19) [to] To the extent allowable under federal law, return 2171 information to another state agency or to support a data request 2172 submitted through CP20 WIN, established in section 10a-57g, in 2173 accordance with the policies and procedures of CP20 WIN for the 2174 purposes of evaluation or research, provided the recipient of such data 2175 enters into a data sharing agreement pursuant to section 4-67aa if such 2176 recipient is not a state agency; and 2177 (20) [return] Return information to the Connecticut Health Insurance 2178 Exchange pursuant to section 12-156. 2179 (c) Any federal returns or return information made available to the 2180 commissioner in accordance with a written agreement between the 2181 commissioner and the Internal Revenue Service concerning exchange of 2182 information for tax administration purposes, shall not be open to 2183 inspection by or disclosed to any individual or disclosed in any manner 2184 other than as permitted under the provisions of Section 6103 of the 2185 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 2186 internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time 2187 amended. 2188 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 82 of 254 (d) (1) The commissioner may, upon request, verify whether or not 2189 any license, permit or certificate required under the provisions of this 2190 title to be conspicuously displayed has been issued by the commissioner 2191 to any particular person. 2192 (2) The commissioner may make public the names and municipality 2193 of residence or postal district of persons entitled to tax refunds for 2194 purposes of notifying them when the commissioner, after reasonable 2195 effort and lapse of time, has been unable to locate such persons. 2196 (e) The commissioner may refuse to open to inspection or disclose to 2197 any person any returns or return information made available to the 2198 commissioner by any tax officer of another state, a Canadian province 2199 or political subdivision of such other state or province or of the District 2200 of Columbia or by any officer of the United States Treasury Department 2201 or the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 2202 accordance with a written agreement between this state and such other 2203 state, province, political subdivision, the District of Columbia or 2204 department, respectively, which agreement provides that the disclosure 2205 of such returns or return information by the commissioner is prohibited. 2206 In addition, he may refuse to open to inspection or disclosure to any 2207 state or United States agency or office described in subdivision (1) of 2208 subsection (b) of this section, returns or return information unless such 2209 agency or office shall have: 2210 (1) Established and maintained, to the satisfaction of the 2211 commissioner, a permanent system of standardized records with 2212 respect to any request, the reason for such request, and the date of such 2213 request made by or of it and any disclosure or inspection of returns or 2214 return information made by or to it; 2215 (2) [established] Established and maintained, to the satisfaction of the 2216 commissioner, a secure area or place in which such returns or return 2217 information shall be stored; 2218 (3) [restricted] Restricted, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, 2219 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 83 of 254 access to the returns or return information only to persons whose duties 2220 or responsibilities require access and to whom disclosure may be made 2221 under this section or by whom inspection may be made under this 2222 section; 2223 (4) [provided] Provided such other safeguards which the 2224 commissioner prescribes as necessary or appropriate to protect the 2225 confidentiality of the returns or return information; 2226 (5) [furnished] Furnished a report to the commissioner, at such time 2227 and containing such information as the commissioner may prescribe, 2228 which describes the procedures established and utilized by such agency 2229 or office for ensuring the confidentiality of returns and return 2230 information required by this subsection; and 2231 (6) [upon] Upon completion of use of such returns or return 2232 information, returned to the commissioner such returns or return 2233 information, along with any copies made therefrom, or makes such 2234 returns or return information undisclosable in such manner as the 2235 commissioner may prescribe and furnishes a written report to the 2236 commissioner identifying the returns or return information that were 2237 made undisclosable. 2238 (f) Returns and return information shall, without written request, be 2239 open to inspection by or disclosure to: (1) Officers and employees of the 2240 Department of Revenue Services whose official duties require such 2241 inspection or disclosure for tax administration purposes; (2) officers or 2242 employees of an agency or office in accordance with subdivision (1) or 2243 (13) of subsection (b) of this section whose official duties require such 2244 inspection; and (3) officers or employees of any person in accordance 2245 with subdivision (12) of subsection (b) of this section, whose duties 2246 require such inspection or disclosure. 2247 (g) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be 2248 fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than 2249 one year, or both. 2250 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 84 of 254 (h) For purposes of this section: 2251 (1) "Return" means any tax or information return, declaration of 2252 estimated tax, claim for refund, license application, permit application, 2253 registration application or other application required by, or provided 2254 for or permitted under, the provisions of this or any other title which is 2255 filed with the commissioner by, on behalf of, or with respect to any 2256 person, and any amendment or supplement thereto, including 2257 supporting schedules, attachments, or lists which are supplemental to, 2258 or part of, the return so filed. 2259 (2) "Return information" means a taxpayer's identity, the nature, 2260 source, or amount of the taxpayer's income, payments, receipts, 2261 deductions, exemptions, credits, assets, liabilities, net worth, tax 2262 liability, tax collected or withheld, tax underreportings, tax 2263 overreportings, or tax payments, whether the taxpayer's return was, is 2264 being, or will be examined or subjected to other investigation or 2265 processing, or any other data received by, recorded by, prepared by, 2266 furnished to, or collected by the commissioner with respect to a return 2267 or with respect to the determination of the existence, or possible 2268 existence, of liability of any person for any tax, penalty, interest, fine, 2269 forfeiture, or other imposition, or offense. "Return information" does not 2270 include data in a form which cannot be associated with, or otherwise 2271 identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer. Nothing in the 2272 preceding sentence, or in any other provision of law, shall be construed 2273 to require the disclosure of standards used or to be used for the selection 2274 of returns for examination, or data used or to be used for determining 2275 such standards or the disclosure of the identity of a confidential 2276 informant, whether or not a civil or criminal tax investigation has been 2277 undertaken or completed. 2278 (3) "Disclosure" means the making known to any person, in any 2279 manner whatever, a return or return information. 2280 (4) "Inspection" means any examination of a return or return 2281 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 85 of 254 information. 2282 (5) "Tax administration" means the administration, management, 2283 conduct, direction and supervision of the execution and application of 2284 the tax laws of this state, and the development and formulation of tax 2285 policy relating to existing or proposed tax laws of this state, and includes 2286 assessment, collection, enforcement, litigation, publication and 2287 statistical gathering functions under such laws. 2288 Sec. 92. Subsection (h) of section 12-62r of the general statutes is 2289 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2290 1, 2024): 2291 (h) Nothing in this section shall change the assessment of apartment 2292 property created or converted by the Capital Region Development 2293 Authority created pursuant to section [20-601] 32-601. Such apartment 2294 property shall continue to be assessed as residential property. 2295 Sec. 93. Subsection (h) of section 12-170aa of the general statutes is 2296 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2297 1, 2024): 2298 (h) Any person who is the owner of a residential dwelling on leased 2299 land, including any such person who is a sublessee under terms of the 2300 lease agreement applicable to such land, shall be entitled to claim tax 2301 relief under the provisions of this section, subject to all requirements 2302 therein except as provided in this subsection, with respect to property 2303 taxes paid by such person on the assessed value of such dwelling, 2304 provided (1) the dwelling is such person's principal place of residence, 2305 (2) such lease or sublease requires that such person as the lessee or 2306 sublessee, whichever is applicable, pay all property taxes related to the 2307 dwelling, and (3) such lease or sublease is recorded in the land records 2308 of the town. 2309 Sec. 94. Subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of section 12-217qq of the 2310 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2311 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 86 of 254 thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2312 (d) (1) A qualified small business may apply to the commissioner in 2313 accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection to 2314 exchange any credit allowed under subsection (b) of this section for a 2315 credit refund equal to the value of the credit. Any amount of credit 2316 refunded under this subsection shall be refunded to the qualified small 2317 business in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or chapter 2318 207, as applicable. No interest shall be allowed or paid on any amount 2319 of credit refunded under this subsection. Any amount of credit refunded 2320 under this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of section [12- 2321 39h] 12-39g. 2322 Sec. 95. Subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 12-217zz of the 2323 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 2324 substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2325 (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (2) of this 2326 subsection, for income years commencing on or after January 1, 2024, 2327 the aggregate amount allowable of tax credits and any remaining credits 2328 available under section 12-217j or 12-217n or subparagraph (B) of 2329 subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 12-217x, after tax credits are 2330 utilized in accordance with [said] subdivision (2) of this subsection shall 2331 not exceed seventy per cent of the amount of tax due from such taxpayer 2332 under this chapter with respect to any such income year of the taxpayer 2333 prior to the application of such credit or credits. 2334 Sec. 96. Section 12-263x of the general statutes is repealed and the 2335 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2336 The amount of any tax, penalty, interest or fee, due and unpaid under 2337 the provisions of sections 12-263q to 12-263v, inclusive, may be collected 2338 under the provisions of section 12-35. The warrant [provided under 2339 section 12-35] therein provided for shall be signed by the commissioner 2340 or the commissioner's authorized agent. The amount of any such tax, 2341 penalty, interest or fee shall be a lien on the real estate of the taxpayer 2342 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 87 of 254 from the last day of the month next preceding the due date of such tax 2343 until such tax is paid. The commissioner may record such lien in the 2344 records of any town in which the real estate of such taxpayer is situated 2345 but no such lien shall be enforceable against a bona fide purchaser or 2346 qualified encumbrancer of such real estate. When any tax or fee with 2347 respect to which a lien has been recorded under the provisions of this 2348 subsection has been satisfied, the commissioner shall, upon request of 2349 any interested party, issue a certificate discharging such lien, which 2350 certificate shall be recorded in the same office in which the lien was 2351 recorded. Any action for the foreclosure of such lien shall be brought by 2352 the Attorney General in the name of the state in the superior court for 2353 the judicial district in which the property subject to such lien is situated, 2354 or, if such property is located in two or more judicial districts, in the 2355 superior court for any one such judicial district, and the court may limit 2356 the time for redemption or order the sale of such property or make such 2357 other or further decree as it judges equitable. For purposes of section 12- 2358 39g, a fee under this section shall be treated as a tax. 2359 Sec. 97. Subsections (d) to (f), inclusive, of section 12-294 of the 2360 general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2361 thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2362 (d) Failure of the commissioner to mail the notice referred to in 2363 subsection (c) of this section shall release the successor or assignee from 2364 any further obligation to withhold the purchase price as provided in 2365 subsection (b) of this section. The period within which the obligation of 2366 the successor or assignee may be enforced shall commence on the date 2367 the distributor or dealer sells out his or her business or stock of goods 2368 or quits the business or on the date [that] the assessment against such 2369 distributor or dealer becomes final, whichever event occurs later, and 2370 shall end three years after such date. 2371 (e) The certificate provided for in subsection (c) of this section may be 2372 issued after the payment of all amounts due under this chapter, 2373 according to the records of the department as of the date of the 2374 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 88 of 254 certificate, or after the payment of the amounts is secured to the 2375 satisfaction of the commissioner. 2376 (f) The obligation of the successor or assignee shall be enforced by 2377 serving a notice of successor liability on the successor or assignee. [The] 2378 Any such notice shall be [served in the manner prescribed under section 2379 12-309 for service of a notice of assessment,] issued not later than three 2380 years after the date the commissioner is notified by the successor or 2381 assignee of the purchase of the business or stock of goods. The successor 2382 or assignee may protest the assessment in the manner provided in 2383 section 12-311. [Sixty days after the date on which a notice of assessment 2384 is mailed, an assessment shall become final except for any amount as to 2385 which the successor or assignee has filed a written protest with the 2386 commissioner, as provided in section 12-311] Upon the issuance of an 2387 order by the commissioner pursuant to section 12-311, the successor or 2388 assignee may appeal such order in accordance with the provisions of 2389 section 12-312. 2390 Sec. 98. Subsection (a) of section 12-309 of the general statutes is 2391 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2392 1, 2024): 2393 (a) (1) Each distributor and each dealer shall keep complete and 2394 accurate records of all cigarettes manufactured, produced, purchased 2395 and sold. Such records shall be of such kind and in such form as the 2396 Commissioner of Revenue Services may prescribe and shall be safely 2397 preserved for three years in such manner as to [insure] ensure 2398 permanency and accessibility for inspection by the commissioner and 2399 [his] the commissioner's authorized agents. The commissioner and [his] 2400 the commissioner's authorized agents may examine the books, papers 2401 and records of any distributor or dealer in this state for the purpose of 2402 determining whether the tax imposed by this chapter has been fully 2403 paid, and may investigate and examine the stock of cigarettes in or upon 2404 any premises where such cigarettes are possessed, stored or sold for the 2405 purpose of determining whether the provisions of this chapter are being 2406 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 89 of 254 obeyed. 2407 (2) If, after an examination of the invoices, books and records of a 2408 licensed distributor or dealer, or if, from any other information obtained 2409 by [him or his] the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized 2410 agents, the commissioner determines that the report of any licensed 2411 distributor or licensed dealer is incorrect, and that the licensed 2412 distributor or licensed dealer has not purchased sufficient stamps to 2413 cover [his] such distributor's or dealer's receipts and sales or other 2414 disposition of unstamped cigarettes, [he] the commissioner shall 2415 thereupon assess the deficiency in tax. Such amount shall bear interest 2416 at the rate of one per cent per month or fraction thereof from the date 2417 when the original tax was due and payable. In any case where a licensed 2418 distributor or licensed dealer cannot produce evidence of sufficient 2419 stamp purchases to cover the receipt of unstamped cigarettes, it shall be 2420 presumed that such cigarettes were sold without having the proper 2421 stamps affixed. 2422 (3) When it appears that any part of the deficiency for which a 2423 deficiency assessment is made is due to negligence or intentional 2424 disregard of the provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated 2425 thereunder, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to ten per cent of the 2426 amount of such deficiency assessment, or fifty dollars, whichever is 2427 greater. When it appears that any part of the deficiency for which a 2428 deficiency assessment is made is due to fraud or intent to evade the 2429 provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated thereunder, there 2430 shall be imposed a penalty equal to twenty-five per cent of the amount 2431 of such deficiency assessment. No taxpayer shall be subject to more than 2432 one penalty under this subsection in relation to the same tax period. 2433 (4) The amount of any tax, penalty or interest due and unpaid under 2434 the provisions of this chapter may be collected under the provisions of 2435 section 12-35. The warrant therein provided for shall be signed by the 2436 commissioner or [his] the commissioner's authorized agent. The amount 2437 of any such tax, penalty and interest shall be a lien, from the last day of 2438 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 90 of 254 the month next preceding the due date of such tax until discharged by 2439 payment, against all real estate of the taxpayer within the state, and a 2440 certificate of such lien signed by the commissioner may be filed for 2441 record in the office of the clerk of any town in which such real estate is 2442 situated, provided no such lien shall be effective as against any bona 2443 fide purchaser or qualified encumbrancer of any interest in any such 2444 property. When any tax with respect to which a lien has been recorded 2445 under the provisions of this section has been satisfied, the 2446 commissioner, upon request of any interested party, shall issue a 2447 certificate discharging such lien, which certificate shall be recorded in 2448 the same office in which the lien is recorded. Any action for the 2449 foreclosure of such lien shall be brought by the Attorney General in the 2450 name of the state in the superior court for the judicial district in which 2451 the property subject to such lien is situated, or, if such property is 2452 located in two or more judicial districts, in the superior court for any one 2453 such judicial district, and the court may limit the time for redemption or 2454 order the sale of such property or make such other or further decree as 2455 it judges equitable. 2456 Sec. 99. Section 12-311 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2457 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2458 Any person aggrieved by any action under this chapter of the 2459 commissioner or [his] the commissioner's authorized agent, for which 2460 hearing is not elsewhere provided, may apply to the commissioner for 2461 a hearing, in writing, [within] not later than sixty days after the notice 2462 of such action is delivered or mailed to [him, for a hearing] such person, 2463 setting forth the reasons why such hearing should be granted and the 2464 manner of relief sought. The commissioner shall promptly consider each 2465 such application and may grant or deny the hearing requested. If the 2466 hearing is denied, the applicant shall be notified thereof forthwith; if it 2467 is granted, the commissioner shall notify the applicant of the time and 2468 place fixed for such hearing. After such hearing, the commissioner may 2469 make such order in the premises as appears to [him] the commissioner 2470 just and lawful and shall furnish a copy of such order to the applicant. 2471 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 91 of 254 The commissioner may, by notice in writing, at any time, order a hearing 2472 on [his] the commissioner's own initiative and require the taxpayer or 2473 any other individual whom [he] the commissioner believes to be in 2474 possession of information concerning any manufacture, importation or 2475 sale of cigarettes [which] that have escaped taxation to appear before 2476 [him or his] the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent 2477 with any specific books of account, papers or other documents, for 2478 examination relative thereto. 2479 Sec. 100. Subdivision (5) of subsection (e) of section 12-410 of the 2480 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2481 thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2482 (5) For purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the sale of 2483 services described in subdivision (37) of subsection (a) of section 12-407 2484 shall be considered a sale for resale if such services are subsequently 2485 resold as an integral, inseparable component part of digital goods sold 2486 by the purchaser of the services to an ultimate consumer of the digital 2487 goods. The purchaser of the services described in subdivision (37) of 2488 subsection (a) of section 12-407 for resale shall maintain, in such form as 2489 the commissioner requires, records that substantiate: (A) From whom 2490 the services described in subdivision (37) of subsection (a) of section 12- 2491 407 were purchases and to whom the digital goods were sold, licensed, 2492 or leased, (B) the purchase prices of the services described in subdivision 2493 (37) of subsection (a) of section 12-407, and (C) the nature of the 2494 transaction with the ultimate consumer. 2495 Sec. 101. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 12-418 of the 2496 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2497 thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2498 (a) (1) Any person against whom an assessment or a reassessment is 2499 made under section 12-414a, 12-415, 12-416 or 12-424 or any person 2500 directly interested may file a written protest not later than sixty days 2501 after service upon such person of notice thereof. If a [petition for 2502 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 92 of 254 reassessment] written protest is not filed within the sixty-day period, 2503 the assessment or reassessment becomes final at the expiration of the 2504 period. 2505 Sec. 102. Subsection (f) of section 12-699 of the 2024 supplement to the 2506 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2507 thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2508 (f) (1) Each person that is subject to the tax imposed under chapter 2509 229 and is a member of an affected business entity shall be entitled to a 2510 credit against the tax imposed under said chapter, other than the [tax] 2511 liability imposed [under] by section 12-707. Such credit shall be in an 2512 amount equal to such person's direct and indirect share of the tax due 2513 and paid under this section by any affected business entity of which 2514 such person is a member multiplied by eighty-seven and one-half per 2515 cent. If the amount of the credit allowed pursuant to this subdivision 2516 exceeds such person's tax liability for the tax imposed under said 2517 chapter, the commissioner shall treat such excess as an overpayment 2518 and, except as provided in section 12-739 or 12-742, shall refund the 2519 amount of such excess, without interest, to such person. 2520 (2) Each person that is subject to the tax imposed under chapter 229 2521 as a resident or a part-year resident of this state and is a member of an 2522 affected business entity shall also be entitled to a credit against the tax 2523 imposed under said chapter, other than the [tax] liability imposed 2524 [under] by section 12-707, for such person's direct and indirect share of 2525 taxes paid to another state of the United States or the District of 2526 Columbia, on income of any affected business entity of which such 2527 person is a member that is derived therefrom, provided the taxes paid 2528 to another state of the United States or the District of Columbia results 2529 from a tax that is substantially similar to the tax imposed under this 2530 section. Any such credit shall be calculated in a manner consistent with 2531 the provisions of section 12-704. 2532 Sec. 103. Subdivisions (7) and (8) of section 7-425 of the 2024 2533 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 93 of 254 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 2534 substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2535 (7) "Fund" [and] or "fund B" means the Connecticut Municipal 2536 Employees' Retirement Fund B; 2537 (8) "Continuous service" [and] or "service" means active service as a 2538 member, or active service prior to becoming a member if such service 2539 (A) was in a department for which participation was subsequently 2540 accepted and not subsequently withdrawn, (B) was continuous to the 2541 date of becoming a member except service for which credit is granted 2542 pursuant to section 7-436a, and (C) would have been as a member if the 2543 department had then been participating, all subject to the provisions of 2544 section 7-434; 2545 Sec. 104. Subsection (c) of section 7-436 of the 2024 supplement to the 2546 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2547 thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2548 (c) On and after January 1, 2002, except as provided in subsection (h) 2549 of this section, the following formula shall be used for the purpose of 2550 calculating the monthly allowance of each member covered by the Old 2551 Age and Survivors Insurance System on the first of the month after such 2552 member attains the age at which such member first becomes eligible to 2553 receive Social Security benefits or qualifies for a Social Security 2554 disability award, if earlier: One-twelfth of one and one-half per cent of 2555 such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of 2556 service up to the breakpoint for the year in which such member 2557 separated from service, plus one-twelfth of two per cent of such 2558 member's final average annual pay in excess of the breakpoint for the 2559 year in which such member separated from service, multiplied by such 2560 member's years of retirement credit and fractions thereof. Such 2561 allowance shall be reduced in recognition of any optional form of 2562 retirement income elected in accordance with section 7-439g. For the 2563 purposes of this section, "breakpoint" has the same meaning as "year's 2564 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 94 of 254 breakpoint" as provided in section 5-192f. 2565 Sec. 105. Subparagraph (G) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of 2566 section 7-439b of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed 2567 and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2568 (G) Each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who 2569 retires on or after July 1, 2029, shall receive a cost of living adjustment 2570 beginning on the first July first following the completion of twelve 2571 months of retirement and on each subsequent July first. If the national 2572 consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers 2573 increases by two per cent or less for the twelve-month period 2574 immediately preceding any such adjustment, such adjustment shall 2575 equal the actual percentage change in such index. If the national 2576 consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers 2577 increases by more than two per cent for the twelve-month period 2578 immediately preceding any such adjustment, such adjustment shall be 2579 equal to the higher of [(1)] (i) two per cent, or [(2)] (ii) sixty per cent of 2580 the amount of such increase for the first six per cent plus seventy-five 2581 per cent of the amount of such increase over six per cent, provided any 2582 such adjustment shall not exceed seven and one-half per cent. In the 2583 event a member who retires on or after July 1, 2029, becomes deceased, 2584 such cost of living adjustment shall be applied to the allowance of the 2585 annuitant, if any. 2586 Sec. 106. Subdivision (2) of subsection (m) of section 45a-107 of the 2587 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2588 thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 2589 (2) If a tax return or a copy of a tax return required under 2590 subparagraph (D) of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 12-392 2591 is not filed with a Probate Court by the due date for such return or copy 2592 under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 12-392 or by the date 2593 an extension under subdivision [(4)] (6) of subsection (b) of section 12- 2594 392 expires, the fees that would have been due under this section if such 2595 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 95 of 254 return or copy had been filed by such due date or expiration date shall 2596 bear interest at the rate of one-half of one per cent per month or portion 2597 thereof from the date that is thirty days after such due date or expiration 2598 date, whichever is later, until paid. If a return or copy is filed with a 2599 Probate Court on or before such due date or expiration date, whichever 2600 is later, the fees assessed shall bear interest as provided in subdivision 2601 (1) of this subsection. No interest shall accrue under this subdivision on 2602 any portion of the fees that are based on damages recovered for injuries 2603 resulting in death; 2604 Sec. 107. Subsection (a) of section 1-2a of the general statutes is 2605 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 2606 passage): 2607 (a) For purposes of sections 1-206, [3-114i,] 4-147, 9-23g, 9-153b, 9-311, 2608 9-608, 10-183g, 12-146, 20-429, 31-241, 31-248, 31-249a, 33-603, 33-663, 33- 2609 929, 33-1003, 33-1053, 33-1219, 38a-716 and 42-243 (1) any reference to 2610 the United States mail or a postmark shall be treated as including a 2611 reference to any delivery service designated by the Secretary of the 2612 Treasury of the United States pursuant to Section 7502 of the Internal 2613 Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal 2614 revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, (2) 2615 any reference to a postmark made by the United States Postal Service 2616 shall be treated as including a reference to any date recorded or marked 2617 in the manner described in said Section 7502 of said Internal Revenue 2618 Code by a designated delivery service, and (3) any equivalent of 2619 registered or certified mail designated by the Secretary of the Treasury 2620 of the United States pursuant to said Section 7502 of said Internal 2621 Revenue Code shall be included within the meaning of registered or 2622 certified mail. 2623 Sec. 108. Section 17b-10b of the general statutes is repealed and the 2624 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2625 The Commissioner of Social Services, pursuant to section 17b-10, may 2626 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 96 of 254 implement policies and procedures necessary to administer the 2627 provisions of sections [3-114r,] 17b-321, 17b-340a and 17b-340b, while in 2628 the process of adopting such policies and procedures in regulation form, 2629 provided the commissioner prints notice of intent to adopt regulations 2630 in the Connecticut Law Journal not later than twenty days after the date 2631 of implementation. Such policies and procedures shall remain valid for 2632 three years following the date of publication in the Connecticut Law 2633 Journal unless otherwise provided for by the General Assembly. 2634 Notwithstanding the time frames established in subsection (c) of section 2635 17b-10, the commissioner shall submit such policies and procedures in 2636 proposed regulation form to the legislative regulation review committee 2637 not later than three years following the date of publication of its intent 2638 to adopt regulations as provided for in this subsection. In the event that 2639 the commissioner is unable to submit proposed regulations prior to the 2640 expiration of the three-year time period as provided for in this 2641 subsection, the commissioner shall submit written notice, not later than 2642 thirty-five days prior to the date of expiration of such time period, to the 2643 legislative regulation review committee and the joint standing 2644 committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 2645 relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state 2646 agencies indicating that the department will not be able to submit the 2647 proposed regulations on or before such date and shall include in such 2648 notice (1) the reasons why the department will not submit the proposed 2649 regulations by such date, and (2) the date by which the department will 2650 submit the proposed regulations. The legislative regulation review 2651 committee may require the department to appear before the committee 2652 at a time prescribed by the committee to further explain such reasons 2653 and to respond to any questions by the committee about the policy. The 2654 legislative regulation review committee may request the joint standing 2655 committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 2656 relating to human services to review the department's policy, the 2657 department's reasons for not submitting the proposed regulations by the 2658 date specified in this section and the date by which the department will 2659 submit the proposed regulations. Said joint standing committee may 2660 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 97 of 254 review the policy, such reasons and such date, may schedule a hearing 2661 thereon and may make a recommendation to the legislative regulation 2662 review committee. 2663 Sec. 109. Sections 3-114i and 3-114p to 3-114r, inclusive, of the general 2664 statutes are repealed. (Effective from passage) 2665 Sec. 110. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, (1) 2666 "eligible organization" means a nonprofit youth sports organization that 2667 provides sports programs and sports activities primarily for children 2668 and young adults under eighteen years of age residing in a distressed 2669 municipality, and (2) "distressed municipality" has the same meaning as 2670 provided in section 32-9p of the general statutes. 2671 (b) (1) There is established a youth sports grant program to provide 2672 grants to distressed municipalities for the support of eligible 2673 organizations in such municipalities. Such grants shall be disbursed by 2674 a distressed municipality to be used by eligible organizations for the 2675 expenses of operating sports programs and sports activities in such 2676 municipality, including, but not limited to, personnel, equipment, 2677 insurance, permits, training and facility fees, renovation of sports 2678 facilities and refurbishment of playing fields and to help defray or 2679 eliminate participant registration fees. 2680 (2) Priority for grants under the program shall be given to sports 2681 programs and sports activities that (A) provide adaptive sports for 2682 children and young adults with disabilities, or (B) seek to foster 2683 improved outcomes in (i) mental health through social and emotional 2684 skills development, (ii) educational achievements through increased 2685 attendance and attainment, or (iii) community cohesion by 2686 strengthening cooperation, teamwork and leadership. 2687 (3) Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and 2688 annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 2689 Management shall notify the chief elected official of each distressed 2690 municipality of the application period for grants under the program to 2691 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 98 of 254 be awarded in such fiscal year. Any such official may apply to the 2692 Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for a grant, provided 2693 a new application shall be required each year such official wishes to 2694 apply. The application shall be in such form and manner as prescribed 2695 by the secretary and shall include information sufficient to allow the 2696 secretary to consider the priority criteria set forth in subdivision (2) of 2697 this subsection. 2698 (4) Each distressed municipality that is awarded a grant under this 2699 section shall, at the close of the fiscal year during which such grant was 2700 awarded, submit to the secretary a summary of each eligible 2701 organization to which program funds were disbursed and a description 2702 of the sports program or sports activity and related expenses for which 2703 such funds were used. 2704 (c) Not later than January 1, 2029, and biennially thereafter, the 2705 Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall submit a report, 2706 in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 2707 to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 2708 cognizance of matters relating to children, education and finance, 2709 revenue and bonding, on the youth sports grant program for the 2710 preceding two fiscal years. The report shall include, but need not be 2711 limited to, for each fiscal year, (1) the amounts deposited in the youth 2712 sports grant account pursuant to subsection (a) of section 12-867 of the 2713 general statutes, (2) the municipalities that applied for a grant, the 2714 municipalities that were awarded a grant and the total amount of grants 2715 awarded, and (3) the summaries provided to the secretary under 2716 subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this section. 2717 (d) There is established an account to be known as the "youth sports 2718 grant account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the 2719 General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to 2720 be deposited in the account and may accept gifts, grants and donations 2721 from public or private sources. Moneys in the account shall be expended 2722 by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for the 2723 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 99 of 254 purposes of providing grants to distressed municipalities in accordance 2724 with the provisions of this section. 2725 Sec. 111. Subsection (a) of section 12-867 of the general statutes is 2726 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2727 1, 2024): 2728 (a) (1) A master wagering licensee, if licensed to operate online sports 2729 wagering or retail sports wagering pursuant to section 12-852 or 12-853, 2730 shall pay to the state for deposit in the General Fund: Thirteen and three- 2731 quarters per cent of the gross gaming revenue from online or retail 2732 sports wagering authorized under section 12-852 or 12-853, as 2733 applicable. Each such licensee shall commence payments under this 2734 subsection not later than the fifteenth day of the month following the 2735 month that the operation of online or retail sports wagering commences 2736 under section 12-852 or 12-853, as applicable, and shall make payments 2737 not later than the fifteenth day of each succeeding month, while such 2738 retail or online sports wagering is conducted. 2739 (2) For calendar months commencing on or after July 1, 2025, the 2740 commissioner shall deposit into the youth sports grant account 2741 established pursuant to section 110 of this act two per cent of the 2742 amounts received by the state under this section. 2743 Sec. 112. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 12-217 of the 2024 2744 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 2745 substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2746 (4) Notwithstanding any provision of this section: 2747 (A) Any excess of the deductions provided in this section for any 2748 income year commencing on or after January 1, 1973, over the gross 2749 income for such year or the amount of such excess apportioned to this 2750 state under the provisions of this chapter, shall be an operating loss of 2751 such income year and shall be deductible as an operating loss carry-over 2752 for operating losses incurred prior to income years commencing January 2753 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 100 of 254 1, 2000, in each of the five income years following such loss year; [, and] 2754 for operating losses incurred in income years commencing on or after 2755 January 1, 2000, and prior to January 1, 2025, in each of the twenty 2756 income years following such loss year; [,] and for operating losses 2757 incurred in income years commencing on or after January 1, 2025, in 2758 each of the thirty income years following such loss; except that: 2759 (i) For income years commencing prior to January 1, 2015, the portion 2760 of such operating loss that may be deducted as an operating loss carry- 2761 over in any income year following such loss year shall be limited to the 2762 lesser of (I) any net income greater than zero of such income year 2763 following such loss year, or in the case of a company entitled to 2764 apportion its net income under the provisions of this chapter, the 2765 amount of such net income that is apportioned to this state pursuant 2766 thereto, or (II) the excess, if any, of such operating loss over the total of 2767 such net income for each of any prior income years following such loss 2768 year, such net income of each of such prior income years following such 2769 loss year for such purposes being computed without regard to any 2770 operating loss carry-over from such loss year allowed under this 2771 subparagraph and being regarded as not less than zero, and provided 2772 further the operating loss of any income year shall be deducted in any 2773 subsequent year, to the extent available for such deduction, before the 2774 operating loss of any subsequent income year is deducted; 2775 (ii) For income years commencing on or after January 1, 2015, the 2776 portion of such operating loss that may be deducted as an operating loss 2777 carry-over in any income year following such loss year shall be limited 2778 to the lesser of (I) fifty per cent of net income of such income year 2779 following such loss year, or in the case of a company entitled to 2780 apportion its net income under the provisions of this chapter, fifty per 2781 cent of such net income that is apportioned to this state pursuant 2782 thereto, or (II) the excess, if any, of such operating loss over the 2783 operating loss deductions allowable with respect to such operating loss 2784 under this subparagraph for each of any prior income years following 2785 such loss year, such net income of each of such prior income years 2786 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 101 of 254 following such loss year for such purposes being computed without 2787 regard to any operating loss carry-over from such loss year allowed 2788 under this subparagraph and being regarded as not less than zero, and 2789 provided further the operating loss of any income year shall be 2790 deducted in any subsequent year, to the extent available for such 2791 deduction, before the operating loss of any subsequent income year is 2792 deducted; and 2793 (iii) If a combined group so elects, the combined group shall 2794 relinquish fifty per cent of its unused operating losses incurred prior to 2795 the income year commencing on or after January 1, 2015, and before 2796 January 1, 2016, and may utilize the remaining operating loss carry-over 2797 without regard to the limitations prescribed in subparagraph (A)(ii) of 2798 this subdivision. The portion of such operating loss carry-over that may 2799 be deducted shall be limited to the amount required to reduce a 2800 combined group's tax under this chapter, prior to surtax and prior to the 2801 application of credits, to two million five hundred thousand dollars in 2802 any income year commencing on or after January 1, 2015. Only after the 2803 combined group's remaining operating loss carry-over for operating 2804 losses incurred prior to income years commencing January 1, 2015, has 2805 been fully utilized, will the limitations prescribed in subparagraph 2806 (A)(ii) of this subdivision apply. The combined group, or any member 2807 thereof, shall make such election on its return for the income year 2808 beginning on or after January 1, 2015, and before January 1, 2016, by the 2809 due date for such return, including any extensions. Only combined 2810 groups with unused operating losses in excess of six billion dollars from 2811 income years beginning prior to January 1, 2013, may make the election 2812 prescribed in this clause; and 2813 (B) Any net capital loss, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code 2814 effective and in force on the last day of the income year, for any income 2815 year commencing on or after January 1, 1973, shall be allowed as a 2816 capital loss carry-over to reduce, but not below zero, any net capital 2817 gain, as so defined, in each of the five following income years, in order 2818 of sequence, to the extent not exhausted by the net capital gain of any of 2819 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 102 of 254 the preceding of such five following income years; and 2820 (C) Any net capital losses allowed and carried forward from prior 2821 years to income years beginning on or after January 1, 1973, for federal 2822 income tax purposes by companies entitled to a deduction for dividends 2823 paid under the Internal Revenue Code other than companies subject to 2824 the gross earnings taxes imposed under chapters 211 and 212, shall be 2825 allowed as a capital loss carry-over. 2826 Sec. 113. Section 3 of house bill 5232 of the current session, as 2827 amended by House Amendment Schedule "A", is repealed and the 2828 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 2829 (a) As used in this section, "solar canopy" means an outdoor, shade- 2830 providing structure that hosts solar photovoltaic panels located above a 2831 parking or driving area, pedestrian walkway, courtyard, canal or other 2832 utilized surface that is installed in a manner that maintains the function 2833 of the area beneath the structure. "Solar canopy" includes any carport. 2834 (b) Notwithstanding any provision of any municipal charter or 2835 ordinance, the planning commission, zoning commission or combined 2836 planning and zoning commission of each municipality [shall] may 2837 amend any regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of section 8- 2838 2 of the general statutes to establish a simplified approval process for 2839 any application to build a solar canopy in such municipality. 2840 (c) Notwithstanding any provision of any municipal charter or 2841 ordinance, the planning commission, zoning commission or combined 2842 planning and zoning commission of each municipality [shall] may 2843 approve or deny any land use application to build a solar canopy in such 2844 municipality not later than six months after the filing date of such 2845 application. 2846 Sec. 114. Section 12-117a of the general statutes is repealed and the 2847 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 2848 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 103 of 254 (a) (1) Any person, including any lessee of real property whose lease 2849 has been recorded as provided in section 47-19 and who is bound under 2850 the terms of [his] such person's lease to pay real property taxes, claiming 2851 to be aggrieved by the action of the board of tax review or the board of 2852 assessment appeals, as the case may be, in any town or city may [, 2853 within] make application, not later than two months [from] after the 2854 date of the mailing of notice of such action, [make application,] in the 2855 nature of an appeal therefrom to the superior court for the judicial 2856 district in which such town or city is situated, which shall be 2857 accompanied by a citation to such town or city to appear before [said] 2858 such court. Such citation shall be signed by the same authority and such 2859 appeal shall be returnable at the same time and served and returned in 2860 the same manner as is required in case of a summons in a civil action. 2861 The authority issuing the citation shall take from the applicant a bond 2862 or recognizance to such town or city, with surety, to prosecute the 2863 application to effect and to comply with and conform to the orders and 2864 decrees of the court in the premises. Any such application shall be a 2865 preferred case, to be heard, unless good cause appears to the contrary, 2866 at the first session, by the court or by a committee appointed by the 2867 court. The pendency of such application shall not suspend an action by 2868 such town or city to collect not more than seventy-five per cent of the 2869 tax so assessed or not more than ninety per cent of such tax with respect 2870 to any real property for which the assessed value is five hundred 2871 thousand dollars or more, and upon which such appeal is taken. If, 2872 during the pendency of such appeal, a new assessment year begins, the 2873 applicant may amend [his] the application as to any matter therein, 2874 including an appeal for such new year, [which] that is affected by the 2875 inception of such new year and such applicant need not appear before 2876 the board of tax review or board of assessment appeals, as the case may 2877 be, to make such amendment effective. 2878 (2) For any application made on or after July 1, 2022, under 2879 subdivision (1) of this subsection, if the assessed value of the real 2880 property that is the subject of such application is one million dollars or 2881 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 104 of 254 more and the application concerns the valuation of such real property, 2882 the applicant shall file with the court, not later than one hundred twenty 2883 days after making such application, an appraisal of the real property 2884 that is the subject of the application. Such appraisal shall be completed 2885 by an individual or a company licensed to perform real estate appraisals 2886 in the state. The court may extend the one-hundred-twenty-day period 2887 for good cause. If such appraisal is not timely filed, the court may 2888 dismiss the application, except that for any application made on or after 2889 July 1, 2022, but prior to July 1, 2024, that was dismissed due to such 2890 appraisal having been submitted to the assessor of the town or city in 2891 which such real property is situated rather than the court, the applicant 2892 may make another application with the court, provided the applicant 2893 (A) had provided notice to the court of such submission to the assessor, 2894 and (B) makes such application not later than September 1, 2024. 2895 (b) The court shall have power to grant such relief as to justice and 2896 equity appertains, upon such terms and in such manner and form as 2897 appear equitable, and, if the application appears to have been made 2898 without probable cause, may tax double or triple costs, as the case 2899 appears to demand; and, upon all such applications, costs may be taxed 2900 at the discretion of the court. If the assessment made by the board of tax 2901 review or board of assessment appeals, as the case may be, is reduced 2902 by [said] the court, the applicant shall be reimbursed by the town or city 2903 for any overpayment of taxes, together with interest and any costs 2904 awarded by the court, or, at the applicant's option, shall be granted a tax 2905 credit for such overpayment, interest and any costs awarded by the 2906 court. Upon motion, [said] the court shall, in event of such overpayment, 2907 enter judgment in favor of such applicant and against such city or town 2908 for the whole amount of such overpayment, less any lien recording fees 2909 incurred under sections 7-34a and 12-176, together with interest and any 2910 costs awarded by the court. The amount to which the assessment is so 2911 reduced shall be the assessed value of such property on the grand lists 2912 for succeeding years until the tax assessor finds that the value of the 2913 applicant's property has increased or decreased. 2914 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 105 of 254 Sec. 115. Section 22a-284d of the 2024 supplement to the general 2915 statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2916 (Effective from passage): 2917 The funds possessed by the Materials Innovation and Recycling 2918 Authority, established pursuant to section 22a-260a, shall not constitute 2919 surplus revenues and shall be deemed necessary to provide support for 2920 the authority's properties systems and facilities, including any 2921 environmental remediation of such properties, systems and facilities. 2922 Such funds shall not be distributed or redistributed to the users of the 2923 authority's services. Users of the authority's services shall be liable for 2924 the environmental remediation costs of the authority's properties, 2925 systems and facilities if, and to the extent, any funds were distributed or 2926 redistributed by the authority to such users on or after January 1, 2023. 2927 For the period commencing upon the effective date of this section and 2928 ending on June 30, 2026, not more than six million dollars of any such 2929 funds expended for the purpose of tipping fee stabilization shall be 2930 reimbursed through the issuance of state bonds, provided the total 2931 issuance of state bonds for such funds shall not exceed thirteen million 2932 five hundred thousand dollars. On and after July 1, 2026, no such funds 2933 shall be utilized for the purpose of tipping fee stabilization. 2934 Sec. 116. Subsection (a) of section 29-252 of the general statutes is 2935 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 2936 passage): 2937 (a) (1) The State Building Inspector and the Codes and Standards 2938 Committee shall, jointly, with the approval of the Commissioner of 2939 Administrative Services and in accordance with the provisions of 2940 section 29-252b, adopt and administer a State Building Code based on a 2941 nationally recognized model building code for the purpose of regulating 2942 the design, construction and use of buildings or structures to be erected 2943 and the alteration of buildings or structures already erected and make 2944 such amendments thereto as they, from time to time, deem necessary or 2945 desirable. Such amendments shall be limited to administrative matters, 2946 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 106 of 254 geotechnical and weather-related portions of said code, amendments to 2947 said code necessitated by a provision of the general statutes and any 2948 other matter which, based on substantial evidence, necessitates an 2949 amendment to said code. The code shall be revised as deemed necessary 2950 to incorporate any subsequent revisions to the code not later than 2951 eighteen months following the date of first publication of such 2952 subsequent revisions to the code. The purpose of said Building Code 2953 shall also include, but not be limited to, promoting and ensuring that 2954 such buildings and structures are designed and constructed in such a 2955 manner as to conserve energy and, wherever practicable, facilitate the 2956 use of renewable energy resources, including provisions for electric 2957 circuits capable of supporting electric vehicle charging in any newly 2958 constructed residential garage in any code adopted after July 8, 2013. 2959 Said Building Code includes any code, rule or regulation incorporated 2960 therein by reference. As used in this subsection, "geotechnical" means 2961 any geological condition, such as soil and subsurface soil condition, 2962 which may affect the structural characteristics of a building or structure. 2963 (2) In adopting amendments to the State Building Code pursuant to 2964 subdivision (1) of this subsection, the State Building Inspector, the 2965 Codes and Standards Committee and the Commissioner of 2966 Administrative Services shall consider that the housing shortage in the 2967 state compromises the safety of residents who cannot afford a safe 2968 home, and any such amendments shall encourage production of 2969 buildings that include safe housing and can be constructed at a 2970 reasonable cost. 2971 Sec. 117. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The State Building Inspector 2972 and the Codes and Standards Committee shall, jointly, with the 2973 approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in 2974 accordance with the provisions of section 29-252b of the general statutes, 2975 include in the amendments to the State Building Code next adopted 2976 after the effective date of this section, and the State Fire Marshal and the 2977 Codes and Standards Committee shall, in accordance with section 29- 2978 292a of the general statutes, include in the amendments to the Fire Safety 2979 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 107 of 254 Code next adopted after the effective date of this section, provisions 2980 that: 2981 (1) Allow additional residential occupancies to be served safely by a 2982 single exit stairway, in such a way as to: 2983 (A) Be consistent with safe occupancy and egress; 2984 (B) Consider the experience of the cities of Seattle, New York City and 2985 Honolulu in implementing similar provisions; 2986 (C) Apply to municipalities in which the fire service is sufficient to 2987 maintain safe occupancy and egress under such additional occupancies, 2988 if appropriate; 2989 (D) Promote the inclusion of units with three or more bedrooms in 2990 building designs to promote construction of family-sized units, 2991 especially on smaller lots; and 2992 (E) Allow additional stories above grade plane to be served by a 2993 single exit stairway in a building with an automatic sprinkler system, 2994 under such conditions as to ensure safe occupancy and egress. Such 2995 conditions may include, but need not be limited to, additional levels of 2996 fire and smoke separation and any features necessary to allow for 2997 firefighters to ascend a stair as occupants descend; and 2998 (2) Encourage construction of safe three-unit and four-unit residential 2999 buildings, which shall: 3000 (A) Be consistent with safe occupancy and egress; and 3001 (B) Include three-unit and four-unit residential buildings in the 3002 International Residential Code portion of the Connecticut State Building 3003 Code, or otherwise provide for requirements for three-unit and four- 3004 unit residential buildings in the International Building Code portion of 3005 the Connecticut State Building Code similar to those for one-unit and 3006 two-unit residential buildings in the International Residential Code 3007 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 108 of 254 portion of the Connecticut State Building Code, under such conditions 3008 as to ensure safe occupancy and egress. 3009 Sec. 118. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) It is hereby declared that 3010 there exists concentrated poverty in the state that exacts a critical toll on 3011 poor and nonpoor residents of communities that house areas of 3012 concentrated poverty, which create lifelong and persistent 3013 disadvantages across generations by lowering the quality of educational 3014 and employment opportunities, limiting health care access and 3015 diminishing health outcomes, increasing exposure to crime, reducing 3016 available choices for affordable and properly maintained housing and 3017 imposing obstacles to wealth-building and economic mobility. It is 3018 further declared that the development and implementation of the ten- 3019 year plan under this section to eradicate concentrated poverty in the 3020 state are necessary and for the public benefit, as a matter of legislative 3021 determination. 3022 (b) There is established an Office of Neighborhood Investment and 3023 Community Engagement within the Department of Economic and 3024 Community Development. Said office shall carry out the provisions of 3025 this section, overseeing the implementation of the ten-year plan 3026 developed pursuant to this subsection, monitoring the state's progress 3027 in reducing concentrated poverty in the state and serving as the 3028 facilitator to coordinate communication between the various parties and 3029 disseminate information in a timely and efficient manner. 3030 (c) (1) There is established a pilot program to implement the 3031 provisions of the ten-year plan developed pursuant to this section for 3032 participating concentrated poverty census tracts. Any concentrated 3033 poverty census tract or group of tracts (A) that is located in any of the 3034 four municipalities with the greatest number of concentrated poverty 3035 census tracts, and (B) for which community members have established 3036 a community development corporation pursuant to the provisions of 3037 section 32-7s of the general statutes, to assist the municipality in which 3038 such census tract or group of tracts is located in carrying out the 3039 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 109 of 254 municipality's responsibilities under this section and the ten-year plan 3040 developed for such census tract or group of tracts, shall be eligible to 3041 apply to participate in the program. Notwithstanding the provisions of 3042 subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, any municipality in which a 3043 concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts is located and for 3044 which a community development corporation has been established as 3045 described under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, or any such 3046 community development corporation, may apply to participate in the 3047 program. The Commissioner of Economic and Community 3048 Development shall issue a request for proposals for participation in the 3049 pilot program and select the applicant with the highest score. As used 3050 in this section, "concentrated poverty census tract" means a census tract 3051 identified as a high poverty-low opportunity census tract, as of January 3052 1, 2024, by the Office of Policy and Management pursuant to section 32- 3053 7x of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes. 3054 (2) (A) The Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community 3055 Engagement shall develop a plan for the pilot participating 3056 concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts, as applicable, to 3057 eradicate, over ten years, the levels of concentrated poverty in the 3058 service area of the community development corporation, evidenced by 3059 a reduction, to twenty per cent or lower, in the percentage of households 3060 who reside in such concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts 3061 and have incomes below the federal poverty level, as well as sustained 3062 improvements in community infrastructure and other underlying 3063 conditions that serve to prolong concentrated poverty and economic 3064 inertia in such census tract or group of tracts. In developing such plan, 3065 said office shall consult with the Office of Community Economic 3066 Development Assistance established under section 32-7s of the general 3067 statutes, the Office of Workforce Strategy established under section 4- 3068 124w of the general statutes, the Office of Early Childhood, the 3069 Department of Education, the Office of Policy and Management, the 3070 applicable community development corporations serving the 3071 participating concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts and 3072 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 110 of 254 the applicable municipal chief elected officials and any other public or 3073 private entity the Commissioner of Economic and Community 3074 Development deems relevant or necessary to achieving the purposes of 3075 this subsection. 3076 (B) The ten-year plan shall include, but need not be limited to, (i) 3077 measurable steps to be taken for its implementation, the target date by 3078 which each such step is to be completed and the state or municipal 3079 official or state or municipal agency, department or division responsible 3080 for each such step, (ii) minimum state-wide averages for educational 3081 metrics, including, but not limited to, kindergarten-readiness, grade 3082 level reading and mathematics and college-readiness or career- 3083 readiness, to be used as benchmarks for improvements in such 3084 concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts, as applicable, and 3085 (iii) the list of possible projects determined pursuant to subdivision (3) 3086 of this subsection. 3087 (C) On or before June 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Economic and 3088 Community Development shall inform the joint standing committee of 3089 the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, 3090 revenue and bonding, in writing, of the progress made to date in the 3091 development of each ten-year plan. Not later than January 1, 2026, said 3092 commissioner shall submit all such plans to the General Assembly, in 3093 accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 3094 and the Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community 3095 Engagement shall immediately commence overseeing the 3096 implementation of such plans. 3097 (3) The Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community 3098 Engagement shall, jointly with the chief elected official of each 3099 applicable municipality and the community development corporation 3100 established to assist such municipality, develop a list of possible projects 3101 that will be included in the ten-year plan for the participating 3102 concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts, as applicable, 3103 located in such municipality. Said office, official and corporation shall 3104 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 111 of 254 (A) determine the types of projects they deem to be the most appropriate 3105 and effective for such census tract or group of tracts to eradicate 3106 concentrated poverty within such census tract or group of tracts, 3107 including, but not limited to, capital projects, workforce development 3108 programs, housing development, community and neighborhood 3109 improvements and education initiatives to assist and support residents 3110 in meeting and surpassing the educational metrics described in 3111 subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision (2) of this subsection, and (B) take 3112 into account the criteria for projects eligible for grants under sections 32- 3113 7s of the general statutes, 32-7x of the general statutes and 32-285a of the 3114 general statutes. 3115 (4) Not later than February 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the 3116 Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall submit 3117 a report to the General Assembly, the Office of Workforce Strategy, the 3118 Office of Early Childhood and the Office of Policy and Management, in 3119 accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 3120 that summarizes the progress being made by the Office of 3121 Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement in 3122 implementing the ten-year plan, the status of any projects pending or 3123 undertaken for the participating concentrated poverty census tract or 3124 group of tracts and any other information the commissioner or the 3125 Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement 3126 deems relevant or necessary. 3127 (5) (A) Commencing with the calendar year 2027, not later than 3128 March first of said year and annually thereafter for the next two years, 3129 the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 3130 cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding shall 3131 hold an informational forum for the Commissioner of Economic and 3132 Community Development to present the contents of the submitted 3133 report and for other state officials, municipal officials, representatives of 3134 community development corporations serving participating 3135 concentrated poverty census tracts or groups of tracts and other 3136 interested parties to provide oral and written comments on the 3137 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 112 of 254 submitted report and the pilot program. 3138 (B) Commencing with the calendar year 2030, said committee shall 3139 hold such informational forum every two years. 3140 (d) On and after the date the ten-year plan is submitted to the General 3141 Assembly pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection 3142 (c) of this section, each state agency shall give priority to projects 3143 included in such ten-year plan with respect to any grants or funding 3144 programs such agency awards or administers and for which such 3145 projects may be eligible. 3146 (e) Not later than January 1, 2029, the Commissioner of Economic and 3147 Community Development shall submit a recommendation to the joint 3148 standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 3149 matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding of (1) whether the pilot 3150 program should be expanded to all concentrated poverty census tracts 3151 or groups of tracts in the state for which a community development 3152 corporation has been established as described under subparagraph (B) 3153 of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, and (2) any additional 3154 or alternative criteria to be considered for expansion of the pilot 3155 program to other economically disadvantaged census tracts that do not 3156 fall within the definition of a concentrated poverty census tract. If the 3157 commissioner recommends expansion under subdivision (1) of this 3158 subsection, the commissioner and the Office of Neighborhood 3159 Investment and Community Engagement shall immediately undertake 3160 such expansion. 3161 (f) On and after July 1, 2027, if any state or municipal official 3162 responsible for carrying out a requirement or responsibility under the 3163 provisions of this section or a ten-year plan fails to do so in a timely 3164 manner, any community development corporation established as 3165 described under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of 3166 this section that was (1) selected pursuant to the request for proposals 3167 under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, (2) can 3168 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 113 of 254 demonstrate good faith efforts to effectuate the ten-year plan, and (3) is 3169 aggrieved by such failure may bring an action against such official in 3170 the superior court for the judicial district in which such census tract or 3171 group of tracts is located for a writ of mandamus to compel such official 3172 to carry out such requirement or responsibility. 3173 Sec. 119. (Effective from passage) (a) (1) There is established a working 3174 group to develop a guidance document that establishes for the following 3175 areas a framework for (A) best practices and any specified initiatives or 3176 actions the working group believes will help mitigate the effects of 3177 concentrated poverty, and (B) any specific metrics to be incorporated 3178 into the ten-year plan developed pursuant to section 102 of this act to 3179 measure improvements in concentrated poverty census tracts, as 3180 defined in section 32-7x of the general statutes: (i) Education, including 3181 early childhood care and education; (ii) adult work skills development 3182 to reduce unemployment rates of residents within such concentrated 3183 poverty census tracts; (iii) infrastructure, including, but not limited to, 3184 housing development and blight remediation; (iv) crime within such 3185 concentrated poverty census tracts, including, but not limited to, gun 3186 violence; and (v) any other areas the working group deems necessary or 3187 desirable to include to further the goals of section 102 of this act. 3188 (2) The working group shall consult with any individual or entity to 3189 inform the development of the guidance document, including, but not 3190 limited to, state and national experts in the areas described in this 3191 subsection, representatives of academia with expertise in the areas 3192 described in this subsection, advocacy organizations, law enforcement 3193 representatives, state agencies and quasi-public agencies. 3194 (b) The working group shall consist of the following members: (1) 3195 One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives and one 3196 appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, each of whom is 3197 a member of the General Assembly; (2) one appointed by the majority 3198 leader of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the 3199 majority leader of the Senate, each of whom shall be a member of the 3200 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 114 of 254 General Assembly; (3) one appointed by the minority leader of the 3201 House of Representatives and one appointed by the minority leader of 3202 the Senate, each of whom shall be a member of the General Assembly; 3203 and (4) one appointed by the chairperson of the Black and Puerto Rican 3204 Caucus of the General Assembly, who shall be a member of said caucus. 3205 (c) All initial appointments to the working group shall be made not 3206 later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy 3207 shall be filled by the appointing authority. 3208 (d) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president 3209 pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the working 3210 group from among the members of the working group. Such 3211 chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the working group, 3212 which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of 3213 this section. A majority of the working group shall constitute a quorum 3214 for the transaction of any business. 3215 (e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 3216 General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, 3217 revenue and bonding shall serve as administrative staff of the working 3218 group. 3219 (f) (1) Not later than April 1, 2025, the working group shall submit the 3220 guidance document developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section 3221 to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 3222 cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, in 3223 accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 3224 Not later than thirty days after such submission, said committee shall 3225 vote to approve or modify such guidance document, provided any 3226 modification to such guidance document shall be provided to the 3227 members of said committee prior to such vote. If said committee fails to 3228 vote within the thirty-day period set forth in this subdivision, the 3229 guidance document shall be deemed approved. The working group 3230 shall terminate on the date the guidance document or modified 3231 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 115 of 254 guidance document, as applicable, is approved or deemed approved. 3232 (2) Upon the approval of the guidance document or a modified 3233 guidance document, the Office of Neighborhood Investment and 3234 Community Engagement shall incorporate such document in the ten- 3235 year plan developed by said office pursuant to subdivision (2) of 3236 subsection (c) of section 52 of this act. 3237 Sec. 120. Section 32-7s of the general statutes is repealed and the 3238 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 3239 (a) As used in this section: 3240 (1) "Certified community development corporation" means an 3241 organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the 3242 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 3243 internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to 3244 time, that (A) focuses a substantial majority of the community 3245 development corporation's efforts on serving one or more target areas, 3246 (B) has as its purpose to engage local residents and businesses to work 3247 together to undertake community development programs, projects and 3248 activities that develop and improve urban communities in sustainable 3249 ways that create and expand economic opportunities for low and 3250 moderate-income people, (C) demonstrates to the Office of Community 3251 Economic Development Assistance established under subsection (b) of 3252 this section that the community development corporation's 3253 constituency is meaningfully represented on the board of directors of 3254 such community development corporation, through (i) the percentage 3255 of the board members who are residents of a target area or a community 3256 that such community development corporation serves or seeks to serve, 3257 (ii) the percentage of board members who are low or moderate-income, 3258 (iii) the racial and ethnic composition of the board in comparison to the 3259 racial and ethnic composition of the community such community 3260 development corporation serves or seeks to serve, or (iv) the use of 3261 mechanisms such as committees or membership meetings that the 3262 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 116 of 254 community development corporation uses to ensure that its 3263 constituency has a meaningful role in the governance and direction of 3264 the community development corporation, and (D) is certified by the 3265 Office of Community Economic Development Assistance pursuant to 3266 this section; 3267 (2) "Department" means the Department of Economic and 3268 Community Development; and 3269 (3) "Target area" means a contiguous geographic area in which the 3270 current unemployment rate exceeds the state unemployment rate by at 3271 least twenty-five per cent or in which the mean household income is at 3272 or below eighty per cent of the state mean household income, as 3273 determined by the most recent decennial census. 3274 (b) (1) There is established an Office of Community Economic 3275 Development Assistance within the Department of Economic and 3276 Community Development. The office shall, within available 3277 appropriations, (A) provide assistance to organizations seeking to 3278 establish themselves or be certified as a community development 3279 corporation in the state, (B) provide grants to certified community 3280 development corporations for projects to be undertaken in a target area, 3281 (C) serve as the liaison between community development corporations 3282 and investors seeking to invest funds in such community development 3283 corporations and provide assistance in soliciting investment funds for 3284 such community development corporations, and (D) seek to ensure 3285 coordinated, efficient and timely responses to such organizations, 3286 community development corporations and investors. 3287 (2) The office shall identify eligible target areas in the state and post 3288 such target areas on the department's Internet web site. 3289 (c) (1) Any organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) 3290 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 3291 internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to 3292 time, may apply to the Office of Community Economic Development 3293 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 117 of 254 Assistance to establish itself as or be certified as a community 3294 development corporation in the state. The office shall prescribe the form 3295 and manner of such application. 3296 (2) (A) Any existing community development corporation that 3297 operates or seeks to operate in the state may apply to the office to be 3298 certified. The office shall certify any community development 3299 corporation that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of said 3300 Internal Revenue Code and meets the requirements set forth in 3301 subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) 3302 of this section. Each community development corporation that is 3303 established pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed to be certified. 3304 (B) The office shall maintain a current list of certified community 3305 development corporations and shall post such list on the Internet web 3306 site of the department. 3307 (3) The Office of Community Economic Development Assistance 3308 shall establish a grant program for projects to be undertaken by a 3309 certified community development corporation in a target area, 3310 provided, on and after the date the ten-year plan developed under 3311 section 52 of this act is submitted to the General Assembly, the office 3312 shall give priority to projects included in such plan. Such projects shall 3313 include, but not be limited to, infrastructure improvements, housing 3314 rehabilitation, streetscape improvements and facade improvements for 3315 businesses. The office shall establish the application form and process 3316 for such grant program, the criteria for eligible projects and for 3317 awarding grants and any caps or limits on the amount or number of 3318 grants awarded. The office shall post information concerning the grant 3319 program on the department's Internet web site. 3320 (d) (1) For the purposes described in subdivision (2) of this 3321 subsection, the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time 3322 to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more 3323 series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate fifty 3324 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 118 of 254 million dollars. 3325 (2) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 3326 stated in subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall be used by the 3327 Department of Economic and Community Development for the 3328 purposes of carrying out the duties of the Office of Community 3329 Economic Development Assistance under subsection (b) of this section 3330 and the grant program under subsection (c) of this section. 3331 (3) All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power 3332 granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this 3333 section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by 3334 the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section. Temporary notes 3335 in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such 3336 bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with section 3-20 and 3337 from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or 3338 times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be 3339 provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State 3340 Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 3341 authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 3342 there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 3343 by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 3344 and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 3345 discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 3346 be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 3347 of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 3348 interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 3349 part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 3350 appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 3351 principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 3352 such principal and interest as the same become due. 3353 (e) Not later than July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the Office of 3354 Community Economic Development Assistance shall submit a report, 3355 in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing 3356 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 119 of 254 committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 3357 relating to commerce, planning and development and finance, revenue 3358 and bonding. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, a 3359 description of the activities undertaken by the office in the preceding 3360 fiscal year, the number of community development corporations 3361 established and certified in the preceding fiscal year, the number and 3362 amounts of grants awarded to certified community development 3363 corporations in the preceding fiscal year and a description and the 3364 locations of the projects undertaken by certified community 3365 development corporations in the preceding fiscal year. 3366 Sec. 121. Section 32-7x of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 3367 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 3368 passage): 3369 (a) As used in this section, ["high poverty-low opportunity census 3370 tract"] "concentrated poverty census tract" means a United States census 3371 tract in which thirty per cent or more of the [residents] households 3372 within such census tract have incomes below the federal poverty level, 3373 according to the most recent five-year United States Census Bureau 3374 American Community Survey. 3375 (b) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall 3376 compile a list of [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty 3377 census tracts in the state and the municipalities in which such census 3378 tracts are located and shall, not later than July 31, 2023, submit such list 3379 to the General Assembly in accordance with the provisions of section 3380 11-4a. The secretary shall post such list to the Internet web site of the 3381 Office of Policy and Management and shall review and update such list 3382 as necessary. Whenever the secretary updates such list, the secretary 3383 shall submit such updated list to the General Assembly in accordance 3384 with the provisions of section 11-4a. 3385 (c) (1) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development 3386 shall establish a grant program to fund eligible projects within [high 3387 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 120 of 254 poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tracts. An 3388 eligible project shall seek to reduce concentrated poverty within such 3389 tracts and the effects of such poverty, including, but not limited to, the 3390 lower lifetime income of residents within such tracts, the lower lifetime 3391 income expectations of future generations within such tracts, increased 3392 crime and risk of incarceration for residents within such tracts and 3393 educational deficiencies within such tracts. An eligible project includes: 3394 (A) Construction, renovation or rehabilitation of mixed-income rental 3395 housing and owner-occupied housing, in order to retain individuals and 3396 families of different income levels and to increase the percentage of 3397 owner-occupied housing within such census tract or tracts; 3398 (B) The establishment or improvement of workforce development 3399 programs, including, but not limited to, programs that partner with 3400 organizations to identify unemployed or underemployed individuals 3401 and at-risk youth residing in such census tracts, identify workforce 3402 training opportunities and other resources for such individuals and link 3403 such individuals with the appropriate training and resources that will 3404 increase the skills and earning potential of such individuals; and 3405 (C) Construction, renovation or rehabilitation of public 3406 infrastructure, in order to support and improve the private investment 3407 opportunities, quality of life and public safety within such census tract 3408 or tracts. 3409 (2) Beginning on January 1, 2024, and not later than January 1, 2030, 3410 each municipality in which a [high poverty-low opportunity] 3411 concentrated poverty census tract is located may apply to the 3412 commissioner, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, 3413 to receive a grant for an eligible project or any combination of eligible 3414 projects. An application may target one [high poverty-low opportunity] 3415 concentrated poverty census tract or more than one such census tract if 3416 such census tracts are geographically contiguous or within reasonable 3417 proximity of each other. An applicant shall not be prohibited from filing 3418 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 121 of 254 more than one application for different [high poverty-low opportunity] 3419 concentrated poverty census tracts or groups of such census tracts. 3420 (d) (1) Not later than January 1, 2024, the commissioner shall establish 3421 criteria for the awarding of grants as described in subdivision (2) of this 3422 subsection, requirements for documents and information as described 3423 in subdivision [(3)] (4) of this subsection and deadlines for submitting 3424 applications and revised and modified applications under subsection (e) 3425 of this section. The commissioner shall post such criteria, requirements 3426 and deadlines on the Internet web site of the Department of Economic 3427 and Community Development, notify each municipality in which a 3428 [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract is 3429 located of such posting and promote the availability of the grant 3430 program established by this section in each [high poverty-low 3431 opportunity] such census tract. 3432 (2) Criteria for the awarding of grants pursuant to this section shall 3433 include, but need not be limited to: 3434 (A) The likelihood that a proposal will reduce adult or child poverty 3435 within a [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census 3436 tract; 3437 (B) The likelihood that a proposal will reduce the likelihood that 3438 children currently residing within a [high poverty-low opportunity] 3439 concentrated poverty census tract will live in poverty after reaching 3440 adulthood; 3441 (C) The likelihood that a proposal will produce persistent and 3442 meaningful improvements in residents' wealth, financial security, 3443 employability or quality of life beyond the duration of the proposal; 3444 (D) The feasibility of the initiatives in a proposal and the 3445 demonstrated or perceived capacity to execute upon the scope of work 3446 in a proposal, including, but not limited to, adequate staffing levels of 3447 entities involved with the proposal; and 3448 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 122 of 254 (E) The interconnectivity and mutual reinforcement among all 3449 proposed initiatives in the same [high poverty-low opportunity] 3450 concentrated poverty census tract area or areas, such as providing 3451 workforce training programs to parents of children enrolled in a 3452 supported early childhood program. 3453 (3) On and after the date the ten-year plan developed under section 3454 52 of this act is submitted to the General Assembly, priority shall be 3455 given to projects included in such plan. 3456 [(3)] (4) Requirements for documents and information to be 3457 submitted by municipalities to evaluate applications shall include, but 3458 need not be limited to: 3459 (A) A description of how the proposal intends to address each type 3460 of eligible project described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of 3461 subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, and whether there are 3462 existing projects or programs to address such eligible projects; 3463 (B) A description of each initiative within the proposal, which may 3464 include multiple simultaneous initiatives, and how each initiative will 3465 meet one of the criteria established pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 3466 subsection; 3467 (C) A description of sufficient efforts, as determined by the 3468 commissioner, to engage residents of the [high poverty-low 3469 opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract in formulating a 3470 proposal; 3471 (D) For an initiative that is an eligible project described in 3472 subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, a 3473 description of the municipality's consultations with the regional 3474 workforce development board that serves the municipality regarding 3475 the development of such project and efforts to coordinate such project 3476 with the board's activities; 3477 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 123 of 254 (E) A description of each organization that will participate in an 3478 eligible project described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of 3479 subsection (c) of this section, and information on each organization's 3480 commitment to provide continuous, sustained engagement with 3481 residents of such tract throughout the project; 3482 (F) A description of the entity or organization responsible for 3483 coordinating the implementation of each component of the application 3484 and overseeing the various projects and programs outlined in such 3485 application; 3486 (G) A description of plans for ongoing engagement with residents of 3487 such census tracts and solicitation of feedback on the progress of a 3488 proposal during its implementation; and 3489 (H) A description of plans to provide residents of such census tract 3490 with opportunities to become involved in implementation of a proposal. 3491 (e) (1) The department shall review and evaluate each application 3492 submitted and shall work with the applicant municipality to revise the 3493 application if the department believes such revisions will improve or 3494 strengthen the application. The department shall assist an applicant in 3495 identifying and applying for funding under other programs in order to 3496 maximize the amount of funding available for an applicant, including 3497 seeking funding under section 4-66c. For a proposal for an eligible 3498 project described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection 3499 (c) of this section, the commissioner shall evaluate such project in 3500 consultation with the Commissioner of Housing and the Commissioner 3501 of Housing shall assist the applicant with obtaining funding for such 3502 project through programs operated by the Department of Housing. 3503 (2) The commissioner shall submit to the Governor all applications 3504 that are deemed to satisfy the requirements of subsection (d) of this 3505 section. The Governor shall review such applications and may approve 3506 or disapprove an application or return an application to the 3507 commissioner for modifications. If an application is returned to the 3508 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 124 of 254 commissioner, the commissioner shall work with the applicant to 3509 modify the application and shall resubmit such application with 3510 modifications to the Governor. If the Governor approves an application, 3511 the Governor shall make a grant award from bond proceeds under 3512 section 32-7y, provided the Governor may use funds from other bond 3513 proceeds authorized for the general purposes described in 3514 subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) 3515 of this section for such grants. Grants awarded under this section shall 3516 be for a period of three years, and in an amount sufficient to carry out 3517 the objectives of the application, but not less than five hundred 3518 thousand dollars. Each application that the Governor approves shall be 3519 considered at a State Bond Commission meeting not later than two 3520 months after the date the application was approved by the Governor. 3521 (f) At the conclusion of the initial grant period, the commissioner 3522 shall evaluate the municipality's progress toward reducing the number 3523 of [residents] households within the applicable [high poverty-low 3524 opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract who have incomes 3525 below the federal poverty level to less than thirty per cent of the 3526 [residents] households of such census tract. Such evaluation shall 3527 consider, among other factors, any change in the percentage of 3528 [residents] households within such census tract who have incomes 3529 below the federal poverty level, and whether the actions taken pursuant 3530 to such grant during the initial grant period: (1) May reasonably result 3531 in a future reduction in the percentage of [residents] households within 3532 such census tract who have incomes below the federal poverty level, (2) 3533 have resulted in a reduction in child poverty within such census tract, 3534 (3) may reasonably result in a future reduction in child poverty within 3535 such census tract, or (4) may reasonably decrease the likelihood that 3536 children who are currently living within such census tract will have 3537 incomes below the federal poverty level after they reach adulthood. 3538 Upon a determination by the commissioner that reasonable progress has 3539 been made, the municipality shall be eligible for subsequent grants 3540 under this section, provided, at the conclusion of each subsequent grant 3541 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 125 of 254 period of three years, each applicant municipality shall be subject to an 3542 evaluation and determination under this subsection prior to being 3543 eligible to apply for a subsequent grant. An application for a subsequent 3544 grant and the awarding of a subsequent grant shall be in accordance 3545 with the provisions of subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of this section. 3546 (g) Not later than August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter until and 3547 including August 1, 2029, the commissioner shall submit a report, in 3548 accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the General 3549 Assembly, that includes the municipalities that submitted applications 3550 and that were awarded grants under this section in the prior fiscal year, 3551 a description of each purpose and eligible project a municipality 3552 awarded a grant under this section is seeking to accomplish or 3553 undertaking, a progress report, if applicable, for each such purpose or 3554 eligible project and any other information the commissioner deems 3555 relevant. 3556 Sec. 122. Section 32-285a of the 2024 supplement to the general 3557 statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 3558 (Effective from passage): 3559 (a) As used in this section: 3560 (1) "Administrative costs" means the costs paid or incurred by the 3561 administrator of the Community Investment Fund 2030 Board 3562 established under subsection (b) of this section, including, but not 3563 limited to, allocated staff costs and other out-of-pocket costs attributable 3564 to the administration and operation of the board; 3565 (2) "Administrator" means the Commissioner of Economic and 3566 Community Development, or the commissioner's designee; 3567 (3) "Eligible project" means: 3568 (A) (i) A project proposed by a municipality, community 3569 development corporation or nonprofit organization, for the purpose of 3570 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 126 of 254 promoting economic or community development in the municipality or 3571 a municipality served by such corporation or organization, such as 3572 brownfield remediation, affordable housing, establishment of or 3573 improvements to water and sewer infrastructure to support smaller 3574 scale economic development, pedestrian safety and traffic calming 3575 improvements, establishment of or improvements to energy resiliency 3576 or clean energy projects and land acquisition and capital projects to 3577 construct, rehabilitate or renovate buildings and structures to facilitate 3578 or improve home rehabilitation programs and facilities such as libraries 3579 and senior centers; or 3580 (ii) A grant-in-aid proposed by a municipality, community 3581 development corporation or nonprofit organization for the purpose of 3582 providing (I) a revolving loan program, microloans or gap financing, to 3583 small businesses located within such municipality or a municipality 3584 served by such corporation or organization, or (II) start-up funds to 3585 establish a small business in any such municipality; and 3586 (B) Such project or grant-in-aid furthers consistent and systematic 3587 fair, just and impartial treatment of all individuals, including 3588 individuals who belong to underserved and marginalized communities 3589 that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino and 3590 indigenous and Native American persons; Asian Americans and Pacific 3591 Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; 3592 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons and other persons 3593 comprising the LGBTQ+ community; persons who live in rural areas; 3594 and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or 3595 inequality; and 3596 (4) "Municipality" means a municipality designated as a public 3597 investment community pursuant to section 7-545 or as an alliance 3598 district pursuant to section 10-262u. 3599 (b) (1) There is established a Community Investment Fund 2030 3600 Board, which shall be within the Department of Economic and 3601 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 127 of 254 Community Development. The board shall consist of the following 3602 members: 3603 (A) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president 3604 pro tempore of the Senate; 3605 (B) The majority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority 3606 leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives 3607 and the minority leader of the Senate; 3608 (C) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives 3609 and one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, each of 3610 whom shall be a member of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the 3611 General Assembly; 3612 (D) The two chairpersons of the general bonding subcommittee of the 3613 joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 3614 matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding; 3615 (E) Two appointed by the Governor; and 3616 (F) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the 3617 Attorney General, the Treasurer, the Comptroller, the Secretary of the 3618 State and the Commissioners of Economic and Community 3619 Development, Administrative Services, Social Services and Housing, or 3620 their designees. 3621 (2) All initial appointments shall be made not later than sixty days 3622 after June 30, 2021. The terms of the members appointed by the 3623 Governor shall be coterminous with the term of the Governor or until 3624 their successors are appointed, whichever is later. Any vacancy in 3625 appointments shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any vacancy 3626 occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance 3627 of the unexpired term. 3628 (3) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, it shall not 3629 constitute a conflict of interest for a trustee, director, partner, officer, 3630 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 128 of 254 stockholder, proprietor, counsel or employee of any person to serve as 3631 a member of the board, provided such trustee, director, partner, officer, 3632 stockholder, proprietor, counsel or employee abstains and absents 3633 himself or herself from any deliberation, action and vote by the board in 3634 specific respect to such person. The members appointed by the 3635 Governor shall be deemed public officials and shall adhere to the code 3636 of ethics for public officials set forth in chapter 10. 3637 (4) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro 3638 tempore of the Senate shall serve as the chairpersons of the board and 3639 shall schedule the first meeting of the board, which shall be held not 3640 later than January 1, 2022. The board shall meet at least quarterly. 3641 (5) Eleven members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the 3642 transaction of any business. 3643 (6) The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but 3644 shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses 3645 necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. 3646 (7) The board shall have the following powers and duties: (A) Review 3647 eligible projects to be recommended to the Governor under subsection 3648 (c) of this section for approval; (B) establish bylaws to govern its 3649 procedures; (C) review and provide comments to the Department of 3650 Economic and Community Development on projects funded through 3651 the state's Economic Action Plan as provided under section 32-4p; and 3652 (D) perform such other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to 3653 carry out its duties described in this section. 3654 (8) The administrator shall hire such employee or employees as may 3655 be necessary to assist the board to carry out its duties described in this 3656 section. 3657 (c) (1) The Community Investment Fund 2030 Board shall establish 3658 an application and review process with guidelines and terms for funds 3659 provided from the bond proceeds under subsection (d) of this section 3660 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 129 of 254 for eligible projects. Such funds shall be used for costs related to an 3661 eligible project recommended by the board and approved by the 3662 Governor pursuant to this subsection but shall not be used to pay or to 3663 reimburse the administrator for administrative costs under this section. 3664 The Department of Economic and Community Development shall pay 3665 for administrative costs within available appropriations. 3666 (2) The chairpersons of the board shall notify the chief elected official 3667 of each municipality when the application and review process has been 3668 established and shall publicize the availability of any funds available 3669 under this section. Each such official or any community development 3670 corporation or nonprofit organization may submit an application to the 3671 board requesting funds for an eligible project. The board shall meet to 3672 consider applications submitted and determine which, if any, the board 3673 will recommend to the Governor for approval. 3674 (3) (A) The board shall give priority to eligible projects (i) that are 3675 proposed by a municipality that (I) has implemented local hiring 3676 preferences pursuant to section 7-112, or (II) has or will leverage 3677 municipal, private, philanthropic or federal funds for such project, [and] 3678 (ii) that have a project labor agreement or employ or will employ ex- 3679 offenders or individuals with physical, intellectual or developmental 3680 disabilities, and (iii) on and after the date the ten-year plan developed 3681 under section 52 of this act is submitted to the General Assembly, that 3682 are included in such plan. The board shall give additional priority to an 3683 application submitted by a municipality that includes a letter of support 3684 for the proposed eligible project from a member or members of the 3685 General Assembly in whose district the eligible project is or will be 3686 located. 3687 (B) In evaluating applications for an eligible project described in 3688 subparagraph (A)(ii) of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section, 3689 the board shall (i) evaluate the risk of default on the repayment of a 3690 proposed loan or financing, (ii) consider the impact of the eligible 3691 project on job creation or retention in the municipality, (iii) consider the 3692 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 130 of 254 impact of the eligible project on blighted properties in the municipality, 3693 and (iv) consider the overall impact of the eligible project on the 3694 community. The board shall not recommend any proposed loan or 3695 financing under subparagraph (A)(ii) of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) 3696 of this section for which the interest rate varies from the prevailing 3697 market rate. 3698 (4) (A) Whenever the board deems it necessary or desirable, the 3699 chairpersons of the board shall submit to the Governor a list of the 3700 board's recommendations of eligible projects to be funded from bond 3701 proceeds under subsection (d) of this section. The board may 3702 recommend state funding for eligible projects, provided the total cost of 3703 such recommendations shall not exceed one hundred seventy-five 3704 million dollars in any fiscal year. Such list shall include, at a minimum: 3705 (i) For each eligible project described in subparagraph (A)(i) of 3706 subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section, a description of such 3707 project, the municipality in which such project is located, the amount of 3708 funds sought for such project, any cost estimates for such project, any 3709 schematics or plans for such project, the total estimated project costs and 3710 the applicable fiscal year to which such disbursement will be attributed; 3711 and 3712 (ii) For each eligible project described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of 3713 subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section, a description of and 3714 specific terms for any proposed loans, financing or start-up funds to be 3715 provided from such grant-in-aid, the types of small businesses located 3716 or to be located in the municipality that may be eligible for such loan, 3717 financing or start-up funds, the amount of the grant-in-aid sought and 3718 the applicable fiscal year to which such disbursement will be attributed. 3719 (B) The Governor shall review the eligible projects on the list and may 3720 recommend changes to any eligible project on the list. The Governor 3721 shall determine the most appropriate method of funding for each 3722 eligible project and shall provide to the members of the board, in 3723 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 131 of 254 writing, such determination for each eligible project on the list and the 3724 reasons therefor. The board may reconsider at a future meeting any 3725 eligible project for which the Governor recommends a change. Each 3726 eligible project for which the Governor recommends the allocation of 3727 bond funds shall be considered at a State Bond Commission meeting not 3728 later than two months after the date such eligible project was submitted 3729 to the Governor pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. 3730 (5) Funds for an eligible project approved under this section may be 3731 administered on behalf of the board by a state agency, as determined by 3732 the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, provided a 3733 memorandum of understanding between the administrator of the 3734 Community Investment Fund 2030 Board and the state, acting by and 3735 through the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, has been 3736 entered into with respect to such funds and project. 3737 (6) Not later than August 31, 2023, the board shall submit a report, in 3738 accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the General 3739 Assembly, the Black and Puerto Rican caucus of the General Assembly, 3740 the Auditors of Public Accounts and the Governor, for the preceding 3741 fiscal year, that includes (A) a list of the eligible projects recommended 3742 by the board and approved by the Governor pursuant to this section, (B) 3743 the total amount of funds provided for such eligible projects, (C) for 3744 each such eligible project, a description of the project and the amounts 3745 and terms of the funds provided, (D) the status of the project and any 3746 balance remaining of the allocated funds, and (E) any other information 3747 the board deems relevant or necessary. The board shall submit such 3748 report annually for each fiscal year in which the funds specified in 3749 subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of this subsection are disbursed for 3750 eligible projects. 3751 (7) The Auditors of Public Accounts shall audit, on a biennial basis, 3752 all eligible projects funded under this section and shall report their 3753 findings to the Governor, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 3754 Management and the General Assembly. 3755 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 132 of 254 (d) (1) The State Bond Commission may authorize the issuance of 3756 bonds of the state, in accordance with the provisions of section 3-20, in 3757 principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate eight hundred 3758 seventy-five million dollars. The amount authorized for the issuance 3759 and sale of such bonds in each of the following fiscal years shall not 3760 exceed the following corresponding amount for each such fiscal year, 3761 except that, to the extent the State Bond Commission does not provide 3762 for the use of all or a portion of such amount in any such fiscal year, 3763 such amount not provided for shall be carried forward and added to the 3764 authorized amount for the next succeeding fiscal year, and provided 3765 further, the costs of issuance and capitalized interest, if any, may be 3766 added to the capped amount in each fiscal year, and each of the 3767 authorized amounts shall be effective on July first of the fiscal year 3768 indicated as follows: 3769 T416 Fiscal Year Ending June 30, Amount T417 2023 $175,000,000 T418 2024 175,000,000 T419 2025 175,000,000 T420 2026 175,000,000 T421 2027 175,000,000 T422 Total $875,000,000 (2) The proceeds of the sale of bonds set forth in this subsection shall 3770 be used for the purpose of funding eligible projects for which the 3771 Governor has determined under subsection (c) of this section that bond 3772 funding is appropriate and that no other bond authorization is available. 3773 (e) (1) Upon the agreement of the Governor and the Community 3774 Investment Fund 2030 Board, and subsequent to the adoption of a 3775 resolution by the General Assembly affirming the reauthorization of the 3776 board and the program provided for under this section, the State Bond 3777 Commission may authorize the issuance of bonds of the state, in 3778 accordance with the provisions of section 3-20, in principal amounts not 3779 exceeding in the aggregate one billion two hundred fifty million dollars. 3780 The amount authorized for the issuance and sale of such bonds in each 3781 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 133 of 254 of the following fiscal years shall not exceed the following 3782 corresponding amount for each such fiscal year, except that, to the 3783 extent the State Bond Commission does not provide for the use of all or 3784 a portion of such amount in any such fiscal year, such amount not 3785 provided for shall be carried forward and added to the authorized 3786 amount for the next succeeding fiscal year, and provided further, the 3787 costs of issuance and capitalized interest, if any, may be added to the 3788 capped amount in each fiscal year, and each of the authorized amounts 3789 shall be effective on July first of the fiscal year indicated as follows: 3790 T423 Fiscal Year Ending June 30, Amount T424 2028 $250,000,000 T425 2029 250,000,000 T426 2030 250,000,000 T427 2031 250,000,000 T428 2032 250,000,000 T429 Total $1,250,000,000 (2) The proceeds of the sale of bonds set forth in this subsection shall 3791 be used for the purpose of funding eligible projects for which the 3792 Governor has determined under subsection (c) of this section that bond 3793 funding is appropriate and that no other bond authorization is available. 3794 (f) All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power 3795 granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this 3796 section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by 3797 the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section. Temporary notes 3798 in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such 3799 bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section, and 3800 from time to time renewed. All bonds issued pursuant to this section 3801 shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of 3802 the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of 3803 and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly 3804 and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, 3805 appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 3806 principal and interest is hereby made, and the Treasurer shall pay such 3807 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 134 of 254 principal and interest as the same become due. 3808 Sec. 123. Section 32-7t of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 3809 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 3810 passage): 3811 (a) As used in this section: 3812 (1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and 3813 Community Development; 3814 (2) "Discretionary FTE" means an FTE that is paid qualified wages 3815 and does not meet the threshold wage requirements to be a qualified 3816 FTE but is approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (4) of 3817 subsection (c) of this section; 3818 (3) "Distressed municipality" has the same meaning as provided in 3819 section 32-9p; 3820 (4) "Full-time equivalent" or "FTE" means the number of employees 3821 employed at a qualified business, calculated in accordance with 3822 subsection (d) of this section; 3823 (5) "Full-time job" means a job in which an employee is required to 3824 work at least thirty-five or more hours per week. "Full-time job" does 3825 not include a temporary or seasonal job; 3826 (6) "Intellectual disability" has the same meaning as provided in 3827 section 1-1g; 3828 (7) "Median household income" means the median annual household 3829 income for residents in a municipality as calculated from the U.S. 3830 Census Bureau's five-year American Community Survey or another 3831 data source, at the sole discretion of the commissioner; 3832 (8) "New employee" means a person or persons hired by the qualified 3833 business to fill a full-time equivalent position. A new employee does not 3834 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 135 of 254 include a person who was employed in this state by a related person 3835 with respect to the qualified business within twelve months prior to a 3836 qualified business's application to the commissioner for a rebate 3837 allocation notice for a job creation rebate pursuant to subsection (c) of 3838 this section; 3839 (9) "New FTEs" means the number of FTEs that (A) did not exist in 3840 this state at the time of a qualified business's application to the 3841 commissioner for a rebate allocation notice for a job creation rebate 3842 pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, (B) are not the result of FTEs 3843 acquired due to a merger or acquisition, (C) are filled by a new 3844 employee, (D) are qualified FTEs, and (E) are not FTEs hired to replace 3845 FTEs that existed in the state after January 1, 2020. The commissioner 3846 may issue guidance on the implementation of this definition; 3847 (10) "New FTEs created" means the number of new FTEs that the 3848 qualified business is employing at a point-in-time at the end of the 3849 relevant time period; 3850 (11) "New FTEs maintained" means the total number of new FTEs 3851 employed throughout a relevant time period; 3852 (12) "Opportunity zone" means a population census tract that is a 3853 low-income community that is designated as a "qualified opportunity 3854 zone" pursuant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, P.L. 115-97, as 3855 amended from time to time; 3856 (13) "Part-time job" means a job in which an employee is required to 3857 work less than thirty-five hours per week. "Part-time job" does not 3858 include a temporary or seasonal job; 3859 (14) "Qualified business" means a person that is (A) engaged in 3860 business in an industry related to finance, insurance, manufacturing, 3861 clean energy, bioscience, technology, digital media or any similar 3862 industry, as determined by the sole discretion of the commissioner, and 3863 (B) subject to taxation under chapter 207, 208 or 228z; 3864 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 136 of 254 (15) "Qualified FTE" means an FTE who is paid qualified wages of at 3865 least eighty-five per cent of the median household income for the 3866 location where the FTE position is primarily located, scaled in 3867 proportion to the FTE fraction, or thirty-seven thousand five hundred 3868 dollars, scaled in proportion to the FTE fraction, whichever is greater; 3869 (16) "Qualified wages" means wages sourced to this state pursuant to 3870 section 12-705; 3871 (17) "Rebate period" means the calendar years in which a tax rebate 3872 provided for in this section is to be paid pursuant to a rebate allocation 3873 notice issued pursuant to subsection (c) of this section; and 3874 (18) "Related person" means (A) a corporation, limited liability 3875 company, partnership, association or trust controlled by the qualified 3876 business, (B) an individual, corporation, limited liability company, 3877 partnership, association or trust that is in control of the qualified 3878 business, (C) a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 3879 association or trust controlled by an individual, corporation, limited 3880 liability company, partnership, association or trust that is in control of 3881 the qualified business, or (D) a member of the same controlled group as 3882 the qualified business. For the purposes of this subdivision, "control" 3883 means (i) ownership, directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty per 3884 cent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the 3885 stock of a corporation entitled to vote, (ii) ownership, directly or 3886 indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the capital or profits interest in a 3887 partnership, limited liability company or association, or (iii) ownership, 3888 directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the beneficial interest 3889 in the principal or income of a trust. The ownership of stock in a 3890 corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a partnership, of a limited 3891 liability company or association or of a beneficial interest in a trust shall 3892 be determined in accordance with the rules for constructive ownership 3893 of stock provided in Section 267(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 3894 or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United 3895 States, as amended from time to time, other than paragraph (3) of said 3896 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 137 of 254 section. 3897 (b) There is established a JobsCT tax rebate program under which 3898 qualified businesses that create jobs in this state, in accordance with the 3899 provisions of this section, may be allowed a tax rebate, which shall be 3900 treated as a credit against the tax imposed under chapter 208 or 228z or 3901 as an offset of the tax imposed under chapter 207. 3902 (c) (1) To be eligible to claim a rebate under this section, a qualified 3903 business shall apply to the commissioner in accordance with the 3904 provisions of this subsection. The application shall be on a form 3905 prescribed by the commissioner and may require information, 3906 including, but not limited to, the number of new FTEs to be created by 3907 the qualified business, the number of current FTEs employed by the 3908 qualified business, feasibility studies or business plans for the increased 3909 number of FTEs, projected state and local revenue that may reasonably 3910 derive as a result of the increased number of FTEs and any other 3911 information necessary to determine whether there will be net benefits to 3912 the economy of the municipality or municipalities in which the qualified 3913 business is primarily located and the state. 3914 (2) Upon receipt of an application, the commissioner shall determine 3915 (A) whether the qualified business making the application will be 3916 reasonably able to meet the FTE hiring targets and other metrics as 3917 presented in such application, (B) whether such qualified business's 3918 proposed job growth would provide a net benefit to economic 3919 development and employment opportunities in the state, and (C) 3920 whether such qualified business's proposed job growth will exceed the 3921 number of jobs at the business that existed prior to January 1, 2020. The 3922 commissioner may require the applicant to submit additional 3923 information to evaluate an application. Each qualified business making 3924 an application shall satisfy the requirements of this subdivision, as 3925 determined by the commissioner, to be eligible for the JobsCT tax rebate 3926 program. 3927 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 138 of 254 (3) The commissioner, upon consideration of an application and any 3928 additional information, may approve an application in whole or in part 3929 or may approve an application with amendments. If the commissioner 3930 disapproves an application, the commissioner shall identify the defects 3931 in such application and explain the specific reasons for the disapproval. 3932 The commissioner shall render a decision on an application not later 3933 than ninety days after the date of its receipt by the commissioner. 3934 (4) The commissioner may approve an application in whole or in part 3935 by a qualified business that creates new discretionary FTEs or may 3936 approve such an application with amendments if a majority of such new 3937 discretionary FTEs are individuals who (A) because of a disability, are 3938 receiving or have received services from the Department of Aging and 3939 Disability Services; (B) are receiving employment services from the 3940 Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or participating in 3941 employment opportunities and day services, as defined in section 17a- 3942 226, operated or funded by the Department of Developmental Services; 3943 (C) have been unemployed for at least six of the preceding twelve 3944 months; (D) have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony; (E) are 3945 veterans, as defined in section 27-103; (F) have not earned any 3946 postsecondary credential and are not currently enrolled in a 3947 postsecondary institution or program; or (G) are currently enrolled in a 3948 workforce training program fully or substantially paid for by the 3949 employer that results in such individual earning a postsecondary 3950 credential. 3951 (5) The commissioner may combine approval of an application with 3952 the exercise of any of the commissioner's other powers, including, but 3953 not limited to, the provision of other financial assistance. 3954 (6) By submitting an application, a qualified business consents to the 3955 Department of Economic and Community Development's access of data 3956 compiled by other state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Labor 3957 Department, for the purposes of audit and enforcement. 3958 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 139 of 254 (7) The commissioner shall issue a rebate allocation notice stating the 3959 maximum amount of each rebate available to an approved qualified 3960 business for the rebate period and the specific terms that such business 3961 shall meet to qualify for each rebate. Such notice shall certify to the 3962 approved qualified business that the rebates may be claimed by such 3963 business if it meets the specific terms set forth in the notice. Such terms 3964 shall include the required wage, as determined by the commissioner, 3965 such business shall pay new discretionary FTEs to qualify for the tax 3966 rebates provided in subsection (f) of this section. 3967 (d) For the purposes of this section, the FTE of a full-time job or part- 3968 time job is based on the hours worked or expected to be worked by an 3969 employee in a calendar year. A job in which an employee worked or is 3970 expected to work one thousand seven hundred fifty hours or more in a 3971 calendar year equals one FTE. A job in which an employee worked or is 3972 expected to work less than one thousand seven hundred fifty hours 3973 equals a fraction of one FTE, where the fraction is the number of hours 3974 worked in a calendar year divided by one thousand seven hundred fifty. 3975 The commissioner shall have the discretion to adjust the calculation of 3976 FTE. 3977 (e) (1) In each calendar year of the rebate period, a qualified business 3978 approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection 3979 (c) of this section that employs at least twenty-five new FTEs in this state 3980 or, if at least one of the new FTEs is an individual with intellectual 3981 disability or at least three of the new FTEs are individuals who reside in 3982 a concentrated poverty census tract, as defined in section 32-7x, fifteen 3983 new FTEs in this state by December thirty-first of the calendar year that 3984 is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is 3985 being claimed shall be allowed a rebate equal to the greater of the 3986 following amounts: 3987 (A) The sum of: 3988 (i) The lesser of (I) the new FTEs created in an opportunity zone or 3989 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 140 of 254 distressed municipality on December thirty-first of the calendar year 3990 that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate 3991 is being claimed, (II) the new FTEs maintained in an opportunity zone 3992 or distressed municipality in the previous calendar year, (III) the new 3993 FTEs created by a qualified business employing at least one new FTE 3994 who is an individual with intellectual disability, or (IV) the new FTEs 3995 maintained by a qualified business employing at least one new FTE who 3996 is an individual with intellectual disability, multiplied by fifty per cent 3997 of the income tax that would be paid on the average wage of the new 3998 FTEs, as determined by the applicable marginal rate set forth in chapter 3999 229 for an unmarried individual based solely on such wages; and 4000 (ii) The lesser of (I) the new FTEs created on December thirty-first of 4001 the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in 4002 which the rebate is being claimed, or (II) the new FTEs maintained in a 4003 location other than an opportunity zone or distressed municipality in 4004 the previous calendar year, multiplied by twenty-five per cent of the 4005 income tax that would be paid on the average wage of the new FTEs, as 4006 determined by the applicable marginal rate set forth in chapter 229 for 4007 an unmarried individual based solely on such wages; or 4008 (B) The greater of: 4009 (i) One thousand dollars multiplied by the lesser of (I) the new FTEs 4010 created by December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar 4011 years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, or 4012 (II) the new FTEs maintained in the calendar year immediately prior to 4013 the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed; or 4014 (ii) For tax credits earned, claimed or payable prior to January 1, 2024, 4015 two thousand dollars multiplied by the lesser of (I) the new FTEs created 4016 by December 31, 2022, or (II) the new FTEs maintained in the calendar 4017 year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being 4018 claimed. 4019 (2) In no event shall the rebate under this subsection exceed in any 4020 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 141 of 254 calendar year of the rebate period five thousand dollars multiplied by 4021 the lesser of (A) the new FTEs created by December thirty-first of the 4022 calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in 4023 which the rebate is being claimed, or (B) the new FTEs maintained in the 4024 calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate 4025 is being claimed. 4026 (3) In no event shall an approved qualified business receive a rebate 4027 under this subsection in any calendar year of the rebate period if such 4028 business has not maintained, in the calendar year immediately prior to 4029 the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, at least (A) 4030 twenty-five new FTEs, or (B) fifteen new FTEs, if at least one of the new 4031 FTEs is an individual with intellectual disability or at least three of the 4032 new FTEs are individuals who reside in a concentrated poverty census 4033 tract, as defined in section 32-7x. 4034 (f) (1) In each calendar year of the rebate period, a qualified business 4035 approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection 4036 (c) of this section that employs at least twenty-five new discretionary 4037 FTEs in this state by December thirty-first of the calendar year that is 4038 two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being 4039 claimed shall be allowed a rebate equal to the sum of the amount 4040 calculated pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of this section 4041 and the greater of the following: 4042 (A) The sum of: 4043 (i) The lesser of the new discretionary FTEs (I) created in an 4044 opportunity zone or distressed municipality on December thirty-first of 4045 the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in 4046 which the rebate is being claimed, or (II) maintained in an opportunity 4047 zone or distressed municipality in the previous calendar year, 4048 multiplied by fifty per cent of the income tax that would be paid on the 4049 average wage of the new discretionary FTEs, as determined by the 4050 applicable marginal rate set forth in chapter 229 for an unmarried 4051 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 142 of 254 individual based solely on such wages; and 4052 (ii) The lesser of the new discretionary FTEs (I) created on December 4053 thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the 4054 calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, or (II) maintained in 4055 a location other than an opportunity zone or distressed municipality in 4056 the previous calendar year, multiplied by twenty-five per cent of the 4057 income tax that would be paid on the average wage of the new 4058 discretionary FTEs, as determined by the applicable marginal rate set 4059 forth in chapter 229 for an unmarried individual based solely on such 4060 wages; or 4061 (B) The greater of: 4062 (i) Seven hundred fifty dollars multiplied by the lesser of the new 4063 discretionary FTEs (I) created by December thirty-first of the calendar 4064 year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the 4065 rebate is being claimed, or (II) maintained in the calendar year 4066 immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being 4067 claimed; or 4068 (ii) For tax credits earned, claimed or payable prior to January 1, 2024, 4069 one thousand five hundred dollars multiplied by the lesser of (I) the new 4070 FTEs created by December 31, 2022, or (II) the new FTEs maintained in 4071 the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the 4072 rebate is being claimed. 4073 (2) In no event shall the rebate under this [section] subsection exceed 4074 in any calendar year of the rebate period five thousand dollars 4075 multiplied by the lesser of the new discretionary FTEs (A) created by 4076 December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years 4077 prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, or (B) 4078 maintained in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year 4079 in which the rebate is being claimed. 4080 (3) In no event shall an approved qualified business receive a rebate 4081 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 143 of 254 under this subsection in any calendar year of the rebate period if such 4082 business has not maintained at least twenty-five new discretionary FTEs 4083 in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the 4084 rebate is being claimed. 4085 (g) In addition to the rebates allowed under subsections (e) and (f) of 4086 this section, on and after January 1, 2025, an approved qualified business 4087 that employs at least one new FTE that is an individual who resides in a 4088 concentrated poverty census tract, as defined in section 32-7x, shall be 4089 allowed an additional rebate equal to fifty per cent of the income tax that 4090 would be paid on the wages paid to such individual during the calendar 4091 year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being 4092 claimed, as determined by the applicable marginal rate set forth in 4093 chapter 229 for an unmarried individual based solely on such wages, 4094 provided such individual was a resident of such census tract for at least 4095 six months of the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year 4096 in which the rebate is being claimed. 4097 [(g)] (h) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (3) and 4098 (4) of subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner may not approve 4099 an application in whole or in part if the full amount of rebates that such 4100 applicant may be paid pursuant to subsection (e), [or] (f) or (g) of this 4101 section would result in the aggregate amount of rebates issued to all 4102 approved qualified businesses under this section exceeding forty 4103 million dollars in any fiscal year. 4104 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (4) of subsection 4105 (c) of this section, the commissioner may not approve an application in 4106 whole or in part if the full amount of rebates that such applicant may be 4107 paid pursuant to subsection (f) of this section would result in the 4108 aggregate amount of rebates issued pursuant to subsection (f) of this 4109 section exceeding fifteen million dollars in any fiscal year. 4110 [(h)] (i) (1) A rebate under this section may be granted to an approved 4111 qualified business for not more than seven successive calendar years. A 4112 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 144 of 254 rebate shall not be granted until at least twenty-four months after the 4113 commissioner's approval of a qualified business's application. 4114 (2) An approved qualified business that has fewer than twenty-five 4115 new FTEs or, if at least one of the new FTEs is an individual with 4116 intellectual disability or at least three of the new FTEs are individuals 4117 who reside in a concentrated poverty census tract, as defined in section 4118 32-7x, fewer than fifteen new FTEs, created in each of two consecutive 4119 calendar years or, if such business is approved by the commissioner 4120 pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this section, fewer than 4121 twenty-five new discretionary FTEs in each of two consecutive calendar 4122 years shall forfeit all remaining rebate allocations, unless the 4123 commissioner recognizes mitigating circumstances of a regional or 4124 national nature, including, but not limited to, a recession. 4125 [(i)] (j) Not later than January thirty-first of each year during the 4126 rebate period, each approved qualified business shall provide 4127 information to the commissioner regarding the number of new FTEs or 4128 new discretionary FTEs created or maintained during the prior calendar 4129 year and the qualified wages of such new employees. Any information 4130 provided under this subsection shall be subject to audit by the 4131 Department of Economic and Community Development. 4132 [(j)] (k) Not later than March fifteenth of each year during the rebate 4133 period, the Department of Economic and Community Development 4134 shall issue the approved qualified business a rebate voucher that sets 4135 forth the amount of the rebate, as calculated pursuant to subsections (e), 4136 [and] (f) and (g) of this section, and the taxable year against which such 4137 rebate may be claimed. The approved qualified business shall claim 4138 such rebate as a credit against the taxes due under chapter 208 or 228z 4139 or as an offset of the tax imposed under chapter 207. The commissioner 4140 shall annually provide to the Commissioner of Revenue Services a 4141 report detailing all rebate vouchers that have been issued under this 4142 section. 4143 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 145 of 254 [(k)] (l) Beginning on January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the 4144 commissioner, in consultation with the office of the State Comptroller 4145 and the Auditors of Public Accounts, shall submit a report to the Office 4146 of Policy and Management on the expenses of the JobsCT tax rebate 4147 program and the number of FTEs and discretionary FTEs created and 4148 maintained. 4149 [(l)] (m) Not later than January 1, 2024, the commissioner shall post, 4150 on the Department of Economic and Community Development's 4151 Internet web site, information on the JobsCT tax rebate program 4152 established under this section, including, but not limited to, information 4153 concerning tax rebates available for qualified businesses that, in 4154 accordance with the provisions of this section, employ individuals with 4155 intellectual disability in this state. 4156 Sec. 124. (Effective from passage) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 4157 2024, after the accounts for the Special Transportation Fund have been 4158 closed for said fiscal year and the Comptroller has determined the 4159 balance remaining in said fund, after any amounts required by 4160 provision of law to be transferred for other purposes have been 4161 deducted, if the balance remaining exceeds eighteen per cent of the net 4162 Special Transportation Fund appropriations for the fiscal year ending 4163 June 30, 2025, the portion of the balance exceeding said eighteen per cent 4164 shall be deemed to be appropriated for the following, as selected by the 4165 Treasurer: 4166 (1) Redeeming prior to maturity any outstanding special tax 4167 obligation indebtedness of the state selected by the Treasurer in the best 4168 interests of the state; 4169 (2) Purchasing outstanding special tax obligation indebtedness of the 4170 state in the open market at such prices and on such terms and conditions 4171 as the Treasurer determines to be in the best interests of the state for the 4172 purpose of extinguishing or defeasing such debt; 4173 (3) Providing for the defeasance of any outstanding special tax 4174 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 146 of 254 obligation indebtedness of the state selected by the Treasurer in the best 4175 interests of the state by irrevocably placing with an escrow agent in trust 4176 an amount used solely for, and sufficient to satisfy, scheduled payments 4177 of both interest and principal on such indebtedness; or 4178 (4) Any combination of these methods. 4179 (b) For any method or combination of methods selected by the 4180 Treasurer pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, (1) such method or 4181 combination of methods shall provide a reduction in projected debt 4182 service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each of the nine 4183 subsequent fiscal years, and (2) for the second fiscal year after the fiscal 4184 year in which the balance was used in accordance with the provisions 4185 of this subsection and each of the seven subsequent fiscal years, the 4186 amount of the reduction in projected debt service shall not vary by more 4187 than (A) one million dollars, or (B) ten per cent of the least amount by 4188 which projected debt service is reduced for the seven subsequent fiscal 4189 years, whichever is greater. 4190 Sec. 125. Section 5-206 of the general statutes is repealed and the 4191 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 4192 (a) Position classifications established by the Commissioner of 4193 Administrative Services shall be listed in the appropriate records and 4194 publications of the Department of Administrative Services in 4195 accordance with the following descriptive items: (1) The title and code 4196 given to the class; (2) the pay grade for the class; (3) a statement of the 4197 duties and responsibilities exercised by those employees holding 4198 positions allocated to the class, illustrated, when practicable, by 4199 examples of typical tasks; and (4) the minimum desirable qualifications 4200 required by an incumbent for the satisfactory performance of such 4201 duties and the satisfactory discharge of such responsibilities. In no event 4202 shall a degree from an institution of higher education be required for a 4203 position classification established by the Commissioner of 4204 Administrative Services, unless the commissioner has been notified by 4205 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 147 of 254 the appointing authority that such requirement is a bona fide 4206 occupational qualification or need. 4207 (b) In establishing new position classifications, the Commissioner of 4208 Administrative Services shall make a study of the schedules of 4209 compensation established for positions similar as to duties, 4210 responsibilities and qualifications in the state service, of the rates of 4211 compensation paid for similar services elsewhere and of any other 4212 pertinent information and data. 4213 (c) The Commissioner of Administrative Services periodically shall 4214 review the work performed by employees in the classified service and 4215 shall issue such orders as are necessary to have such employees 4216 assigned to work in accordance with the classifications of their positions 4217 or to have their classifications changed to comply with their work, 4218 provided any employee, whose classification, status or compensation is 4219 affected, shall be given reasonable opportunity to be heard prior to the 4220 issuance of any such order. 4221 (d) In no event shall the personnel classification of "auditor" be used 4222 in reference to personnel of any agency other than the Auditors of Public 4223 Accounts or the term "auditor's report" be used in reference to the 4224 reports of such personnel except that employees performing auditing 4225 functions for agencies other than the Auditors of Public Accounts may 4226 be so designated if the personnel classifications to which they are 4227 assigned are clearly distinguished from those of the Auditors of Public 4228 Accounts. 4229 Sec. 126. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a working 4230 group to examine existing tax expenditures, as defined in subsection (e) 4231 of section 12-7b of the general statutes, in the state for the purpose of 4232 simplifying the state tax code and to identify expenditures that are 4233 redundant, obsolete, duplicative or inconsistent in language or policy. 4234 (b) The working group shall consist of the following members or their 4235 designees: 4236 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 148 of 254 (1) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing 4237 committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 4238 relating to finance, revenue and bonding. Any designee of a chairperson 4239 or ranking member under this subdivision shall be a member of said 4240 committee; 4241 (2) The Governor; 4242 (3) Two representatives of the Office of Policy and Management, 4243 appointed by the Governor; 4244 (4) The Commissioner of Revenue Services; and 4245 (5) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development. 4246 (c) The chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General 4247 Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and 4248 bonding shall serve as the chairpersons of the working group and shall 4249 schedule the first meeting of the working group, to be held not later than 4250 sixty days after the effective date of this section. 4251 (d) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 4252 General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, 4253 revenue and bonding shall serve as administrative staff of the working 4254 group. 4255 (e) Not later than January 1, 2025, the working group shall submit a 4256 report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 4257 cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, in 4258 accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 4259 Such report shall include the working group's findings and any 4260 recommendations for revisions to the general statutes to further the goal 4261 of simplifying the state tax code. The working group shall terminate on 4262 the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2025, whichever is later. 4263 Sec. 127. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) As used in this section (1) 4264 "municipality" means any municipality, as defined in section 7-187 of 4265 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 149 of 254 the general statutes, any district, as defined in section 7-324 of the 4266 general statutes, any metropolitan district or any municipal district 4267 created under section 7-330 of the general statutes and located within 4268 the state, and (2) "regional council of governments" means any regional 4269 council of governments organized under the provisions of sections 4- 4270 124i to 4-124p, inclusive, of the general statutes. 4271 (b) Any appointment that a municipality is authorized or required by 4272 law to make on its own behalf with respect to a municipal function may 4273 be made by a regional council of governments or jointly with one or 4274 more other municipalities pursuant to an interlocal agreement for the 4275 joint performance of municipal functions pursuant to section 7-148cc of 4276 the general statutes or an agreement for regional services pursuant to 4277 section 8-31b of the general statutes. Such appointment shall pertain 4278 jointly to each municipality that is a party to such agreement and be in 4279 lieu of any individual appointment by any such municipality. The 4280 provisions of this subsection shall supersede any provision of the 4281 general statutes or any special act, charter, special act charter, home rule 4282 ordinance or local law that would prohibit or limit the ability to make 4283 such joint appointments, including, but not limited to, any provision 4284 that (1) prohibits a municipality from entering into an agreement for 4285 shared services, (2) requires an appointee to fulfill such appointee's 4286 duties to the exclusion of other employment, (3) requires an appointee 4287 to reside within a particular municipality, or (4) requires a municipality 4288 to make an individual appointment. 4289 (c) For the purposes of this section, a municipal function shall 4290 include, but not be limited to, administrative and regulatory activities 4291 described in chapters 93, 96a and 100, sections 7-148b, 7-148g, 7-148p, 8- 4292 3, 12-136, 22-331, 22-340, 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, and 29-251 to 29- 4293 371, inclusive, of the general statutes and planning activities described 4294 in sections 8-23, 8-30j and 19a-181b of the general statutes. 4295 (d) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management may adopt 4296 regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the 4297 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 150 of 254 general statutes to implement the provisions of this section. 4298 Sec. 128. Section 10-416 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 4299 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 4300 1, 2024, and applicable to taxable and income years commencing on or after 4301 January 1, 2024): 4302 (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the 4303 following meanings unless the context clearly indicates another 4304 meaning: 4305 (1) "Department" means the Department of Economic and 4306 Community Development; 4307 (2) "Historic home" means a building that: (A) Will contain one-to- 4308 four dwelling units of which at least one unit will be occupied as the 4309 principal residence of the owner for not less than five years following 4310 the completion of rehabilitation work, and (B) is (i) listed individually 4311 on the National or State Register of Historic Places, or (ii) located in a 4312 district listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places, and 4313 has been certified by the department as contributing to the historic 4314 character of such district; 4315 (3) "Nonprofit corporation" means a nonprofit corporation 4316 incorporated pursuant to chapter 602 or any predecessor statutes 4317 thereto, having as one of its purposes the construction, rehabilitation, 4318 ownership or operation of housing and having articles of incorporation 4319 approved by the Commissioner of Economic and Community 4320 Development in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to 4321 section 8-79a or 8-84; 4322 (4) "Owner" means (A) any taxpayer filing a state of Connecticut tax 4323 return who possesses title to an historic home, or prospective title to an 4324 historic home in the form of a purchase agreement or option to 4325 purchase, or (B) a nonprofit corporation that possesses such title or 4326 prospective title; 4327 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 151 of 254 (5) "Qualified rehabilitation expenditures" means any costs incurred 4328 for the physical construction involved in the rehabilitation of an historic 4329 home, but excludes: (A) The owner's personal labor, (B) the cost of site 4330 improvements, unless to provide building access to persons with 4331 disabilities, (C) the cost of a new addition, except as may be required to 4332 comply with any provision of the State Building Code or the Fire Safety 4333 Code, (D) any cost associated with the rehabilitation of an outbuilding, 4334 unless such building contributes to the historical significance of the 4335 historic home, and (E) any nonconstruction cost such as architectural 4336 fees, legal fees and financing fees; 4337 (6) "Rehabilitation plan" means any construction plans and 4338 specifications for the proposed rehabilitation of an historic home in 4339 sufficient detail to enable the department to evaluate compliance with 4340 the standards developed under the provisions of subsections (b), (c) and 4341 (m) of this section; and 4342 (7) "Occupancy period" means a period of five years during which 4343 one or more owners occupy an historic home as such owner's or owners' 4344 primary residence. The occupancy period begins on the date the tax 4345 credit voucher is issued by the Department of Economic and 4346 Community Development. 4347 (b) The Department of Economic and Community Development shall 4348 administer a system of tax credit vouchers within the resources, 4349 requirements and purposes of this section for owners rehabilitating 4350 historic homes or taxpayers making contributions to qualified 4351 rehabilitation expenditures. Any owner shall be eligible for a tax credit 4352 voucher in an amount equal to thirty per cent of the qualified 4353 rehabilitation expenditures. 4354 (c) The department shall develop standards for the approval of 4355 rehabilitation of historic homes for which a tax credit voucher is sought. 4356 Such standards shall take into account whether the rehabilitation of an 4357 historic home will preserve the historic character of the building. 4358 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 152 of 254 (d) Prior to beginning any rehabilitation work on an historic home, 4359 the owner shall submit a rehabilitation plan to the department for a 4360 determination of whether such rehabilitation work meets the standards 4361 developed under the provisions of subsections (b), (c) and (m) of this 4362 section and shall also submit to the department an estimate of the 4363 qualified rehabilitation expenditures. 4364 (e) If the department certifies that the rehabilitation plan conforms to 4365 the standards developed under the provisions of subsections (b), (c) and 4366 (m) of this section, the department shall reserve for the benefit of the 4367 owner an allocation for a tax credit equivalent to thirty per cent of the 4368 projected qualified rehabilitation expenditures. 4369 (f) Following the completion of rehabilitation of an historic home, the 4370 owner shall notify the department that such rehabilitation has been 4371 completed. The owner shall provide the department with 4372 documentation of work performed on the historic home and shall certify 4373 the cost incurred in rehabilitating the home. The department shall 4374 review such rehabilitation and verify its compliance with the 4375 rehabilitation plan. Following such verification, the department shall 4376 issue a tax credit voucher to either the owner rehabilitating the historic 4377 home or to the taxpayer named by the owner as contributing to the 4378 rehabilitation. The tax credit voucher shall be in an amount equivalent 4379 to the lesser of (1) the tax credit reserved upon certification of the 4380 rehabilitation plan under the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, 4381 or (2) thirty per cent of the actual qualified rehabilitation expenditures. 4382 In order to obtain a credit against any state tax due that is specified in 4383 subsection (i) of this section, the holder of the tax credit voucher shall 4384 file the voucher with the holder's state tax return. 4385 (g) Before the department issues a tax credit voucher, the owner shall 4386 deliver a signed statement to the department that provides that: (1) The 4387 owner shall occupy the historic home as the owner's primary residence 4388 during the occupancy period; (2) the owner shall convey the historic 4389 home to a new owner who will occupy it as the new owner's primary 4390 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 153 of 254 residence during the occupancy period; or (3) an encumbrance shall be 4391 recorded, in favor of the local, state or federal government or other 4392 funding source, that will require the owner or the owner's successors to 4393 occupy the historic home as the primary residence of the owner or the 4394 owner's successors for a period equal to or longer than the occupancy 4395 period. A copy of any such encumbrance shall be attached to the signed 4396 statement. 4397 (h) The owner of an historic home shall not be eligible for a tax credit 4398 voucher under subsections (b), (c) and (m) of this section, unless the 4399 owner incurs qualified rehabilitation expenditures exceeding fifteen 4400 thousand dollars. 4401 (i) (1) The Commissioner of Revenue Services shall grant a tax credit: 4402 (A) (i) For a taxpayer holding a tax credit voucher issued prior to 4403 January 1, 2024, under subsections (d) to (h), inclusive, of this section, 4404 against any tax due under chapter 207, 208, 209, 210, 211 or 212 in the 4405 amount specified in the tax credit voucher. 4406 (ii) Any unused portion of such credit under this subparagraph may 4407 be carried forward to any or all of the four income years following the 4408 year in which the tax credit voucher is issued; and 4409 (B) (i) For a taxpayer [described under subparagraph (A) of 4410 subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section] holding a tax credit 4411 voucher issued on or after January 1, 2024, under subsections (d) to (h), 4412 inclusive, of this section, against [the] any tax due under chapter 207, 4413 208, 208a, 209, 210, 211, 212 or 229 in the amount specified in the tax 4414 credit voucher. 4415 (ii) If a taxpayer described under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) 4416 of subsection (a) of this section holding such tax credit voucher claims a 4417 credit against the tax imposed under chapter 229 and the amount of the 4418 tax credit voucher exceeds the taxpayer's liability for [the] such tax, 4419 [imposed under chapter 229,] the Commissioner of Revenue Services 4420 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 154 of 254 shall treat such excess as an overpayment and, except as provided under 4421 section 12-739 or 12-742, shall refund the amount of such excess, without 4422 interest, to the taxpayer. [; and] 4423 [(C) (i) For an owner that is a nonprofit corporation holding a tax 4424 credit voucher issued on or after January 1, 2024, under subsections (d) 4425 to (h), inclusive, of this section, against the tax due under chapter 208a 4426 in the amount specified in the tax credit voucher.] 4427 [(ii) Any] (iii) If a taxpayer holding such tax credit voucher claims a 4428 credit against any tax imposed under chapter 207, 208, 208a, 209, 210, 4429 211 or 212, any unused portion of such credit under this subparagraph 4430 may be carried forward to any or all of the four income years following 4431 the year in which the tax credit voucher is issued. 4432 (2) The Department of Economic and Community Development shall 4433 provide a copy of the voucher to the Commissioner of Revenue Services 4434 upon the request of said commissioner. 4435 (j) A credit allowed under this section shall not exceed thirty 4436 thousand dollars per dwelling unit for an historic home, except that 4437 such credit shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars per such dwelling 4438 unit for an owner that is a nonprofit corporation. 4439 (k) The tax credit granted under subsection (i) of this section shall be 4440 taken in the same tax year in which the tax credit voucher is issued. 4441 (l) The aggregate amount of all tax credits that may be reserved by 4442 the Department of Economic and Community Development upon 4443 certification of rehabilitation plans under subsections (b) to (d), 4444 inclusive, of this section shall not exceed three million dollars in any one 4445 fiscal year. On and after July 1, 2015, seventy per cent of the tax credits 4446 reserved pursuant to this section shall be for owners rehabilitating 4447 historic homes that are located in a regional center as designated in the 4448 state plan of conservation and development adopted by the General 4449 Assembly pursuant to section 16a-30 or taxpayers making contributions 4450 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 155 of 254 to qualified rehabilitation expenditures on historic homes that are 4451 located in a regional center as designated in the state plan of 4452 conservation and development adopted by the General Assembly 4453 pursuant to section 16a-30. 4454 (m) The Department of Economic and Community Development 4455 may, in consultation with the Commissioner of Revenue Services, adopt 4456 regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of 4457 this section. 4458 Sec. 129. Subsections (c) and (d) of section 4 of public act 07-196 are 4459 repealed and the following are substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 4460 passage): 4461 (c) The district and all its receipts, revenues, income and real and 4462 personal property shall be exempt from taxation and benefit 4463 assessments and the district shall not be required to pay any tax, excise 4464 or assessment to or from the state of Connecticut or any of its political 4465 subdivisions. The principal and interest on bonds or notes issued by the 4466 district shall be free from taxation at all times, except for estate and gift, 4467 franchise and excise taxes, imposed by the state of Connecticut or any 4468 political subdivision thereof, provided nothing in this section shall act 4469 to limit or restrict the ability of the state of Connecticut or the town of 4470 Redding to tax the individuals and entities, or their real or personal 4471 property or any person living or business operating within the 4472 boundaries of the district. The town of Redding and all its receipts, 4473 revenues, income and real and personal property shall be exempt from 4474 taxes and benefit assessments imposed by the district and shall not be 4475 required to pay any tax, fee, rent, excise or assessment to the district. 4476 (d) Special act 05-14, as amended by section 2 of public act 06-163, 4477 [and this act] sections 1 to 3, inclusive, of public act 07-196 and section 4478 51 of public act 21-2 of the June special session, being necessary for the 4479 public interest, shall be liberally construed to affect the purposes hereof. 4480 Sec. 130. (Effective from passage) Not later than July 1, 2024, and 4481 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 156 of 254 biweekly thereafter until September 30, 2024, the Commissioner of 4482 Economic and Community Development shall report, in accordance 4483 with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 4484 standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 4485 matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies 4486 concerning the Department of Economic and Community 4487 Development's use of federal funds received under the American 4488 Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2. Such report shall include, but need 4489 not be limited to, (1) the department's allotment of such funds, (2) the 4490 status of obligating such funds, (3) a list of parties with whom contracts 4491 have been entered into with the department, (4) a description of the 4492 terms of each contract, and (5) the current status of each contract. 4493 Sec. 131. Subsection (a) of section 10-220 of the 2024 supplement to 4494 the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 4495 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 4496 (a) Each local or regional board of education shall maintain good 4497 public elementary and secondary schools, implement the educational 4498 interests of the state, as defined in section 10-4a, and provide such other 4499 educational activities as in its judgment will best serve the interests of 4500 the school district; provided any board of education may secure such 4501 opportunities in another school district in accordance with provisions of 4502 the general statutes and shall give all the children of the school district, 4503 including children receiving alternative education, as defined in section 4504 10-74j, as nearly equal advantages as may be practicable; shall provide 4505 an appropriate learning environment for all its students which includes 4506 (1) adequate instructional books, supplies, materials, equipment, 4507 staffing, facilities and technology, (2) equitable allocation of resources 4508 among its schools, (3) proper maintenance of facilities, and (4) a safe 4509 school setting; shall, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (f) 4510 of this section, maintain records of allegations, investigations and 4511 reports that a child has been abused or neglected by a school employee, 4512 as defined in section 53a-65, employed by the local or regional board of 4513 education; shall have charge of the schools of its respective school 4514 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 157 of 254 district; shall make a continuing study of the need for school facilities 4515 and of a long-term school building program and from time to time make 4516 recommendations based on such study to the town; shall adopt and 4517 implement an indoor air quality program that provides for ongoing 4518 maintenance and facility reviews necessary for the maintenance and 4519 improvement of the indoor air quality of its facilities; shall adopt and 4520 implement a green cleaning program, pursuant to section 10-231g, that 4521 provides for the procurement and use of environmentally preferable 4522 cleaning products in school buildings and facilities; on and after July 1, 4523 2021, and every five years thereafter, shall report to the Commissioner 4524 of Administrative Services on the condition of its facilities and the action 4525 taken to implement its long-term school building program, indoor air 4526 quality program and green cleaning program, which report the 4527 Commissioner of Administrative Services shall use to prepare a report 4528 every five years that said commissioner shall submit in accordance with 4529 section 11-4a to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 4530 having cognizance of matters relating to education; shall advise the 4531 Commissioner of Administrative Services of the relationship between 4532 any individual school building project pursuant to chapter 173 and such 4533 long-term school building program; shall have the care, maintenance 4534 and operation of buildings, lands, apparatus and other property used 4535 for school purposes and at all times shall insure all such buildings and 4536 all capital equipment contained therein against loss in an amount not 4537 less than eighty per cent of replacement cost; shall determine the 4538 number, age and qualifications of the pupils to be admitted into each 4539 school; shall develop and implement a written increasing educator 4540 diversity plan for purposes of subdivision (3) of section 10-4a; shall 4541 employ and dismiss the teachers of the schools of such district subject 4542 to the provisions of sections 10-151 and 10-158a; shall designate the 4543 schools which shall be attended by the various children within the 4544 school district; shall make such provisions as will enable each child of 4545 school age residing in the district to attend some public day school for 4546 the period required by law and provide for the transportation of 4547 children wherever transportation is reasonable and desirable, and for 4548 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 158 of 254 such purpose may make contracts covering periods of not more than (A) 4549 five years, or (B) ten years if such contract includes transportation 4550 provided by at least one zero-emission school bus, as defined in 42 USC 4551 16091(a)(8), as amended from time to time; may provide alternative 4552 education, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-74j, or place 4553 in another suitable educational program a pupil enrolling in school who 4554 is nineteen years of age or older and cannot acquire a sufficient number 4555 of credits for graduation by age twenty-one; may arrange with the board 4556 of education of an adjacent town for the instruction therein of such 4557 children as can attend school in such adjacent town more conveniently; 4558 shall cause each child five years of age and over and under eighteen 4559 years of age who is not a high school graduate and is living in the school 4560 district to attend school in accordance with the provisions of section 10- 4561 184; [,] shall not delegate the authority to schedule interscholastic 4562 football games on Thanksgiving Day to any nonprofit organization or 4563 other entity that is otherwise responsible for governing interscholastic 4564 athletics in this state and shall not adopt a policy or prohibition against 4565 the scheduling of an interscholastic football game on Thanksgiving Day; 4566 and shall perform all acts required of it by the town or necessary to carry 4567 into effect the powers and duties imposed by law. 4568 Sec. 132. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) As used in this section and 4569 sections 133 to 135, inclusive, of this act: 4570 (1) "Photo noise violation monitoring device" means one or more 4571 mobile or fixed vehicle sensors that (A) are installed to work in 4572 conjunction with one or more noise measuring apparatuses, such as a 4573 decibel reader, and (B) automatically produce two or more 4574 photographs, two or more microphotographs, a videotape or other 4575 recorded images of each motor vehicle allegedly operating in violation 4576 of an ordinance adopted under section 133 of this act. 4577 (2) "Photo noise violation monitoring device operator" means a 4578 person who is trained and certified to operate a photo noise violation 4579 monitoring device. 4580 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 159 of 254 (3) "Personally identifiable information" means information created 4581 or maintained by the municipality or a vendor that identifies or 4582 describes an owner of a motor vehicle and includes, but need not be 4583 limited to, the owner's address, telephone number, number plate, 4584 photograph, bank account information, credit card number, debit card 4585 number or the date, time, location or direction of travel on a highway in 4586 such municipality. 4587 (4) "Vendor" means a person who (A) provides services to a 4588 municipality under section 133 of this act pursuant to an agreement; (B) 4589 operates, maintains, leases or licenses a photo noise violation 4590 monitoring device; or (C) is authorized to review and assemble the 4591 recorded images captured by a photo noise violation monitoring device 4592 and forward such recorded images to the municipality. 4593 (5) "Motor vehicle", "highway" and "number plate" have the same 4594 meanings as provided in section 14-1 of the general statutes. 4595 (6) "Law enforcement unit" has the same meaning as provided in 4596 section 7-294a of the general statutes. 4597 Sec. 133. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) Any municipality may, by 4598 ordinance, authorize the use of photo noise violation monitoring 4599 devices at locations in such municipality. Any such ordinance shall 4600 specify the following: (1) That a photo noise violation monitoring device 4601 shall be operated by a photo noise violation monitoring device operator; 4602 (2) that the owner of a motor vehicle commits a violation of the 4603 ordinance if the person operating such motor vehicle on a highway or 4604 other location causes such motor vehicle to emit a sound of eighty 4605 decibels or more and such sound is not caused by a horn described in 4606 subsection (e) of section 14-80 of the general statutes; (3) the owner of a 4607 motor vehicle identified by a photo noise violation monitoring device as 4608 violating the ordinance shall (A) for a first violation, receive a written 4609 warning, (B) for a second violation, be fined one hundred dollars, and 4610 (C) for a third or subsequent violation, be fined two hundred fifty 4611 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 160 of 254 dollars; (4) payment of a fine and any associated processing fee, not to 4612 exceed fifteen dollars, may be made by electronic means; (5) a sworn 4613 member of a law enforcement unit or a municipal employee shall review 4614 and approve the recorded images before a citation is mailed to the 4615 owner of such motor vehicle; and (6) the defenses available to the owner 4616 of a motor vehicle allegedly committing a violation of such ordinance, 4617 which shall include, but need not be limited to, the defenses listed in 4618 subsection (g) of this section. Any municipality that adopts an ordinance 4619 under this section shall also adopt a citation hearing procedure pursuant 4620 to section 7-152c of the general statutes. Any funds received by a 4621 municipality from fines imposed pursuant to such ordinance may be 4622 used to pay the costs associated with the use of photo noise violation 4623 monitoring devices in the municipality. 4624 (b) The municipality may enter into agreements with vendors for the 4625 installation, operation or maintenance, or any combination thereof, of a 4626 photo noise violation monitoring device. If a vendor installs, operates or 4627 maintains a photo noise violation monitoring device, the vendor's fee 4628 shall not be contingent on the number of citations issued or fines paid 4629 pursuant to an ordinance adopted under this section. 4630 (c) (1) The municipality shall make efforts to randomize the locations 4631 of any photo noise violation monitoring devices throughout such 4632 municipality. 4633 (2) A photo noise violation monitoring device shall, to the extent 4634 possible, be installed in a manner to only record images of the number 4635 plate of a motor vehicle, and shall not, to the extent possible, record 4636 images of the occupants of such motor vehicle or of any other persons 4637 or vehicles in the vicinity at the time the images are recorded. 4638 (d) A photo noise violation monitoring device operator shall 4639 complete training offered by the manufacturer of such device or the 4640 manufacturer's representative regarding procedures for operating such 4641 device. The manufacturer or manufacturer's representative shall issue a 4642 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 161 of 254 signed certificate to the photo noise violation monitoring device 4643 operator upon such operator's completion of the training. Such signed 4644 certificate shall be admitted as evidence in any hearing conducted 4645 pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes. 4646 (e) The municipality shall ensure each photo noise violation 4647 monitoring device used by such municipality undergoes an annual 4648 calibration check performed at a calibration laboratory. The calibration 4649 laboratory shall issue a signed certificate of calibration after the annual 4650 calibration check. Such signed certificate of calibration shall be kept on 4651 file and admitted as evidence in any hearing conducted pursuant to 4652 section 7-152c of the general statutes. 4653 (f) (1) Whenever a photo noise violation monitoring device detects 4654 and produces recorded images of a motor vehicle allegedly committing 4655 a violation of an ordinance adopted under this section, a sworn member 4656 of a law enforcement unit or a municipal employee shall review the 4657 recorded images provided by such device. If, after such review, such 4658 member or employee determines that there are reasonable grounds to 4659 believe that a violation of the ordinance has occurred, such member or 4660 employee may issue a citation to the owner of the motor vehicle. The 4661 citation shall include the following: (A) The name and address of the 4662 owner of the motor vehicle; (B) the number plate of the motor vehicle; 4663 (C) the violation charged; (D) the location of the photo noise violation 4664 monitoring device and the date and time of the violation; (E) a copy of 4665 or information on how to view, through electronic means, the recorded 4666 images of the violation; (F) a statement or electronically generated 4667 affirmation by the member or employee who reviewed the recorded 4668 images and determined that the motor vehicle violated the ordinance; 4669 (G) verification that the photo noise violation monitoring device was 4670 operating correctly at the time of the alleged violation and the date of 4671 the most recent calibration check performed pursuant to subsection (e) 4672 of this section; (H) the amount of the fine imposed and how to pay such 4673 fine; and (I) the right to contest the violation and request a hearing 4674 pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes. 4675 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 162 of 254 (2) (A) In the case of an alleged violation involving a motor vehicle 4676 registered in the state, the citation shall be mailed to the address of the 4677 owner that is in the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles not 4678 later than thirty days after the identity of the owner is ascertained, 4679 provided a citation shall be invalid unless mailed to the owner not later 4680 than sixty days after the date of the alleged violation. (B) In the case of 4681 an alleged violation involving a motor vehicle registered in another 4682 jurisdiction, the citation shall be mailed to the address of the owner that 4683 is in the records of the official in the other jurisdiction issuing such 4684 registration not later than thirty days after the identity of the owner is 4685 ascertained, provided a citation shall be invalid unless mailed to the 4686 owner not later than sixty days after the date of the alleged violation. 4687 (3) The citation shall be sent by first class mail. A manual or 4688 automated record of mailing prepared by the municipality shall be 4689 prima facie evidence of mailing and shall be admissible in any hearing 4690 conducted pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes, as to the 4691 facts contained in the citation. 4692 (g) The following defenses shall be available to the owner of a motor 4693 vehicle who is alleged to have committed a violation of such ordinance 4694 adopted under this section: (1) The operator was driving an emergency 4695 vehicle, as defined in section 14-283 of the general statutes, and making 4696 use of an audible warning signal device, including, but not limited to, a 4697 siren, whistle or bell which meets the requirements of subsection (f) of 4698 section 14-80 of the general statutes; (2) the violation took place during 4699 a period of time in which the motor vehicle had been reported as being 4700 stolen to a law enforcement unit and had not been recovered prior to the 4701 time of the violation; (3) the photo noise violation monitoring device 4702 was not in compliance with the calibration check required pursuant to 4703 subsection (e) of this section; (4) the violation took place because the 4704 muffler in the motor vehicle was not in good working condition and the 4705 owner of the motor vehicle presents proof at a hearing conducted 4706 pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes that such muffler was 4707 replaced or repaired not later than fourteen days from the date of the 4708 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 163 of 254 violation; or (5) the owner of the motor vehicle presents proof at a 4709 hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes that 4710 the owner submitted the motor vehicle for inspection at a facility 4711 designated by the Department of Motor Vehicles and such vehicle was 4712 found to not emit a sound of eighty decibels or more when in operation. 4713 Sec. 134. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) No personally identifiable 4714 information shall be disclosed by the municipality or a vendor to any 4715 person or entity, including any law enforcement unit, except where the 4716 disclosure is made in connection with the charging, collection and 4717 enforcement of the fines imposed pursuant to an ordinance adopted 4718 under section 133 of this act. 4719 (b) No personally identifiable information shall be stored or retained 4720 by the municipality or a vendor unless such information is necessary for 4721 the charging, collection and enforcement of the fines imposed pursuant 4722 to an ordinance adopted under section 133 of this act. 4723 (c) Any information and other data gathered from a photo noise 4724 violation monitoring device shall be subject to disclosure under the 4725 Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200 of the general 4726 statutes, except no personally identifiable information may be disclosed. 4727 Sec. 135. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) Commencing one year from 4728 the date a photo noise violation monitoring device is operational in a 4729 municipality, and every year thereafter until a photo noise violation 4730 monitoring device is no longer operational in the municipality, the 4731 municipality shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 4732 section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of 4733 the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, 4734 revenue and bonding. Such report shall include, but need not be limited 4735 to: (1) The total number of violations recorded by each photo noise 4736 violation monitoring device on a daily, weekly and monthly basis; (2) 4737 the total number of warnings and citations issued for violations 4738 recorded by each such device; (3) the number of hearings requested 4739 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 164 of 254 pursuant to section 7-152c and the results of any such hearings; (4) the 4740 amount of revenue from the fines and associated processing fees 4741 retained by the municipality; and (5) the cost to the municipality to use 4742 such devices. 4743 Sec. 136. Subsection (c) of section 7-152c of the 2024 supplement to the 4744 general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 4745 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 4746 (c) Any such municipality, at any time within twelve months from 4747 the expiration of the final period for the uncontested payment of fines, 4748 penalties, costs or fees for any citation issued under any ordinance 4749 adopted pursuant to section 7-148, 14-307c, [or] 22a-226d or section 133 4750 of this act, for an alleged violation thereof, shall send notice to the person 4751 cited. Such notice shall inform the person cited: (1) Of the allegations 4752 against such person and the amount of the fines, penalties, costs or fees 4753 due; (2) that such person may contest such person's liability before a 4754 citation hearing officer by delivering in person or by mail written notice 4755 within ten days of the date thereof; (3) that if such person does not 4756 demand such a hearing, an assessment and judgment shall be entered 4757 against such person; and (4) that such judgment may issue without 4758 further notice. For purposes of this section, notice shall be presumed to 4759 have been properly sent if such notice was mailed to such person's last- 4760 known address on file with the tax collector. If the person to whom such 4761 notice is issued is a registrant, the municipality may deliver such notice 4762 in accordance with section 7-148ii, provided nothing in this section shall 4763 preclude a municipality from providing notice in another manner 4764 permitted by applicable law. 4765 Sec. 137. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2025) (a) For purposes of this 4766 section, "valuation allowance" means the portion of a deferred tax asset 4767 for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized, 4768 as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting 4769 principles. 4770 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 165 of 254 (b) (1) Any combined group that is described under subsection (b) of 4771 section 12-218g of the general statutes, is claiming the deduction under 4772 subsection (d) of said section and did not include in the computation of 4773 such deduction the impact of any valuation allowance arising from the 4774 enactment of sections 12-218e and 12-218f of the general statutes, shall 4775 be eligible for the deduction under this subsection. 4776 (2) If the provisions of sections 12-218e and 12-218f of the general 4777 statutes resulted in an aggregate decrease in the amount of net operating 4778 losses or tax credits a combined group's members may realize in the 4779 state and a valuation allowance was reported in accordance with 4780 generally accepted accounting principles, the combined group shall be 4781 entitled to a deduction as determined under this subsection. 4782 (3) For the thirty-year period beginning with a combined group's first 4783 income year that begins in 2026, a combined group entitled to a 4784 deduction under this subsection shall deduct from combined group net 4785 income an amount equal to one-thirtieth of the amount necessary to 4786 offset the increase in the valuation allowance against net operating 4787 losses and tax credits in the state, as computed in accordance with 4788 generally accepted accounting principles, that resulted from the 4789 enactment of sections 12-218e and 12-218f of the general statutes. Such 4790 increase in valuation allowance shall be computed based on the change 4791 in valuation allowance that was reported in the combined group's 4792 financial statements for the income year commencing on or after 4793 January 1, 2016, but prior to January 1, 2017. 4794 (c) The deduction computed under subsection (b) of this section shall 4795 not be reduced as a result of any events happening subsequent to such 4796 computation, including, but not limited to, any disposition or 4797 abandonment of assets. Such deduction shall not alter the tax basis of 4798 any asset. If the deduction under subsection (b) of this section is greater 4799 than the combined group net income, any excess deduction shall be 4800 carried forward and applied as a deduction to combined group net 4801 income in future income years until fully utilized. 4802 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 166 of 254 (d) Any combined group intending to claim a deduction under this 4803 section shall file a statement with the Commissioner of Revenue Services 4804 on or before July 1, 2025, specifying the total amount of the deduction 4805 the combined group claims. The statement shall be made on such form 4806 and in such manner as prescribed by the commissioner and shall contain 4807 such information or computations as the commissioner may specify. No 4808 deduction shall be allowed under this section for any income year 4809 except to the extent claimed on or before July 1, 2025, in the manner 4810 prescribed. Nothing in this subsection shall limit the authority of the 4811 commissioner to review or redetermine the proper amount of any 4812 deduction claimed, whether on the statement required under this 4813 subsection or on a tax return for any income year. 4814 Sec. 138. Section 21a-420n of the 2024 supplement to the general 4815 statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 4816 (Effective from passage): 4817 (a) On and after July 1, 2021, the department may issue or renew a 4818 license for a person to be a cultivator. No person may act as a cultivator 4819 or represent that such person is a licensed cultivator unless such person 4820 has obtained a license from the department pursuant to this section. 4821 (b) (1) A cultivator is authorized to cultivate, grow and propagate 4822 cannabis at an establishment containing not less than fifteen thousand 4823 square feet of grow space, provided such cultivator complies with the 4824 provisions of any regulations adopted under section 21a-420q 4825 concerning grow space. A cultivator establishment shall meet physical 4826 security controls and protocols set forth and required by the 4827 commissioner. 4828 (2) (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 4829 subsection, during the period beginning on the effective date of this 4830 section through December 31, 2025, the department may grant a final 4831 cultivator license to the holder of a provisional cultivator license issued 4832 under section 21a-420o who has not developed the capability to 4833 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 167 of 254 cultivate, grow and propagate cannabis at an establishment containing 4834 at least fifteen thousand square feet of grow space, and such holder may 4835 carry out the functions of a cultivator, if such holder submits to the 4836 department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner: 4837 (i) A completed application for a final cultivator license; and 4838 (ii) Evidence that (I) such holder's licensed cultivation facility 4839 contains at least five thousand square feet of grow space, (II) such 4840 holder, and such holder's licensed cultivation facility, are in compliance 4841 with the provisions of this chapter and the regulations adopted, and 4842 policies and procedures issued, under this chapter, (III) such holder has 4843 a detailed business plan and buildout schedule to cultivate, grow and 4844 propagate cannabis at a licensed establishment containing at least 4845 fifteen thousand square feet of grow space on or before December 31, 4846 2025, and (IV) such holder has paid the three-million-dollar fee required 4847 under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 21a-420o. 4848 (B) If the department issues a final cultivator license under this 4849 subdivision, and the licensee fails to cultivate, grow and propagate 4850 cannabis at a licensed establishment containing at least fifteen thousand 4851 square feet of grow space on or before December 31, 2025, such licensee 4852 shall pay to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the 4853 commissioner, an extension fee in the amount of five hundred dollars 4854 for each day that such licensee's licensed establishment fails to satisfy 4855 such minimum grow space requirement. The department may, in 4856 addition to imposing such extension fee, exercise the department's 4857 enforcement authority under section 21a-421p if the licensee fails to 4858 satisfy such minimum grow space requirement on or before December 4859 31, 2025. 4860 (c) A cultivator may label, manufacture, package and perform 4861 extractions on any cannabis cultivated, grown or propagated at its 4862 licensed establishment, including food and beverage products 4863 incorporating cannabis and cannabis concentrates, provided the 4864 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 168 of 254 cultivator meets all licensure and application requirements for a food 4865 and beverage manufacturer and a product manufacturer. 4866 (d) A cultivator may sell, transfer or transport its cannabis to a 4867 dispensary facility, hybrid retailer, retailer, food and beverage 4868 manufacturer, product manufacturer, research program, cannabis 4869 testing laboratory or product packager utilizing its own employees or a 4870 transporter. A cultivator shall not sell, transfer or deliver to consumers, 4871 qualifying patients or caregivers, directly or through a delivery service. 4872 Sec. 139. Section 21a-420d of the 2024 supplement to the general 4873 statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 4874 (Effective from passage): 4875 (a) There is established a Social Equity Council, which shall be within 4876 the Department of Economic and Community Development for 4877 administrative purposes only. 4878 (b) The [council] Social Equity Council shall consist of [fifteen] 4879 seventeen members as follows: 4880 (1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 4881 who has a professional background of not less than five years working 4882 in the field of either social justice or civil rights; 4883 (2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who 4884 has a professional background of not less than five years working in the 4885 field of either social justice or civil rights; 4886 (3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 4887 Representatives, who has a professional background of not less than five 4888 years working in the field of economic development to help minority- 4889 owned businesses; 4890 (4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who has a 4891 professional background of not less than five years in providing access 4892 to capital to minorities, as defined in section 32-9n; 4893 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 169 of 254 (5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 4894 Representatives, who is from a community that has been 4895 disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement; 4896 (6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who has a 4897 professional background of not less than five years in providing access 4898 to capital to minorities, as defined in section 32-9n; 4899 [(7) One appointed by the chairperson of the Black and Puerto Rican 4900 Caucus of the General Assembly;] 4901 (7) Two appointed by the chairperson of the Black and Puerto Rican 4902 Caucus of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be designated by 4903 the chairperson of the Black Caucus of the General Assembly and one of 4904 whom shall be designated by the chairperson of the Puerto Rican and 4905 Latino Caucus of the General Assembly; 4906 (8) [Four] Five appointed by the Governor, one who is from a 4907 community that has been disproportionately harmed by cannabis 4908 prohibition and enforcement, one who has a professional background 4909 of not less than five years working in the field of economic development 4910 and one who is an executive branch official focused on workforce 4911 development; 4912 (9) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's 4913 designee; 4914 (10) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, 4915 or the commissioner's designee; 4916 (11) The State Treasurer, or the State Treasurer's designee; and 4917 (12) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 4918 secretary's designee. 4919 (c) (1) In making the appointments in subsection (b) of this section, 4920 the appointing authority shall use best efforts to make appointments 4921 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 170 of 254 that reflect the racial, gender and geographic diversity of the population 4922 of the state. [All appointments shall be made not later than July 30, 2021, 4923 and the Governor shall appoint the chairperson of the council from 4924 among the members of the council.] 4925 (2) Members appointed by the Governor shall serve a term of four 4926 years from the time of appointment and members appointed by any 4927 other appointing authority shall serve a term of three years from the 4928 time of appointment. The appointing authority shall fill any vacancy for 4929 the unexpired term. 4930 (3) (A) The Governor shall appoint an interim executive director to 4931 operationalize and support the [council] Social Equity Council until, 4932 notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-9a, the council appoints an 4933 executive director. Subject to the provisions of chapter 67, and within 4934 available appropriations, the council may thereafter appoint an 4935 executive director and such other employees as may be necessary for the 4936 discharge of the duties of the council. 4937 (B) Not later than July 1, 2024, the council shall adopt bylaws 4938 specifying which duties are retained by the members of the council and 4939 which duties are delegated to the executive director. 4940 (C) The council may, by a simple majority vote of the members of the 4941 council, take any formal personnel action concerning the executive 4942 director for any reason. 4943 (D) In addition to the council's authority under subparagraph (C) of 4944 this subdivision, if a final review board consisting of the chairperson 4945 and the members of the council appointed under subdivisions (1), (2), 4946 (5) and (6) of subsection (b) of this section determines, by a simple 4947 majority vote of the members of the final review board, that removing 4948 the executive director is in the best interest of serving the council's 4949 mission, such final review board shall issue a letter to the council 4950 recommending that the council remove the executive director. 4951 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 171 of 254 (4) The Governor shall appoint the chairperson of the council from 4952 among the members of the council. The chairperson shall directly 4953 supervise, establish annual goals for and conduct an annual 4954 performance review of the executive director. 4955 (5) The chairperson and executive director shall jointly develop, and 4956 the council shall review and approve, (A) the budgetary information 4957 that the council is required to annually submit to the Secretary of the 4958 Office of Policy and Management pursuant to subdivision (2) of 4959 subsection (c) of section 21a-420f, (B) allocations of moneys in the social 4960 equity and innovation account, established under section 21a-420f, that 4961 the council determines, under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of 4962 subsection (b) of section 21a-420f, further the principles of equity, as 4963 defined in section 21a-420, and (C) any plans for expenditures to 4964 provide (i) access to capital for businesses, (ii) technical assistance for 4965 the start-up and operation of a business, (iii) funding for workforce 4966 education, (iv) funding for community investments, and (v) funding for 4967 investments in disproportionately impacted areas. 4968 (d) A majority of the members of the [council] Social Equity Council 4969 shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. The 4970 members of the council shall serve without compensation, but shall, 4971 within available appropriations, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily 4972 incurred in the performance of their duties. Any member who fails to 4973 attend three consecutive meetings held after May 24, 2022, or who fails 4974 to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year 4975 beginning on or after January 1, 2023, shall be deemed to have resigned 4976 from office. The appointing authority shall fill the vacancy for the 4977 unexpired term of any member who is deemed to have resigned from 4978 office under this subsection, and shall use best efforts to ensure such 4979 appointment reflects the racial, gender and geographic diversity of the 4980 population of the state. 4981 (e) The [council] Social Equity Council may (1) request, and shall 4982 receive, from any state agency such information and assistance as the 4983 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 172 of 254 council may require, [;] (2) use such funds as may be available from 4984 federal, state or other sources and may enter into contracts to carry out 4985 the purposes of the council, including, but not limited to, contracts or 4986 agreements with Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, constituent 4987 units of the state system of higher education, regional workforce 4988 development boards and community development financial 4989 institutions, [;] (3) utilize voluntary and uncompensated services of 4990 private individuals, state or federal agencies and organizations as may, 4991 from time to time, be offered and needed, [;] (4) accept any gift, donation 4992 or bequest for the purpose of performing the duties of the council, [;] (5) 4993 hold public hearings, [;] (6) establish such standing committees, as 4994 necessary, to perform the duties of the council, [;] and (7) adopt 4995 regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as [it] the council may deem 4996 necessary to carry out the duties of the council. 4997 (f) The [council] Social Equity Council shall promote and encourage 4998 full participation in the cannabis industry by persons from communities 4999 that have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and 5000 enforcement. 5001 (g) Not later than forty-five days after June 22, 2021, or at a later date 5002 determined by the [council] Social Equity Council, the council shall 5003 establish criteria for proposals to conduct a study under this section and 5004 the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall post on the 5005 State Contracting Portal a request for proposals to conduct a study, and 5006 shall select an independent third party to conduct such study and 5007 provide detailed findings of fact regarding the following matters in the 5008 state or other matters determined by the council: 5009 (1) Historical and present-day social, economic and familial 5010 consequences of cannabis prohibition, the criminalization and 5011 stigmatization of cannabis use and related public policies; 5012 (2) Historical and present-day structures, patterns, causes and 5013 consequences of intentional and unintentional racial discrimination and 5014 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 173 of 254 racial disparities in the development, application and enforcement of 5015 cannabis prohibition and related public policies; 5016 (3) Foreseeable long-term social, economic and familial consequences 5017 of unremedied past racial discrimination and disparities arising from 5018 past and continued cannabis prohibition, stigmatization and 5019 criminalization; 5020 (4) Existing patterns of racial discrimination and racial disparities in 5021 access to entrepreneurship, employment and other economic benefits 5022 arising in the lawful palliative use cannabis sector as established 5023 pursuant to chapter 420f; and 5024 (5) Any other matters that the council deems relevant and feasible for 5025 study for the purpose of making reasonable and practical 5026 recommendations for the establishment of an equitable and lawful 5027 adult-use cannabis business sector in this state. 5028 (h) Not later than January 1, 2022, the [council] Social Equity Council 5029 shall, taking into account the results of the study conducted in 5030 accordance with subsection (g) of this section, make written 5031 recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to 5032 the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General 5033 Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and 5034 bonding, consumer protection and the judiciary regarding legislation to 5035 implement the provisions of this section. The council shall make 5036 recommendations regarding: 5037 (1) Creating programs to ensure that individuals from communities 5038 that have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and 5039 enforcement are provided equal access to licenses for cannabis 5040 establishments; 5041 (2) Specifying additional qualifications for social equity applicants; 5042 (3) Providing for expedited or priority license processing for each 5043 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 174 of 254 license as a retailer, hybrid retailer, cultivator, micro-cultivator, product 5044 manufacturer, food and beverage manufacturer, product packager, 5045 transporter and delivery service license for social equity applicants; 5046 (4) Establishing minimum criteria for any cannabis establishment 5047 licensed on or after January 1, 2022, that is not owned by a social equity 5048 applicant, to comply with an approved workforce development plan to 5049 reinvest or provide employment and training opportunities for 5050 individuals in disproportionately impacted areas; 5051 (5) Establishing criteria for a social equity plan for any cannabis 5052 establishment licensed on or after January 1, 2022, to further the 5053 principles of equity, as defined in section 21a-420; 5054 (6) Recruiting individuals from communities that have been 5055 disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement to 5056 enroll in the workforce training program established pursuant to section 5057 21a-421g; 5058 (7) Potential uses for revenue generated under RERACA to further 5059 equity; 5060 (8) Encouraging participation of investors, cannabis establishments, 5061 and entrepreneurs in the cannabis business accelerator program 5062 established pursuant to section 21a-421f; 5063 (9) Establishing a process to best ensure that social equity applicants 5064 have access to the capital and training needed to own and operate a 5065 cannabis establishment; and 5066 (10) Developing a vendor list of women-owned and minority-owned 5067 businesses that cannabis establishments may contract with for necessary 5068 services, including, but not limited to, office supplies, information 5069 technology infrastructure and cleaning services. 5070 (i) (1) Not later than August 1, 2021, and annually thereafter until July 5071 31, 2023, the [council] Social Equity Council shall use the most recent 5072 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 175 of 254 five-year United States Census Bureau American Community Survey 5073 estimates or any successor data to determine one or more United States 5074 census tracts in the state that are a disproportionately impacted area and 5075 shall publish a list of such tracts on the council's Internet web site. 5076 (2) Not later than August 1, 2023, the council shall use poverty rate 5077 data from the most recent five-year United States Census Bureau 5078 American Community Survey estimates, population data from the most 5079 recent decennial census and conviction information from databases 5080 managed by the Department of Emergency Services and Public 5081 Protection to identify all United States census tracts in the state that are 5082 disproportionately impacted areas and shall publish a list of such tracts 5083 on the council's Internet web site. In identifying which census tracts in 5084 this state are disproportionately impacted areas and preparing such list, 5085 the council shall: 5086 (A) Not deem any census tract with a poverty rate that is less than the 5087 state-wide poverty rate to be a disproportionately impacted area; 5088 (B) After eliminating the census tracts described in subparagraph (A) 5089 of this subdivision, rank the remaining census tracts in order from the 5090 census tract with the greatest historical conviction rate for drug-related 5091 offenses to the census tract with the lowest historical conviction rate for 5092 drug-related offenses; and 5093 (C) Include census tracts in the order of rank described in 5094 subparagraph (B) of this subdivision until including the next census 5095 tract would cause the total population of all included census tracts to 5096 exceed twenty-five per cent of the state's population. 5097 (j) After developing criteria for workforce development plans as 5098 described in subdivision (4) of subsection (h) of this section, the [council] 5099 Social Equity Council shall review and approve or deny in writing any 5100 such plan submitted by a producer under section 21a-420l or a hybrid- 5101 retailer under section 21a-420u. 5102 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 176 of 254 (k) The [council] Social Equity Council shall develop criteria for 5103 evaluating the ownership and control of any equity joint venture created 5104 under section 21a-420m, 21a-420u or 21a-420j and shall review and 5105 approve or deny in writing such equity joint venture prior to such equity 5106 joint venture being licensed under section 21a-420m, 21a-420u or 21a- 5107 420j. [After developing criteria for social equity plans as described in 5108 subdivision (5) of subsection (h) of this section, the council shall review 5109 and approve or deny in writing any such plan submitted by a cannabis 5110 establishment as part of its final license application.] The council shall 5111 not approve any equity joint venture applicant which shares with an 5112 equity joint venture any individual owner who meets the criteria 5113 established in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision (50) of section 5114 21a-420. 5115 (l) The Social Equity Council shall, upon receipt of funds from 5116 producers in accordance with subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of section 5117 21a-420l, develop a program to assist social equity applicants to open 5118 not more than two micro-cultivator establishment businesses in total. 5119 Producers shall provide mentorship to such social equity applicants. 5120 The [Social Equity Council] council shall, with the department, 5121 determine a system to select social equity applicants to participate in 5122 such program without participating in a lottery or request for proposals. 5123 (m) (1) The Social Equity Council shall review and either approve or 5124 deny, in writing, any social equity plan submitted by a cannabis 5125 establishment as part of the cannabis establishment's final license 5126 application. The council shall approve or deny such social equity plan 5127 not later than thirty days after such social equity plan is submitted to 5128 the council. If the council denies any such social equity plan, the 5129 applicant may revise and resubmit such social equity plan without 5130 prejudice. 5131 (2) Not later than July 1, 2024, the council shall update the criteria for 5132 social equity plans described in subdivision (5) of subsection (h) of this 5133 section to include a specific, points-based rubric to evaluate social equity 5134 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 177 of 254 plans. 5135 (n) The Social Equity Council shall approve the amounts, grantees 5136 and purposes of any grants made by the council from the social equity 5137 and innovation account or the Cannabis Social Equity and Innovation 5138 Fund, established under section 21a-420f, and any contract executed by 5139 and between the council and a grant maker shall require that the 5140 amounts, grantees and purposes of any subgrants made by such grant 5141 maker shall be approved by the council. 5142 (o) Not later than July 1, 2024, and quarterly thereafter, the Social 5143 Equity Council shall prepare and submit a report, in accordance with 5144 the provisions of section 11-4a, to the Governor, the speaker of the 5145 House of Representatives, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the 5146 majority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of 5147 the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, the 5148 minority leader of the Senate and the joint standing committees of the 5149 General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 5150 appropriations and consumer protection. The report shall include, but 5151 need not be limited to: 5152 (1) The fiscal-year-to-date expenditures of the council, which 5153 expenditures shall disclose, at a minimum: (A) All expenditures made 5154 for personal services and the fringe benefit costs associated therewith; 5155 (B) all expenditures made for consultants retained for the purpose of 5156 reviewing applications for social equity applicant status; (C) all 5157 expenditures made to provide businesses with access to capital and the 5158 number of businesses that received access to such capital; (D) all 5159 expenditures made to provide technical assistance for the start-up and 5160 operation of businesses and the number of businesses that received such 5161 assistance; (E) all expenditures made to fund workforce education, the 5162 number of persons served by the workforce education programs 5163 supported by such expenditures and the number of persons successfully 5164 placed in relevant professional roles after completing such workforce 5165 education programs; (F) all expenditures made to fund community 5166 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 178 of 254 investment grants, the amounts, grantees and purposes of such grants 5167 and, if any of such grants were made to a grant maker, the amounts, 5168 grantees and purposes of any subgrants made by such grant maker; (G) 5169 all expenditures made for promotional or branding items and which 5170 promotional or branding items were purchased; (H) all expenditures 5171 made for advertising or marketing campaigns; (I) all expenditures made 5172 to advertising or marketing firms; (J) all expenditures made for 5173 sponsorships; (K) all expenditures made for other community outreach; 5174 (L) all expenditures made for travel; and (M) all other expenditures not 5175 described in subparagraphs (A) to (L), inclusive, of this subdivision; and 5176 (2) The status of the council's performance of the council's 5177 responsibilities in the licensing process under RERACA, including, but 5178 not limited to: (A) The number of applications for social equity applicant 5179 status, social equity plans and workforce development plans pending 5180 before the council, categorized into the number of applications, social 5181 equity plans and workforce development plans pending before the 5182 council for (i) less than thirty days, (ii) at least thirty days but less than 5183 sixty days, (iii) at least sixty days but less than ninety days, and (iv) at 5184 least ninety days; (B) the number of applications for social equity 5185 applicant status, social equity plans and workforce development plans 5186 approved during the then current fiscal year, broken down by license 5187 type; and (C) the number of applications for social equity applicant 5188 status, social equity plans and workforce development plans denied 5189 during the then current fiscal year, broken down by license type. 5190 (p) Not later than July 1, 2024, and monthly thereafter, the executive 5191 director of the council shall prepare and submit a report, in accordance 5192 with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the council and the Black and 5193 Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly. The report shall include, 5194 but need not be limited to: 5195 (1) The expenditures the council plans to make during the month 5196 immediately following submission of such report, which expenditures 5197 shall disclose, at a minimum: (A) All expenditures the council plans to 5198 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 179 of 254 make for consultants retained for the purpose of reviewing applications 5199 for social equity applicant status; (B) all expenditures the council plans 5200 to make to fund community investment grants, the amounts, grantees 5201 and purposes of such grants and, if any of such grants are to be made to 5202 a grant maker, the amounts, grantees and purposes of any subgrants to 5203 be made by such grant maker; (C) all expenditures the council plans to 5204 make for promotional or branding items, for advertising or marketing 5205 campaigns, to advertising or marketing firms and for sponsorships; (D) 5206 all expenditures the council plans to make for community outreach; and 5207 (E) all expenditures the council plans to make for travel; and 5208 (2) The status of the council's performance of the council's 5209 responsibilities in the licensing process under RERACA, including, but 5210 not limited to, the following information for the date of such report: (A) 5211 The number of applications for social equity applicant status that are 5212 pending before the council and the date each such application was 5213 submitted, broken down by license type, municipality, assembly district 5214 and senate district; (B) the number of social equity plans that are 5215 pending before the council and the date each such social equity plan was 5216 submitted, broken down by license type; and (C) the number of 5217 workforce development plans that are pending before the council and 5218 the date each such workforce development plan was submitted, broken 5219 down by license type. 5220 Sec. 140. Section 21a-420f of the 2024 supplement to the general 5221 statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 5222 (Effective from passage): 5223 (a) (1) There is established an account to be known as the "cannabis 5224 regulatory and investment account" which shall be a separate, 5225 nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain 5226 any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in 5227 the account shall be allocated by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 5228 Management, in consultation with the Social Equity Council, as defined 5229 in section 21a-420, to state agencies for the purpose of paying costs 5230 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 180 of 254 incurred to implement the activities authorized under RERACA, as 5231 defined in section 21a-420. 5232 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 21a-420e, for the fiscal 5233 years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, the following shall be 5234 deposited in the cannabis regulatory and investment account: (A) All 5235 fees received by the state pursuant to section 21a-421b and subdivisions 5236 (1) to (11), inclusive, of subsection (c) of section 21a-420e; (B) the tax 5237 received by the state under section 12-330ll; and (C) the tax received by 5238 the state under chapter 219 from a cannabis retailer, hybrid retailer or 5239 micro-cultivator, as those terms are defined in section 12-330ll. 5240 (3) At the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, all moneys 5241 remaining in the cannabis regulatory and investment account shall be 5242 transferred to the General Fund. 5243 (b) (1) There is established an account to be known as the "social 5244 equity and innovation account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing 5245 account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys 5246 required by law to be deposited in the account. 5247 (A) During the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, 5248 moneys in the account shall be allocated by the Secretary of the Office 5249 of Policy and Management, in consultation with the Social Equity 5250 Council, to state agencies for the purpose of (i) paying costs incurred by 5251 the Social Equity Council, (ii) administering programs under RERACA 5252 to provide (I) access to capital for businesses, (II) technical assistance for 5253 the start-up and operation of a business, (III) funding for workforce 5254 education, and (IV) funding for community investments, and (iii) 5255 paying costs incurred to implement the activities authorized under 5256 RERACA. 5257 (B) During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, moneys in the account 5258 shall be allocated by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 5259 Management for purposes that the Social Equity Council determines, in 5260 the Social Equity Council's sole discretion, further the principles of 5261 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 181 of 254 equity, as defined in section 21a-420, which purposes may include, but 5262 need not be limited to, providing (i) access to capital for businesses in 5263 any industry, (ii) technical assistance for the start-up and operation of a 5264 business in any industry, (iii) funding for workforce education in any 5265 industry, (iv) funding for community investments, and (v) funding for 5266 investments in disproportionately impacted areas. 5267 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 21a-420e and 21a- 5268 420o, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, the 5269 following shall be deposited in the social equity and innovation account: 5270 All fees received by the state pursuant to sections 21a-420l, 21a-420o and 5271 21a-420u and subdivisions (12) and (13) of subsection (c) of section 21a- 5272 420e. 5273 (3) At the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, five million 5274 dollars shall be transferred from the social equity and innovation 5275 account to the General Fund, or, if the account contains less than five 5276 million dollars, all remaining moneys in the account. At the end of the 5277 fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, all remaining moneys in the account 5278 shall be transferred to the Social Equity and Innovation Fund 5279 established under subsection (c) of this section. 5280 (c) (1) On and after July 1, 2022, there is established a fund to be 5281 known as the "Cannabis Social Equity and Innovation Fund". The fund 5282 shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the fund 5283 and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and apart from all other 5284 moneys, funds and accounts. Amounts in the fund may be expended 5285 only pursuant to appropriation by the General Assembly. Any balance 5286 remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried 5287 forward in the fund for the fiscal year next succeeding. Moneys in the 5288 fund shall be appropriated for the purposes of providing the following: 5289 Access to capital for businesses in any industry; technical assistance for 5290 the start-up and operation of a business in any industry; funding for 5291 workforce education in any industry; funding for community 5292 investments; and paying costs incurred to implement the activities 5293 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 182 of 254 authorized under RERACA. All such appropriations shall be dedicated 5294 to expenditures that further the principles of equity, as defined in 5295 section 21a-420. 5296 (2) (A) For the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection, for the 5297 fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the 5298 Social Equity Council shall transmit, for even-numbered years, 5299 estimates of expenditure requirements and for odd-numbered years, 5300 recommended adjustments and revisions, if any, of such estimates, to 5301 the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in the manner 5302 prescribed for a budgeted agency under subsection (a) of section 4-77. 5303 (B) The Office of Policy and Management may not make adjustments 5304 to any such estimates or adjustments and revisions of such estimates 5305 transmitted by the council. Notwithstanding any provision of the 5306 general statutes or any special act, the Governor shall not reduce the 5307 allotment requisitions or allotments in force pursuant to section 4-85 or 5308 make reductions in allotments in order to achieve budget savings in the 5309 General Fund, concerning any appropriations made by the General 5310 Assembly for the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection. 5311 (C) The estimates of expenditure requirements transmitted by the 5312 Social Equity Council to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 5313 Management pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall, 5314 consistent with the requirements established in subsection (a) of section 5315 4-77, include an estimate of the amount of funds required to be 5316 distributed among the permissible purposes for appropriations made 5317 from the Cannabis Social Equity and Innovation Fund as set forth in 5318 subdivision (1) of this subsection. 5319 (d) On and after July 1, 2022, there is established a fund to be known 5320 as the "Cannabis Prevention and Recovery Services Fund". The fund 5321 shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the fund 5322 and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and apart from all other 5323 moneys, funds and accounts. Amounts in the fund may be expended 5324 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 183 of 254 only pursuant to appropriation by the General Assembly. Any balance 5325 remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried 5326 forward in the fund for the fiscal year next succeeding. Moneys in the 5327 fund shall be appropriated for the purposes of (1) substance abuse 5328 prevention, treatment and recovery services, which may include, but 5329 need not be limited to, the (A) provision of youth cannabis use 5330 prevention services by the local advisory councils on drug use and 5331 prevention established by municipalities pursuant to subsection (a) of 5332 Section 4126 of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986, as 5333 amended from time to time, regional behavioral health action 5334 organizations described in section 17a-484f, or youth service bureaus 5335 established pursuant to section 10-19m, and (B) development of a public 5336 awareness campaign to raise awareness of the mental and physical 5337 health risks of youth cannabis use and cannabis use by pregnant 5338 persons, and (2) collection and analysis of data regarding substance use. 5339 The Social Equity Council may make recommendations to any relevant 5340 state agency regarding expenditures to be made for the purposes set 5341 forth in this subsection. 5342 (e) On and after July 1, 2023, there is established a fund to be known 5343 as the "Cannabis Regulatory Fund" which shall be a separate, 5344 nonlapsing fund. The fund shall contain any moneys required by law to 5345 be deposited in the fund and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and 5346 apart from all other moneys, funds and accounts. Moneys in the fund 5347 shall be appropriated to state agencies for the purposes of paying costs 5348 incurred to implement the activities authorized under RERACA, as 5349 defined in section 21a-420. 5350 Sec. 141. Subsection (g) of section 19a-59i of the general statutes, as 5351 amended by section 45 of house bill 5523 of the current session, as 5352 amended by House Amendment Schedule "A", is repealed and the 5353 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 5354 (g) The Department of Public Health shall develop educational 5355 materials regarding: 5356 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 184 of 254 (1) The health and safety of [pregnant] expectant and postpartum 5357 mothers and persons with mental health disorders, including, but not 5358 limited to, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, for distribution by the 5359 department to each birthing hospital in the state. As used in this 5360 subdivision, "birthing hospital" means a health care facility, as defined 5361 in section 19a-630, operated and maintained in whole or in part for the 5362 purpose of caring for patients during the delivery of a child and for a 5363 postpartum mother or person and such mother's or person's newborn 5364 following birth; 5365 (2) Evidence-based screening tools for screening patients for intimate 5366 partner violence, peripartum mood disorders and substance use 5367 disorder for distribution by the department to obstetricians and other 5368 health care providers who practice obstetrics; 5369 (3) Indicators of intimate partner violence for distribution by the 5370 department to (A) hospitals for use by health care providers in the 5371 emergency department and hospital social workers, and (B) 5372 obstetricians and other health care providers who practice obstetrics; 5373 and 5374 (4) Not later than January 1, 2025, intimate partner violence toward 5375 [pregnant] expectant and postpartum mothers and persons for 5376 distribution by the department (A) in print to each birthing hospital and 5377 birth center in the state, and (B) electronically to obstetricians and other 5378 health care providers who practice obstetrics for provision to [pregnant] 5379 expectant and postpartum patients. The department shall consult with 5380 organizations that advocate on behalf of victims of domestic violence in 5381 the development of educational materials pursuant to this subdivision. 5382 Sec. 142. Section 19a-490ee of the general statutes, as amended by 5383 section 46 of house bill 5523 of the current session, as amended by House 5384 Amendment Schedule "A", is repealed and the following is substituted 5385 in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 5386 (a) As used in this section, (1) "birthing hospital" means a health care 5387 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 185 of 254 facility, as defined in section 19a-630, operated and maintained in whole 5388 or in part for the purpose of caring for a person during the delivery of a 5389 child and for a postpartum mother or person and such mother's or 5390 person's newborn following birth; and (2) "birth center" has the same 5391 meaning as provided in section 19a-490. 5392 (b) Each birthing hospital shall provide to each patient who has 5393 undergone a caesarean section written information regarding the 5394 importance of mobility following a caesarean section and the risks 5395 associated with immobility following a caesarean section. 5396 (c) Each birthing hospital shall establish a patient portal through 5397 which a postpartum patient can virtually access, through an Internet 5398 web site or application, any educational materials and other information 5399 that the birthing hospital provided to the patient during the patient's 5400 stay at the birthing hospital and at the time of the patient's discharge 5401 from the birthing hospital. 5402 (d) Each birthing hospital shall provide to each postpartum patient 5403 the educational materials regarding the health and safety of [pregnant] 5404 expectant and postpartum mothers and persons with mental health 5405 disorders, including, but not limited to, perinatal mood and anxiety 5406 disorders, developed by the [maternal mortality review committee] 5407 Department of Public Health pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection 5408 (g) of section 19a-59i, as amended by [this act] house bill 5523 of the 5409 current session, as amended by House Amendment Schedule "A". 5410 (e) On and after January 1, 2025, each birthing hospital and birth 5411 center shall provide to each pregnant and postpartum patient the 5412 educational materials regarding intimate partner violence toward 5413 pregnant and postpartum persons, developed by the Department of 5414 Public Health pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (g) of section 5415 19a-59i, as amended by [this act] house bill 5523 of the current session, 5416 as amended by House Amendment Schedule "A". 5417 Sec. 143. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 5418 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 186 of 254 2025, the Department of Education shall administer an artificial 5419 intelligence education tool pilot program. Under such pilot program, 5420 the Commissioner of Education shall award a grant to assist such boards 5421 in implementing an existing artificial intelligence tool, selected by the 5422 commissioner, that will be used by educators and students for 5423 classroom instruction and student learning. 5424 (b) The commissioner shall select five local or regional boards of 5425 education to participate in the pilot program, provided such 5426 participation includes at least one rural school district, one suburban 5427 school district and one urban school district and reflects the racial and 5428 ethnic diversity of the state. The commissioner and each such 5429 participating board of education shall jointly select the grade level in 5430 which such artificial intelligence tool will be implemented in the school 5431 district, provided such grade level is grade seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven 5432 or twelve. 5433 (c) Such artificial intelligence tool shall comply with the laws 5434 governing the use of artificial intelligence and the protection of student 5435 data and privacy, including, but not limited to, the Family Educational 5436 Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 USC 1232g, as amended from time to 5437 time, and sections 10-234aa to 10-234gg, inclusive, of the general 5438 statutes. 5439 (d) As used in this section, "artificial intelligence" means any 5440 technology, including, but not limited to, machine learning that uses 5441 data to train an algorithm or predictive model for the purpose of 5442 enabling a computer system or service to autonomously perform any 5443 task, including, but not limited to, visual perception, language 5444 processing or speech recognition, that is normally associated with 5445 human intelligence or perception. 5446 Sec. 144. (Effective July 1, 2024) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 5447 the Department of Education shall provide professional development 5448 for educators employed by the local and regional boards of education 5449 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 187 of 254 participating in the artificial intelligence education tool pilot program 5450 pursuant to section 134 of this act. Such professional development shall 5451 include, but not be limited to, (1) training on how to properly and safely 5452 utilize the artificial intelligence tool selected for such pilot program as 5453 part of instruction in the classroom, (2) how such artificial intelligence 5454 tool can benefit (A) educators in classroom instruction, and (B) students 5455 in learning, academic achievement and workforce development, and (3) 5456 the laws governing the use of artificial intelligence and the protection of 5457 student data and privacy, including, but not limited to, the Family 5458 Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 USC 1232g, as amended 5459 from time to time, and sections 10-234aa to 10-234gg, inclusive, of the 5460 general statutes. As used in this section, "artificial intelligence" means 5461 any technology, including, but not limited to, machine learning that 5462 uses data to train an algorithm or predictive model for the purpose of 5463 enabling a computer system or service to autonomously perform any 5464 task, including, but not limited to, visual perception, language 5465 processing or speech recognition, that is normally associated with 5466 human intelligence or perception. 5467 Sec. 145. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) Not later than January 1, 2025, the 5468 Department of Education, in collaboration with the Commission for 5469 Educational Technology established pursuant to section 4d-80 of the 5470 general statutes, shall develop a model digital citizenship curriculum 5471 for grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, that may be used by local 5472 and regional boards of education. 5473 (b) Such model digital citizenship curriculum shall (1) be rigorous, 5474 age appropriate and aligned with curriculum guidelines approved by 5475 the State Board of Education, (2) include content and instruction to 5476 develop digital citizenship skills and dispositions within online spaces 5477 with the media and technology across all content areas to cultivate 5478 positive student relationships and school climate, and (3) include topics 5479 that are aligned with the provisions of subparagraph (H) of subdivision 5480 (3) of subsection (b) of section 10-25b of the general statutes. 5481 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 188 of 254 (c) The department may accept gifts, grants and donations, including 5482 in-kind donations, designated for the implementation of the model 5483 digital citizenship curriculum under this section. 5484 Sec. 146. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) On or before October 31, 5485 2024, and semiannually thereafter, each hospital, as defined in section 5486 12-263p of the general statutes, shall submit a report to the executive 5487 director of the Office of Health Strategy that identifies, for each of the 5488 two prior calendar quarters, (1) the number of days of cash on hand, or 5489 days cash and cash equivalents otherwise available to the hospital, and 5490 (2) the dollar amount of (A) invoices that are at least ninety days past 5491 due in the reporting period, (B) utility bills that are at least ninety days 5492 past due in the reporting period, (C) fees, taxes or assessments owed to 5493 public entities that are at least ninety days past due in the reporting 5494 period, and (D) unpaid employee health insurance premiums, including 5495 unpaid contributions, claims or other obligations supporting employees 5496 under a self-funded insurance plan or fully insured plan, that are at least 5497 ninety days past due in the reporting period. The executive director 5498 shall develop a uniform template, including, but not limited to, 5499 definitions of terms used in such template, to be used by hospitals for 5500 the purposes of complying with the provisions of this subsection and 5501 post such template on the Office of Health Strategy's Internet web site. 5502 A hospital may request an extension of time to comply with the 5503 requirements of this subsection in a form and manner prescribed by the 5504 executive director. The executive director may grant such request for 5505 good cause, as determined by the executive director. Such template shall 5506 be based on generally accepted accounting principles as prescribed by 5507 the Financial Accounting Standards Board. 5508 (b) If a hospital submits a report pursuant to the provisions of 5509 subsection (a) of this section reflecting two consecutive quarters of sixty 5510 days or less of days of cash on hand, or days cash and cash equivalents 5511 otherwise available to the hospital, the executive director may require 5512 the hospital to provide the Office of Health Strategy with additional 5513 information that the executive director deems relevant to understanding 5514 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 189 of 254 the financial health of the hospital. 5515 (c) If a hospital submits a report pursuant to the provisions of 5516 subsection (a) of this section reflecting two consecutive quarters of forty- 5517 five days or less of cash on hand, or days cash and cash equivalents 5518 otherwise available to the hospital, the Office of Health Strategy shall 5519 contact the hospital to offer assistance. 5520 (d) If a hospital has multiple consecutive quarters of one hundred or 5521 more days of cash on hand, or days cash and cash equivalents otherwise 5522 available to the hospital, the executive director may waive one of the 5523 hospital's two semiannual reports required pursuant to the provisions 5524 of subsection (a) of this section. 5525 Sec. 147. Section 382 of public act 23-204 is repealed and the following 5526 is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 5527 Not later than June 30, 2024, the Comptroller shall transfer [ninety- 5528 five] two hundred five million dollars of the resources of the General 5529 Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, to be accounted for as 5530 revenue of the General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. 5531 Sec. 148. (Effective from passage) (a) Up to $1,500,000 of the 5532 unexpended balance of funds that was transferred and made available 5533 to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, for Other 5534 Expenses, for costs associated with the legalization of cannabis in 5535 subdivision (36) of subsection (b) of section 12 of public act 22-118 and 5536 in subsection (d) of section 41 of public act 23-204, carried forward and 5537 made available for the same purpose during the fiscal year ending June 5538 30, 2024, shall be made available to the Secretary of the Office of Policy 5539 and Management, for Other Expenses, during the fiscal year ending 5540 June 30, 2024, as follows: 5541 (1) Up to $1,100,000 for a study of the operations of The University of 5542 Connecticut Health Center; 5543 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 190 of 254 (2) Up to $200,000 for a study of managerial compensation; and 5544 (3) Up to $200,000 for a strategic higher education study of the 5545 Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. 5546 (b) The unexpended balance of funds made available to the secretary 5547 under subsection (a) of this section shall not lapse on June 30, 2024, and 5548 shall continue to be available for the purposes described in subsection 5549 (a) of this section during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. 5550 Sec. 149. (Effective from passage) Up to $2,300,000 of the unexpended 5551 balance of funds that was transferred and made available to the 5552 Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, for Other Expenses, 5553 for costs associated with the legalization of cannabis in subdivision (36) 5554 of subsection (b) of section 12 of public act 22-118 and in subsection (d) 5555 of section 41 of public act 23-204, carried forward and made available 5556 for the same purpose during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, shall 5557 not lapse on June 30, 2024, and such funds shall be transferred and made 5558 available to the Department of Social Services, for Community Action 5559 Agencies, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. 5560 Sec. 150. Sections 501 and 502 of house bill 5523 of the current session, 5561 as amended by House Amendment Schedule "A", are repealed. (Effective 5562 from passage) 5563 Sec. 151. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Administrative 5564 Services, having reviewed applications for state grants for public school 5565 building projects in accordance with section 10-283 of the general 5566 statutes, on the basis of priorities for such projects and standards for 5567 school construction established by the State Board of Education, and 5568 having prepared a listing of all such eligible projects ranked in order of 5569 priority, as determined by said commissioner together with the amount 5570 of the estimated grant with respect to each eligible project, and having 5571 submitted such listing of eligible projects, prior to December 15, 2023, to 5572 a committee of the General Assembly established under section 10-283a 5573 of the general statutes, for the purpose of reviewing such listing, is 5574 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 191 of 254 hereby authorized to enter into grant commitments on behalf of the state 5575 in accordance with said section with respect to the priority listing of 5576 such projects and in such estimated amounts as approved by said 5577 committee prior to February 1, 2024, as follows: 5578 T430 School District Estimated Estimated T431 School Project Costs Grant T432 Project Number T433 T434 BRISTOL T435 Edgewood Pre-K Academy T436 24DASY017090RNV0624 $16,803,560 $11,701,999 T437 T438 LEARN T439 New Early Childhood School at 51 T440 Daniels Avenue T441 24DASY245090APF0624 $95,736,656 $90,949,823 T442 T443 STAMFORD T444 South School - Upper T445 24DASY135283N0624 $85,871,466 $51,522,880 T446 T447 STAMFORD T448 South School – Lower T449 24DASY135284N0624 $72,463,942 $43,478,365 T450 T451 BRISTOL T452 Bristol Central High School Culinary T453 Arts T454 24DASY017091A0624 $1,426,955 $993,731 T455 T456 BRISTOL T457 Bristol Eastern High School Culinary T458 Arts T459 24DASY017092A0624 $1,448,285 $1,008,586 T460 T461 DANBURY T462 Danbury High School T463 24DASY034154A0624 $16,500,000 $10,429,650 T464 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 192 of 254 T465 HARTFORD T466 Montessori Magnet at Batchelder T467 24DASY064322RNV0624 $102,569,302 $97,440,837 T468 T469 HARTFORD T470 S.A.N.D. Elementary School T471 24DASY064323RNV0624 $82,837,086 $78,695,232 T472 T473 HARTFORD T474 Maria C. Colon Sanchez Elementary T475 School T476 24DASY064324RNV0624 $96,945,196 $92,097,936 T477 T478 NEWINGTON T479 John Wallace Middle School T480 24DASY094112AB0624 $10,717,573 $8,038,180 (2) Previously Authorized Projects That Have Changed Substantially 5579 in Scope or Cost which are Seeking Reauthorization. 5580 T481 School District Authorized Requested T482 School T483 Project Number T484 T485 HARTFORD T486 Betances Learning Lab Magnet School T487 21DASY064316RNV0621 T488 T489 Estimated… T490 Total Project Costs $43,709,774 $66,825,200 T491 Total Grant $41,524,285 $63,483,940 T492 T493 HARTFORD T494 Fred D. Wish Museum School T495 21DASY064318RNV0621 T496 T497 Estimated… T498 Total Project Costs $49,320,000 $67,290,900 T499 Total Grant $46,854,000 $63,926,355 T500 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 193 of 254 T501 HARTFORD T502 E. B. Kennelly School T503 21DASY064317RNV0621 T504 T505 Estimated… T506 Total Project Costs $51,416,225 $88,130,000 T507 Total Grant $48,845,414 $83,723,500 Sec. 152. Section 10-283 of the general statutes is repealed and the 5581 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 5582 (a) (1) Each town or regional school district shall be eligible to apply 5583 for and accept grants for a school building project as provided in this 5584 chapter. Any town desiring a grant for a public school building project 5585 may, by vote of its legislative body, authorize the board of education of 5586 such town to apply to the Commissioner of Administrative Services and 5587 to accept or reject such grant for the town. Any regional school board 5588 may vote to authorize the supervising agent of the regional school 5589 district to apply to the Commissioner of Administrative Services for and 5590 to accept or reject such grant for the district. Applications for such grants 5591 under this chapter shall be made by the superintendent of schools of 5592 such town or regional school district on the form provided and in the 5593 manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. 5594 The application form shall require the superintendent of schools to 5595 affirm that the school district considered the maximization of natural 5596 light, the use and feasibility of wireless connectivity technology and, on 5597 and after July 1, 2014, the school safety infrastructure criteria, described 5598 in section 10-292r, in projects for new construction and alteration or 5599 renovation of a school building. The Commissioner of Administrative 5600 Services shall review, in consultation with the Commissioner of 5601 Education, each grant application for a school building project for 5602 compliance with educational [requirements and on the basis of 5603 categories for building projects established by the Commissioner of 5604 Administrative Services in accordance with this section] specifications. 5605 The Commissioner of Education shall evaluate, if appropriate, whether 5606 the project will assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the 5607 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 194 of 254 decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation 5608 or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education. The 5609 Commissioner of Administrative Services shall consult with the 5610 Commissioner of Education in reviewing grant applications submitted 5611 for purposes of subsection (a) of section 10-65 or section 10-76e on the 5612 basis of the educational needs of the applicant. The Commissioner of 5613 Administrative Services shall review each grant application for a school 5614 building project for compliance with standards for school building 5615 projects pursuant to regulations, adopted in accordance with section 10- 5616 287c, and, on and after July 1, 2014, the school safety infrastructure 5617 criteria, described in section 10-292r. Notwithstanding the provisions of 5618 this chapter, the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical 5619 Colleges on behalf of Quinebaug Valley Community College and Three 5620 Rivers Community College and the following entities that will operate 5621 an interdistrict magnet school that will assist the state in meeting its 5622 obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 5623 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 5624 Commissioner of Education, may apply for and shall be eligible to 5625 receive grants for school building projects pursuant to section 10-264h 5626 for such a school: (A) The Board of Trustees of the Community- 5627 Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, 5628 (B) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on 5629 behalf of a state university, (C) the Board of Trustees for The University 5630 of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (D) the board of governors 5631 for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in 5632 subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on 5633 behalf of the independent institution of higher education, (E) 5634 cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and (F) any other 5635 third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the Commissioner of 5636 Education. 5637 (2) [The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall assign each 5638 school building project to a category on the basis of whether such project 5639 is primarily required to: (A) Create new facilities or alter existing 5640 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 195 of 254 facilities to provide for mandatory instructional programs pursuant to 5641 this chapter, for physical education facilities in compliance with Title IX 5642 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1972 where such 5643 programs or such compliance cannot be provided within existing 5644 facilities or for the correction of code violations which cannot be 5645 reasonably addressed within existing program space; (B) create new 5646 facilities or alter existing facilities to enhance mandatory instructional 5647 programs pursuant to this chapter or provide comparable facilities 5648 among schools to all students at the same grade level or levels within 5649 the school district unless such project is otherwise explicitly included in 5650 another category pursuant to this section; and (C) create new facilities 5651 or alter existing facilities to provide supportive services, provided in no 5652 event shall such supportive services include swimming pools, 5653 auditoriums, outdoor athletic facilities, tennis courts, elementary school 5654 playgrounds, site improvement or garages or storage, parking or 5655 general recreation areas.] All applications submitted prior to July first 5656 shall be reviewed promptly by the Commissioner of Administrative 5657 Services. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall estimate 5658 the amount of the grant for which such project is eligible, in accordance 5659 with the provisions of section 10-285a, provided an application for a 5660 school building project determined by the Commissioner of Education 5661 to be a project that will assist the state in meeting its obligations 5662 pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any 5663 related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the 5664 Commissioner of Education, shall have until September first to submit 5665 an application for such a project and may have until December first of 5666 the same year to secure and report all local and state approvals required 5667 to complete the grant application. The Commissioner of Administrative 5668 Services shall annually prepare a listing of all such eligible school 5669 building projects [listed by category together] with the amount of the 5670 estimated grants for such projects and shall submit the same to the 5671 Governor, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the 5672 General Assembly on or before the fifteenth day of December, except as 5673 provided in section 10-283a, with a request for authorization to enter 5674 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 196 of 254 into grant commitments. On or before December thirty-first annually, 5675 the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management may submit 5676 comments and recommendations regarding each eligible project on 5677 such listing of eligible school building projects to the school construction 5678 committee, established pursuant to section 10-283a. Each such listing 5679 shall include a report on the following factors for each eligible project: 5680 (i) An enrollment projection and the capacity of the school, including 5681 who conducted the enrollment projection for the school and the cost of 5682 conducting such enrollment projection, (ii) a substantiation of the 5683 estimated total project costs, (iii) the readiness of such eligible project to 5684 begin construction, (iv) efforts made by the local or regional board of 5685 education to redistrict, reconfigure, merge or close schools under the 5686 jurisdiction of such board prior to submitting an application under this 5687 section, (v) enrollment and capacity information for all of the schools 5688 under the jurisdiction of such board for the five years prior to 5689 application for a school building project grant, (vi) enrollment 5690 projections and capacity information for all of the schools under the 5691 jurisdiction of such board for the eight years following the date such 5692 application is submitted, [and] including who conducted the enrollment 5693 projection for the school and the cost of conducting such enrollment 5694 projection, (vii) the state's education priorities relating to reducing racial 5695 and economic isolation for the school district, and (viii) an estimation of 5696 the total ineligible costs and an itemization of such ineligible costs for 5697 such project. On and after July 1, 2022, each such listing shall include an 5698 addendum that contains all grants approved pursuant to subsection (b) 5699 of this section during the prior fiscal year. For the period beginning July 5700 1, 2006, and ending June 30, 2012, no project [, other than a project for a 5701 technical education and career school,] may appear on the separate 5702 schedule of authorized projects which have changed in cost more than 5703 twice. On and after July 1, 2012, no project, other than a project for a 5704 technical education and career school, may appear on the separate 5705 schedule of authorized projects which have changed in cost more than 5706 once, except the Commissioner of Administrative Services may allow a 5707 project to appear on such separate schedule of authorized projects a 5708 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 197 of 254 second time if the town or regional school district for such project can 5709 demonstrate that exigent circumstances require such project to appear a 5710 second time on such separate schedule of authorized projects. 5711 Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, no projects which have 5712 changed in scope or cost to the degree determined by the Commissioner 5713 of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of 5714 Education, shall be eligible for reimbursement under this chapter unless 5715 it appears on such list. The percentage determined pursuant to section 5716 10-285a at the time a school building project on such schedule was 5717 originally authorized shall be used for purposes of the grant for such 5718 project. On and after July 1, 2006, a project that was not previously 5719 authorized as an interdistrict magnet school shall not receive a higher 5720 percentage for reimbursement than that determined pursuant to section 5721 10-285a at the time a school building project on such schedule was 5722 originally authorized. The General Assembly shall annually authorize 5723 the Commissioner of Administrative Services to enter into grant 5724 commitments on behalf of the state in accordance with the 5725 commissioner's categorized listing for such projects as the General 5726 Assembly shall determine. The Commissioner of Administrative 5727 Services may not enter into any such grant commitments except 5728 pursuant to such legislative authorization. Any regional school district 5729 which assumes the responsibility for completion of a public school 5730 building project shall be eligible for a grant pursuant to subdivision (5) 5731 or (6), as the case may be, of subsection (a) of section 10-286 when such 5732 project is completed and accepted by such regional school district. 5733 (3) (A) All final calculations completed by the Department of 5734 Administrative Services for school building projects shall include a 5735 computation of the state grant for the school building project amortized 5736 on a straight line basis over a twenty-year period for school building 5737 projects with costs equal to or greater than two million dollars and over 5738 a ten-year period for school building projects with costs less than two 5739 million dollars. Any town or regional school district which abandons, 5740 sells, leases, demolishes or otherwise redirects the use of such a school 5741 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 198 of 254 building project to other than a public school use or a public use during 5742 such amortization period shall refund to the state the unamortized 5743 balance of the state grant remaining as of the date the abandonment, 5744 sale, lease, demolition or redirection occurs. The amortization period for 5745 a project shall begin on the date the project was accepted as complete by 5746 the local or regional board of education. A town or regional school 5747 district required to make a refund to the state pursuant to this 5748 subdivision may request forgiveness of such refund if the building is 5749 redirected for public use. The Department of Administrative Services 5750 shall include as an addendum to the annual school construction priority 5751 list all those towns requesting forgiveness. General Assembly approval 5752 of the priority list under section 10-283a, containing such request shall 5753 constitute approval of such request. This subdivision shall not apply to 5754 projects to correct safety, health and other code violations or to remedy 5755 certified school indoor air quality emergencies approved pursuant to 5756 subsection (b) of this section or projects subject to the provisions of 5757 section 10-285c. 5758 (B) If the board of governors for an independent institution of higher 5759 education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the 5760 equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent institution of 5761 higher education, that operates an interdistrict magnet school makes 5762 private use of any portion of a school building in which such operator 5763 received a school building project grant pursuant to this chapter, such 5764 operator shall annually submit a report to the Commissioner of 5765 Education that demonstrates that such operator provides an equal to or 5766 greater than in-kind or supplemental benefit of such institution's 5767 facilities to students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school that 5768 outweighs the private use of such school building. If the commissioner 5769 finds that the private use of such school building exceeds the in-kind or 5770 supplemental benefit to magnet school students, the commissioner may 5771 require such institution to refund to the state the unamortized balance 5772 of the state grant. 5773 (C) Any moneys refunded to the state pursuant to subparagraphs (A) 5774 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 199 of 254 and (B) of this subdivision shall be deposited in the state's tax-exempt 5775 proceeds fund and used not later than sixty days after repayment to pay 5776 debt service on, including redemption, defeasance or purchase of, 5777 outstanding bonds of the state the interest on which is not included in 5778 gross income pursuant to Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 5779 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the 5780 United States, as from time to time amended. 5781 (b) Notwithstanding the application date requirements of this 5782 section, at any time within the limit of available grant authorization and 5783 within the limit of appropriated funds, the Commissioner of 5784 Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of 5785 Education, may approve applications for grants and make payments for 5786 such grants, for any of the following reasons: (A) To assist school 5787 building projects to remedy damage from fire and catastrophe, (B) to 5788 correct safety, health and other code violations, (C) to replace roofs, 5789 including the replacement or installation of skylights as part of the roof 5790 replacement project, (D) to remedy a certified school indoor air quality 5791 emergency, (E) to install insulation for exterior walls and attics, or (F) to 5792 purchase and install a limited use and limited access elevator, windows, 5793 photovoltaic panels, wind generation systems, building management 5794 systems or portable classroom buildings, provided portable classroom 5795 building projects shall not create a new facility or cause an existing 5796 facility to be modified so that the portable buildings comprise a 5797 substantial percentage of the total facility area, as determined by the 5798 commissioner. 5799 (c) No school building project shall be added to the list prepared by 5800 the Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to subsection (a) 5801 of this section after such list is submitted to the committee of the General 5802 Assembly appointed pursuant to section 10-283a unless (1) the project 5803 is for a school placed on probation by the New England Association of 5804 Schools and Colleges and the project is necessary to preserve 5805 accreditation, (2) the project is necessary to replace a school building for 5806 which a state agency issued a written notice of its intent to take the 5807 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 200 of 254 school property for public purpose, (3) it is a school building project 5808 determined by the Commissioner of Education to be a project that will 5809 assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in 5810 Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order 5811 in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education. The 5812 provisions of this subsection shall not apply to projects previously 5813 authorized by the General Assembly that require special legislation to 5814 correct procedural deficiencies. 5815 (d) No school building project shall be added to the list prepared by 5816 the Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to subsection (a) 5817 of this section, unless the applicant, prior to submitting an application, 5818 has (1) secured funding authorization for the local share of the project 5819 costs, provided for any application submitted on and after July 1, 2026, 5820 such local share includes an additional ten per cent contingency that is 5821 in accordance with guidance developed by the Department of 5822 Administrative Services, and such authorization has become effective 5823 pursuant to the general statutes and local ordinance or charter, or (2) 5824 scheduled and prepared a referendum, if required, the results of which 5825 shall be submitted on or before the fifteenth day of November in the 5826 year of application. The reimbursement percentage for a project covered 5827 by this subsection shall reflect the rates in effect during the fiscal year in 5828 which such local funding authorization is secured. 5829 Sec. 153. Section 10-283a of the general statutes is repealed and the 5830 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 5831 The listing of eligible school building projects submitted pursuant to 5832 section 10-283 shall be reviewed by a committee consisting of the 5833 chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of 5834 the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 5835 appropriations and the budget of state agencies, finance, revenue and 5836 bonding and education. The listing of eligible projects [by category] 5837 shall be submitted to said committee prior to December fifteenth 5838 annually to determine if said listing is in compliance with [the categories 5839 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 201 of 254 described in] the provisions of subsection (a) of section 10-283, and 5840 standards established in regulations adopted pursuant to section 10- 5841 287c. The committee may modify the listing. Such modified listing shall 5842 be in compliance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 10-283, 5843 and such standards. [and categories.] On or after January first annually, 5844 and prior to February first annually, the committee shall submit the 5845 approved or modified listing of projects to the Governor and the 5846 General Assembly. 5847 Sec. 154. Subsection (a) of section 10-284 of the general statutes is 5848 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 5849 2024): 5850 (a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall have 5851 authority to receive and review applications for state grants under this 5852 chapter, and to approve any such application, or to disapprove any such 5853 application if (1) it does not include an attestation from (A) the local fire 5854 marshal that the school building project plans comply with the 5855 requirements of the State Fire Marshal, [or] and (B) the district 5856 department of health or municipal health department, as the case may 5857 be, that the school building project plans comply with the requirements 5858 of the Department of Public Health, (2) it is not accompanied by a life- 5859 cycle cost analysis approved by the Commissioner of Administrative 5860 Services, (3) it does not comply with the provisions of sections 10-290d 5861 and 10-291, (4) it does not meet (A) the standards or requirements 5862 established in regulations adopted in accordance with section 10-287c, 5863 or (B) school building categorization requirements described in section 5864 10-283, (5) the estimated construction cost exceeds the per square foot 5865 cost for schools established in regulations adopted by the Commissioner 5866 of Administrative Services, [for the county in which the project is 5867 proposed to be located,] (6) on and after July 1, 2014, the application 5868 does not comply with the school safety infrastructure criteria described 5869 in section 10-292r, except the Commissioner of Administrative Services 5870 may waive any of the provisions of the school safety infrastructure 5871 criteria if the commissioner determines that the application 5872 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 202 of 254 demonstrates that the applicant has made a good faith effort to address 5873 such criteria and that compliance with such criteria would be infeasible, 5874 unreasonable or excessively expensive, (7) the Commissioner of 5875 Education determines that the proposed educational specifications for 5876 or theme of the project for which the applicant requests a state grant 5877 duplicates a program offered by a technical education and career school 5878 or an interdistrict magnet school in the same region, [or] (8) on and after 5879 July 1, 2018, a regional educational service center is designated as the 5880 project manager in the application, or (9) on and after July 1, 2025, the 5881 application is not accompanied by any solar feasibility assessment 5882 required pursuant to section 176 of this act for the school building that 5883 is the subject of such application. 5884 Sec. 155. Subsection (e) of section 10-285a of the 2024 supplement to 5885 the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 5886 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 5887 (e) (1) If an elementary school building project for a new building or 5888 for the expansion of an existing building includes space for [a school 5889 readiness program] an early childhood care and education program that 5890 provides services for children from birth to five years, the percentage 5891 determined pursuant to this section shall be increased by [five] fifteen 5892 percentage points, but shall not exceed one hundred per cent, for the 5893 portion of the building used primarily for such purpose. Recipient 5894 districts shall maintain [full-day preschool enrollment] such early 5895 childhood care and education program for at least ten years. 5896 (2) The percentage determined pursuant to this section for any school 5897 building project for a building or facility that will be used exclusively by 5898 a local or regional board of education for an early childhood care and 5899 education program that provides services for children from birth to five 5900 years shall be increased by fifteen percentage points, but shall not 5901 exceed one hundred per cent. Recipient districts shall maintain such 5902 early childhood care and education program for at least twenty years. 5903 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 203 of 254 Sec. 156. Subsection (h) of section 10-285a of the 2024 supplement to 5904 the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 5905 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 5906 (h) Subject to the provisions of section 10-285d, if an elementary 5907 school building project for a school in a priority school district or for a 5908 priority school is necessary in order to offer a full-day kindergarten 5909 program or a full-day preschool program or to reduce class size 5910 pursuant to section 10-265f, the percentage determined pursuant to this 5911 section shall be increased by [ten] fifteen percentage points, but shall not 5912 exceed one hundred per cent, for the portion of the building used 5913 primarily for such full-day kindergarten program, full-day preschool 5914 program or such reduced size classes. Recipient districts that receive an 5915 increase pursuant to this subsection in support of a full-day preschool 5916 program, shall maintain full-day preschool enrollment for at least ten 5917 years. 5918 Sec. 157. Subsection (k) of section 10-285a of the 2024 supplement to 5919 the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 5920 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 5921 (k) [The] On and after July 1, 2024, for applications submitted 5922 pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-283, the percentage of school 5923 building project grant money a local or regional board of education [for 5924 a municipality deemed to be an inclusive municipality by the 5925 Commissioner of Housing] may be eligible to receive shall be increased 5926 by five percentage points if, prior to December first of the year in which 5927 the board submits an application for a grant, such board submits a 5928 written determination issued by the Commissioner of Housing within 5929 such year finding that the municipality in which the school building 5930 project is to occur has been deemed to be an inclusive municipality. As 5931 used in this subsection, "inclusive municipality" means any 5932 municipality that: (1) Has a total population, as defined in section 10- 5933 261, that is greater than six thousand; (2) has less than ten per cent of its 5934 housing units determined by the commissioner to be affordable; (3) has 5935 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 204 of 254 adopted and maintains zoning regulations that (A) promote fair 5936 housing, as determined by the commissioner, (B) provide a streamlined 5937 process for the approval of the development of multifamily housing of 5938 three units or more, (C) permit mixed-use development, and (D) allow 5939 accessory dwelling units; and (4) has constructed new affordable 5940 housing units that (A) are restricted, through deeds, covenants or other 5941 means, to individuals or families whose income is eighty per cent or less 5942 of the state median income, and (B) equal at least one per cent of such 5943 town's total housing units in the three years immediately preceding the 5944 submission of an application under this section. 5945 Sec. 158. Subsection (c) of section 10-285b of the general statutes is 5946 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 5947 2024): 5948 (c) In order for an incorporated or endowed high school or academy 5949 to be eligible for a grant commitment pursuant to this section such high 5950 school or academy shall [(1)] provide educational services to the town 5951 or towns designating it as the high school for such town or towns for a 5952 period of not less than ten years after completion of grant payments 5953 under this section. [, and (2) provide that at least half of the governing 5954 board which exercises final educational, financial and legal 5955 responsibility for the high school or academy, exclusive of the chairman 5956 of such board, be representatives of the board or boards of education 5957 designating the high school or academy as the high school for each such 5958 board's town.] 5959 Sec. 159. Section 10-285c of the general statutes is repealed and the 5960 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 5961 For school building projects approved by the General Assembly after 5962 July 1, 1993, if state reimbursement pursuant to the provisions of this 5963 chapter or any special act, for the acquisition, purchase or construction 5964 of a building was for ninety-five or more per cent of the eligible costs of 5965 such acquisition, purchase or construction and such building ceases to 5966 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 205 of 254 be used for the purpose for which the grant was provided within twenty 5967 years of the date of approval by the General Assembly of the project, 5968 title to the building shall revert to the state unless the Commissioner of 5969 [Education] Administrative Services decides otherwise for good cause. 5970 Sec. 160. Subsection (b) of section 10-286 of the 2024 supplement to 5971 the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 5972 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 5973 (b) (1) In the case of all grants computed under this section for a 5974 project which constitutes a replacement, extension or major alteration of 5975 a damaged or destroyed facility, no grant may be paid if a local or 5976 regional board of education has failed to insure its facilities and capital 5977 equipment in accordance with the provisions of section 10-220. The 5978 amount of financial loss due to any damage or destruction to any such 5979 facility, as determined by ascertaining the replacement value of such 5980 damage or destruction, shall be deducted from project cost estimates 5981 prior to computation of the grant. 5982 (2) (A) In the case of any grants computed under this section for a 5983 school building project authorized pursuant to section 10-283 after July 5984 1, 1979, but prior to July 1, 2023, any federal funds or other state funds 5985 received for such school building project shall be deducted from project 5986 costs prior to computation of the grant. 5987 (B) In the case of any grants computed under this section for a school 5988 building project authorized pursuant to section 10-283 after July 1, 2023, 5989 but prior to July 1, 2024, any other state funds received for such school 5990 building project shall be deducted from project costs prior to 5991 computation of the grant. 5992 (C) In the case of any grants computed under this section for a school 5993 building project authorized pursuant to section 10-283 after July 1, 2024, 5994 any other state funds received for such school building project shall be 5995 deducted from project costs prior to computation of the grant. For 5996 purposes of this subparagraph, "other state funds" does not include any 5997 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 206 of 254 funds or benefit received pursuant to a program or initiative 5998 implemented pursuant to section 16-19f, 16-243y, 16-244z, 16-245m or 5999 16-245n. 6000 (3) The calculation of grants pursuant to this section shall be made in 6001 accordance with the state standard space specifications in effect at the 6002 time of the final grant calculation, except that on and after July 1, 2005, 6003 in the case of a school district with an enrollment of less than one 6004 hundred fifty students in grades kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive, 6005 state standard space specifications shall not apply in the calculation of 6006 grants pursuant to this section and the Commissioner of Administrative 6007 Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, may 6008 modify the standard space specifications for a project in such district. 6009 Sec. 161. Subsection (d) of section 10-286 of the 2024 supplement to 6010 the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 6011 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 6012 (d) For any school building project receiving state grant assistance 6013 under this chapter, all change orders or other change directives issued 6014 for such project [(1) on or after July 1, 2008, until June 30, 2011, shall be 6015 submitted, not later than six months after the date of such issuance, to 6016 the Commissioner of Education, and (2) on or after July 1, 2011,] shall be 6017 submitted, not later than six months after the date of such issuance, to 6018 the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in a manner prescribed 6019 by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. Only change orders or 6020 other change directives submitted to the Commissioner of Education or 6021 Commissioner of Administrative Services, as applicable, in accordance 6022 with this subsection shall be eligible for state grant assistance. 6023 Sec. 162. Section 10-286e of the general statutes is repealed and the 6024 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 6025 (a) If the Department of Administrative Services does not complete 6026 an audit of a school building project during the [five-year] two-year 6027 period from the date [the school district files a notice of project 6028 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 207 of 254 completion with] the department issues final payment for such project, 6029 the department shall conduct a limited scope audit of such project. The 6030 limited scope audit shall review (1) the total amount of expenditures 6031 reported, (2) any off-site improvements, (3) adherence to authorized 6032 space specifications, (4) interest costs on temporary notes and bonds, 6033 and (5) any other matter the Commissioner of Administrative Services 6034 deems appropriate. 6035 (b) The department shall not make any adjustment to a school 6036 construction grant based on the result of an audit finding that a change 6037 order was not publicly bid. 6038 [(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Commissioner 6039 of Administrative Services may waive any audit deficiencies found 6040 during an audit of a school building project conducted pursuant to this 6041 section if the commissioner determines that granting such waiver is in 6042 the best interest of the state.] 6043 Sec. 163. Subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of section 10-287 of the 6044 general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 6045 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 6046 (a) A grant for a school building project under this chapter [to meet 6047 project costs not eligible for state financial assistance under section 10- 6048 287a] shall be paid in installments, the number and time of payment of 6049 which shall correspond to the number and time of principal installment 6050 payments on municipal bonds, including principal payments to retire 6051 temporary notes renewed for the third and subsequent years pursuant 6052 to section 7-378a or 7-378e, issued for the purpose of financing such costs 6053 and shall be equal to the state's share of project costs per principal 6054 installment on municipal bonds or notes, except in cases where the 6055 project has been fully paid for, in which case the number of installments 6056 shall be five or, in the case of a regional agricultural science and 6057 technology education center or a cooperative regional special 6058 educational facility, shall be one; provided final payment shall not be 6059 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 208 of 254 made prior to an audit conducted by the State Board of Education for 6060 each project for which a final calculation was not made prior to July 31, 6061 1983. Grants under twenty-five thousand dollars shall be paid in one 6062 lump sum. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall certify 6063 to the State Comptroller, upon completion of the issuance of bonds or 6064 such renewal of temporary notes to finance each school building project, 6065 the dates and amounts of grant payments to be made pursuant to this 6066 chapter and the State Comptroller shall draw an order on the State 6067 Treasurer upon such certification to pay the amounts so certified when 6068 due. All site acquisition and project cost grant payments shall be made 6069 at least ten days prior to the principal payment on bonds or temporary 6070 notes related thereto or short-term financing issued to finance such site 6071 acquisition or project. Annual grant installments paid pursuant to this 6072 section on principal installment payments to retire temporary notes 6073 renewed pursuant to section 7-378a or 7-378e shall be based each year 6074 on the amount required to be retired pursuant to said sections, as 6075 adjusted for any ineligible project costs, and shall be paid only if at the 6076 time such temporary notes are renewed the rate of interest applicable to 6077 such notes is less than the rate of interest that would be applicable with 6078 respect to twenty-year bonds if issued at the time of such renewal. The 6079 determination related to such rates of interest pursuant to this 6080 subsection may be reviewed and shall be subject to approval by the 6081 Commissioner of Administrative Services prior to renewal of such 6082 notes. In the event that a school building project is not completed at the 6083 time bonds or temporary notes related thereto are issued to finance the 6084 project, the certification of the grant payments made pursuant to this 6085 section by the Commissioner of Administrative Services may be based 6086 on estimates, provided upon completion of such project and notification 6087 of final acceptance to the state, the Commissioner of Administrative 6088 Services shall adjust and recertify the dates and amounts of subsequent 6089 grant payments based on the state's share of final eligible costs. 6090 (b) (1) All orders and contracts for school building construction 6091 receiving state assistance under this chapter, except as provided in 6092 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 209 of 254 subdivisions (2) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection, shall be awarded to 6093 the lowest responsible qualified bidder only after a public invitation to 6094 bid, except for (A) school building projects for which the town or 6095 regional school district is using a state contract pursuant to subsection 6096 (d) of section 10-292, and (B) change orders, those contracts or orders 6097 costing less than ten thousand dollars and those of an emergency nature, 6098 as determined by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in 6099 which cases the contractor or vendor may be selected by negotiation, 6100 provided no local fiscal regulations, ordinances or charter provisions 6101 conflict. Any of the qualified bidders under this subdivision may be a 6102 cooperative purchasing contract offered through a regional educational 6103 service center or a council of government. 6104 (2) All orders and contracts for architectural services shall be 6105 awarded from a pool of [not more than the four] at least three of the 6106 most responsible qualified proposers after a public selection process. 6107 Such process shall, at a minimum, involve requests for qualifications, 6108 followed by requests for proposals, including fees, from the proposers 6109 meeting the qualifications criteria of the request for qualifications 6110 process. Following the qualification process, the awarding authority 6111 shall evaluate the proposals to determine [the four] at least three of the 6112 most responsible qualified proposers using those criteria previously 6113 listed in the requests for qualifications and requests for proposals for 6114 selecting architectural services specific to the project or school district. 6115 Such evaluation criteria shall include due consideration of the 6116 proposer's pricing for the project, experience with work of similar size 6117 and scope as required for the order or contract, organizational and team 6118 structure, including any subcontractors to be utilized by the proposer, 6119 for the order or contract, past performance data, including, but not 6120 limited to, adherence to project schedules and project budgets and the 6121 number of change orders for projects, the approach to the work required 6122 for the order or contract and documented contract oversight 6123 capabilities, and may include criteria specific to the project. Final 6124 selection by the awarding authority is limited to the pool of [the four] at 6125 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 210 of 254 least three of the most responsible qualified proposers and shall include 6126 consideration of all criteria included within the request for proposals. 6127 As used in this subdivision, "most responsible qualified proposer" 6128 means the proposer who is qualified by the awarding authority when 6129 considering price and the factors necessary for faithful performance of 6130 the work based on the criteria and scope of work included in the request 6131 for proposals. 6132 (3) (A) All orders and contracts for construction management services 6133 shall be awarded from a pool of [not more than the four] at least three 6134 of the most responsible qualified proposers after a public selection 6135 process. Such process shall, at a minimum, involve requests for 6136 qualifications, followed by requests for proposals, including fees, from 6137 the proposers meeting the qualifications criteria of the request for 6138 qualifications process. Following the qualification process, the 6139 awarding authority shall evaluate the proposals to determine [the four] 6140 at least three of the most responsible qualified proposers using those 6141 criteria previously listed in the requests for qualifications and requests 6142 for proposals for selecting construction management services specific to 6143 the project or school district. Such evaluation criteria shall include due 6144 consideration of the proposer's pricing for the project, experience with 6145 work of similar size and scope as required for the order or contract, 6146 organizational and team structure for the order or contract, past 6147 performance data, including, but not limited to, adherence to project 6148 schedules and project budgets and the number of change orders for 6149 projects, the approach to the work required for the order or contract, 6150 and documented contract oversight capabilities, and may include 6151 criteria specific to the project. Final selection by the awarding authority 6152 is limited to the pool of [the four] at least three of the most responsible 6153 qualified proposers and shall include consideration of all criteria 6154 included within the request for proposals. As used in this subdivision, 6155 "most responsible qualified proposer" means the proposer who is 6156 qualified by the awarding authority when considering price and the 6157 factors necessary for faithful performance of the work based on the 6158 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 211 of 254 criteria and scope of work included in the request for proposals. 6159 (B) The construction manager's contract shall include a guaranteed 6160 maximum price for the cost of construction. Such guaranteed maximum 6161 price shall be determined not later than ninety days after the selection 6162 of the trade subcontractor bids. Each construction manager shall invite 6163 bids and give notice of opportunities to bid on project elements on the 6164 State Contracting Portal. Each bid shall be kept sealed until opened 6165 publicly at the time and place set forth in the notice soliciting such bid. 6166 The construction manager shall, after consultation and approval by the 6167 town or regional school district, award any related contracts for project 6168 elements to the responsible qualified contractor submitting the lowest 6169 bid in compliance with the bid requirements, provided that [(i) the 6170 construction manager shall not be eligible to submit a bid for any such 6171 project element, and (ii)] construction shall not begin prior to the 6172 determination of the guaranteed maximum price. [, except work relating 6173 to site preparation and demolition may commence prior to such 6174 determination.] On and after July 1, 2024, the construction manager's 6175 contract shall include a requirement that the construction manager 6176 retain all documents and receipts relating to the school building project 6177 for a period of two years following the date of completion of an audit 6178 conducted by the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 6179 section 10-287, for such project. 6180 (C) The construction manager shall submit quarterly reports 6181 regarding the ineligible project costs for the school building project to 6182 date to the town or regional board of education. Upon submission of the 6183 notice of project completion pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, 6184 and prior to the audit conducted by the commissioner, the construction 6185 manager shall submit a final report on the total ineligible costs for such 6186 project to the town or regional school district. 6187 (D) The construction manager shall meet quarterly with the town or 6188 regional board of education to review any change orders for eligibility 6189 as the school building project progresses. 6190 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 212 of 254 (4) All orders and contracts for any other consultant services, 6191 including, but not limited to, consultant services rendered by an owner's 6192 representatives, construction administrators, program managers, 6193 environmental professionals, planners and financial specialists, shall 6194 comply with the public selection process described in subdivision (2) of 6195 this subsection. No costs associated with an order or contract for such 6196 consultant services shall be eligible for state financial assistance under 6197 this chapter unless such order or contract receives prior approval from 6198 the Commissioner of Administrative Services in writing or through a 6199 written electronic communication. 6200 (c) If the Commissioner of Administrative Services determines that a 6201 building project has not met the approved conditions of the original 6202 application, the Department of Administrative Services may withhold 6203 subsequent state grant payments for said project until appropriate 6204 action, as determined by the commissioner, is taken to cause the 6205 building project to be in compliance with the approved conditions or 6206 may require repayment of all state grant payments for said project when 6207 such appropriate action is not undertaken within a reasonable time. 6208 (d) (1) Each town or regional school district shall submit a final grant 6209 application to the Department of Administrative Services [within] not 6210 later than one year from the date of completion and acceptance of the 6211 school building project by the town or regional school district. If a town 6212 or regional school district fails to submit a final grant application [within 6213 said period of time] on or before such one-year date, the commissioner 6214 may withhold ten per cent of the state reimbursement for such project. 6215 (2) (A) On and after July 1, [2022] 2024, each town or regional school 6216 district shall submit a notice of project completion [within three years] 6217 not later than one year from the date of the issuance of a certificate of 6218 occupancy for the school building project by the town or regional school 6219 district. If a town or regional school district fails to submit such notice 6220 of project completion [within said period of time] on or before such one- 6221 year date, the commissioner shall deem such project completed and 6222 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 213 of 254 conduct an audit of such project in accordance with the provisions of 6223 this chapter. 6224 (B) For any school building project authorized by the General 6225 Assembly prior to July 1, 2022, the commissioner shall deem as complete 6226 any such project in which a certificate of occupancy has been granted, 6227 but for which a notice of project completion has not been submitted by 6228 the town or regional school district on or before July 1, 2025. 6229 Sec. 164. Section 10-287c of the general statutes is repealed and the 6230 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 6231 [(a) The State Board of Education is authorized to prescribe such rules 6232 and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this 6233 chapter, provided any rules or regulations to implement the provisions 6234 of sections 10-283, 10-287, 10-287a, 10-292d and subsection (d) of section 6235 10-292m shall be prescribed in consultation with the Secretary of the 6236 Office of Policy and Management. Whenever the Commissioner of 6237 Education has made a commitment for a grant on or before June 30, 6238 2011, prior to the completion of a project as provided in section 10-287a, 6239 and said commissioner has made advances thereon as provided in said 6240 section, any such regulations prescribed in accordance with this section 6241 which were in effect at the time of such commitment and advances shall 6242 be applicable to any additional commitment and subsequent advances 6243 with respect to such project.] 6244 [(b) Not later than June 30, 2013, the] The Commissioner of 6245 Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of 6246 Education, shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of 6247 chapter 54 in order to implement the provisions of this chapter. [Such 6248 regulations shall apply to any project for which a grant application is 6249 filed with the Department of Education on or after July 1, 2013.] 6250 Sec. 165. Section 10-287d of the 2024 supplement to the general 6251 statutes, as amended by section 59 of public act 23-205, is repealed and 6252 the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 6253 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 214 of 254 For the purposes of funding (1) grants to projects that have received 6254 approval of the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 6255 [sections] section 10-287 [and 10-287a,] subsection (a) of section 10-65 6256 and section 10-76e, (2) grants to assist school building projects to remedy 6257 safety and health violations and damage from fire and catastrophe, and 6258 (3) technical education and career school projects pursuant to section 10- 6259 283b, the State Treasurer is authorized and directed, subject to and in 6260 accordance with the provisions of section 3-20, to issue bonds of the state 6261 from time to time in one or more series in an aggregate amount not 6262 exceeding thirteen billion eight hundred sixty-two million one hundred 6263 sixty thousand dollars. Bonds of each series shall bear such date or dates 6264 and mature at such time or times not exceeding thirty years from their 6265 respective dates and be subject to such redemption privileges, with or 6266 without premium, as may be fixed by the State Bond Commission. They 6267 shall be sold at not less than par and accrued interest and the full faith 6268 and credit of the state is pledged for the payment of the interest thereon 6269 and the principal thereof as the same shall become due, and accordingly 6270 and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, 6271 appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 6272 principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 6273 such principal and interest as the same become due. The State Treasurer 6274 is authorized to invest temporarily in direct obligations of the United 6275 States, United States agency obligations, certificates of deposit, 6276 commercial paper or bank acceptances such portion of the proceeds of 6277 such bonds or of any notes issued in anticipation thereof as may be 6278 deemed available for such purpose. 6279 Sec. 166. Section 10-287e of the general statutes is repealed and the 6280 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 6281 All moneys received by the state in payment of the principal of and 6282 the interest on bonds purchased and held by the state under the 6283 provisions of section 10-287b of the 1969 supplement to the general 6284 statutes, together with all net earnings on the temporary investment 6285 thereof, shall comprise a fund to be designated "School Building 6286 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 215 of 254 Construction Fund" and the moneys in said fund shall be used to pay 6287 the principal of and the interest on bonds issued by the State Treasurer 6288 under [sections] section 10-287d [and 10-292k,] and of notes, to the 6289 extent not paid by renewal notes, issued in anticipation of the receipt of 6290 the proceeds of such bonds. 6291 Sec. 167. Subsection (b) of section 10-291 of the general statutes is 6292 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 6293 2024): 6294 (b) The Department of Administrative Services shall not approve a 6295 school building project plan or site, as applicable, if: 6296 (1) The site is in an area of moderate or high radon potential, as 6297 indicated in the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's 6298 Radon Potential Map, or similar subsequent publications, except where 6299 the school building project plan incorporates construction techniques to 6300 mitigate radon levels in the air of the facility; 6301 (2) The plans incorporate new roof construction or total replacement 6302 of an existing roof and do not provide for the following: (A) A minimum 6303 roof pitch that conforms with the requirements of the State Building 6304 Code, (B) a minimum twenty-year unlimited manufacturer's guarantee 6305 for water tightness covering material and workmanship on the entire 6306 roofing system, (C) the inclusion of vapor retarders, insulation, bitumen, 6307 felts, membranes, flashings, metals, decks and any other feature 6308 required by the roof design, and (D) that all manufacturer's materials to 6309 be used in the roofing system are specified to meet the latest standards 6310 for individual components of the roofing systems of the American 6311 Society for Testing and Materials; 6312 (3) In the case of a major alteration, renovation or extension of a 6313 building to be used for public school purposes, the plans do not 6314 incorporate the guidelines set forth in the Sheet Metal and Air 6315 Conditioning Contractors National Association's publication entitled 6316 "Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under 6317 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 216 of 254 Construction" or similar subsequent publications; 6318 (4) In the case of a new construction, extension, renovation or 6319 replacement, the plans do not provide that the building maintenance 6320 staff responsible for such facility are trained in or are receiving training 6321 in, or that the applicant plans to provide training in, the appropriate 6322 areas of plant operations including, but not limited to, heating, 6323 ventilation and air conditioning systems pursuant to section 10-231e, 6324 with specific training relative to indoor air quality; 6325 (5) In the case of a project for new construction, extension, major 6326 alteration, renovation or replacement involving a school entrance for 6327 inclusion on any listing submitted to the General Assembly in 6328 accordance with section 10-283 on or after July 1, 2008, the plans do not 6329 provide for a security infrastructure for such entrance; 6330 (6) In the case of a project for new construction, extension, major 6331 alteration, renovation or replacement on any listing submitted to the 6332 General Assembly in accordance with section 10-283 on or after July 1, 6333 2022, the plans do not provide for the installation of at least one water 6334 bottle filling station (A) per one hundred students of the projected 6335 enrollment for the school building, (B) on each new floor or wing of the 6336 school building, and (C) in any food service area of the school building; 6337 [or] 6338 (7) In the case of a project for new construction of a school building 6339 on any listing submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with 6340 section 10-283 on or after July 1, 2023, the plans do not provide for the 6341 installation of level two electric vehicle charging stations, as defined in 6342 section 4b-77, in at least twenty per cent of the designated parking 6343 spaces for cars or light duty trucks at the school building; or 6344 (8) In the case of a project for new construction of a school building 6345 on any listing submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with 6346 section 10-283, on or after July 1, 2025, the plans do not provide for 6347 single-user toilet and bathing rooms that are identified as being 6348 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 217 of 254 available for use by all students and school personnel. 6349 Sec. 168. Section 10-292v of the general statutes is repealed and the 6350 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 6351 Any school building committee established by a town or regional 6352 school district to undertake a school building project, as defined in 6353 section 10-282, shall include (1) at least one member who has experience 6354 in the construction industry, and (2) the chairperson of the local or 6355 regional board of education, or the chairperson's designee, for the school 6356 district of such school building project. 6357 Sec. 169. Section 10-265r of the 2024 supplement to the general 6358 statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 6359 (Effective July 1, 2024): 6360 (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year 6361 thereafter, the Department of Administrative Services shall administer 6362 a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system grant program to 6363 reimburse local and regional boards of education, regional educational 6364 service centers, incorporated or endowed high schools or academies 6365 approved by the State Board of Education, pursuant to section 10-34, 6366 and state charter schools for costs associated with projects for the 6367 installation, replacement or upgrading of heating, ventilation and air 6368 conditioning systems or other improvements to indoor air quality in 6369 school buildings. 6370 (b) (1) A local or regional board of education, [or a] regional 6371 educational service center, incorporated or endowed high school or 6372 academy or state charter school may apply, at such time and in such 6373 manner as the Commissioner of Administrative Services prescribes, for 6374 a grant for a project involving the installation, replacement or upgrading 6375 of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other 6376 improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings. A local or 6377 regional board of education may submit an application for any such 6378 project that (A) was commenced on or after March 1, 2020, and 6379 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 218 of 254 completed before July 1, 2022, or (B) is commenced on or after July 1, 6380 2022. 6381 (2) The commissioner shall develop eligibility criteria for the 6382 awarding of grants under the program. Such criteria shall include, but 6383 need not be limited to, (A) the age and condition of the current heating, 6384 ventilation and air conditioning system or equipment being replaced or 6385 upgraded in the school, (B) current air quality issues at the school, (C) 6386 the age and condition of the overall school building, (D) the school 6387 district's master plan, (E) the availability of maintenance records, (F) a 6388 contract or plans for the routine maintenance and cleaning of the 6389 heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and (G) the [local or 6390 regional board of education's or regional educational service center's] 6391 ability of the local or regional board of education, regional educational 6392 service center, incorporated or endowed high school or academy or state 6393 charter school to finance the remainder of the costs for such project after 6394 receiving a grant under the program. The commissioner shall utilize 6395 such eligibility criteria when determining whether to award a grant to 6396 an applicant under the program. 6397 (3) The commissioner shall not award a grant under the program to 6398 any applicant that, on or after July 1, [2024] 2026, has not certified 6399 compliance with the uniform inspection and evaluation of an existing 6400 heating, ventilation and air conditioning system pursuant to subsection 6401 (d) of section 10-220. 6402 (c) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision [(4)] (5) of this 6403 subsection, a local board of education may receive a grant equal to a 6404 percentage of its eligible expenses. The percentage shall be determined 6405 by its ranking. Such ranking shall be determined as follows: (A) Each 6406 town shall be ranked in descending order from one to one hundred 6407 sixty-nine according to the adjusted equalized net grand list per capita, 6408 as defined in section 10-261, of the town two, three and four years prior 6409 to the fiscal year in which application is made, (B) based upon such 6410 ranking, a percentage of not less than twenty or more than eighty shall 6411 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 219 of 254 be assigned to each town on a continuous scale, and (C) the town ranked 6412 first shall be assigned a percentage of twenty and the town ranked last 6413 shall be assigned a percentage of eighty. 6414 (2) A regional board of education may receive a grant equal to a 6415 percentage of its eligible expenses. The percentage shall be determined 6416 by its ranking. Such ranking shall be determined as follows: (A) 6417 Multiplying the total population, as defined in section 10-261, of each 6418 town in the district by such town's ranking, as determined in 6419 subdivision (1) of this subsection, (B) adding together the figures 6420 determined under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, and (C) 6421 dividing the total computed under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision 6422 by the total population of all towns in the district. The ranking of each 6423 regional board of education shall be rounded to the next higher whole 6424 number and each such board shall receive the same reimbursement 6425 percentage as would a town with the same rank plus ten per cent, except 6426 that no such percentage shall exceed eighty-five per cent. 6427 (3) A regional educational service center may receive a grant equal to 6428 a percentage of its eligible expenses. The percentage shall be determined 6429 by its ranking. Such ranking shall be determined by (A) multiplying the 6430 population of each member town in the regional educational service 6431 center by such town's ranking, as determined in subdivision (1) of this 6432 subsection, (B) adding together the figures for each town determined 6433 under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, and (C) dividing the total 6434 computed under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision by the total 6435 population of all member towns in the regional educational service 6436 center. The ranking of each regional educational service center shall be 6437 rounded to the next higher whole number and each such center shall 6438 receive the same reimbursement percentage as would a town with the 6439 same rank. 6440 (4) An incorporated or endowed high school or academy approved 6441 by the State Board of Education, pursuant to section 10-34, may receive 6442 a grant equal to a percentage of its eligible expenses. The percentage 6443 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 220 of 254 shall be determined by its ranking. Such ranking shall be determined in 6444 accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 10-285b. 6445 (5) A state charter school may receive a grant equal to a percentage of 6446 its eligible expenses. The percentage shall be one-half of the percentage 6447 of the town in which the state charter school is located, as determined 6448 by its ranking in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of 6449 this subsection. 6450 [(4)] (6) The local board of education for (A) any town with a total 6451 population of eighty thousand or greater shall receive a grant equal to a 6452 percentage of its eligible expenses that is the greater of the percentage 6453 calculated pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection or sixty per 6454 cent, and (B) the town of Cheshire shall receive a grant equal to a 6455 percentage of its eligible expenses that is the greater of the percentage 6456 calculated pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection or fifty per cent. 6457 (d) If there are not sufficient funds to provide grants to all local and 6458 regional boards of education and regional educational service centers, 6459 based on the percentage determined pursuant to subsection (c) of this 6460 section, the commissioner shall give priority to applicants on behalf of 6461 schools with the greatest need for heating, ventilation and air 6462 conditioning systems or other improvements to indoor air quality in 6463 school buildings, as determined by the commissioner based on the 6464 eligibility criteria developed pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection 6465 (b) of this section. 6466 (e) The following expenses shall not be eligible for reimbursement 6467 under this section: (1) Routine maintenance and cleaning of the heating, 6468 ventilation and air conditioning system, (2) work that is otherwise 6469 eligible for a school building project grant under chapter 173, and (3) 6470 work performed at or on a public school administrative or service 6471 facility that is not located or housed within a public school building. 6472 (f) A local or regional board of education or a regional educational 6473 service center may use any federal funds received by such board or 6474 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 221 of 254 center to finance a project for the installation, replacement or upgrading 6475 of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other 6476 improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings for which a grant 6477 is received under this section, and such federal funds shall be deemed 6478 to be part or all of the town's local share for such project. 6479 (g) Any project for the installation, replacement or upgrading of 6480 heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other 6481 improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings for which a grant 6482 is awarded under this section shall be completed by the end of the next 6483 calendar year, unless the duration of such project is extended by the 6484 commissioner upon a showing of good cause by the local or regional 6485 board of education or regional educational service center. 6486 (h) Any local or regional board of education or regional educational 6487 service center that receives a grant under this section shall (1) be 6488 responsible for the routine maintenance and cleaning of the heating, 6489 ventilation and air conditioning system, and (2) provide training to 6490 school personnel and building maintenance staff concerning the proper 6491 use and maintenance of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning 6492 system. 6493 (i) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, the 6494 commissioner shall reconsider any application for a grant under this 6495 section that was submitted by a local or regional board of education or 6496 regional educational service center prior to July 1, 2024, and which the 6497 commissioner had denied. Such board or center shall not be required to 6498 submit a new application for such reconsideration, unless the reason for 6499 such denial was that such application was incomplete or the 6500 commissioner determines that additional information or revision to 6501 such application is necessary to be able to award a grant. The 6502 commissioner shall provide technical assistance during such 6503 reconsideration period to such boards and centers in order to assist such 6504 boards in being able to be awarded a grant under this section. 6505 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 222 of 254 Sec. 170. Subsection (b) of section 10-265t of the 2024 supplement to 6506 the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 6507 thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 6508 (b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount 6509 stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department 6510 of Administrative Services for the purpose of providing grants-in-aid 6511 for school air quality improvements including, but not limited to, 6512 upgrades to, replacement of or installation of heating, ventilation and 6513 air conditioning equipment, provided (1) not more than fifty million 6514 dollars of such proceeds may be used to provide reimbursements for 6515 such improvements that were completed not earlier than March 1, 2020, 6516 and not later than July 1, 2022, and (2) not more than fifteen million 6517 dollars of such proceeds shall be used for grants-in-aid for the purchase 6518 of equipment and materials for the construction and installation of 6519 individual classroom air purifiers, provided not more than eleven 6520 million five hundred thousand dollars of such proceeds shall be used by 6521 The University of Connecticut as part of the Supplemental Air Filtration 6522 for Education program under the Clean Air Equity Response Program 6523 for the purposes described in this subdivision, and the remainder of 6524 such proceeds shall be used by an organization or organizations that 6525 provide equipment and materials for individual classroom air purifiers 6526 to schools. 6527 Sec. 171. Section 10-66i of the general statutes is repealed and the 6528 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 6529 All state statutes concerning education, including provisions for 6530 eligibility for state aid and the payment of grants in accordance with the 6531 provisions of sections 10-283, 10-286d, 10-287, and 10-288 [, 10-292d and 6532 10-292l] with respect to bonds, notes or other obligations issued by a 6533 regional educational service center to finance building projects 6534 approved by the Commissioner of Education, shall apply to the 6535 operation of regional educational service centers. Notwithstanding the 6536 provisions of any other section of the general statutes, the board of a 6537 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 223 of 254 center shall be eligible to receive direct payment pursuant to the 6538 provisions of section 10-76g. 6539 Sec. 172. Subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of 6540 section 3-20 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed 6541 and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 6542 (g) (1) (A) With the exception of refunding bonds, whenever a bond 6543 act empowers the State Bond Commission to authorize bonds for any 6544 project or purpose or projects or purposes, and whenever the State Bond 6545 Commission finds that the authorization of such bonds will be in the 6546 best interests of the state, it shall authorize such bonds by resolution 6547 adopted by the approving vote of at least a majority of said commission. 6548 No such resolution shall be so adopted by the State Bond Commission 6549 unless it finds that: 6550 (i) There has been filed with it (I) any human services facility 6551 colocation statement to be filed with the Secretary of the Office of Policy 6552 and Management, if so requested by the secretary, pursuant to section 6553 4b-23; (II) a statement from the Commissioner of Agriculture pursuant 6554 to section 22-6, for projects which would convert twenty-five or more 6555 acres of prime farmland to a nonagricultural use; (III) prior to the 6556 meeting at which such resolution is to be considered, any capital 6557 development impact statement required to be filed with the Secretary of 6558 the Office of Policy and Management; (IV) a statement as to the full cost 6559 of the project or purpose when completed and the estimated operating 6560 cost for any structure, equipment or facility to be constructed or 6561 acquired; and (V) such requests and such other documents as it or such 6562 bond act requires, provided no resolution with respect to any school 6563 building project financed pursuant to section 10-287d [or any interest 6564 subsidy financed pursuant to section 10-292k] shall require the filing of 6565 any statements pursuant to this clause and provided further any 6566 resolution requiring a capital impact statement shall be deemed not 6567 properly before the State Bond Commission until such capital 6568 development impact statement is filed; and 6569 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 224 of 254 (ii) Such authorization does not exceed the limit specified under 6570 subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section. 6571 Sec. 173. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) Not later than January 1, 6572 2025, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall initiate a docket to 6573 develop a program to encourage the installation of solar photovoltaic 6574 systems and energy storage systems at public schools. The authority 6575 shall incorporate such program into the programs authorized pursuant 6576 to sections 16-243ee, and 16-244z of the general statutes. The authority 6577 may establish a separate tariff for projects selected under such program 6578 and may identify a reasonable cap, not to exceed twenty-five megawatts 6579 per year, on the annual generating capacity of projects under such 6580 program, provided the authority shall permit any unused allowance 6581 under such cap in any given year to accrue. The megawatts available 6582 under such cap shall be separate from and shall not count toward the 6583 number of total available megawatts under subparagraph (A) of 6584 subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 16-244z of the general 6585 statutes. 6586 (b) A proposal for a project under such program may base such 6587 project's capacity on an estimate of electricity usage on the customer side 6588 of the revenue meter that exceeds existing on-site usage at the time of 6589 such proposal to account for additional future uses of the electricity, as 6590 determined by the authority, including, but not limited to: (1) Electric 6591 vehicle charging stations; (2) electricity-dependent heating and cooling 6592 systems; and (3) powering equipment used in the provision of food or 6593 equipment used to provide water for drinking or hygiene. 6594 Sec. 174. Section 16-244z of the 2024 supplement to the general 6595 statutes is amended by adding subsection (h) as follows (Effective July 1, 6596 2024): 6597 (NEW) (h) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the 6598 authority shall incorporate the program established pursuant to section 6599 154 of this act into the programs authorized pursuant to this section. 6600 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 225 of 254 Sec. 175. Section 16-243ee of the general statutes is amended by 6601 adding subsection (e) as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 6602 (NEW) (e) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the 6603 authority shall incorporate the program established pursuant to section 6604 154 of this act into the programs authorized pursuant to this section. 6605 Sec. 176. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) Effective July 1, 2025, prior 6606 to submitting any application for a school building project pursuant to 6607 subsection (a) of section 10-283 of the general statutes, any local or 6608 regional board of education shall provide for a solar feasibility 6609 assessment for the school building that is the subject of such application, 6610 unless such school building already utilizes solar energy. The purpose 6611 of such solar feasibility assessment shall be to provide information to 6612 such local or regional board of education concerning the feasibility of 6613 installing solar photovoltaic systems on the premises of such school 6614 building. Such information shall include: (1) The annual load at the 6615 electric meters for such school building during the most recent calendar 6616 year, if applicable; (2) the area of rooftop space and impervious surface 6617 on the premises of such school building that is available to host solar 6618 photovoltaic systems; (3) available opportunities for interconnection 6619 with the electric distribution system; and (4) a description of anticipated 6620 costs, savings and contractual terms for any such solar photovoltaic 6621 systems, including interconnection costs and electric bill credits. 6622 (b) Such local or regional board of education may provide for such a 6623 solar feasibility assessment pursuant to subsection (a) of this section in 6624 coordination with other local or regional boards of education. 6625 Sec. 177. Section 384 of public act 22-118, as amended by section 136 6626 of public act 23-205, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 6627 thereof (Effective from passage): 6628 (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general 6629 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6630 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6631 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 226 of 254 requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 6632 2021, the new construction project at Danbury Career Academy at 6633 Cartus (Project Number 034-0153 N) in the town of Danbury with costs 6634 not to exceed [one hundred fifty-four million] one hundred seventy- 6635 nine million five hundred thousand dollars shall be included in 6636 subdivision (1) of section 362 of public act 22-118 and shall subsequently 6637 be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town 6638 of Danbury files an application for such school building project prior to 6639 October 1, 2022, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the 6640 general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of 6641 Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 6642 said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 6643 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general 6644 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6645 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6646 concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of 6647 education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 6648 town of Danbury may use the reimbursement rate of eighty per cent for 6649 the new construction project, including site acquisition, limited eligible 6650 costs and the associated board of education/central administration 6651 facility project, at Danbury Career Academy at Cartus. 6652 (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general 6653 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6654 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6655 concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space 6656 specifications, the town of Danbury shall be exempt from the state 6657 standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the 6658 grant for the new construction project at Danbury Career Academy at 6659 Cartus. 6660 (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general 6661 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6662 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6663 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 227 of 254 concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of 6664 education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 6665 town of Danbury may use the reimbursement rate of eighty per cent for 6666 site acquisition costs associated with the purchase of any parcels of land 6667 adjacent to the site of the new construction project at Danbury Career 6668 Academy at Cartus. 6669 (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general 6670 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6671 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6672 concerning ineligible costs, the town of Danbury shall be eligible to 6673 receive reimbursement for certain ineligible costs for the new 6674 construction project at Danbury Career Academy at Cartus, provided 6675 such reimbursement for such ineligible costs do not exceed nine 6676 hundred ninety-two thousand eight hundred forty-two dollars. 6677 (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general 6678 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6679 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6680 concerning ineligible costs and section 10-286d of the general statutes or 6681 any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the 6682 Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section relating 6683 to grants for site acquisition costs, the town of Danbury shall be eligible 6684 to receive reimbursement in an amount of [thirty-nine million four 6685 hundred thousand] forty-five million seven hundred sixty thousand 6686 dollars for its site acquisition costs for the new construction project at 6687 Danbury Career Academy at Cartus. 6688 (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286d of the general 6689 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6690 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6691 requiring the site for a school building project to be approved by the 6692 Commissioner of Administrative Services prior to the date of the 6693 beginning of construction, the town of Danbury shall be eligible to 6694 receive reimbursement for its eligible costs for the new construction 6695 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 228 of 254 project at Danbury Career Academy at Cartus. 6696 Sec. 178. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6697 subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes 6698 or any regulations adopted by the State Board of Education or the 6699 Department of Administrative Services regarding eligible costs for roof 6700 replacement projects and requiring that a roof be at least twenty years 6701 old to qualify for a grant for a replacement of such roof, the roof at 6702 Ellsworth Avenue School shall be deemed to be twenty years old and 6703 the town of Danbury may replace the roof at Ellsworth Avenue School 6704 and be eligible to receive a grant based on the eligible percentages 6705 determined pursuant to said section of the eligible project costs. 6706 Sec. 179. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6707 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 6708 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 6709 pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs, the town of New 6710 London shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for certain ineligible 6711 costs for the interdistrict magnet facility and extension and alteration 6712 project at Science/Technology Magnet High School (Project Number 6713 095-0078 MAG/EA), provided such reimbursement for such ineligible 6714 costs do not exceed one million five hundred ninety-one thousand seven 6715 hundred thirty-six dollars. 6716 Sec. 180. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6717 section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 6718 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 6719 pursuant to said section concerning the calculation of grants using the 6720 state standard space specifications, the town of Milford shall be exempt 6721 from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the 6722 calculation of the grant for the following school building projects: Calf 6723 Pen Meadow Elementary School (Project Number 084-0215 A); John F. 6724 Kennedy Elementary School (Project Number 084-0210 A); Live Oaks 6725 Elementary School (Project Number 084-0214 A); Mathewson 6726 Elementary School (Project Number 084-0212 A); Meadowside 6727 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 229 of 254 Elementary School (Project Number 084-0202 A); Orange Avenue 6728 Elementary School (Project Number 084-0209 A); Orchard Hills 6729 Elementary School (Project Number 084-0204 A); Pumpkin Delight 6730 Elementary School (Project Number 084-0213 EA); East Shore Middle 6731 School (Project Number 084-0208 A); Harborside Middle School (Project 6732 Number 084-0203 A); West Shore Middle School (Project Number 084- 6733 0200 EA/RR); Joseph A. Foran High School (Project Number 084-0211 6734 A); Jonathan Law High School (Project Number 084-0206 A); and The 6735 Academy (Project Number 084-0205 A). 6736 Sec. 181. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6737 section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 6738 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 6739 pursuant to said section concerning the calculation of grants using the 6740 state standard space specifications, the town of Tolland shall be exempt 6741 from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the 6742 calculation of the grant for the school building project at Birch Grove 6743 Primary School (Project Number 142-0083 N). 6744 Sec. 182. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6745 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 6746 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 6747 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 6748 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the renovation project at Central 6749 Middle School in the town of Greenwich with costs not to exceed one 6750 hundred twelve million seventeen thousand dollars shall be included in 6751 subdivision (1) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be 6752 considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of 6753 Greenwich files an application for such school building project prior to 6754 October 1, 2024, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the 6755 general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of 6756 Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 6757 said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 6758 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general 6759 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 230 of 254 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6760 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6761 concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of 6762 education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 6763 town of Greenwich may use the reimbursement rate of twenty per cent 6764 for the renovation project at Central Middle School. 6765 (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general 6766 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6767 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6768 concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space 6769 specifications, the town of Greenwich shall be exempt from the state 6770 standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the 6771 grant for the renovation project at Central Middle School. 6772 Sec. 183. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6773 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 6774 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 6775 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 6776 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the new construction project at 6777 Hillcrest Middle School in the town of Trumbull with costs not to exceed 6778 one hundred forty million nine hundred sixty-two thousand eight 6779 hundred twenty-three dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of 6780 section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant 6781 commitment from the state, provided the town of Trumbull files an 6782 application for such school building project prior to December 1, 2024, 6783 and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or 6784 any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the 6785 Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is 6786 eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 6787 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general 6788 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6789 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6790 concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of 6791 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 231 of 254 education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 6792 town of Trumbull may use the reimbursement rate of forty-four per cent 6793 for the new construction project at Hillcrest Middle School. 6794 Sec. 184. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6795 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 6796 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 6797 pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs, the town of Derby 6798 shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for certain ineligible costs 6799 associated with ineligible panels for the photovoltaic project at Irving 6800 School (Project Number 037-0065 PV), photovoltaic project at Bradley 6801 School (Project Number 037-0064 PV) and photovoltaic project at Derby 6802 Middle School (Project Number 037-0063 PV). 6803 Sec. 185. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6804 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 6805 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 6806 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 6807 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the renovation project at Smith 6808 Elementary School in the town of New Britain with costs not to exceed 6809 one hundred forty-five million dollars shall be included in subdivision 6810 (1) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a 6811 grant commitment from the state, provided (1) such renovation project 6812 includes the construction of preschool facilities as part or on the site of 6813 Smith Elementary School, (2) the town of New Britain files an 6814 application for such school building project prior to October 1, 2026, and 6815 (3) meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or 6816 any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the 6817 Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is 6818 eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 6819 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general 6820 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6821 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6822 concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of 6823 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 232 of 254 education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 6824 town of New Britain may use the reimbursement rate of ninety-five per 6825 cent for the renovation project at Smith Elementary School, provided (1) 6826 the school district for the town of New Britain is an educational reform 6827 district, as defined in section 10-262u of the general statutes, on the 6828 effective date of this section, and (2) the school building committee 6829 responsible for undertaking such school building project is established 6830 in accordance with the provisions of section 120 of public act 21-111. 6831 (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general 6832 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6833 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6834 concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space 6835 specifications, the town of New Britain shall be exempt from the state 6836 standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the 6837 grant for the renovation project at Smith Elementary School. 6838 Sec. 186. Section 117 of public act 21-111, as amended by section 398 6839 of public act 22-118, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 6840 thereof (Effective from passage): 6841 Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general 6842 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6843 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6844 requiring that the description of a project type for a school building 6845 project be made at the time of application for a school building project 6846 grant, the town of New Britain may change the description and scope of 6847 the renovation project at Chamberlain Elementary School (Project 6848 Number 20DASY089169RNV0620) to not include the construction of 6849 preschool facilities on a site reviewed and approved by the Department 6850 of Administrative Services, provided the total project costs for the 6851 renovation project do not exceed seventy-five million dollars and such 6852 preschool facilities project is included as part of the renovation project 6853 at Smith Elementary School, as described in section 185 of this act. 6854 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 233 of 254 Sec. 187. Section 125 of public act 23-205 is repealed and the following 6855 is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 6856 (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general 6857 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6858 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section [10- 6859 283] requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 6860 30, 2022, the renovation project at Jefferson Elementary School in the 6861 town of New Britain with costs not to exceed seventy million dollars 6862 shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 114 of [this act] public act 6863 23-205 and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment 6864 from the state, provided the town of New Britain files an application for 6865 such school building project prior to October 1, [2026] 2028, and meets 6866 all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any 6867 regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department 6868 of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for 6869 grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 6870 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general 6871 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6872 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6873 concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of 6874 education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 6875 town of New Britain may use the reimbursement rate of ninety-five per 6876 cent for the renovation project at Jefferson Elementary School, provided 6877 (1) the school district for the town of New Britain is an educational 6878 reform district, as defined in section 10-262u of the general statutes, on 6879 the effective date of this section, and (2) the school building committee 6880 responsible for undertaking such school building project is established 6881 in accordance with the provisions of section 120 of public act 21-111, as 6882 amended by [this act] public act 23-205. 6883 Sec. 188. Section 382 of public act 22-118 is repealed and the following 6884 is inserted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 6885 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 234 of 254 (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general 6886 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6887 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6888 requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 6889 2021, for any school building project that was previously authorized and 6890 that has changed substantially in scope or cost and is seeking 6891 reauthorization, the new construction project at Torrington Middle & 6892 High School (Project Number 143-0076 N) with costs not to exceed one 6893 hundred seventy-nine million five hundred seventy-five thousand 6894 dollars shall be included in section 362 of [this act] public act 22-118 and 6895 shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, 6896 provided the town of Torrington meets all other provisions of chapter 6897 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board 6898 of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 6899 said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 6900 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general 6901 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6902 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6903 concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of 6904 education may be eligible to receive for a school building project for any 6905 school build project that was previously authorized and that has 6906 changed substantially in scope or cost and is seeking reauthorization, 6907 the town of Torrington may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-five 6908 per cent for the reauthorized amount of the new construction project at 6909 Torrington Middle & High School (Project Number 143-0076 N), 6910 provided the town of Torrington meets all other provisions of chapter 6911 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board 6912 of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 6913 said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 6914 (c) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the 6915 general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of 6916 Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 6917 said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board 6918 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 235 of 254 of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 6919 town of Torrington may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-five per 6920 cent for the construction of a central administration facility as part of the 6921 board of education/central administration facility and new construction 6922 project at Torrington Middle & High School (Project Number 143-0077 6923 BE/N). 6924 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection 6925 (a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by 6926 the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative 6927 Services limiting reimbursement to one-half of the eligible percentage of 6928 the net eligible cost of construction to a town for construction, the town 6929 of Torrington shall receive full reimbursement of the reimbursement 6930 percentage described in subdivision (1) of this subsection of the net 6931 eligible cost of the board of education/central administration facility 6932 and new construction project at Torrington Middle & High School. 6933 (d) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the 6934 general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of 6935 Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 6936 said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board 6937 of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 6938 town of Torrington may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-five per 6939 cent for the construction of outdoor athletic facilities, including artificial 6940 turf, as part of the board of education/central administration facility 6941 and new construction project at Torrington Middle & High School 6942 (Project Number 143-0077 BE/N). 6943 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection 6944 (a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by 6945 the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative 6946 Services limiting reimbursement to one-half of the eligible percentage of 6947 the net eligible cost of construction to a town for construction, the town 6948 of Torrington shall receive full reimbursement of the reimbursement 6949 percentage described in subdivision (1) of this subsection of the net 6950 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 236 of 254 eligible cost of the board of education/central administration facility 6951 and new construction project at Torrington Middle & High School. 6952 (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general 6953 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6954 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6955 concerning ineligible costs, the town of Torrington shall be eligible to 6956 receive reimbursement for certain ineligible costs related to the 6957 construction of outdoor athletic facilities, including artificial turf, as part 6958 of the board of education/central administration facility and new 6959 construction project at Torrington Middle & High School (Project 6960 Number 143-0077 BE/N), provided such reimbursement for such 6961 ineligible costs for such projects do not exceed six million dollars. 6962 Sec. 189. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6963 subsection (b) of section 10-287 of the general statutes, or any regulation 6964 adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of 6965 Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring that all 6966 orders and contracts be awarded after a public invitation to bid has been 6967 advertised in a newspaper having circulation in the town in which 6968 construction is to take place, and the provisions of section 4b-91 of the 6969 general statutes or any regulation adopted by the Department of 6970 Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring that every 6971 contract for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, 6972 repair or demolition of any public building or any other public work by 6973 a public agency that is paid for, in whole or in part, with state funds and 6974 that is estimated to cost more than five hundred thousand dollars be 6975 awarded after the public agency has invited bids by posting notice on 6976 the State Contracting Portal, contracts let by the town of Ellington for 6977 the renovation project at Windermere Elementary School (Project 6978 Number 048-0060 RNV) may be reimbursed, provided such project 6979 complies with all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes 6980 and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education or the 6981 Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter. 6982 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 237 of 254 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general 6983 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 6984 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 6985 requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 6986 2023, for any school building project that was previously authorized and 6987 that has changed substantially in scope or cost and is seeking 6988 reauthorization, the renovation project at Windermere Elementary 6989 School (Project Number 048-0060 RNV) in the town of Ellington with 6990 costs not to exceed seventy-four million six hundred thousand dollars 6991 shall be included in subdivision (2) of section 151 of this act and shall 6992 subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, 6993 provided the town of Ellington meets all other provisions of chapter 173 6994 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of 6995 Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 6996 said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 6997 Sec. 190. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 6998 section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the 6999 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7000 requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have 7001 been approved by the Department of Administrative Services, the town 7002 of Darien may let out for bid on and commence a project for roof 7003 replacement at Holmes Elementary School (Project Number 035-0118 7004 RR), provided the town of Darien meets all other provisions of chapter 7005 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board 7006 of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 7007 said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 7008 Sec. 191. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7009 section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the 7010 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7011 requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have 7012 been approved by the Department of Administrative Services, the town 7013 of Darien may let out for bid on and commence a project for roof 7014 replacement at Hindley Elementary School (Project Number 035-0119 7015 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 238 of 254 RR), provided the town of Darien meets all other provisions of chapter 7016 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board 7017 of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 7018 said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 7019 Sec. 192. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7020 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7021 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7022 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 7023 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, for any school building project that was 7024 previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or 7025 cost and is seeking reauthorization, the extension and alteration project 7026 at Hindley Elementary School (Project Number 035-0121 EA) in the 7027 town of Darien with costs not to exceed thirty-three million four 7028 hundred seventy-nine thousand forty-five dollars shall be included in 7029 subdivision (2) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be 7030 considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of 7031 Darien meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes 7032 or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the 7033 Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is 7034 eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 7035 Sec. 193. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7036 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7037 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7038 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 7039 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, for any school building project that was 7040 previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or 7041 cost and is seeking reauthorization, the extension and alteration project 7042 at Holmes Elementary School (Project Number 035-0122 EA) in the town 7043 of Darien with costs not to exceed thirty-four million three thousand 7044 eight hundred dollars shall be included in subdivision (2) of section 151 7045 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment 7046 from the state, provided the town of Darien meets all other provisions 7047 of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the 7048 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 239 of 254 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7049 pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to 7050 said chapter. 7051 Sec. 194. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7052 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7053 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7054 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 7055 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, for any school building project that was 7056 previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or 7057 cost and is seeking reauthorization, the extension and alteration project 7058 at Royle Elementary School (Project Number 035-0123 EA) in the town 7059 of Darien with costs not to exceed thirty-four million seven thousand 7060 eight hundred ninety dollars shall be included in subdivision (2) of 7061 section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant 7062 commitment from the state, provided the town of Darien meets all other 7063 provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation 7064 adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of 7065 Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for 7066 grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 7067 Sec. 195. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7068 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7069 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7070 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 7071 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the new construction project at the new 7072 middle school in the town of Ansonia shall be included in subdivision 7073 (1) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a 7074 grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Ansonia files an 7075 application for such school building project prior to October 1, 2024, and 7076 meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any 7077 regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department 7078 of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for 7079 grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 7080 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 240 of 254 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general 7081 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 7082 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 7083 concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of 7084 education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 7085 town of Ansonia may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-seven per 7086 cent for the new construction project at the new middle school. 7087 (c) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the 7088 general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of 7089 Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 7090 said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board 7091 of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 7092 town of Ansonia may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-seven per 7093 cent for the construction of a central administration facility as part of the 7094 new construction project at the new middle school. 7095 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection 7096 (a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by 7097 the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative 7098 Services limiting reimbursement to one-half of the eligible percentage of 7099 the net eligible cost of construction to a town for construction, the town 7100 of Ansonia shall receive full reimbursement of the reimbursement 7101 percentage described in subdivision (1) of this subsection of the net 7102 eligible cost for the construction of a central administration facility as 7103 part of the new construction project at the new middle school. 7104 (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general 7105 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 7106 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 7107 concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space 7108 specifications, the town of Ansonia shall be exempt from the state 7109 standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the 7110 grant for the new construction project at the new middle school. 7111 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 241 of 254 Sec. 196. Section 404 of public act 22-118, as amended by section 137 7112 of public act 23-205, is repealed and the following is inserted in lieu 7113 thereof (Effective from passage): 7114 (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general 7115 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 7116 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 7117 requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 7118 [2022] 2023, the interdistrict magnet facility and [alteration] new 7119 construction project at Goodwin University Industry 5.0 Magnet 7120 Technical High School on the East Hartford Campus (Project Number 7121 542-TBD [MAG/A] MAG/N) with costs not to exceed [seventy-five] 7122 eighty-five million dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of public 7123 act 22-118 and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment 7124 from the state, provided Goodwin University files an application for 7125 such school building project prior to [December 31, 2023] June 1, 2024, 7126 and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or 7127 any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the 7128 Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is 7129 eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 7130 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-264h of the general 7131 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 7132 the Department of Administrative Services concerning the 7133 reimbursement rate for the construction of interdistrict magnet schools, 7134 Goodwin University may use one hundred per cent as the 7135 reimbursement rate for the interdistrict magnet facility and [alteration] 7136 new construction project at Goodwin University Industry 5.0 Magnet 7137 Technical High School on the East Hartford Campus, provided such 7138 project assists the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the 7139 decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation 7140 or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education. 7141 (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general 7142 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 7143 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 242 of 254 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 7144 concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space 7145 specifications, Goodwin University shall be exempt from the state 7146 standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the 7147 grant for the interdistrict magnet facility and [alteration] new 7148 construction project at Goodwin University Industry 5.0 Magnet 7149 Technical High School on the East Hartford Campus. 7150 Sec. 197. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7151 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7152 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7153 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 7154 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the alteration project at John Winthrop 7155 Middle School in Regional District 4 with costs not to exceed five million 7156 eight hundred thousand dollars shall be included in section 151 of this 7157 act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from 7158 the state, provided Regional District 4 meets all other provisions of 7159 chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the 7160 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7161 pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to 7162 said chapter. 7163 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general 7164 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 7165 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 7166 concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space 7167 specifications, Regional District 4 shall be exempt from the state 7168 standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the 7169 grant for the alteration project at John Winthrop Middle School. 7170 Sec. 198. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7171 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7172 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7173 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 7174 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the school building project for an early 7175 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 243 of 254 learning center at the former Roger Wolcott School in the town of 7176 Windsor with costs not to exceed four million eight hundred eighty- 7177 seven thousand nine hundred twenty-eight dollars shall be included in 7178 section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant 7179 commitment from the state, provided the Capitol Regional Education 7180 Council meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes 7181 or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the 7182 Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is 7183 eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 7184 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-264h of the general 7185 statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 7186 the Department of Administrative Services concerning the 7187 reimbursement rate for the school building project for an early learning 7188 center at the former Roger Wolcott School in the town of Windsor, the 7189 Capitol Regional Education Council may use one hundred per cent as 7190 the reimbursement rate for such school building project for an early 7191 learning center at the former Roger Wolcott School. 7192 Sec. 199. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7193 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7194 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7195 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 7196 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the alteration project at Davenport 7197 Elementary School in the town of Stamford with costs not to exceed 7198 three million seven hundred sixty-seven thousand eight hundred one 7199 dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 151 of this act and 7200 shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, 7201 provided the town of Stamford files an application for such school 7202 building project prior to October 1, 2024, and meets all other provisions 7203 of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the 7204 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7205 pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to 7206 said chapter. 7207 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 244 of 254 Sec. 200. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Administrative 7208 Services shall waive any audit deficiencies for the town of Waterbury 7209 related to costs associated with the following school building projects: 7210 (1) Code violation project (Project Number 151-0243 RNV/CV), (2) 7211 Duggan Elementary School (Project Number 151-0252 RNV/E), (3) 7212 Jonathan E. Reed Elementary (Project Number 151-0253 N/PS), (4) 7213 Carrington Elementary School (Project Number 151-0275 N), (5) 7214 Waterbury Career Academy (Project Number 151-0276 N/PS), (6) 7215 Michael F. Wallace Middle School (Project Number 151-0285 EA), and 7216 (7) John F. Kennedy High School (Project Number 151-0288 EA). 7217 Sec. 201. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7218 section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the 7219 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7220 requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have 7221 been approved by the Department of Administrative Services, the town 7222 of Thompson may let out for bid on and commence the code violation 7223 and oil tank replacement project at Tourtellotte Memorial High School 7224 (Project Number 141-0022 CV/OT) and shall be eligible to subsequently 7225 be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided plans 7226 and specifications have been approved by the Department of 7227 Administrative Services. 7228 Sec. 202. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7229 section 10-285a of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7230 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7231 pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that 7232 a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building 7233 project, the town of Simsbury may use the reimbursement rate of thirty- 7234 five per cent for the renovation project at Latimer Lane School (Project 7235 Number 128-0111 RNV). 7236 Sec. 203. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7237 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7238 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7239 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 245 of 254 pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs, and section 10-286g 7240 of the general statutes concerning the waiver of audit deficiencies, the 7241 town of Middletown shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for 7242 certain ineligible costs and audit deficiencies associated with the new 7243 construction project at Middletown High School, provided such 7244 reimbursement for such ineligible costs and audit deficiencies do not 7245 exceed three million five hundred thousand dollars. 7246 Sec. 204. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7247 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7248 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7249 pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs, the town of 7250 Farmington shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for certain 7251 ineligible costs (1) for the new construction project at Farmington High 7252 School (Project Number 052-0076 N) and the board of education/central 7253 administration facility project at Farmington High School (Project 7254 Number 052-0077 BOE), and (2) provided such reimbursement for such 7255 ineligible costs for such projects do not exceed one million eight 7256 hundred thousand dollars. 7257 Sec. 205. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7258 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7259 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7260 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 7261 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, for any school building project that was 7262 previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or 7263 cost and is seeking reauthorization, the Connecticut Technical High 7264 School Facility and extension and alteration project at Ella T. Grasso 7265 Technical High School (Project Number 900-0014 VT/EA) with costs not 7266 to exceed one hundred thirty-five million eight hundred twenty-one 7267 thousand eight hundred ninety-five dollars shall be included in 7268 subdivision (2) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be 7269 considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided such 7270 project meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes 7271 or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the 7272 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 246 of 254 Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is 7273 eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 7274 Sec. 206. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7275 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7276 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7277 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 7278 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the school building project at H.C. 7279 Wilcox Technical High School with costs not to exceed fifteen million 7280 five hundred thousand dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of 7281 section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant 7282 commitment from the state, provided an application for such school 7283 building project is submitted prior to October 1, 2024, and meets all 7284 other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation 7285 adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of 7286 Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for 7287 grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. 7288 Sec. 207. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7289 subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 10-283 7290 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of 7291 Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 7292 said section concerning the beginning of the amortization period for a 7293 project on the date a project was accepted as complete by a local or 7294 regional board of education and the inclusion as an addendum to the 7295 priority list those towns requesting forgiveness of a refund to the state 7296 for the unamortized balance of the state grant remaining as of the date 7297 of the abandonment, sale, lease, demolition or redirection of a school 7298 building project to other than a public school use during such 7299 amortization period, the state shall grant forgiveness to the town of 7300 Enfield for the extension and alteration project at Nathan Hale 7301 Elementary School (Project Number 049-0126 EA). 7302 Sec. 208. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7303 section 10-283d and subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 10-286 of 7304 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 247 of 254 the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of 7305 Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to 7306 said section concerning the deduction of any federal funds or other state 7307 funds from project costs prior to computation of the grant for any school 7308 building project authorized prior to July 1, 2023, the Department of 7309 Administrative Services shall not deduct all federal funds, other state 7310 funds and Eversource funds received by the town of Manchester to 7311 finance the school building projects at Bowers Elementary School 7312 (Project Number 077-0139 RNV), Buckley Elementary School (Project 7313 Number 177-0140 RNV) and Keeney Elementary School (Project 7314 Number 177-0141 RNV) from such project costs prior to computation of 7315 the grant for each such project, and such federal funds, other state funds 7316 and Eversource funds shall be deemed to be part or all of the town's 7317 local share for such projects. 7318 Sec. 209. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 7319 section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the 7320 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7321 pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be 7322 submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the renovation project at Sherman 7323 School (Project Number 127-0009 RNV) in the town of Sherman with 7324 costs not to exceed forty-two million five hundred thousand dollars 7325 shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 151 of this act and shall 7326 subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, 7327 provided the town of Sherman files an application for such school 7328 building project prior to October 1, 2024, and meets all other provisions 7329 of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the 7330 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services 7331 pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to 7332 said chapter. 7333 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general 7334 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 7335 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 7336 concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of 7337 Bill No. LCO No. 6080 248 of 254 education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the 7338 town of Sherman may use the reimbursement rate of thirty per cent for 7339 the renovation project at Sherman School. 7340 (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general 7341 statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or 7342 the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section 7343 concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space 7344 specifications, the town of Sherman shall be exempt from the state 7345 standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the 7346 grant for the renovation project at Sherman School. 7347 Sec. 210. Sections 3-76t, 10-285f, 10-285h, 10-287a, 10-287f, 10-287j and 7348 10-292c to 10-292n, inclusive, of the general statutes are repealed. 7349 (Effective July 1, 2024) 7350 Sec. 211. (Effective from passage) The Legislative Commissioners' Office 7351 shall, in engrossing and codifying the provisions of this act, make such 7352 technical, grammatical and punctuation changes as are necessary to 7353 carry out the purposes of this act, including, but not limited to, 7354 correcting inaccurate internal references. 7355 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 2 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 3 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 4 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 5 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 6 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 7 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 8 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 9 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 10 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 11 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 12 July 1, 2024 New section Bill No. LCO No. 6080 249 of 254 Sec. 13 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 14 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 15 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 16 July 1, 2024 4-66c(a) and (b) Sec. 17 July 1, 2024 8-37mm(a) Sec. 18 from passage 8-240b(a) and (b) Sec. 19 July 1, 2024 10a-109d(a)(10) Sec. 20 July 1, 2024 10a-109e(a) Sec. 21 July 1, 2024 10a-109f Sec. 22 July 1, 2024 10a-109g(a)(1) Sec. 23 July 1, 2024 10a-109n(a) Sec. 24 July 1, 2024 10a-109x(a) Sec. 25 July 1, 2024 13b-74(b) Sec. 26 July 1, 2024 13b-236 Sec. 27 from passage 17a-250(b) Sec. 28 July 1, 2024 29-1bb(e)(1) Sec. 29 July 1, 2024 32-39y(a) and (b) Sec. 30 from passage 32-235(b) Sec. 31 July 1, 2024 PA 13-239, Sec. 1 Sec. 32 July 1, 2024 PA 13-239, Sec. 2(l)(4) Sec. 33 July 1, 2024 PA 15-1 of the June Sp. Sess., Sec. 1 Sec. 34 July 1, 2024 PA 15-1 of the June Sp. Sess., Sec. 2(n)(4) Sec. 35 July 1, 2024 PA 15-1 of the June Sp. Sess., Sec. 20 Sec. 36 July 1, 2024 PA 15-1 of the June Sp. Sess., Sec. 21(n)(5) Sec. 37 July 1, 2024 PA 17-2 of the June Sp. Sess., Sec. 377 Sec. 38 July 1, 2024 PA 17-2 of the June Sp. Sess., Sec. 378(i)(5) Sec. 39 from passage PA 17-2 of the June Sp. Sess., Sec. 397(c) Sec. 40 July 1, 2024 PA 17-2 of the June Sp. Sess., Sec. 407 Sec. 41 July 1, 2024 Repealer section Sec. 42 July 1, 2024 PA 20-1, Sec. 1 Sec. 43 July 1, 2024 PA 20-1, Sec. 2(j)(4) Sec. 44 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 2(o)(2) Bill No. LCO No. 6080 250 of 254 Sec. 45 from passage PA 23-205, Sec. 13(a)(4) Sec. 46 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 20 Sec. 47 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 21(l)(2) Sec. 48 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 21(l)(4) Sec. 49 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 21(l)(6) Sec. 50 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 31 Sec. 51 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 32(b)(6) Sec. 52 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 45 Sec. 53 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 46(a)(4) Sec. 54 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 46(a)(7) Sec. 55 July 1, 2024 PA 23-205, Sec. 46(b) Sec. 56 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 57 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 58 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 59 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 60 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 61 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 62 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 63 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 64 October 1, 2024 8-240a Sec. 65 from passage Repealer section Sec. 66 July 1, 2024 Repealer section Sec. 67 from passage 12-204 Sec. 68 from passage 12-210(a) Sec. 69 January 1, 2025, and applicable to taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2025 12-705 Sec. 70 from passage 12-91 Sec. 71 from passage New section Sec. 72 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 73 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 74 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 75 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 76 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 77 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 78 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 79 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 80 from passage New section Sec. 81 from passage New section Bill No. LCO No. 6080 251 of 254 Sec. 82 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 83 from passage 7-438(a) Sec. 84 from passage 7-459b(a) Sec. 85 from passage New section Sec. 86 January 1, 2025 5-155a(a) to (c) Sec. 87 January 1, 2025 7-323a Sec. 88 January 1, 2025 7-425(4) Sec. 89 January 1, 2025 7-452(2) Sec. 90 from passage Repealer section Sec. 91 October 1, 2024 12-15 Sec. 92 October 1, 2024 12-62r(h) Sec. 93 October 1, 2024 12-170aa(h) Sec. 94 October 1, 2024 12-217qq(d)(1) Sec. 95 October 1, 2024 12-217zz(a)(5) Sec. 96 October 1, 2024 12-263x Sec. 97 October 1, 2024 12-294(d) to (f) Sec. 98 October 1, 2024 12-309(a) Sec. 99 October 1, 2024 12-311 Sec. 100 October 1, 2024 12-410(e)(5) Sec. 101 October 1, 2024 12-418(a)(1) Sec. 102 October 1, 2024 12-699(f) Sec. 103 October 1, 2024 7-425(7) and (8) Sec. 104 October 1, 2024 7-436(c) Sec. 105 October 1, 2024 7-439b(b)(1)(G) Sec. 106 October 1, 2024 45a-107(m)(2) Sec. 107 from passage 1-2a(a) Sec. 108 from passage 17b-10b Sec. 109 from passage Repealer section Sec. 110 July 1, 2025 New section Sec. 111 October 1, 2024 12-867(a) Sec. 112 from passage 12-217(a)(4) Sec. 113 July 1, 2024 HB 5232 (current session), Sec. 3 Sec. 114 July 1, 2024 12-117a Sec. 115 from passage 22a-284d Sec. 116 from passage 29-252(a) Sec. 117 from passage New section Sec. 118 from passage New section Sec. 119 from passage New section Bill No. LCO No. 6080 252 of 254 Sec. 120 from passage 32-7s Sec. 121 from passage 32-7x Sec. 122 from passage 32-285a Sec. 123 from passage 32-7t Sec. 124 from passage New section Sec. 125 October 1, 2024 5-206 Sec. 126 from passage New section Sec. 127 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 128 July 1, 2024, and applicable to taxable and income years commencing on or after January 1, 2024 10-416 Sec. 129 from passage PA 07-196, Sec. 4(c) and (d) Sec. 130 from passage New section Sec. 131 July 1, 2024 10-220(a) Sec. 132 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 133 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 134 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 135 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 136 July 1, 2024 7-152c(c) Sec. 137 January 1, 2025 New section Sec. 138 from passage 21a-420n Sec. 139 from passage 21a-420d Sec. 140 from passage 21a-420f Sec. 141 July 1, 2024 19a-59i(g) Sec. 142 July 1, 2024 19a-490ee Sec. 143 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 144 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 145 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 146 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 147 from passage PA 23-204, Sec. 382 Sec. 148 from passage New section Sec. 149 from passage New section Sec. 150 from passage Repealer section Sec. 151 from passage New section Sec. 152 July 1, 2024 10-283 Sec. 153 July 1, 2024 10-283a Sec. 154 July 1, 2024 10-284(a) Sec. 155 July 1, 2024 10-285a(e) Bill No. LCO No. 6080 253 of 254 Sec. 156 July 1, 2024 10-285a(h) Sec. 157 July 1, 2024 10-285a(k) Sec. 158 July 1, 2024 10-285b(c) Sec. 159 July 1, 2024 10-285c Sec. 160 July 1, 2024 10-286(b) Sec. 161 July 1, 2024 10-286(d) Sec. 162 July 1, 2024 10-286e Sec. 163 July 1, 2024 10-287(a) to (d) Sec. 164 July 1, 2024 10-287c Sec. 165 July 1, 2024 10-287d Sec. 166 July 1, 2024 10-287e Sec. 167 July 1, 2024 10-291(b) Sec. 168 July 1, 2024 10-292v Sec. 169 July 1, 2024 10-265r Sec. 170 July 1, 2024 10-265t(b) Sec. 171 July 1, 2024 10-66i Sec. 172 July 1, 2024 3-20(g)(1)(A) Sec. 173 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 174 July 1, 2024 16-244z(h) Sec. 175 July 1, 2024 16-243ee(e) Sec. 176 July 1, 2024 New section Sec. 177 from passage PA 22-118, Sec. 384 Sec. 178 from passage New section Sec. 179 from passage New section Sec. 180 from passage New section Sec. 181 from passage New section Sec. 182 from passage New section Sec. 183 from passage New section Sec. 184 from passage New section Sec. 185 from passage New section Sec. 186 from passage PA 21-111, Sec. 117 Sec. 187 from passage PA 23-205, Sec. 125 Sec. 188 from passage PA 22-118, Sec. 382 Sec. 189 from passage New section Sec. 190 from passage New section Sec. 191 from passage New section Sec. 192 from passage New section Sec. 193 from passage New section Sec. 194 from passage New section Bill No. LCO No. 6080 254 of 254 Sec. 195 from passage New section Sec. 196 from passage PA 22-118, Sec. 404 Sec. 197 from passage New section Sec. 198 from passage New section Sec. 199 from passage New section Sec. 200 from passage New section Sec. 201 from passage New section Sec. 202 from passage New section Sec. 203 from passage New section Sec. 204 from passage New section Sec. 205 from passage New section Sec. 206 from passage New section Sec. 207 from passage New section Sec. 208 from passage New section Sec. 209 from passage New section Sec. 210 July 1, 2024 Repealer section Sec. 211 from passage New section

House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 AN ACT AUTHORIZING AND ADJUSTING BONDS OF THE STATE AND CONCERNING PROVISIONS RELATED TO STATE AND MUNICIPAL TAX ADMINISTRATION, GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. (Effective July 1, 2024) The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate not exceeding $100,100,000. Sec. 2. (Effective July 1, 2024) The proceeds of the sale of bonds described in sections 1 to 7, inclusive, of this act, to the extent hereinafter stated, shall be used for the purpose of acquiring, by purchase or condemnation, undertaking, constructing, reconstructing, improving or equipping, or purchasing land or buildings or improving sites for the projects hereinafter described, including payment of architectural, engineering, demolition or related costs in connection therewith, or of payment of the cost of long-range capital programming and space utilization studies as hereinafter stated: (a) For the Office of Legislative Management: Alterations, renovations and restoration of the State Capitol and Legislative Office House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 2 of 258 Building, including interior and exterior restoration and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, not exceeding $45,000,000. (b) For the Department of Administrative Services: (1) Reimbursement for environmental remediation at the former Long Lane School in Middletown, in accordance with public act 99-26, not exceeding $14,100,000; (2) Renovations and improvements for an opportunity center, not exceeding $1,000,000. (c) For the Labor Department: Alterations, renovations and improvements to buildings and grounds, including utilities, mechanical systems and energy conservation projects, not exceeding $5,000,000. (d) For the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: For programs to support solid waste reduction strategies, not exceeding $10,000,000. (e) For the Department of Correction: Alterations, renovations and improvements to the Manson Youth Institution in Cheshire, not exceeding $5,000,000. (f) For the Judicial Department: Acquisition and development of a secure residential treatment center, not exceeding $20,000,000. Sec. 3. (Effective July 1, 2024) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby which are not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 1 to 7, inclusive, of this act are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to sections 1 to 7, inclusive, of this act and temporary notes issued in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 3 of 258 renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. Sec. 4. (Effective July 1, 2024) None of the bonds described in sections 1 to 7, inclusive, of this act shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization, which is signed by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management or by or on behalf of such state officer, department or agency and stating such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Sec. 5. (Effective July 1, 2024) For the purposes of sections 1 to 7, inclusive, of this act, "state moneys" means the proceeds of the sale of bonds authorized pursuant to said sections 1 to 7, inclusive, or of temporary notes issued in anticipation of the moneys to be derived from the sale of such bonds. Each request filed as provided in section 4 of this act for an authorization of bonds shall identify the project for which the proceeds of the sale of such bonds are to be used and expended and, in addition to any terms and conditions required pursuant to said section 4, shall include the recommendation of the person signing such request as to the extent to which federal, private or other moneys then available or thereafter to be made available for costs in connection with any such project should be added to the state moneys available or becoming available hereunder for such project. If the request includes a recommendation that some amount of such federal, private or other moneys should be added to such state moneys, then, if and to the extent directed by the State Bond Commission at the time of authorization of such bonds, such amount of such federal, private or other moneys then available, or thereafter to be made available for costs in connection with such project, may be added to any state moneys available or becoming available hereunder for such project and shall be used for such project. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 4 of 258 Any other federal, private or other moneys then available or thereafter to be made available for costs in connection with such project shall, upon receipt, be used by the State Treasurer, in conformity with applicable federal and state law, to meet the principal of outstanding bonds issued pursuant to sections 1 to 7, inclusive, of this act, or to meet the principal of temporary notes issued in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of bonds theretofore authorized pursuant to said sections 1 to 7, inclusive, for the purpose of financing such costs, either by purchase or redemption and cancellation of such bonds or notes or by payment thereof at maturity. Whenever any of the federal, private or other moneys so received with respect to such project are used to meet the principal of such temporary notes or whenever principal of any such temporary notes is retired by application of revenue receipts of the state, the amount of bonds theretofore authorized in anticipation of which such temporary notes were issued, and the aggregate amount of bonds which may be authorized pursuant to section 1 of this act, shall each be reduced by the amount of the principal so met or retired. Pending use of the federal, private or other moneys so received to meet principal as hereinabove directed, the amount thereof may be invested by the State Treasurer in bonds or obligations of, or guaranteed by, the state or the United States or agencies or instrumentalities of the United States, shall be deemed to be part of the debt retirement funds of the state, and net earnings on such investments shall be used in the same manner as the moneys so invested. Sec. 6. (Effective July 1, 2024) Any balance of proceeds of the sale of said bonds authorized for any project described in section 2 of this act in excess of the cost of such project may be used to complete any other project described in said section 2, if the State Bond Commission shall so determine and direct. Any balance of proceeds of the sale of said bonds in excess of the costs of all the projects described in said section 2 shall be deposited to the credit of the General Fund. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 5 of 258 Sec. 7. (Effective July 1, 2024) The bonds issued pursuant to this section and sections 1 to 6, inclusive, of this act shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. Sec. 8. (Effective July 1, 2024) The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 9 to 15, inclusive, of this act, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate, not exceeding $30,000,000. Sec. 9. (Effective July 1, 2024) The proceeds of the sale of the bonds described in sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act shall be used for the purpose of providing grants-in-aid and other financing for the projects, programs and purposes hereinafter stated: (a) For the Office of Policy and Management: For transit-oriented development and predevelopment activities, not exceeding $2,000,000. (b) For the Department of Economic and Community Development: Grants-in-aid to nonprofit organizations sponsoring cultural and historic sites, not exceeding $12,000,000. (c) For the Department of Housing: Grants-in-aid to nonprofit organizations for capital improvements to facilities that are used to house the homeless or provide services to the homeless pursuant to section 56 of this act, not exceeding $15,000,000. (d) For the Department of Aging and Disability Services: Grants-in- aid for aging in place, not exceeding $1,000,000. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 6 of 258 Sec. 10. (Effective July 1, 2024) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby which are not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act and temporary notes issued in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said sections 8 to 15, inclusive, and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. Sec. 11. (Effective July 1, 2024) None of the bonds described in sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization, which is signed by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management or by or on behalf of such state officer, department or agency and stating such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Sec. 12. (Effective July 1, 2024) For the purposes of sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act, "state moneys" means the proceeds of the sale of bonds authorized pursuant to said sections 8 to 15, inclusive, or of temporary notes issued in anticipation of the moneys to be derived from the sale of such bonds. Each request filed as provided in section 11 of this act for an authorization of bonds shall identify the project for which the proceeds of the sale of such bonds are to be used and expended and, in addition to any terms and conditions required pursuant to said section 11, include the recommendation of the person signing such request as to the extent to which federal, private or other moneys then available or thereafter to be made available for costs in connection with any such project should be added to the state moneys available or House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 7 of 258 becoming available under said sections 8 to 15, inclusive, for such project. If the request includes a recommendation that some amount of such federal, private or other moneys should be added to such state moneys, then, if and to the extent directed by the State Bond Commission at the time of authorization of such bonds, such amount of such federal, private or other moneys then available or thereafter to be made available for costs in connection with such project may be added to any state moneys available or becoming available hereunder for such project and be used for such project. Any other federal, private or other moneys then available or thereafter to be made available for costs in connection with such project upon receipt shall, in conformity with applicable federal and state law, be used by the State Treasurer to meet the principal of outstanding bonds issued pursuant to said sections 8 to 15, inclusive, or to meet the principal of temporary notes issued in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of bonds theretofore authorized pursuant to said sections 8 to 15, inclusive, for the purpose of financing such costs, either by purchase or redemption and cancellation of such bonds or notes or by payment thereof at maturity. Whenever any of the federal, private or other moneys so received with respect to such project are used to meet the principal of such temporary notes or whenever the principal of any such temporary notes is retired by application of revenue receipts of the state, the amount of bonds theretofore authorized in anticipation of which such temporary notes were issued, and the aggregate amount of bonds which may be authorized pursuant to section 8 of this act shall each be reduced by the amount of the principal so met or retired. Pending use of the federal, private or other moneys so received to meet the principal as directed in this section, the amount thereof may be invested by the State Treasurer in bonds or obligations of, or guaranteed by, the state or the United States or agencies or instrumentalities of the United States, shall be deemed to be part of the debt retirement funds of the state, and net earnings on such investments shall be used in the same manner as the moneys so invested. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 8 of 258 Sec. 13. (Effective July 1, 2024) The bonds issued pursuant to sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. Sec. 14. (Effective July 1, 2024) In accordance with section 9 of this act, the state, through the state agencies specified in said section 9, may provide grants-in-aid and other financings to or for the agencies for the purposes and projects as described in said section 9. All financing shall be made in accordance with the terms of a contract at such time or times as shall be determined within authorization of funds by the State Bond Commission. Sec. 15. (Effective July 1, 2024) In the case of any grant-in-aid made pursuant to subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) of section 9 of this act that is made to any entity which is not a political subdivision of the state, the contract entered into pursuant to section 9 of this act shall provide that if the premises for which such grant-in-aid was made ceases, within ten years of the date of such grant, to be used as a facility for which such grant was made, an amount equal to the amount of such grant, minus ten per cent per year for each full year which has elapsed since the date of such grant, shall be repaid to the state and that a lien shall be placed on such land in favor of the state to ensure that such amount shall be repaid in the event of such change in use, provided if the premises for which such grant-in-aid was made are owned by the state, a municipality or a housing authority, no lien need be placed. Sec. 16. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 4-66c of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 9 of 258 lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) For the purposes of subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have power, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate [two billion five hundred forty- four million four hundred eighty-seven thousand five hundred forty- four dollars, provided one hundred million dollars of said authorization shall be effective July 1, 2024] two billion six hundred forty-four million four hundred eighty-seven thousand five hundred forty-four dollars. All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization, which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission in its discretion may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 10 of 258 (b) (1) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent hereinafter stated, shall be used, subject to the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section, for the purpose of redirecting, improving and expanding state activities which promote community conservation and development and improve the quality of life for urban residents of the state as hereinafter stated: (A) For the Department of Economic and Community Development: Economic and community development projects, including administrative costs incurred by the Department of Economic and Community Development, not exceeding sixty-seven million [five hundred ninety-one thousand] eight hundred forty-one thousand six hundred forty-two dollars, one million dollars of which shall be used for a grant to the development center program and the nonprofit business consortium deployment center approved pursuant to section 32-411; (B) for the Department of Transportation: Urban mass transit, not exceeding two million dollars; (C) for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Recreation development and solid waste disposal projects, not exceeding one million nine hundred ninety-five thousand nine hundred two dollars; (D) for the Department of Social Services: Child day care projects, elderly centers, shelter facilities for victims of domestic violence, emergency shelters and related facilities for the homeless, multipurpose human resource centers and food distribution facilities, not exceeding thirty-nine million one hundred thousand dollars, provided four million dollars of said authorization shall be effective July 1, 1994; (E) for the Department of Economic and Community Development: Housing projects, not exceeding three million dollars; (F) for the Department of Housing: Homeownership initiative in collaboration with one or more local community development financial institutions in qualified census tracts for the purpose of construction or redevelopment, performed by developers or nonprofit organizations residing in that municipality, which leads to new homeownership opportunities for residents of such qualified census tracts, not exceeding twenty million dollars; (G) for the Office of Policy and Management: (i) Grants-in-aid to municipalities for House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 11 of 258 a pilot demonstration program to leverage private contributions for redevelopment of designated historic preservation areas, not exceeding one million dollars; (ii) grants-in-aid for urban development projects including economic and community development, transportation, environmental protection, public safety, children and families and social services projects and programs, including, in the case of economic and community development projects administered on behalf of the Office of Policy and Management by the Department of Economic and Community Development, administrative costs incurred by the Department of Economic and Community Development, not exceeding [two billion four hundred nine million eight hundred thousand dollars] two billion five hundred nine million eight hundred thousand dollars, not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars of which shall be used for a grant to the town of Cromwell for lights at a field used by Little League teams. For purposes of this subdivision, "local community development financial institution" means an entity that meets the requirements of 12 CFR 1805.201, and "qualified census tract" means a census tract designated as a qualified census tract by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in accordance with 26 USC 42(d)(5)(B)(ii), as amended from time to time. (2) (A) Five million dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection may be made available to private nonprofit organizations for the purposes described in said subparagraph (G)(ii). (B) Twelve million dollars of the grants-in- aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection may be made available for necessary renovations and improvements of libraries. (C) Five million dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be made available for small business gap financing. (D) Ten million dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection may be made available for regional economic development revolving loan funds. (E) One million four House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 12 of 258 hundred thousand dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be made available for rehabilitation and renovation of the Black Rock Library in Bridgeport. (F) Two million five hundred thousand dollars of the grants- in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be made available for site acquisition, renovation and rehabilitation for the Institute for the Hispanic Family in Hartford. (G) Three million dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be made available for the acquisition of land and the development of commercial or retail property in New Haven. (H) Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be made available for repairs and replacement of the fishing pier at Cummings Park in Stamford. (I) Ten million dollars of the grants-in-aid authorized in subparagraph (G)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be made available for development of an intermodal transportation facility in northeastern Connecticut. Sec. 17. Subsection (a) of section 8-37mm of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate [thirty million] eighteen million three hundred twenty-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-three dollars. [, provided fifteen million dollars of said authorization shall be effective July 1, 2016.] Sec. 18. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 8-240b of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 13 of 258 (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred twenty- five million dollars, provided seventy-five million dollars of said authorization shall be effective July 1, 2024. (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the purpose of financing and awarding grants for retrofitting projects for multifamily residences as provided in section 8-240a. Not more than twenty million dollars of the bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be utilized by said department for grants for such projects. Sec. 19. Subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10a-109d of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (10) To borrow money and issue securities to finance the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement or equipping of any one project, or more than one, or any combination of projects, or to refund securities issued after June 7, 1995, or to refund any such refunding securities or for any one, or more than one, or all of those purposes, or any combination of those purposes, and to provide for the security and payment of those securities and for the rights of the holders of them, except that the amount of any such borrowing, the special debt service requirements for which are secured by the state debt service commitment, exclusive of the amount of borrowing to refund securities, or to fund issuance costs or necessary reserves, may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of (A) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, to June 30, 2005, inclusive, one billion thirty million dollars, (B) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2006, to June 30, [2027] 2031, inclusive, three billion [two hundred eighty-three million nine hundred thousand House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 14 of 258 dollars] nine hundred eight million nine hundred thousand dollars, and (C) such additional amount or amounts: (i) Required from time to time to fund any special capital reserve fund or other debt service reserve fund in accordance with the financing transaction proceedings, and (ii) to pay or provide for the costs of issuance and capitalized interest, if any; the aggregate amounts of subparagraphs (A), (B) and (C) of this subdivision are established as the authorized funding amount, and no borrowing within the authorized funding amount for a project or projects may be effected unless the project or projects are included in accordance with subsection (a) of section 10a-109e; Sec. 20. Subsection (a) of section 10a-109e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) The university may administer, manage, schedule, finance, further design and construct UConn 2000, to operate and maintain the components thereof in a prudent and economical manner and to reserve for and make renewals and replacements thereof when appropriate, it being hereby determined and found to be in the best interest of the state and the university to provide this independent authority to the university along with providing assured revenues therefor as the efficient and cost effective course to achieve the objective of avoiding further decline in the physical infrastructure of the university and to renew, modernize, enhance and maintain such infrastructure, the particular project or projects, each being hereby approved as a project of UConn 2000, and the presently estimated cost thereof being as follows: UConn 2000 Project Phase I Phase II Phase III Fiscal Years Fiscal Years Fiscal Years 1996-1999 2000-2005 2005-[2027] 2031 Academic and Research Facilities 450,000,000 House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 15 of 258 Agricultural Biotechnology Facility 9,400,000 Agricultural Biotechnology Facility Completion 10,000,000 Alumni Quadrant Renovations 14,338,000 Arjona and Monteith (new classroom buildings) 66,100,000 Avery Point Campus Undergraduate and Library Building 35,000,000 Avery Point Marine Science Research Center – Phase I 34,000,000 Avery Point Marine Science Research Center – Phase II 16,682,000 Avery Point Renovation 5,600,000 15,000,000 Babbidge Library 0 Balancing Contingency 5,506,834 Beach Hall Renovations 10,000,000 Benton State Art Museum Addition 1,400,000 3,000,000 Biobehavioral Complex Replacement 4,000,000 House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 16 of 258 Bishop Renovation 8,000,000 Budds Building Renovation 2,805,000 Business School Renovation 4,803,000 Chemistry Building 53,700,000 Commissary Warehouse 1,000,000 Deferred Maintenance/ Code Compliance/ ADA Compliance/ Infrastructure Improvements & Renovation Lump Sum and Utility, Administrative 39,332,000 [805,000,000] and Support Facilities 863,500,000 Deferred Maintenance & Renovation Lump Sum Balance 104,668,000 East Campus North Renovations 11,820,000 Engineering Building (with Environmental Research Institute) 36,700,000 Equine Center 1,000,000 Equipment, Library Collections & Telecommunications 60,500,000 470,000,000 Equipment, Library House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 17 of 258 Collections & Telecommunications Completion 182,118,146 Family Studies (DRM) Renovation 6,500,000 Farm Buildings Repairs/ Replacement 6,000,000 Fine Arts Phase II 20,000,000 Floriculture Greenhouse 3,000,000 Gant Building Renovations and [34,000,000] New Life Sciences Building 403,500,000 Gant Plaza Deck 0 Gentry Completion 10,000,000 Gentry Renovation 9,299,000 Grad Dorm Renovations 7,548,000 Gulley Hall Renovation 1,416,000 Harry A. Gampel Pavilion and 160,000,000 Hugh S. Greer Field House Hartford Relocation Acquisition/Renovation 56,762,020 70,000,000 Hartford Relocation Design 1,500,000 Hartford Relocation Feasibility Study 500,000 Heating Plant Upgrade 10,000,000 House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 18 of 258 Hilltop Dormitory New 30,000,000 Hilltop Dormitory Renovations 3,141,000 Ice Rink Enclosure 2,616,000 Incubator Facilities 10,000,000 International House Conversion 800,000 Intramural, Recreational and Intercollegiate Facilities 31,000,000 Jorgensen Renovation 7,200,000 Koons Hall Renovation/ Addition 7,000,000 Lakeside Renovation 3,800,000 Law School Renovations/ Improvements 15,000,000 Library Storage Facility 5,000,000 Litchfield Agricultural Center – Phase I 1,000,000 Litchfield Agricultural Center – Phase II 700,000 Manchester Hall Renovation 6,000,000 Mansfield Apartments House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 19 of 258 Renovation 2,612,000 Mansfield Training School Improvements 27,614,000 29,000,000 Natural History Museum Completion 4,900,000 North Campus Renovation 2,654,000 North Campus Renovation Completion 21,049,000 North Hillside Road Completion 11,500,000 North Superblock Site and Utilities 8,000,000 Northwest Quadrant Renovation 2,001,000 Northwest Quadrant Renovation 15,874,000 Observatory 1,000,000 Old Central Warehouse 18,000,000 Parking Garage #3 78,000,000 Parking Garage – North 10,000,000 Parking Garage – South 15,000,000 Pedestrian Spinepath 2,556,000 Pedestrian Walkways 3,233,000 House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 20 of 258 Psychology Building Renovation/Addition 20,000,000 Residential Life Facilities 162,000,000 Roadways 10,000,000 School of Business 20,000,000 School of Pharmacy/ Biology 3,856,000 School of Pharmacy/ Biology Completion 61,058,000 Shippee/Buckley Renovations 6,156,000 Social Science K Building 20,964,000 South Campus Complex 13,127,000 Stamford Campus Improvements/Housing 13,000,000 Stamford Downtown Relocation – Phase I 45,659,000 Stamford Downtown Relocation – Phase II 17,392,000 Storrs Hall Addition 4,300,000 Student Health Services 12,000,000 Student Union Addition 23,000,000 Support Facility (Architectural and House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 21 of 258 Engineering Services) 2,000,000 Technology Quadrant – Phase IA 38,000,000 Technology Quadrant – Phase IB 16,611,000 Technology Quadrant – Phase II 72,000,000 Technology Quadrant – Phase III 15,000,000 Torrey Life Science Renovation and Demolition 17,000,000 25,000,000 Torrey Renovation Completion and Biology Expansion 42,000,000 Torrington Campus Improvements 1,000,000 Towers Renovation 17,794,000 UConn Products Store 1,000,000 Undergraduate Education Center 650,000 Undergraduate Education Center 7,450,000 Underground Steam & Water Upgrade 3,500,000 Underground Steam & Water Upgrade House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 22 of 258 Completion 9,000,000 University Programs Building – Phase I 8,750,000 University Programs Building – Phase II Visitors Center 300,000 Waring Building Conversion 7,888,000 Waterbury Downtown Campus 3,000,000 Waterbury Property Purchase 325,000 West Campus Renovations 14,897,000 West Hartford Campus Renovations/ Improvements 25,000,000 White Building Renovation 2,430,000 Wilbur Cross Building Renovation 3,645,000 Young Building Renovation/Addition 17,000,000 HEALTH CENTER CLAC Renovation Biosafety Level 3 Lab 14,000,000 Deferred Maintenance/ Code Compliance/ADA House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 23 of 258 Compliance/Infrastructure & Improvements Renovation Lump Sum and Utility, Administrative and Support Facilities – Health Center 86,000,000 Dental School Renovation 5,000,000 Equipment, Library Collections and Telecommunications – Health Center 75,000,000 Library/Student Computer Center Renovation 5,000,000 Main Building Renovation 125,000,000 Medical School Academic Building Renovation 9,000,000 Parking Garage – Health Center 8,400,000 Research Tower 60,000,000 Support Building Addition/Renovation 4,000,000 The University of Connecticut Health Center New Construction and Renovation 394,900,000 Planning and Design Costs 25,000,000 Total – Storrs and Regional House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 24 of 258 Campus Project List [2,583,000,000] 3,196,000,000 Total – Health Center Project List 786,300,000 TOTAL 382,000,000 868,000,000 [3,394,300,000] 4,007,300,000 Sec. 21. Section 10a-109f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) The university may, when directed by vote of its board of trustees, borrow money and enter into financing transactions proceedings in anticipation of assured revenues, project revenues or other funding sources in the name of the university, on behalf of the state, and issue securities in connection with such proceedings, as follows: (1) To finance the cost of UConn 2000 or any one project thereof, or more than one, or any combination of projects thereof; (2) to refund securities issued pursuant to sections 10a-109a to 10a-109y, inclusive; and (3) to refund any such refunding borrowings. All securities issued in connection with assured revenues, project revenues, or other funding sources financing transaction proceedings entered into pursuant to this section shall be authorized by a resolution approved by not less than a majority vote of its board of trustees. Nothing in this subsection shall increase the annual or aggregate cap on the amount of securities the special debt service requirements of which are secured by the state debt service commitment pursuant to section 10a-109g. (b) The board of trustees shall submit each resolution for the issuance of securities approved pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, to the Governor accompanied by a summary report of the estimated total completion costs of projects that will not be completed within the issuance which is the subject of the resolution. The Governor may, not House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 25 of 258 later than thirty days after such submission, disapprove such resolution by notifying the board in writing of his disapproval and the reasons for it. If the Governor does not act within such thirty-day period, the resolution is deemed approved. (c) (1) For purposes of this subsection, "UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and gifts" means commitments or gifts received by the university or the foundation of the university operating pursuant to section 4-37f designated to support the construction or renovation of a new life sciences building to replace the George Stafford Torrey Life Sciences Building, the North Wing of the Edward V. Gant Science Complex, the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, the Hugh S. Greer Field House, the Volleyball Center, the Boathouse or the Tennis Courts, or to support operational expenses associated with departments or programs housed in such facilities. "UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and gifts" shall not include more than twenty million dollars of commitments or gifts made prior to July 1, 2024. (2) Not later than June 30, 2031, the university or the foundation of the university operating pursuant to section 4-37f shall raise one hundred million dollars of UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and gifts, at least ten million dollars of which shall be endowed. At least sixty million dollars of such commitments and gifts shall be designated for construction or renovation expenses. (3) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2031, inclusive, if the cumulative amount of UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and gifts received during a specified period in subdivision (4) of this subsection is less than the target milestone applicable to such period as set forth in subdivision (4) of this subsection, the total amount of securities requested by the board of trustees in resolutions during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each subsequent fiscal year through June 30, 2031, inclusive, pursuant to this subsection for such year, shall not exceed an amount which shall House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 26 of 258 be calculated by: (A) Taking the sum of the annual caps provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10a-109g for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, to the then current fiscal year, inclusive, and (B) Multiplying such sum by a fraction equal to the UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and gifts received during the specified period divided by the target milestone for the then current fiscal year. (4) The university shall meet the following target milestones for UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and gifts during the following periods: Fiscal Year Ending Cumulative Target Milestone for UConn 2000 Philanthropic Commitments and Gifts Specified Period to Achieve Target Milestone June 30, 2025 $20,000,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024 June 30, 2026 $31,500,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025 June 30, 2027 $43,000,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2026 June 30, 2028 $54,500,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2027 June 30, 2029 $66,000,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2028 June 30, 2030 $77,500,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2029 June 30, 2031 $89,000,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2030 June 30, 2032 $100,000,000 July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2031 (5) On or before September 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the university shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 27 of 258 having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement and finance, revenue and bonding. Such report shall include the total amount of philanthropic commitments and gifts, including UConn 2000 philanthropic commitments and gifts, received during the prior fiscal year. Sec. 22. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10a-109g of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) (1) The university is authorized to provide by resolution, at one time or from time to time, for the issuance and sale of securities, in its own name on behalf of the state, pursuant to section 10a-109f. The board of trustees of the university is hereby authorized by such resolution to delegate to its finance committee such matters as it may determine appropriate other than the authorization and maximum amount of the securities to be issued, the nature of the obligation of the securities as established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the projects for which the proceeds are to be used. The finance committee may act on such matters unless and until the board of trustees elects to reassume the same. The amount of securities the special debt service requirements of which are secured by the state debt service commitment that the board of trustees is authorized to provide for the issuance and sale in accordance with this subsection shall be capped in each fiscal year in the following amounts, provided, to the extent the board of trustees does not provide for the issuance of all or a portion of such amount in a fiscal year, all or such portion, as the case may be, may be carried forward to any succeeding fiscal year and provided further, the actual amount for funding, paying or providing for the items described in subparagraph (C) of subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10a-109d may be House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 28 of 258 added to the capped amount in each fiscal year: Fiscal Year Amount 1996 $112,542,000 1997 112,001,000 1998 93,146,000 1999 64,311,000 2000 130,000,000 2001 100,000,000 2002 100,000,000 2003 100,000,000 2004 100,000,000 2005 100,000,000 2006 79,000,000 2007 89,000,000 2008 115,000,000 2009 140,000,000 2010 0 2011 138,800,000 2012 157,200,000 2013 143,000,000 2014 204,400,000 2015 315,500,000 2016 312,100,000 2017 240,400,000 2018 200,000,000 2019 200,000,000 2020 197,200,000 2021 260,000,000 2022 215,500,000 2023 125,100,000 2024 84,700,000 House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 29 of 258 2025 [44,000,000] 122,000,000 2026 [14,000,000] 124,000,000 2027 [9,000,000] 116,000,000 2028 103,500,000 2029 101,500,000 2030 100,000,000 2031 25,000,000 Sec. 23. Subsection (a) of section 10a-109n of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) For the period from July 1, 2001, to June 30, [2027] 2031, or until completion of the UConn 2000 infrastructure improvement program, whichever is later, the university shall have charge and supervision of the design, planning, acquisition, remodeling, alteration, repair, enlargement or demolition of any real asset or any other project on its campuses. Sec. 24. Subsection (a) of section 10a-109x of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) Not later than October 1, 1995, and semiannually thereafter, the university shall report to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the Department of Education, to finance, revenue and bonding, and to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies on the status and progress of UConn 2000. Each report shall include, but not be limited to: (1) Information on the number of projects and securities House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 30 of 258 authorized, approved and issued hereunder including, relative to such projects, project costs, timeliness of completion and any problems which have developed in implementation, and a schedule of projects remaining and their expected costs; (2) the amount of revenue available from all sources for such remaining projects and expected receipts for such remaining projects for the succeeding four quarters; (3) the amount of money raised from private sources for the capital and endowment programs and the progress made in the development and implementation of the fund-raising program; and (4) any cooperative activities with other public and independent institutions of higher education commenced in the preceding six months. Each such report shall, for the preceding six-month period, (A) specify the moneys credited to such fund on account of, or derived from, each source of state and federal revenue, (B) specify the amount of investment earnings from the fund, (C) specify the moneys from such fund applied and expended for (i) the payment of debt service requirements, (ii) the payment of the principal of and interest on securities issued hereunder and general obligation bonds of the state issued for university capital improvement purposes, and (iii) each budgeted account under the annual budget appropriation made to the university. The joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding may require the university to appear before the committee to present and comment on any report filed pursuant to this subsection. Sec. 25. Subsection (b) of section 13b-74 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (b) The purposes for which special tax obligation bonds may be issued pursuant to sections 13b-74 to 13b-77, inclusive, are as follows: (1) Planning, acquisition, removal, construction, equipping, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of, and House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 31 of 258 acquisition of easements and rights-of-way with respect to, state highways and bridges; (2) Payment of the state's share of the costs of planning, acquisition, removal, construction, equipping, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of, and acquisition of easements and rights-of-way with respect to, (A) state highways, (B) projects on the interstate highway system, (C) alternate highway projects in the interstate highway substitution program, commonly referred to as the interstate trade-in program, (D) state bridges, (E) mass transportation and transit facilities, (F) aeronautic facilities, excluding Bradley International Airport, and (G) waterway projects; (3) Payment of the state's share of the costs of planning, acquisition, removal, construction, equipping, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of, and acquisition of easements and rights-of-way with respect to, the local bridge program established under sections 13a- 175p to 13a-175u, inclusive, and payment of state contributions to the Local Bridge Revolving Fund established under section 13a-175r; (4) Planning, acquisition, removal, construction, equipping, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of, and acquisition of easements and rights-of-way with respect to, the highway safety program, including the rail-highway crossing, hazard elimination and other highway safety programs on the state highway system; (5) Planning, acquisition, removal, construction, equipping, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of, and acquisition of easements and rights-of-way with respect to, the maintenance garages and administrative facilities of the Department of Transportation; (6) Planning, acquisition, removal, construction, equipping, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of, and House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 32 of 258 acquisition of easements and rights-of-way with respect to, projects and purposes included in section 13b-57h; (7) Payment of funds made available to towns, as provided in sections 13a-175a to 13a-175e, inclusive, 13a-175i and 13a-175j, for the purposes set forth in sections 13a-175a, 13a-175d and 13a-175j; [and] (8) Payment of funds to any municipality or local planning agency for transportation improvements pursuant to section 13a-98n; and (9) Grants for commercial rail freight lines pursuant to section 13b- 236. Sec. 26. Section 13b-236 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate [twenty-seven] seventeen million five hundred thousand dollars. (b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section and subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 46 of public act 23-205, as amended by section 55 of this act, shall be used by the Department of Transportation for a program of competitive grants for commercial rail freight lines operating in the state for improvements and repairs to, and the modernization of, existing rail, rail beds and related facilities. Such program shall include the following: (1) (A) Grants of one hundred per cent of the amount necessary to improve, repair or modernize state-owned rights of way, and (B) grants of seventy per cent of the amount necessary to improve, repair or modernize privately owned rail lines, provided the commissioner may waive the requirement for a thirty per cent matching grant if such House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 33 of 258 improvement, repair or modernization demonstrably increases rail freight traffic; and (2) preference for grants shall be given to (A) freight rail projects that improve at-grade rail crossings to eliminate hazards or increase safety, (B) freight rail projects that provide connection to major freight generators, (C) projects that further the goals and objectives of the Department of Transportation's Connecticut State Rail Plan, and (D) freight rail projects that improve freight rail infrastructure by increasing the capacity for rail freight traffic. (c) All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 34 of 258 Sec. 27. Subsection (b) of section 17a-250 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Commissioner of [Developmental Services] Housing for the grant-in- aid program established pursuant to section 17a-249, for supportive housing for persons with an intellectual disability or other developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder. Sec. 28. Subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 29-1bb of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (e) (1) An eligible nonprofit organization may receive a grant of not more than fifty thousand dollars pursuant to this section, provided fifty per cent of such grant shall be made available to such eligible nonprofit organization when such eligible nonprofit organization presents to the commissioner a contract in which such eligible nonprofit organization will incur eligible expenses for security infrastructure, and fifty per cent of such grant shall be made available to such eligible nonprofit organization when such eligible nonprofit organization demonstrates to the commissioner that the eligible nonprofit organization has incurred all of the eligible expenses pursuant to such contract. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an eligible nonprofit organization from applying for a federal grant in addition to a grant pursuant to this section, provided such organization shall not receive both a federal grant and a grant pursuant to this section for the same project. Sec. 29. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 32-39y of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 35 of 258 (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate [sixty-four million] twenty million two hundred thousand dollars. [, provided (1) two hundred thousand dollars of such authorization shall be effective July 1, 2021, (2) thirteen million five hundred thousand dollars of such authorization shall be effective July 1, 2022, (3) twenty-three million five hundred thousand dollars of such authorization shall be effective July 1, 2023, (4) thirteen million five hundred thousand dollars of such authorization shall be effective July 1, 2024, and (5) thirteen million five hundred thousand dollars of such authorization shall be effective July 1, 2025.] (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by (1) CTNext for [the purpose of recapitalizing the innovation place program established under section 32-39k for existing and new innovation places, provided (1) two hundred thousand dollars shall be used for] an economic feasibility study of certain lands in Trumbull in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2021, and (2) [ten million dollars shall be deposited in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2023, in] by CTNext, or the Department of Economic and Community Development as a successor agency to CTNext, for the CTNext Fund established under section 32- 39i [for general operational purposes] and for the purposes described in said section. Sec. 30. Subsection (b) of section 32-235 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Economic and Community Development (1) for the purposes of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 36 of 258 sections 32-220 to 32-234, inclusive, including economic cluster-related programs and activities, and for the Connecticut job training finance demonstration program pursuant to sections 32-23uu and 32-23vv, provided (A) three million dollars shall be used by said department solely for the purposes of section 32-23uu, (B) not less than one million dollars shall be used for an educational technology grant to the deployment center program and the nonprofit business consortium deployment center approved pursuant to section 32-41l, (C) not less than two million dollars shall be used by said department for the establishment of a pilot program to make grants to businesses in designated areas of the state for construction, renovation or improvement of small manufacturing facilities, provided such grants are matched by the business, a municipality or another financing entity. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall designate areas of the state where manufacturing is a substantial part of the local economy and shall make grants under such pilot program which are likely to produce a significant economic development benefit for the designated area, (D) five million dollars may be used by said department for the manufacturing competitiveness grants program, (E) one million dollars shall be used by said department for the purpose of a grant to the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, for the purposes of subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 32-7f, (F) fifty million dollars shall be used by said department for the purpose of grants to the United States Department of the Navy, the United States Department of Defense or eligible applicants for projects related to the enhancement of infrastructure for long-term, on-going naval operations at the United States Naval Submarine Base-New London, located in Groton, which will increase the military value of said base. Such projects shall not be subject to the provisions of sections 4a-60 and 4a-60a, (G) two million dollars shall be used by said department for the purpose of a grant to the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc., for manufacturing initiatives, including aerospace and defense, and (H) four million dollars shall be used by said department for the purpose of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 37 of 258 a grant to companies adversely impacted by the construction at the Quinnipiac Bridge, where such grant may be used to offset the increase in costs of commercial overland transportation of goods or materials brought to the port of New Haven by ship or vessel, (2) for the purposes of the small business assistance program established pursuant to section 32-9yy, provided fifteen million dollars shall be deposited in the small business assistance account established pursuant to said section 32-9yy, (3) to deposit twenty million dollars in the small business express assistance account established pursuant to section 32-7h, (4) to deposit four million nine hundred thousand dollars per year in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2019, inclusive, and June 30, 2021, and nine million nine hundred thousand dollars in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, in the CTNext Fund established pursuant to section 32- 39i, which shall be used by CTNext to provide grants-in-aid to designated innovation places, as defined in section 32-39j, planning grants-in-aid pursuant to section 32-39l, and grants-in-aid for projects that network innovation places pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32- 39m, provided not more than three million dollars be used for grants- in-aid for such projects, and further provided any portion of any such deposit that remains unexpended in a fiscal year subsequent to the date of such deposit may be used by CTNext for any purpose described in subsection (e) of section 32-39i, (5) to deposit two million dollars per year in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2019, to June 30, 2021, inclusive, in the CTNext Fund established pursuant to section 32-39i, which shall be used by CTNext for the purpose of providing higher education entrepreneurship grants-in-aid pursuant to section 32-39g, provided any portion of any such deposit that remains unexpended in a fiscal year subsequent to the date of such deposit may be used by CTNext for any purpose described in subsection (e) of section 32-39i, (6) for the purpose of funding the costs of the Technology Talent Advisory Committee established pursuant to section 32-7p, provided not more than ten million dollars may be used on or after July 1, 2023, for such purpose, (7) to provide (A) a grant-in-aid to the Connecticut Supplier House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 38 of 258 Connection in an amount equal to two hundred fifty thousand dollars in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2021, inclusive, and (B) a grant-in-aid to the Connecticut Procurement Technical Assistance Program in an amount equal to three hundred thousand dollars in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2021, inclusive, (8) to deposit four hundred fifty thousand dollars per year, in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2021, inclusive, in the CTNext Fund established pursuant to section 32-39i, which shall be used by CTNext to provide growth grants-in-aid pursuant to section 32-39g, provided any portion of any such deposit that remains unexpended in a fiscal year subsequent to the date of such deposit may be used by CTNext for any purpose described in subsection (e) of section 32-39i, (9) to transfer fifty million dollars to the Labor Department which shall be used by said department for the purpose of funding workforce pipeline programs selected pursuant to section 31- 11rr, provided, notwithstanding the provisions of section 31-11rr, (A) not less than five million dollars shall be provided to the workforce development board in Bridgeport serving the southwest region, for purposes of such program, and the board shall distribute such money in proportion to population and need, and (B) not less than five million dollars shall be provided to the workforce development board in Hartford serving the north central region, for purposes of such program, (10) to transfer twenty million dollars to Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, provided ten million dollars shall be used by Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated for the purpose of the proof of concept fund established pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32-39x and ten million dollars shall be used by Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated for the purpose of the venture capital fund program established pursuant to section 32-41oo, (11) to provide a grant to The University of Connecticut of eight million dollars for the establishment, development and operation of a center for sustainable aviation pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10a-110o, and (12) for up to twenty million dollars in investments in federally designated opportunity zones through an House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 39 of 258 impact investment firm including, subject to the approval of the Governor, funding from the Economic Assistance Revolving Fund, established pursuant to section 32-231. Not later than thirty days prior to any use of unexpended funds under subdivision (4), (5) or (8) of this subsection, the CTNext board of directors shall provide notice of and the reason for such use to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce and finance, revenue and bonding. Sec. 31. Section 1 of public act 13-239, as amended by section 214 of public act 15-1 of the June special session, section 161 of public act 16-4 of the May special session and section 491 of public act 17-2 of the June special session, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of public act 13- 239, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate, not exceeding [$297,885,986] $298,007,634. Sec. 32. Subdivision (4) of subsection (l) of section 2 of public act 13- 239, as amended by section 27 of public act 18-178, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (4) At Middlesex Community College: Renovations and additions to the Wheaton and Snow Classroom Buildings, not exceeding [$4,800,000] $4,921,648. Sec. 33. Section 1 of public act 15-1 of the June special session, as amended by section 196 of public act 16-4 of the May special session, section 522 of public act 17-2 of the June special session and section 75 of public act 20-1, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of public act 15- House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 40 of 258 1 of the June special session, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate not exceeding [$349,413,300] $350,421,300. Sec. 34. Subdivision (4) of subsection (n) of section 2 of public act 15- 1 of the June special session, as amended by section 338 of public act 22- 118, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (4) At Gateway Community College: For acquisition, design and construction of facilities for workforce development programs, including such programs for the transportation, alternative energy, advanced manufacturing and health sectors, not exceeding [$28,800,000] $29,808,000; Sec. 35. Section 20 of public act 15-1 of the June special session, as amended by section 207 of public act 16-4 of the May special session and section 534 of public act 17-2 of the June special session, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 21 to 26, inclusive, of public act 15-1 of the June special session, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate, not exceeding [$275,372,176] $276,583,746. Sec. 36. Subdivision (5) of subsection (n) of section 21 of public act 15- 1 of the June special session is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (5) At Asnuntuck Community College: Alterations renovations and improvements for expansion of library and student services, not exceeding [$3,800,000] $5,011,570. Sec. 37. Section 377 of public act 17-2 of the June special session, as amended by section 75 of public act 21-111, is amended to read as House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 41 of 258 follows (Effective July 1, 2024): The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 378 to 383, inclusive, of public act 17-2 of the June special session, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate not exceeding [$235,836,905] $239,336,905. Sec. 38. Subdivision (5) of subsection (i) of section 378 of public act 17-2 of the June special session is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (5) Norwalk Community College: Alterations, renovations and improvements to the B wing building, not exceeding [$18,600,000] $22,100,000; Sec. 39. Subsection (c) of section 397 of public act 17-2 of the June special session is amended to read as follows (Effective from passage): (c) For the Military Department: Acquisition of property for development of readiness centers, [in Litchfield county,] not exceeding $2,000,000. Sec. 40. Section 407 of public act 17-2 of the June special session, as amended by section 35 of public act 18-178, section 81 of public act 21- 111 and section 71 of public act 23-205, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 408 to 414, inclusive, of public act 17-2 of the June special session, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate, not exceeding [$184,000,000] $182,000,000. Sec. 41. Subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 408 of public act House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 42 of 258 17-2 of the June special session is repealed. (Effective July 1, 2024) Sec. 42. Section 1 of public act 20-1, as amended by section 339 of public act 22-118, is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections [307 to 312] 2 to 7, inclusive, of [this act] public act 20-1, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate not exceeding [$198,450,000] $199,944,240. Sec. 43. Subdivision (4) of subsection (j) of section 2 of public act 20-1 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (4) Naugatuck Valley Community College: Design for the renovation of Kinney Hall, not exceeding [$6,000,000] $7,494,240. Sec. 44. Subdivision (2) of subsection (o) of section 2 of public act 23- 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (2) Advanced manufacturing and emerging technology programs, including at Tunxis Community College, not exceeding $4,000,000; Sec. 45. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 13 of public act 23- 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective from passage): (4) Grants-in-aid for the development of an advanced manufacturing facility in the Hartford region, not exceeding $15,000,000; Sec. 46. Section 20 of public act 23-205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 21 to 26, inclusive, of [this act] public act 23-205, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 43 of 258 aggregate not exceeding [$520,345,000] $514,345,000. Sec. 47. Subdivision (2) of subsection (l) of section 21 of public act 23- 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (2) Advanced manufacturing and emerging technology programs, including at Tunxis Community College, not exceeding [$3,000,000] $7,000,000; Sec. 48. Subdivision (4) of subsection (l) of section 21 of public act 23- 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (4) All universities: Deferred maintenance, code compliance and infrastructure improvements, not exceeding [$65,200,000] $60,200,000; Sec. 49. Subdivision (6) of subsection (l) of section 21 of public act 23- 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (6) All community colleges: Deferred maintenance, code compliance and infrastructure improvements, not exceeding [$27,600,000] $22,600,000; Sec. 50. Section 31 of public act 23-205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 32 to 38, inclusive, of [this act] public act 23-205, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate, not exceeding [$306,000,000] $321,000,000. Sec. 51. Subdivision (6) of subsection (b) of section 32 of public act 23- 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (6) Microgrid and resilience grant and loan pilot program, not exceeding [$25,000,000] $40,000,000; House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 44 of 258 Sec. 52. Section 45 of public act 23-205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 46 to 50, inclusive, of [this act] public act 23-205, from time to time to authorize the issuance of special tax obligation bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate, not exceeding [$1,530,772,000] $1,642,372,000. Sec. 53. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 46 of public act 23- 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (4) Environmental compliance, soil and groundwater remediation, hazardous materials abatement, demolition, salt shed construction and renovation, storage tank replacement and environmental emergency response at or in the vicinity of state-owned properties or related to Department of Transportation operations, including, but not limited to, the provision of a grant to the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at The University of Connecticut to conduct a study in accordance with section 63 of this act, not exceeding [$17,065,000] $18,665,000; Sec. 54. Subdivision (7) of subsection (a) of section 46 of public act 23- 205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (7) Fix-it-First program to repair the state's bridges, not exceeding [$62,250,000] $162,250,000; Sec. 55. Subsection (b) of section 46 of public act 23-205 is amended to read as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (b) For the Bureau of Public Transportation: (1) Bus and rail facilities and equipment, including rights-of-way, other property acquisition and related projects, not exceeding House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 45 of 258 $273,450,000; (2) Northeast Corridor Modernization Match Program, not exceeding $438,175,000; (3) Grants for commercial rail freight lines pursuant to section 13b- 236 of the general statutes not exceeding $10,000,000. Sec. 56. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For each fiscal year in which funding is available, the Department of Housing shall administer a program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that own and operate facilities that are used to house or provide services to homeless individuals, including, but not limited to, shelters, day shelters, homeless hubs and other facilities, to make capital improvements. Such capital improvements may include, but need not be limited to, renovations, rehabilitations, architectural and engineering costs and any other related costs, but shall not include acquisitions, demolitions, purchases of land or buildings or capital improvements to permanent supportive housing. (b) Not later than October 1, 2024, the department shall develop eligibility criteria to be used in selecting among applicants for such grants, develop application forms and deadlines and post in a conspicuous location on the department's Internet web site a description of the grant program that includes, but is not limited to, such criteria, forms and deadlines. (c) Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing and finance, revenue and bonding. Such report shall include information for the preceding calendar year on the number of applications for grants that were received, the number of grants that House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 46 of 258 were awarded and a list of the nonprofit organizations that received grants and the amount of such grants. Sec. 57. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate twenty-five million dollars. (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the purpose of a program to provide rebates, at the point of sale, for the purchase of heat pumps intended for heating systems in the state, pursuant to section 16 of substitute house bill 5004 of the current session, as amended by House Amendment Schedule "A". (c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 47 of 258 of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. Sec. 58. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate ten million dollars. (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the purpose of providing low interest loans for climate resiliency projects pursuant to section 59 of this act. (c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 48 of 258 discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. Sec. 59. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) There is established a revolving loan fund to be known as the "Climate Resiliency Revolving Loan Fund". The fund may be funded from the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to section 58 of this act or from any moneys available to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or from other sources. Investment earnings credited to the fund shall become part of the assets of the fund. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the next fiscal year. Payments of principal or interest on a low interest loan made pursuant to this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Climate Resiliency Revolving Loan Fund. The fund shall be used to make low interest loans pursuant to this section and to pay reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in administering loans under this section. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may enter into contracts with nonprofit corporations to provide for the administration of the Climate Resiliency Revolving Loan Fund by such nonprofit corporations, provided no low interest loan shall be made from the fund without the authorization of the commissioner as provided in this section. (b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall establish a program to provide low interest loans from the fund established in subsection (a) of this section to municipalities and private entities for infrastructure repairs and resiliency projects in response to House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 49 of 258 unplanned climate events. Such repairs and projects may not include rehousing or temporary assistance costs. The commissioner shall develop eligibility criteria and application forms to be used in selecting among applicants for such loans. On and after October 1, 2024, the commissioner, or any program administrator the commissioner may designate, shall accept applications from any municipality or private entity for such loans. (c) On or before January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, with the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment regarding the status of the program, including information on the number of loans issued, the individual amount of each loan and the total amount of loans issued and any recommendations for legislation related to the program. Sec. 60. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate three million dollars. (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for the purpose of providing grants to municipalities to purchase unmanned aircraft, accessories or both, pursuant to section 61 of this act. (c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 50 of 258 from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. Sec. 61. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For purposes of this section: (1) "Accessories" means devices associated with an unmanned aircraft, including, but not limited to, cameras with night vision, thermal or infrared capabilities and other devices that are necessary for the operation of the unmanned aircraft to fulfill its public safety mission; (2) "Municipality" has the same meaning as provided in section 7-148 of the general statutes; and (3) "Unmanned aircraft" means a powered aircraft that (A) uses aerodynamic forces to provide vertical lift, (B) is operated remotely by a pilot in command or is capable of autonomous flight, (C) does not carry a human operator, and (D) can be expendable or recoverable. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 51 of 258 (b) (1) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, within available resources, administer a program to provide grants to municipalities to purchase unmanned aircraft, accessories or both. If state or federal law prohibits the purchase of a specific unmanned aircraft based on the country of the unmanned aircraft's manufacture, a municipality may not use a grant issued pursuant to this section to purchase such unmanned aircraft. (2) Any such grant shall be for up to thirty-three per cent of the cost of such purchase of such unmanned aircraft or accessories. (c) Not later than January 1, 2025, the department shall develop technical standards for unmanned aircraft and accessories eligible for grants, develop eligibility criteria to be used in selecting among applicants for such grants, develop application forms and deadlines and post in a conspicuous location on the department's Internet web site a description of the grant program that includes, but is not limited to, such standards, criteria, forms and deadlines. (d) Not later than January 1, 2026, and each year thereafter in which grants are issued, the department shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. Such report shall include information for the preceding calendar year on the number of applications for grants that were received, the number of grants that were awarded and a list of the municipalities that received grants. Sec. 62. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) Not later than September 1, 2024, and every six months thereafter until September 1, 2026, the Department of Housing shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding. Such report shall include for the prior fiscal year, House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 52 of 258 and the prior six months, the following information regarding funds obtained by the department pursuant to bond authorizations in section 8-336n of the general statutes, sections 8 to 10, inclusive, and sections 27 to 29, inclusive, of public act 23-205, or any similar public act: (1) The specific programs for which the department used funds obtained pursuant to said bond authorizations, and the amount from each authorization used for each specific program; (2) A description of the department's activities that address supportive housing under the programs described in subdivision (1) of this section, and the amount of funds obtained from each authorization used for such activities; and (3) The amount of funds obtained pursuant to each of said bond authorizations that was provided by the department to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority for administration of programs related to housing. Sec. 63. (Effective July 1, 2024) The Department of Transportation shall provide a grant from available resources to the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at The University of Connecticut for the purpose of studying the carbon sequestration by trees and other vegetation along highways and other areas in the state. The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment shall (1) submit an interim report, not later than January 1, 2025, and a final report, not later than July 1, 2025, concerning the department's findings and any recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation and the environment, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, and (2) present either or both such reports at a hearing held jointly by said joint standing committees. Sec. 64. Section 8-240a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 53 of 258 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (a) As used in this section: (1) "Alliance district" has the same meaning as provided in section 10- 262u; (2) "Environmental justice community" has the same meaning as provided in section 22a-20a; and (3) "Low-income resident" means, after adjustments for family size, individuals or families whose income is not greater than (A) sixty per cent of the state median income, [or] (B) eighty per cent of the area median income for the area in which the resident resides, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or (C) any other definition of "low-income resident" included in any program in the state that utilizes federal funding, as determined by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. (b) There is established a revolving loan and grant fund to be known as the "Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant Fund". The fund may be funded from the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to section 8-240b or from any moneys available to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or from other sources. Investment earnings credited to the fund shall become part of the assets of the fund. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the next fiscal year. Payments of principal or interest on a low interest loan made pursuant to this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant Fund. The fund shall be used to make grants or low interest loans pursuant to this section [and] to pay reasonable and necessary [expenses] fees incurred in administering loans under this section. The House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 54 of 258 Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may enter into contracts with quasi-public agencies or nonprofit corporations to provide for the administration of the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant Fund by such [nonprofit corporations] entity or entities, provided no grant or low interest loan shall be made from the fund without the authorization of the commissioner as provided in this section. (c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Housing, shall establish a pilot program or programs to provide financing or grants from the fund established in subsection (b) of this section for retrofitting projects for multifamily residences located in environmental justice communities or alliance districts that (1) improve the energy efficiency of such residences, which may include, but need not be limited to, the installation of heat pumps, solar power generating systems, improved roofing, exterior doors and windows, improved insulation, air sealing, improved ventilation, appliance upgrades and any electric system or wiring upgrades necessary for such retrofit, (2) remediate health and safety concerns that are barriers to any such retrofit, including, but not limited to, mold, vermiculite, asbestos, lead and radon, or (3) provide services to assist residents and building owners to access and implement the programs established pursuant to this section or other available state or federal programs that enable the implementation of energy efficiency retrofitting. (d) On and after July 1, [2024] 2025, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or any program administrator the commissioner may designate, shall accept applications, in a form specified by the commissioner, from any owner of a residential dwelling unit for financing or a grant under the program or programs. Any such financing or grant may be awarded to an owner of a residential dwelling unit, [that is (1) not owner-occupied, and (2) occupied by a tenant or, if House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 55 of 258 vacant, to be occupied by a tenant not more than one hundred eighty days after the award. If such dwelling unit is not occupied within one hundred eighty days of the award, the owner shall return any funds received by the owner to the commissioner] as defined in section 47a-1. (e) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall prioritize the awarding of financing or grants for projects that benefit any resident or prospective resident who is a low-income resident. (f) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall exclude from the program or programs any owner of a residential dwelling unit determined by the Commissioner of Housing to be in violation of chapter 830. (g) On or before October 1, [2027] 2028, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, with the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing (1) analyzing the success of the pilot program or programs, and (2) recommending whether a permanent program should be established in the state and, if so, any proposed legislation for such program. (h) The pilot program or programs established pursuant to this section shall terminate on September 30, [2028] 2029. Sec. 65. Section 20 of public act 24-143 is repealed. (Effective from passage) Sec. 66. Section 7-294rr of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed. (Effective July 1, 2024) Sec. 67. Section 12-204 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) The commissioner shall, not later than three years after the due House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 56 of 258 date for the filing of a return or not later than three years after the date of receipt of such return by the commissioner, whichever period expires later, examine [it] or reexamine such return and, in case any error is disclosed by such examination or reexamination, shall, not later than thirty days after such disclosure, notify the taxpayer of such error. (1) When it appears that any part of the deficiency for which a deficiency assessment or reassessment is made is due to negligence or intentional disregard of the provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated thereunder, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to ten per cent of the amount of such deficiency assessment or reassessment, or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. (2) When it appears that any part of the deficiency for which a deficiency assessment or reassessment is made is due to fraud or intent to evade the provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated thereunder, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to twenty-five per cent of the amount of such deficiency assessment or reassessment. No taxpayer shall be subject to more than one penalty under this section in relation to the same tax period. (3) Not later than thirty days after the mailing of such notice, the taxpayer shall pay to the commissioner, in cash or by check, draft or money order drawn to the order of the Commissioner of Revenue Services, any additional amount of tax shown to be due by the examination or reexamination, or shall be paid by the State Treasurer, upon order of the Comptroller, any amount shown to be due it by such examination or reexamination. The failure of the taxpayer to receive any notice required by this section shall not relieve the taxpayer of the obligation to pay the tax or any interest or penalties thereon. (4) If, before the expiration of the time prescribed by this section for the examination or reexamination of the return or the assessment or reassessment of the tax, both the commissioner and the taxpayer consent House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 57 of 258 in writing to such examination, [or] reexamination, assessment or reassessment after such time, the return may be examined or reexamined and the tax may be assessed or reassessed at any time prior to the expiration of the period agreed upon. The period so agreed upon may be extended by subsequent agreements in writing made before the expiration of the period agreed upon. The commissioner may also in such a case extend the period during which a claim for refund may be made by such taxpayer. (b) To any taxes [which] that are assessed or reassessed under this section, there shall be added interest at the rate of one per cent per month or fraction thereof from the date when the original tax became due and payable. The amount of any tax, penalty or interest due and unpaid under the provisions of this chapter may be collected under the provisions of section 12-35. The warrant therein provided for shall be signed by the commissioner or [his] the commissioner's authorized agent. The amount of any such tax, penalty or interest shall be a lien on the real estate of the taxpayer from the thirty-first day of December next preceding the due date of such tax until such tax is paid. The commissioner may, at any time after such December thirty-first, record such lien in the records of any town in which the real estate of such company is situated, but no such lien shall be enforceable against a bona fide purchaser or qualified encumbrancer of such real estate. When any tax with respect to which a lien has been recorded under the provisions of this section has been satisfied, the commissioner upon request of any interested party, shall issue a certificate discharging such lien, which certificate shall be recorded in the same office in which the lien was recorded. Any action for the foreclosure of such lien shall be brought by the Attorney General in the name of the state in the superior court for the judicial district in which the property subject to such lien is situated, or, if such property is located in two or more judicial districts, in the superior court for any one such judicial district, and the court may limit the time for redemption or order the sale of such property or make such House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 58 of 258 other or further decree as it judges equitable. Sec. 68. Subsection (a) of section 12-210 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) Each newly licensed insurance company incorporated by or organized under the laws of any other state or foreign government shall pay to the Commissioner of Revenue Services, [within forty-five] not later than ninety days [of] after the effective date of such company's initial license to transact business in this state, a tax on the net direct premiums received by such company in the next five preceding calendar years from policies written on property or risks located or resident in this state, except ocean marine insurance, at the rate in effect for each such calendar year. Sec. 69. Section 12-705 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2025, and applicable to taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2025): (a) (1) Each employer, as defined in section 12-707, maintaining an office or transacting business within this state and making payment of any wages taxable under this chapter to a resident or nonresident individual shall deduct and withhold from such wages for each payroll period a tax computed in such manner as to result, so far as practicable, in withholding from the employee's wages during each calendar year an amount substantially equivalent to the tax reasonably estimated to be due from the employee under this chapter with respect to the amount of such wages during the calendar year. The method of determining the amount to be withheld shall be prescribed by regulations of the Commissioner of Revenue Services adopted in accordance with chapter 54. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 59 of 258 (2) [Each] (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, each payer, as defined in section 12-707, of distributions from a profit-sharing plan, a stock bonus, a deferred compensation plan, an individual retirement arrangement, an endowment or a life insurance contract, or of pension payments or annuity distributions, that [(A)] maintains an office or transacts business within this state [,] and [(B)] makes payment of any amounts taxable under this chapter to a resident individual, shall, upon request by such individual, deduct and withhold an amount from the taxable portion of any such distribution. [a tax computed in such manner as to result, so far as practicable, in withholding from the distributions paid during each calendar year an amount substantially equivalent to the tax reasonably estimated to be due from the payee, as defined in section 12-707, under this chapter with respect to such distributions during the calendar year. The method of determining the amount to be withheld from taxable payments, other than lump sum distributions, shall be determined in accordance with instructions provided by the commissioner. The amount to be withheld from] Such request and the determination of the amount to be withheld shall be made in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner for pension payments and annuity distributions. (B) With respect to a lump sum distribution, [shall be equal to] if a payee does not make a request to have an amount withheld from such distribution, the payer shall withhold from the taxable portion of the distribution [multiplied by] at the highest marginal rate, except that no withholding shall be required if (i) any portion of the lump sum distribution was previously subject to tax, or (ii) the lump sum distribution is a rollover that is effected as a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer or as a direct rollover in the form of a check made payable to another qualified account. For purposes of this [section] subdivision, "lump sum distribution" means a payment from a payer to a resident payee of an amount exceeding fifty per cent of such resident payee's House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 60 of 258 entire account balance or more than five thousand dollars, whichever is less, exclusive of any other tax withholding and any administrative charges and fees. (3) In no event shall the requirements of this subsection result in nonpayment of any distribution to a resident individual. For the calendar year ending December 31, 2018, no taxpayer shall be assessed interest by the commissioner pursuant to section 12-722 solely on the basis of a payer's failure to comply with the provisions of this subsection. (b) The commissioner may, if such action is deemed necessary for the protection of the revenue and under such regulations as the commissioner may adopt in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, require persons other than employers and payers (1) to deduct and withhold taxes from payments made by such persons to residents of this state, nonresidents and part-year residents, (2) to file a withholding return as prescribed by the commissioner, and (3) to pay over to the commissioner, or to a depositary designated by the commissioner, the taxes so required to be deducted and withheld, in accordance with a schedule established in such regulations. (c) The commissioner may adopt regulations providing for withholding from (1) remuneration for services performed by an employee for his or her employer that does not constitute wages, (2) wages paid to an employee by an employer not maintaining an office or transacting business within this state, or (3) any other type of payment with respect to which the commissioner finds that withholding would be appropriate under the provisions of this chapter if the employer and the employee, or, in the case of any other type of payment, the person making and the person receiving such payment, agree to such withholding. Such agreement shall be made in such form and manner as the commissioner may prescribe by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. For purposes of this House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 61 of 258 chapter, remuneration, wages or other payments with respect to which such an agreement is made shall be regarded as if they were wages paid to an employee by an employer maintaining an office or transacting business within this state to the extent that such remuneration or wages are paid or other payments are made during the period for which the agreement is in effect. Sec. 70. Section 12-91 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) All farm machinery, except motor vehicles, as defined in section 14-1, to the assessed value of one hundred thousand dollars, any horse or pony [which] that is actually and exclusively used in farming, as defined in section 1-1, when owned and kept in this state by, or when held in trust for, any farmer or group of farmers operating as a unit, a partnership or a corporation, a majority of the stock of which corporation is held by members of a family actively engaged in farm operations, shall be exempt from local property taxation; provided each such farmer, whether operating individually or as one of a group, partnership or corporation, shall qualify for such exemption in accordance with the standards set forth in subsection (d) of this section for the assessment year for which such exemption is sought. Only one such exemption shall be allowed to each such farmer, group of farmers, partnership or corporation. Subdivision (38) of section 12-81 shall not apply to any person, group, partnership or corporation receiving the exemption provided for in this subsection. (b) Any municipality, upon approval by its legislative body, may provide an additional exemption from property tax for such machinery to the extent of an additional assessed value of [one hundred] two hundred fifty thousand dollars. Any such exemption shall be subject to the same limitations as the exemption provided under subsection (a) of this section and the application and qualification process provided in subsection (d) of this section. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 62 of 258 (c) Any municipality, upon approval by its legislative body, may provide an exemption from property tax for any building used actually and exclusively in farming, as defined in section 1-1, or for any building used to provide housing for seasonal employees of such farmer. The municipality shall establish the amount of such exemption from the assessed value, provided such amount may not exceed [one] five hundred thousand dollars with respect to each eligible building. Such exemption shall not apply to the residence of such farmer and shall be subject to the application and qualification process provided in subsection (d) of this section. (d) Annually, on or before the first day of November or the extended filing date granted by the assessor pursuant to section 12-42, each such individual farmer, group of farmers, partnership or corporation shall make written application for the exemption provided for in subsection (a) of this section to the assessor or board of assessors in the town in which such farm is located, including therewith a notarized affidavit certifying that such farmer, individually or as part of a group, partnership or corporation, derived at least fifteen thousand dollars in gross sales from such farming operation, or incurred at least fifteen thousand dollars in expenses related to such farming operation, with respect to the most recently completed taxable year of such farmer prior to the commencement of the assessment year for which such application is made, on forms to be prescribed by the Commissioner of Agriculture. Failure to file such application in said manner and form on or before the first day of November shall be considered a waiver of the right to such exemption for the assessment year. Any person aggrieved by any action of the assessors shall have the same rights and remedies for appeal and relief as are provided in the general statutes for taxpayers claiming to be aggrieved by the doings of the assessors or board of assessment appeals. Sec. 71. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Any municipality may, upon approval by its legislative body or, in a municipality where the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 63 of 258 legislative body is a town meeting, by vote of the board of selectmen, provide an exemption from property tax of not less than five per cent and not more than thirty-five per cent of the assessed value, for owner- occupied dwellings, including condominiums, as defined in section 47- 68a of the general statutes, and units in a common interest community, as defined in section 47-202 of the general statutes, that are the primary residences of such owners and consist of not more than two units. Sec. 72. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (76) of section 12-81 of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible for a 2023 grand list exemption pursuant to said subdivision (76) in the town of Litchfield, except that such person failed to file the required exemption application within the time period prescribed, shall be regarded as having filed said application in a timely manner if such person files said application not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section, and pays the late filing fee pursuant to section 12-81k of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fee and verification of the exemption eligibility of the machinery and equipment included in such application, the assessor shall approve the exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemption is approved, the town of Litchfield shall reimburse such person in an amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest or penalties exceed any taxes payable if the application had been filed in a timely manner. Sec. 73. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 12-89 of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible for a 2021 grand list exemption pursuant to subdivision (58) of section 12-81 of the general statutes in the town of Manchester, except that such person failed to file the required exemption application within the time period prescribed, shall be regarded as having filed such application in a timely manner if such person files such application not later than thirty House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 64 of 258 days after the effective date of this section and pays any applicable late filing fee prescribed by the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fee, if applicable, and verification of the exemption eligibility of such property, the assessor shall approve the exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemption is approved, the town of Manchester shall reimburse such person in an amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest and penalties exceed any taxes payable if the application had been filed in a timely manner. Sec. 74. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of subdivision (7) of section 12-81 of the general statutes and section 12-87a of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible for a 2021 and 2022 grand list exemption pursuant to said subdivision in the city of Meriden, except that such person failed to file the required statements within the time period prescribed, shall be regarded as having filed such statements in a timely manner if such person files such statements not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section and pays the late filing fees pursuant to section 12- 87a of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fees and verification of the exemption eligibility of such property, the assessor shall approve the exemptions for such property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemptions are approved, the city of Meriden shall reimburse such person in an amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest and penalties exceed any taxes payable if the statements had been filed in a timely manner. Sec. 75. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of subdivision (11) of section 12-81 of the general statutes and section 12-87a of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible for a 2021 and 2022 grand list exemption in the town of Middletown, except that such person failed to submit evidence of certification House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 65 of 258 pursuant to section 12-89a of the general statutes within the time period prescribed by the assessor or board of assessors or failed to file the required statements within the time period prescribed, or both, shall be regarded as having filed such evidence of certification or statements in a timely manner if such person files such evidence of certification or statements, or both, as required by the assessor, not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section and pays the late filing fees pursuant to section 12-87a of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fees and verification of the exemption eligibility of such property, the assessor shall approve the exemptions for such property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemptions are approved, the town of Middletown shall reimburse such person in an amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest and penalties exceed any taxes payable if the evidence of certification or statements, or both, had been filed in a timely manner. Sec. 76. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (76) of section 12-81 of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible for a 2022 grand list exemption pursuant to said subdivision (76) in the town of Thomaston, except that such person failed to file the required exemption application within the time period prescribed, shall be regarded as having filed said application in a timely manner if such person files said application not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section and pays the late filing fee pursuant to section 12-81k of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fee and verification of the exemption eligibility of the machinery and equipment included in such application, the assessor shall approve the exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemption is approved, the town of Thomaston shall reimburse such person in an amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest or penalties exceed any taxes payable if the application had been filed in a timely manner. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 66 of 258 Sec. 77. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of subdivision (7) of section 12-81 of the general statutes and section 12-87a of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible for a 2021 grand list exemption pursuant to said subdivision in the city of Waterbury, except that such person failed to file the required statement within the time period prescribed, shall be regarded as having filed such statement in a timely manner if such person files such statement not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section and pays the late filing fee pursuant to section 12-87a of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fee and verification of the exemption eligibility of such property, the assessor shall approve the exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemption is approved, the city of Waterbury shall reimburse such person in an amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest and penalties exceed any taxes payable if the statement had been filed in a timely manner. Sec. 78. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of subdivision (11) of section 12-81 of the general statutes and section 12-87a of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible for a 2022 grand list exemption in the city of Waterbury, except that such person failed to submit evidence of certification pursuant to section 12- 89a of the general statutes within the time period prescribed by the assessor or board of assessors or failed to file the required statement within the time period prescribed, or both, shall be regarded as having filed such evidence of certification or statement in a timely manner if such person files such evidence of certification or statement, or both, as required by the assessor, not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section and pays the late filing fee pursuant to section 12-87a of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fee and verification of the exemption eligibility of such property, the assessor shall approve the exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemption is House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 67 of 258 approved, the city of Waterbury shall reimburse such person in an amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest and penalties exceed any taxes payable if the evidence of certification or statement, or both, had been filed in a timely manner. Sec. 79. (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (76) of section 12-81 of the general statutes, any person otherwise eligible for a 2023 grand list exemption pursuant to said subdivision (76) in the city of West Haven, except that such person failed to file the required exemption application within the time period prescribed, shall be regarded as having filed said application in a timely manner if such person files said application not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section, and pays the late filing fee pursuant to section 12-81k of the general statutes. Upon confirmation of the receipt of such fee and verification of the exemption eligibility of the machinery and equipment included in such application, the assessor shall approve the exemption for such property. If taxes, interest or penalties have been paid on the property for which such exemption is approved, the city of West Haven shall reimburse such person in an amount equal to the amount by which such taxes, interest or penalties exceed any taxes payable if the application had been filed in a timely manner. Sec. 80. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 12-62 of the general statutes or any municipal charter, special act or home rule ordinance, the town of Derby may defer the implementation of the revaluation of real property required for the assessment year commencing October 1, 2024, until the assessment year commencing October 1, 2025, provided such deferral is approved by the legislative body of said town. The rate maker, as defined in section 12- 131 of the general statutes, in said town may prepare new rate bills under the provisions of chapter 204 of the general statutes in order to carry out the provisions of this section. Any required revaluation House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 68 of 258 subsequent to any deferred implementation of a revaluation pursuant to this section shall recommence at the point in the schedule prescribed pursuant to section 12-62 of the general statutes that said town was following prior to such deferral. Sec. 81. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 12-62 of the general statutes or any municipal charter, special act or home rule ordinance, the town of Stratford may defer the implementation of the revaluation of real property required for the assessment year commencing October 1, 2024, until the assessment year commencing October 1, 2025, provided such deferral is approved by the legislative body of said town. The rate maker, as defined in section 12- 131 of the general statutes, in said town may prepare new rate bills under the provisions of chapter 204 of the general statutes in order to carry out the provisions of this section. Any required revaluation subsequent to any deferred implementation of a revaluation pursuant to this section shall recommence at the point in the schedule prescribed pursuant to section 12-62 of the general statutes that said town was following prior to such deferral. Sec. 82. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) (1) On and after January 1, 2025, the general administration and responsibility for the proper operation of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund under part V of chapter 104 of the general statutes and the municipal employees' retirement system under part II of chapter 113 of the general statutes is vested in a board of trustees to be known as the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall constitute a successor commission to the Connecticut State Employees Retirement Commission, with respect to the provisions of part V of chapter 104 of the general statutes and part II of chapter 113 of the general statutes, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d and 4-39 of the general statutes. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 69 of 258 Commission shall be within the Retirement Services Division of the office of the State Comptroller for administrative purposes only. (2) The Retirement Services Division shall (A) provide record keeping, reporting and related administrative and clerical functions for the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission to the extent deemed necessary by the State Comptroller, (B) disseminate for said commission any required notices or rules or orders adopted, amended or repealed by said commission, and (C) provide staff for said commission subject to the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 4-38f of the general statutes. The office of the State Comptroller shall include in its budget the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission's budgetary request, if any, as a separate part of such budget, exactly as prepared and submitted to the office by said commission. (3) The State Comptroller shall serve as secretary of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission and provide secretariat support to said commission. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall meet at least monthly and shall report to the Governor in accordance with the provisions of section 4-60 of the general statutes. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-9a of the general statutes, the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall consist of the following: (1) The State Comptroller, or the State Comptroller's designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member and shall preside at meetings of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission; (2) The State Treasurer, or the State Treasurer's designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member; (3) Four trustees who represent employees and shall be appointed by House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 70 of 258 the Governor from a list of four nominees submitted to the Governor by a federation of labor organizations in the state that represent private and public employees and workers in the building trades, (A) one of whom shall be (i) a municipal public safety employee who is a member of the municipal employees' retirement system, or (ii) an elected leader of a labor organization representing such public safety employees, (B) two of whom shall be (i) a municipal employee, other than a public safety employee, who is a member of the municipal employees' retirement system, or (ii) an elected leader of a labor organization representing such municipal employees, and (C) one of whom shall be a retired member of the municipal employees' retirement system; (4) Four trustees who represent government employers, who shall not be required to represent or be in the active service of a participating municipality, as defined in section 7-425 of the general statutes, (A) one of whom shall represent a municipal employer and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents small towns, (B) two of whom shall represent municipal employers and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents municipalities, and (C) one of whom shall represent municipal housing authorities in the state and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents housing and redevelopment officials in the state; (5) Two trustees who shall be appointed by the State Comptroller, with the approval by simple majority of the trustees appointed under subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection, who possess expertise and experience in financial management, actuarial science or pension management; and (6) One neutral trustee who shall serve as the chairperson of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission and be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the trustees House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 71 of 258 appointed under subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection. The chairperson shall cast a vote on a matter before said commission only in the event of a tie vote. (c) (1) All initial appointments to the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall be made not later than October 1, 2024, and shall terminate, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, on September 30, 2028, regardless of when the initial appointment was made. (2) Two of the trustees appointed under subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section, two of the trustees appointed under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this section and one of the trustees appointed under subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of this section, as selected by the appointing authority, shall serve an initial term of two years, which shall terminate on September 30, 2026, regardless of when the initial appointment was made. (3) Subsequent terms shall be for four years. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term. (d) (1) Each trustee shall act as a fiduciary with respect to the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system and the members of said fund and such retirement system. The trustees shall discharge their duties solely in the interest of the members and the beneficiaries and contingent annuitants of said fund and such retirement system, for the exclusive purposes of providing benefits to such members, beneficiaries and annuitants and defraying reasonable expenses of administering said fund and such retirement system. (2) Each trustee shall, not later than ten days after appointment, take House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 72 of 258 an oath of office that so far as it devolves upon the trustee, the trustee will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system and will not knowingly violate or willingly permit to be violated any provision of law applicable to said fund or such retirement system. (e) The State Comptroller shall establish an orientation program and fiduciary training for new trustees. Each trustee shall, not later than thirty days after appointment, complete such program and training and shall annually complete continuing education hours, as required by the State Comptroller, in financial management, actuarial science or pension management. The State Comptroller shall publish the activities and courses the State Comptroller deems acceptable for purposes of fulfilling the continuing education requirement under this subsection. (f) A majority of the members of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty authorized or imposed by law. (g) The trustees of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. (h) All assets of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system shall be held in trust by the State Treasurer, who shall act as a fiduciary of said fund and such retirement system. The State Treasurer shall manage and control such assets, except as the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission or a municipal retirement plan expressly may otherwise provide. The State Treasurer shall discharge the State Treasurer's duties solely in the interest of the members and the beneficiaries and House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 73 of 258 contingent annuitants of said fund and such retirement system, for the exclusive purposes of providing benefits to such members, beneficiaries and annuitants, by diversifying the investments of said fund and such retirement system so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless, under the circumstances, it is clearly prudent not to do so. (i) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall have general supervision of the operation of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system and shall conduct the business and activities of said fund and such retirement system in accordance with the provisions of part V of chapter 104 of the general statutes and part II of chapter 113 of the general statutes, as applicable, and applicable law. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall act, in conducting the business of said fund and such retirement system, including said commission's supervisory functions: (1) With the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; (2) in accordance with strict fiduciary standards and responsibilities; and (3) in accordance with the provisions of the general statutes and applicable collective bargaining agreements. (j) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may, by resolution or regulation, allocate fiduciary responsibilities and various administrative duties to committees or subcommittees of said commission and may delegate such responsibilities and duties to the Retirement Services Division of the office of the State Comptroller or to other individuals the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission deems appropriate or necessary, provided such delegation is consistent with the provisions of this section. (k) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may hold hearings when said commission deems them necessary in the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 74 of 258 performance of its duties. The hearings shall be governed by rules and regulations adopted by said commission and said commission shall not be bound by technical rules of evidence. (l) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may hire a general counsel who shall serve at the pleasure of said commission, have offices in the Retirement Services Division of the office of the State Comptroller and perform duties as directed by said commission. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may obtain such additional legal advice and assistance as it deems advisable. (m) (1) All municipal retirement plans, descriptions and reports and all legal, financial and actuarial documents dealing with the general operations of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system shall be available for inspection and copying by members of said fund or such retirement system, as applicable, and their representatives. The cost of any copying shall be borne by the member or representative but shall not exceed twenty-five cents per page. (2) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall notify members of any substantial statutory amendments to the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund or to the municipal employees' retirement system, not later than two hundred ten days after the effective date of such amendments. (3) Not later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, the State Treasurer shall publish and forward to the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission a consolidated report showing the fiscal transactions of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system for the preceding fiscal year, including gain or loss by category of security, a reconciliation of assets showing the progression of the funds of said fund and such House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 75 of 258 retirement system from one year to the next, the amount of the accumulated cash and securities of said fund and such retirement system and the last balance sheet showing the financial condition of said fund and such retirement system by means of an actuarial valuation of their assets and liabilities. Assets shall be shown at book and market value and by type or term of investment. Gain or loss shall be reported by category of security type. The reporting requirement under this subdivision shall be satisfied if the State Treasurer completes an Internal Revenue Service form 5500 and submits it to the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission, provided the information included therein is sufficient to allow the computation of the investment yields of the funds of said fund and such retirement system on an annual basis. (n) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may adopt such regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, as are necessary to carry out the provisions of part V of chapter 104 of the general statutes and part II of chapter 113 of the general statutes and may establish rules and regulations that said commission deems necessary or desirable to facilitate the proper administration of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system. Rules and regulations established by the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall be binding upon all parties dealing with said commission and all persons claiming any benefits from said fund or such retirement system. Sec. 83. Subsection (a) of section 7-438 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) Any member retired under this part who again accepts employment from the state or from any municipality of the state other than a participating municipality, shall continue to receive his or her retirement allowance while so employed, and shall be eligible to House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 76 of 258 participate, and shall be entitled to credit, in the state retirement system or such retirement system of such municipality, as applicable, for the period of such [state] employment. [, but he or she shall not be eligible to participate or be entitled to credit in any municipal retirement system for the period of such municipal employment.] Sec. 84. Subsection (a) of section 7-459b of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) On or after July 1, 2025, the Retirement Commission may create a deferred retirement option plan [and prescribe the manner in which such option plan may be offered to] for members [by] of a municipality participating in the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund. Any plan created shall permit members of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who are eligible for a service retirement allowance to elect participation in such plan. Sec. 85. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) On or after July 1, 2025, the State Comptroller shall create a municipal defined contribution retirement plan and prescribe the manner in which such retirement plan may be adopted by any municipality, as defined in section 7-425 of the general statutes. (b) Any such retirement plan shall provide that a municipality that adopts such plan shall have the option to transfer to such plan the accounts and assets of any defined contribution retirement plan previously adopted by such municipality. Payroll deductions for each member of the defined contribution plan created under this section shall be made by the appropriate municipal employer. (c) The State Comptroller shall serve as the administrator of the retirement plan created under this section. The State Comptroller may (1) enter into contractual agreements on behalf of the state with House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 77 of 258 members of such plan to defer any portion of such member's compensation from the adopting municipality, (2) make deposits or payments to such plan, subject to the terms of such plan, and (3) contract with a private corporation or private institution for the provision of consolidated billing services and other administrative services for such plan. Sec. 86. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 5-155a of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2025): (a) The general administration and responsibility for the proper operation of the state employees retirement system is vested in a single board of trustees to be known as the Connecticut State Employees Retirement Commission. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4- 9a, the Retirement Commission shall consist of the following: (1) The Treasurer or a designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member; (2) the Comptroller or a designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member; (3) six trustees representing employees who shall (A) be appointed by the bargaining agents in accordance with the provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements, (B) serve three-year terms, and (C) not be members of the same bargaining unit; (4) six management trustees who shall (A) be members of the state employees retirement system, (B) serve three-year terms, and (C) be appointed by the Governor; (5) two actuarial trustees who shall (A) be enrolled actuaries and Fellows of the Society of Actuaries, (B) serve three-year terms, and (C) be appointed by the Governor. One actuarial trustee shall be nominated by the management trustees and one shall be nominated by the trustees representing employees; and (6) one neutral trustee who shall be chairman of the commission and who shall (A) be enrolled in the National Academy of Arbitrators, (B) serve a two-year term, and (C) be nominated by the employee and management trustees and appointed by the Governor. If a vacancy occurs in the office of a trustee, the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 78 of 258 vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the office was previously filled. The trustees, with the exception of the chairman and the actuarial trustees, shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed in accordance with the standard travel regulations for all necessary expenses that they may incur through service on the commission. The chairman and the actuarial trustees shall be compensated at their normal and usual per diem fee, plus travel expenses, from the funds of the retirement system for each day of service to the commission. Each trustee shall, within ten days after appointment or election, take an oath of office that so far as it devolves upon the trustee, the trustee will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the commission, and will not knowingly violate or willingly permit to be violated any of the provisions of law applicable to the state retirement system. Each trustee's term shall begin from the date the trustee takes such an oath. [The trustees shall appoint a representative from among the municipalities that have accepted the provisions of part II of chapter 113, who shall serve as a municipal liaison to the commission, at the commission's pleasure and under such terms and conditions as the commission may prescribe.] Each trustee shall be entitled to one vote on the commission. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty authorized or imposed by law. The State Employee Retirement Commission shall be within the Retirement Division of the office of the Comptroller for administrative purposes only. The Comptroller shall be the secretary of the commission and shall provide secretariat support to the commission. (b) The Retirement Commission shall meet at least monthly and shall report to the Governor as provided in section 4-60. (c) The Retirement Commission shall administer this retirement system [, the municipal employees' retirement system established by part II of chapter 113] and all other state retirement and pension plans House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 79 of 258 except the Teachers' Retirement Fund. The Retirement Commission shall have general supervision of the operation of the retirement system, shall conduct the business and activities of the system, in accordance with this chapter and applicable law and each trustee shall be a fiduciary with respect to the retirement system and its members. The Retirement Commission shall authorize the participation in an alternate retirement program by the eligible unclassified employees of the constituent units of the state system of higher education and the central office staff of the Board of Regents for Higher Education. Such program may be underwritten by a life insurance company licensed to do business in this state. In conducting the business of the system, including its oversight functions, the Retirement Commission shall act: (1) With the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; (2) in accordance with strict fiduciary standards and responsibilities; and (3) in accordance with the provisions of the general statutes and applicable collective bargaining agreements. Sec. 87. Section 7-323a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2025): As used in this part: "Municipality" and "legislative body" shall each have the same meaning ascribed to it in section 7-425; "participating municipality" means any municipality which votes to accept the provisions of this part; "fund" means the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund established by this part; "Retirement Commission" means the [State Retirement Commission created by chapter 66] Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission established under section 82 of this act; "member" means any active uniformed policeman or active uniformed fireman receiving pay from a participating municipality who has been included by such municipality under the provisions of this part, and "compensation" means one- House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 80 of 258 twelfth of the annual rate of pay of a full-time paid policeman or fireman of a participating municipality who is in active service and one-twelfth of the annual rate of pay immediately prior to the retirement of a full- time paid policeman or fireman of a participating municipality who is retired. Sec. 88. Subdivision (4) of section 7-425 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2025): (4) "Retirement Commission" means the [State Retirement Commission created by chapter 66] Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission established under section 82 of this act; Sec. 89. Subdivision (2) of section 7-452 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2025): (2) "Commission" means the [State] Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission established under section 82 of this act; Sec. 90. Section 7-439f of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective from passage) Sec. 91. Section 12-15 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (a) No officer or employee, including any former officer or former employee, of the state or of any other person who has or had access to returns or return information in accordance with subdivision (12) of subsection (b) of this section shall disclose or inspect any return or return information, except as provided in this section. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 81 of 258 (b) The commissioner may disclose: (1) [returns] Returns or return information to (A) an authorized representative of another state agency or office, upon written request by the head of such agency or office, when required in the course of duty or when there is reasonable cause to believe that any state law is being violated, or (B) an authorized representative of an agency or office of the United States, upon written request by the head of such agency or office, when required in the course of duty or when there is reasonable cause to believe that any federal law is being violated, provided no such agency or office shall disclose such returns or return information, other than in a judicial or administrative proceeding to which such agency or office is a party pertaining to the enforcement of state or federal law, as the case may be, in a form which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer except that the names and addresses of jurors or potential jurors and the fact that the names were derived from the list of taxpayers pursuant to chapter 884 may be disclosed by the Judicial Branch; (2) [returns] Returns or return information to the Auditors of Public Accounts, when required in the course of duty under chapter 23; (3) [returns] Returns or return information to tax officers of another state or of a Canadian province or of a political subdivision of such other state or province or of the District of Columbia or to any officer of the United States Treasury Department or the United States Department of Health and Human Services, authorized for such purpose in accordance with an agreement between this state and such other state, province, political subdivision, the District of Columbia or department, respectively, when required in the administration of taxes imposed under the laws of such other state, province, political subdivision, the District of Columbia or the United States, respectively, and when a reciprocal arrangement exists; House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 82 of 258 (4) [returns] Returns or return information in any action, case or proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction, when the commissioner or any other state department or agency is a party, and when such information is directly involved in such action, case or proceeding; (5) [returns] Returns or return information to a taxpayer or its authorized representative, upon written request for a return filed by or return information on such taxpayer; (6) [returns] Returns or return information to a successor, receiver, trustee, executor, administrator, assignee, guardian or guarantor of a taxpayer, when such person establishes, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, that such person has a material interest which will be affected by information contained in such returns or return information; (7) [information] Information to the assessor or an authorized representative of the chief executive officer of a Connecticut municipality, when the information disclosed is limited to (A) a list of real or personal property that is or may be subject to property taxes in such municipality, or (B) a list containing the name of each person who is issued any license, permit or certificate which is required, under the provisions of this title, to be conspicuously displayed and whose address is in such municipality; (8) [real] Real estate conveyance tax return information or controlling interest transfer tax return information to the town clerk or an authorized representative of the chief executive officer of a Connecticut municipality to which the information relates; (9) [estate] Estate tax returns and estate tax return information to the Probate Court Administrator or to the court of probate for the district within which a decedent resided at the date of the decedent's death, or within which the commissioner contends that a decedent resided at the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 83 of 258 date of the decedent's death or, if a decedent died a nonresident of this state, in the court of probate for the district within which real estate or tangible personal property of the decedent is situated, or within which the commissioner contends that real estate or tangible personal property of the decedent is situated; (10) [returns] Returns or return information to the (A) Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for purposes of subsection (b) of section 12-7a, and (B) Office of Fiscal Analysis for purposes of, and subject to the provisions of, subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of section 12-7b; (11) [return] Return information to the Jury Administrator or Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, when the information disclosed is limited to the names, addresses, federal Social Security numbers and dates of birth, if available, of residents of this state, as defined in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 12-701; (12) [returns] Returns or return information to any person to the extent necessary in connection with the processing, storage, transmission or reproduction of such returns or return information, and the programming, maintenance, repair, testing or procurement of equipment, or the providing of other services, for purposes of tax administration; (13) [without] Without written request and unless the commissioner determines that disclosure would identify a confidential informant or seriously impair a civil or criminal tax investigation, returns and return information which may constitute evidence of a violation of any civil or criminal law of this state or the United States to the extent necessary to apprise the head of such agency or office charged with the responsibility of enforcing such law, in which event the head of such agency or office may disclose such return information to officers and employees of such agency or office to the extent necessary to enforce such law; House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 84 of 258 (14) [names] Names and addresses of operators, as defined in section 12-407, to tourism districts, as defined in section 10-397; (15) [names] Names of each licensed dealer, as defined in section 12- 285, and the location of the premises covered by the dealer's license; (16) [to] To a tobacco product manufacturer that places funds into escrow pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of section 4-28i, return information of a distributor licensed under the provisions of chapter 214 or chapter 214a, provided the information disclosed is limited to information relating to such manufacturer's sales to consumers within this state, whether directly or through a distributor, dealer or similar intermediary or intermediaries, of cigarettes, as defined in section 4-28h, and further provided there is reasonable cause to believe that such manufacturer is not in compliance with section 4- 28i; (17) [returns] Returns or return information to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, upon written request by said commission, when necessary to investigate suspected violations of state election laws; (18) [returns] Returns or return information for purposes of, and subject to the conditions of, subsection (e) of section 5-240; (19) [to] To the extent allowable under federal law, return information to another state agency or to support a data request submitted through CP20 WIN, established in section 10a-57g, in accordance with the policies and procedures of CP20 WIN for the purposes of evaluation or research, provided the recipient of such data enters into a data sharing agreement pursuant to section 4-67aa if such recipient is not a state agency; and (20) [return] Return information to the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange pursuant to section 12-156. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 85 of 258 (c) Any federal returns or return information made available to the commissioner in accordance with a written agreement between the commissioner and the Internal Revenue Service concerning exchange of information for tax administration purposes, shall not be open to inspection by or disclosed to any individual or disclosed in any manner other than as permitted under the provisions of Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended. (d) (1) The commissioner may, upon request, verify whether or not any license, permit or certificate required under the provisions of this title to be conspicuously displayed has been issued by the commissioner to any particular person. (2) The commissioner may make public the names and municipality of residence or postal district of persons entitled to tax refunds for purposes of notifying them when the commissioner, after reasonable effort and lapse of time, has been unable to locate such persons. (e) The commissioner may refuse to open to inspection or disclose to any person any returns or return information made available to the commissioner by any tax officer of another state, a Canadian province or political subdivision of such other state or province or of the District of Columbia or by any officer of the United States Treasury Department or the United States Department of Health and Human Services in accordance with a written agreement between this state and such other state, province, political subdivision, the District of Columbia or department, respectively, which agreement provides that the disclosure of such returns or return information by the commissioner is prohibited. In addition, he may refuse to open to inspection or disclosure to any state or United States agency or office described in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, returns or return information unless such agency or office shall have: House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 86 of 258 (1) Established and maintained, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, a permanent system of standardized records with respect to any request, the reason for such request, and the date of such request made by or of it and any disclosure or inspection of returns or return information made by or to it; (2) [established] Established and maintained, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, a secure area or place in which such returns or return information shall be stored; (3) [restricted] Restricted, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, access to the returns or return information only to persons whose duties or responsibilities require access and to whom disclosure may be made under this section or by whom inspection may be made under this section; (4) [provided] Provided such other safeguards which the commissioner prescribes as necessary or appropriate to protect the confidentiality of the returns or return information; (5) [furnished] Furnished a report to the commissioner, at such time and containing such information as the commissioner may prescribe, which describes the procedures established and utilized by such agency or office for ensuring the confidentiality of returns and return information required by this subsection; and (6) [upon] Upon completion of use of such returns or return information, returned to the commissioner such returns or return information, along with any copies made therefrom, or makes such returns or return information undisclosable in such manner as the commissioner may prescribe and furnishes a written report to the commissioner identifying the returns or return information that were made undisclosable. (f) Returns and return information shall, without written request, be House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 87 of 258 open to inspection by or disclosure to: (1) Officers and employees of the Department of Revenue Services whose official duties require such inspection or disclosure for tax administration purposes; (2) officers or employees of an agency or office in accordance with subdivision (1) or (13) of subsection (b) of this section whose official duties require such inspection; and (3) officers or employees of any person in accordance with subdivision (12) of subsection (b) of this section, whose duties require such inspection or disclosure. (g) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. (h) For purposes of this section: (1) "Return" means any tax or information return, declaration of estimated tax, claim for refund, license application, permit application, registration application or other application required by, or provided for or permitted under, the provisions of this or any other title which is filed with the commissioner by, on behalf of, or with respect to any person, and any amendment or supplement thereto, including supporting schedules, attachments, or lists which are supplemental to, or part of, the return so filed. (2) "Return information" means a taxpayer's identity, the nature, source, or amount of the taxpayer's income, payments, receipts, deductions, exemptions, credits, assets, liabilities, net worth, tax liability, tax collected or withheld, tax underreportings, tax overreportings, or tax payments, whether the taxpayer's return was, is being, or will be examined or subjected to other investigation or processing, or any other data received by, recorded by, prepared by, furnished to, or collected by the commissioner with respect to a return or with respect to the determination of the existence, or possible existence, of liability of any person for any tax, penalty, interest, fine, House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 88 of 258 forfeiture, or other imposition, or offense. "Return information" does not include data in a form which cannot be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer. Nothing in the preceding sentence, or in any other provision of law, shall be construed to require the disclosure of standards used or to be used for the selection of returns for examination, or data used or to be used for determining such standards or the disclosure of the identity of a confidential informant, whether or not a civil or criminal tax investigation has been undertaken or completed. (3) "Disclosure" means the making known to any person, in any manner whatever, a return or return information. (4) "Inspection" means any examination of a return or return information. (5) "Tax administration" means the administration, management, conduct, direction and supervision of the execution and application of the tax laws of this state, and the development and formulation of tax policy relating to existing or proposed tax laws of this state, and includes assessment, collection, enforcement, litigation, publication and statistical gathering functions under such laws. Sec. 92. Subsection (h) of section 12-62r of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (h) Nothing in this section shall change the assessment of apartment property created or converted by the Capital Region Development Authority created pursuant to section [20-601] 32-601. Such apartment property shall continue to be assessed as residential property. Sec. 93. Subsection (h) of section 12-170aa of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 89 of 258 (h) Any person who is the owner of a residential dwelling on leased land, including any such person who is a sublessee under terms of the lease agreement applicable to such land, shall be entitled to claim tax relief under the provisions of this section, subject to all requirements therein except as provided in this subsection, with respect to property taxes paid by such person on the assessed value of such dwelling, provided (1) the dwelling is such person's principal place of residence, (2) such lease or sublease requires that such person as the lessee or sublessee, whichever is applicable, pay all property taxes related to the dwelling, and (3) such lease or sublease is recorded in the land records of the town. Sec. 94. Subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of section 12-217qq of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (d) (1) A qualified small business may apply to the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection to exchange any credit allowed under subsection (b) of this section for a credit refund equal to the value of the credit. Any amount of credit refunded under this subsection shall be refunded to the qualified small business in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or chapter 207, as applicable. No interest shall be allowed or paid on any amount of credit refunded under this subsection. Any amount of credit refunded under this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of section [12- 39h] 12-39g. Sec. 95. Subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 12-217zz of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection, for income years commencing on or after January 1, 2024, the aggregate amount allowable of tax credits and any remaining credits House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 90 of 258 available under section 12-217j or 12-217n or subparagraph (B) of subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 12-217x, after tax credits are utilized in accordance with [said] subdivision (2) of this subsection shall not exceed seventy per cent of the amount of tax due from such taxpayer under this chapter with respect to any such income year of the taxpayer prior to the application of such credit or credits. Sec. 96. Section 12-263x of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): The amount of any tax, penalty, interest or fee, due and unpaid under the provisions of sections 12-263q to 12-263v, inclusive, may be collected under the provisions of section 12-35. The warrant [provided under section 12-35] therein provided for shall be signed by the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent. The amount of any such tax, penalty, interest or fee shall be a lien on the real estate of the taxpayer from the last day of the month next preceding the due date of such tax until such tax is paid. The commissioner may record such lien in the records of any town in which the real estate of such taxpayer is situated but no such lien shall be enforceable against a bona fide purchaser or qualified encumbrancer of such real estate. When any tax or fee with respect to which a lien has been recorded under the provisions of this subsection has been satisfied, the commissioner shall, upon request of any interested party, issue a certificate discharging such lien, which certificate shall be recorded in the same office in which the lien was recorded. Any action for the foreclosure of such lien shall be brought by the Attorney General in the name of the state in the superior court for the judicial district in which the property subject to such lien is situated, or, if such property is located in two or more judicial districts, in the superior court for any one such judicial district, and the court may limit the time for redemption or order the sale of such property or make such other or further decree as it judges equitable. For purposes of section 12- 39g, a fee under this section shall be treated as a tax. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 91 of 258 Sec. 97. Subsections (d) to (f), inclusive, of section 12-294 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (d) Failure of the commissioner to mail the notice referred to in subsection (c) of this section shall release the successor or assignee from any further obligation to withhold the purchase price as provided in subsection (b) of this section. The period within which the obligation of the successor or assignee may be enforced shall commence on the date the distributor or dealer sells out his or her business or stock of goods or quits the business or on the date [that] the assessment against such distributor or dealer becomes final, whichever event occurs later, and shall end three years after such date. (e) The certificate provided for in subsection (c) of this section may be issued after the payment of all amounts due under this chapter, according to the records of the department as of the date of the certificate, or after the payment of the amounts is secured to the satisfaction of the commissioner. (f) The obligation of the successor or assignee shall be enforced by serving a notice of successor liability on the successor or assignee. [The] Any such notice shall be [served in the manner prescribed under section 12-309 for service of a notice of assessment,] issued not later than three years after the date the commissioner is notified by the successor or assignee of the purchase of the business or stock of goods. The successor or assignee may protest the assessment in the manner provided in section 12-311. [Sixty days after the date on which a notice of assessment is mailed, an assessment shall become final except for any amount as to which the successor or assignee has filed a written protest with the commissioner, as provided in section 12-311] Upon the issuance of an order by the commissioner pursuant to section 12-311, the successor or assignee may appeal such order in accordance with the provisions of section 12-312. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 92 of 258 Sec. 98. Subsection (a) of section 12-309 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (a) (1) Each distributor and each dealer shall keep complete and accurate records of all cigarettes manufactured, produced, purchased and sold. Such records shall be of such kind and in such form as the Commissioner of Revenue Services may prescribe and shall be safely preserved for three years in such manner as to [insure] ensure permanency and accessibility for inspection by the commissioner and [his] the commissioner's authorized agents. The commissioner and [his] the commissioner's authorized agents may examine the books, papers and records of any distributor or dealer in this state for the purpose of determining whether the tax imposed by this chapter has been fully paid, and may investigate and examine the stock of cigarettes in or upon any premises where such cigarettes are possessed, stored or sold for the purpose of determining whether the provisions of this chapter are being obeyed. (2) If, after an examination of the invoices, books and records of a licensed distributor or dealer, or if, from any other information obtained by [him or his] the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agents, the commissioner determines that the report of any licensed distributor or licensed dealer is incorrect, and that the licensed distributor or licensed dealer has not purchased sufficient stamps to cover [his] such distributor's or dealer's receipts and sales or other disposition of unstamped cigarettes, [he] the commissioner shall thereupon assess the deficiency in tax. Such amount shall bear interest at the rate of one per cent per month or fraction thereof from the date when the original tax was due and payable. In any case where a licensed distributor or licensed dealer cannot produce evidence of sufficient stamp purchases to cover the receipt of unstamped cigarettes, it shall be presumed that such cigarettes were sold without having the proper House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 93 of 258 stamps affixed. (3) When it appears that any part of the deficiency for which a deficiency assessment is made is due to negligence or intentional disregard of the provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated thereunder, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to ten per cent of the amount of such deficiency assessment, or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. When it appears that any part of the deficiency for which a deficiency assessment is made is due to fraud or intent to evade the provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated thereunder, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to twenty-five per cent of the amount of such deficiency assessment. No taxpayer shall be subject to more than one penalty under this subsection in relation to the same tax period. (4) The amount of any tax, penalty or interest due and unpaid under the provisions of this chapter may be collected under the provisions of section 12-35. The warrant therein provided for shall be signed by the commissioner or [his] the commissioner's authorized agent. The amount of any such tax, penalty and interest shall be a lien, from the last day of the month next preceding the due date of such tax until discharged by payment, against all real estate of the taxpayer within the state, and a certificate of such lien signed by the commissioner may be filed for record in the office of the clerk of any town in which such real estate is situated, provided no such lien shall be effective as against any bona fide purchaser or qualified encumbrancer of any interest in any such property. When any tax with respect to which a lien has been recorded under the provisions of this section has been satisfied, the commissioner, upon request of any interested party, shall issue a certificate discharging such lien, which certificate shall be recorded in the same office in which the lien is recorded. Any action for the foreclosure of such lien shall be brought by the Attorney General in the name of the state in the superior court for the judicial district in which the property subject to such lien is situated, or, if such property is House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 94 of 258 located in two or more judicial districts, in the superior court for any one such judicial district, and the court may limit the time for redemption or order the sale of such property or make such other or further decree as it judges equitable. Sec. 99. Section 12-311 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): Any person aggrieved by any action under this chapter of the commissioner or [his] the commissioner's authorized agent, for which hearing is not elsewhere provided, may apply to the commissioner for a hearing, in writing, [within] not later than sixty days after the notice of such action is delivered or mailed to [him, for a hearing] such person, setting forth the reasons why such hearing should be granted and the manner of relief sought. The commissioner shall promptly consider each such application and may grant or deny the hearing requested. If the hearing is denied, the applicant shall be notified thereof forthwith; if it is granted, the commissioner shall notify the applicant of the time and place fixed for such hearing. After such hearing, the commissioner may make such order in the premises as appears to [him] the commissioner just and lawful and shall furnish a copy of such order to the applicant. The commissioner may, by notice in writing, at any time, order a hearing on [his] the commissioner's own initiative and require the taxpayer or any other individual whom [he] the commissioner believes to be in possession of information concerning any manufacture, importation or sale of cigarettes [which] that have escaped taxation to appear before [him or his] the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent with any specific books of account, papers or other documents, for examination relative thereto. Sec. 100. Subdivision (5) of subsection (e) of section 12-410 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 95 of 258 (5) For purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the sale of services described in subdivision (37) of subsection (a) of section 12-407 shall be considered a sale for resale if such services are subsequently resold as an integral, inseparable component part of digital goods sold by the purchaser of the services to an ultimate consumer of the digital goods. The purchaser of the services described in subdivision (37) of subsection (a) of section 12-407 for resale shall maintain, in such form as the commissioner requires, records that substantiate: (A) From whom the services described in subdivision (37) of subsection (a) of section 12- 407 were purchases and to whom the digital goods were sold, licensed, or leased, (B) the purchase prices of the services described in subdivision (37) of subsection (a) of section 12-407, and (C) the nature of the transaction with the ultimate consumer. Sec. 101. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 12-418 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (a) (1) Any person against whom an assessment or a reassessment is made under section 12-414a, 12-415, 12-416 or 12-424 or any person directly interested may file a written protest not later than sixty days after service upon such person of notice thereof. If a [petition for reassessment] written protest is not filed within the sixty-day period, the assessment or reassessment becomes final at the expiration of the period. Sec. 102. Subsection (f) of section 12-699 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (f) (1) Each person that is subject to the tax imposed under chapter 229 and is a member of an affected business entity shall be entitled to a credit against the tax imposed under said chapter, other than the [tax] liability imposed [under] by section 12-707. Such credit shall be in an House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 96 of 258 amount equal to such person's direct and indirect share of the tax due and paid under this section by any affected business entity of which such person is a member multiplied by eighty-seven and one-half per cent. If the amount of the credit allowed pursuant to this subdivision exceeds such person's tax liability for the tax imposed under said chapter, the commissioner shall treat such excess as an overpayment and, except as provided in section 12-739 or 12-742, shall refund the amount of such excess, without interest, to such person. (2) Each person that is subject to the tax imposed under chapter 229 as a resident or a part-year resident of this state and is a member of an affected business entity shall also be entitled to a credit against the tax imposed under said chapter, other than the [tax] liability imposed [under] by section 12-707, for such person's direct and indirect share of taxes paid to another state of the United States or the District of Columbia, on income of any affected business entity of which such person is a member that is derived therefrom, provided the taxes paid to another state of the United States or the District of Columbia results from a tax that is substantially similar to the tax imposed under this section. Any such credit shall be calculated in a manner consistent with the provisions of section 12-704. Sec. 103. Subdivisions (7) and (8) of section 7-425 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (7) "Fund" [and] or "fund B" means the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B; (8) "Continuous service" [and] or "service" means active service as a member, or active service prior to becoming a member if such service (A) was in a department for which participation was subsequently accepted and not subsequently withdrawn, (B) was continuous to the date of becoming a member except service for which credit is granted House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 97 of 258 pursuant to section 7-436a, and (C) would have been as a member if the department had then been participating, all subject to the provisions of section 7-434; Sec. 104. Subsection (c) of section 7-436 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (c) On and after January 1, 2002, except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, the following formula shall be used for the purpose of calculating the monthly allowance of each member covered by the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System on the first of the month after such member attains the age at which such member first becomes eligible to receive Social Security benefits or qualifies for a Social Security disability award, if earlier: One-twelfth of one and one-half per cent of such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service up to the breakpoint for the year in which such member separated from service, plus one-twelfth of two per cent of such member's final average annual pay in excess of the breakpoint for the year in which such member separated from service, multiplied by such member's years of retirement credit and fractions thereof. Such allowance shall be reduced in recognition of any optional form of retirement income elected in accordance with section 7-439g. For the purposes of this section, "breakpoint" has the same meaning as "year's breakpoint" as provided in section 5-192f. Sec. 105. Subparagraph (G) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 7-439b of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (G) Each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who retires on or after July 1, 2029, shall receive a cost of living adjustment beginning on the first July first following the completion of twelve months of retirement and on each subsequent July first. If the national House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 98 of 258 consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers increases by two per cent or less for the twelve-month period immediately preceding any such adjustment, such adjustment shall equal the actual percentage change in such index. If the national consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers increases by more than two per cent for the twelve-month period immediately preceding any such adjustment, such adjustment shall be equal to the higher of [(1)] (i) two per cent, or [(2)] (ii) sixty per cent of the amount of such increase for the first six per cent plus seventy-five per cent of the amount of such increase over six per cent, provided any such adjustment shall not exceed seven and one-half per cent. In the event a member who retires on or after July 1, 2029, becomes deceased, such cost of living adjustment shall be applied to the allowance of the annuitant, if any. Sec. 106. Subdivision (2) of subsection (m) of section 45a-107 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (2) If a tax return or a copy of a tax return required under subparagraph (D) of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 12-392 is not filed with a Probate Court by the due date for such return or copy under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 12-392 or by the date an extension under subdivision [(4)] (6) of subsection (b) of section 12- 392 expires, the fees that would have been due under this section if such return or copy had been filed by such due date or expiration date shall bear interest at the rate of one-half of one per cent per month or portion thereof from the date that is thirty days after such due date or expiration date, whichever is later, until paid. If a return or copy is filed with a Probate Court on or before such due date or expiration date, whichever is later, the fees assessed shall bear interest as provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection. No interest shall accrue under this subdivision on any portion of the fees that are based on damages recovered for injuries House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 99 of 258 resulting in death; Sec. 107. Subsection (a) of section 1-2a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) For purposes of sections 1-206, [3-114i,] 4-147, 9-23g, 9-153b, 9-311, 9-608, 10-183g, 12-146, 20-429, 31-241, 31-248, 31-249a, 33-603, 33-663, 33- 929, 33-1003, 33-1053, 33-1219, 38a-716 and 42-243 (1) any reference to the United States mail or a postmark shall be treated as including a reference to any delivery service designated by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States pursuant to Section 7502 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, (2) any reference to a postmark made by the United States Postal Service shall be treated as including a reference to any date recorded or marked in the manner described in said Section 7502 of said Internal Revenue Code by a designated delivery service, and (3) any equivalent of registered or certified mail designated by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States pursuant to said Section 7502 of said Internal Revenue Code shall be included within the meaning of registered or certified mail. Sec. 108. Section 17b-10b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): The Commissioner of Social Services, pursuant to section 17b-10, may implement policies and procedures necessary to administer the provisions of sections [3-114r,] 17b-321, 17b-340a and 17b-340b, while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures in regulation form, provided the commissioner prints notice of intent to adopt regulations in the Connecticut Law Journal not later than twenty days after the date of implementation. Such policies and procedures shall remain valid for three years following the date of publication in the Connecticut Law House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 100 of 258 Journal unless otherwise provided for by the General Assembly. Notwithstanding the time frames established in subsection (c) of section 17b-10, the commissioner shall submit such policies and procedures in proposed regulation form to the legislative regulation review committee not later than three years following the date of publication of its intent to adopt regulations as provided for in this subsection. In the event that the commissioner is unable to submit proposed regulations prior to the expiration of the three-year time period as provided for in this subsection, the commissioner shall submit written notice, not later than thirty-five days prior to the date of expiration of such time period, to the legislative regulation review committee and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies indicating that the department will not be able to submit the proposed regulations on or before such date and shall include in such notice (1) the reasons why the department will not submit the proposed regulations by such date, and (2) the date by which the department will submit the proposed regulations. The legislative regulation review committee may require the department to appear before the committee at a time prescribed by the committee to further explain such reasons and to respond to any questions by the committee about the policy. The legislative regulation review committee may request the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services to review the department's policy, the department's reasons for not submitting the proposed regulations by the date specified in this section and the date by which the department will submit the proposed regulations. Said joint standing committee may review the policy, such reasons and such date, may schedule a hearing thereon and may make a recommendation to the legislative regulation review committee. Sec. 109. Sections 3-114i and 3-114p to 3-114r, inclusive, of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective from passage) House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 101 of 258 Sec. 110. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, (1) "eligible organization" means a nonprofit youth sports organization that provides sports programs and sports activities primarily for children and young adults under eighteen years of age residing in a distressed municipality, and (2) "distressed municipality" has the same meaning as provided in section 32-9p of the general statutes. (b) (1) There is established a youth sports grant program to provide grants to distressed municipalities for the support of eligible organizations in such municipalities. Such grants shall be disbursed by a distressed municipality to be used by eligible organizations for the expenses of operating sports programs and sports activities in such municipality, including, but not limited to, personnel, equipment, insurance, permits, training and facility fees, renovation of sports facilities and refurbishment of playing fields and to help defray or eliminate participant registration fees. (2) Priority for grants under the program shall be given to sports programs and sports activities that (A) provide adaptive sports for children and young adults with disabilities, or (B) seek to foster improved outcomes in (i) mental health through social and emotional skills development, (ii) educational achievements through increased attendance and attainment, or (iii) community cohesion by strengthening cooperation, teamwork and leadership. (3) Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall notify the chief elected official of each distressed municipality of the application period for grants under the program to be awarded in such fiscal year. Any such official may apply to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for a grant, provided a new application shall be required each year such official wishes to apply. The application shall be in such form and manner as prescribed by the secretary and shall include information sufficient to allow the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 102 of 258 secretary to consider the priority criteria set forth in subdivision (2) of this subsection. (4) Each distressed municipality that is awarded a grant under this section shall, at the close of the fiscal year during which such grant was awarded, submit to the secretary a summary of each eligible organization to which program funds were disbursed and a description of the sports program or sports activity and related expenses for which such funds were used. (c) Not later than January 1, 2029, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, education and finance, revenue and bonding, on the youth sports grant program for the preceding two fiscal years. The report shall include, but need not be limited to, for each fiscal year, (1) the amounts deposited in the youth sports grant account pursuant to subsection (a) of section 12-867 of the general statutes, (2) the municipalities that applied for a grant, the municipalities that were awarded a grant and the total amount of grants awarded, and (3) the summaries provided to the secretary under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this section. (d) There is established an account to be known as the "youth sports grant account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account and may accept gifts, grants and donations from public or private sources. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for the purposes of providing grants to distressed municipalities in accordance with the provisions of this section. Sec. 111. Subsection (a) of section 12-867 of the general statutes is House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 103 of 258 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (a) (1) A master wagering licensee, if licensed to operate online sports wagering or retail sports wagering pursuant to section 12-852 or 12-853, shall pay to the state for deposit in the General Fund: Thirteen and three- quarters per cent of the gross gaming revenue from online or retail sports wagering authorized under section 12-852 or 12-853, as applicable. Each such licensee shall commence payments under this subsection not later than the fifteenth day of the month following the month that the operation of online or retail sports wagering commences under section 12-852 or 12-853, as applicable, and shall make payments not later than the fifteenth day of each succeeding month, while such retail or online sports wagering is conducted. (2) For calendar months commencing on or after July 1, 2025, the commissioner shall deposit into the youth sports grant account established pursuant to section 110 of this act two per cent of the amounts received by the state under this section. Sec. 112. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 12-217 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (4) Notwithstanding any provision of this section: (A) Any excess of the deductions provided in this section for any income year commencing on or after January 1, 1973, over the gross income for such year or the amount of such excess apportioned to this state under the provisions of this chapter, shall be an operating loss of such income year and shall be deductible as an operating loss carry-over for operating losses incurred prior to income years commencing January 1, 2000, in each of the five income years following such loss year; [, and] for operating losses incurred in income years commencing on or after House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 104 of 258 January 1, 2000, and prior to January 1, 2025, in each of the twenty income years following such loss year; [,] and for operating losses incurred in income years commencing on or after January 1, 2025, in each of the thirty income years following such loss; except that: (i) For income years commencing prior to January 1, 2015, the portion of such operating loss that may be deducted as an operating loss carry- over in any income year following such loss year shall be limited to the lesser of (I) any net income greater than zero of such income year following such loss year, or in the case of a company entitled to apportion its net income under the provisions of this chapter, the amount of such net income that is apportioned to this state pursuant thereto, or (II) the excess, if any, of such operating loss over the total of such net income for each of any prior income years following such loss year, such net income of each of such prior income years following such loss year for such purposes being computed without regard to any operating loss carry-over from such loss year allowed under this subparagraph and being regarded as not less than zero, and provided further the operating loss of any income year shall be deducted in any subsequent year, to the extent available for such deduction, before the operating loss of any subsequent income year is deducted; (ii) For income years commencing on or after January 1, 2015, the portion of such operating loss that may be deducted as an operating loss carry-over in any income year following such loss year shall be limited to the lesser of (I) fifty per cent of net income of such income year following such loss year, or in the case of a company entitled to apportion its net income under the provisions of this chapter, fifty per cent of such net income that is apportioned to this state pursuant thereto, or (II) the excess, if any, of such operating loss over the operating loss deductions allowable with respect to such operating loss under this subparagraph for each of any prior income years following such loss year, such net income of each of such prior income years House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 105 of 258 following such loss year for such purposes being computed without regard to any operating loss carry-over from such loss year allowed under this subparagraph and being regarded as not less than zero, and provided further the operating loss of any income year shall be deducted in any subsequent year, to the extent available for such deduction, before the operating loss of any subsequent income year is deducted; and (iii) If a combined group so elects, the combined group shall relinquish fifty per cent of its unused operating losses incurred prior to the income year commencing on or after January 1, 2015, and before January 1, 2016, and may utilize the remaining operating loss carry-over without regard to the limitations prescribed in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this subdivision. The portion of such operating loss carry-over that may be deducted shall be limited to the amount required to reduce a combined group's tax under this chapter, prior to surtax and prior to the application of credits, to two million five hundred thousand dollars in any income year commencing on or after January 1, 2015. Only after the combined group's remaining operating loss carry-over for operating losses incurred prior to income years commencing January 1, 2015, has been fully utilized, will the limitations prescribed in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this subdivision apply. The combined group, or any member thereof, shall make such election on its return for the income year beginning on or after January 1, 2015, and before January 1, 2016, by the due date for such return, including any extensions. Only combined groups with unused operating losses in excess of six billion dollars from income years beginning prior to January 1, 2013, may make the election prescribed in this clause; and (B) Any net capital loss, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code effective and in force on the last day of the income year, for any income year commencing on or after January 1, 1973, shall be allowed as a capital loss carry-over to reduce, but not below zero, any net capital House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 106 of 258 gain, as so defined, in each of the five following income years, in order of sequence, to the extent not exhausted by the net capital gain of any of the preceding of such five following income years; and (C) Any net capital losses allowed and carried forward from prior years to income years beginning on or after January 1, 1973, for federal income tax purposes by companies entitled to a deduction for dividends paid under the Internal Revenue Code other than companies subject to the gross earnings taxes imposed under chapters 211 and 212, shall be allowed as a capital loss carry-over. Sec. 113. Section 3 of public act 24-31 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) As used in this section, "solar canopy" means an outdoor, shade- providing structure that hosts solar photovoltaic panels located above a parking or driving area, pedestrian walkway, courtyard, canal or other utilized surface that is installed in a manner that maintains the function of the area beneath the structure. "Solar canopy" includes any carport. (b) Notwithstanding any provision of any municipal charter or ordinance, the planning commission, zoning commission or combined planning and zoning commission of each municipality [shall] may amend any regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of section 8- 2 of the general statutes to establish a simplified approval process for any application to build a solar canopy in such municipality. (c) Notwithstanding any provision of any municipal charter or ordinance, the planning commission, zoning commission or combined planning and zoning commission of each municipality [shall] may approve or deny any land use application to build a solar canopy in such municipality not later than six months after the filing date of such application. Sec. 114. Section 12-117a of the general statutes is repealed and the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 107 of 258 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) (1) Any person, including any lessee of real property whose lease has been recorded as provided in section 47-19 and who is bound under the terms of [his] such person's lease to pay real property taxes, claiming to be aggrieved by the action of the board of tax review or the board of assessment appeals, as the case may be, in any town or city may [, within] make application, not later than two months [from] after the date of the mailing of notice of such action, [make application,] in the nature of an appeal therefrom to the superior court for the judicial district in which such town or city is situated, which shall be accompanied by a citation to such town or city to appear before [said] such court. Such citation shall be signed by the same authority and such appeal shall be returnable at the same time and served and returned in the same manner as is required in case of a summons in a civil action. The authority issuing the citation shall take from the applicant a bond or recognizance to such town or city, with surety, to prosecute the application to effect and to comply with and conform to the orders and decrees of the court in the premises. Any such application shall be a preferred case, to be heard, unless good cause appears to the contrary, at the first session, by the court or by a committee appointed by the court. The pendency of such application shall not suspend an action by such town or city to collect not more than seventy-five per cent of the tax so assessed or not more than ninety per cent of such tax with respect to any real property for which the assessed value is five hundred thousand dollars or more, and upon which such appeal is taken. If, during the pendency of such appeal, a new assessment year begins, the applicant may amend [his] the application as to any matter therein, including an appeal for such new year, [which] that is affected by the inception of such new year and such applicant need not appear before the board of tax review or board of assessment appeals, as the case may be, to make such amendment effective. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 108 of 258 (2) For any application made on or after July 1, 2022, under subdivision (1) of this subsection, if the assessed value of the real property that is the subject of such application is one million dollars or more and the application concerns the valuation of such real property, the applicant shall file with the court, not later than one hundred twenty days after making such application, an appraisal of the real property that is the subject of the application. Such appraisal shall be completed by an individual or a company licensed to perform real estate appraisals in the state. The court may extend the one-hundred-twenty-day period for good cause. If such appraisal is not timely filed, the court may dismiss the application, except that for any application made on or after July 1, 2022, but prior to July 1, 2024, that was dismissed due to such appraisal having been submitted to the assessor of the town or city in which such real property is situated rather than the court, the applicant may make another application with the court, provided the applicant (A) had provided notice to the court of such submission to the assessor, and (B) makes such application not later than September 1, 2024. (b) The court shall have power to grant such relief as to justice and equity appertains, upon such terms and in such manner and form as appear equitable, and, if the application appears to have been made without probable cause, may tax double or triple costs, as the case appears to demand; and, upon all such applications, costs may be taxed at the discretion of the court. If the assessment made by the board of tax review or board of assessment appeals, as the case may be, is reduced by [said] the court, the applicant shall be reimbursed by the town or city for any overpayment of taxes, together with interest and any costs awarded by the court, or, at the applicant's option, shall be granted a tax credit for such overpayment, interest and any costs awarded by the court. Upon motion, [said] the court shall, in event of such overpayment, enter judgment in favor of such applicant and against such city or town for the whole amount of such overpayment, less any lien recording fees incurred under sections 7-34a and 12-176, together with interest and any House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 109 of 258 costs awarded by the court. The amount to which the assessment is so reduced shall be the assessed value of such property on the grand lists for succeeding years until the tax assessor finds that the value of the applicant's property has increased or decreased. Sec. 115. Section 22a-284d of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): The funds possessed by the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, established pursuant to section 22a-260a, shall not constitute surplus revenues and shall be deemed necessary to provide support for the authority's properties systems and facilities, including any environmental remediation of such properties, systems and facilities. Such funds shall not be distributed or redistributed to the users of the authority's services. Users of the authority's services shall be liable for the environmental remediation costs of the authority's properties, systems and facilities if, and to the extent, any funds were distributed or redistributed by the authority to such users on or after January 1, 2023. For the period commencing upon the effective date of this section and ending on June 30, 2026, not more than six million dollars of any such funds expended for the purpose of tipping fee stabilization shall be reimbursed through the issuance of state bonds, provided the total issuance of state bonds for such funds shall not exceed thirteen million five hundred thousand dollars. On and after July 1, 2026, no such funds shall be utilized for the purpose of tipping fee stabilization. Sec. 116. Subsection (a) of section 29-252 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) (1) The State Building Inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee shall, jointly, with the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services and in accordance with the provisions of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 110 of 258 section 29-252b, adopt and administer a State Building Code based on a nationally recognized model building code for the purpose of regulating the design, construction and use of buildings or structures to be erected and the alteration of buildings or structures already erected and make such amendments thereto as they, from time to time, deem necessary or desirable. Such amendments shall be limited to administrative matters, geotechnical and weather-related portions of said code, amendments to said code necessitated by a provision of the general statutes and any other matter which, based on substantial evidence, necessitates an amendment to said code. The code shall be revised as deemed necessary to incorporate any subsequent revisions to the code not later than eighteen months following the date of first publication of such subsequent revisions to the code. The purpose of said Building Code shall also include, but not be limited to, promoting and ensuring that such buildings and structures are designed and constructed in such a manner as to conserve energy and, wherever practicable, facilitate the use of renewable energy resources, including provisions for electric circuits capable of supporting electric vehicle charging in any newly constructed residential garage in any code adopted after July 8, 2013. Said Building Code includes any code, rule or regulation incorporated therein by reference. As used in this subsection, "geotechnical" means any geological condition, such as soil and subsurface soil condition, which may affect the structural characteristics of a building or structure. (2) In adopting amendments to the State Building Code pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the State Building Inspector, the Codes and Standards Committee and the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall consider that the housing shortage in the state compromises the safety of residents who cannot afford a safe home, and any such amendments shall encourage production of buildings that include safe housing and can be constructed at a reasonable cost. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 111 of 258 Sec. 117. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The State Building Inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee shall, jointly, with the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in accordance with the provisions of section 29-252b of the general statutes, include in the amendments to the State Building Code next adopted after the effective date of this section, and the State Fire Marshal and the Codes and Standards Committee shall, in accordance with section 29- 292a of the general statutes, include in the amendments to the Fire Safety Code next adopted after the effective date of this section, provisions that: (1) Allow additional residential occupancies to be served safely by a single exit stairway, in such a way as to: (A) Be consistent with safe occupancy and egress; (B) Consider the experience of the cities of Seattle, New York City and Honolulu in implementing similar provisions; (C) Apply to municipalities in which the fire service is sufficient to maintain safe occupancy and egress under such additional occupancies, if appropriate; (D) Promote the inclusion of units with three or more bedrooms in building designs to promote construction of family-sized units, especially on smaller lots; and (E) Allow additional stories above grade plane to be served by a single exit stairway in a building with an automatic sprinkler system, under such conditions as to ensure safe occupancy and egress. Such conditions may include, but need not be limited to, additional levels of fire and smoke separation and any features necessary to allow for firefighters to ascend a stair as occupants descend; and (2) Encourage construction of safe three-unit and four-unit residential House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 112 of 258 buildings, which shall: (A) Be consistent with safe occupancy and egress; and (B) Include three-unit and four-unit residential buildings in the International Residential Code portion of the Connecticut State Building Code, or otherwise provide for requirements for three-unit and four- unit residential buildings in the International Building Code portion of the Connecticut State Building Code similar to those for one-unit and two-unit residential buildings in the International Residential Code portion of the Connecticut State Building Code, under such conditions as to ensure safe occupancy and egress. Sec. 118. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) It is hereby declared that there exists concentrated poverty in the state that exacts a critical toll on poor and nonpoor residents of communities that house areas of concentrated poverty, which create lifelong and persistent disadvantages across generations by lowering the quality of educational and employment opportunities, limiting health care access and diminishing health outcomes, increasing exposure to crime, reducing available choices for affordable and properly maintained housing and imposing obstacles to wealth-building and economic mobility. It is further declared that the development and implementation of the ten- year plan under this section to eradicate concentrated poverty in the state are necessary and for the public benefit, as a matter of legislative determination. (b) There is established an Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement within the Department of Economic and Community Development. Said office shall carry out the provisions of this section, overseeing the implementation of the ten-year plan developed pursuant to this subsection, monitoring the state's progress in reducing concentrated poverty in the state and serving as the facilitator to coordinate communication between the various parties and House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 113 of 258 disseminate information in a timely and efficient manner. (c) (1) There is established a pilot program to implement the provisions of the ten-year plan developed pursuant to this section for participating concentrated poverty census tracts. Any concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts (A) that is located in any of the four municipalities with the greatest number of concentrated poverty census tracts, and (B) for which community members have established a community development corporation pursuant to the provisions of section 32-7s of the general statutes, to assist the municipality in which such census tract or group of tracts is located in carrying out the municipality's responsibilities under this section and the ten-year plan developed for such census tract or group of tracts, shall be eligible to apply to participate in the program. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, any municipality in which a concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts is located and for which a community development corporation has been established as described under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, or any such community development corporation, may apply to participate in the program. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall issue a request for proposals for participation in the pilot program and select the applicant with the highest score. As used in this section, "concentrated poverty census tract" means a census tract identified as a high poverty-low opportunity census tract, as of January 1, 2024, by the Office of Policy and Management pursuant to section 32- 7x of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes. (2) (A) The Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement shall develop a plan for the pilot participating concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts, as applicable, to eradicate, over ten years, the levels of concentrated poverty in the service area of the community development corporation, evidenced by a reduction, to twenty per cent or lower, in the percentage of households House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 114 of 258 who reside in such concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts and have incomes below the federal poverty level, as well as sustained improvements in community infrastructure and other underlying conditions that serve to prolong concentrated poverty and economic inertia in such census tract or group of tracts. In developing such plan, said office shall consult with the Office of Community Economic Development Assistance established under section 32-7s of the general statutes, the Office of Workforce Strategy established under section 4- 124w of the general statutes, the Office of Early Childhood, the Department of Education, the Office of Policy and Management, the applicable community development corporations serving the participating concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts and the applicable municipal chief elected officials and any other public or private entity the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development deems relevant or necessary to achieving the purposes of this subsection. (B) The ten-year plan shall include, but need not be limited to, (i) measurable steps to be taken for its implementation, the target date by which each such step is to be completed and the state or municipal official or state or municipal agency, department or division responsible for each such step, (ii) minimum state-wide averages for educational metrics, including, but not limited to, kindergarten-readiness, grade level reading and mathematics and college-readiness or career- readiness, to be used as benchmarks for improvements in such concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts, as applicable, and (iii) the list of possible projects determined pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection. (C) On or before June 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall inform the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, in writing, of the progress made to date in the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 115 of 258 development of the ten-year plan. Not later than January 1, 2026, said commissioner shall submit such plan to the General Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, and the Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement shall immediately commence overseeing the implementation of such plan. (3) The Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement shall, jointly with the chief elected official of each applicable municipality and the community development corporation established to assist such municipality, develop a list of possible projects that will be included in the ten-year plan for the participating concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts, as applicable, located in such municipality. Said office, official and corporation shall (A) determine the types of projects they deem to be the most appropriate and effective for such census tract or group of tracts to eradicate concentrated poverty within such census tract or group of tracts, including, but not limited to, capital projects, workforce development programs, housing development, community and neighborhood improvements and education initiatives to assist and support residents in meeting and surpassing the educational metrics described in subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision (2) of this subsection, and (B) take into account the criteria for projects eligible for grants under sections 32- 7s of the general statutes, 32-7x of the general statutes and 32-285a of the general statutes. (4) Not later than February 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall submit a report to the General Assembly, the Office of Workforce Strategy, the Office of Early Childhood and the Office of Policy and Management, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, that summarizes the progress being made by the Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement in House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 116 of 258 implementing the ten-year plan, the status of any projects pending or undertaken for the participating concentrated poverty census tract or group of tracts and any other information the commissioner or the Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement deems relevant or necessary. (5) (A) Commencing with the calendar year 2027, not later than March first of said year and annually thereafter for the next two years, the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding shall hold an informational forum for the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to present the contents of the submitted report and for other state officials, municipal officials, representatives of community development corporations serving participating concentrated poverty census tracts or groups of tracts and other interested parties to provide oral and written comments on the submitted report and the pilot program. (B) Commencing with the calendar year 2030, said committee shall hold such informational forum every two years. (d) On and after the date the ten-year plan is submitted to the General Assembly pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, each state agency shall give priority to projects included in such ten-year plan with respect to any grants or funding programs such agency awards or administers and for which such projects may be eligible. (e) Not later than January 1, 2029, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall submit a recommendation to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding of (1) whether the pilot program should be expanded to all concentrated poverty census tracts or groups of tracts in the state for which a community development House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 117 of 258 corporation has been established as described under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, and (2) any additional or alternative criteria to be considered for expansion of the pilot program to other economically disadvantaged census tracts that do not fall within the definition of a concentrated poverty census tract. If the commissioner recommends expansion under subdivision (1) of this subsection, the commissioner and the Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement shall immediately undertake such expansion. (f) On and after July 1, 2027, if any state or municipal official responsible for carrying out a requirement or responsibility under the provisions of this section or a ten-year plan fails to do so in a timely manner, any community development corporation established as described under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section that was (1) selected pursuant to the request for proposals under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, (2) can demonstrate good faith efforts to effectuate the ten-year plan, and (3) is aggrieved by such failure may bring an action against such official in the superior court for the judicial district in which such census tract or group of tracts is located for a writ of mandamus to compel such official to carry out such requirement or responsibility. Sec. 119. (Effective from passage) (a) (1) There is established a working group to develop a guidance document that establishes for the following areas a framework for (A) best practices and any specified initiatives or actions the working group believes will help mitigate the effects of concentrated poverty, and (B) any specific metrics to be incorporated into the ten-year plan developed pursuant to section 118 of this act to measure improvements in concentrated poverty census tracts, as defined in section 32-7x of the general statutes: (i) Education, including early childhood care and education; (ii) adult work skills development to reduce unemployment rates of residents within such concentrated House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 118 of 258 poverty census tracts; (iii) infrastructure, including, but not limited to, housing development and blight remediation; (iv) crime within such concentrated poverty census tracts, including, but not limited to, gun violence; and (v) any other areas the working group deems necessary or desirable to include to further the goals of section 118 of this act. (2) The working group shall consult with any individual or entity to inform the development of the guidance document, including, but not limited to, state and national experts in the areas described in this subsection, representatives of academia with expertise in the areas described in this subsection, advocacy organizations, law enforcement representatives, state agencies and quasi-public agencies. (b) The working group shall consist of the following members: (1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, each of whom is a member of the General Assembly; (2) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, each of whom shall be a member of the General Assembly; (3) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, each of whom shall be a member of the General Assembly; and (4) one appointed by the chairperson of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly, who shall be a member of said caucus. (c) All initial appointments to the working group shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. (d) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the working group from among the members of the working group. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the working group, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 119 of 258 this section. A majority of the working group shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. (e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding shall serve as administrative staff of the working group. (f) (1) Not later than April 1, 2025, the working group shall submit the guidance document developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. Not later than thirty days after such submission, said committee shall vote to approve or modify such guidance document, provided any modification to such guidance document shall be provided to the members of said committee prior to such vote. If said committee fails to vote within the thirty-day period set forth in this subdivision, the guidance document shall be deemed approved. The working group shall terminate on the date the guidance document or modified guidance document, as applicable, is approved or deemed approved. (2) Upon the approval of the guidance document or a modified guidance document, the Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement shall incorporate such document in the ten- year plan developed by said office pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section 118 of this act. Sec. 120. Section 32-7s of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) As used in this section: (1) "Certified community development corporation" means an organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 120 of 258 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, that (A) focuses a substantial majority of the community development corporation's efforts on serving one or more target areas, (B) has as its purpose to engage local residents and businesses to work together to undertake community development programs, projects and activities that develop and improve urban communities in sustainable ways that create and expand economic opportunities for low and moderate-income people, (C) demonstrates to the Office of Community Economic Development Assistance established under subsection (b) of this section that the community development corporation's constituency is meaningfully represented on the board of directors of such community development corporation, through (i) the percentage of the board members who are residents of a target area or a community that such community development corporation serves or seeks to serve, (ii) the percentage of board members who are low or moderate-income, (iii) the racial and ethnic composition of the board in comparison to the racial and ethnic composition of the community such community development corporation serves or seeks to serve, or (iv) the use of mechanisms such as committees or membership meetings that the community development corporation uses to ensure that its constituency has a meaningful role in the governance and direction of the community development corporation, and (D) is certified by the Office of Community Economic Development Assistance pursuant to this section; (2) "Department" means the Department of Economic and Community Development; and (3) "Target area" means a contiguous geographic area in which the current unemployment rate exceeds the state unemployment rate by at least twenty-five per cent or in which the mean household income is at or below eighty per cent of the state mean household income, as House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 121 of 258 determined by the most recent decennial census. (b) (1) There is established an Office of Community Economic Development Assistance within the Department of Economic and Community Development. The office shall, within available appropriations, (A) provide assistance to organizations seeking to establish themselves or be certified as a community development corporation in the state, (B) provide grants to certified community development corporations for projects to be undertaken in a target area, (C) serve as the liaison between community development corporations and investors seeking to invest funds in such community development corporations and provide assistance in soliciting investment funds for such community development corporations, and (D) seek to ensure coordinated, efficient and timely responses to such organizations, community development corporations and investors. (2) The office shall identify eligible target areas in the state and post such target areas on the department's Internet web site. (c) (1) Any organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, may apply to the Office of Community Economic Development Assistance to establish itself as or be certified as a community development corporation in the state. The office shall prescribe the form and manner of such application. (2) (A) Any existing community development corporation that operates or seeks to operate in the state may apply to the office to be certified. The office shall certify any community development corporation that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of said Internal Revenue Code and meets the requirements set forth in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section. Each community development corporation that is House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 122 of 258 established pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed to be certified. (B) The office shall maintain a current list of certified community development corporations and shall post such list on the Internet web site of the department. (3) The Office of Community Economic Development Assistance shall establish a grant program for projects to be undertaken by a certified community development corporation in a target area, provided, on and after the date the ten-year plan developed under section 118 of this act is submitted to the General Assembly, the office shall give priority to projects included in such plan. Such projects shall include, but not be limited to, infrastructure improvements, housing rehabilitation, streetscape improvements and facade improvements for businesses. The office shall establish the application form and process for such grant program, the criteria for eligible projects and for awarding grants and any caps or limits on the amount or number of grants awarded. The office shall post information concerning the grant program on the department's Internet web site. (d) (1) For the purposes described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate fifty million dollars. (2) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall be used by the Department of Economic and Community Development for the purposes of carrying out the duties of the Office of Community Economic Development Assistance under subsection (b) of this section and the grant program under subsection (c) of this section. (3) All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 123 of 258 granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. (e) Not later than July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the Office of Community Economic Development Assistance shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce, planning and development and finance, revenue and bonding. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the activities undertaken by the office in the preceding fiscal year, the number of community development corporations established and certified in the preceding fiscal year, the number and amounts of grants awarded to certified community development corporations in the preceding fiscal year and a description and the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 124 of 258 locations of the projects undertaken by certified community development corporations in the preceding fiscal year. Sec. 121. Section 32-7x of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) As used in this section, ["high poverty-low opportunity census tract"] "concentrated poverty census tract" means a United States census tract in which thirty per cent or more of the [residents] households within such census tract have incomes below the federal poverty level, according to the most recent five-year United States Census Bureau American Community Survey. (b) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall compile a list of [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tracts in the state and the municipalities in which such census tracts are located and shall, not later than July 31, 2023, submit such list to the General Assembly in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. The secretary shall post such list to the Internet web site of the Office of Policy and Management and shall review and update such list as necessary. Whenever the secretary updates such list, the secretary shall submit such updated list to the General Assembly in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. (c) (1) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall establish a grant program to fund eligible projects within [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tracts. An eligible project shall seek to reduce concentrated poverty within such tracts and the effects of such poverty, including, but not limited to, the lower lifetime income of residents within such tracts, the lower lifetime income expectations of future generations within such tracts, increased crime and risk of incarceration for residents within such tracts and educational deficiencies within such tracts. An eligible project includes: House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 125 of 258 (A) Construction, renovation or rehabilitation of mixed-income rental housing and owner-occupied housing, in order to retain individuals and families of different income levels and to increase the percentage of owner-occupied housing within such census tract or tracts; (B) The establishment or improvement of workforce development programs, including, but not limited to, programs that partner with organizations to identify unemployed or underemployed individuals and at-risk youth residing in such census tracts, identify workforce training opportunities and other resources for such individuals and link such individuals with the appropriate training and resources that will increase the skills and earning potential of such individuals; and (C) Construction, renovation or rehabilitation of public infrastructure, in order to support and improve the private investment opportunities, quality of life and public safety within such census tract or tracts. (2) Beginning on January 1, 2024, and not later than January 1, 2030, each municipality in which a [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract is located may apply to the commissioner, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, to receive a grant for an eligible project or any combination of eligible projects. An application may target one [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract or more than one such census tract if such census tracts are geographically contiguous or within reasonable proximity of each other. An applicant shall not be prohibited from filing more than one application for different [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tracts or groups of such census tracts. (d) (1) Not later than January 1, 2024, the commissioner shall establish criteria for the awarding of grants as described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, requirements for documents and information as described in subdivision [(3)] (4) of this subsection and deadlines for submitting House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 126 of 258 applications and revised and modified applications under subsection (e) of this section. The commissioner shall post such criteria, requirements and deadlines on the Internet web site of the Department of Economic and Community Development, notify each municipality in which a [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract is located of such posting and promote the availability of the grant program established by this section in each [high poverty-low opportunity] such census tract. (2) Criteria for the awarding of grants pursuant to this section shall include, but need not be limited to: (A) The likelihood that a proposal will reduce adult or child poverty within a [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract; (B) The likelihood that a proposal will reduce the likelihood that children currently residing within a [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract will live in poverty after reaching adulthood; (C) The likelihood that a proposal will produce persistent and meaningful improvements in residents' wealth, financial security, employability or quality of life beyond the duration of the proposal; (D) The feasibility of the initiatives in a proposal and the demonstrated or perceived capacity to execute upon the scope of work in a proposal, including, but not limited to, adequate staffing levels of entities involved with the proposal; and (E) The interconnectivity and mutual reinforcement among all proposed initiatives in the same [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract area or areas, such as providing workforce training programs to parents of children enrolled in a supported early childhood program. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 127 of 258 (3) On and after the date the ten-year plan developed under section 118 of this act is submitted to the General Assembly, priority shall be given to projects included in such plan. [(3)] (4) Requirements for documents and information to be submitted by municipalities to evaluate applications shall include, but need not be limited to: (A) A description of how the proposal intends to address each type of eligible project described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, and whether there are existing projects or programs to address such eligible projects; (B) A description of each initiative within the proposal, which may include multiple simultaneous initiatives, and how each initiative will meet one of the criteria established pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection; (C) A description of sufficient efforts, as determined by the commissioner, to engage residents of the [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract in formulating a proposal; (D) For an initiative that is an eligible project described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, a description of the municipality's consultations with the regional workforce development board that serves the municipality regarding the development of such project and efforts to coordinate such project with the board's activities; (E) A description of each organization that will participate in an eligible project described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, and information on each organization's commitment to provide continuous, sustained engagement with residents of such tract throughout the project; House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 128 of 258 (F) A description of the entity or organization responsible for coordinating the implementation of each component of the application and overseeing the various projects and programs outlined in such application; (G) A description of plans for ongoing engagement with residents of such census tracts and solicitation of feedback on the progress of a proposal during its implementation; and (H) A description of plans to provide residents of such census tract with opportunities to become involved in implementation of a proposal. (e) (1) The department shall review and evaluate each application submitted and shall work with the applicant municipality to revise the application if the department believes such revisions will improve or strengthen the application. The department shall assist an applicant in identifying and applying for funding under other programs in order to maximize the amount of funding available for an applicant, including seeking funding under section 4-66c. For a proposal for an eligible project described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner shall evaluate such project in consultation with the Commissioner of Housing and the Commissioner of Housing shall assist the applicant with obtaining funding for such project through programs operated by the Department of Housing. (2) The commissioner shall submit to the Governor all applications that are deemed to satisfy the requirements of subsection (d) of this section. The Governor shall review such applications and may approve or disapprove an application or return an application to the commissioner for modifications. If an application is returned to the commissioner, the commissioner shall work with the applicant to modify the application and shall resubmit such application with modifications to the Governor. If the Governor approves an application, the Governor shall make a grant award from bond proceeds under House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 129 of 258 section 32-7y, provided the Governor may use funds from other bond proceeds authorized for the general purposes described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section for such grants. Grants awarded under this section shall be for a period of three years, and in an amount sufficient to carry out the objectives of the application, but not less than five hundred thousand dollars. Each application that the Governor approves shall be considered at a State Bond Commission meeting not later than two months after the date the application was approved by the Governor. (f) At the conclusion of the initial grant period, the commissioner shall evaluate the municipality's progress toward reducing the number of [residents] households within the applicable [high poverty-low opportunity] concentrated poverty census tract who have incomes below the federal poverty level to less than thirty per cent of the [residents] households of such census tract. Such evaluation shall consider, among other factors, any change in the percentage of [residents] households within such census tract who have incomes below the federal poverty level, and whether the actions taken pursuant to such grant during the initial grant period: (1) May reasonably result in a future reduction in the percentage of [residents] households within such census tract who have incomes below the federal poverty level, (2) have resulted in a reduction in child poverty within such census tract, (3) may reasonably result in a future reduction in child poverty within such census tract, or (4) may reasonably decrease the likelihood that children who are currently living within such census tract will have incomes below the federal poverty level after they reach adulthood. Upon a determination by the commissioner that reasonable progress has been made, the municipality shall be eligible for subsequent grants under this section, provided, at the conclusion of each subsequent grant period of three years, each applicant municipality shall be subject to an evaluation and determination under this subsection prior to being eligible to apply for a subsequent grant. An application for a subsequent House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 130 of 258 grant and the awarding of a subsequent grant shall be in accordance with the provisions of subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of this section. (g) Not later than August 1, 2024, and annually thereafter until and including August 1, 2029, the commissioner shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the General Assembly, that includes the municipalities that submitted applications and that were awarded grants under this section in the prior fiscal year, a description of each purpose and eligible project a municipality awarded a grant under this section is seeking to accomplish or undertaking, a progress report, if applicable, for each such purpose or eligible project and any other information the commissioner deems relevant. Sec. 122. Section 32-285a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) As used in this section: (1) "Administrative costs" means the costs paid or incurred by the administrator of the Community Investment Fund 2030 Board established under subsection (b) of this section, including, but not limited to, allocated staff costs and other out-of-pocket costs attributable to the administration and operation of the board; (2) "Administrator" means the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the commissioner's designee; (3) "Eligible project" means: (A) (i) A project proposed by a municipality, community development corporation or nonprofit organization, for the purpose of promoting economic or community development in the municipality or a municipality served by such corporation or organization, such as House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 131 of 258 brownfield remediation, affordable housing, establishment of or improvements to water and sewer infrastructure to support smaller scale economic development, pedestrian safety and traffic calming improvements, establishment of or improvements to energy resiliency or clean energy projects and land acquisition and capital projects to construct, rehabilitate or renovate buildings and structures to facilitate or improve home rehabilitation programs and facilities such as libraries and senior centers; or (ii) A grant-in-aid proposed by a municipality, community development corporation or nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing (I) a revolving loan program, microloans or gap financing, to small businesses located within such municipality or a municipality served by such corporation or organization, or (II) start-up funds to establish a small business in any such municipality; and (B) Such project or grant-in-aid furthers consistent and systematic fair, just and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved and marginalized communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino and indigenous and Native American persons; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons and other persons comprising the LGBTQ+ community; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality; and (4) "Municipality" means a municipality designated as a public investment community pursuant to section 7-545 or as an alliance district pursuant to section 10-262u. (b) (1) There is established a Community Investment Fund 2030 Board, which shall be within the Department of Economic and Community Development. The board shall consist of the following House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 132 of 258 members: (A) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate; (B) The majority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the Senate; (C) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, each of whom shall be a member of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly; (D) The two chairpersons of the general bonding subcommittee of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding; (E) Two appointed by the Governor; and (F) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the Attorney General, the Treasurer, the Comptroller, the Secretary of the State and the Commissioners of Economic and Community Development, Administrative Services, Social Services and Housing, or their designees. (2) All initial appointments shall be made not later than sixty days after June 30, 2021. The terms of the members appointed by the Governor shall be coterminous with the term of the Governor or until their successors are appointed, whichever is later. Any vacancy in appointments shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term. (3) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, it shall not House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 133 of 258 constitute a conflict of interest for a trustee, director, partner, officer, stockholder, proprietor, counsel or employee of any person to serve as a member of the board, provided such trustee, director, partner, officer, stockholder, proprietor, counsel or employee abstains and absents himself or herself from any deliberation, action and vote by the board in specific respect to such person. The members appointed by the Governor shall be deemed public officials and shall adhere to the code of ethics for public officials set forth in chapter 10. (4) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate shall serve as the chairpersons of the board and shall schedule the first meeting of the board, which shall be held not later than January 1, 2022. The board shall meet at least quarterly. (5) Eleven members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. (6) The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. (7) The board shall have the following powers and duties: (A) Review eligible projects to be recommended to the Governor under subsection (c) of this section for approval; (B) establish bylaws to govern its procedures; (C) review and provide comments to the Department of Economic and Community Development on projects funded through the state's Economic Action Plan as provided under section 32-4p; and (D) perform such other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out its duties described in this section. (8) The administrator shall hire such employee or employees as may be necessary to assist the board to carry out its duties described in this section. (c) (1) The Community Investment Fund 2030 Board shall establish House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 134 of 258 an application and review process with guidelines and terms for funds provided from the bond proceeds under subsection (d) of this section for eligible projects. Such funds shall be used for costs related to an eligible project recommended by the board and approved by the Governor pursuant to this subsection but shall not be used to pay or to reimburse the administrator for administrative costs under this section. The Department of Economic and Community Development shall pay for administrative costs within available appropriations. (2) The chairpersons of the board shall notify the chief elected official of each municipality when the application and review process has been established and shall publicize the availability of any funds available under this section. Each such official or any community development corporation or nonprofit organization may submit an application to the board requesting funds for an eligible project. The board shall meet to consider applications submitted and determine which, if any, the board will recommend to the Governor for approval. (3) (A) The board shall give priority to eligible projects (i) that are proposed by a municipality that (I) has implemented local hiring preferences pursuant to section 7-112, or (II) has or will leverage municipal, private, philanthropic or federal funds for such project, [and] (ii) that have a project labor agreement or employ or will employ ex- offenders or individuals with physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities, and (iii) on and after the date the ten-year plan developed under section 118 of this act is submitted to the General Assembly, that are included in such plan. The board shall give additional priority to an application submitted by a municipality that includes a letter of support for the proposed eligible project from a member or members of the General Assembly in whose district the eligible project is or will be located. (B) In evaluating applications for an eligible project described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section, House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 135 of 258 the board shall (i) evaluate the risk of default on the repayment of a proposed loan or financing, (ii) consider the impact of the eligible project on job creation or retention in the municipality, (iii) consider the impact of the eligible project on blighted properties in the municipality, and (iv) consider the overall impact of the eligible project on the community. The board shall not recommend any proposed loan or financing under subparagraph (A)(ii) of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section for which the interest rate varies from the prevailing market rate. (4) (A) Whenever the board deems it necessary or desirable, the chairpersons of the board shall submit to the Governor a list of the board's recommendations of eligible projects to be funded from bond proceeds under subsection (d) of this section. The board may recommend state funding for eligible projects, provided the total cost of such recommendations shall not exceed one hundred seventy-five million dollars in any fiscal year. Such list shall include, at a minimum: (i) For each eligible project described in subparagraph (A)(i) of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section, a description of such project, the municipality in which such project is located, the amount of funds sought for such project, any cost estimates for such project, any schematics or plans for such project, the total estimated project costs and the applicable fiscal year to which such disbursement will be attributed; and (ii) For each eligible project described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section, a description of and specific terms for any proposed loans, financing or start-up funds to be provided from such grant-in-aid, the types of small businesses located or to be located in the municipality that may be eligible for such loan, financing or start-up funds, the amount of the grant-in-aid sought and the applicable fiscal year to which such disbursement will be attributed. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 136 of 258 (B) The Governor shall review the eligible projects on the list and may recommend changes to any eligible project on the list. The Governor shall determine the most appropriate method of funding for each eligible project and shall provide to the members of the board, in writing, such determination for each eligible project on the list and the reasons therefor. The board may reconsider at a future meeting any eligible project for which the Governor recommends a change. Each eligible project for which the Governor recommends the allocation of bond funds shall be considered at a State Bond Commission meeting not later than two months after the date such eligible project was submitted to the Governor pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. (5) Funds for an eligible project approved under this section may be administered on behalf of the board by a state agency, as determined by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, provided a memorandum of understanding between the administrator of the Community Investment Fund 2030 Board and the state, acting by and through the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, has been entered into with respect to such funds and project. (6) Not later than August 31, 2023, the board shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the General Assembly, the Black and Puerto Rican caucus of the General Assembly, the Auditors of Public Accounts and the Governor, for the preceding fiscal year, that includes (A) a list of the eligible projects recommended by the board and approved by the Governor pursuant to this section, (B) the total amount of funds provided for such eligible projects, (C) for each such eligible project, a description of the project and the amounts and terms of the funds provided, (D) the status of the project and any balance remaining of the allocated funds, and (E) any other information the board deems relevant or necessary. The board shall submit such report annually for each fiscal year in which the funds specified in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of this subsection are disbursed for House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 137 of 258 eligible projects. (7) The Auditors of Public Accounts shall audit, on a biennial basis, all eligible projects funded under this section and shall report their findings to the Governor, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the General Assembly. (d) (1) The State Bond Commission may authorize the issuance of bonds of the state, in accordance with the provisions of section 3-20, in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate eight hundred seventy-five million dollars. The amount authorized for the issuance and sale of such bonds in each of the following fiscal years shall not exceed the following corresponding amount for each such fiscal year, except that, to the extent the State Bond Commission does not provide for the use of all or a portion of such amount in any such fiscal year, such amount not provided for shall be carried forward and added to the authorized amount for the next succeeding fiscal year, and provided further, the costs of issuance and capitalized interest, if any, may be added to the capped amount in each fiscal year, and each of the authorized amounts shall be effective on July first of the fiscal year indicated as follows: Fiscal Year Ending June 30, Amount 2023 $175,000,000 2024 175,000,000 2025 175,000,000 2026 175,000,000 2027 175,000,000 Total $875,000,000 (2) The proceeds of the sale of bonds set forth in this subsection shall be used for the purpose of funding eligible projects for which the Governor has determined under subsection (c) of this section that bond funding is appropriate and that no other bond authorization is available. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 138 of 258 (e) (1) Upon the agreement of the Governor and the Community Investment Fund 2030 Board, and subsequent to the adoption of a resolution by the General Assembly affirming the reauthorization of the board and the program provided for under this section, the State Bond Commission may authorize the issuance of bonds of the state, in accordance with the provisions of section 3-20, in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate one billion two hundred fifty million dollars. The amount authorized for the issuance and sale of such bonds in each of the following fiscal years shall not exceed the following corresponding amount for each such fiscal year, except that, to the extent the State Bond Commission does not provide for the use of all or a portion of such amount in any such fiscal year, such amount not provided for shall be carried forward and added to the authorized amount for the next succeeding fiscal year, and provided further, the costs of issuance and capitalized interest, if any, may be added to the capped amount in each fiscal year, and each of the authorized amounts shall be effective on July first of the fiscal year indicated as follows: Fiscal Year Ending June 30, Amount 2028 $250,000,000 2029 250,000,000 2030 250,000,000 2031 250,000,000 2032 250,000,000 Total $1,250,000,000 (2) The proceeds of the sale of bonds set forth in this subsection shall be used for the purpose of funding eligible projects for which the Governor has determined under subsection (c) of this section that bond funding is appropriate and that no other bond authorization is available. (f) All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section. Temporary notes House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 139 of 258 in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section, and from time to time renewed. All bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due. Sec. 123. Section 32-7t of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) As used in this section: (1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; (2) "Discretionary FTE" means an FTE that is paid qualified wages and does not meet the threshold wage requirements to be a qualified FTE but is approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this section; (3) "Distressed municipality" has the same meaning as provided in section 32-9p; (4) "Full-time equivalent" or "FTE" means the number of employees employed at a qualified business, calculated in accordance with subsection (d) of this section; (5) "Full-time job" means a job in which an employee is required to work at least thirty-five or more hours per week. "Full-time job" does not include a temporary or seasonal job; House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 140 of 258 (6) "Intellectual disability" has the same meaning as provided in section 1-1g; (7) "Median household income" means the median annual household income for residents in a municipality as calculated from the U.S. Census Bureau's five-year American Community Survey or another data source, at the sole discretion of the commissioner; (8) "New employee" means a person or persons hired by the qualified business to fill a full-time equivalent position. A new employee does not include a person who was employed in this state by a related person with respect to the qualified business within twelve months prior to a qualified business's application to the commissioner for a rebate allocation notice for a job creation rebate pursuant to subsection (c) of this section; (9) "New FTEs" means the number of FTEs that (A) did not exist in this state at the time of a qualified business's application to the commissioner for a rebate allocation notice for a job creation rebate pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, (B) are not the result of FTEs acquired due to a merger or acquisition, (C) are filled by a new employee, (D) are qualified FTEs, and (E) are not FTEs hired to replace FTEs that existed in the state after January 1, 2020. The commissioner may issue guidance on the implementation of this definition; (10) "New FTEs created" means the number of new FTEs that the qualified business is employing at a point-in-time at the end of the relevant time period; (11) "New FTEs maintained" means the total number of new FTEs employed throughout a relevant time period; (12) "Opportunity zone" means a population census tract that is a low-income community that is designated as a "qualified opportunity zone" pursuant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, P.L. 115-97, as House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 141 of 258 amended from time to time; (13) "Part-time job" means a job in which an employee is required to work less than thirty-five hours per week. "Part-time job" does not include a temporary or seasonal job; (14) "Qualified business" means a person that is (A) engaged in business in an industry related to finance, insurance, manufacturing, clean energy, bioscience, technology, digital media or any similar industry, as determined by the sole discretion of the commissioner, and (B) subject to taxation under chapter 207, 208 or 228z; (15) "Qualified FTE" means an FTE who is paid qualified wages of at least eighty-five per cent of the median household income for the location where the FTE position is primarily located, scaled in proportion to the FTE fraction, or thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, scaled in proportion to the FTE fraction, whichever is greater; (16) "Qualified wages" means wages sourced to this state pursuant to section 12-705; (17) "Rebate period" means the calendar years in which a tax rebate provided for in this section is to be paid pursuant to a rebate allocation notice issued pursuant to subsection (c) of this section; and (18) "Related person" means (A) a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or trust controlled by the qualified business, (B) an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or trust that is in control of the qualified business, (C) a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or trust controlled by an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or trust that is in control of the qualified business, or (D) a member of the same controlled group as the qualified business. For the purposes of this subdivision, "control" means (i) ownership, directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty per House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 142 of 258 cent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of a corporation entitled to vote, (ii) ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the capital or profits interest in a partnership, limited liability company or association, or (iii) ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty per cent or more of the beneficial interest in the principal or income of a trust. The ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a partnership, of a limited liability company or association or of a beneficial interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for constructive ownership of stock provided in Section 267(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, other than paragraph (3) of said section. (b) There is established a JobsCT tax rebate program under which qualified businesses that create jobs in this state, in accordance with the provisions of this section, may be allowed a tax rebate, which shall be treated as a credit against the tax imposed under chapter 208 or 228z or as an offset of the tax imposed under chapter 207. (c) (1) To be eligible to claim a rebate under this section, a qualified business shall apply to the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. The application shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner and may require information, including, but not limited to, the number of new FTEs to be created by the qualified business, the number of current FTEs employed by the qualified business, feasibility studies or business plans for the increased number of FTEs, projected state and local revenue that may reasonably derive as a result of the increased number of FTEs and any other information necessary to determine whether there will be net benefits to the economy of the municipality or municipalities in which the qualified business is primarily located and the state. (2) Upon receipt of an application, the commissioner shall determine House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 143 of 258 (A) whether the qualified business making the application will be reasonably able to meet the FTE hiring targets and other metrics as presented in such application, (B) whether such qualified business's proposed job growth would provide a net benefit to economic development and employment opportunities in the state, and (C) whether such qualified business's proposed job growth will exceed the number of jobs at the business that existed prior to January 1, 2020. The commissioner may require the applicant to submit additional information to evaluate an application. Each qualified business making an application shall satisfy the requirements of this subdivision, as determined by the commissioner, to be eligible for the JobsCT tax rebate program. (3) The commissioner, upon consideration of an application and any additional information, may approve an application in whole or in part or may approve an application with amendments. If the commissioner disapproves an application, the commissioner shall identify the defects in such application and explain the specific reasons for the disapproval. The commissioner shall render a decision on an application not later than ninety days after the date of its receipt by the commissioner. (4) The commissioner may approve an application in whole or in part by a qualified business that creates new discretionary FTEs or may approve such an application with amendments if a majority of such new discretionary FTEs are individuals who (A) because of a disability, are receiving or have received services from the Department of Aging and Disability Services; (B) are receiving employment services from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or participating in employment opportunities and day services, as defined in section 17a- 226, operated or funded by the Department of Developmental Services; (C) have been unemployed for at least six of the preceding twelve months; (D) have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony; (E) are veterans, as defined in section 27-103; (F) have not earned any House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 144 of 258 postsecondary credential and are not currently enrolled in a postsecondary institution or program; or (G) are currently enrolled in a workforce training program fully or substantially paid for by the employer that results in such individual earning a postsecondary credential. (5) The commissioner may combine approval of an application with the exercise of any of the commissioner's other powers, including, but not limited to, the provision of other financial assistance. (6) By submitting an application, a qualified business consents to the Department of Economic and Community Development's access of data compiled by other state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Labor Department, for the purposes of audit and enforcement. (7) The commissioner shall issue a rebate allocation notice stating the maximum amount of each rebate available to an approved qualified business for the rebate period and the specific terms that such business shall meet to qualify for each rebate. Such notice shall certify to the approved qualified business that the rebates may be claimed by such business if it meets the specific terms set forth in the notice. Such terms shall include the required wage, as determined by the commissioner, such business shall pay new discretionary FTEs to qualify for the tax rebates provided in subsection (f) of this section. (d) For the purposes of this section, the FTE of a full-time job or part- time job is based on the hours worked or expected to be worked by an employee in a calendar year. A job in which an employee worked or is expected to work one thousand seven hundred fifty hours or more in a calendar year equals one FTE. A job in which an employee worked or is expected to work less than one thousand seven hundred fifty hours equals a fraction of one FTE, where the fraction is the number of hours worked in a calendar year divided by one thousand seven hundred fifty. The commissioner shall have the discretion to adjust the calculation of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 145 of 258 FTE. (e) (1) In each calendar year of the rebate period, a qualified business approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (c) of this section that employs at least twenty-five new FTEs in this state or, if at least one of the new FTEs is an individual with intellectual disability or at least three of the new FTEs are individuals who reside in a concentrated poverty census tract, as defined in section 32-7x, fifteen new FTEs in this state by December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed shall be allowed a rebate equal to the greater of the following amounts: (A) The sum of: (i) The lesser of (I) the new FTEs created in an opportunity zone or distressed municipality on December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, (II) the new FTEs maintained in an opportunity zone or distressed municipality in the previous calendar year, (III) the new FTEs created by a qualified business employing at least one new FTE who is an individual with intellectual disability, or (IV) the new FTEs maintained by a qualified business employing at least one new FTE who is an individual with intellectual disability, multiplied by fifty per cent of the income tax that would be paid on the average wage of the new FTEs, as determined by the applicable marginal rate set forth in chapter 229 for an unmarried individual based solely on such wages; and (ii) The lesser of (I) the new FTEs created on December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, or (II) the new FTEs maintained in a location other than an opportunity zone or distressed municipality in the previous calendar year, multiplied by twenty-five per cent of the income tax that would be paid on the average wage of the new FTEs, as House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 146 of 258 determined by the applicable marginal rate set forth in chapter 229 for an unmarried individual based solely on such wages; or (B) The greater of: (i) One thousand dollars multiplied by the lesser of (I) the new FTEs created by December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, or (II) the new FTEs maintained in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed; or (ii) For tax credits earned, claimed or payable prior to January 1, 2024, two thousand dollars multiplied by the lesser of (I) the new FTEs created by December 31, 2022, or (II) the new FTEs maintained in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed. (2) In no event shall the rebate under this subsection exceed in any calendar year of the rebate period five thousand dollars multiplied by the lesser of (A) the new FTEs created by December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, or (B) the new FTEs maintained in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed. (3) In no event shall an approved qualified business receive a rebate under this subsection in any calendar year of the rebate period if such business has not maintained, in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, at least (A) twenty-five new FTEs, or (B) fifteen new FTEs, if at least one of the new FTEs is an individual with intellectual disability or at least three of the new FTEs are individuals who reside in a concentrated poverty census tract, as defined in section 32-7x. (f) (1) In each calendar year of the rebate period, a qualified business House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 147 of 258 approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this section that employs at least twenty-five new discretionary FTEs in this state by December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed shall be allowed a rebate equal to the sum of the amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of this section and the greater of the following: (A) The sum of: (i) The lesser of the new discretionary FTEs (I) created in an opportunity zone or distressed municipality on December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, or (II) maintained in an opportunity zone or distressed municipality in the previous calendar year, multiplied by fifty per cent of the income tax that would be paid on the average wage of the new discretionary FTEs, as determined by the applicable marginal rate set forth in chapter 229 for an unmarried individual based solely on such wages; and (ii) The lesser of the new discretionary FTEs (I) created on December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, or (II) maintained in a location other than an opportunity zone or distressed municipality in the previous calendar year, multiplied by twenty-five per cent of the income tax that would be paid on the average wage of the new discretionary FTEs, as determined by the applicable marginal rate set forth in chapter 229 for an unmarried individual based solely on such wages; or (B) The greater of: (i) Seven hundred fifty dollars multiplied by the lesser of the new discretionary FTEs (I) created by December thirty-first of the calendar House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 148 of 258 year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, or (II) maintained in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed; or (ii) For tax credits earned, claimed or payable prior to January 1, 2024, one thousand five hundred dollars multiplied by the lesser of (I) the new FTEs created by December 31, 2022, or (II) the new FTEs maintained in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed. (2) In no event shall the rebate under this [section] subsection exceed in any calendar year of the rebate period five thousand dollars multiplied by the lesser of the new discretionary FTEs (A) created by December thirty-first of the calendar year that is two calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, or (B) maintained in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed. (3) In no event shall an approved qualified business receive a rebate under this subsection in any calendar year of the rebate period if such business has not maintained at least twenty-five new discretionary FTEs in the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed. (g) In addition to the rebates allowed under subsections (e) and (f) of this section, on and after January 1, 2025, an approved qualified business that employs at least one new FTE that is an individual who resides in a concentrated poverty census tract, as defined in section 32-7x, shall be allowed an additional rebate equal to fifty per cent of the income tax that would be paid on the wages paid to such individual during the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed, as determined by the applicable marginal rate set forth in chapter 229 for an unmarried individual based solely on such wages, House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 149 of 258 provided such individual was a resident of such census tract for at least six months of the calendar year immediately prior to the calendar year in which the rebate is being claimed. [(g)] (h) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner may not approve an application in whole or in part if the full amount of rebates that such applicant may be paid pursuant to subsection (e), [or] (f) or (g) of this section would result in the aggregate amount of rebates issued to all approved qualified businesses under this section exceeding forty million dollars in any fiscal year. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner may not approve an application in whole or in part if the full amount of rebates that such applicant may be paid pursuant to subsection (f) of this section would result in the aggregate amount of rebates issued pursuant to subsection (f) of this section exceeding fifteen million dollars in any fiscal year. [(h)] (i) (1) A rebate under this section may be granted to an approved qualified business for not more than seven successive calendar years. A rebate shall not be granted until at least twenty-four months after the commissioner's approval of a qualified business's application. (2) An approved qualified business that has fewer than twenty-five new FTEs or, if at least one of the new FTEs is an individual with intellectual disability or at least three of the new FTEs are individuals who reside in a concentrated poverty census tract, as defined in section 32-7x, fewer than fifteen new FTEs, created in each of two consecutive calendar years or, if such business is approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this section, fewer than twenty-five new discretionary FTEs in each of two consecutive calendar years shall forfeit all remaining rebate allocations, unless the commissioner recognizes mitigating circumstances of a regional or House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 150 of 258 national nature, including, but not limited to, a recession. [(i)] (j) Not later than January thirty-first of each year during the rebate period, each approved qualified business shall provide information to the commissioner regarding the number of new FTEs or new discretionary FTEs created or maintained during the prior calendar year and the qualified wages of such new employees. Any information provided under this subsection shall be subject to audit by the Department of Economic and Community Development. [(j)] (k) Not later than March fifteenth of each year during the rebate period, the Department of Economic and Community Development shall issue the approved qualified business a rebate voucher that sets forth the amount of the rebate, as calculated pursuant to subsections (e), [and] (f) and (g) of this section, and the taxable year against which such rebate may be claimed. The approved qualified business shall claim such rebate as a credit against the taxes due under chapter 208 or 228z or as an offset of the tax imposed under chapter 207. The commissioner shall annually provide to the Commissioner of Revenue Services a report detailing all rebate vouchers that have been issued under this section. [(k)] (l) Beginning on January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the commissioner, in consultation with the office of the State Comptroller and the Auditors of Public Accounts, shall submit a report to the Office of Policy and Management on the expenses of the JobsCT tax rebate program and the number of FTEs and discretionary FTEs created and maintained. [(l)] (m) Not later than January 1, 2024, the commissioner shall post, on the Department of Economic and Community Development's Internet web site, information on the JobsCT tax rebate program established under this section, including, but not limited to, information concerning tax rebates available for qualified businesses that, in House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 151 of 258 accordance with the provisions of this section, employ individuals with intellectual disability in this state. Sec. 124. (Effective from passage) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, after the accounts for the Special Transportation Fund have been closed for said fiscal year and the Comptroller has determined the balance remaining in said fund, after any amounts required by provision of law to be transferred for other purposes have been deducted, if the balance remaining exceeds eighteen per cent of the net Special Transportation Fund appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the portion of the balance exceeding said eighteen per cent shall be deemed to be appropriated for the following, as selected by the Treasurer: (1) Redeeming prior to maturity any outstanding special tax obligation indebtedness of the state selected by the Treasurer in the best interests of the state; (2) Purchasing outstanding special tax obligation indebtedness of the state in the open market at such prices and on such terms and conditions as the Treasurer determines to be in the best interests of the state for the purpose of extinguishing or defeasing such debt; (3) Providing for the defeasance of any outstanding special tax obligation indebtedness of the state selected by the Treasurer in the best interests of the state by irrevocably placing with an escrow agent in trust an amount used solely for, and sufficient to satisfy, scheduled payments of both interest and principal on such indebtedness; or (4) Any combination of these methods. (b) For any method or combination of methods selected by the Treasurer pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, (1) such method or combination of methods shall provide a reduction in projected debt service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each of the nine House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 152 of 258 subsequent fiscal years, and (2) for the second fiscal year after the fiscal year in which the balance was used in accordance with the provisions of this subsection and each of the seven subsequent fiscal years, the amount of the reduction in projected debt service shall not vary by more than (A) one million dollars, or (B) ten per cent of the least amount by which projected debt service is reduced for the seven subsequent fiscal years, whichever is greater. Sec. 125. Section 5-206 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): (a) Position classifications established by the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall be listed in the appropriate records and publications of the Department of Administrative Services in accordance with the following descriptive items: (1) The title and code given to the class; (2) the pay grade for the class; (3) a statement of the duties and responsibilities exercised by those employees holding positions allocated to the class, illustrated, when practicable, by examples of typical tasks; and (4) the minimum desirable qualifications required by an incumbent for the satisfactory performance of such duties and the satisfactory discharge of such responsibilities. In no event shall a degree from an institution of higher education be required for a position classification established by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, unless the commissioner has been notified by the appointing authority that such requirement is a bona fide occupational qualification or need. (b) In establishing new position classifications, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall make a study of the schedules of compensation established for positions similar as to duties, responsibilities and qualifications in the state service, of the rates of compensation paid for similar services elsewhere and of any other pertinent information and data. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 153 of 258 (c) The Commissioner of Administrative Services periodically shall review the work performed by employees in the classified service and shall issue such orders as are necessary to have such employees assigned to work in accordance with the classifications of their positions or to have their classifications changed to comply with their work, provided any employee, whose classification, status or compensation is affected, shall be given reasonable opportunity to be heard prior to the issuance of any such order. (d) In no event shall the personnel classification of "auditor" be used in reference to personnel of any agency other than the Auditors of Public Accounts or the term "auditor's report" be used in reference to the reports of such personnel except that employees performing auditing functions for agencies other than the Auditors of Public Accounts may be so designated if the personnel classifications to which they are assigned are clearly distinguished from those of the Auditors of Public Accounts. Sec. 126. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a working group to examine existing tax expenditures, as defined in subsection (e) of section 12-7b of the general statutes, in the state for the purpose of simplifying the state tax code and to identify expenditures that are redundant, obsolete, duplicative or inconsistent in language or policy. (b) The working group shall consist of the following members or their designees: (1) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding. Any designee of a chairperson or ranking member under this subdivision shall be a member of said committee; (2) The Governor; House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 154 of 258 (3) Two representatives of the Office of Policy and Management, appointed by the Governor; (4) The Commissioner of Revenue Services; and (5) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development. (c) The chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding shall serve as the chairpersons of the working group and shall schedule the first meeting of the working group, to be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section. (d) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding shall serve as administrative staff of the working group. (e) Not later than January 1, 2025, the working group shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. Such report shall include the working group's findings and any recommendations for revisions to the general statutes to further the goal of simplifying the state tax code. The working group shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2025, whichever is later. Sec. 127. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) As used in this section (1) "municipality" means any municipality, as defined in section 7-187 of the general statutes, any district, as defined in section 7-324 of the general statutes, any metropolitan district or any municipal district created under section 7-330 of the general statutes and located within the state, and (2) "regional council of governments" means any regional council of governments organized under the provisions of sections 4- 124i to 4-124p, inclusive, of the general statutes. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 155 of 258 (b) Any appointment that a municipality is authorized or required by law to make on its own behalf with respect to a municipal function may be made by a regional council of governments or jointly with one or more other municipalities pursuant to an interlocal agreement for the joint performance of municipal functions pursuant to section 7-148cc of the general statutes or an agreement for regional services pursuant to section 8-31b of the general statutes. Such appointment shall pertain jointly to each municipality that is a party to such agreement and be in lieu of any individual appointment by any such municipality. The provisions of this subsection shall supersede any provision of the general statutes or any special act, charter, special act charter, home rule ordinance or local law that would prohibit or limit the ability to make such joint appointments, including, but not limited to, any provision that (1) prohibits a municipality from entering into an agreement for shared services, (2) requires an appointee to fulfill such appointee's duties to the exclusion of other employment, (3) requires an appointee to reside within a particular municipality, or (4) requires a municipality to make an individual appointment. (c) For the purposes of this section, a municipal function shall include, but not be limited to, administrative and regulatory activities described in chapters 93, 96a and 100, sections 7-148b, 7-148g, 7-148p, 8- 3, 12-136, 22-331, 22-340, 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, and 29-251 to 29- 371, inclusive, of the general statutes and planning activities described in sections 8-23, 8-30j and 19a-181b of the general statutes. (d) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes to implement the provisions of this section. Sec. 128. Section 10-416 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024, and applicable to taxable and income years commencing on or after January 1, 2024): House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 156 of 258 (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates another meaning: (1) "Department" means the Department of Economic and Community Development; (2) "Historic home" means a building that: (A) Will contain one-to- four dwelling units of which at least one unit will be occupied as the principal residence of the owner for not less than five years following the completion of rehabilitation work, and (B) is (i) listed individually on the National or State Register of Historic Places, or (ii) located in a district listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places, and has been certified by the department as contributing to the historic character of such district; (3) "Nonprofit corporation" means a nonprofit corporation incorporated pursuant to chapter 602 or any predecessor statutes thereto, having as one of its purposes the construction, rehabilitation, ownership or operation of housing and having articles of incorporation approved by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to section 8-79a or 8-84; (4) "Owner" means (A) any taxpayer filing a state of Connecticut tax return who possesses title to an historic home, or prospective title to an historic home in the form of a purchase agreement or option to purchase, or (B) a nonprofit corporation that possesses such title or prospective title; (5) "Qualified rehabilitation expenditures" means any costs incurred for the physical construction involved in the rehabilitation of an historic home, but excludes: (A) The owner's personal labor, (B) the cost of site improvements, unless to provide building access to persons with House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 157 of 258 disabilities, (C) the cost of a new addition, except as may be required to comply with any provision of the State Building Code or the Fire Safety Code, (D) any cost associated with the rehabilitation of an outbuilding, unless such building contributes to the historical significance of the historic home, and (E) any nonconstruction cost such as architectural fees, legal fees and financing fees; (6) "Rehabilitation plan" means any construction plans and specifications for the proposed rehabilitation of an historic home in sufficient detail to enable the department to evaluate compliance with the standards developed under the provisions of subsections (b), (c) and (m) of this section; and (7) "Occupancy period" means a period of five years during which one or more owners occupy an historic home as such owner's or owners' primary residence. The occupancy period begins on the date the tax credit voucher is issued by the Department of Economic and Community Development. (b) The Department of Economic and Community Development shall administer a system of tax credit vouchers within the resources, requirements and purposes of this section for owners rehabilitating historic homes or taxpayers making contributions to qualified rehabilitation expenditures. Any owner shall be eligible for a tax credit voucher in an amount equal to thirty per cent of the qualified rehabilitation expenditures. (c) The department shall develop standards for the approval of rehabilitation of historic homes for which a tax credit voucher is sought. Such standards shall take into account whether the rehabilitation of an historic home will preserve the historic character of the building. (d) Prior to beginning any rehabilitation work on an historic home, the owner shall submit a rehabilitation plan to the department for a House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 158 of 258 determination of whether such rehabilitation work meets the standards developed under the provisions of subsections (b), (c) and (m) of this section and shall also submit to the department an estimate of the qualified rehabilitation expenditures. (e) If the department certifies that the rehabilitation plan conforms to the standards developed under the provisions of subsections (b), (c) and (m) of this section, the department shall reserve for the benefit of the owner an allocation for a tax credit equivalent to thirty per cent of the projected qualified rehabilitation expenditures. (f) Following the completion of rehabilitation of an historic home, the owner shall notify the department that such rehabilitation has been completed. The owner shall provide the department with documentation of work performed on the historic home and shall certify the cost incurred in rehabilitating the home. The department shall review such rehabilitation and verify its compliance with the rehabilitation plan. Following such verification, the department shall issue a tax credit voucher to either the owner rehabilitating the historic home or to the taxpayer named by the owner as contributing to the rehabilitation. The tax credit voucher shall be in an amount equivalent to the lesser of (1) the tax credit reserved upon certification of the rehabilitation plan under the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, or (2) thirty per cent of the actual qualified rehabilitation expenditures. In order to obtain a credit against any state tax due that is specified in subsection (i) of this section, the holder of the tax credit voucher shall file the voucher with the holder's state tax return. (g) Before the department issues a tax credit voucher, the owner shall deliver a signed statement to the department that provides that: (1) The owner shall occupy the historic home as the owner's primary residence during the occupancy period; (2) the owner shall convey the historic home to a new owner who will occupy it as the new owner's primary residence during the occupancy period; or (3) an encumbrance shall be House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 159 of 258 recorded, in favor of the local, state or federal government or other funding source, that will require the owner or the owner's successors to occupy the historic home as the primary residence of the owner or the owner's successors for a period equal to or longer than the occupancy period. A copy of any such encumbrance shall be attached to the signed statement. (h) The owner of an historic home shall not be eligible for a tax credit voucher under subsections (b), (c) and (m) of this section, unless the owner incurs qualified rehabilitation expenditures exceeding fifteen thousand dollars. (i) (1) The Commissioner of Revenue Services shall grant a tax credit: (A) (i) For a taxpayer holding a tax credit voucher issued prior to January 1, 2024, under subsections (d) to (h), inclusive, of this section, against any tax due under chapter 207, 208, 209, 210, 211 or 212 in the amount specified in the tax credit voucher. (ii) Any unused portion of such credit under this subparagraph may be carried forward to any or all of the four income years following the year in which the tax credit voucher is issued; and (B) (i) For a taxpayer [described under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section] holding a tax credit voucher issued on or after January 1, 2024, under subsections (d) to (h), inclusive, of this section, against [the] any tax due under chapter 207, 208, 208a, 209, 210, 211, 212 or 229 in the amount specified in the tax credit voucher. (ii) If a taxpayer described under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section holding such tax credit voucher claims a credit against the tax imposed under chapter 229 and the amount of the tax credit voucher exceeds the taxpayer's liability for [the] such tax, [imposed under chapter 229,] the Commissioner of Revenue Services House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 160 of 258 shall treat such excess as an overpayment and, except as provided under section 12-739 or 12-742, shall refund the amount of such excess, without interest, to the taxpayer. [; and] [(C) (i) For an owner that is a nonprofit corporation holding a tax credit voucher issued on or after January 1, 2024, under subsections (d) to (h), inclusive, of this section, against the tax due under chapter 208a in the amount specified in the tax credit voucher.] [(ii) Any] (iii) If a taxpayer holding such tax credit voucher claims a credit against any tax imposed under chapter 207, 208, 208a, 209, 210, 211 or 212, any unused portion of such credit under this subparagraph may be carried forward to any or all of the four income years following the year in which the tax credit voucher is issued. (2) The Department of Economic and Community Development shall provide a copy of the voucher to the Commissioner of Revenue Services upon the request of said commissioner. (j) A credit allowed under this section shall not exceed thirty thousand dollars per dwelling unit for an historic home, except that such credit shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars per such dwelling unit for an owner that is a nonprofit corporation. (k) The tax credit granted under subsection (i) of this section shall be taken in the same tax year in which the tax credit voucher is issued. (l) The aggregate amount of all tax credits that may be reserved by the Department of Economic and Community Development upon certification of rehabilitation plans under subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section shall not exceed three million dollars in any one fiscal year. On and after July 1, 2015, seventy per cent of the tax credits reserved pursuant to this section shall be for owners rehabilitating historic homes that are located in a regional center as designated in the state plan of conservation and development adopted by the General House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 161 of 258 Assembly pursuant to section 16a-30 or taxpayers making contributions to qualified rehabilitation expenditures on historic homes that are located in a regional center as designated in the state plan of conservation and development adopted by the General Assembly pursuant to section 16a-30. (m) The Department of Economic and Community Development may, in consultation with the Commissioner of Revenue Services, adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of this section. Sec. 129. Subsections (c) and (d) of section 4 of public act 07-196 are repealed and the following are substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (c) The district and all its receipts, revenues, income and real and personal property shall be exempt from taxation and benefit assessments and the district shall not be required to pay any tax, excise or assessment to or from the state of Connecticut or any of its political subdivisions. The principal and interest on bonds or notes issued by the district shall be free from taxation at all times, except for estate and gift, franchise and excise taxes, imposed by the state of Connecticut or any political subdivision thereof, provided nothing in this section shall act to limit or restrict the ability of the state of Connecticut or the town of Redding to tax the individuals and entities, or their real or personal property or any person living or business operating within the boundaries of the district. The town of Redding and all its receipts, revenues, income and real and personal property shall be exempt from taxes and benefit assessments imposed by the district and shall not be required to pay any tax, fee, rent, excise or assessment to the district. (d) Special act 05-14, as amended by section 2 of public act 06-163, [and this act] sections 1 to 3, inclusive, of public act 07-196 and section 51 of public act 21-2 of the June special session, being necessary for the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 162 of 258 public interest, shall be liberally construed to affect the purposes hereof. Sec. 130. (Effective from passage) Not later than July 1, 2024, and biweekly thereafter until September 30, 2024, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies concerning the Department of Economic and Community Development's use of federal funds received under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) the department's allotment of such funds, (2) the status of obligating such funds, (3) a list of parties with whom contracts have been entered into with the department, (4) a description of the terms of each contract, and (5) the current status of each contract. Sec. 131. Subsection (a) of section 10-220 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) Each local or regional board of education shall maintain good public elementary and secondary schools, implement the educational interests of the state, as defined in section 10-4a, and provide such other educational activities as in its judgment will best serve the interests of the school district; provided any board of education may secure such opportunities in another school district in accordance with provisions of the general statutes and shall give all the children of the school district, including children receiving alternative education, as defined in section 10-74j, as nearly equal advantages as may be practicable; shall provide an appropriate learning environment for all its students which includes (1) adequate instructional books, supplies, materials, equipment, staffing, facilities and technology, (2) equitable allocation of resources among its schools, (3) proper maintenance of facilities, and (4) a safe school setting; shall, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (f) House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 163 of 258 of this section, maintain records of allegations, investigations and reports that a child has been abused or neglected by a school employee, as defined in section 53a-65, employed by the local or regional board of education; shall have charge of the schools of its respective school district; shall make a continuing study of the need for school facilities and of a long-term school building program and from time to time make recommendations based on such study to the town; shall adopt and implement an indoor air quality program that provides for ongoing maintenance and facility reviews necessary for the maintenance and improvement of the indoor air quality of its facilities; shall adopt and implement a green cleaning program, pursuant to section 10-231g, that provides for the procurement and use of environmentally preferable cleaning products in school buildings and facilities; on and after July 1, 2021, and every five years thereafter, shall report to the Commissioner of Administrative Services on the condition of its facilities and the action taken to implement its long-term school building program, indoor air quality program and green cleaning program, which report the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall use to prepare a report every five years that said commissioner shall submit in accordance with section 11-4a to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education; shall advise the Commissioner of Administrative Services of the relationship between any individual school building project pursuant to chapter 173 and such long-term school building program; shall have the care, maintenance and operation of buildings, lands, apparatus and other property used for school purposes and at all times shall insure all such buildings and all capital equipment contained therein against loss in an amount not less than eighty per cent of replacement cost; shall determine the number, age and qualifications of the pupils to be admitted into each school; shall develop and implement a written increasing educator diversity plan for purposes of subdivision (3) of section 10-4a; shall employ and dismiss the teachers of the schools of such district subject to the provisions of sections 10-151 and 10-158a; shall designate the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 164 of 258 schools which shall be attended by the various children within the school district; shall make such provisions as will enable each child of school age residing in the district to attend some public day school for the period required by law and provide for the transportation of children wherever transportation is reasonable and desirable, and for such purpose may make contracts covering periods of not more than (A) five years, or (B) ten years if such contract includes transportation provided by at least one zero-emission school bus, as defined in 42 USC 16091(a)(8), as amended from time to time; may provide alternative education, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-74j, or place in another suitable educational program a pupil enrolling in school who is nineteen years of age or older and cannot acquire a sufficient number of credits for graduation by age twenty-one; may arrange with the board of education of an adjacent town for the instruction therein of such children as can attend school in such adjacent town more conveniently; shall cause each child five years of age and over and under eighteen years of age who is not a high school graduate and is living in the school district to attend school in accordance with the provisions of section 10- 184; [,] shall not delegate the authority to schedule interscholastic football games on Thanksgiving Day to any nonprofit organization or other entity that is otherwise responsible for governing interscholastic athletics in this state and shall not adopt a policy or prohibition against the scheduling of an interscholastic football game on Thanksgiving Day; and shall perform all acts required of it by the town or necessary to carry into effect the powers and duties imposed by law. Sec. 132. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) As used in this section and sections 133 to 135, inclusive, of this act: (1) "Photo noise violation monitoring device" means one or more mobile or fixed vehicle sensors that (A) are installed to work in conjunction with one or more noise measuring apparatuses, such as a decibel reader, and (B) automatically produce two or more House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 165 of 258 photographs, two or more microphotographs, a videotape or other recorded images of each motor vehicle allegedly operating in violation of an ordinance adopted under section 133 of this act. (2) "Photo noise violation monitoring device operator" means a person who is trained and certified to operate a photo noise violation monitoring device. (3) "Personally identifiable information" means information created or maintained by the municipality or a vendor that identifies or describes an owner of a motor vehicle and includes, but need not be limited to, the owner's address, telephone number, number plate, photograph, bank account information, credit card number, debit card number or the date, time, location or direction of travel on a highway in such municipality. (4) "Vendor" means a person who (A) provides services to a municipality under section 133 of this act pursuant to an agreement; (B) operates, maintains, leases or licenses a photo noise violation monitoring device; or (C) is authorized to review and assemble the recorded images captured by a photo noise violation monitoring device and forward such recorded images to the municipality. (5) "Motor vehicle", "highway" and "number plate" have the same meanings as provided in section 14-1 of the general statutes. (6) "Law enforcement unit" has the same meaning as provided in section 7-294a of the general statutes. Sec. 133. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) Any municipality may, by ordinance, authorize the use of photo noise violation monitoring devices at locations in such municipality. Any such ordinance shall specify the following: (1) That a photo noise violation monitoring device shall be operated by a photo noise violation monitoring device operator; (2) that the owner of a motor vehicle commits a violation of the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 166 of 258 ordinance if the person operating such motor vehicle on a highway or other location causes such motor vehicle to emit a sound of eighty decibels or more and such sound is not caused by a horn described in subsection (e) of section 14-80 of the general statutes; (3) the owner of a motor vehicle identified by a photo noise violation monitoring device as violating the ordinance shall (A) for a first violation, receive a written warning, (B) for a second violation, be fined one hundred dollars, and (C) for a third or subsequent violation, be fined two hundred fifty dollars; (4) payment of a fine and any associated processing fee, not to exceed fifteen dollars, may be made by electronic means; (5) a sworn member of a law enforcement unit or a municipal employee shall review and approve the recorded images before a citation is mailed to the owner of such motor vehicle; and (6) the defenses available to the owner of a motor vehicle allegedly committing a violation of such ordinance, which shall include, but need not be limited to, the defenses listed in subsection (g) of this section. Any municipality that adopts an ordinance under this section shall also adopt a citation hearing procedure pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes. Any funds received by a municipality from fines imposed pursuant to such ordinance may be used to pay the costs associated with the use of photo noise violation monitoring devices in the municipality. (b) The municipality may enter into agreements with vendors for the installation, operation or maintenance, or any combination thereof, of a photo noise violation monitoring device. If a vendor installs, operates or maintains a photo noise violation monitoring device, the vendor's fee shall not be contingent on the number of citations issued or fines paid pursuant to an ordinance adopted under this section. (c) (1) The municipality shall make efforts to randomize the locations of any photo noise violation monitoring devices throughout such municipality. (2) A photo noise violation monitoring device shall, to the extent House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 167 of 258 possible, be installed in a manner to only record images of the number plate of a motor vehicle, and shall not, to the extent possible, record images of the occupants of such motor vehicle or of any other persons or vehicles in the vicinity at the time the images are recorded. (d) A photo noise violation monitoring device operator shall complete training offered by the manufacturer of such device or the manufacturer's representative regarding procedures for operating such device. The manufacturer or manufacturer's representative shall issue a signed certificate to the photo noise violation monitoring device operator upon such operator's completion of the training. Such signed certificate shall be admitted as evidence in any hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes. (e) The municipality shall ensure each photo noise violation monitoring device used by such municipality undergoes an annual calibration check performed at a calibration laboratory. The calibration laboratory shall issue a signed certificate of calibration after the annual calibration check. Such signed certificate of calibration shall be kept on file and admitted as evidence in any hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes. (f) (1) Whenever a photo noise violation monitoring device detects and produces recorded images of a motor vehicle allegedly committing a violation of an ordinance adopted under this section, a sworn member of a law enforcement unit or a municipal employee shall review the recorded images provided by such device. If, after such review, such member or employee determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of the ordinance has occurred, such member or employee may issue a citation to the owner of the motor vehicle. The citation shall include the following: (A) The name and address of the owner of the motor vehicle; (B) the number plate of the motor vehicle; (C) the violation charged; (D) the location of the photo noise violation monitoring device and the date and time of the violation; (E) a copy of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 168 of 258 or information on how to view, through electronic means, the recorded images of the violation; (F) a statement or electronically generated affirmation by the member or employee who reviewed the recorded images and determined that the motor vehicle violated the ordinance; (G) verification that the photo noise violation monitoring device was operating correctly at the time of the alleged violation and the date of the most recent calibration check performed pursuant to subsection (e) of this section; (H) the amount of the fine imposed and how to pay such fine; and (I) the right to contest the violation and request a hearing pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes. (2) (A) In the case of an alleged violation involving a motor vehicle registered in the state, the citation shall be mailed to the address of the owner that is in the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles not later than thirty days after the identity of the owner is ascertained, provided a citation shall be invalid unless mailed to the owner not later than sixty days after the date of the alleged violation. (B) In the case of an alleged violation involving a motor vehicle registered in another jurisdiction, the citation shall be mailed to the address of the owner that is in the records of the official in the other jurisdiction issuing such registration not later than thirty days after the identity of the owner is ascertained, provided a citation shall be invalid unless mailed to the owner not later than sixty days after the date of the alleged violation. (3) The citation shall be sent by first class mail. A manual or automated record of mailing prepared by the municipality shall be prima facie evidence of mailing and shall be admissible in any hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes, as to the facts contained in the citation. (g) The following defenses shall be available to the owner of a motor vehicle who is alleged to have committed a violation of such ordinance adopted under this section: (1) The operator was driving an emergency vehicle, as defined in section 14-283 of the general statutes, and making House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 169 of 258 use of an audible warning signal device, including, but not limited to, a siren, whistle or bell which meets the requirements of subsection (f) of section 14-80 of the general statutes; (2) the violation took place during a period of time in which the motor vehicle had been reported as being stolen to a law enforcement unit and had not been recovered prior to the time of the violation; (3) the photo noise violation monitoring device was not in compliance with the calibration check required pursuant to subsection (e) of this section; (4) the violation took place because the muffler in the motor vehicle was not in good working condition and the owner of the motor vehicle presents proof at a hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes that such muffler was replaced or repaired not later than fourteen days from the date of the violation; or (5) the owner of the motor vehicle presents proof at a hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c of the general statutes that the owner submitted the motor vehicle for inspection at a facility designated by the Department of Motor Vehicles and such vehicle was found to not emit a sound of eighty decibels or more when in operation. Sec. 134. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) No personally identifiable information shall be disclosed by the municipality or a vendor to any person or entity, including any law enforcement unit, except where the disclosure is made in connection with the charging, collection and enforcement of the fines imposed pursuant to an ordinance adopted under section 133 of this act. (b) No personally identifiable information shall be stored or retained by the municipality or a vendor unless such information is necessary for the charging, collection and enforcement of the fines imposed pursuant to an ordinance adopted under section 133 of this act. (c) Any information and other data gathered from a photo noise violation monitoring device shall be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200 of the general statutes, except no personally identifiable information may be disclosed. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 170 of 258 Sec. 135. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) Commencing one year from the date a photo noise violation monitoring device is operational in a municipality, and every year thereafter until a photo noise violation monitoring device is no longer operational in the municipality, the municipality shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The total number of violations recorded by each photo noise violation monitoring device on a daily, weekly and monthly basis; (2) the total number of warnings and citations issued for violations recorded by each such device; (3) the number of hearings requested pursuant to section 7-152c and the results of any such hearings; (4) the amount of revenue from the fines and associated processing fees retained by the municipality; and (5) the cost to the municipality to use such devices. Sec. 136. Subsection (c) of section 7-152c of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (c) Any such municipality, at any time within twelve months from the expiration of the final period for the uncontested payment of fines, penalties, costs or fees for any citation issued under any ordinance adopted pursuant to section 7-148, 14-307c, [or] 22a-226d or section 133 of this act, for an alleged violation thereof, shall send notice to the person cited. Such notice shall inform the person cited: (1) Of the allegations against such person and the amount of the fines, penalties, costs or fees due; (2) that such person may contest such person's liability before a citation hearing officer by delivering in person or by mail written notice within ten days of the date thereof; (3) that if such person does not demand such a hearing, an assessment and judgment shall be entered against such person; and (4) that such judgment may issue without House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 171 of 258 further notice. For purposes of this section, notice shall be presumed to have been properly sent if such notice was mailed to such person's last- known address on file with the tax collector. If the person to whom such notice is issued is a registrant, the municipality may deliver such notice in accordance with section 7-148ii, provided nothing in this section shall preclude a municipality from providing notice in another manner permitted by applicable law. Sec. 137. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2025) (a) For purposes of this section, "valuation allowance" means the portion of a deferred tax asset for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. (b) (1) Any combined group that is described under subsection (b) of section 12-218g of the general statutes, is claiming the deduction under subsection (d) of said section and did not include in the computation of such deduction the impact of any valuation allowance arising from the enactment of sections 12-218e and 12-218f of the general statutes, shall be eligible for the deduction under this subsection. (2) If the provisions of sections 12-218e and 12-218f of the general statutes resulted in an aggregate decrease in the amount of net operating losses or tax credits a combined group's members may realize in the state and a valuation allowance was reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the combined group shall be entitled to a deduction as determined under this subsection. (3) For the thirty-year period beginning with a combined group's first income year that begins in 2026, a combined group entitled to a deduction under this subsection shall deduct from combined group net income an amount equal to one-thirtieth of the amount necessary to offset the increase in the valuation allowance against net operating losses and tax credits in the state, as computed in accordance with House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 172 of 258 generally accepted accounting principles, that resulted from the enactment of sections 12-218e and 12-218f of the general statutes. Such increase in valuation allowance shall be computed based on the change in valuation allowance that was reported in the combined group's financial statements for the income year commencing on or after January 1, 2016, but prior to January 1, 2017. (c) The deduction computed under subsection (b) of this section shall not be reduced as a result of any events happening subsequent to such computation, including, but not limited to, any disposition or abandonment of assets. Such deduction shall not alter the tax basis of any asset. If the deduction under subsection (b) of this section is greater than the combined group net income, any excess deduction shall be carried forward and applied as a deduction to combined group net income in future income years until fully utilized. (d) Any combined group intending to claim a deduction under this section shall file a statement with the Commissioner of Revenue Services on or before July 1, 2025, specifying the total amount of the deduction the combined group claims. The statement shall be made on such form and in such manner as prescribed by the commissioner and shall contain such information or computations as the commissioner may specify. No deduction shall be allowed under this section for any income year except to the extent claimed on or before July 1, 2025, in the manner prescribed. Nothing in this subsection shall limit the authority of the commissioner to review or redetermine the proper amount of any deduction claimed, whether on the statement required under this subsection or on a tax return for any income year. Sec. 138. Section 21a-420n of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) On and after July 1, 2021, the department may issue or renew a House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 173 of 258 license for a person to be a cultivator. No person may act as a cultivator or represent that such person is a licensed cultivator unless such person has obtained a license from the department pursuant to this section. (b) (1) A cultivator is authorized to cultivate, grow and propagate cannabis at an establishment containing not less than fifteen thousand square feet of grow space, provided such cultivator complies with the provisions of any regulations adopted under section 21a-420q concerning grow space. A cultivator establishment shall meet physical security controls and protocols set forth and required by the commissioner. (2) (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, during the period beginning on the effective date of this section through December 31, 2025, the department may grant a final cultivator license to the holder of a provisional cultivator license issued under section 21a-420o who has not developed the capability to cultivate, grow and propagate cannabis at an establishment containing at least fifteen thousand square feet of grow space, and such holder may carry out the functions of a cultivator, if such holder submits to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner: (i) A completed application for a final cultivator license; and (ii) Evidence that (I) such holder's licensed cultivation facility contains at least five thousand square feet of grow space, (II) such holder, and such holder's licensed cultivation facility, are in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the regulations adopted, and policies and procedures issued, under this chapter, (III) such holder has a detailed business plan and buildout schedule to cultivate, grow and propagate cannabis at a licensed establishment containing at least fifteen thousand square feet of grow space on or before December 31, 2025, and (IV) such holder has paid the three-million-dollar fee required under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 21a-420o. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 174 of 258 (B) If the department issues a final cultivator license under this subdivision, and the licensee fails to cultivate, grow and propagate cannabis at a licensed establishment containing at least fifteen thousand square feet of grow space on or before December 31, 2025, such licensee shall pay to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, an extension fee in the amount of five hundred dollars for each day that such licensee's licensed establishment fails to satisfy such minimum grow space requirement. The department may, in addition to imposing such extension fee, exercise the department's enforcement authority under section 21a-421p if the licensee fails to satisfy such minimum grow space requirement on or before December 31, 2025. (c) A cultivator may label, manufacture, package and perform extractions on any cannabis cultivated, grown or propagated at its licensed establishment, including food and beverage products incorporating cannabis and cannabis concentrates, provided the cultivator meets all licensure and application requirements for a food and beverage manufacturer and a product manufacturer. (d) A cultivator may sell, transfer or transport its cannabis to a dispensary facility, hybrid retailer, retailer, food and beverage manufacturer, product manufacturer, research program, cannabis testing laboratory or product packager utilizing its own employees or a transporter. A cultivator shall not sell, transfer or deliver to consumers, qualifying patients or caregivers, directly or through a delivery service. Sec. 139. Section 21a-420d of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) There is established a Social Equity Council, which shall be within the Department of Economic and Community Development for administrative purposes only. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 175 of 258 (b) The [council] Social Equity Council shall consist of [fifteen] seventeen members as follows: (1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who has a professional background of not less than five years working in the field of either social justice or civil rights; (2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who has a professional background of not less than five years working in the field of either social justice or civil rights; (3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who has a professional background of not less than five years working in the field of economic development to help minority- owned businesses; (4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who has a professional background of not less than five years in providing access to capital to minorities, as defined in section 32-9n; (5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who is from a community that has been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement; (6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who has a professional background of not less than five years in providing access to capital to minorities, as defined in section 32-9n; [(7) One appointed by the chairperson of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly;] (7) Two appointed by the chairperson of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be designated by the chairperson of the Black Caucus of the General Assembly and one of whom shall be designated by the chairperson of the Puerto Rican and House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 176 of 258 Latino Caucus of the General Assembly; (8) [Four] Five appointed by the Governor, one who is from a community that has been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement, one who has a professional background of not less than five years working in the field of economic development and one who is an executive branch official focused on workforce development; (9) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's designee; (10) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the commissioner's designee; (11) The State Treasurer, or the State Treasurer's designee; and (12) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee. (c) (1) In making the appointments in subsection (b) of this section, the appointing authority shall use best efforts to make appointments that reflect the racial, gender and geographic diversity of the population of the state. [All appointments shall be made not later than July 30, 2021, and the Governor shall appoint the chairperson of the council from among the members of the council.] (2) Members appointed by the Governor shall serve a term of four years from the time of appointment and members appointed by any other appointing authority shall serve a term of three years from the time of appointment. The appointing authority shall fill any vacancy for the unexpired term. (3) (A) The Governor shall appoint an interim executive director to operationalize and support the [council] Social Equity Council until, House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 177 of 258 notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-9a, the council appoints an executive director. Subject to the provisions of chapter 67, and within available appropriations, the council may thereafter appoint an executive director and such other employees as may be necessary for the discharge of the duties of the council. (B) Not later than July 1, 2024, the council shall adopt bylaws specifying which duties are retained by the members of the council and which duties are delegated to the executive director. (C) The council may, by a simple majority vote of the members of the council, take any formal personnel action concerning the executive director for any reason. (D) In addition to the council's authority under subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, if a final review board consisting of the chairperson and the members of the council appointed under subdivisions (1), (2), (5) and (6) of subsection (b) of this section determines, by a simple majority vote of the members of the final review board, that removing the executive director is in the best interest of serving the council's mission, such final review board shall issue a letter to the council recommending that the council remove the executive director. (4) The Governor shall appoint the chairperson of the council from among the members of the council. The chairperson shall directly supervise, establish annual goals for and conduct an annual performance review of the executive director. (5) The chairperson and executive director shall jointly develop, and the council shall review and approve, (A) the budgetary information that the council is required to annually submit to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section 21a-420f, (B) allocations of moneys in the social equity and innovation account, established under section 21a-420f, that House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 178 of 258 the council determines, under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 21a-420f, further the principles of equity, as defined in section 21a-420, and (C) any plans for expenditures to provide (i) access to capital for businesses, (ii) technical assistance for the start-up and operation of a business, (iii) funding for workforce education, (iv) funding for community investments, and (v) funding for investments in disproportionately impacted areas. (d) A majority of the members of the [council] Social Equity Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. The members of the council shall serve without compensation, but shall, within available appropriations, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. Any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings held after May 24, 2022, or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year beginning on or after January 1, 2023, shall be deemed to have resigned from office. The appointing authority shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of any member who is deemed to have resigned from office under this subsection, and shall use best efforts to ensure such appointment reflects the racial, gender and geographic diversity of the population of the state. (e) The [council] Social Equity Council may (1) request, and shall receive, from any state agency such information and assistance as the council may require, [;] (2) use such funds as may be available from federal, state or other sources and may enter into contracts to carry out the purposes of the council, including, but not limited to, contracts or agreements with Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, constituent units of the state system of higher education, regional workforce development boards and community development financial institutions, [;] (3) utilize voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, state or federal agencies and organizations as may, from time to time, be offered and needed, [;] (4) accept any gift, donation House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 179 of 258 or bequest for the purpose of performing the duties of the council, [;] (5) hold public hearings, [;] (6) establish such standing committees, as necessary, to perform the duties of the council, [;] and (7) adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as [it] the council may deem necessary to carry out the duties of the council. (f) The [council] Social Equity Council shall promote and encourage full participation in the cannabis industry by persons from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement. (g) Not later than forty-five days after June 22, 2021, or at a later date determined by the [council] Social Equity Council, the council shall establish criteria for proposals to conduct a study under this section and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall post on the State Contracting Portal a request for proposals to conduct a study, and shall select an independent third party to conduct such study and provide detailed findings of fact regarding the following matters in the state or other matters determined by the council: (1) Historical and present-day social, economic and familial consequences of cannabis prohibition, the criminalization and stigmatization of cannabis use and related public policies; (2) Historical and present-day structures, patterns, causes and consequences of intentional and unintentional racial discrimination and racial disparities in the development, application and enforcement of cannabis prohibition and related public policies; (3) Foreseeable long-term social, economic and familial consequences of unremedied past racial discrimination and disparities arising from past and continued cannabis prohibition, stigmatization and criminalization; (4) Existing patterns of racial discrimination and racial disparities in House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 180 of 258 access to entrepreneurship, employment and other economic benefits arising in the lawful palliative use cannabis sector as established pursuant to chapter 420f; and (5) Any other matters that the council deems relevant and feasible for study for the purpose of making reasonable and practical recommendations for the establishment of an equitable and lawful adult-use cannabis business sector in this state. (h) Not later than January 1, 2022, the [council] Social Equity Council shall, taking into account the results of the study conducted in accordance with subsection (g) of this section, make written recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, consumer protection and the judiciary regarding legislation to implement the provisions of this section. The council shall make recommendations regarding: (1) Creating programs to ensure that individuals from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement are provided equal access to licenses for cannabis establishments; (2) Specifying additional qualifications for social equity applicants; (3) Providing for expedited or priority license processing for each license as a retailer, hybrid retailer, cultivator, micro-cultivator, product manufacturer, food and beverage manufacturer, product packager, transporter and delivery service license for social equity applicants; (4) Establishing minimum criteria for any cannabis establishment licensed on or after January 1, 2022, that is not owned by a social equity applicant, to comply with an approved workforce development plan to reinvest or provide employment and training opportunities for House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 181 of 258 individuals in disproportionately impacted areas; (5) Establishing criteria for a social equity plan for any cannabis establishment licensed on or after January 1, 2022, to further the principles of equity, as defined in section 21a-420; (6) Recruiting individuals from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement to enroll in the workforce training program established pursuant to section 21a-421g; (7) Potential uses for revenue generated under RERACA to further equity; (8) Encouraging participation of investors, cannabis establishments, and entrepreneurs in the cannabis business accelerator program established pursuant to section 21a-421f; (9) Establishing a process to best ensure that social equity applicants have access to the capital and training needed to own and operate a cannabis establishment; and (10) Developing a vendor list of women-owned and minority-owned businesses that cannabis establishments may contract with for necessary services, including, but not limited to, office supplies, information technology infrastructure and cleaning services. (i) (1) Not later than August 1, 2021, and annually thereafter until July 31, 2023, the [council] Social Equity Council shall use the most recent five-year United States Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates or any successor data to determine one or more United States census tracts in the state that are a disproportionately impacted area and shall publish a list of such tracts on the council's Internet web site. (2) Not later than August 1, 2023, the council shall use poverty rate House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 182 of 258 data from the most recent five-year United States Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates, population data from the most recent decennial census and conviction information from databases managed by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to identify all United States census tracts in the state that are disproportionately impacted areas and shall publish a list of such tracts on the council's Internet web site. In identifying which census tracts in this state are disproportionately impacted areas and preparing such list, the council shall: (A) Not deem any census tract with a poverty rate that is less than the state-wide poverty rate to be a disproportionately impacted area; (B) After eliminating the census tracts described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, rank the remaining census tracts in order from the census tract with the greatest historical conviction rate for drug-related offenses to the census tract with the lowest historical conviction rate for drug-related offenses; and (C) Include census tracts in the order of rank described in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision until including the next census tract would cause the total population of all included census tracts to exceed twenty-five per cent of the state's population. (j) After developing criteria for workforce development plans as described in subdivision (4) of subsection (h) of this section, the [council] Social Equity Council shall review and approve or deny in writing any such plan submitted by a producer under section 21a-420l or a hybrid- retailer under section 21a-420u. (k) The [council] Social Equity Council shall develop criteria for evaluating the ownership and control of any equity joint venture created under section 21a-420m, 21a-420u or 21a-420j and shall review and approve or deny in writing such equity joint venture prior to such equity House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 183 of 258 joint venture being licensed under section 21a-420m, 21a-420u or 21a- 420j. [After developing criteria for social equity plans as described in subdivision (5) of subsection (h) of this section, the council shall review and approve or deny in writing any such plan submitted by a cannabis establishment as part of its final license application.] The council shall not approve any equity joint venture applicant which shares with an equity joint venture any individual owner who meets the criteria established in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision (50) of section 21a-420. (l) The Social Equity Council shall, upon receipt of funds from producers in accordance with subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of section 21a-420l, develop a program to assist social equity applicants to open not more than two micro-cultivator establishment businesses in total. Producers shall provide mentorship to such social equity applicants. The [Social Equity Council] council shall, with the department, determine a system to select social equity applicants to participate in such program without participating in a lottery or request for proposals. (m) (1) The Social Equity Council shall review and either approve or deny, in writing, any social equity plan submitted by a cannabis establishment as part of the cannabis establishment's final license application. The council shall approve or deny such social equity plan not later than thirty days after such social equity plan is submitted to the council. If the council denies any such social equity plan, the applicant may revise and resubmit such social equity plan without prejudice. (2) Not later than July 1, 2024, the council shall update the criteria for social equity plans described in subdivision (5) of subsection (h) of this section to include a specific, points-based rubric to evaluate social equity plans. (n) The Social Equity Council shall approve the amounts, grantees House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 184 of 258 and purposes of any grants made by the council from the social equity and innovation account or the Cannabis Social Equity and Innovation Fund, established under section 21a-420f, and any contract executed by and between the council and a grant maker shall require that the amounts, grantees and purposes of any subgrants made by such grant maker shall be approved by the council. (o) Not later than July 1, 2024, and quarterly thereafter, the Social Equity Council shall prepare and submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the Governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the Senate and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and consumer protection. The report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The fiscal-year-to-date expenditures of the council, which expenditures shall disclose, at a minimum: (A) All expenditures made for personal services and the fringe benefit costs associated therewith; (B) all expenditures made for consultants retained for the purpose of reviewing applications for social equity applicant status; (C) all expenditures made to provide businesses with access to capital and the number of businesses that received access to such capital; (D) all expenditures made to provide technical assistance for the start-up and operation of businesses and the number of businesses that received such assistance; (E) all expenditures made to fund workforce education, the number of persons served by the workforce education programs supported by such expenditures and the number of persons successfully placed in relevant professional roles after completing such workforce education programs; (F) all expenditures made to fund community investment grants, the amounts, grantees and purposes of such grants House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 185 of 258 and, if any of such grants were made to a grant maker, the amounts, grantees and purposes of any subgrants made by such grant maker; (G) all expenditures made for promotional or branding items and which promotional or branding items were purchased; (H) all expenditures made for advertising or marketing campaigns; (I) all expenditures made to advertising or marketing firms; (J) all expenditures made for sponsorships; (K) all expenditures made for other community outreach; (L) all expenditures made for travel; and (M) all other expenditures not described in subparagraphs (A) to (L), inclusive, of this subdivision; and (2) The status of the council's performance of the council's responsibilities in the licensing process under RERACA, including, but not limited to: (A) The number of applications for social equity applicant status, social equity plans and workforce development plans pending before the council, categorized into the number of applications, social equity plans and workforce development plans pending before the council for (i) less than thirty days, (ii) at least thirty days but less than sixty days, (iii) at least sixty days but less than ninety days, and (iv) at least ninety days; (B) the number of applications for social equity applicant status, social equity plans and workforce development plans approved during the then current fiscal year, broken down by license type; and (C) the number of applications for social equity applicant status, social equity plans and workforce development plans denied during the then current fiscal year, broken down by license type. (p) Not later than July 1, 2024, and monthly thereafter, the executive director of the council shall prepare and submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the council and the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly. The report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The expenditures the council plans to make during the month immediately following submission of such report, which expenditures shall disclose, at a minimum: (A) All expenditures the council plans to House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 186 of 258 make for consultants retained for the purpose of reviewing applications for social equity applicant status; (B) all expenditures the council plans to make to fund community investment grants, the amounts, grantees and purposes of such grants and, if any of such grants are to be made to a grant maker, the amounts, grantees and purposes of any subgrants to be made by such grant maker; (C) all expenditures the council plans to make for promotional or branding items, for advertising or marketing campaigns, to advertising or marketing firms and for sponsorships; (D) all expenditures the council plans to make for community outreach; and (E) all expenditures the council plans to make for travel; and (2) The status of the council's performance of the council's responsibilities in the licensing process under RERACA, including, but not limited to, the following information for the date of such report: (A) The number of applications for social equity applicant status that are pending before the council and the date each such application was submitted, broken down by license type, municipality, assembly district and senate district; (B) the number of social equity plans that are pending before the council and the date each such social equity plan was submitted, broken down by license type; and (C) the number of workforce development plans that are pending before the council and the date each such workforce development plan was submitted, broken down by license type. Sec. 140. Section 21a-420f of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) (1) There is established an account to be known as the "cannabis regulatory and investment account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account shall be allocated by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in consultation with the Social Equity Council, as defined House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 187 of 258 in section 21a-420, to state agencies for the purpose of paying costs incurred to implement the activities authorized under RERACA, as defined in section 21a-420. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 21a-420e, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, the following shall be deposited in the cannabis regulatory and investment account: (A) All fees received by the state pursuant to section 21a-421b and subdivisions (1) to (11), inclusive, of subsection (c) of section 21a-420e; (B) the tax received by the state under section 12-330ll; and (C) the tax received by the state under chapter 219 from a cannabis retailer, hybrid retailer or micro-cultivator, as those terms are defined in section 12-330ll. (3) At the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, all moneys remaining in the cannabis regulatory and investment account shall be transferred to the General Fund. (b) (1) There is established an account to be known as the "social equity and innovation account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. (A) During the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, moneys in the account shall be allocated by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in consultation with the Social Equity Council, to state agencies for the purpose of (i) paying costs incurred by the Social Equity Council, (ii) administering programs under RERACA to provide (I) access to capital for businesses, (II) technical assistance for the start-up and operation of a business, (III) funding for workforce education, and (IV) funding for community investments, and (iii) paying costs incurred to implement the activities authorized under RERACA. (B) During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, moneys in the account House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 188 of 258 shall be allocated by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for purposes that the Social Equity Council determines, in the Social Equity Council's sole discretion, further the principles of equity, as defined in section 21a-420, which purposes may include, but need not be limited to, providing (i) access to capital for businesses in any industry, (ii) technical assistance for the start-up and operation of a business in any industry, (iii) funding for workforce education in any industry, (iv) funding for community investments, and (v) funding for investments in disproportionately impacted areas. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 21a-420e and 21a- 420o, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, the following shall be deposited in the social equity and innovation account: All fees received by the state pursuant to sections 21a-420l, 21a-420o and 21a-420u and subdivisions (12) and (13) of subsection (c) of section 21a- 420e. (3) At the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, five million dollars shall be transferred from the social equity and innovation account to the General Fund, or, if the account contains less than five million dollars, all remaining moneys in the account. At the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, all remaining moneys in the account shall be transferred to the Social Equity and Innovation Fund established under subsection (c) of this section. (c) (1) On and after July 1, 2022, there is established a fund to be known as the "Cannabis Social Equity and Innovation Fund". The fund shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the fund and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and apart from all other moneys, funds and accounts. Amounts in the fund may be expended only pursuant to appropriation by the General Assembly. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the fiscal year next succeeding. Moneys in the fund shall be appropriated for the purposes of providing the following: House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 189 of 258 Access to capital for businesses in any industry; technical assistance for the start-up and operation of a business in any industry; funding for workforce education in any industry; funding for community investments; and paying costs incurred to implement the activities authorized under RERACA. All such appropriations shall be dedicated to expenditures that further the principles of equity, as defined in section 21a-420. (2) (A) For the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Social Equity Council shall transmit, for even-numbered years, estimates of expenditure requirements and for odd-numbered years, recommended adjustments and revisions, if any, of such estimates, to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in the manner prescribed for a budgeted agency under subsection (a) of section 4-77. (B) The Office of Policy and Management may not make adjustments to any such estimates or adjustments and revisions of such estimates transmitted by the council. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any special act, the Governor shall not reduce the allotment requisitions or allotments in force pursuant to section 4-85 or make reductions in allotments in order to achieve budget savings in the General Fund, concerning any appropriations made by the General Assembly for the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection. (C) The estimates of expenditure requirements transmitted by the Social Equity Council to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall, consistent with the requirements established in subsection (a) of section 4-77, include an estimate of the amount of funds required to be distributed among the permissible purposes for appropriations made from the Cannabis Social Equity and Innovation Fund as set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 190 of 258 (d) On and after July 1, 2022, there is established a fund to be known as the "Cannabis Prevention and Recovery Services Fund". The fund shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the fund and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and apart from all other moneys, funds and accounts. Amounts in the fund may be expended only pursuant to appropriation by the General Assembly. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the fiscal year next succeeding. Moneys in the fund shall be appropriated for the purposes of (1) substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services, which may include, but need not be limited to, the (A) provision of youth cannabis use prevention services by the local advisory councils on drug use and prevention established by municipalities pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 4126 of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986, as amended from time to time, regional behavioral health action organizations described in section 17a-484f, or youth service bureaus established pursuant to section 10-19m, and (B) development of a public awareness campaign to raise awareness of the mental and physical health risks of youth cannabis use and cannabis use by pregnant persons, and (2) collection and analysis of data regarding substance use. The Social Equity Council may make recommendations to any relevant state agency regarding expenditures to be made for the purposes set forth in this subsection. (e) On and after July 1, 2023, there is established a fund to be known as the "Cannabis Regulatory Fund" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing fund. The fund shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the fund and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and apart from all other moneys, funds and accounts. Moneys in the fund shall be appropriated to state agencies for the purposes of paying costs incurred to implement the activities authorized under RERACA, as defined in section 21a-420. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 191 of 258 Sec. 141. Subsection (g) of section 19a-59i of the general statutes, as amended by section 45 of public act 24-81, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (g) The Department of Public Health shall develop educational materials regarding: (1) The health and safety of [pregnant] expectant and postpartum mothers and persons with mental health disorders, including, but not limited to, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, for distribution by the department to each birthing hospital in the state. As used in this subdivision, "birthing hospital" means a health care facility, as defined in section 19a-630, operated and maintained in whole or in part for the purpose of caring for patients during the delivery of a child and for a postpartum mother or person and such mother's or person's newborn following birth; (2) Evidence-based screening tools for screening patients for intimate partner violence, peripartum mood disorders and substance use disorder for distribution by the department to obstetricians and other health care providers who practice obstetrics; (3) Indicators of intimate partner violence for distribution by the department to (A) hospitals for use by health care providers in the emergency department and hospital social workers, and (B) obstetricians and other health care providers who practice obstetrics; and (4) Not later than January 1, 2025, intimate partner violence toward [pregnant] expectant and postpartum mothers and persons for distribution by the department (A) in print to each birthing hospital and birth center in the state, and (B) electronically to obstetricians and other health care providers who practice obstetrics for provision to [pregnant] expectant and postpartum patients. The department shall consult with House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 192 of 258 organizations that advocate on behalf of victims of domestic violence in the development of educational materials pursuant to this subdivision. Sec. 142. Section 19a-490ee of the general statutes, as amended by section 46 of public act 24-81, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) As used in this section, (1) "birthing hospital" means a health care facility, as defined in section 19a-630, operated and maintained in whole or in part for the purpose of caring for a person during the delivery of a child and for a postpartum mother or person and such mother's or person's newborn following birth; and (2) "birth center" has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-490. (b) Each birthing hospital shall provide to each patient who has undergone a caesarean section written information regarding the importance of mobility following a caesarean section and the risks associated with immobility following a caesarean section. (c) Each birthing hospital shall establish a patient portal through which a postpartum patient can virtually access, through an Internet web site or application, any educational materials and other information that the birthing hospital provided to the patient during the patient's stay at the birthing hospital and at the time of the patient's discharge from the birthing hospital. (d) Each birthing hospital shall provide to each postpartum patient the educational materials regarding the health and safety of [pregnant] expectant and postpartum mothers and persons with mental health disorders, including, but not limited to, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, developed by the [maternal mortality review committee] Department of Public Health pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 19a-59i, as amended by [this act] public act 24-81. (e) On and after January 1, 2025, each birthing hospital and birth House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 193 of 258 center shall provide to each pregnant and postpartum patient the educational materials regarding intimate partner violence toward pregnant and postpartum persons, developed by the Department of Public Health pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (g) of section 19a-59i, as amended by [this act] public act 24-81. Sec. 143. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the Department of Education shall administer an artificial intelligence education tool pilot program. Under such pilot program, the Commissioner of Education shall award a grant to assist such boards in implementing an existing artificial intelligence tool, selected by the commissioner, that will be used by educators and students for classroom instruction and student learning. (b) The commissioner shall select five local or regional boards of education to participate in the pilot program, provided such participation includes at least one rural school district, one suburban school district and one urban school district and reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of the state. The commissioner and each such participating board of education shall jointly select the grade level in which such artificial intelligence tool will be implemented in the school district, provided such grade level is grade seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven or twelve. (c) Such artificial intelligence tool shall comply with the laws governing the use of artificial intelligence and the protection of student data and privacy, including, but not limited to, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 USC 1232g, as amended from time to time, and sections 10-234aa to 10-234gg, inclusive, of the general statutes. (d) As used in this section, "artificial intelligence" means any technology, including, but not limited to, machine learning that uses data to train an algorithm or predictive model for the purpose of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 194 of 258 enabling a computer system or service to autonomously perform any task, including, but not limited to, visual perception, language processing or speech recognition, that is normally associated with human intelligence or perception. Sec. 144. (Effective July 1, 2024) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the Department of Education shall provide professional development for educators employed by the local and regional boards of education participating in the artificial intelligence education tool pilot program pursuant to section 143 of this act. Such professional development shall include, but not be limited to, (1) training on how to properly and safely utilize the artificial intelligence tool selected for such pilot program as part of instruction in the classroom, (2) how such artificial intelligence tool can benefit (A) educators in classroom instruction, and (B) students in learning, academic achievement and workforce development, and (3) the laws governing the use of artificial intelligence and the protection of student data and privacy, including, but not limited to, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 USC 1232g, as amended from time to time, and sections 10-234aa to 10-234gg, inclusive, of the general statutes. As used in this section, "artificial intelligence" means any technology, including, but not limited to, machine learning that uses data to train an algorithm or predictive model for the purpose of enabling a computer system or service to autonomously perform any task, including, but not limited to, visual perception, language processing or speech recognition, that is normally associated with human intelligence or perception. Sec. 145. (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) Not later than January 1, 2025, the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Commission for Educational Technology established pursuant to section 4d-80 of the general statutes, shall develop a model digital citizenship curriculum for grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, that may be used by local and regional boards of education. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 195 of 258 (b) Such model digital citizenship curriculum shall (1) be rigorous, age appropriate and aligned with curriculum guidelines approved by the State Board of Education, (2) include content and instruction to develop digital citizenship skills and dispositions within online spaces with the media and technology across all content areas to cultivate positive student relationships and school climate, and (3) include topics that are aligned with the provisions of subparagraph (H) of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 10-25b of the general statutes. (c) The department may accept gifts, grants and donations, including in-kind donations, designated for the implementation of the model digital citizenship curriculum under this section. Sec. 146. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) On or before October 31, 2024, and semiannually thereafter, each hospital, as defined in section 12-263p of the general statutes, shall submit a report to the executive director of the Office of Health Strategy that identifies, for each of the two prior calendar quarters, (1) the number of days of cash on hand, or days cash and cash equivalents otherwise available to the hospital, and (2) the dollar amount of (A) invoices that are at least ninety days past due in the reporting period, (B) utility bills that are at least ninety days past due in the reporting period, (C) fees, taxes or assessments owed to public entities that are at least ninety days past due in the reporting period, and (D) unpaid employee health insurance premiums, including unpaid contributions, claims or other obligations supporting employees under a self-funded insurance plan or fully insured plan, that are at least ninety days past due in the reporting period. The executive director shall develop a uniform template, including, but not limited to, definitions of terms used in such template, to be used by hospitals for the purposes of complying with the provisions of this subsection and post such template on the Office of Health Strategy's Internet web site. A hospital may request an extension of time to comply with the requirements of this subsection in a form and manner prescribed by the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 196 of 258 executive director. The executive director may grant such request for good cause, as determined by the executive director. Such template shall be based on generally accepted accounting principles as prescribed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. (b) If a hospital submits a report pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section reflecting two consecutive quarters of sixty days or less of days of cash on hand, or days cash and cash equivalents otherwise available to the hospital, the executive director may require the hospital to provide the Office of Health Strategy with additional information that the executive director deems relevant to understanding the financial health of the hospital. (c) If a hospital submits a report pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section reflecting two consecutive quarters of forty- five days or less of cash on hand, or days cash and cash equivalents otherwise available to the hospital, the Office of Health Strategy shall contact the hospital to offer assistance. (d) If a hospital has multiple consecutive quarters of one hundred or more days of cash on hand, or days cash and cash equivalents otherwise available to the hospital, the executive director may waive one of the hospital's two semiannual reports required pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. Sec. 147. Section 382 of public act 23-204 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): Not later than June 30, 2024, the Comptroller shall transfer [ninety- five] two hundred five million dollars of the resources of the General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, to be accounted for as revenue of the General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Sec. 148. (Effective from passage) (a) Up to $1,500,000 of the unexpended balance of funds that was transferred and made available House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 197 of 258 to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, for Other Expenses, for costs associated with the legalization of cannabis in subdivision (36) of subsection (b) of section 12 of public act 22-118 and in subsection (d) of section 41 of public act 23-204, carried forward and made available for the same purpose during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, shall be made available to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, for Other Expenses, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, as follows: (1) Up to $1,100,000 for a study of the operations of The University of Connecticut Health Center; (2) Up to $200,000 for a study of managerial compensation; and (3) Up to $200,000 for a strategic higher education study of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. (b) The unexpended balance of funds made available to the secretary under subsection (a) of this section shall not lapse on June 30, 2024, and shall continue to be available for the purposes described in subsection (a) of this section during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Sec. 149. (Effective from passage) Up to $2,300,000 of the unexpended balance of funds that was transferred and made available to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, for Other Expenses, for costs associated with the legalization of cannabis in subdivision (36) of subsection (b) of section 12 of public act 22-118 and in subsection (d) of section 41 of public act 23-204, carried forward and made available for the same purpose during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, shall not lapse on June 30, 2024, and such funds shall be transferred and made available to the Department of Social Services, for Community Action Agencies, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Sec. 150. Sections 240 and 241 of public act 24-81 are repealed. (Effective from passage) House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 198 of 258 Sec. 151. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Administrative Services, having reviewed applications for state grants for public school building projects in accordance with section 10-283 of the general statutes, on the basis of priorities for such projects and standards for school construction established by the State Board of Education, and having prepared a listing of all such eligible projects ranked in order of priority, as determined by said commissioner together with the amount of the estimated grant with respect to each eligible project, and having submitted such listing of eligible projects, prior to December 15, 2023, to a committee of the General Assembly established under section 10-283a of the general statutes, for the purpose of reviewing such listing, is hereby authorized to enter into grant commitments on behalf of the state in accordance with said section with respect to the priority listing of such projects and in such estimated amounts as approved by said committee prior to February 1, 2024, as follows: (1) Estimated Grant Commitments. School District Estimated Estimated School Project Costs Grant Project Number BRISTOL Edgewood Pre-K Academy 24DASY017090RNV0624 $16,803,560 $11,701,999 LEARN New Early Childhood School at 51 Daniels Avenue 24DASY245090APF0624 $95,736,656 $90,949,823 STAMFORD South School - Upper 24DASY135283N0624 $85,871,466 $51,522,880 STAMFORD House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 199 of 258 South School – Lower 24DASY135284N0624 $72,463,942 $43,478,365 BRISTOL Bristol Central High School Culinary Arts 24DASY017091A0624 $1,426,955 $993,731 BRISTOL Bristol Eastern High School Culinary Arts 24DASY017092A0624 $1,448,285 $1,008,586 DANBURY Danbury High School 24DASY034154A0624 $16,500,000 $10,429,650 HARTFORD Montessori Magnet at Batchelder 24DASY064322RNV0624 $102,569,302 $97,440,837 HARTFORD S.A.N.D. Elementary School 24DASY064323RNV0624 $82,837,086 $78,695,232 HARTFORD Maria C. Colon Sanchez Elementary School 24DASY064324RNV0624 $96,945,196 $92,097,936 NEWINGTON John Wallace Middle School 24DASY094112AB0624 $10,717,573 $8,038,180 (2) Previously Authorized Projects That Have Changed Substantially in Scope or Cost which are Seeking Reauthorization. School District Authorized Requested School House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 200 of 258 Project Number HARTFORD Betances Learning Lab Magnet School 21DASY064316RNV0621 Estimated… Total Project Costs $43,709,774 $66,825,200 Total Grant $41,524,285 $63,483,940 HARTFORD Fred D. Wish Museum School 21DASY064318RNV0621 Estimated… Total Project Costs $49,320,000 $67,290,900 Total Grant $46,854,000 $63,926,355 HARTFORD E. B. Kennelly School 21DASY064317RNV0621 Estimated… Total Project Costs $51,416,225 $88,130,000 Total Grant $48,845,414 $83,723,500 Sec. 152. Section 10-283 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) (1) Each town or regional school district shall be eligible to apply for and accept grants for a school building project as provided in this chapter. Any town desiring a grant for a public school building project may, by vote of its legislative body, authorize the board of education of such town to apply to the Commissioner of Administrative Services and to accept or reject such grant for the town. Any regional school board may vote to authorize the supervising agent of the regional school district to apply to the Commissioner of Administrative Services for and House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 201 of 258 to accept or reject such grant for the district. Applications for such grants under this chapter shall be made by the superintendent of schools of such town or regional school district on the form provided and in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. The application form shall require the superintendent of schools to affirm that the school district considered the maximization of natural light, the use and feasibility of wireless connectivity technology and, on and after July 1, 2014, the school safety infrastructure criteria, described in section 10-292r, in projects for new construction and alteration or renovation of a school building. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall review, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, each grant application for a school building project for compliance with educational [requirements and on the basis of categories for building projects established by the Commissioner of Administrative Services in accordance with this section] specifications. The Commissioner of Education shall evaluate, if appropriate, whether the project will assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall consult with the Commissioner of Education in reviewing grant applications submitted for purposes of subsection (a) of section 10-65 or section 10-76e on the basis of the educational needs of the applicant. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall review each grant application for a school building project for compliance with standards for school building projects pursuant to regulations, adopted in accordance with section 10- 287c, and, on and after July 1, 2014, the school safety infrastructure criteria, described in section 10-292r. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of Quinebaug Valley Community College and Three Rivers Community College and the following entities that will operate an interdistrict magnet school that will assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 202 of 258 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, may apply for and shall be eligible to receive grants for school building projects pursuant to section 10-264h for such a school: (A) The Board of Trustees of the Community- Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (B) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (C) the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (D) the board of governors for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent institution of higher education, (E) cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and (F) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the Commissioner of Education. (2) [The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall assign each school building project to a category on the basis of whether such project is primarily required to: (A) Create new facilities or alter existing facilities to provide for mandatory instructional programs pursuant to this chapter, for physical education facilities in compliance with Title IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1972 where such programs or such compliance cannot be provided within existing facilities or for the correction of code violations which cannot be reasonably addressed within existing program space; (B) create new facilities or alter existing facilities to enhance mandatory instructional programs pursuant to this chapter or provide comparable facilities among schools to all students at the same grade level or levels within the school district unless such project is otherwise explicitly included in another category pursuant to this section; and (C) create new facilities or alter existing facilities to provide supportive services, provided in no event shall such supportive services include swimming pools, auditoriums, outdoor athletic facilities, tennis courts, elementary school playgrounds, site improvement or garages or storage, parking or House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 203 of 258 general recreation areas.] All applications submitted prior to July first shall be reviewed promptly by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall estimate the amount of the grant for which such project is eligible, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-285a, provided an application for a school building project determined by the Commissioner of Education to be a project that will assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, shall have until September first to submit an application for such a project and may have until December first of the same year to secure and report all local and state approvals required to complete the grant application. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall annually prepare a listing of all such eligible school building projects [listed by category together] with the amount of the estimated grants for such projects and shall submit the same to the Governor, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the General Assembly on or before the fifteenth day of December, except as provided in section 10-283a, with a request for authorization to enter into grant commitments. On or before December thirty-first annually, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management may submit comments and recommendations regarding each eligible project on such listing of eligible school building projects to the school construction committee, established pursuant to section 10-283a. Each such listing shall include a report on the following factors for each eligible project: (i) An enrollment projection and the capacity of the school, including who conducted the enrollment projection for the school and the cost of conducting such enrollment projection, (ii) a substantiation of the estimated total project costs, (iii) the readiness of such eligible project to begin construction, (iv) efforts made by the local or regional board of education to redistrict, reconfigure, merge or close schools under the jurisdiction of such board prior to submitting an application under this section, (v) enrollment and capacity information for all of the schools House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 204 of 258 under the jurisdiction of such board for the five years prior to application for a school building project grant, (vi) enrollment projections and capacity information for all of the schools under the jurisdiction of such board for the eight years following the date such application is submitted, [and] including who conducted the enrollment projection for the school and the cost of conducting such enrollment projection, (vii) the state's education priorities relating to reducing racial and economic isolation for the school district, and (viii) an estimation of the total ineligible costs and an itemization of such ineligible costs for such project. On and after July 1, 2022, each such listing shall include an addendum that contains all grants approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section during the prior fiscal year. For the period beginning July 1, 2006, and ending June 30, 2012, no project [, other than a project for a technical education and career school,] may appear on the separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in cost more than twice. On and after July 1, 2012, no project, other than a project for a technical education and career school, may appear on the separate schedule of authorized projects which have changed in cost more than once, except the Commissioner of Administrative Services may allow a project to appear on such separate schedule of authorized projects a second time if the town or regional school district for such project can demonstrate that exigent circumstances require such project to appear a second time on such separate schedule of authorized projects. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, no projects which have changed in scope or cost to the degree determined by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall be eligible for reimbursement under this chapter unless it appears on such list. The percentage determined pursuant to section 10-285a at the time a school building project on such schedule was originally authorized shall be used for purposes of the grant for such project. On and after July 1, 2006, a project that was not previously authorized as an interdistrict magnet school shall not receive a higher percentage for reimbursement than that determined pursuant to section House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 205 of 258 10-285a at the time a school building project on such schedule was originally authorized. The General Assembly shall annually authorize the Commissioner of Administrative Services to enter into grant commitments on behalf of the state in accordance with the commissioner's categorized listing for such projects as the General Assembly shall determine. The Commissioner of Administrative Services may not enter into any such grant commitments except pursuant to such legislative authorization. Any regional school district which assumes the responsibility for completion of a public school building project shall be eligible for a grant pursuant to subdivision (5) or (6), as the case may be, of subsection (a) of section 10-286 when such project is completed and accepted by such regional school district. (3) (A) All final calculations completed by the Department of Administrative Services for school building projects shall include a computation of the state grant for the school building project amortized on a straight line basis over a twenty-year period for school building projects with costs equal to or greater than two million dollars and over a ten-year period for school building projects with costs less than two million dollars. Any town or regional school district which abandons, sells, leases, demolishes or otherwise redirects the use of such a school building project to other than a public school use or a public use during such amortization period shall refund to the state the unamortized balance of the state grant remaining as of the date the abandonment, sale, lease, demolition or redirection occurs. The amortization period for a project shall begin on the date the project was accepted as complete by the local or regional board of education. A town or regional school district required to make a refund to the state pursuant to this subdivision may request forgiveness of such refund if the building is redirected for public use. The Department of Administrative Services shall include as an addendum to the annual school construction priority list all those towns requesting forgiveness. General Assembly approval of the priority list under section 10-283a, containing such request shall House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 206 of 258 constitute approval of such request. This subdivision shall not apply to projects to correct safety, health and other code violations or to remedy certified school indoor air quality emergencies approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section or projects subject to the provisions of section 10-285c. (B) If the board of governors for an independent institution of higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent institution of higher education, that operates an interdistrict magnet school makes private use of any portion of a school building in which such operator received a school building project grant pursuant to this chapter, such operator shall annually submit a report to the Commissioner of Education that demonstrates that such operator provides an equal to or greater than in-kind or supplemental benefit of such institution's facilities to students enrolled in such interdistrict magnet school that outweighs the private use of such school building. If the commissioner finds that the private use of such school building exceeds the in-kind or supplemental benefit to magnet school students, the commissioner may require such institution to refund to the state the unamortized balance of the state grant. (C) Any moneys refunded to the state pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this subdivision shall be deposited in the state's tax-exempt proceeds fund and used not later than sixty days after repayment to pay debt service on, including redemption, defeasance or purchase of, outstanding bonds of the state the interest on which is not included in gross income pursuant to Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended. (b) Notwithstanding the application date requirements of this section, at any time within the limit of available grant authorization and within the limit of appropriated funds, the Commissioner of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 207 of 258 Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, may approve applications for grants and make payments for such grants, for any of the following reasons: (A) To assist school building projects to remedy damage from fire and catastrophe, (B) to correct safety, health and other code violations, (C) to replace roofs, including the replacement or installation of skylights as part of the roof replacement project, (D) to remedy a certified school indoor air quality emergency, (E) to install insulation for exterior walls and attics, or (F) to purchase and install a limited use and limited access elevator, windows, photovoltaic panels, wind generation systems, building management systems or portable classroom buildings, provided portable classroom building projects shall not create a new facility or cause an existing facility to be modified so that the portable buildings comprise a substantial percentage of the total facility area, as determined by the commissioner. (c) No school building project shall be added to the list prepared by the Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to subsection (a) of this section after such list is submitted to the committee of the General Assembly appointed pursuant to section 10-283a unless (1) the project is for a school placed on probation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the project is necessary to preserve accreditation, (2) the project is necessary to replace a school building for which a state agency issued a written notice of its intent to take the school property for public purpose, (3) it is a school building project determined by the Commissioner of Education to be a project that will assist the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to projects previously authorized by the General Assembly that require special legislation to correct procedural deficiencies. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 208 of 258 (d) No school building project shall be added to the list prepared by the Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, unless the applicant, prior to submitting an application, has (1) secured funding authorization for the local share of the project costs, provided for any application submitted on and after July 1, 2026, such local share includes an additional ten per cent contingency that is in accordance with guidance developed by the Department of Administrative Services, and such authorization has become effective pursuant to the general statutes and local ordinance or charter, or (2) scheduled and prepared a referendum, if required, the results of which shall be submitted on or before the fifteenth day of November in the year of application. The reimbursement percentage for a project covered by this subsection shall reflect the rates in effect during the fiscal year in which such local funding authorization is secured. Sec. 153. Section 10-283a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): The listing of eligible school building projects submitted pursuant to section 10-283 shall be reviewed by a committee consisting of the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budget of state agencies, finance, revenue and bonding and education. The listing of eligible projects [by category] shall be submitted to said committee prior to December fifteenth annually to determine if said listing is in compliance with [the categories described in] the provisions of subsection (a) of section 10-283, and standards established in regulations adopted pursuant to section 10- 287c. The committee may modify the listing. Such modified listing shall be in compliance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 10-283, and such standards. [and categories.] On or after January first annually, and prior to February first annually, the committee shall submit the approved or modified listing of projects to the Governor and the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 209 of 258 General Assembly. Sec. 154. Subsection (a) of section 10-284 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall have authority to receive and review applications for state grants under this chapter, and to approve any such application, or to disapprove any such application if (1) it does not include an attestation from (A) the local fire marshal that the school building project plans comply with the requirements of the State Fire Marshal, [or] and (B) the district department of health or municipal health department, as the case may be, that the school building project plans comply with the requirements of the Department of Public Health, (2) it is not accompanied by a life- cycle cost analysis approved by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, (3) it does not comply with the provisions of sections 10-290d and 10-291, (4) it does not meet (A) the standards or requirements established in regulations adopted in accordance with section 10-287c, or (B) school building categorization requirements described in section 10-283, (5) the estimated construction cost exceeds the per square foot cost for schools established in regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, [for the county in which the project is proposed to be located,] (6) on and after July 1, 2014, the application does not comply with the school safety infrastructure criteria described in section 10-292r, except the Commissioner of Administrative Services may waive any of the provisions of the school safety infrastructure criteria if the commissioner determines that the application demonstrates that the applicant has made a good faith effort to address such criteria and that compliance with such criteria would be infeasible, unreasonable or excessively expensive, (7) the Commissioner of Education determines that the proposed educational specifications for or theme of the project for which the applicant requests a state grant House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 210 of 258 duplicates a program offered by a technical education and career school or an interdistrict magnet school in the same region, [or] (8) on and after July 1, 2018, a regional educational service center is designated as the project manager in the application, or (9) on and after July 1, 2025, the application is not accompanied by any solar feasibility assessment required pursuant to section 176 of this act for the school building that is the subject of such application. Sec. 155. Subsection (e) of section 10-285a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (e) (1) If an elementary school building project for a new building or for the expansion of an existing building includes space for [a school readiness program] an early childhood care and education program that provides services for children from birth to five years, the percentage determined pursuant to this section shall be increased by [five] fifteen percentage points, but shall not exceed one hundred per cent, for the portion of the building used primarily for such purpose. Recipient districts shall maintain [full-day preschool enrollment] such early childhood care and education program for at least ten years. (2) The percentage determined pursuant to this section for any school building project for a building or facility that will be used exclusively by a local or regional board of education for an early childhood care and education program that provides services for children from birth to five years shall be increased by fifteen percentage points, but shall not exceed one hundred per cent. Recipient districts shall maintain such early childhood care and education program for at least twenty years. Sec. 156. Subsection (h) of section 10-285a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 211 of 258 (h) Subject to the provisions of section 10-285d, if an elementary school building project for a school in a priority school district or for a priority school is necessary in order to offer a full-day kindergarten program or a full-day preschool program or to reduce class size pursuant to section 10-265f, the percentage determined pursuant to this section shall be increased by [ten] fifteen percentage points, but shall not exceed one hundred per cent, for the portion of the building used primarily for such full-day kindergarten program, full-day preschool program or such reduced size classes. Recipient districts that receive an increase pursuant to this subsection in support of a full-day preschool program, shall maintain full-day preschool enrollment for at least ten years. Sec. 157. Subsection (k) of section 10-285a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (k) [The] On and after July 1, 2024, for applications submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-283, the percentage of school building project grant money a local or regional board of education [for a municipality deemed to be an inclusive municipality by the Commissioner of Housing] may be eligible to receive shall be increased by five percentage points if, prior to December first of the year in which the board submits an application for a grant, such board submits a written determination issued by the Commissioner of Housing within such year finding that the municipality in which the school building project is to occur has been deemed to be an inclusive municipality. As used in this subsection, "inclusive municipality" means any municipality that: (1) Has a total population, as defined in section 10- 261, that is greater than six thousand; (2) has less than ten per cent of its housing units determined by the commissioner to be affordable; (3) has adopted and maintains zoning regulations that (A) promote fair housing, as determined by the commissioner, (B) provide a streamlined House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 212 of 258 process for the approval of the development of multifamily housing of three units or more, (C) permit mixed-use development, and (D) allow accessory dwelling units; and (4) has constructed new affordable housing units that (A) are restricted, through deeds, covenants or other means, to individuals or families whose income is eighty per cent or less of the state median income, and (B) equal at least one per cent of such town's total housing units in the three years immediately preceding the submission of an application under this section. Sec. 158. Subsection (c) of section 10-285b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (c) In order for an incorporated or endowed high school or academy to be eligible for a grant commitment pursuant to this section such high school or academy shall [(1)] provide educational services to the town or towns designating it as the high school for such town or towns for a period of not less than ten years after completion of grant payments under this section. [, and (2) provide that at least half of the governing board which exercises final educational, financial and legal responsibility for the high school or academy, exclusive of the chairman of such board, be representatives of the board or boards of education designating the high school or academy as the high school for each such board's town.] Sec. 159. Section 10-285c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): For school building projects approved by the General Assembly after July 1, 1993, if state reimbursement pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or any special act, for the acquisition, purchase or construction of a building was for ninety-five or more per cent of the eligible costs of such acquisition, purchase or construction and such building ceases to be used for the purpose for which the grant was provided within twenty House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 213 of 258 years of the date of approval by the General Assembly of the project, title to the building shall revert to the state unless the Commissioner of [Education] Administrative Services decides otherwise for good cause. Sec. 160. Subsection (b) of section 10-286 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (b) (1) In the case of all grants computed under this section for a project which constitutes a replacement, extension or major alteration of a damaged or destroyed facility, no grant may be paid if a local or regional board of education has failed to insure its facilities and capital equipment in accordance with the provisions of section 10-220. The amount of financial loss due to any damage or destruction to any such facility, as determined by ascertaining the replacement value of such damage or destruction, shall be deducted from project cost estimates prior to computation of the grant. (2) (A) In the case of any grants computed under this section for a school building project authorized pursuant to section 10-283 after July 1, 1979, but prior to July 1, 2023, any federal funds or other state funds received for such school building project shall be deducted from project costs prior to computation of the grant. (B) In the case of any grants computed under this section for a school building project authorized pursuant to section 10-283 after July 1, 2023, but prior to July 1, 2024, any other state funds received for such school building project shall be deducted from project costs prior to computation of the grant. (C) In the case of any grants computed under this section for a school building project authorized pursuant to section 10-283 after July 1, 2024, any other state funds received for such school building project shall be deducted from project costs prior to computation of the grant. For House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 214 of 258 purposes of this subparagraph, "other state funds" does not include any funds or benefit received pursuant to a program or initiative implemented pursuant to section 16-19f, 16-243y, 16-244z, 16-245m or 16-245n. (3) The calculation of grants pursuant to this section shall be made in accordance with the state standard space specifications in effect at the time of the final grant calculation, except that on and after July 1, 2005, in the case of a school district with an enrollment of less than one hundred fifty students in grades kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive, state standard space specifications shall not apply in the calculation of grants pursuant to this section and the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, may modify the standard space specifications for a project in such district. Sec. 161. Subsection (d) of section 10-286 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (d) For any school building project receiving state grant assistance under this chapter, all change orders or other change directives issued for such project [(1) on or after July 1, 2008, until June 30, 2011, shall be submitted, not later than six months after the date of such issuance, to the Commissioner of Education, and (2) on or after July 1, 2011,] shall be submitted, not later than six months after the date of such issuance, to the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. Only change orders or other change directives submitted to the Commissioner of Education or Commissioner of Administrative Services, as applicable, in accordance with this subsection shall be eligible for state grant assistance. Sec. 162. Section 10-286e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 215 of 258 (a) If the Department of Administrative Services does not complete an audit of a school building project during the [five-year] two-year period from the date [the school district files a notice of project completion with] the department issues final payment for such project, the department shall conduct a limited scope audit of such project. The limited scope audit shall review (1) the total amount of expenditures reported, (2) any off-site improvements, (3) adherence to authorized space specifications, (4) interest costs on temporary notes and bonds, and (5) any other matter the Commissioner of Administrative Services deems appropriate. (b) The department shall not make any adjustment to a school construction grant based on the result of an audit finding that a change order was not publicly bid. [(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Commissioner of Administrative Services may waive any audit deficiencies found during an audit of a school building project conducted pursuant to this section if the commissioner determines that granting such waiver is in the best interest of the state.] Sec. 163. Subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of section 10-287 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) A grant for a school building project under this chapter [to meet project costs not eligible for state financial assistance under section 10- 287a] shall be paid in installments, the number and time of payment of which shall correspond to the number and time of principal installment payments on municipal bonds, including principal payments to retire temporary notes renewed for the third and subsequent years pursuant to section 7-378a or 7-378e, issued for the purpose of financing such costs and shall be equal to the state's share of project costs per principal installment on municipal bonds or notes, except in cases where the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 216 of 258 project has been fully paid for, in which case the number of installments shall be five or, in the case of a regional agricultural science and technology education center or a cooperative regional special educational facility, shall be one; provided final payment shall not be made prior to an audit conducted by the State Board of Education for each project for which a final calculation was not made prior to July 31, 1983. Grants under twenty-five thousand dollars shall be paid in one lump sum. The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall certify to the State Comptroller, upon completion of the issuance of bonds or such renewal of temporary notes to finance each school building project, the dates and amounts of grant payments to be made pursuant to this chapter and the State Comptroller shall draw an order on the State Treasurer upon such certification to pay the amounts so certified when due. All site acquisition and project cost grant payments shall be made at least ten days prior to the principal payment on bonds or temporary notes related thereto or short-term financing issued to finance such site acquisition or project. Annual grant installments paid pursuant to this section on principal installment payments to retire temporary notes renewed pursuant to section 7-378a or 7-378e shall be based each year on the amount required to be retired pursuant to said sections, as adjusted for any ineligible project costs, and shall be paid only if at the time such temporary notes are renewed the rate of interest applicable to such notes is less than the rate of interest that would be applicable with respect to twenty-year bonds if issued at the time of such renewal. The determination related to such rates of interest pursuant to this subsection may be reviewed and shall be subject to approval by the Commissioner of Administrative Services prior to renewal of such notes. In the event that a school building project is not completed at the time bonds or temporary notes related thereto are issued to finance the project, the certification of the grant payments made pursuant to this section by the Commissioner of Administrative Services may be based on estimates, provided upon completion of such project and notification of final acceptance to the state, the Commissioner of Administrative House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 217 of 258 Services shall adjust and recertify the dates and amounts of subsequent grant payments based on the state's share of final eligible costs. (b) (1) All orders and contracts for school building construction receiving state assistance under this chapter, except as provided in subdivisions (2) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection, shall be awarded to the lowest responsible qualified bidder only after a public invitation to bid, except for (A) school building projects for which the town or regional school district is using a state contract pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-292, and (B) change orders, those contracts or orders costing less than ten thousand dollars and those of an emergency nature, as determined by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in which cases the contractor or vendor may be selected by negotiation, provided no local fiscal regulations, ordinances or charter provisions conflict. Any of the qualified bidders under this subdivision may be a cooperative purchasing contract offered through a regional educational service center or a council of government. (2) All orders and contracts for architectural services shall be awarded from a pool of [not more than the four] at least three of the most responsible qualified proposers after a public selection process. Such process shall, at a minimum, involve requests for qualifications, followed by requests for proposals, including fees, from the proposers meeting the qualifications criteria of the request for qualifications process. Following the qualification process, the awarding authority shall evaluate the proposals to determine [the four] at least three of the most responsible qualified proposers using those criteria previously listed in the requests for qualifications and requests for proposals for selecting architectural services specific to the project or school district. Such evaluation criteria shall include due consideration of the proposer's pricing for the project, experience with work of similar size and scope as required for the order or contract, organizational and team structure, including any subcontractors to be utilized by the proposer, House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 218 of 258 for the order or contract, past performance data, including, but not limited to, adherence to project schedules and project budgets and the number of change orders for projects, the approach to the work required for the order or contract and documented contract oversight capabilities, and may include criteria specific to the project. Final selection by the awarding authority is limited to the pool of [the four] at least three of the most responsible qualified proposers and shall include consideration of all criteria included within the request for proposals. As used in this subdivision, "most responsible qualified proposer" means the proposer who is qualified by the awarding authority when considering price and the factors necessary for faithful performance of the work based on the criteria and scope of work included in the request for proposals. (3) (A) All orders and contracts for construction management services shall be awarded from a pool of [not more than the four] at least three of the most responsible qualified proposers after a public selection process. Such process shall, at a minimum, involve requests for qualifications, followed by requests for proposals, including fees, from the proposers meeting the qualifications criteria of the request for qualifications process. Following the qualification process, the awarding authority shall evaluate the proposals to determine [the four] at least three of the most responsible qualified proposers using those criteria previously listed in the requests for qualifications and requests for proposals for selecting construction management services specific to the project or school district. Such evaluation criteria shall include due consideration of the proposer's pricing for the project, experience with work of similar size and scope as required for the order or contract, organizational and team structure for the order or contract, past performance data, including, but not limited to, adherence to project schedules and project budgets and the number of change orders for projects, the approach to the work required for the order or contract, and documented contract oversight capabilities, and may include House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 219 of 258 criteria specific to the project. Final selection by the awarding authority is limited to the pool of [the four] at least three of the most responsible qualified proposers and shall include consideration of all criteria included within the request for proposals. As used in this subdivision, "most responsible qualified proposer" means the proposer who is qualified by the awarding authority when considering price and the factors necessary for faithful performance of the work based on the criteria and scope of work included in the request for proposals. (B) The construction manager's contract shall include a guaranteed maximum price for the cost of construction. Such guaranteed maximum price shall be determined not later than ninety days after the selection of the trade subcontractor bids. Each construction manager shall invite bids and give notice of opportunities to bid on project elements on the State Contracting Portal. Each bid shall be kept sealed until opened publicly at the time and place set forth in the notice soliciting such bid. The construction manager shall, after consultation and approval by the town or regional school district, award any related contracts for project elements to the responsible qualified contractor submitting the lowest bid in compliance with the bid requirements, provided that [(i) the construction manager shall not be eligible to submit a bid for any such project element, and (ii)] construction shall not begin prior to the determination of the guaranteed maximum price. [, except work relating to site preparation and demolition may commence prior to such determination.] On and after July 1, 2024, the construction manager's contract shall include a requirement that the construction manager retain all documents and receipts relating to the school building project for a period of two years following the date of completion of an audit conducted by the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to section 10-287, for such project. (C) The construction manager shall submit quarterly reports regarding the ineligible project costs for the school building project to House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 220 of 258 date to the town or regional board of education. Upon submission of the notice of project completion pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, and prior to the audit conducted by the commissioner, the construction manager shall submit a final report on the total ineligible costs for such project to the town or regional school district. (D) The construction manager shall meet quarterly with the town or regional board of education to review any change orders for eligibility as the school building project progresses. (4) All orders and contracts for any other consultant services, including, but not limited to, consultant services rendered by an owner's representatives, construction administrators, program managers, environmental professionals, planners and financial specialists, shall comply with the public selection process described in subdivision (2) of this subsection. No costs associated with an order or contract for such consultant services shall be eligible for state financial assistance under this chapter unless such order or contract receives prior approval from the Commissioner of Administrative Services in writing or through a written electronic communication. (c) If the Commissioner of Administrative Services determines that a building project has not met the approved conditions of the original application, the Department of Administrative Services may withhold subsequent state grant payments for said project until appropriate action, as determined by the commissioner, is taken to cause the building project to be in compliance with the approved conditions or may require repayment of all state grant payments for said project when such appropriate action is not undertaken within a reasonable time. (d) (1) Each town or regional school district shall submit a final grant application to the Department of Administrative Services [within] not later than one year from the date of completion and acceptance of the school building project by the town or regional school district. If a town House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 221 of 258 or regional school district fails to submit a final grant application [within said period of time] on or before such one-year date, the commissioner may withhold ten per cent of the state reimbursement for such project. (2) (A) On and after July 1, [2022] 2024, each town or regional school district shall submit a notice of project completion [within three years] not later than one year from the date of the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the school building project by the town or regional school district. If a town or regional school district fails to submit such notice of project completion [within said period of time] on or before such one- year date, the commissioner shall deem such project completed and conduct an audit of such project in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (B) For any school building project authorized by the General Assembly prior to July 1, 2022, the commissioner shall deem as complete any such project in which a certificate of occupancy has been granted, but for which a notice of project completion has not been submitted by the town or regional school district on or before July 1, 2025. Sec. 164. Section 10-287c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): [(a) The State Board of Education is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, provided any rules or regulations to implement the provisions of sections 10-283, 10-287, 10-287a, 10-292d and subsection (d) of section 10-292m shall be prescribed in consultation with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. Whenever the Commissioner of Education has made a commitment for a grant on or before June 30, 2011, prior to the completion of a project as provided in section 10-287a, and said commissioner has made advances thereon as provided in said section, any such regulations prescribed in accordance with this section which were in effect at the time of such commitment and advances shall House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 222 of 258 be applicable to any additional commitment and subsequent advances with respect to such project.] [(b) Not later than June 30, 2013, the] The Commissioner of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 in order to implement the provisions of this chapter. [Such regulations shall apply to any project for which a grant application is filed with the Department of Education on or after July 1, 2013.] Sec. 165. Section 10-287d of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes, as amended by section 59 of public act 23-205, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): For the purposes of funding (1) grants to projects that have received approval of the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to [sections] section 10-287 [and 10-287a,] subsection (a) of section 10-65 and section 10-76e, (2) grants to assist school building projects to remedy safety and health violations and damage from fire and catastrophe, and (3) technical education and career school projects pursuant to section 10- 283b, the State Treasurer is authorized and directed, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of section 3-20, to issue bonds of the state from time to time in one or more series in an aggregate amount not exceeding thirteen billion eight hundred sixty-two million one hundred sixty thousand dollars. Bonds of each series shall bear such date or dates and mature at such time or times not exceeding thirty years from their respective dates and be subject to such redemption privileges, with or without premium, as may be fixed by the State Bond Commission. They shall be sold at not less than par and accrued interest and the full faith and credit of the state is pledged for the payment of the interest thereon and the principal thereof as the same shall become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 223 of 258 such principal and interest as the same become due. The State Treasurer is authorized to invest temporarily in direct obligations of the United States, United States agency obligations, certificates of deposit, commercial paper or bank acceptances such portion of the proceeds of such bonds or of any notes issued in anticipation thereof as may be deemed available for such purpose. Sec. 166. Section 10-287e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): All moneys received by the state in payment of the principal of and the interest on bonds purchased and held by the state under the provisions of section 10-287b of the 1969 supplement to the general statutes, together with all net earnings on the temporary investment thereof, shall comprise a fund to be designated "School Building Construction Fund" and the moneys in said fund shall be used to pay the principal of and the interest on bonds issued by the State Treasurer under [sections] section 10-287d [and 10-292k,] and of notes, to the extent not paid by renewal notes, issued in anticipation of the receipt of the proceeds of such bonds. Sec. 167. Subsection (b) of section 10-291 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (b) The Department of Administrative Services shall not approve a school building project plan or site, as applicable, if: (1) The site is in an area of moderate or high radon potential, as indicated in the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Radon Potential Map, or similar subsequent publications, except where the school building project plan incorporates construction techniques to mitigate radon levels in the air of the facility; (2) The plans incorporate new roof construction or total replacement House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 224 of 258 of an existing roof and do not provide for the following: (A) A minimum roof pitch that conforms with the requirements of the State Building Code, (B) a minimum twenty-year unlimited manufacturer's guarantee for water tightness covering material and workmanship on the entire roofing system, (C) the inclusion of vapor retarders, insulation, bitumen, felts, membranes, flashings, metals, decks and any other feature required by the roof design, and (D) that all manufacturer's materials to be used in the roofing system are specified to meet the latest standards for individual components of the roofing systems of the American Society for Testing and Materials; (3) In the case of a major alteration, renovation or extension of a building to be used for public school purposes, the plans do not incorporate the guidelines set forth in the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association's publication entitled "Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction" or similar subsequent publications; (4) In the case of a new construction, extension, renovation or replacement, the plans do not provide that the building maintenance staff responsible for such facility are trained in or are receiving training in, or that the applicant plans to provide training in, the appropriate areas of plant operations including, but not limited to, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems pursuant to section 10-231e, with specific training relative to indoor air quality; (5) In the case of a project for new construction, extension, major alteration, renovation or replacement involving a school entrance for inclusion on any listing submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with section 10-283 on or after July 1, 2008, the plans do not provide for a security infrastructure for such entrance; (6) In the case of a project for new construction, extension, major alteration, renovation or replacement on any listing submitted to the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 225 of 258 General Assembly in accordance with section 10-283 on or after July 1, 2022, the plans do not provide for the installation of at least one water bottle filling station (A) per one hundred students of the projected enrollment for the school building, (B) on each new floor or wing of the school building, and (C) in any food service area of the school building; [or] (7) In the case of a project for new construction of a school building on any listing submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with section 10-283 on or after July 1, 2023, the plans do not provide for the installation of level two electric vehicle charging stations, as defined in section 4b-77, in at least twenty per cent of the designated parking spaces for cars or light duty trucks at the school building; or (8) In the case of a project for new construction of a school building on any listing submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with section 10-283, on or after July 1, 2025, the plans do not provide for single-user toilet and bathing rooms that are identified as being available for use by all students and school personnel. Sec. 168. Section 10-292v of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): Any school building committee established by a town or regional school district to undertake a school building project, as defined in section 10-282, shall include (1) at least one member who has experience in the construction industry, and (2) the chairperson of the local or regional board of education, or the chairperson's designee, for the school district of such school building project. Sec. 169. Section 10-265r of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 226 of 258 thereafter, the Department of Administrative Services shall administer a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system grant program to reimburse local and regional boards of education, regional educational service centers, incorporated or endowed high schools or academies approved by the State Board of Education, pursuant to section 10-34, and state charter schools for costs associated with projects for the installation, replacement or upgrading of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings. (b) (1) A local or regional board of education, [or a] regional educational service center, incorporated or endowed high school or academy or state charter school may apply, at such time and in such manner as the Commissioner of Administrative Services prescribes, for a grant for a project involving the installation, replacement or upgrading of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings. A local or regional board of education may submit an application for any such project that (A) was commenced on or after March 1, 2020, and completed before July 1, 2022, or (B) is commenced on or after July 1, 2022. (2) The commissioner shall develop eligibility criteria for the awarding of grants under the program. Such criteria shall include, but need not be limited to, (A) the age and condition of the current heating, ventilation and air conditioning system or equipment being replaced or upgraded in the school, (B) current air quality issues at the school, (C) the age and condition of the overall school building, (D) the school district's master plan, (E) the availability of maintenance records, (F) a contract or plans for the routine maintenance and cleaning of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and (G) the [local or regional board of education's or regional educational service center's] ability of the local or regional board of education, regional educational House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 227 of 258 service center, incorporated or endowed high school or academy or state charter school to finance the remainder of the costs for such project after receiving a grant under the program. The commissioner shall utilize such eligibility criteria when determining whether to award a grant to an applicant under the program. (3) The commissioner shall not award a grant under the program to any applicant that, on or after July 1, [2024] 2026, has not certified compliance with the uniform inspection and evaluation of an existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning system pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-220. (c) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision [(4)] (5) of this subsection, a local board of education may receive a grant equal to a percentage of its eligible expenses. The percentage shall be determined by its ranking. Such ranking shall be determined as follows: (A) Each town shall be ranked in descending order from one to one hundred sixty-nine according to the adjusted equalized net grand list per capita, as defined in section 10-261, of the town two, three and four years prior to the fiscal year in which application is made, (B) based upon such ranking, a percentage of not less than twenty or more than eighty shall be assigned to each town on a continuous scale, and (C) the town ranked first shall be assigned a percentage of twenty and the town ranked last shall be assigned a percentage of eighty. (2) A regional board of education may receive a grant equal to a percentage of its eligible expenses. The percentage shall be determined by its ranking. Such ranking shall be determined as follows: (A) Multiplying the total population, as defined in section 10-261, of each town in the district by such town's ranking, as determined in subdivision (1) of this subsection, (B) adding together the figures determined under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, and (C) dividing the total computed under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision by the total population of all towns in the district. The ranking of each House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 228 of 258 regional board of education shall be rounded to the next higher whole number and each such board shall receive the same reimbursement percentage as would a town with the same rank plus ten per cent, except that no such percentage shall exceed eighty-five per cent. (3) A regional educational service center may receive a grant equal to a percentage of its eligible expenses. The percentage shall be determined by its ranking. Such ranking shall be determined by (A) multiplying the population of each member town in the regional educational service center by such town's ranking, as determined in subdivision (1) of this subsection, (B) adding together the figures for each town determined under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, and (C) dividing the total computed under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision by the total population of all member towns in the regional educational service center. The ranking of each regional educational service center shall be rounded to the next higher whole number and each such center shall receive the same reimbursement percentage as would a town with the same rank. (4) An incorporated or endowed high school or academy approved by the State Board of Education, pursuant to section 10-34, may receive a grant equal to a percentage of its eligible expenses. The percentage shall be determined by its ranking. Such ranking shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 10-285b. (5) A state charter school may receive a grant equal to a percentage of its eligible expenses. The percentage shall be one-half of the percentage of the town in which the state charter school is located, as determined by its ranking in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection. [(4)] (6) The local board of education for (A) any town with a total population of eighty thousand or greater shall receive a grant equal to a percentage of its eligible expenses that is the greater of the percentage House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 229 of 258 calculated pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection or sixty per cent, and (B) the town of Cheshire shall receive a grant equal to a percentage of its eligible expenses that is the greater of the percentage calculated pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection or fifty per cent. (d) If there are not sufficient funds to provide grants to all local and regional boards of education and regional educational service centers, based on the percentage determined pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner shall give priority to applicants on behalf of schools with the greatest need for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings, as determined by the commissioner based on the eligibility criteria developed pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. (e) The following expenses shall not be eligible for reimbursement under this section: (1) Routine maintenance and cleaning of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, (2) work that is otherwise eligible for a school building project grant under chapter 173, and (3) work performed at or on a public school administrative or service facility that is not located or housed within a public school building. (f) A local or regional board of education or a regional educational service center may use any federal funds received by such board or center to finance a project for the installation, replacement or upgrading of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings for which a grant is received under this section, and such federal funds shall be deemed to be part or all of the town's local share for such project. (g) Any project for the installation, replacement or upgrading of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings for which a grant is awarded under this section shall be completed by the end of the next House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 230 of 258 calendar year, unless the duration of such project is extended by the commissioner upon a showing of good cause by the local or regional board of education or regional educational service center. (h) Any local or regional board of education or regional educational service center that receives a grant under this section shall (1) be responsible for the routine maintenance and cleaning of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and (2) provide training to school personnel and building maintenance staff concerning the proper use and maintenance of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. (i) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, the commissioner shall reconsider any application for a grant under this section that was submitted by a local or regional board of education or regional educational service center prior to July 1, 2024, and which the commissioner had denied. Such board or center shall not be required to submit a new application for such reconsideration, unless the reason for such denial was that such application was incomplete or the commissioner determines that additional information or revision to such application is necessary to be able to award a grant. The commissioner shall provide technical assistance during such reconsideration period to such boards and centers in order to assist such boards in being able to be awarded a grant under this section. Sec. 170. Subsection (b) of section 10-265t of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Administrative Services for the purpose of providing grants-in-aid for school air quality improvements including, but not limited to, upgrades to, replacement of or installation of heating, ventilation and House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 231 of 258 air conditioning equipment, provided (1) not more than fifty million dollars of such proceeds may be used to provide reimbursements for such improvements that were completed not earlier than March 1, 2020, and not later than July 1, 2022, and (2) not more than fifteen million dollars of such proceeds shall be used for grants-in-aid for the purchase of equipment and materials for the construction and installation of individual classroom air purifiers, provided not more than eleven million five hundred thousand dollars of such proceeds shall be used by The University of Connecticut as part of the Supplemental Air Filtration for Education program under the Clean Air Equity Response Program for the purposes described in this subdivision, and the remainder of such proceeds shall be used by an organization or organizations that provide equipment and materials for individual classroom air purifiers to schools. Sec. 171. Section 10-66i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): All state statutes concerning education, including provisions for eligibility for state aid and the payment of grants in accordance with the provisions of sections 10-283, 10-286d, 10-287, and 10-288 [, 10-292d and 10-292l] with respect to bonds, notes or other obligations issued by a regional educational service center to finance building projects approved by the Commissioner of Education, shall apply to the operation of regional educational service centers. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other section of the general statutes, the board of a center shall be eligible to receive direct payment pursuant to the provisions of section 10-76g. Sec. 172. Subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 3-20 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): (g) (1) (A) With the exception of refunding bonds, whenever a bond House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 232 of 258 act empowers the State Bond Commission to authorize bonds for any project or purpose or projects or purposes, and whenever the State Bond Commission finds that the authorization of such bonds will be in the best interests of the state, it shall authorize such bonds by resolution adopted by the approving vote of at least a majority of said commission. No such resolution shall be so adopted by the State Bond Commission unless it finds that: (i) There has been filed with it (I) any human services facility colocation statement to be filed with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, if so requested by the secretary, pursuant to section 4b-23; (II) a statement from the Commissioner of Agriculture pursuant to section 22-6, for projects which would convert twenty-five or more acres of prime farmland to a nonagricultural use; (III) prior to the meeting at which such resolution is to be considered, any capital development impact statement required to be filed with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management; (IV) a statement as to the full cost of the project or purpose when completed and the estimated operating cost for any structure, equipment or facility to be constructed or acquired; and (V) such requests and such other documents as it or such bond act requires, provided no resolution with respect to any school building project financed pursuant to section 10-287d [or any interest subsidy financed pursuant to section 10-292k] shall require the filing of any statements pursuant to this clause and provided further any resolution requiring a capital impact statement shall be deemed not properly before the State Bond Commission until such capital development impact statement is filed; and (ii) Such authorization does not exceed the limit specified under subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section. Sec. 173. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) Not later than January 1, 2025, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall initiate a docket to develop a program to encourage the installation of solar photovoltaic House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 233 of 258 systems and energy storage systems at public schools. The authority shall incorporate such program into the programs authorized pursuant to sections 16-243ee, and 16-244z of the general statutes. The authority may establish a separate tariff for projects selected under such program and may identify a reasonable cap, not to exceed twenty-five megawatts per year, on the annual generating capacity of projects under such program, provided the authority shall permit any unused allowance under such cap in any given year to accrue. The megawatts available under such cap shall be separate from and shall not count toward the number of total available megawatts under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 16-244z of the general statutes. (b) A proposal for a project under such program may base such project's capacity on an estimate of electricity usage on the customer side of the revenue meter that exceeds existing on-site usage at the time of such proposal to account for additional future uses of the electricity, as determined by the authority, including, but not limited to: (1) Electric vehicle charging stations; (2) electricity-dependent heating and cooling systems; and (3) powering equipment used in the provision of food or equipment used to provide water for drinking or hygiene. Sec. 174. Section 16-244z of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (h) as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (NEW) (h) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the authority shall incorporate the program established pursuant to section 173 of this act into the programs authorized pursuant to this section. Sec. 175. Section 16-243ee of the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (e) as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): (NEW) (e) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 234 of 258 authority shall incorporate the program established pursuant to section 173 of this act into the programs authorized pursuant to this section. Sec. 176. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) Effective July 1, 2025, prior to submitting any application for a school building project pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-283 of the general statutes, any local or regional board of education shall provide for a solar feasibility assessment for the school building that is the subject of such application, unless such school building already utilizes solar energy. The purpose of such solar feasibility assessment shall be to provide information to such local or regional board of education concerning the feasibility of installing solar photovoltaic systems on the premises of such school building. Such information shall include: (1) The annual load at the electric meters for such school building during the most recent calendar year, if applicable; (2) the area of rooftop space and impervious surface on the premises of such school building that is available to host solar photovoltaic systems; (3) available opportunities for interconnection with the electric distribution system; and (4) a description of anticipated costs, savings and contractual terms for any such solar photovoltaic systems, including interconnection costs and electric bill credits. (b) Such local or regional board of education may provide for such a solar feasibility assessment pursuant to subsection (a) of this section in coordination with other local or regional boards of education. Sec. 177. Section 384 of public act 22-118, as amended by section 136 of public act 23-205, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2021, the new construction project at Danbury Career Academy at House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 235 of 258 Cartus (Project Number 034-0153 N) in the town of Danbury with costs not to exceed [one hundred fifty-four million] one hundred seventy- nine million five hundred thousand dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 362 of public act 22-118 and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Danbury files an application for such school building project prior to October 1, 2022, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of Danbury may use the reimbursement rate of eighty per cent for the new construction project, including site acquisition, limited eligible costs and the associated board of education/central administration facility project, at Danbury Career Academy at Cartus. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space specifications, the town of Danbury shall be exempt from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the grant for the new construction project at Danbury Career Academy at Cartus. (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 236 of 258 education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of Danbury may use the reimbursement rate of eighty per cent for site acquisition costs associated with the purchase of any parcels of land adjacent to the site of the new construction project at Danbury Career Academy at Cartus. (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs, the town of Danbury shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for certain ineligible costs for the new construction project at Danbury Career Academy at Cartus, provided such reimbursement for such ineligible costs do not exceed nine hundred ninety-two thousand eight hundred forty-two dollars. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs and section 10-286d of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section relating to grants for site acquisition costs, the town of Danbury shall be eligible to receive reimbursement in an amount of [thirty-nine million four hundred thousand] forty-five million seven hundred sixty thousand dollars for its site acquisition costs for the new construction project at Danbury Career Academy at Cartus. (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286d of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring the site for a school building project to be approved by the Commissioner of Administrative Services prior to the date of the beginning of construction, the town of Danbury shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for its eligible costs for the new construction House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 237 of 258 project at Danbury Career Academy at Cartus. Sec. 178. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulations adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services regarding eligible costs for roof replacement projects and requiring that a roof be at least twenty years old to qualify for a grant for a replacement of such roof, the roof at Ellsworth Avenue School shall be deemed to be twenty years old and the town of Danbury may replace the roof at Ellsworth Avenue School and be eligible to receive a grant based on the eligible percentages determined pursuant to said section of the eligible project costs. Sec. 179. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs, the town of New London shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for certain ineligible costs for the interdistrict magnet facility and extension and alteration project at Science/Technology Magnet High School (Project Number 095-0078 MAG/EA), provided such reimbursement for such ineligible costs do not exceed one million five hundred ninety-one thousand seven hundred thirty-six dollars. Sec. 180. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space specifications, the town of Milford shall be exempt from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the grant for the following school building projects: Calf Pen Meadow Elementary School (Project Number 084-0215 A); John F. Kennedy Elementary School (Project Number 084-0210 A); Live Oaks Elementary School (Project Number 084-0214 A); Mathewson House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 238 of 258 Elementary School (Project Number 084-0212 A); Meadowside Elementary School (Project Number 084-0202 A); Orange Avenue Elementary School (Project Number 084-0209 A); Orchard Hills Elementary School (Project Number 084-0204 A); Pumpkin Delight Elementary School (Project Number 084-0213 EA); East Shore Middle School (Project Number 084-0208 A); Harborside Middle School (Project Number 084-0203 A); West Shore Middle School (Project Number 084- 0200 EA/RR); Joseph A. Foran High School (Project Number 084-0211 A); Jonathan Law High School (Project Number 084-0206 A); and The Academy (Project Number 084-0205 A). Sec. 181. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space specifications, the town of Tolland shall be exempt from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the grant for the school building project at Birch Grove Primary School (Project Number 142-0083 N). Sec. 182. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the renovation project at Central Middle School in the town of Greenwich with costs not to exceed one hundred twelve million seventeen thousand dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Greenwich files an application for such school building project prior to October 1, 2024, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 239 of 258 said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of Greenwich may use the reimbursement rate of twenty per cent for the renovation project at Central Middle School. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space specifications, the town of Greenwich shall be exempt from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the grant for the renovation project at Central Middle School. Sec. 183. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the new construction project at Hillcrest Middle School in the town of Trumbull with costs not to exceed one hundred forty million nine hundred sixty-two thousand eight hundred twenty-three dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Trumbull files an application for such school building project prior to December 1, 2024, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 240 of 258 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of Trumbull may use the reimbursement rate of forty-four per cent for the new construction project at Hillcrest Middle School. Sec. 184. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs, the town of Derby shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for certain ineligible costs associated with ineligible panels for the photovoltaic project at Irving School (Project Number 037-0065 PV), photovoltaic project at Bradley School (Project Number 037-0064 PV) and photovoltaic project at Derby Middle School (Project Number 037-0063 PV). Sec. 185. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the renovation project at Smith Elementary School in the town of New Britain with costs not to exceed one hundred forty-five million dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided (1) such renovation project includes the construction of preschool facilities as part or on the site of Smith Elementary School, (2) the town of New Britain files an application for such school building project prior to October 1, 2026, and (3) meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 241 of 258 eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of New Britain may use the reimbursement rate of ninety-five per cent for the renovation project at Smith Elementary School, provided (1) the school district for the town of New Britain is an educational reform district, as defined in section 10-262u of the general statutes, on the effective date of this section, and (2) the school building committee responsible for undertaking such school building project is established in accordance with the provisions of section 120 of public act 21-111. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space specifications, the town of New Britain shall be exempt from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the grant for the renovation project at Smith Elementary School. Sec. 186. Section 117 of public act 21-111, as amended by section 398 of public act 22-118, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring that the description of a project type for a school building project be made at the time of application for a school building project grant, the town of New Britain may change the description and scope of the renovation project at Chamberlain Elementary School (Project House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 242 of 258 Number 20DASY089169RNV0620) to not include the construction of preschool facilities on a site reviewed and approved by the Department of Administrative Services, provided the total project costs for the renovation project do not exceed seventy-five million dollars and such preschool facilities project is included as part of the renovation project at Smith Elementary School, as described in section 185 of this act. Sec. 187. Section 125 of public act 23-205 is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section [10- 283] requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2022, the renovation project at Jefferson Elementary School in the town of New Britain with costs not to exceed seventy million dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 114 of [this act] public act 23-205 and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of New Britain files an application for such school building project prior to October 1, [2026] 2028, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of New Britain may use the reimbursement rate of ninety-five per cent for the renovation project at Jefferson Elementary School, provided (1) the school district for the town of New Britain is an educational reform district, as defined in section 10-262u of the general statutes, on House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 243 of 258 the effective date of this section, and (2) the school building committee responsible for undertaking such school building project is established in accordance with the provisions of section 120 of public act 21-111, as amended by [this act] public act 23-205. Sec. 188. Section 382 of public act 22-118 is repealed and the following is inserted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2021, for any school building project that was previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or cost and is seeking reauthorization, the new construction project at Torrington Middle & High School (Project Number 143-0076 N) with costs not to exceed one hundred seventy-nine million five hundred seventy-five thousand dollars shall be included in section 362 of [this act] public act 22-118 and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Torrington meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project for any school build project that was previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or cost and is seeking reauthorization, the town of Torrington may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-five per cent for the reauthorized amount of the new construction project at Torrington Middle & High School (Project Number 143-0076 N), House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 244 of 258 provided the town of Torrington meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (c) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of Torrington may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-five per cent for the construction of a central administration facility as part of the board of education/central administration facility and new construction project at Torrington Middle & High School (Project Number 143-0077 BE/N). (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services limiting reimbursement to one-half of the eligible percentage of the net eligible cost of construction to a town for construction, the town of Torrington shall receive full reimbursement of the reimbursement percentage described in subdivision (1) of this subsection of the net eligible cost of the board of education/central administration facility and new construction project at Torrington Middle & High School. (d) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of Torrington may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-five per cent for the construction of outdoor athletic facilities, including artificial turf, as part of the board of education/central administration facility House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 245 of 258 and new construction project at Torrington Middle & High School (Project Number 143-0077 BE/N). (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services limiting reimbursement to one-half of the eligible percentage of the net eligible cost of construction to a town for construction, the town of Torrington shall receive full reimbursement of the reimbursement percentage described in subdivision (1) of this subsection of the net eligible cost of the board of education/central administration facility and new construction project at Torrington Middle & High School. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs, the town of Torrington shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for certain ineligible costs related to the construction of outdoor athletic facilities, including artificial turf, as part of the board of education/central administration facility and new construction project at Torrington Middle & High School (Project Number 143-0077 BE/N), provided such reimbursement for such ineligible costs for such projects do not exceed six million dollars. Sec. 189. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of section 10-287 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring that all orders and contracts be awarded after a public invitation to bid has been advertised in a newspaper having circulation in the town in which construction is to take place, and the provisions of section 4b-91 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring that every contract for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 246 of 258 repair or demolition of any public building or any other public work by a public agency that is paid for, in whole or in part, with state funds and that is estimated to cost more than five hundred thousand dollars be awarded after the public agency has invited bids by posting notice on the State Contracting Portal, contracts let by the town of Ellington for the renovation project at Windermere Elementary School (Project Number 048-0060 RNV) may be reimbursed, provided such project complies with all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, for any school building project that was previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or cost and is seeking reauthorization, the renovation project at Windermere Elementary School (Project Number 048-0060 RNV) in the town of Ellington with costs not to exceed seventy-four million six hundred thousand dollars shall be included in subdivision (2) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Ellington meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. Sec. 190. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Administrative Services, the town of Darien may let out for bid on and commence a project for roof House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 247 of 258 replacement at Holmes Elementary School (Project Number 035-0118 RR), provided the town of Darien meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. Sec. 191. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Administrative Services, the town of Darien may let out for bid on and commence a project for roof replacement at Hindley Elementary School (Project Number 035-0119 RR), provided the town of Darien meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. Sec. 192. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, for any school building project that was previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or cost and is seeking reauthorization, the extension and alteration project at Hindley Elementary School (Project Number 035-0121 EA) in the town of Darien with costs not to exceed thirty-three million four hundred seventy-nine thousand forty-five dollars shall be included in subdivision (2) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Darien meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 248 of 258 eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. Sec. 193. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, for any school building project that was previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or cost and is seeking reauthorization, the extension and alteration project at Holmes Elementary School (Project Number 035-0122 EA) in the town of Darien with costs not to exceed thirty-four million three thousand eight hundred dollars shall be included in subdivision (2) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Darien meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. Sec. 194. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, for any school building project that was previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or cost and is seeking reauthorization, the extension and alteration project at Royle Elementary School (Project Number 035-0123 EA) in the town of Darien with costs not to exceed thirty-four million seven thousand eight hundred ninety dollars shall be included in subdivision (2) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Darien meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 249 of 258 Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. Sec. 195. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the new construction project at the new middle school in the town of Ansonia shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Ansonia files an application for such school building project prior to October 1, 2024, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of Ansonia may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-seven per cent for the new construction project at the new middle school. (c) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of Ansonia may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-seven per cent for the construction of a central administration facility as part of the new construction project at the new middle school. House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 250 of 258 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services limiting reimbursement to one-half of the eligible percentage of the net eligible cost of construction to a town for construction, the town of Ansonia shall receive full reimbursement of the reimbursement percentage described in subdivision (1) of this subsection of the net eligible cost for the construction of a central administration facility as part of the new construction project at the new middle school. (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space specifications, the town of Ansonia shall be exempt from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the grant for the new construction project at the new middle school. Sec. 196. Section 404 of public act 22-118, as amended by section 137 of public act 23-205, is repealed and the following is inserted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, [2022] 2023, the interdistrict magnet facility and [alteration] new construction project at Goodwin University Industry 5.0 Magnet Technical High School on the East Hartford Campus (Project Number 542-TBD [MAG/A] MAG/N) with costs not to exceed [seventy-five] eighty-five million dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of public act 22-118 and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided Goodwin University files an application for such school building project prior to [December 31, 2023] June 1, 2024, House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 251 of 258 and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-264h of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services concerning the reimbursement rate for the construction of interdistrict magnet schools, Goodwin University may use one hundred per cent as the reimbursement rate for the interdistrict magnet facility and [alteration] new construction project at Goodwin University Industry 5.0 Magnet Technical High School on the East Hartford Campus, provided such project assists the state in meeting its obligations pursuant to the decision in Sheff v. O'Neill, 238 Conn. 1 (1996), or any related stipulation or order in effect, as determined by the Commissioner of Education. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space specifications, Goodwin University shall be exempt from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the grant for the interdistrict magnet facility and [alteration] new construction project at Goodwin University Industry 5.0 Magnet Technical High School on the East Hartford Campus. Sec. 197. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the alteration project at John Winthrop Middle School in Regional District 4 with costs not to exceed five million eight hundred thousand dollars shall be included in section 151 of this House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 252 of 258 act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided Regional District 4 meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space specifications, Regional District 4 shall be exempt from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the grant for the alteration project at John Winthrop Middle School. Sec. 198. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the school building project for an early learning center at the former Roger Wolcott School in the town of Windsor with costs not to exceed four million eight hundred eighty- seven thousand nine hundred twenty-eight dollars shall be included in section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the Capitol Regional Education Council meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-264h of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services concerning the reimbursement rate for the school building project for an early learning House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 253 of 258 center at the former Roger Wolcott School in the town of Windsor, the Capitol Regional Education Council may use one hundred per cent as the reimbursement rate for such school building project for an early learning center at the former Roger Wolcott School. Sec. 199. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the alteration project at Davenport Elementary School in the town of Stamford with costs not to exceed three million seven hundred sixty-seven thousand eight hundred one dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Stamford files an application for such school building project prior to October 1, 2024, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. Sec. 200. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall waive any audit deficiencies for the town of Waterbury related to costs associated with the following school building projects: (1) Code violation project (Project Number 151-0243 RNV/CV), (2) Duggan Elementary School (Project Number 151-0252 RNV/E), (3) Jonathan E. Reed Elementary (Project Number 151-0253 N/PS), (4) Carrington Elementary School (Project Number 151-0275 N), (5) Waterbury Career Academy (Project Number 151-0276 N/PS), (6) Michael F. Wallace Middle School (Project Number 151-0285 EA), and (7) John F. Kennedy High School (Project Number 151-0288 EA). Sec. 201. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 254 of 258 State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Administrative Services, the town of Thompson may let out for bid on and commence the code violation and oil tank replacement project at Tourtellotte Memorial High School (Project Number 141-0022 CV/OT) and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Administrative Services. Sec. 202. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of Simsbury may use the reimbursement rate of thirty- five per cent for the renovation project at Latimer Lane School (Project Number 128-0111 RNV). Sec. 203. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs, and section 10-286g of the general statutes concerning the waiver of audit deficiencies, the town of Middletown shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for certain ineligible costs and audit deficiencies associated with the new construction project at Middletown High School, provided such reimbursement for such ineligible costs and audit deficiencies do not exceed three million five hundred thousand dollars. Sec. 204. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning ineligible costs, the town of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 255 of 258 Farmington shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for certain ineligible costs (1) for the new construction project at Farmington High School (Project Number 052-0076 N) and the board of education/central administration facility project at Farmington High School (Project Number 052-0077 BOE), and (2) provided such reimbursement for such ineligible costs for such projects do not exceed one million eight hundred thousand dollars. Sec. 205. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, for any school building project that was previously authorized and that has changed substantially in scope or cost and is seeking reauthorization, the Connecticut Technical High School Facility and extension and alteration project at Ella T. Grasso Technical High School (Project Number 900-0014 VT/EA) with costs not to exceed one hundred thirty-five million eight hundred twenty-one thousand eight hundred ninety-five dollars shall be included in subdivision (2) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided such project meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. Sec. 206. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the school building project at H.C. Wilcox Technical High School with costs not to exceed fifteen million five hundred thousand dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 256 of 258 section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided an application for such school building project is submitted prior to October 1, 2024, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. Sec. 207. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the beginning of the amortization period for a project on the date a project was accepted as complete by a local or regional board of education and the inclusion as an addendum to the priority list those towns requesting forgiveness of a refund to the state for the unamortized balance of the state grant remaining as of the date of the abandonment, sale, lease, demolition or redirection of a school building project to other than a public school use during such amortization period, the state shall grant forgiveness to the town of Enfield for the extension and alteration project at Nathan Hale Elementary School (Project Number 049-0126 EA). Sec. 208. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283d and subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the deduction of any federal funds or other state funds from project costs prior to computation of the grant for any school building project authorized prior to July 1, 2023, the Department of Administrative Services shall not deduct all federal funds, other state funds and Eversource funds received by the town of Manchester to finance the school building projects at Bowers Elementary School House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 257 of 258 (Project Number 077-0139 RNV), Buckley Elementary School (Project Number 177-0140 RNV) and Keeney Elementary School (Project Number 177-0141 RNV) from such project costs prior to computation of the grant for each such project, and such federal funds, other state funds and Eversource funds shall be deemed to be part or all of the town's local share for such projects. Sec. 209. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section requiring a completed grant application be submitted prior to June 30, 2023, the renovation project at Sherman School (Project Number 127-0009 RNV) in the town of Sherman with costs not to exceed forty-two million five hundred thousand dollars shall be included in subdivision (1) of section 151 of this act and shall subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided the town of Sherman files an application for such school building project prior to October 1, 2024, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said chapter and is eligible for grant assistance pursuant to said chapter. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-285a of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section concerning the reimbursement percentage that a local board of education may be eligible to receive for a school building project, the town of Sherman may use the reimbursement rate of thirty per cent for the renovation project at Sherman School. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education or the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to said section House Bill No. 5524 Public Act No. 24-151 258 of 258 concerning the calculation of grants using the state standard space specifications, the town of Sherman shall be exempt from the state standard space specifications for the purpose of the calculation of the grant for the renovation project at Sherman School. Sec. 210. Sections 3-76t, 10-285f, 10-285h, 10-287a, 10-287f, 10-287j and 10-292c to 10-292n, inclusive, of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective July 1, 2024) Sec. 211. (Effective from passage) The Legislative Commissioners' Office shall, in engrossing and codifying the provisions of this act, make such technical, grammatical and punctuation changes as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, including, but not limited to, correcting inaccurate internal references.