Connecticut 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee

HB 7216 — AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND CAREER SYSTEM.

Last action — FILE NO. 861

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

154 added · 15 removed

154 line(s) added, 15 removed.

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No.
House of Representatives General Assembly File No.
7216 January Session, 2025 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND CAREER SYSTEM.
861 January Session, 2025 Substitute House Bill No.
7216 House of Representatives, May 8, 2025 The Committee on Appropriations reported through REP.
WALKER of the 93rd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND CAREER SYSTEM.
The executive director shall organize the Technical Education and Career System into such bureaus, divisions and other units as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of the system, and may, from time to time, create, abolish, transfer or consolidate within the system any bureau, division or other unit as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of thebusinessofthesystem.Theexecutivedirectormayappoint,andmay LCO 1 of 6 Substitute Bill No.
The executive director shall organize the Technical Education and Career System into such sHB7216 / File No.
7216 prescribe the duties of any subordinates, agents and employees as he or she finds necessary in the conduct of the system.
861 1 sHB7216 File No.
861 bureaus, divisions and other units as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of the system, and may, from time to time, create, abolish, transfer or consolidate within the system any bureau, division or other unit as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of thebusinessofthesystem.Theexecutivedirectormayappoint,andmay prescribe the duties of any subordinates, agents and employees as he or she finds necessary in the conduct of the system.
(f) The executive director shall communicate directly with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management when requesting the creation or filling of staff positions included in the operating budget for the Technical Education and Career System.
sHB7216 / File No.
When reviewing such requests, priority shall be given to any request for instructional staff, as LCO 2 of 6 Substitute Bill No.
861 2 sHB7216 File No.
7216 identified in the statement of staffing needs submitted by the superintendent of the Technical Education and Career System pursuant to section 10-99g, and every effort shall be made to avoid interruption to instructional time during such review.
861 (f) The executive director shall communicate directly with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management when requesting the creation or filling of staff positions included in the operating budget for the Technical Education and Career System.
When reviewing such requests, priority shall be given to any request for instructional staff, as identified in the statement of staffing needs submitted by the superintendent of the Technical Education and Career System pursuant to section 10-99g, and every effort shall be made to avoid interruption to instructional time during such review.
(3) "Financial aid" means the sum of all scholarships, grants and federal, state and institutional aid received by a qualifying student.
sHB7216 / File No.
861 3 sHB7216 File No.
861 (3) "Financial aid" means the sum of all scholarships, grants and federal, state and institutional aid received by a qualifying student.
LCO 3 of 6 Substitute Bill No.
(4) "Qualifying student" means any person who (A) graduated from a public or nonpublic high school, (B) enrolls as a full-time or part-time student for [the fall semester of 2020, or] any semester [thereafter,] at a regional community-technical college in a program leading to a degree or certificate or at a technical education and career school in an adult education program, (C) is classified as an in-state student pursuant to section 10a-29, (D) is making satisfactory academic progress while enrolled at a regional community-technical college or technical education and career school, (E) has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and (F) has accepted all available financial aid or is a transition program student;
7216 (4) "Qualifying student" means any person who (A) graduated from a public or nonpublic high school, (B) enrolls as a full-time or part-time student for [the fall semester of 2020, or] any semester [thereafter,] at a regional community-technical college in a program leading to a degree or certificate or at a technical education and career school in an adult education program, (C) is classified as an in-state student pursuant to section 10a-29, (D) is making satisfactory academic progress while enrolled at a regional community-technical college or technical education and career school, (E) has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and (F) has accepted all available financial aid or is a transition program student;
and (8) "Transition program student" means any person who (A) is a resident of this state, (B) has not graduated from high school, (C) is enrolled in a transition program pursuant to such person's individualized education program, and (D) enrolls in one or more courses at a regional community-technical college or a technical education and career school.
and (8) "Transition program student" means any person who (A) is a resident of this state, (B) has not graduated from high school, (C) is enrolled in a transition program pursuant to such person's sHB7216 / File No.
(b) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall (1) establish and LCO 4 of 6 Substitute Bill No.
861 4 sHB7216 File No.
7216 administer, in consultation with the superintendent of the Technical Education and Career System, a debt-free [community college] education program to make awards to qualifying students each semester, (2) adopt rules, procedures and forms necessary to implement the debt-free [community college] education program, and (3) submit a report outlining such rules, procedures and forms, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.
861 individualized education program, and (D) enrolls in one or more courses at a regional community-technical college or a technical education and career school.
(b) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall (1) establish and administer, in consultation with the superintendent of the Technical Education and Career System, a debt-free [community college] education program to make awards to qualifying students each semester, (2) adopt rules, procedures and forms necessary to implement the debt-free [community college] education program, and (3) submit a report outlining such rules, procedures and forms, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.
(d) Not later than November 1, [2024] 2025, and March 1, [2025] 2026, andeachsemester thereafter,theBoardofRegentsfor Higher Education shall 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 higher education and employment advancement and appropriations and the budgets of the state agencies regarding the debt-free community college program, including, but not limited to, (1) the number of qualifying students enrolled at the regional community- technical colleges and the Technical Education and Career System during each semester, (2) the number of qualifying students receiving minimum awards and the number of qualifying students receiving awards for the unpaid portion of eligible institutional costs, (3) the average number of credit hours the qualifying students enrolled in each LCO 5 of 6 Substitute Bill No.
(d) Not later than November 1, [2024] 2025, and March 1, [2025] 2026, andeachsemester thereafter,theBoardofRegentsfor Higher Education shall 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 higher education and employment advancement and appropriations and the budgets of the state agencies regarding the debt-free community college program, including, but not limited to, (1) the number of qualifying students enrolled at the regional community- sHB7216 / File No.
7216 semester and the average number of credit hours the qualifying students completed each semester, (4) the average amount of the award made to qualifying students under this section for the unpaid portion of eligible institutional costs, and (5) the completion rates of qualifying students receiving awards under this section by college or school and degree or certificate program.
861 5 sHB7216 File No.
861 technical colleges and the Technical Education and Career System during each semester, (2) the number of qualifying students receiving minimum awards and the number of qualifying students receiving awards for the unpaid portion of eligible institutional costs, (3) the average number of credit hours the qualifying students enrolled in each semester and the average number of credit hours the qualifying students completed each semester, (4) the average amount of the award made to qualifying students under this section for the unpaid portion of eligible institutional costs, and (5) the completion rates of qualifying students receiving awards under this section by college or school and degree or certificate program.
July 1, 2025 Section 1 10-95r Sec.
Section 1 July 1, 2025 10-95r Sec.
C/R APP APP Joint Favorable LCO 6 of 6
C/R APP APP Joint Favorable sHB7216 / File No.
861 6 sHB7216 File No.
861 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $ Board of Regents for Higher GF - Cost Up to 2.7 Up to 2.7 Education million million Note:
GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill results in a cost of up to $2.7 million annually beginning in FY 26 to the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR).
It expands the PACT (debt free community college) program to include students enrolled in adult education programs at the Connecticut Technical Education and CareerSystem (CTECS).
The bill requires BOR to payout the awards based on information CTECS will report.
It is estimated to cost up to $2.7 million annually to expand PACT to include CTECS adult education programs.
There are currently 1,436 students enrolled in such programs.
Annual tuition, and the length of time required for program completion, varies.
For example, the cost of the apprenticeship coursework to obtain an unlimited journeyman license in a CTECS evening program for plumbing, HVAC, or electrical is approximately $1,600 per year for four years, while the coursework to earn a trade license in the two-year, full-day program at Bristol TEC is $4,000 per year for two years.
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CTECS also administers two aviation maintenance programs which cost $7,200 over 20 months ($3,600 annually).
Most CTECS adult students (over 1,200) are in the apprenticeship coursework program.
The bill requires students to complete the Federal Application for sHB7216 / File No.
861 7 sHB7216 File No.
861 Free Student Aid (FAFSA) to participate in the program.
Additionally, some students' costs may be defrayed by federal or other grants.
To the extent that:
(1) students are ineligible to participate due to failure to complete the FAFSA, or (2) students who are eligible receive federal or othergrants, theestimatedcostofthe billwouldbelessthan$2.7million annually.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the number of students enrolled in CTECS adult education programs and the tuition for such programs.
sHB7216 / File No.
861 8 sHB7216 File No.
861 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 7216 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND CAREER SYSTEM.
SUMMARY This bill makes various changes to statutes related to the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS), including:
1.
allowing the CTECS executive director to enter into cooperative agreements with a nonprofit training institute that provides building trades training to underserved populations, rather than with private career schools;
2.
requiring the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) secretary to review and approve requests to fill instructional staff positions by30daysaftertheCTECSsuperintendentsubmitsthestatement of staffing needs;
3.
expanding the Mary Ann Handley Award, Connecticut’s debt- free community college program, to include applicants enrolled at a CTECS adult education program;
and 4.
requiring CTECS to submit a report, each semester, on the Mary Ann Handley Award amount each student enrolled in the system’s adult education program qualifies for, and the Board of Regents to provide funding that covers the total amount of awards to CTECS.
The bill also makes minor, technical, and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2025 COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS sHB7216 / File No.
861 9 sHB7216 File No.
861 The bill authorizes the CTECS executive director to enter a cooperative arrangement with an in-state nonprofit training institute that provides building trades training to underserved populations, rather than with private career schools as under current law.
These agreements can be to provide general education;
vocational, technical, technological, or postsecondary education;
and work experience.
Under existing law, the CTECS executive director can also enter into these arrangements with school boards, higher education institutions, job training agencies, and employers.
OPM APPROVAL TIMELINE FOR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF The bill requires the OPM secretary to review and approve a request to fill CTECS instructional staff positions by 30 days after the date the system’s superintendent submits the statement of staffing needs.
By law, the CTECS superintendent must submit to the executive director the system’s education budget, which, among other details, must include a statement on the staffing needs for CTECS’ schools.
The executive director must ask the OPM secretary to create or fill staff positions, and OPM must give priority to any request for instructional staff (as identified in the superintendent’s statement of staffing needs).
MARY ANN HANDLEY AWARD EXPANSION The bill expands eligibility for the Mary Ann Handley Award, Connecticut’s debt-free community college program, to include students who are enrolled in an adult education program at a CTECS school.
Additionally, while the program is administered by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the bill requires this to be done in consultation with the CTECS superintendent.
Currently, the program is only for eligible applicants who enroll at a regional community-technical college in a program that leads to a degree or certificate.
The bill makes several conforming changes to expand the program to include CTECS adult education students.
By law, to be eligible for an award, applicants must have graduated sHB7216 / File No.
861 10 sHB7216 File No.
861 high school, be enrolled full or part-time in an eligible program, be classified as an in-state student, meet academic progress requirements while enrolled, have completed the FAFSA, and have accepted all other available financial aid.
The program provides eligible students with awards equaling the greater of (1) the unpaid portion of the tuition and fees, minus financial aid, or (2) $500 for full-time students or $300 for part-time students.
An award is available for the student’s first 72 credit hours in a qualifying program.
Qualifying Adult Education Program Student Report and Awarding of Funds The bill also requires that each semester, beginning fall 2025, the CTECS superintendent submit a report to the Board of Regents.
This report must include the number of qualifying students enrolled in the system’s adult education programs, the award amount each student qualifies for, and the financial aid amount each student receives.
Under the bill, the board is required to pay the total amount of awards that students qualify for to CTECS, which then must distribute the appropriate portion to each individual student.
By law, the board makes awards under the program within available appropriations.
COMMITTEE ACTION Education Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference - APP Yea 32 Nay 13 (03/24/2025) Appropriations Committee Joint Favorable Yea 43 Nay 10 (04/24/2025) sHB7216 / File No.
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 861

  2. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 552

  3. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 05/07/25

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable

  8. FAV. CHG. OF REF., SEN. TO COMM. ON Appropriations

  9. FAV. CHG. OF REF. HOUSE TO COMM. ON Appropriations

  10. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  11. FILED WITH LCO

  12. Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference APP

  13. PUBLIC HEARING 0319

  14. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Education

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0 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 187 not signed on

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Not signed on (187)

187 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
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