CSUS Legislative Initiatives -2007

The 2007 Session of the General Assembly adjourned on June 6, 2007 and a special session was held to take final action on the State’s Biennial budget for FY 2007-2009. 

The following is a summary of Connecticut State University System initiatives that passed, as well as other bills that impact the CSU System. 

1. Nominations of Members of the Board of Trustees

2. Senate Bill 1219 (Public Act 07-19), An Act Concerning Technical Changes to the Statutes for the Connecticut State University System.

3. House Bill 8001 (June Special Session, Public Act 07-1), An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2009, and Making Appropriations Therefor. 

4. Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreements

For other bills that impact the CSU System click here. 

 1.  Nominations of Members of the Board of Trustees

The following members of the Board of Trustees were confirmed by the General Assembly for new six-year terms:

House Resolution 50, Resolution Confirming the Nomination of Karl J. Krapek of Avon to be a Member of the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University System.

 

House Resolution 52, Resolution Confirming the Nomination of Elizabeth S. Gagne of Avon to be a Member of the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University System.

 

House Resolution 54, Resolution Confirming the Nomination of Richard J. Balducci of Deep River to be a Member of the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University System.

 

Senate Resolution 55, Resolution Confirming the Nomination of John H. Motley of Burlington to be a Member of the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University System.

 

Senate Resolution 56, Resolution Confirming the Nomination of L. David Panciera of Wethersfield to be a Member of the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University System.

2.  Senate Bill 1219 (Public Act 07-19), An Act Concerning Technical Changes to the Statutes for the Connecticut State University System.
The Act replaces “executive secretary” with “chancellor” and changes from November first to July first the date on which new student board members begin their terms and provides for a process to fill vacancies of student board members.

Effective:  Upon Passage

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00019-R00SB-01219-PA.pdf

3. House Bill 8001 (June Special Session, Public Act 07-1), An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2009, and Making Appropriations Therefor. 

The Appropriations Act includes $158,614,592 in FY2008 and $160,444,294 in FY2009 for the Connecticut State University System.  This is $1,795,000 above the Governor’s recommended budget for both FY07-08 and FY08-09.                                                                                                                                          

Effective:  July 1, 2007, except for Sections 21, 36, 92, 96, 98, 119, 123, 129, 134 and 156 which are effective upon passage, and Section 51 which is effective July 1, 2008.                                             http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00001-R00HB-08001SS1-PA.pdf

The $1,795,000 in additional funding over what the Governor recommended includes the following:

• $295,000 provided to increase the number of nursing graduates in the state.  This includes $65,000 (one nursing faculty position) for WCSU; $130,000 (two nursing faculty positions) for SCSU; and $100,000 in support of BSN Accelerated Career Entry scholarships and stipends at SCSU.
• $1,000,000 for twenty additional faculty positions System-wide.
• $500,000 for the Institute for the Study of Crime and Justice at CCSU to provide competitive grants for mentoring at-risk juveniles whose parent(s) have been incarcerated.

Section 84 of the Budget includes the transfer of $100,000 in carryover funds appropriated in FY07 to the Department of Economic and Community Development for Biofuels, and to ECSU’s Institute for Sustainable Energy to carry out provisions of Section 59 of Senate Bill 1500 (JSS).

In addition to the CSUS appropriation, a total of $750,000 is appropriated through the State Department of Education for CommPACT Schools in FY 2009. Of this amount, $250,000 is for the CSUS Bridges Program.

The Budget also appropriates additional funds for financial aid:

It should be noted that House Bill 8003 (June Special Session, Public Act 07-3), An Act Implementing the Provisions of the Budget Concerning Education includes language in Section 39 that requires the CSUS Board of Trustees to develop a college-readiness grant program (the Bridges 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.  In addition, Section 50 approves up to $10 million in repairs, alterations, or additions to Central Connecticut State University's athletic fields and associated support facilities.

Effective:  July 1, 2007; Sections 39 and 50 are effective upon passage.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00003-R00HB-08003SS1-PA.pdf

4.  Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreements

The following collective bargaining agreements were approved by the General Assembly:

Senate Resolution 7, Resolution Proposing Approval of a Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the Connecticut State University System and the State University Organization of Administrative Faculty.

House Resolution 22, Resolution Proposing Approval of a Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University System and the Connecticut State University – American Association of University Professors.

Other Bills that Impact the Connecticut State University System