Other Bills that Impact the Connecticut State University System

1.  Substitute Senate Bill 145 (Public Act 07-201), An Act Concerning the Filing of Certain Statements of Financial Interests and Establishing a Task Force to Study the Recommendations of the Office of State Ethics Concerning Municipal Ethics.                                                                                                           

This Act requires certain public officials and state employees to include in their annual statements of financial interests the names of their outside employers who provide them with income in excess of $1,000 and a description of the income's source rather than its category or type. It requires those officials and employees required to file a statement on or before May 1, 2007 to file a supplemental statement by August 1, 2007 that states the names of their employers. Office of State Ethics (OSE) must prescribe the form for the supplemental statement by June 15, 2007 and notify each person subject to the filing requirement of the need to file the supplemental statement.

Effective:  Upon Passage                                                                                                          http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00201-R00SB-00145-PA.pdf

2.  Substitute Senate Bill 167 (Public Act 07-141), An Act Revising the Process for the Taking of Real Property by Municipalities for Redevelopment and Economic Development and Revising the Process for Providing Relocation Assistance for Outdoor Advertising Structures Acquired by the Commissioner of Transportation. 

This Act makes a number of changes regarding eminent domain law as it pertains to takings under the redevelopment, municipal development, and Manufacturing Assistance Act (MAA) statutes. The Act:

• prohibits taking property by eminent domain for the primary purpose of increasing local tax revenues;
• requires a public hearing on a plan and certain findings about taking property;
• requires the town legislative body to approve proposed takings by a two-thirds vote of its members for takings under the municipal development and MAA statutes;
• imposes an overall 10-year deadline for completing a taking;
• allows owners to ask the Superior Court to enjoin a taking if the agency did not follow the correct statutory procedures, gives the former owner of property taken by eminent domain the right of first refusal to buy it back if it is not used for its intended purpose or another public purpose, and expands the kind of information and analyses the agency must include in the project plan.

The Act also bases compensation on the average value of two independent appraisals for takings under a redevelopment plan and requires compensation for takings under the municipal development and MAA statutes to equal 125% of that value. The Act prohibits towns from taking property under the general municipal powers statutes for private commercial development and, in doing so, allows takings for this purpose only under the development statutes described above.

The Act makes changes to the procedures for taking property under the redevelopment chapter, which are used by a number of other statutes authorizing eminent domain. It changes provisions on court review of statements of compensation, and subjects parties to a case seeking review of a statement of compensation to the “offer of compromise” statutes (which set a procedure to offer to settle a case).

In most cases, the Act increases benefits paid to property owners and tenants when the actions of a state or municipal agency force them to relocate. It also requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to pay relocation benefits when acquiring a billboard and specifies how to determine those benefits. Billboard owners and others receiving relocation benefits from DOT can appeal the benefit amount to the State Properties Review Board.  It makes it an unfair trade practice for a person, other than an appointed or elected public official of an agency with eminent domain powers, negotiating to acquire real property to represent in the negotiation that he or she has the power to acquire the property by eminent domain.                        

Effective:  Upon passage and applicable to property acquired starting on that date except:                                                           

1)  the changes to MAA plans are effective upon passage and applicable to property acquired starting on that date and applicable to development plans adopted starting on that date(§3);                                                

2)  the changes to redevelopment and municipal development plans and how long they remain in effect are effective October 1, 2007 and applicable to plans adopted starting on that date (§§ 5-6, 10-11);                     

3)  the changes to relocation benefits other than for DOT and billboards are effective October 1, 2007 and applicable to property acquired starting on that date(§1315);                                                                     

4)  the offer of compromise provisions are effective upon passage and applicable to applications filed starting on that date (§ 16);     

5)  a technical change is effective October 1, 2007 (§ 21); and                                                                     

6)  a technical change is effective upon passage (§ 22). 

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00141-R00SB-00167-PA.pdf

3.  Senate Bill 618 (Public Act 07-26), An Act Concerning Demolition of Buildings.

The Act protects the environment by requiring state demolition regulations to reduce energy and material waste by discouraging demolition and increasing the delay period for the demolition of buildings.

This Act increases, from 90 to 180 days, the maximum waiting period a municipality may impose by ordinance before a demolition permit can be issued for a building or structure.

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00026-R00SB-00618-PA.pdf

4.  Substitute Senate Bill 1048 (Public Act 07-181), An Act Concerning the Investigation of a Discrimination Complaint Against or By An Agency Head or State Commission or Board Member.

The Act requires that all discrimination complaints made against or by an agency head be referred to CHRO for review and requires that all attorney general designees in discrimination complaint undergo certain training.

Effective:  Upon Passage

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00181-R00SB-01048-PA.pdf

5.  Substitute Senate Bill 1051 (Public Act 07-124), An Act Concerning the Inspection and Evaluation of Air Quality in State Buildings. 

The Act requires that prior to acceptance of all or part of any building under a lease, lease renewal or purchase, to be occupied by state employees or others, each state department must provide for an inspection of the premises and must develop a protocol for periodic assessment and remediation of indoor air quality issues in such facility. The protocol must include the best practices for commercial office space and must include all applicable provisions of the Environmental Protection Agency's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program.

Each lease agreement entered into on and after July 1, 2007, by any state department to lease all or part of any building to be occupied by state employees or others must contain a provision requiring the lessor to make all necessary efforts during the term of the lease agreement to maintain the structure and mechanical systems of the building as necessary to sustain the indoor air quality in the building to the levels in existence at the time the premises were accepted and to carry out the indoor air quality protocol established by this Act.

Effective: July 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00124-R00SB-01051-PA.pdf

6.  Substitute Senate Bill 1074 (Public Act 07-108), An Act Concerning the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority and the Schedule of Estimated Costs of UCONN 2000 Projects.

This Act makes several changes to the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority's (CHESLA) operations and authority.  It requires the state to withhold the state income tax refund of any taxpayer who has defaulted on a CHESLA-made or -guaranteed student loan.  The Act permits the authority, with approval of the state treasurer, or the treasurer's deputy, to enter into interest rate swap agreements and credit enhancement or liquidity agreements in connection with its debt obligations.  It allows CHESLA to develop and require the use of master promissory notes for education loans.  And it allows more than one of the three members of CHESLA's board of directors representing Connecticut higher education institutions to be from a public higher education institution.

Effective:  July 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00108-R00SB-01074-PA.pdf

7.  Substitute Senate Bill 1075 (Public Act 07-109), An Act Concerning the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation.

This Act authorizes the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation (CSLF) to issue federal tax-exempt bonds, notes, or other obligations, subject to the private activity bond cap and, requires CSLF to fund borrower benefits with the savings its achieves by issuing these bonds.  The Act extends CSLF's bonding authority to a

nonprofit subsidiary of the foundation.  It also exempts any bonds issued by CSLF or its subsidiary, and any transfer of or income generated by the bonds, from any state and local taxes, except for state estate or succession taxes. The Act explicitly allows CSLF to make, guarantee, and acquire loans not governed by federal law (i.e., alternative loans), and it makes various technical and confirming changes.               

Effective:  July 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00109-R00SB-01075-PA.pdf

8.  Senate Bill 1093 (Public Act 07-110), An Act Concerning the State Building Code.                                  

This Act makes several unrelated changes in the statutes pertaining to the state building code. It increases the penalty for violating a building inspector's written order. Under current law, the penalty is a fine up to $500 or imprisonment for up to six months. Under the Act, the fine is $200 to $1,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. The Act also modifies the amount of the education fee that the state may levy on building permit applications and that towns may withhold for their administrative costs; establishes a waiver and appeal process for boiler use and operation consistent with waiver provisions for other building code activities; eliminates a provision allowing the mayor, borough warden, or first selectman to serve as a building inspector in any jurisdiction that does not have a building inspector and makes conforming changes; and makes a technical change, replacing references to the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) with the International Code Council, which replaced BOCA.

Effective:  October 1, 2007, except for the fee provisions, which take effect July 1, 2008.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00110-R00SB-01093-PA.pdf

9.  Substitute Senate Bill 1106 (Public Act 07-142), An Act Concerning Procedures for the Hearing of Complaints Against State Contractors and Subcontractors by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Documentation of Nondiscrimination Policies Adopted by State Contractors.     

This Act establishes a separate process for the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) to hear and remedy complaints against contractors and subcontractors for noncompliance with state antidiscrimination laws; mandatory antidiscrimination provisions in state and certain political subdivision contracts, and the set-aside law. It does so by allowing CHRO to bring a matter to a public hearing based on its monitoring and compliance process instead of also going through its normal complaint process.

The Act appears to eliminate certain procedural requirements concerning complaints filed by CHRO against state agencies concerning affirmative action plans required by law.  If after the hearing, the presiding hearing officer finds noncompliance, the Act authorizes the officer, instead of CHRO, to impose certain penalties and take other actions. It also eliminates certain automatic sanctions and instead gives the presiding officer discretion to impose them.  The Act authorizes the chief human rights referee, instead of CHRO's executive director or designee, to appoint a hearing officer or human rights referee to hear complaints against contractors and subcontractors filed by CHRO under the Act.

The Act requires that before entering into the contract with the state or any political subdivision other than a municipality, the contractor must provide documentation to support the nondiscrimination agreement and warranty the law requires for such contracts. The documentation must be a company or corporate policy adopted by resolution of the contractor's board of directors, shareholders, managers, members, or other governing body. The Act specifies that “contract” includes any extension or modification of the contract, and “contractor” includes any successors or assigns of the contractor.                                                        

Effective:  July 1, 2007, except for the provisions dealing with documentation of company or corporate policy, which are effective upon passage.                                                                                           http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00142-R00SB-01106-PA.pdf

10.  Senate Bill 1109 (Public Act 07-62), An Act Concerning the Deprivation of Rights on Account of Sexual Orientation.

The Act includes sexual orientation as a protected class under the statutory protection against the deprivation of rights, thereby enabling the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities to receive and process

complaints that allege violations of other state statutes under which such rights have already been extended and that the commission has a duty to enforce.

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00062-R00SB-01109-PA.pdf

11.  Substitute Senate Bill 1110 (Public Act 07-208), An Act Concerning Security Assessments and Assistance for Schools and Emergency Response Plans for Institutions of Higher Education.                

This Act requires any school district applying for a state school construction grant for a new school or a major alteration, extension, renovation, or replacement of a school to include in the project plans security infrastructure for any entrances involved.  The Act bars the State Department of Education (SDE) from approving school project plans that do not include entrance security infrastructure.  The new requirement covers project applications for the school construction project priority lists to be submitted to the General Assembly for approval on or after July 1, 2008.

The Act establishes a competitive state grant for FY 08 to improve security infrastructure in schools, install security systems in schools' primary entryways, purchase portable security devices, and train school personnel to use the devices and the infrastructure. The grants reimburse school districts for 20% to 80% of the eligible expenses for such security measures incurred after the Act's effective date. To receive a grant, a district must show that it (1) has conducted a uniform security assessment of its school entrances and any security infrastructure; (2) has an emergency plan at its schools that has been developed with applicable state and local first-responders; and (3) periodically practices the plan. The security assessment must be carried out under the supervision of the district's local law enforcement agency and use the Safe Schools Facilities Check List published by the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities.

Finally, the Act requires colleges, universities, and private occupational schools to (1) by October 1, 2007, have emergency response plans and (2) by that date and annually thereafter, submit their plans to the public safety (DPS) and emergency management and homeland security (DEMHS) commissioners and local first-responders. Institutions must consult local first-responders in developing their plans. Each plan must include a method for notifying the institution's students, employees, and visitors of emergency information.

Effective:  July 1, 2007, except for the grants, which take effect on passage.                                      http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00208-R00SB-01110-PA.pdf

12.  Senate Bill 1112 (Public Act 07-1), An Act Concerning the State Contractor Contribution Ban and Gifts to State and Quasi-Public Agencies.

The Act allows public officials and state employees to accept training from a vendor after a state or quasi-public agency purchases a product if the training is offered to all of the vendor’s customers.  Under current law, the training would constitute a gift to the recipients and as such could not exceed $10 in value.  The Act also specifies that alumni associations and foundations established for the benefit of public higher education institutions or public vocational-technical schools are not doing business or seeking to do business with those institutions or schools for purposes of the State Ethics Code.  This means that they can give gifts to the institutions and schools without violating the ethics code.

Effective:  Upon Passage

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00001-R00SB-01112-PA.pdf

13.  Substitute Senate Bill 1139 (Public Act 07-90), An Act Concerning Enhanced Enforcement Authority by the Department of Higher Education.                                                                                                           

The Act eliminates a criminal penalty of $1,000 per violation and establishes an administrative penalty of $500 per day for any institution operating a higher education institution or conferring academic or professional degrees without a license or accreditation from the Board of Governors of Higher Education.  The Act transfers, from the board of governors to the higher education commissioner, authority to assess the penalty and establishes procedures under which the commissioner imposes the penalty and enforces the licensure and accreditation law.  The Act also requires the board of governors to adopt implementing regulations.   

Effective:  January 1, 2008, except for the requirement to adopt regulations, which is effective on July 1, 2007.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00090-R00SB-01139-PA.pdf

14.  Senate Bill 1141 (Public Act 07-7), An Act Concerning the Educational Requirements for Applying to Take the Certified Public Accountant Examination.                                                        

This Act allows people to apply to take the certified public accountant (CPA) examination before meeting all of the educational requirements to become a CPA.  Under the Act, they may apply to take the examination when they hold a bachelors' degree, or its equivalent, with an accounting concentration or equivalent. However, they must complete at least 150 semester hours of college education to become a CPA.

Current law requires applicants to complete 150 semester hours, including a bachelors' degree or higher, with an accounting concentration or equivalent before applying to take the examination.  By law, the State Board of Accountancy determines whether an applicant's educational concentration and the college or university he attended are acceptable.                                                   

Effective:  Upon Passage

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00007-R00SB-01141-PA.pdf

15.  Substitute Senate Bill 1143 (Public Act 07-91), An Act Concerning Mortgage, Small Loan and Money Transmitter Licensees, Mortgage Loans and Emergency Orders of the Banking Commissioner and Adopting the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act.

This Act makes a number of changes to banking statutes.  Among other things it provides guidelines for the management, investment, and expenditure of institutional funds by establishing the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act. The Act applies to institutions, which are defined as entities organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes; government or governmental subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, to the extent that they holds fund exclusively for a charitable purpose; and trusts that had both charitable and noncharitable interests, after all noncharitable interests have terminated. The term “charitable purpose” includes purposes related to the relief of poverty, the advancement of education or religion, the promotion of health, and others that are communally beneficial.

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00091-R00SB-01143-PA.pdf

16.  Substitute Senate Bill 1182 (Public Act 07-213), An Act Concerning Administrative Procedures of the Department of Public Works, Auditing of Large Construction Contracts, Environmental Review of Certain Land Transfers, Grant Payments to Municipalities, Advertising on State Buildings and Certain Exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act.

This Act makes several unrelated changes affecting (1) state construction and contracts, (2) state real property, (3) the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), (4) certain state grant payments to municipalities and neighborhood revitalization zones (NRZs), and (5) the comptroller.

Regarding state construction, the Act (1) expands the role of the Connecticut Mental Health Center's oversight committee, (2) establishes rotating construction services selection panels for contractors and consultants, and (3) alters the process for selecting consultants. It authorizes the Department of Public Works (DPW) commissioner to provide the city of New Haven with design and construction services for a tunnel roadway. With respect to contracts, it increases, from 60 to 90, the number of days the public works commissioner, constituent units of higher education, and the Joint Committee on Legislative Management have to award contracts after they open bids.

Concerning state real property, the Act (1) removes the DPW commissioner's 20-year limit on leases of state property to municipalities; (2) establishes a procedure to review proposed sales and transfers of state property to determine if it has significant natural and recreational resources that should be preserved; and (3) specifies to which facilities certain energy and environmental standards apply. It also requires the DPW commissioner to make recommendations to the Government Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee concerning placing commercial advertisements on certain state properties.

It exempts from disclosure under FOIA certain documents concerning (1) minors and (2) contract negotiations. It requires state and local agencies, other than the General Assembly, to file their regular meetings agendas with the secretary of the state or appropriate clerk.

Effective:  Upon passage, except the DPW commissioner's authority to contract with consultants is effective July 1, 2007 and the provisions addressing (1) labor and material bonds, (2) the review of state property and the related account, and (3) FOIA, which are effective October 1, 2007.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00213-R00SB-01182-PA.pdf

17.  Senate Bill 1186 (Public Act 07-112), An Act Concerning State Employees Serving in Operation Jump Start or Certain Other Operations.                                                                                                                

This Act extends paid leave to state employees called by the president or governor to active-duty service in “Operation Jump Start” at the border of the United States and Mexico. It also extends health insurance coverage to such employees and their dependents. These employees get (1) full state pay for active-duty leave up to 30 days and (2) payment of the difference between the employee's state pay (including longevity) and military pay after 30 days. The employees and their dependents get continued state health insurance coverage for the duration of the call-up as long as the employees continue to make their co-payments at pre-activation levels. The law already provides these same benefits to state employees called to active service for (1) Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan war), (2) Operation Noble Eagle (anti-terrorism activities within the United States), or (3) a related military or emergency operation whose mission was substantially changed because of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The Act prohibits employers from denying benefits to state employees called to active service in the above conflicts solely because their leave time is classified as recess or other equivalent leave time rather than vacation time under a collective bargaining agreement. These include bargaining agreements covering state employees in a teaching, instructional, or professional position in the Unified School Districts 1, 2, or 3.

Effective:  Upon Passage                                                                                                              http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00112-R00SB-01186-PA.pdf

18.  Substitute Senate Bill 1216 (Special Act 07-9), An Act Concerning Graduation Rates at Institutions of Higher Education.

The Act requires that the president of The University of Connecticut and the chancellors of the community-technical college system and the Connecticut State University system, or their designees, shall develop a plan to increase graduation rates of students graduating in six years or less from the universities, including any branch campuses, and for students graduating in three years or less from the community-technical colleges, to rates that would be an average of such rates at peer institutions nationally. Not later than January 5, 2008, the president and chancellors, or their designees must report the plan to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.

Effective:  Upon Passage

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/sa/pdf/2007SA-00009-R00SB-01216-SA.pdf

19.  Substitute Senate Bill 1263 (Public Act 07-64), An Act Concerning the Consolidation of Energy Conservation Loan Program Statutes.                                                                                                            

The Act eliminates the energy conservation revolving loan account, which is currently used for making ECLF loans and loan guarantees and paying the Department of Economic and Community Development's (DECD) administrative expenses for the program. Under current law, the account is funded by any excess of loan repayments and annual utility assessments remaining after covering the state's debt service payments on outstanding bonds issued for the program and DECD's administrative expenses. The Act instead directs this money to the ECLF, which, under current law, is also used for making the loans and loan guarantees and paying DECD's program-related expenses.                                                                                             

Effective:  October 1, 2007                                                                                                             http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00064-R00SB-01263-PA.pdf

20.  Senate Bill 1292 (Public Act 07-193), An Act Concerning the Alternative Base Period for Purposes of Unemployment Compensation.                                                   

This Act removes the sunset date of December 31, 2007 from the law establishing an alternative base period to calculate unemployment compensation benefit eligibility, thus making the alternative permanent. The alternative base period is used to determine the eligibility of unemployment compensation claimants who do not qualify under the regular base period.  The Act also specifies that an appeal to Superior Court of an Employment Security Review Board decision may be based on a claim that the decision violated statutory or constitutional provisions.

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00193-R00SB-01292-PA.pdf

21.  Senate Bill 1293 (Public Act 07-125), An Act Concerning Data Under the Federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Act.

This Act requires authorized users of the CTWorks Business System (the Labor Department's database of displaced workers and others seeking work) to agree in writing to confidentiality safeguards in order to access federal Trade Adjustment Assistance information added to the system. The Act requires each authorized user to reimburse the department for all costs incurred for disclosing the information. It also prohibits system information from being disclosed to any unauthorized user, except that aggregate reports that do not reveal identifiable individual data may be disclosed.  Any person who violates the Act's provisions will be (1) fined up to $200, imprisoned up to six months, or both and (2) prohibited from any further access to the system's information.

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00125-R00SB-01293-PA.pdf

22.  Substitute Senate Bill 1311 (Public Act 07-194), An Act Concerning the Integrity and Security of the Voting Process.

Section 7 – Agreements with UConn or Other State Universities on Voting

The Act permits the secretary to enter into an agreement with UConn or a member of the Connecticut State University System, solely or with others, to:  complete any technical review, testing, or research associated with certifying or decertifying voting equipment; develop standards for using voting equipment during any election, primary, or referenda; develop standards to ensure the accuracy of voting equipment; develop standards and procedures for securing, setting-up and storing voting equipment; develop standards, procedures, and oversight of post-election audits; develop standards to ensure the accuracy and reliability of recanvass procedures; develop standards and procedures for the testing, security, and use of an election management system; develop standards and procedures for programming ballots and voting equipment; research and analyze data formats for programming ballots and election-related electronic data; and develop any other standards necessary to protect the integrity of voting equipment.  Currently the Secretary of State has an existing contract with UConn to perform these services.

Effective:  Upon Passage

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00194-R00SB-01311-PA.pdf

23.  Substitute Senate Bill 1315 (Public Act 07-166), An Act Concerning the Faculty at Public Institutions of Higher Education and Revisions to Various Higher Education Statutes.

The Act allows higher education constituent units' faculty or faculty bargaining unit members to enter into outside consulting agreements or engage in research projects with private entities.  It specifies that these agreements and projects do not violate the State Ethics Code's prohibitions against public officials and state employees accepting certain outside employment or disclosing confidential information.  It requires each constituent unit's board of trustees to establish policies on such agreements or projects and establishes committees to monitor each unit's compliance with the policies.

The Act exempts from creditors' claims interests in or amounts payable to participants and beneficiaries of any qualified state college savings plan. The Act also revises the independent audit requirements for UConn 2000 projects and makes numerous technical changes.                                                                                               

Effective:  October 1, 2007, except that the provisions on the UConn 2000 audits are effective July 1, 2007 and the technical changes are effective upon passage.                                                          

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00166-R00SB-01315-PA.pdf

24.  Substitute Senate Bill 1316 (Special Act 07-10), An Act Concerning the University of Connecticut Health Center. 

The Act requires the Office of Health Care Access to contract with the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering to conduct a needs-based analysis of The University of Connecticut Health Center facilities plan. Such analysis shall consider (1) a comparison of the center's proposal for a replacement hospital with the alternative plan for a remodeled center, (2) the projected state-wide need for hospital beds up to at least the year 2018, and any possible impact that any acute care hospital in the region may experience if the amount of beds is increased at the university hospital, (3) the center's need for a modernized academic medical facility to provide instruction and achieve excellence in the schools of medicine and dental medicine and program in biomedical science, attract medical and biomedical professionals to such schools and program and to support research and clinical trials, and (4) other factors that the academy may deem appropriate.  The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering must provide a preliminary report to the General Assembly no later than March 30, 2008 and a final report no later than June 30, 2008.  It should be noted that House Bill 8001 (JSS) replaces the Office of Health Care Access with Legislative Management.

Effective:  July 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/sa/pdf/2007SA-00010-R00SB-01316-SA.pdf

25.  Substitute Senate Bill 1318 (Special Act 07-7), An Act Concerning Public Institution of Higher Education System Transfer and Articulation Process. 

The Act requires that the Department of Higher Education, in consultation with the constituent units of the state system of higher education, review the status and content of public institution of higher education system transfer and articulation agreements and report by January 1, 2008.  The review must consider:

(1) The sufficiency of the agreements, including any agreements modified or made on or after July 1, 2007, (2) the status or completion of common course numbering within the community-technical college system, and a plan to implement common course numbering within the Connecticut State University system. Finally, the Act requires a review of placement test scores for the community-technical college system and the Connecticut State University system that establish specific proficiency levels for all matriculated students entering college level courses.

Effective:  July 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/sa/pdf/2007SA-00007-R00SB-01318-SA.pdf

26.  Substitute Senate Bill 1406 (Public Act 07-249), An Act Concerning Authorization of State Grant Commitments for School Building Projects and Changes to the Statutes Concerning School Building Projects. 

Sec. 508. Subsection (a) of section 16a-38k of the general statutes, as amended by section 10 of House Bill 7432 of the current session, is repealed. Current law is restored.

*Takes precedent over similar provisions in sHB 7432.

Effective:  January 1, 2008

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00249-R00SB-01406-PA.pdf

27.  Senate Bill 1500 (June Special Session, Public Act 07-4), An Act Implementing the Provisions of the Budget Concerning General Government.

Section 15 — Small Business Incubator Program  - Grant Program  - The law requires the DECD commissioner to establish a grant program for small business incubator facilities, which are entities that provide research and other services to help small technology-based companies. The Act makes the requirement subject to the availability of funds. It also allows DECD to make an agreement with another entity to operate the program and requires that grants go to the small businesses operating within incubator facilities rather than to entities operating incubator facilities.

The Act establishes a 12-member Small Business Incubator Advisory Board to evaluate and recommend changes in the program guidelines. The board consists of three non-voting ex-officio members, who are the DECD commissioner, the Connecticut Development Authority president, and CII executive director or their designees, and nine voting members appointed as follows:

Members must be appointed by September 1, 2007 and the DECD commissioner must schedule the board's first meeting by October 15, 2007.  The board must meet at least annually in each subsequent year.               Effective:  Upon Passage

Section 21 — Ethics - The State Ethics Code restricts gifts to the state from (1) registered lobbyists, (2) people doing or seeking to do business with the agency that employs a public official or state employee, (3) people engaged in activities regulated by the official's or employee's employer, and (4) prequalified contractors. PA 07-1 allows them to give the state goods or services or donate the use of facilities to assist state or quasi-public agency functions or actions. “Goods and services” are things that (1) are for use on state property or to support an event or a public official's or state employee's participation at an event and (2) facilitate state action or functions.

The Act amends PA 07-1 by specifying that the code does not prohibit anyone from donating real property for use by a state or quasi-public agency.

Effective:  Upon Passage

Sections 34, 35 — Fuel Efficiency and State Vehicles - Under current law, the average fuel efficiency of cars and light duty trucks must be at least 40 miles per gallon. In addition, the state fleet must meet federal requirements for the proportion of vehicles that run on alternative fuel. Under federal law, at least 75% of vehicles bought by the state (with certain exceptions) must be alternative fuel (these include electric vehicles and vehicles capable of operating on ethanol, among others).

The Act modifies fuel efficiency requirements for state fleet vehicles. It requires, starting January 1, 2008, that:

1. at least half the cars the state purchases or leases be alternative-fueled, hybrid electric or plug-in electric vehicles;

2. all alternative fueled vehicles purchased or leased be certified to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standard; and

3. all gasoline-powered light duty and hybrid vehicles purchased or leased must be certified, at least to the CARB's LEV II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standard.

It requires that all state cars and light duty trucks be alternative-fueled, hybrid electric or plug in electric vehicles starting July 1, 2012. If the administrative services (DAS) commissioner determines that such vehicles are not available for purchase or lease, he must include an explanation of that determination in the annual reports the Act requires.

Under current law the alternative fuel requirements does not apply to vehicles purchased for law enforcement or other special purposes as designated by DAS. The Act instead exempts from the above requirements any Department of Public Safety vehicle the public safety commissioner designates as needed for DPS to carry out its mission, provided the DAS commissioner approves the designation, and, in consultation with the public safety commissioner, explains why the provisions should not apply to these vehicles.

It requires, by August 1, 2007, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) commissioner, in consultation with the DAS commissioner, to try to determine if (1) the state qualifies for a waiver from the alternative fuel acquisition requirements of the federal Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 2005, and (2) it is in the state's best interest to apply for such a waiver. The DAS commissioner must immediately apply for a waiver if the DEP commissioner, in good faith, finds the state qualifies and that it is in the state's best interest to apply.

It requires, by September 1, 2007, the DEP commissioner, in consultation with the DAS commissioner, to develop plans to increase the use of existing ethanol and natural gas fueling stations and any other existing alternative fueling station the state, and to update the plan periodically.  It requires the commissioners, by the same date, to develop a plan to use alternative fuel credits the state has under EPACT, including credits earned by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and DPS to buy hybrid electric vehicles.                 

Effective:  Upon Passage

Section 59 — Connecticut Biofuel Link Program  - The Act requires the Institute for Sustainable Energy to (1) compile and distribute consumer education materials about biodiesel fuel to municipalities, local school boards, and private businesses and (2) establish and administer a Connecticut biodiesel link program to establish a database of schools, restaurants, institutional cafeterias, and other institutions and businesses in the state that produce waste vegetable oil or comparable food products suitable for conversion to biodiesel. The institute must maintain the database and make it publicly available on its website.

Businesses interested in selling their waste vegetable oil or similar food products to biodiesel producers may notify the institute and have their names, contact information and business objectives placed on the website. The institute must make reasonable efforts to encourage contact between parties with similar interests.

The institute must post educational material about this biofuel link program on its website. The information also must be posted as a link on websites of DECD, the Agriculture Department, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the UConn Biofuel Consortium, and UConn Cooperative Extension System. The educational material must include information about starting and conducting a waste vegetable oil business.

Effective:  October 1, 2007

Section 60 — Use of Biodiesel Blends in State Buildings - The Act requires the Office of Policy and Management secretary, in consultation with each state department and state higher education system constituent unit, the judicial branch, and the Joint Committee on Legislative Management to establish a program to encourage the use of biodiesel heating oil blends in state buildings and facilities under the custody and control of the departments, units, branch, or committee. The blends must contain not more than 90% ultra low sulfur number 2 heating oil and at least 10% biodiesel.

By January 1, 2008, the commissioner must prepare a plan to implement this program, including (1) identifying state buildings and facilities suitable for the use of biodiesel blended heating fuel, (2) evaluating energy efficiency and reliability of biodiesel blended fuel in such buildings, and (3) the availability and feasibility of exclusively using such fuels produced from Connecticut agricultural products or waste grease. The commissioner must adopt guidelines for the grant program.

Effective:  July 1, 2007

Section 61 — Fuel Diversification Grant Program - The Act requires DECD to establish a fuel diversification grant program for Connecticut colleges and universities or state agricultural research institutions. They may use the money to (1) research to promote biofuel production from agricultural products, algae and waste grease, and (b) biofuel quality testing. DECD may enter into a personal service agreement, as provided by law, with a person, firm, corporation, or other entity to administer the program. DECD, in consultation with such entity, must create guidelines needed to administer the program. Any entity that DECD selects must report to DECD on the program's status by January 1, 2008 and annually afterwards.

Effective:  July 1, 2007

Section 64 — Renewable energy Projects in state Buildings - sHB 7432 authorizes $30 million in bonds for Connecticut Innovations, Inc. to fund the net project costs of renewable energy and combined heat and power (cogeneration) projects in state buildings. Under that bill, to be eligible, the building must be certified in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program or in the process of being certified.

The Act expands eligibility for this program to include buildings that (1) are becoming LEED silver rated (a more stringent standard than certified), (2) have a two-globe rating in the Green Globes USA design program (another rating system), or (3) are in the process of receiving this latter rating.                                    

Effective:  July 1, 2007

Sections 65, 66 — State Set-Aside Program - Set-Aside Goals - The law requires state agencies and political subdivisions, other than municipalities, to set aside 25% of the contracts they let for construction, goods, and services each year to small contractors, including minority business enterprises.  It excludes      (1) any contract for which the set-aside conflicts with federal law or regulations and (2) goods and services not customarily available from or supplied by small contractors.

The Act eliminates obsolete language that created an alternative method for calculating the number of set-aside contracts at a time when the value of contracts to be set aside was a minimum of 15% and a maximum of 25% of the average of contracts awarded over three fiscal years.

The Act also requires agencies and political subdivisions, other than municipalities, to submit reports by August 30, rather than September 30, outlining their annual set-aside goals. By law, they must submit the report to DAS, CHRO, and the chairpersons and ranking members of the Planning and Development and Government Administration and Elections Committees.

Under the Act, any agency or political subdivision that does not achieve at least 50% of its goals by the end of the second reporting period in any 12 months beginning on July 1 must give DAS and CHRO a detailed written explanation of how it will achieve them in the final reporting period.

Eligibility - The Act makes changes to the definition of “small contractor,” thus increasing the number of firms that may be eligible under the set-aside program. Beginning July 1, 2007, it:

1. requires firms to have the same ownership or management, rather than both, for at least one year before applying, thereby allowing those that have gone through ownership transfers to be eligible; and

2. includes small contractors who are individuals with mental impairments, not just physical impairments, as qualified minority business enterprises.

Beginning January 1, 2008, it raises, from $10 million to $15 million, the annual gross revenue limit for eligible firms. The Act also removes a prohibition against the DAS commissioner awarding a small contractor a contract or contracts totaling more than $ 10 million in a fiscal year.

Explanation for Contracts with Ineligible Subcontractors - The Act requires an awarding authority that awards a set-aside contract to obtain from that contractor, before any work begins, a written explanation detailing any subcontract it has with a firm that is not eligible under the set-aside program.  By law, a contractor that is awarded a set-aside contract, together with set-aside-eligible subcontractors, must perform at least 25% of the work done under the contract.

Notice Requirements - The law permits awarding agencies, after notice and a hearing, to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation on contractors or subcontractors who willfully violate the set-aside law. The Act requires, rather than allows, them to send notice to a contractor or subcontractor they suspect commits such a violation. It also requires the awarding authority to send a copy of the notice to CHRO.  By law, the notice must inform the firm of the maximum civil penalty for the alleged violation, that there will be a hearing, and of its time and date, among other things.

Directory of Certified Firms - The Act removes a requirement for DAS to print a directory of certified small contractors and minority business enterprises and provide updated copies to state agencies on a quarterly basis. Instead, it requires the department to maintain the updated directory on its website.

Effective: July 1, 2007, except the increase in the gross revenues is effective January 1, 2008

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00004-R00SB-01500SS1-PA.pdf

28.  House Bill 5706 (Public Act 07-3), An Act Concerning Leave for State Employees Providing Disaster Relief Services. 

The Act extends the length of leave a state employee may be granted to provide disaster relief services for the American Red Cross.

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00003-R00HB-05706-PA.pdf

29.  Substitute House Bill 6209 (Public Act 07-152), An Act Concerning the Renewable Energy Investment Fund. 

This Act creates the Renewable Energy Investments Board and requires Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (CII) to spend money in the Clean Energy Fund as authorized by the board. It specifies the board's membership and establishes its responsibilities. It eliminates the advisory committee that currently assists CII to develop a comprehensive plan, among other things.

Under current law, the Energy Conservation Management Board (ECMB) helps the electric companies develop a plan to implement cost-effective conservation programs and the plan is subject to Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) approval. The Act requires DPUC to approve, modify, or reject the plan in an uncontested proceeding. It allows DPUC to hold a public hearing as part of this proceeding.

Effective:  October 1, 2007, except for the provision explicitly allowing CII to administer the fund in accordance with the Act, which is effective upon passage.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00152-R00HB-06209-PA.pdf

30.  House Bill 6372 (Public Act 07-70), An Act Concerning the Location of State Facilities. 

The Act encourages the use of mass transit by requiring the Commissioner of Public Works, when leasing, purchasing or contracting to purchase state facilities, to give preference to facilities located near mass transit.

Effective: Upon Passage

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00070-R00HB-06372-PA.pdf

31.  House Bill 6396 (Public Act 07-100), An Act Concerning the Use of Cleaning Products in State Buildings.

This Act bans the use of cleaning products that do not meet certain guidelines or environmental standards to clean inside state-owned buildings beginning October 1, 2007. The guidelines or standards must be set by a national or international environmental certification program, which the Department of Administrative Services must approve in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection. The cleaning products must minimize the potential harmful impact on human health and the environment to the maximum extent possible.  The Act specifies that for its purposes “cleaning product” does not include any disinfectant, disinfecting cleaner, sanitizer, or any other antimicrobial product regulated by federal law.

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00100-R00HB-06396-PA.pdf

32.  Substitute House Bill 6500 (Public Act 07-236), An Act Expanding Connecticut’s Film Industry.

This Act requires the Office of Workforce Competitiveness (OWC) to establish a film industry workforce training program in Connecticut, in consultation with the labor, education, and economic and community development commissioners and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. The program must have the following components:

1. an unpaid internship program for high school and college students,

2. a production assistant training program for state residents, and

3. a workforce training program that includes mentors and classroom and on-set training.

Effective:  July 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00236-R00HB-06500-PA.pdf

33.  Substitute House Bill 6949 (Public Act 07-187), An Act Concerning the Administration of the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund, Service Bonuses for Certain Members of the Connecticut National Guard on Active Service with the Armed Forces, and the Effective Date of Provisions Prohibiting Disruption of a Funeral.                                                                                                                                  

This Act increases service bonus payments to Connecticut National Guard members who serve in combat zones and establishes bonuses for guard members' active service outside of such zones. The Act also  transfers the administration of the Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Fund to the American Legion from the state treasurer and makes related changes.

Effective:  Upon passage, for the fund and the change to the PA 07-98 effective date; July 1, 2007, for the bonus.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00187-R00HB-06949-PA.pdf

34.  House Bill 6988 (Public Act 07-211), An Act Updating the Social Security Retirement Age to Reflect Federal Changes and Concerning a Retirement Annuity Program for Municipal Employees.                 This Act increases the age, from 65 to the eligibility age for full Social Security retirement benefits, after which a Tier I state retiree no longer receives the additional temporary retirement benefit. Under federal law, the full normal Social Security retirement eligibility age is increasing each year by two-month increments until it reaches age 66 in 2008 (if someone turns 65 in 2007, he or she would not be eligible for full federal benefits until reaching age 65 and 10 months). It will stay at age 66 for 11 years, then gradually increase again until reaching age 67 in 2025. Current state retirement law provides the additional temporary benefit until the retiree reaches age 65.  It also requires the comptroller, upon the request of a political subdivision of the state, to allow employees of the subdivision to join the state 403(b) deferred compensation program for state education employees. The Act permits the comptroller to set additional terms and conditions under which the employees can join the program. This annuity program is authorized under federal tax law. Political subdivisions of the state include towns, cities, boroughs, special tax districts, fire districts, water district and other similar entities.  The Act also permits a member of any municipal pension system who is elected to a state or municipal office to continue his or her membership in the municipal pension system for up to 10 years while in office. The law already permits this for a member of the state-run municipal employees' retirement system. The elected official must continue to make the required pension contributions during that time and is not eligible for membership in any other state or municipal retirement system during that time.       

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00211-R00HB-06988-PA.pdf

35.  House Bill 7024 (Public Act 07-56), An Act Creating an Intrastate Mutual Aid System.                          

The Act creates an intrastate mutual aid system based upon the interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact model to allow municipalities to pool resources in case of disaster without legal contracts.

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00056-R00HB-07024-PA.pdf

36.  Substitute House Bill 7115 (Public Act 07-84), An Act Concerning the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

This Act makes several unrelated changes affecting building and fire code enforcement.  The Act allows the state fire marshal to reduce the required yearly inspection frequency for certain buildings subject to the State Fire Safety Code if this action is in the interest of public safety.

It streamlines fire incident reporting procedures and expands the kind of fire-related incidents that local fire marshals must report to the state fire marshal.  It extends the deadline for adopting the State Fire Prevention Code from January 1, 2005 to October 1, 2008. (PA 04-59 required the state fire marshal to adopt this code to (1) enhance the enforcement capabilities of local fire marshals and (2) prevent fire and other related emergencies).

It requires (1) at least one member of the Fire Marshal Training Council to participate in certificate revocation hearings involving local fire marshals' failure to prove that they completed required training and (2) the council to advise the state fire marshal and Codes and Standards Committee on decertification hearings.  It authorizes the state fire marshal and Codes and Standards Committee to issue emeritus certificates to certain retired fire code officials.

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00084-R00HB-07115-PA.pdf

37.  Substitute House Bill 7269 (Public Act 07-246), An Act Concerning Criminal History Background Checks, Child Pornography, Repeated False Alarms, the Destruction of Seized Fireworks, Amusement Patrons’ Safety and Assessor’s Drawings.

This Act makes several unrelated changes. The Act: 1. limits the type of access defendants in criminal proceedings can have to child pornography material in the state's custody; 2. allows the public safety commissioner to adopt regulations to implement the criminal history record check provisions of one state and three federal laws; 3. prohibits courts from ordering that illegal fireworks be held pending final disposition of a case involving such fireworks and instead allows the court to order them destroyed after they are inventoried and photographed; and 4. establishes fines for repeated false alarms that result in a State Police response, ranging from $25 for the fourth offense to $100 for the seventh and subsequent offenses. It exempts state, municipal, and federal buildings from such fines.                                                          

Effective:  October 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00246-R00HB-07269-PA.pdf  

38.  Substitute House Bill 7275 (Public Act 07-131), An Act Concerning the Face of Connecticut.               

This Act increases grant ceilings for, and makes adjustments to, the Open Space and Watershed Acquisition Grant Program. It also creates a loan program to help municipalities purchase agricultural land.       

Effective:  July 1, 2007

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00131-R00HB-07275-PA.pdf

39.  Substitute House Bill 7347 (Public Act 07-241), An Act Concerning Minor Changes to the Education Statutes.

Section 501 adds the durational shortage area permit qualification waiver in the following manner: “Notwithstanding the provisions of title 10 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education that requires that a durational shortage area permit be issued by the State Board of Education in a shortage area and that the person to whom the durational shortage area permit is issued have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, the State Board of Education shall issue a durational shortage area permit in elementary education for one year, which permit may be renewed up to two times in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Board of Education to a person who was born in Canada, achieved American citizenship on September 17, 2003, and has been teaching special education classes for a period of not less than nine years.”

Effective:  July 1, 2007 for Sections 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7.  Upon Passage for Sections 3 and 6.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00241-R00HB-07347-PA.pdf

40.  Substitute House Bill 7386 (Special Act 07-11), An Act Concerning the Conveyance of Certain Parcels of State Land.

The Act requires the following conveyances from the state or named agencies to the recipients named for the purposes specified: Section 9 - through the Connecticut State University system Board of Trustees to New Britain (0. 696 acre) and Section 14 - through the Department of Public Works to Danbury for social or human services purposes (0. 6 acre).

Effective:  July 1, 2007 for Section 31, and upon passage for the remaining sections.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/sa/pdf/2007SA-00011-R00HB-07386-SA.pdf

41.  House Bill 7432 (Public Act 07-242), An Act Concerning Electricity and Energy Efficiency.

Sections 10, 11 — Green Buildings-Public Sector, Funding for School Construction - The Act broadens and increases the state's “green building” requirements. Under current law, state facilities costing $ 5 million or more, funded on or after January 1, 2007 (with limited exceptions for structures such as garages), must meet specified energy and environmental standards. The standards are a silver rating under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program or its equivalent.  The OPM secretary, in consultation with the public works commissioner and the Institute for Sustainable Energy, must waive the requirements if he finds that the cost of compliance significantly outweighs the benefits.

Starting January 1, 2008, the Act modifies the requirements by eliminating the exceptions and limiting the current requirements to those state facilities where at least $ 2 million of the funding comes from the state. The Act also extends the requirements to the following types of projects with at least $2 million or more in state funding: (1) renovations to state facilities approved and funded on or after January 1, 2008 that cost $2 million or more, (2) new school construction projects authorized by the legislature on or after January 1, 2009 that cost $5 million or more, and (3) school renovation projects authorized by the legislature on or after this date costing at least $2 million. In all cases, the Act requires the institute, rather than the OPM secretary, to determine whether the cost of compliance significantly outweighs the benefits. The Act also requires all of these facilities to exceed the current building code energy efficiency standards (the 2004 edition of ASHRAE Standard 90. 1) by at least 20%.  (See also Section 508 of sSB 1406.)

Effective:  October 1, 2007 for the increase in school construction grants, and January 1, 2008 for the remaining provisions

Sections 12, 16 — Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards  - The Act establishes energy efficiency standards for various products.  These include certain incandescent lamps, medium voltage transformers, bottled water dispensers, commercial hot food holding cabinets, portable electric spas, walk-in refrigerators and freezers, and pool heaters.  In most cases, the standards go into effect January 1, 2009.

The Act establishes efficiency standards for residential furnaces and boilers purchased by the state on or after January 1, 2009. It requires the Department of Administrative Services and other purchasing agencies to buy appliances and equipment that meet federal Energy Star standards (it appears that the furnaces and boilers must meet the Energy Star standards and the standards established by the Act).

Under current law, DPUC, in consultation with OPM, must take several steps in implementing and revising the standards. The Act instead assigns these responsibilities to OPM, in consultation with DPUC.                                                                                                                                    

Effective:  October 1, 2007

Section 73 - Bonding for Energy Efficiency Projects in State Buildings -The Act authorizes up to $30 million in state bonds for the Department of Public Works to fund the net project costs of energy efficiency projects in state buildings implemented under section 101 of the Act. The bonds are subject to standard statutory issuance and repayment provisions.                                                                                          

Effective:  July 1, 2007

Section 74 - Grants for Energy Efficiency Projects in Colleges, Hospitals, etc. -The Act allows the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority to provide grants or other financial assistance to colleges, health care facilities, nursing homes, day care centers, and other nonprofit organizations for energy efficiency and renewable energy construction and renovation projects.                                                                                                                

Effective:  October 1, 2007

Sections 13, 101— Management of Energy Use in State Facilities - The Act requires OPM, in consultation with the Department of PublicWorks, to develop a strategic plan to improve the management of energy use in state facilities. The plan must address such things as efficiency, distributed generation, and renewable energy initiatives. The plan must also include options for having agencies pursue competitive electric supply options through an integrated purchasing program. The plan must specify the potential near-term budget savings that could be realized by implementing the plan.

By September 1, annually, OPM must submit the plan to the Connecticut Energy Advisory Board (CEAB). CEAB must approve or modify the plan by the subsequent January 1.  By each March 15, CEAB must measure the plan's success and determine the financial benefits to the state and the overall electric system. Electric ratepayers (presumably including state agencies) must retain 75% of any savings, 12. 5% must be reinvested in energy efficiency programs in state buildings, and 12. 5% must be invested in energy efficiency programs and technologies on behalf of energy assistance programs administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS). DSS must use the systems benefit charge on electric bills to cover the costs of the last two allocations, although the Act specifies that the funding comes from savings.

The Act gives OPM several powers in connection with these provisions, including hiring a consultant. The costs of implementing these provisions must be paid from the state budget.                                                                                                                 

Effective:  Upon Passage

Section 121- Bonding for Renewable Energy Projects in State Buildings -The Act authorizes $30 million in bonds for Connecticut Innovations, Inc., which administers the Clean Energy Fund, to fund the net project costs of renewable energy and combined heat and power (cogeneration) projects in state buildings.  To be eligible, the building must be certified in the LEED program or in the process of being certified.                                                                        

Effective:  July 1, 2007

Section 122 —State Fleet Fuel Efficiency-The Act modifies fuel efficiency requirements for state fleet vehicles and increases the proportion of these vehicles that must be alternatively fueled. Under current law, the average fuel efficiency of cars and light duty trucks must be at least 40 miles per gallon.  The Act additionally requires, starting January 1, 2008, that each car or light duty truck have an efficiency rating that is in the top third of the vehicles in its class.

Under current law, the state fleet must meet federal requirements for the proportion of vehicles that run on alternative fuel. Under federal law, at least 75% of vehicles bought by the state (with certain exceptions) must be alternative fuel (these include electric vehicles and vehicles capable of operating on ethanol, among others). The Act requires that, between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009, at least 50% of the purchased vehicles be alternative fueled, hybrid electric, or plug-in electric vehicles.  This proportion must increase to 100% starting January 1, 2010.                                                

Effective:  Upon Passage

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00242-R00HB-07432-PA.pdf

42.  House Bill 8003 (June Special Session, Public Act 07-3), An Act Implementing the Provisions of the Budget Concerning Education

Section 31 – Minority Teacher Recruitment and Retention

This section of the Act requires the RESC Minority Recruiting Alliance to study how best to (1) encourage minority middle and high school students to go to college and enter teacher preparation programs, (2) recruit minority college students to enroll in teacher preparation programs and become teachers, and (3) recruit and maintain minority teachers in Connecticut schools. The alliance must perform the study in consultation with SDE and DHE, the state higher education constituent units, and the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges.

Section 39 – Bridges College-Readiness Grant Program

This section of the Act requires DHE to contract, by March 1, 2008, with the Connecticut State University (CSU) system board of trustees to develop a college-readiness grant program to (1) address core subject-matter deficiencies among college-bound high school students and (2) improve college-bound students' performance on Connecticut mastery and college placement examinations. The CSU board of trustees must (1) develop a plan for implementing a college-readiness program within the CSU system, in consultation with SDE and DHE and (2) submit it to SDE and DHE.                                                                                            

The Act transfers $ 250,000 of the funds appropriated to SDE in FY 09 for CommPACT schools to DHE for this program. It requires the higher education commissioner to release these funds to the board after she has received the plan.

The plan must include the following strategies to decrease the number of high school students requiring remedial education:

1. provide opportunities for high school faculty to participate in mutual learning exchanges with college faculty;

2. provide opportunities for high school students to discuss college readiness and expectations with the high school and college faculty who are involved in the learning exchanges;

3. institute software or other instruments for (a) assessing high school students' college readiness skills and (b) identifying areas requiring remediation before students enter college;

4. engage high school and college faculty in workshops to plan 11th and 12th grade curricular changes to address areas requiring remediation; and

5. develop and institute shared decision-making structures that increase faculty and parental involvement in promoting a school culture and environment that fosters positive student development.

By January 1, 2010, the CSU board of trustees must complete an assessment of the grant program and submit it to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement and Education committees, and the education and higher education commissioners. The assessment must include (1) a summary of the strategies used by the participating CSUs, (2) the methods used to assess strategy outcomes, and where applicable (3) recommendations for making changes and incorporating positive findings into the programs.                

Section 41 - Strategic Master Plan for Higher Education                                                                           

This section of the Act establishes a blue ribbon commission to develop and implement a strategic master plan for higher education in Connecticut by October 1, 2008.  The strategic master plan must identify short-term and long-term state goals for higher education and include benchmarks for achieving those goals by 2010, 2015, and 2020.  

The Act also requires the commission to, until 2021, biennially submit a report prepared by the Department of Higher Education on the implementation of the plan and progress made in achieving the strategic plan's benchmarks to the governor and the General Assembly.  Funds in the amount of $100,000 to support this effort are included in Section 1(k) of the Appropriations Act.

The 36-member commission consists of 16 voting members and 20 ex-officio nonvoting members and must reflect the state's geographic, racial, and ethnic diversity. Table 1 shows the appointed voting members and their appointing authorities.

Table 1: Appointed Voting Members and Appointing Authorities

The ex-officio nonvoting members are the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee's chairpersons and ranking members and the following officials or their designees:

1. the higher education, education, economic and community development, and labor commissioners;

2.  the chairpersons of the boards of trustees and the chief executive officers of each higher education constituent unit (UConn, the Connecticut State University system, the community-technical colleges, and the Board for State Academic Awards);

3. the chairperson of the board and president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges;

4. the Office Workforce Competitiveness director; and

5. the Office of Policy and Management secretary.

Appointed members serve three-year terms.  The appointing authority must fill any vacancy.  The Act requires the commission to elect a chairperson at its first meeting.  Members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.  To assist in carrying out its duties, the commission may (1) seek the advice and participation of any necessary person, organization, state, or federal agency; (2) retain consultants within available appropriations; and (3) receive funds from any public or private sources.  The commission terminates on January 1, 2021.

The commission must develop a strategic master plan for higher education that identifies short-term and long-term state goals and includes benchmarks for achieving those goals by 2010, 2015, and 2020.  The goals must reflect the unique missions of each public and private higher education institution in the state.

The master plan must promote the following goals:

1. ensuring equal access and opportunity to postsecondary education for all state residents;

2. promoting student achievement, including performance, retention, and graduation;

3. promoting economic competitiveness in the state;

4. improving access to higher education for minorities and nontraditional students, including part-time students, incumbent workers, adult learners, former inmates and immigrants; and

5. ensuring the state's obligation to provide adequate funding for higher education.

The Act also requires the commission to:

1. examine the impact of demographics and workforce trends on higher education in the state;

2. address the challenges related to increasing the number of students earning bachelor's degrees in the state, increasing the number of young people entering the state's workforce, and the disparity in the achievement gap between minority students and the general population;

3. examine higher education funding policies, including coordinating appropriations, tuition, and financial aid and maximizing federal and private funding;

4. recommend ways in which the state's higher education institutions can, consistent with their respective missions, expand their role in advancing the state's economic growth; and

5. review the higher education board of governors' master plan for higher education and strategic plan for racial and ethnic diversity, and the Nellie Mae Foundation report titled, “New England 2020: A Forecast of Educational Attainment and its Implications for the Workforce of New England States.

In producing the master plan, the commission may consider:

1. establishing institutional performance and productivity incentives;

2. increasing financial aid incentive programs, particularly in workforce shortage areas and for minority students;

3. implementing mandatory college preparatory curricula in high schools and aligning them with postsecondary school curricula;

4. partnering public higher education institutions with the business community to move students into workforce shortage areas;

5. partnering public high schools with higher education institutions;

6. implementing high school programs to assist students seeking higher education, including vocational and technical opportunities;

7. developing policies to promote and measure retention and graduation rates;

8. addressing the educational needs and increasing retention and graduation rates of minority and nontraditional students; and

9. addressing tuition affordability and student indebtedness.

By October 1, 2008, the Act requires the commission to submit its strategic master plan, including goals, benchmarks, and recommendations for appropriate legislation and funding, to the governor and the Higher Education and Employment Advancement, Education, Commerce, Labor, and Appropriations committees.

The Act also requires the commission to biennially submit, beginning by January 1, 2009 and until January 1, 2021, a report prepared by the Department of Higher Education on the implementation of the plan and progress made in achieving the strategic plan's benchmarks to the governor and the Higher Education and Employment Advancement, Education, Commerce, Labor, and Appropriations committees.

Effective: July 1, 2007

Section 50 – Central Con