SB 1 — AN ACT INCREASING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS, SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION.

(2) Phase II shall commence whenever the two-year annual rate of return on the trust's amounts on deposit meets or exceeds the amount needed to fund all covered children served by designated beneficiaries in phase I plus the amount of eligible expenses described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section.

(3) Phase III shall commence not earlier than one year following the first year of implementation of phase II and whenever the two-year annual rate of return on the trust's amounts on deposit meets or exceeds the amount needed to fund the number of all covered children served by designated beneficiaries in phase I and the first year of phase II.

(4) Phase IV shall commence not earlier than one year following the first year of implementation of phase III and whenever the two-year annual rate of return on the trust's amounts on deposit meets or exceeds the amount needed to fund the number of all covered children served by designated beneficiaries in phase I, phase II and phase III.

(b) The eligible expenses for each phase shall be as follows:

(1) Phase I eligible expenses shall include (A) the unpaid portion of a covered child's tuition for enrollment in a preschool program as part of anearlycareandeducationprogramofferedbyadesignatedbeneficiary pursuant to section 10-505b of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and (B) the cost charged to a family associated with a covered child in a preschool program offered by an eligible board of education.

(2) Phase II eligible expenses shall include (A) phase I eligible expenses, and (B) costs associated with the expansion of slots offered by existing designated beneficiaries, including, but not limited to, transportation costs, capital expenses and costs associated with obtaining accreditation for the early care and education program from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, National LCO 4 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 Association for Family Child Care, a Head Start on-site program review instrument or a successor instrument pursuant to federal regulations.

(3) Phase III eligible expenses shall include (A) phase I eligible expenses, (B) phase II eligible expenses, and (C) the unpaid portion of a covered child's tuition for enrollment in a preschool program as part of anearlycareandeducationprogramofferedbyadesignatedbeneficiary who is a private provider of child care services.

(4) Phase IV eligible expenses shall include (A) phase I eligible expenses, (B) phase II eligible expenses, (C) phase III eligible expenses, and (D) the unpaid portion of a covered child's tuition for enrollment in an infant and toddler program as part of an early care and education program offered by a designated beneficiary.

4.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section:

Public Act No.

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1 (1) "Expansion costs" includes expenses to increase early care and education program provider payment rates, increase equitable access and affordability of high quality early childhood education, extend the hours of operation per day or portion of the year covered or to sustain services previously funded by the Early Childhood Education Endowment;

(2) "Programmatic costs" includes costs for parent and early care and education program enrollment campaigns, local governance partners, needs assessment technical assistance, facilities program technical assistance and workforce recruitment and scholarships for educators in alignment with the early childhood priorities of the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board and the Office of Early Childhood;

and (3) "Administrative costs" includes costs relating to (A) personnel, including, but not limited to, the salary and fringe benefits of the employees of the Treasurer's office responsible for administering the Early Childhood Education Endowment and the employees of the Office of Early Childhood and the Department of Education responsible for administering programming that utilizes funds from the endowment, andthestipendsprovidedto parent andprogramprovider members of the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board pursuant to subsection (g) of section 8 of this act, and (B) data and technology, including, but not limited to, the development and maintenance of payment or parent enrollment portals, establishing or managing memoranda of understanding between the Office of Early Childhood and other states agencies related to the provision of child care.

(b)ForthefiscalyearendingJune30,2026,theCommissionerofEarly Childhood, upon receipt of the funds released by the Treasurer from the EarlyChildhoodEducationEndowmentpursuanttosection3ofthisact, is authorized to expend such funds for the following purposes and in Public Act No.

25-93 4 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 the following manner:

(1) Up to eight per cent of such released funds for administrative costs, and (2) of such remaining released funds (A) three hundred thousand dollars for the health insurance subsidy program established pursuant to section 15 of this act, and (B) the remaining balance for expansion costs and programmatic costs.

(c)For thefiscal year ending June30, 2027,the Commissioner ofEarly Childhood, upon receipt of the funds released by the Treasurer from the endowment pursuant to section 4 of this act, is authorized to expend such funds for the following purposes and in the following manner:

(1) Up to twelve per cent of such released funds for administrative costs, and (2) of such remaining released funds (A) ten million dollars for the health insurance subsidy program established pursuant to section 15 of this act, and (B) the remaining balance for expansion costs and programmatic costs.

(d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Early Childhood, upon receipt of the funds released by the Treasurer from the endowment pursuant to section4 of thisact, is authorizedto expendsuchfunds for thefollowing purposes and in the following manner:

(1) Up to seven per cent of such released funds for administrative costs, and (2) of such remaining releasedfunds for (A)thehealthinsurance subsidy programestablished pursuant to section 15 of this act, and (B) expansion costs and programmatic costs.

(e) Any funds from the endowment that have been released by the Treasurer to the Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section of this act shall:

(1) Supplement and not supplant any other local, state or federal funds otherwise available for early childhood care and education;

(2) Not be comingled with any state or federal funding received Public Act No.

25-93 5 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 under the child care development block grant pursuant to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990;

and (3) Not lapse if not expended by the commissioner at the end of the fiscal year and shall be transferred to the Treasurer and deposited in the endowment.

Sec.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) NotFor laterthe thanfiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, the fifteenthCommissioner of eachEarly month,Childhood eachmay designatedexpend, beneficiaryin seekingaccordance awith reimbursementthe paymentprovisions of section 4 of this act, funds released by the Treasurer from the trustEarly forChildhood eligibleEducation expensesEndowment, incurredpursuant duringto section 3 of this act, to any early care and education program providing child care services, as described in section 19a-77 of the previousgeneral monthstatutes, shallor submitpreschool program operated by a claimlocal or regional board of education that is (1) receiving financial assistance under Early Start CT pursuant to section 10-550b of the childgeneral carestatutes, resource(2) participating in the quality improvement system established by the Office of Early Childhood under subdivision (15) of subsection (b) of section 10-500 of the general statutes, and referral(3) agencyparticipating designatedin the Child and Adult Care Food Program, 42 USC 1766, as amended from time to time, unless such program has received a waiver from participation in said program by the Commissioner of Early Childhood.Childhood or is a public school preschool program that offers free or reduced priced lunches pursuant to federal law and regulations.

The child care resource and referral agency shall provide the Treasurer with such claims for eligible expenses.

Upon review and approval of such claims, the Treasurer shall disburse funds in an amount equal to the total sum of such claims to the child care resource and referral agency.

The child care resource and referral agency shall distribute such funds to each designated beneficiary in an amount equal to the amount approved by the Treasurer for such designated beneficiary's claim.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a)On Thereand isafter establishedJuly 1, 2027, any expansion of spaces in early care and education programs paid for with funds from the UniversalEarly PreschoolChildhood TrustEducation Board.Endowment under section 4 of this act shall be for at least thirty-five per cent infant and toddler spaces.

TheSec.7.(NEW)(Effectivefrompassage)(a)ForthefiscalyearendingJune board30, shall2028, beand responsibleeach forfiscal year thereafter, the administrationfamily ofcontribution thefor Universalchild Preschoolcare Trust.services provided by an early care and education program that is Public Act No.

25-93 6 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 receiving funding from the Early Childhood Education Endowment shall be as follows:

(1) Any family with an annual gross income of less than one hundred thousand dollars shall not be financially responsible for the cost of such child care services;

and (2)Anyfamilywithanannualgrossincomeofonehundredthousand dollars or greater shall be financially responsible for an amount up to seven per cent of such family's annual gross income.

(b) Any family contribution collected by an early care and education program that is receiving funding from the endowment shall be reported in a form and in such manner as prescribed by the Office of Early Childhood.

Such amount so collected shall be deducted from the overall rate paid by the Office of Early Childhood to such program and settled in reconciliation.

Sec.

8.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board.

The board shall be responsible for (1)providing oversightoftheadministrationoftheEarly Childhood Education Endowment, (2) ensuring that funds from the endowment are expended in accordance with the provisions of section of this act, (3) reviewing all reports and expenditure plans concerning the endowment submitted by the Treasurer and Commissioner of Early Childhood, (4) reviewing and assessing the outcomes related to the expenditure of funds from the endowment, and (5) preparing and submitting reports and recommendations to the General Assembly concerning the administration of the endowment and permissible expenditureoffundsfrom theendowment,including recommendations for expansion of permissible expenditures of funds from the endowment.

(1)Public OneAct appointedNo. by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who is currently employed in the early childhood workforce;

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1 (2)(1) OneTwo appointed by the presidentspeaker proof temporethe House of theRepresentatives, Senate,one of whom shall be a parent who is a representativemember fromof the Serviceparent Employees'Internationalcabinet Union,established Localby 2001;the Office of Early Childhood pursuant to section 10-500 of the general statutes and one of whom shall be a member of the House of Representatives;

(3)(2) OneTwo appointed by the majoritypresident leaderpro tempore of the HouseSenate, one of Representatives,whom whoshall isbe the parentlicensee or guardian of a family child enrolledcare inhome aandone preschoolof programwhom providedshall bybe ana eligiblemember board of education;the Senate;

(4)(3) OneTwo appointed by the majority leader of the Senate,House whoof isRepresentatives, aone memberof whom shall be an educator in an early care and education program in the state and one of whom shall be the Connecticutparent Earlyor Childhoodguardian Alliance;of a child receiving services under the birth-to-three program established under section 17a-248b of the general statutes;

(5)(4) OneTwo appointed by the minoritymajority leader of the HouseSenate, one of Representatives,whom whoshall isbe a memberrepresentative of ana eligiblephilanthropic boardorganization that is engaged in early childhood education issues or child care issues in the state and one of education;whom shall be a special education teacher or administrator in a public school preschool program that is providing services under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1431 et seq., as amended from time to time;

(6)(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate,House of Representatives, who is a memberrepresentative of thea parentchild cabinetcare establishedcenter; by the Office of Early Childhood pursuant to section 10-500 of the general statutes;

(7)(6) One appointed by the Governor,minority wholeader is a representative of athe corporationSenate, withwho ais significantan physicaleducator presence in thea statepreschool andprogram thatprovided employsby individualsa wholocal mayor benefitregional fromboard earlyof childhoodeducation; education and state child care initiatives;

(7) Two appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a representative of a corporation with a significant physical presence in the state and that employs individuals who may benefit from early childhood education and state child care initiatives and one of whom Public Act No.

25-93 8 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 shall be a representative from a Head Start program;

and(10)The (10)Commissioner TheofEducation,orthecommissioner'sdesignee; Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee.

and (11) The Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee.

Each appointed member shall serve in accordance with the provisions of section 4-1a of the general statutes,statutes and the appointing authorities shall appoint members to ensure representation ontheboardofallgeographicareasinthestate,totheextent practicable.

Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance LCO 6 of 64the Substituteunexpired Billterm. No.

1(d) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the unexpiredcommissioner's term.designee, the member of the House of Representatives and the member of the Senate shall serve as the chairpersons of the board.

(d) The Treasurer,chairpersons orshall thejointly Treasurer'sschedule designee,the shallfirst servemeeting asof the chairpersonboard ofto thebe board.held not later than October 1, 2025.

The chairpersonboard shall schedulemeet theat firstleast meetingquarterly and host an annual public hearing prior to the completion of the boardannual toreport bedescribed heldin notsubsection later(f) thanOctoberof 1,this 2025.section.

(e) The boardTreasurer, shallor meetthe Treasurer's designee, shall, at leastthe quarterly,first meeting of the board and uponsemiannually requestthereafter, ofsubmit to the board oran actuarial chart that includes a review of the Treasurer.total amount of funds withintheendowment, thehealthoftheinvestmentsoftheendowment, the anticipated growth of the endowment and any recommended Public Act No.

(e)25-93 The9 Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee, shall, at the first meeting of the48 boardSubstitute andSenate semiannuallyBill thereafter,No. submit to the board an actuarial chart that includes a review of the total amount of funds within the trust, the health of the investments of the trust, the anticipated growth of the trust and any recommended models for the timing and rate of drawing down from the trust.

(f)1 Notmodels laterfor than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the boardtiming shall submit a report on the actuarial future of the trust, the current phase of the trust, the anticipated date to advance phases of the trust, if any, and anrate assessment of thedrawing successdown andfrom efficacy of the Universalendowment. Preschool Trust to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, children and appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.

(g)(f) TheNot later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the board shallshalldevelopa bereportthat withinincludes,but isnot limitedto,(1) thefinancial health and actuarial future of the officeendowment based on information received from the Treasurer, (2) the expenditures of funds from the Treasurerendowment, for(3) administrativestatus purposesupdates only.of early care and education programs, early childhood educators, families and children served, and (4) any recommendations for legislation.

The board shall submit such report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, children, appropriations and finance, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.

(g) The members of the board shall serve without compensation, except the parent and program provider members of the board may, within available resources, be provided a stipend for serving on the board.

(h) The board shall be within the office of the Treasurer for administrative purposes only.

7.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Treasurer, on behalf of the trust and for purposes of the trust, may:

(1) Receive and invest moneys in the trust in any instruments, obligations, securities or property in accordance with section 8 of this act;

(2) Enter into one or more contractual agreements, including contracts for legal, actuarial, accounting, custodial, advisory, management, administrative, advertising, marketing and consulting LCO 7 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 services for the trust, and pay for such services from the assets of the trust;

(3) Procure insurance in connection with the trust's property, assets, activities or deposits to the trust;

(4) Apply for, accept and expend gifts, grants or donations from public or private sources to enable the trust to carry out its objectives;

(5) Adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 of the general statutes for purposes of sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act;

(6) Sue and be sued;

(7) Establish one or more funds within the trust;

and (8) Take any other action necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act and incidental to the duties imposed on the Treasurer pursuant to said sections.

(b) The Treasurer, on behalf of the trust and for purposes of the trust, shall:

(1) Enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Commissioner of Early Childhood to establish information sharing practices for purposes of sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act.

Such memorandum of understanding shall be in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

(2) Enter into a memorandum of understanding with the child care resource and referral agency to establish information sharing practices for purposes of sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act.

Such memorandum of understanding shall be in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

Sec.

8.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 3-13 to 3-13h, inclusive, of the general statutes, the Treasurer shall invest the amounts on deposit in the trust in a manner reasonable LCO 8 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 and appropriate to achieve the objectives of the trust, exercising the discretion and care of a prudent person in similar circumstances with similar objectives.

The Treasurer shall give due consideration to rate of return,risk, termor maturity,diversificationofthetotalportfolio within the trust, liquidity, the projected disbursements and expenditures and the expected payments, deposits, contributions and gifts to be received.

The Treasurer shall not require the trust to invest directly in obligations of the state or any political subdivision of the state or in any investment or other fund administered by the Treasurer.The assets of the trust shall becontinuously investedandreinvestedinamanner consistent withthe objectives of the trust until disbursed for eligible expenditures or expended on expenses incurred by the operations of the trust.

Sec.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) DisbursementsOn fromand after July 1, 2026, the trustCommissioner shallof beEarly exemptChildhood fromshall allsubmit taxationrecommendations byto the stateEarly andChildhood allEducation politicalEndowment subdivisionsAdvisory Board on indicators for prioritization in a competitive procurement process when considering programs for expansion costs, as defined in section 4 of thethis state.act.

Section(NEW) 3-13c(Effective from passage) (a) Not later than January 1, 2032, and every five years thereafter, the Commissioner of Early Childhood shall prepare an impact analysis concerning the generaloperations statutesof isthe repealedEarly Childhood Education Endowment and the followingeffect isthat substitutedthe inexpenditure lieuof thereoffunds (Effectivefrom Julythe 1,endowment 2025):have had on the availability, Public Act No.

As25-93 used10 in sections 3-13 to 3-13e, inclusive, and 3-31b, "trust funds" includes the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund A, the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B, the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund, the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Trust Fund, the State's Attorneys' Retirement Fund, the Teachers' Annuity Fund, the Teachers' Pension Fund, the Teachers' Survivorship and Dependency Fund, the School Fund, the State Employees Retirement Fund, the Hospital Insurance Fund, the Policemen and Firemen Survivor's Benefit Fund, any trust fund described in subdivision (1) of subsection48 (b)Substitute ofSenate sectionBill 7-450No. that is administered, held or invested by the State Treasurer, the Connecticut Baby Bond Trust, any Climate Change andCoastalResiliency Reserve Fundcreated pursuant to section 7-159d, the Universal Preschool Trust and all other trust funds administered, held or invested by the State Treasurer.

1 affordability and quality of early child care in the state.

Such impact analysis shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) a report on the solvency of the endowment prepared by the Treasurer, and (2) an analysis of the effect that the expenditure of funds from the endowment has had on (A) early care and education programs receiving financial assistance under Early Start CT pursuant to section 10-550b of the general statutes, (B) early care and education programs that are not receiving state financial assistance, (C) access of families to early care and education programs receiving state financial assistance under Early Start CT, (D) tuition and family contribution rates, (E) early childhood educator salaries and benefits, and (F) the state-wide demand for child care.

(b) Not later than July 1, 2031, the commissioner shall submit such impact analysis to the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board and to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, children, appropriations and finance, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.

Section(NEW) 10-505b(Effective from passage) Upon receipt and review of the generalimpact statutesanalysis isprepared repealedby the Commissioner of Early Childhood pursuant to section 10 of this act, and following consultation with the LCOTreasurer 9regarding the solvency of 64the SubstituteEarly BillChildhood No.Education Endowment, the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board shall develop recommendations concerning the expansion of permissible expenditures of funds from the endowment under section 4 of this act.

1Not followinglater isthan substitutedJanuary 1, 2032, the advisory board shall submit such recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, children, appropriations and finance, in lieuaccordance thereofwith (Effectivethe Julyprovisions 1,of 2025):section 11-4a of the general statutes.

(a) The Office of Early Childhood shall, within available appropriations, establish a state-wide Tri-Share Child Care Matching Program.[serving NewLondonCounty.]Under suchprogram,costsfor child care provided byduly licensed child care facilities in the state shall be shared [equally] among participating employers, employees and the [state] Universal Preschool Trust as follows:

(1)A participating employershallberesponsiblefor at leastone-third of an employee's full-day child care costs for a covered child enrolled in an early care and education program offered by a designated beneficiary;

(2)An employee shall beresponsiblefor child care costsinanamount not to exceed seven per cent of such employee's annual household income;

and (3) The remaining balance of such employee's child care costs shall be paid for with funds from the Universal Preschool Trust in accordance with the provisions of section 5 of this act.

(b) (1) The [program shall be established for a minimum of two years and the] office shall select a regional or state-wide organization as the administrator of the program.

Such administrator shall (A) determine employers' and employees' eligibility for participation in the program, (B) ensure that child care facilities to which payments will be made under the program are licensed by the state, (C) collect and ensure timely payment from participating employers, participating employees and the state, (D) disburse funds to the appropriate child care provider, (E) recruit employers to participate in the program, (F) coordinate adequatecommunicationbetweenallparties,and(G)collectandsubmit to the Office of Early Childhood data concerning participating employees, including, but not limited to, the annual household income of such employees, provided any such submitted data shall be deidentified.

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1 (2) To be eligible to participate in the program:

(A) An employer shall have a physical facility located in [New London County] the state that is the principal workplace of its employees;

and (B) An employee shall (i) be employed by a participating employer, (ii) reside in the state, and (iii) have as such employee's principal workplace a location in [New London County, and (iv) not be receiving other public assistance for child care costs] the state.

(c) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall enter into an agreement with such administrator to perform the duties described under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section.

Such agreement shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) a provision that the administrator shall receive, for administrative costs of the program, up to ten per cent of the funds allocated by the state for the program, (2) a requirement that the administrator not commingle funds received for purposes of the program, other than funds for administrative costs allowed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, with other funds held or controlled by the administrator, (3) any restrictions or prohibitions on the disclosure of data received or collected by the administrator in the performance of its duties under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, and (4) penalties for violation of a provision of the agreement or of this section.

(d) Commencing with the fiscal year immediately following the first year of the program and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall submit to thejoint standing committeesoftheGeneralAssembly having cognizanceofmattersrelatingtoappropriationsandthebudgetsofstate agencies, finance, revenue and bonding, education and children, a reportontheprogram.Suchreportshallinclude,butneednotbelimited to, (1) for the fiscal year immediately preceding, (A) the number of participating employers and participating employees, (B) the percentage of participating employees whose household incomes are below the asset limited, income constrained, employed population LCO 11 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 threshold, as calculated in the most recent ALICE report by the United Way of Connecticut, and (C) the amounts disbursed by the administrator for child care costs and the amounts retained by the administrator for administrative costs, and (2) any programmatic or legislative changes the commissioner recommends to improve the program or further its purposes.

(NEW) (Effective Julyfrom 1,passage) 2025) (a) The OfficeTreasurer, ofon Earlybehalf Childhood shall develop a centralized online enrollment portal for (1) designated beneficiaries to apply for payments from the Universal Preschool Trust, established pursuant to section 2 of thisPublic act,Act andNo. (2) families to apply for a subsidy or other state or federal financial assistance for child care under (A) a Head Start or Early Head Start program, (B) the child care subsidy program, established pursuant to section 17b-749 of the general statutes, (C) an early care and education program receiving financial assistance under Early Start CT pursuant to section 10-550b of the general statutes, (D) a preschool program under the Connecticut Smart Start competitive grant program, pursuant to section 10-506 of the general statutes, (E) the temporary family assistance program pursuant to section 17b-112 of the general statutes, (F) foster care placements or certified relative foster care placements through the Department of Children and Families, or (G) any other state or federal program for child care assistance.

(b)25-93 The11 enrollment portal shall (1) enable families to identify early care and education programs in their area, (2) determine a family's eligibility for a subsidy and allow such family to apply for a subsidy for which they are eligible, and (3) provide an estimate of the48 amountSubstitute ofSenate tuitionBill aNo. family would pay after deducting any subsidies for which such family is eligible and any amount covered by the Universal Preschool Trust.

1 the Early Childhood Education Endowment and for purposes of the endowment, may:

(1) Receive and invest moneys in the endowment in any instruments, obligations, securities or property in accordance with section 13 of this act;

(2) Enter into one or more contractual agreements, including contracts for legal, actuarial, accounting, custodial, advisory, management, administrative, advertising, marketing and consulting services for the endowment, and pay for such services from the assets of the endowment;

(3) Procure insurance in connection with the endowment's property, assets, activities or deposits to the endowment;

(4) Apply for, accept and expend gifts, grants or donations from public or private sources to enable the endowment to carry out its objectives;

(5) Adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 of the general statutesfor purposesof section3-13cofthegeneralstatutes,asamended by this act, sections 1 to 13, inclusive, and 15 of this act;

(6) Sue and be sued;

(7) Establish one or more funds within the endowment;

and (8) Take any other action necessary to carry out the purposes of section 3-13c of the general statutes, as amended by this act, sections 1 to 13, inclusive, and 15 of this act and incidental to the duties imposed on the Treasurer pursuant to said sections.

(b) The Treasurer, on behalf of the endowment and for purposes of the endowment, shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Commissioner of Early Childhood to establish information-sharing Public Act No.

25-93 12 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 practices for purposes of section 3-13c of the general statutes, as amended by this act, sections 1 to 13, inclusive, and 15 of this act.

Such memorandum of understanding shall be in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

Sec.13.(NEW)(Effectivefrompassage)Notwithstandingtheprovisions of sections 3-13 to 3-13h, inclusive, of the general statutes, the Treasurer shall invest the amounts on deposit in the Early Childhood Education Endowment in a manner reasonable and appropriate to achieve the objectives of the endowment, exercising the discretion and care of a prudent person in similar circumstances with similar objectives.

The Treasurer shall give due consideration to rate of return, risk, term or maturity, diversification of the total portfolio within the endowment, liquidity, the projected disbursements and expenditures and the expected payments, deposits, contributions and gifts to be received.

The Treasurer shall not require the endowment to invest directly in obligations of the state or any political subdivision of the state or in any investment or other fund administered by the Treasurer.

The assets of the endowment shall be continuously invested and reinvested in a manner consistent withtheobjectivesoftheendowment untildisbursed for eligible expenditures or expended on expenses incurred by the operations of the endowment.

13.

Subsection (c) of section 10-4 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

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1 (c) Said board shall prepare every five years a five-year comprehensive plan for elementary, secondary, vocational, career and adult education.

Such comprehensive plan shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) a policy statement of the State Board of Education's long-term goals and short-term objectives, including, for any comprehensive plan prepared onor after July 1, 2018, a policy statement that the demographics of educators in the public schools should reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the total population of the state, (2) an analysis of cost implications and measurement criteria and how said board'sprogramsandoperationsrelatetosuchgoalsandobjectives,and (3) specific action plans, target dates and strategies and methods of implementationforachievingsuchgoalsandobjectives.TheStateBoard of Education shall establish, every five years, an advisory committee to assist the board in the preparation of the comprehensive plan.

Members of the advisory committee shall be appointed by the State Board of Education with representation on the committee to include, but not be limited to, representatives of the Connecticut Advisory Council on Vocational and Career Education, education organizations, parent organizations, student organizations, business and industry, organized labor and appropriate state agencies.

Notwithstanding any requirement for submission of a plan for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, pursuant to section 10-96a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1983, the State Board of Education shall not be required to submit the master plan for vocational and career education but shall submit, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the comprehensive plan for elementary and secondary, vocational, career and adult education to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education on or before September 1, 1996, and every five years thereafter provided, the master plan currently in effect shall remain in effect until the comprehensive plan is submitted.

The Commissioner of Education shall make semiannual presentations to the State Board of Education, at regularly scheduled meetings of said board, to provide updates on the strategic priorities, actions and outcomes outlined in the comprehensive plan.

The State Board of Education shall be responsible LCO 13 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 for annually updating the progress in implementing the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan based on the presentations of the commissioner and shall report on such progress to the Governor and to said standing committee annually and make such information available ontheInternet websiteoftheDepartmentofEducation.The State Board of Education shall provide opportunity for public comment prior to its adoption of a plan.

Sec.

(NEW)Section (Effective3-13c Julyof 1,the 2025)general Onstatutes oris afterrepealed Juneand first, but prior to September thirtieth annually, the superintendentfollowing ofis schoolssubstituted forin eachlieu schoolthereof district(Effective shallJuly provide,1, at2025): a regularly scheduled meeting of the localor regionalboardofeducationfor theschooldistrict,thefollowing:

(1)As Theused numberin andsections names3-13 ofto all3-13e, community-basedinclusive, organizationsand with3-31b, whom"trust thefunds" boardincludes ofthe educationConnecticut hasMunicipal executedEmployees' aRetirement formalFund memorandumA, ofthe understanding,Connecticut memorandumMunicipal ofEmployees' agreementRetirement orFund contractB, to provide support services to students in the schoolSoldiers, district,Sailors disaggregated by school and typeMarines ofFund, support service provided, (2) the numberFamily of students engaged in both credit-bearing and noncredit-bearingMedical internshipsLeave orInsurance workforcetrainingprograms,disaggregatedbytypeanddurationoftheTrust internshipFund, orthe workforceState's trainingAttorneys' program,Retirement (3)Fund, the actualTeachers' classroomAnnuity sizeFund, andthe student-teacherTeachers' ratioPension duringFund, the previousTeachers' schoolSurvivorship year, disaggregated by school and subjectDependency area,Fund, (4)the attritionSchool dataFund, forthe certifiedState andEmployees noncertifiedRetirement staff,Fund, disaggregated by school and subject, not including in-district transfers, and (5) any savings achieved through the vacanciesHospital ofInsurance positionsFund, approved as part of the schoolPolicemen district'sand budgetPublic forAct theNo. academic year.

25-93 13 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 Firemen Survivor's Benefit Fund, any trust fund described in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 7-450 that is administered, held or invested by the State Treasurer, the Connecticut Baby Bond Trust, any Climate Change andCoastalResiliency Reserve Fundcreated pursuant to section 7-159d, the Early Childhood Education Endowment and all other trust funds administered, held or invested by the State Treasurer.

(NEW) (Effective fromJuly passage)1, Any2025) state(a) agencyAs thatused contributesin datathis forsection: the purposes of the development of the report of disconnected youth pursuant to section 22 of public act 24-45 shall post such report on the agency's Internet web site.

(1) "Health benefit plan" and "qualified health plan" have the same meanings as provided in section 38a-1080 of the general statutes;

(2) "Health insurance subsidy" means an amount that is a portion of the remaining balance of the cost of a qualified health plan after the application of all available income tax credits, employer contributions and other subsidies;

and (3) "Early care and education program" means a program providing child care services, as described in section 19a-77 of the general statutes, that is licensed by the Office of Early Childhood.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, established pursuant to section 38a-1081 of the general statutes, shall study the level of need for coverage under a health benefit plan that exists for employees of early care and education programs for the purpose of modeling and estimating the cost of operating a health insurance subsidy program for such employees pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.

Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, gathering data from the Office of Early Childhood and other resources to assess (1) the size and demographics of the population of such employees, (2) the number of such employees without coverage under a health benefit plan, and (3) any other information required to effectively model and estimate the cost of such program.

Public Act No.

25-93 14 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 (c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange and the Office of Early Childhood shall jointly establish, based on the model developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, a health insurance subsidy program for employees of early careandeducationprogramsthroughwhichsuchemployeesmayapply to the exchange to receive a health insurance subsidy that is applied to the cost of a qualified health plan purchased through the exchange, whether such plan is an individual health plan, an employer reimbursement arrangement authorized pursuant to federal law or a group health plan offered by an employer.

The exchange and the office shall jointly develop eligibility criteria for the health insurance subsidy program that includes, but is not limited to, such employee (1) being ineligible for Medicaid, and (2) applying for and accepting all available income tax credits, employer contributions and other subsidies applicable to the cost of a health benefit plan.

The exchange shall post such eligibility requirements and the application forms for the health insurance subsidyprograminaconspicuouslocationonitsInternetweb site.

(d) Not later than May 1, 2026, the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange shall submit to the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board, established pursuant to section 8 of this act, a recommendation for the amount of the health insurance subsidy available to participants under the health insurance subsidy program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, based on the amount allocated for such purpose in the Early Childhood Education Endowment, established pursuant to section 1 of this act, and the estimated number of participants in the health insurance subsidy program for such fiscal year.

On or before June 30, 2026, the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board shall approve or modify such recommendation.

The amount of such health insurance subsidy shall be applied directly to the cost of a qualified benefit plan and may not be distributed to any participant.

Public Act No.

25-93 15 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 (e) The Office of Early Childhood shall contract with community organizations to coordinate outreach activities for employees of early care and education programs to assist such employees to obtain coverage under a health benefit plan, whether such coverage is through Medicaid or participation in the health insurance subsidy program.

(NEW)Subsection (Effective(d) Julyof 1,section 2025)10-76d (a)of There is established within the Departmentgeneral ofstatutes Education,is forrepealed administrativeand purposesthe only,following ais regionalsubstituted education accountability review board for each planning region, as defined in sectionlieu 4-124ithereof of(Effective theJuly general1, statutes.2025):

Each(d) To meet its obligations under sections 10-76a to 10-76g, inclusive, any local or regional board of education may make agreements with another such LCOboard 14or subject to the consent of 64the Substituteparent Billor guardian of any child affected thereby, make agreements, or on and after July 1, 2019, enter into a contract withany private providerofspecialeducation services, as defined in section 10-91g, private school, or public or private agency or institution, including a group home, to provide the necessary programs or services, but no expenditures made pursuant to a contract with a private provider of special education services, private school, agency or institution for such special education shall be paid under the provisions of section 10-76g, unless (1) such contract includes a description of the educational program and other treatment the child is to receive, a statement of minimal goals and objectives which it is anticipated such child will achieve, an estimated time schedule for returning the child to the community or transferring such child to another appropriate facility, and an explanation of how the tuition, [or costs] rates or other fees charged for services provided under the agreement or contract are to be calculated in accordance with the rate schedule established pursuant to section 3 of public act 25-67, (2) subject to the provisions of this subsection, the educational needs of the child for whom such special education is being provided cannot be met by public school arrangements in the opinion of the commissioner who, beforegrantingapprovalofsuchcontractforpurposesofpayment,shall Public Act No.

125-93 boardshall(1)provideintensivetechnical,financialandotherassistance16 and related accountability to the priority school districts, as described in section 10-266p of the48 generalSubstitute statutes,Senate locatedBill inNo. the planning region for such board,(2) developguidelinesandcriteriafor thebudgeting and expenditure of funds for each such priority school district, and (3) review and analyze all educational spending of each such priority school district.

(b)1 Eachconsider regionalsuch educationfactors accountabilityas reviewthe boardparticular shallneeds consistof the child, the appropriateness and efficacy of (1)the program offered by such private school,agency or institution,andtheeconomicfeasibility ofcomparable alternatives, and (3) commencing with the 1987-1988 school year and for each school year thereafter, each such private provider of special education services, private school, agency or institution has been approved for special education by the Commissioner of Education,Education or by the commissioner'sappropriate designee;agency for facilities located out of state, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection or any regulations adopted by the State Treasurer,Board of Education setting placement priorities, placements pursuant to this section and payments under section 10-76g, may be made pursuant to such a contract if the public arrangements are more costly than the private provider of special education services, private school, institution or agency, provided the Stateprivate Treasurer'sprovider designee;of special education services, private school, institution or agency meets the educational needs of the child and its program is appropriate and efficacious.

(3)Any threepayment appointedunder the provisions of section 10-76g or section 7 of public act 25-67, shall include all expenditures incurred by thea Governor,local oneor regional board of whomeducation haspursuant significantto professionala experiencecontract with a private provider of special education services, private school, agency or institution [,] that focusesis onin accordance with the healthrate schedule and well-beingto ofthe childrenextent andpermitted youth,under andsaid one[section] ofsections, whomduring shallthe beschool theyear chiefin electedwhich officialsuch private provider of aspecial communityeducation inservices, theprivate planningschool,agencyorinstitutionprovidedsuchservices,evenifsuchprivate regionprovider of special education services, private school, agency or institution is approved for special education by the board;Commissioner of Education during such school year.

(4)[Notwithstanding onethe appointedprovisions byof thethis presidentsubsection proto temporethe ofcontrary, thenothing Senatein whothis hassubsection significantshall experience(A) asrequire athe memberremoval of ana organizationchild withfrom a collectivenonapproved bargainingfacility agreementif in at least one school district in the planningchild regionwas forplaced thethere board,prior ifto applicable,July and7, who1987, shallpursuant beto selectedthe fromdetermination alist of namesa recommendedplanning byand theplacement Connecticutteam Educationthat Association,such thea Americanplacement Federationwas ofappropriate Teachers-Connecticut,and thesuch Serviceplacement Employeeswas Internationalapproved Unionby and the AmericanCommissioner Federation of State,Education, CountyPublic andAct MunicipalNo. Employees;

(5)25-93 one17 appointed by the speaker of the48 HouseSubstitute ofSenate RepresentativesBill whoNo. shall be actively serving as a superintendent of schools for a school district;

(6)1 oneor appointed(B) byprohibit the minorityplacement leader of thea Senatechild whoat hasa significantnonapproved professionalfacility experienceif a planning and placement team determines prior to July 7, 1987, that focusesthe onchild be placed in a nonapproved facility for the health1987-1988 school year.] Each child placed in a nonapproved facility [as described in subparagraphs (A) and well-(B) beingof subdivision (3) of childrenthis subsection] may continue at [the] such nonapproved facility provided the planning and youth;placement team, [or] a hearing officer appointed pursuant to section 10- 76h or a court determines that [the] such placement [is appropriate] provides an appropriate public education and that there is not another charging entity able to offer a placement for such child that provides an appropriate public education.

andExpenditures (7)incurred oneby appointedany bylocal theor minorityregional leaderboard of theeducation House[to maintain children in] as a result of Representativessuch whoplacement in such nonapproved facilities [as described in said subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall] (A) by a planning and placement team shall not be apaid currentpursuant to the provisions of section 10-76g or formersection attorneyof whopublic practicesact 25-67, and (B) pursuant to an order of a hearing officer appointed pursuant to section 10-76h or practiceda educationcourt law.may be paid pursuant to the provisions of section 10-76g and section 7 of public act 25-67.

TheAny memberslocal describedor inregional subdivisionsboard (1)of andeducation (2)may enter into a contract with the owners or operators of thisany subsectionsheltered shallworkshop serveor asrehabilitation thecenter chairpersonsfor provision of eachan board.education occupational training program for children requiring special education who are at least sixteen years of age, provided such workshop or institution shall have been approved by the appropriate state agency.

(c)Whenever Eachany child is identified by a local or regional board of education accountabilityas reviewa child requiring special education and such board shallof submiteducation andetermines annualthat expenditurethe reportrequirements for eachspecial priorityeducation schoolcould be met by a program provided within the district locatedor inby agreement with another board of education except for the planningchild's regionforneed for services other than educational services such as medical, psychiatric or institutional care or services, such board of education may meet its obligation to theStatefurnish Boardofspecial Education.education for such child by paying the reasonable cost of special education instruction in a private provider of special education services, private school, Public Act No.

Each25-93 such18 report shall be made available on the Internet web site of the48 LCO 15 of 64 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 Departmenthospital or other institution provided such board of Education.education or the commissioner concurs that placement in such institution is necessary and proper and no state institution is available to meet such child's needs.

Any such private provider of special education services, private school, hospital or other institution receiving such reasonable cost of special education instruction by such board of education shall submit all required documentation to such board of education for purposes of submitting claims to the Medicaid School Based Child Health Program administered by the Department of Social Services.

Section 10-22710-262j of the general statutes is repealedamended andby theadding followingsubsection is(j) substitutedas infollows lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

(a)(NEW) Each(j) boardFor of education shall cause the superintendentfiscal toyear makeending returnsJune not30, later2026, thanand September first of each fiscal year tothereafter, theany Commissionerdistrict ofthat Educationhas ofreceived thea receipts,grant expendituresunder andsection statistics,19 asof prescribedthis byact, during the commissioner,prior providedfiscal eachyear, suchshall boardnot maybe submitrequired revisions to include the returnsamount inof such formgrant andin with such documentation as required by the commissionercalculation notof latersuch thandistrict's Januarybudgeted thirty-firstappropriation offor eacheducation yearfor following the Septembersubsequent submission.fiscal year.

Such reports or returns required shall be filed in accordance with the instructions furnished by the commissioner,shallbe certifiednotlaterthanJanuarythirty-firstofeach year by the independent public accountant selected pursuant to section 7-392 for the purpose of auditing municipal accounts, and shall be subject to Department of Education verification.

If the returns and statistics and revisions called for by said commissioner are not filed on or before the days specified in this section or if the returns are not certified as required by the commissioner on or before January thirty- first, eachlocalandregionalboardofeducationrequiredby lawto make separate returns, whose returns and statistics or revisions are delayed until after those days, shall forfeit of the total sum which is paid for such boardofeducationfromtheStateTreasureranamounttobedetermined by the State Board of Education, which amount shall be not less than one thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars.

The amount so forfeited shall be withheld from a subsequent grant payment as determined by the commissioner.

Notwithstanding the penalty provision of this section, the Commissioner of Education may waive said forfeiture for good cause.

(b) Not later than March 15, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Department of Education shall publish on its Internet web site the data contained in the reports and returns filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section by education program type, expense function, expense object and funding source, including, but not limited to, federal, LCO 16 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 combined state and local and combined private and other sources for the school and district level.

The department shall develop and publish a guide that contains definitions for each category of expenditure and funding source and the corrective actions or penalties that the department may order for or impose on a board of education if the data contained in the reports and returns filed by such board does not align with such definitions.

(c) Not later than March 15, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Department of Education shall develop and publish the data contained in the reports and returns filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section in a format that allows financial comparisons between school districts and schools, including student enrollment and demographic statistics as of October first of the school year in which such reports and returns were filed.

The department shall provide to each board of education an application program interface through the department's education data portal, or through other means, to assist such board in posting the data contained in the reports and returns filed by such board on its Internet web site.

(Effective July 1, 2025) The Department of Education shall conduct a request for information from those contractors who have (1) expertise in the mapping of transportation routes, and (2) the ability to (A) create, and annually update, recommended coordinated bus routes for all special education students traveling to and from special education outplacements in the state that (i) maximize efficiency and reduce expenses in the provision of special education and related services, and (ii) are in accordance with state and federal law, or (B) provide software or access to a digital program that would allow a state agency to create and annually update recommended coordinated bus routes for all special education students traveling to and from special education outplacements in the state that (i) maximize efficiency and reduce expenses in the provision of special education and related services, and (ii) are in accordance with state and federal law.

Not later than July 1, 2027, the department shall submit a report on the results of Public Act No.

25-93 19 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 such request for information to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and transportation, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.

Sec.

19.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, administer a competitive grant program for local and regional boards of education to support in-district or regional special education programming and services for students with disabilities.

Grants awarded to local and regional boards of education under the program may be used (1) to enhance and improve existing special education programming and services in the school district or start-up costs related to the creation of in-district or regional special education programming and services for students who are currently enrolled in a program operated by a provider of special education services, as defined in section 10-91g of the general statutes, and (2) for planning and operational expenses related to such in-district or regional special education programming and services.

(b) The Commissioner of Education shall develop the application to beused by localandregionalboardsofeducationinapplying foragrant under this section.

The application shall include, but need not be limited to, a description of (1) the program location, (2) the student population who will be served by the programming and services, (3) the staffing needs for the programming and services, (4) any assistive technology and materials necessary to implement the programming and services, (5) any capital improvement needs, (6) the budget allocation for the programming and services, and (7) any professional development necessary for implementation of the programming and services.

A local or regional board of education shall submit such application in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Education.

Public Act No.

25-93 20 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 (c) The commissioner shall develop criteria for reviewing and approving grant applications.

Such criteria shall be based upon (1) increasing students' access to high-quality general education instruction,and(2)enhancing in-district orregionalprogramming, such as unified classes and increased time with nondisabled peers, for students with intensive needs, including giving priority to a board of education for a town designated as an alliance district pursuant to section 10-262u of the general statutes.

(d) Any local or regional board of education that receives a grant under this section shall not expend such grant on special education programming and services provided pursuant to a contract with a third party or a private provider of special education services.

(e) Not later than September 30, 2027, and annually thereafter, any local or regional board of education that has received a grant under the program in the prior fiscal year shall submit a report to the commissioner thatassessestheimpact ofthegrant on student outcomes, including the increase in time with nondisabled peers across the school district and the number of outplaced students, and district expenditures.

The report shall contain any information and data requested by the commissioner.

(f) Not later than February 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit a report on the progress of the program that assesses the impact of the grant on student outcomes, including the increase in time with nondisabled peers across the school district and the number of outplaced students, to thejoint standing committee ofthe General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, inaccordancewiththeprovisionsofsection11-4aofthegeneralstatutes.

Sec.

20.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, the Department of Education, in consultation with the Child Advocate, shall develop, and update not less than annually thereafter, a Public Act No.

25-93 21 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 listing of each special education program offered by (1) any regional educational service center, (2) any private provider of special education, as defined in section 10-91g of the general statutes, approved by the Commissioner of Education, and (3) any local or regional board of education that accepts out-of-district student placements.

Such listing shall specify for each program the (A) types of services provided, (B) physical location where such program offers special education, (C) ages served, and (D) approved classroom size of the program.

(b)Not later thanJanuary 15,2027,theDepartment ofEducationshall post such list on the public database maintained by the department on its Internet web site and send such list to each local and regional board of education in the state.

Sec.

21.

Section 10-232a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

(a) As used in this section and sections 10-232b and 10-232c, "nongovernmental school operator" means an operator of an interdistrict magnet school that is a third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the Commissioner of Education, the governing council of a state or local charter school, an endowed or incorporated academy approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-34, a special education facility approved by the State Boardof Education pursuant to section10-76d, as amended by this act, the supervisory agent of a nonpublic school, [or] a cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a and a private provider of special education services, as defined in section 10-91g.

(b) Each nongovernmental school operator shall, subject to the provisionsofsection31-51i,(1)requireeachapplicantforapositionwith such nongovernmental school operator to state, in writing, whether such applicant has ever been convicted of a crime or whether criminal charges are pending against such applicant at the time of such Public Act No.

25-93 22 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 application and, if charges are pending, to state the charges and the court in which such charges are pending, (2) require each applicant to submit to a records check of the Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a- 101k, before such applicant may be hired by such nongovernmental school operator, and (3) on and after July 1, 2019, require, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, each applicant for a position with such nongovernmental school operator to submit to state and nationalcriminalhistoryrecordscheckswithinthirtydaysfromthedate of employment and may require, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, any person hired prior to said date to submit to state and national criminal history records checks.

The criminal history records checks required by this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a, the federal National Child Protection Act of 1993 and the federal Volunteers for Children Act of 1998.

If the nongovernmental school operator receives notice of a conviction of a crime which has not previously been disclosed by such person to the nongovernmental school operator, the nongovernmental school operator may (A) terminate the contract of a certified employee, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-151, if applicable, and (B) dismiss a noncertified employee, provided such employee is notified of the reason for such dismissal.

If the nongovernmental school operator receives notice of a conviction of a crime by a person holding a certificate, authorization or permit issued by the State Board of Education, the nongovernmental school operator shall send such notice to the State Board of Education.

The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to cause a nongovernmental school operator to disseminate the results of any national criminal history records check.

(c) If a nongovernmental school operator requests, a regional educational service center shall arrange for the fingerprinting of any person required to submit to state and national criminal history records checks pursuant to this section or for conducting any other method of Public Act No.

25-93 23 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 positive identification required by the State Police Bureau of Identification or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and shall forward such fingerprints or other positive identifying information to the State Police Bureau of Identification which shall conduct criminal history records checks in accordance with section 29-17a, the federal National Child ProtectionAct of1993 and the federal Volunteers for ChildrenAct of 1998.

Such regional educational service center shall maintain such fingerprints or other positive identifying information, which may be in an electronic format, for a period of four years, at the end of which such fingerprints and positive identifying information shall be destroyed.

The StatePolice BureauofIdentificationshallprovidethe resultsofsuch checks to such nongovernmental school operator.

No regional educational service center shall charge a fee for services under this subsectionthat exceedsany feethat the center may charge any applicant for a position with such center.

(d) State and national criminal history records checks for substitute teachers completed within one year prior to the date of employment with a nongovernmental school operator and submitted to the employing nongovernmental school operator shall meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section.

A nongovernmental school operator shall not require substitute teachers to submit to state and national criminal history records checks pursuant to subsection (b) of this section if they are continuously employed by such nongovernmental school operator, provided a substitute teacher is subjected to such checks at least once every five years.

For purposes of this section, substitute teachers shall be deemed to be continuously employed by a nongovernmental school operator if they are employed at least one day of each school year by such nongovernmental school operator.

(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) a student employed by the nongovernmental school operator that operates a Public Act No.

25-93 24 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 school which the student attends, or (2) a person employed by a nongovernmentalschooloperatorasateacherforanoncreditadultclass or adult education activity, as defined in section 10-67, who is not required to hold a teaching certificate pursuant to section 10-145b for his or her position.

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (g) of section 31-51i, and to the extent permissible under state and federal laws regarding the dissemination of criminal history records, the State Board of Education shall, upon request of a nongovernmental school operator, make available to such nongovernmental school operator requesting information concerning an applicant for a position with such nongovernmental school operator, (1) any information concerning the applicant's eligibility for employment in a position with such nongovernmental school operator requiring a certificate, authorization or permit issued pursuant to chapter 166, (2) whether the department has knowledge that the applicant has been disciplined for a finding of abuse or neglect or sexualmisconduct,asdefinedinsection10-222c, and any information concerning such a finding, and (3) whether the department has received notification that the applicant has been convicted of a crime or of criminal charges pending against the applicant and any information concerning such charges.

The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to cause the state board to investigate any such request or disseminate the results of any national criminal history records check.

Sec.

22.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) Each regional educational service center and private provider of special education services, as defined in section 10-91g of the general statutes, shall send written notification to the parent or legal guardian of a student receiving special education services, the local or regional board of education that has placed such student with such regional educational service center or private provider for the provision of special education services and the Public Act No.

25-93 25 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 Department of Education regarding all staffing changes that impact the provision of such special education services, including, but not limited to, vacancies, long-term absences and assignments of long-term substitutes,not later thanfive businessdays fromtheoccurrence ofsuch staffing change.

Such written notice shall include, but need not be limited to, specification of (1) any change in services provided by specialists, (2) any change to student to teacher ratios, and (3) the plan to mitigate the impact of such staffing change on such student.

As used in this section, "long-term" means ten or more consecutive school days.

Sec.

23.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) The Department of Education shall establish a model contract for special education transportation services to and from special education outplacements provided by providers of special education transportation services.

Not later than July 1, 2026, the department shall make such model contract available to local and regional boards of education for use by such boards to enter into a contract with providers of special education transportation services for such special education transportation services.

Sec.

24.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) Not later than July 1, 2026, the Department of Education, in consultation with the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, shall develop, and annually update, a special education family guide that assists the parents and guardians of students receiving special education and related services in understanding the process and laws governing the provision of special education.

Such guide shall include, but need not be limited to, an explanation of (1) the allowable number of days to (A) diagnose that a student requires special education or related services, and (B) hold an initial planning and placement team meeting, (2) the consequences for failure of the school district to (A) meet the deadlines described in subdivision (1) of this section, and (B) include the appropriate administrators at the initial and subsequent planning and placement team processes, and (3) recourses available to parents and guardians if Public Act No.

25-93 26 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 an in-home tutor does not attend to tutoring sessions.

The department shall make such guide available on its Internet web site.

Sec.

25.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Education shall administer the special education training, education and testing competitive grant program.

Under the grant program, the department shall award grants to individual educators and paraeducators for the purpose of covering the costs associated with any professional training, education and testing requirements relating to such individual's ability to provide special education and related services.

The department shall develop criteria for reviewing and awarding grants under the program, and such criteria shall take into consideration the financial need of the applicant and give priority to those applicants with the greatest financial need.

As used in this section, "educators and paraeducators" includes individuals who are enrolled in a teacher preparation program, as defined in section 10-10a of the general statutes, candidates for professional certification as an educator under chapter 166 of the general statutes, teachers employed by a local or regional board of education, prospective paraeducators and paraeducators employed by a local or regional board of education.

(b) An educator or paraeducator may apply, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, for a grant under this section.

Any educator or paraeducator receiving a grant award under the program shall use such grant to assist in covering the cost of (1) tuition or other fees associated with enrollment in a teacher preparation program offered at the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, (2) obtaining or renewal of professional certification under chapter 166 of the general statutes with an endorsement in special education, (3) testing for paraeducators, (4) continuing education credits, and (5) any other education or testing requirements relating to such educator's or paraeducator's ability to provide special education and related services.

Public Act No.

25-93 27 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 No educator or paraeducator may receive a grant award under the program unless such educator or paraeducator commits to three years of employment to provide special education and related services in a school under the jurisdiction of a town designated as an alliance district pursuant to section 10-262u of the general statutes.

(c) The department shall develop repayment criteria for educators and paraeducators who do not complete three years of employment in a school under the jurisdiction of a town designated as an alliance district pursuant to section10-262uofthegeneralstatutes.Any amounts repaid to the department shall be deposited in the General Fund.

Sec.

26.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department Education shall establish a grant program to support local and regional boards of education in providing support services for students who require special education and have experienced trauma or have behavioral health needs.

Such grant shall be available to each local or regional board of education that provides support services, including, but not limited to, trauma-informed care coordination and family outreach, for such students and such students' families in partnership with community service providers, including, but not limited to, family service centers.

Grants shall be funded in an amount prescribed by the Commissioner of Education.

(b) On or before September 1, 2025, the Department of Education shall post in a conspicuous location on its Internet web site (1) a description of the grant program, including, but not limited to, the amount of funding available for each grant under such program, and (2) the application form for such program.

Sec.

27.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) There is established an Office of the Educational Ombudsperson, which shall be within the Office of Governmental Accountability for administrative purposes only.

The Public Act No.

25-93 28 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 Office of the Educational Ombudsperson shall serve students and families of students in the pursuit of preschool, elementary and secondary education, special education, vocational education and adult education.

The Office of the Educational Ombudsperson shall be under the direction of an Educational Ombudsperson who shall be appointed by the Governor and be selected from among individuals with expertise and experience in educational advocacy, special education and educational law.

(b) The Office of the Educational Ombudsperson shall:

(1) Receive, review and attempt to resolve any complaints from students and students' families, including, but not limited to, attempts to resolve such complaints in collaboration with schools and educators;

(2)Compile and analyze dataonstudentsand young people,through available data systems, including, but not limited to, the Connecticut Preschool through Twenty and Workforce Information Network, established pursuant to section 10a-57g of the general statutes;

(3) Assist employees of local and regional boards of education involved in planning and placement team meetings;

(4) Provide information to the public, agencies, legislators and others regarding the issues and concerns of students and make recommendations for resolving such issues and concerns;

(5) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of federal,stateandlocallaws,regulationsandpoliciesrelatingtostudents and recommend any changes the Educational Ombudsperson deems necessary;

(6) Disseminate information concerning the availability of the Office of the Educational Ombudsperson to assist students and families of students, as well as local and regional boards of education with Public Act No.

25-93 29 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 educational resource concerns;

(7) On and after July 1, 2027, prioritize the office's efforts on those school districts that have been identified in the study conducted pursuant to section 30 of this act as disproportionately or over- identifying minority students for special education and related services;

and (8) Take any other actions necessary to fulfill the duties of the Office of the Educational Ombudsperson and the Educational Ombudsperson as set forth in this subsection.

(c) On or before January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Educational Ombudsperson shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the Office of Governmental Accountability and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and children.

The Educational Ombudsperson shall report on:

(1) The implementation of this section;

(2) the overall effectiveness of the Educational Ombudsperson position;

and (3) additional steps that need to be taken for the Educational Ombudsperson to be more effective.

Sec.

28.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) For the school year commencing July 1, 2026, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall hire or designate an existing employee to serve as an instructional support partner in each school or in each school building under the jurisdiction of such board.

An instructional support partner shall (1) alleviate the administrative burden of teachers, including, but not limited to, the administrative burden of the individualized education program process, scheduling of and taking minutes during planning and placement team meetings, attending professional development trainings, attending trainings for individualizedinterventionsforstudents,attendingtesting,andserving as a designated staff member for the purposes of specialized Public Act No.

25-93 30 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 responsibilities, (2) assist school-based personnel in improving the delivery and administration of the individualized education program process, (3) collaborate with parents and school personnel regarding instructional decision-making for students with disabilities, (4) pursue and attend trainings and professional development on student interventions as a representative of the school or school building, and plan and deliver professional learning activities to staff, parents and others to increase achievement for students with disabilities on the basis of such training, and (5) consult with school-based instructional staff regarding individualized education program development and writing, extended school year, behavioral interventions and transition plans for students with disabilities.

Any person hired or designated to serve as the instructional support partner for the school or school building shall spend at least fifty per cent of their time performing the responsibilities described in this section.

Sec.

29.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) For the school year commencing July 1, 2026, and each school year thereafter, the Department of Education shall, at least quarterly, host trainings for persons hired or designated to serve as an instructional support partner, as described in section 28 of this act.

Such training shall include, but need not be limited to, effective literacy and math instruction, personalized learning and individualized instruction for students with disabilities, improving classroom management, effective instructional methods and behavioral supports, and transition plans for students with disabilities.

Sec.

30.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) The Department of Education shall conduct a study concerning the disproportionate or over- identification of minority students for special education and related services.

Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of the rates of identification for special education and related services, disaggregated by race and gender for each school district.

Not later than January 1, 2027, the department shall submit a Public Act No.

25-93 31 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 report on its findings and recommendations to the Office of the Educational Ombudsperson, established pursuant to section 27 of this act, and to the joint standing committee of theGeneral Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.

Sec.

31.

Subsection (c) of section 10-4 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

(c) Said board shall prepare every five years a five-year comprehensive plan for elementary, secondary, vocational, career and adult education.

Such comprehensive plan shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) a policy statement of the State Board of Education's long-term goals and short-term objectives, including, for any comprehensive plan prepared onor after July 1, 2018, a policy statement that the demographics of educators in the public schools should reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the total population of the state, (2) an analysis of cost implications and measurement criteria and how said board'sprogramsandoperationsrelatetosuchgoalsandobjectives,and (3) specific action plans, target dates and strategies and methods of implementationforachievingsuchgoalsandobjectives.TheStateBoard of Education shall establish, every five years, an advisory committee to assist the board in the preparation of the comprehensive plan.

Members of the advisory committee shall be appointed by the State Board of Education with representation on the committee to include, but not be limited to, representatives of the Connecticut Advisory Council on Vocational and Career Education, education organizations, parent organizations, student organizations, business and industry, organized labor and appropriate state agencies.

Notwithstanding any requirement for submission of a plan for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, pursuant to section 10-96a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1983, the State Board of Education shall not be Public Act No.

25-93 32 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 required to submit the master plan for vocational and career education but shall submit, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the comprehensive plan for elementary and secondary, vocational, career and adult education to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education on or before September 1, 1996, and every five years thereafter provided, the master plan currently in effect shall remain in effect until the comprehensive plan is submitted.

The Commissioner of Education shall make an annual presentation to the State Board of Education, at regularly scheduled meetings of said board, to provide updates on the strategic priorities, actions and outcomes outlined in the comprehensive plan.

The State Board of Education shall be responsible for annually updating the progress in implementing the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan based on the presentations of the commissioner and shall report on such progress to the Governor and to said standing committee annually and make such information available ontheInternet websiteoftheDepartmentofEducation.The State Board of Education shall provide opportunity for public comment prior to its adoption of a plan.

Sec.

32.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) On or after June first, but prior to September thirtieth annually, the superintendent of schools for each school district shall provide, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the localor regionalboardofeducationfor theschooldistrict,thefollowing:

(1) The number and names of all community-based organizations with whom the board of education has executed a formal memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreement or contract to provide support services to students in the school district, disaggregated by school and type of support service provided;

(2) The workforce development programs offered by the board of education to students in which the board has partnered with an outside entity, including, but not limited to, cooperatives, internships, in-school Public Act No.

25-93 33 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 job training programs provided by businesses and in-school workforce board presentations;

and (3)Attritiondata for certifiedandnoncertifiedstaff, disaggregated by school and subject, not including in-district transfers.

Sec.

33.

(Effective from passage) Any state agency that contributes data for the purposes of the development of the report of disconnected youth pursuant to section 22 of public act 24-45 shall post such report on the agency's Internet web site.

Sec.

34.

In addition to the policies and procedures concerning truants described in section 10-198a, the plan shall include, LCObut 17need ofnot 64be Substitutelimited Billto, No.the following:

1(A) butInformation needthat notdescribes be(i) chronic absenteeism, including, but not limited to, the following:definition of a chronically absent child under section 10-198c, and the causes of chronic absenteeism, such as poverty, violence, poor health and lack of access to transportation, (ii) the effect of chronic absenteeism on a student's academic performance, and (iii) how family and school partnerships with community resources, including, but not limited to, family Public Act No.

(A)25-93 Information34 that describes (i) chronic absenteeism, including, but not limited to, the definition of a48 chronicallySubstitute absentSenate childBill underNo. section 10-198c, and the causes of chronic absenteeism, such as poverty, violence, poor health and lack of access to transportation, (ii) the effect of chronic absenteeism on a student's academic performance, and (iii) how family and school partnerships with community resources, including, but not limited to, family resource centers and youth service bureaus, can reduce chronic absenteeism and improve student attendance, [and] (B) the use of an early indication tool provided by the department or other third party, provided such tool is designed to quickly identify students who are at risk for becoming chronically absent or disconnected from school, such as those students who (i) are at risk of not graduating or satisfying the high school graduation requirements pursuant to section 10-221a, (ii) have a history of behavioral concerns or disciplinary issues, including suspensions or expulsions, and (iii) are homeless children or youth, as defined in 42 USC 11343a, as amended from time to time, and (C) a means of collecting and analyzing data relating to student attendance, truancy and chronic absenteeism for the purpose of (i) disaggregating such data by school district, school, grade and subgroups, such as race, ethnicity, gender, eligibility for free or reduced priced lunches, housing status, students whose primary language is not English and students withdisabilities, and(ii)assisting localandregionalboardsofeducation in (I) tracking chronic absenteeism over multiple years and for the current school year, (II) developing indicators to identify students who areatriskofbeingchronicallyabsentchildren,(III)monitoringstudents' attendance over time, and (IV) making adjustments to interventions as they are being implemented.

1 resource centers and youth service bureaus, can reduce chronic absenteeism and improve student attendance, [and] (B) the use of an early indication tool provided by the department or other third party, provided such tool is designed to quickly identify students who are at risk for becoming chronically absent or disconnected from school, such as those students who (i) are at risk of not graduating or satisfying the high school graduation requirements pursuant to section 10-221a, (ii) have a history of behavioral concerns or disciplinary issues, including suspensions or expulsions, and (iii) are homeless children or youth, as defined in 42 USC 11343a, as amended from time to time, and (C) a means of collecting and analyzing data relating to student attendance, truancy and chronic absenteeism for the purpose of (i) disaggregating such data by school district, school, grade and subgroups, such as race, ethnicity, gender, eligibility for free or reduced priced lunches, housing status, students whose primary language is not English and students withdisabilities, and(ii)assisting localandregionalboardsofeducation in (I) tracking chronic absenteeism over multiple years and for the current school year, (II) developing indicators to identify students who areatriskofbeingchronicallyabsentchildren,(III)monitoringstudents' attendance over time, and (IV) making adjustments to interventions as they are being implemented.

(A) A research-based and data-driven home visiting or mentorship model that addresses and attempts to prevent or reduce chronic absenteeism through the use of mentors, such as students, teachers, administrators, intramural and interscholastic athletic coaches, school resource officers, family LCOnavigators, 18student ofsuccess 64coaches Substituteand Billcommunity No.partners, and (B) incentives and rewards that recognize schools and students that improve attendance and reduce the school chronic absenteeism rate.

1 navigators, student success coaches and community partners, and (B) incentives and rewards that recognize schools and students that improve attendance and reduce the school chronic absenteeism rate.

19.35.

Section 10-222 of the general statutes is repealed and the followingPublic isAct substitutedNo. in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

25-93 35 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

Expenditures by the board LCOof 19education ofshall 64not Substituteexceed Billthe appropriation made by the municipality, with such money as may be received from other sources Public Act No.

125-93 36 of education48 shallSubstitute notSenate exceedBill theNo. appropriation made by the municipality, with such money as may be received from other sources for school purposes.

1 for school purposes.

20.36.

(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and each fiscal year thereafter, notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any special act, municipal charter, home rule ordinance or other ordinance, a local board of education may deposit into a nonlapsing account any unexpended funds from the prior fiscal year from the budgeted appropriation for education, provided (1) such deposited amount does not exceed two per cent of the total budgeted appropriation for education for such prior fiscal year, (2) each expenditure from such account shall be made only for educational purposes, and (3) each such expenditurePublic shallAct be authorized by the local board of education for such LCO 20 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

125-93 town.37 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 expenditure shall be authorized by the local board of education for such town.

21.37.

Annual appropriations to such fund shall be included in the share of net expenses to be paid by eachPublic memberAct town.No.

Supplemental25-93 appropriations38 to such fund may be made fromestimated fiscalyear endsurplusinoperating funds.Interest and investment earnings received with respect to amounts held in the LCO 21 of 6448 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 fundeach shallmember betown. credited to such fund.

Supplemental appropriations to such fund may be made fromestimated fiscalyear endsurplusinoperating funds.Interest and investment earnings received with respect to amounts held in the fund shall be credited to such fund.

22.38.

Section 10-222o of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

(a) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall annually make available on the Internet web site of such local or regional board of education the aggregate spending on salaries, employee benefits, instructional supplies, educational media supplies, instructional equipment, regular education tuition, special education tuition, LCO 22 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 purchased services and all other expenditure items, excluding debt service, for each school under the jurisdiction of such local or regional board of education.

(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall, on a quarterly basis, post on the Internet web site of such local or regional board of education (A) the actual classroom size and student-teacher ratios during the current school year, disaggregated by school, (B) the number of full-time equivalent staffing positions, disaggregated by categories assigned by the Department of Education, (C) the number of staffing vacancies in the school district and any accrued savings from such vacancies during the current fiscal year, and (D) the names and scope of services provided by all nonprofit organizations or the regional educational service center with whom the board has executed a formal memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreement or contract to provide any support services to students, including, but not limited to, students who may be considered at risk of becoming disconnected from school.

Each board shall submit a copy of the information described in this subsection to the legislative body of the municipality or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting, to the board of selectmen and the district's exclusive bargaining representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to section 10-153b.

(b) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year thereafter, each regional educational service center shall annually make available on the Internet web site of such regional educational service center the aggregate spending on salaries, employee benefits, instructional supplies, educational media supplies, instructional equipment, regular education tuition, special education tuition, purchased services and all other expenditure items, excluding debt service, for each school under the jurisdiction of such regional educational service center.

(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year LCO 23 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 thereafter, each regional educational service center shall, on a quarterly basis, post on the Internet web site of such regional educational service center (A) the actual classroom size and student-teacher ratios during the current school year, disaggregated by school, (B) the number of full- time equivalent staffing positions, disaggregated by categories assigned by the Department of Education, (C) the number of staffing vacancies of such regional educational service center and any accrued savings from such vacancies during the current fiscal year, and (D) the names and scope of services provided by all nonprofit organizations with whom the regional educational service center has executed a formal memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreement or contract to provide any support services to students, including, but not limited to, students who may be considered at risk of becoming disconnected from school.Eachregionaleducationalservice center shall submit a copy of the information described in this subsection to the legislative body of the members of such regional educational service center or, in those municipalities where the legislative body is a town meeting, to the board of selectmen and the exclusive bargaining representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to section 10- 153b.

(c) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal year thereafter, the governing authority for each state charter school shall annually make available on the Internet web site of such governing authority the aggregate spending on salaries, employee benefits, instructional supplies, educational media supplies, instructional equipment, regular education tuition, special education tuition, purchased services and all other expenditure items, excluding debt service, for each state charter school under the jurisdiction of such governing authority.

(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, the governing authority for each state charter school shall, on a quarterly basis, post on the Internet web site of such governing authority (A) the actual classroom size and student-teacher ratios during the current school year, disaggregated by school, (B) the number LCO 24 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 of full-time equivalent staffing positions, disaggregated by categories assigned by the Department of Education, (C) the number of staffing vacancies in the state charter school and any accrued savings from such vacancies during the current fiscal year, and (D) the names and scope of services provided by all nonprofit organizations or the regional educational service center with whom the governing authority has executed a formal memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreement or contract to provide any support services to students, including, but not limited to, students who may be considered at risk of becoming disconnected from school.

Each governing authority shall submit a copy of the information described in this subsection to the exclusive bargaining representative for certified employees chosen pursuant to section 10-153b.

(d) Not later than January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the Department of Education shall make all information described in this section available on the department's Internet web site.

Sec.

23.

(a)Public (1)Act AnyNo. local or regional board of education, at a meeting at which three or more members of such board are present, or the impartial hearing boardestablishedpursuant to subsection(b)ofthissection,may expel, subject to the provisions of this subsection, any pupil in grades three to twelve, inclusive, whose conduct on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity is violative of a publicized policy of such board and is seriously disruptive of the educational process or endangers persons or property or whose conduct off school grounds is violative of such policy and is seriously disruptive of the educational process, provided a majority of the board members sitting in the expulsion hearing vote to expel and that at least three affirmative votes for expulsion are cast.

In25-93 making39 a determination as to whether conduct isseriouslydisruptiveoftheeducationalprocess,theboardofeducation or impartial hearing board may consider, but such consideration shall LCO 25 of 6448 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 not(a) be(1) limitedAny to:local or regional board of education, at a meeting at which three or more members of such board are present, or the impartial hearing boardestablishedpursuant to subsection(b)ofthissection,may expel, subject to the provisions of this subsection, any pupil in grades three to twelve, inclusive, whose conduct on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity is violative of a publicized policy of such board and is seriously disruptive of the educational process or endangers persons or property or whose conduct off school grounds is violative of such policy and is seriously disruptive of the educational process, provided a majority of the board members sitting in the expulsion hearing vote to expel and that at least three affirmative votes for expulsion are cast.

In making a determination as to whether conduct isseriouslydisruptiveoftheeducationalprocess,theboardofeducation or impartial hearing board may consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to:

(2) Expulsion proceedings pursuant to this section, except as provided in subsection (i) of this section, shall be required for any pupil in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, whenever there is reason to believe that any pupil (A) on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity, was in possession of a firearm, as defined in 18 USC 921, as amended from time to time, or deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or martial arts weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, (B) off school grounds, did possess such a firearm in violation of section 29-35 or did possess and use such a firearm, instrument or weapon in the commission of a crime under chapter 952, or (C) on or off school grounds, offered for sale or distribution a controlled substance, as defined in section 21a-240, whose manufacture, distribution, sale, prescription,Public dispensing,Act transportingNo. or possessing with intent to sell or dispense, offering, or administering is subject to criminal penalties under sections 21a-277 and 21a-278.

25-93 40 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 prescription, dispensing, transporting or possessing with intent to sell or dispense, offering, or administering is subject to criminal penalties under sections 21a-277 and 21a-278.

If an emergency exists, LCOsuch 26hearing ofshall 64be Substituteheld Billas No.soon after the expulsion as possible.

1The suchnotice hearing shall beinclude heldinformation asconcerning soonthe afterparent's or guardian's and the expulsionpupil's aslegal possible.rights and concerning legal services provided free ofcharge or at a reduced rate that are availablelocally and howto access such services.

The notice shall include information concerning the parent's or guardian's and the pupil's legal rights and concerning legal services provided free ofcharge or at a reducedrate that are availablelocally andhowto access such services.

(4) (A) Prior to conducting an expulsion hearing as required by this subsection, an administrator, school counselor or school social worker at the school in which the pupil is enrolled shall contact the local homeless education liaison designated by the local or regional board of education for the school district, pursuant to Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-VentoPublic HomelessAct AssistanceNo. Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time, to make a determination whether such pupil is a homeless child or youth, as defined in 42 USC 11343a, as amended from time to time.

25-93 41 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

1 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time, to make a determination whether such pupil is a homeless child or youth, as defined in 42 USC 11343a, as amended from time to time.

24.39.

(EffectiveSubsection July(a) 1,of 2025)section (a)10-233c Forof the fiscalgeneral yearsstatutes endingis Junerepealed 30,and 2026, to June 30, 2028, inclusive, the Departmentfollowing ofis Educationsubstituted shall administer a student success coach pilot program to be implemented in theschooldistrictsforlieu thetownsofBridgeport,NewHaven,Waterbury,thereof LCO(Effective 27July of1, 642025): Substitute Bill No.

1(a) NewAny Britain,local Hartford,or Windham,regional Newboard Londonof education may authorize the administration of the schools under its direction to suspend from school privileges a pupil whose conduct on school grounds or at a school sponsored activity is violative of a publicized policy of such board or is seriously disruptive of the educational process or endangers persons or property or whoseconduct off schoolgroundsis violative ofsuch policy and Norwich.is seriously disruptive of the educational process.

TheIn studentmaking successa coachdetermination pilot program shall utilize evidence-based strategies that have demonstrated effectiveness in supporting students identified as having attendance, behavioral or credit attainment challenges and any other risk factors that contribute to studentswhether becomingconduct moreis likelyseriously todisruptive becomeof disconnectedthe fromeducational schoolprocess, andthe increasingadministration theirmay riskconsider, ofbut misusingsuch drugs,consideration includingshall thenot usebe oflimited opioids.to:

(b)(1) TheWhether local board of education for a school district participating in the studentincident successoccurred coachwithin pilotclose programproximity mayof apply for a grantschool; in an amount not to exceed two million dollars.

The(2) departmentwhether shallother award such grants to participating boards, in accordance with the provisions of section 17a-674d of the general statutes, provided such participating boards (1) utilize an early indicator tool prescribed by the department to identify those students whofrom have the greatestschool needwere forinvolved a student success coach, and (2) are evaluated by the Center for Connecticut Education Research Collaboration within the department, or anotherwhether thirdthere partywas selectedany bygang theinvolvement; department.

(c)Not(3) laterwhether thanFebruary 15,2029,thedepartment shallevaluate the implementationconduct andinvolved effectivenessviolence, threats of theviolence studentor success coach pilot program and submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Stateunlawful Boarduse of Education,a theweapon, Opioidas Settlementdefined Advisoryin Committee, established pursuant to section 17a-674c29-38, of the general statutes, and thewhether jointany standingPublic committeesAct ofNo. the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and children, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.

Sec.25-93 42 of 48 Substitute Senate Bill No.

25.1 injuries occurred;

Subsectionand (b)(4) ofwhether section 10-283 of the generalconduct statutesinvolved is repealed and the followinguse isof substitutedalcohol. in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

(b)Any (1)such Notwithstandingboard may authorize the applicationadministration dateto requirementssuspend oftransportation thisservices section,for ata anypupil timewhose withinconduct thewhile limitawaiting ofor availablereceiving granttransportation authorizationto and withinfrom theschool limitendangers ofpersons appropriatedor funds,property theor Commissioneris violative of Administrativea Services,publicized inpolicy consultation with the Commissioner of LCOsuch 28board. of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1Unless Education,an mayemergency approveexists, applicationsno forpupil grantsshall andbe makesuspended paymentswithout foran informal hearing by the administration, at which such grants,pupil forshall anybe informed of the followingreasons reasons:for the disciplinary action and given an opportunity to explain the situation, provided nothing herein shall be construed to prevent a more formal hearing from being held if the circumstances surrounding theincident so require, andfurther providedno pupilshall be suspended more than ten times or a total of fifty days in one school year, whichever results in fewer days of exclusion, unless such pupil is granted a formal hearing pursuant to sections 4-176e to 4-180a, inclusive, and section 4-181a.

(A)If Toan assistemergency schoolsituation buildingexists, projectssuch tohearing remedy damage from fire and catastrophe, (B) to correct safety, health and other code violations, (C) to replace roofs, including the replacement or installation of skylights as part of the roof replacement project, (D) to remedy a certified school indoor air quality emergency, (E) to install insulation for exterior walls and attics, [or] (F) to purchase and install a limited use and limited access elevator, windows, photovoltaic panels, wind generation systems, building management systems or portable classroom buildings, provided portable classroom building projects shall not create a new facility or cause an existing facility to be modifiedheld soas thatsoon theafter portable buildings comprise a substantial percentage of the totalsuspension facility area, as determinedpossible. by the commissioner, or (G) to upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or make other improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings subject to subdivision (2) of this subsection.

(2)Prior Theto commissionerconducting shallany nothearing awardunder athis grantsubsection, underan subparagraphadministrator, (G)school ofcounselor subdivisionor (1)school ofsocial thisworker subsectionat tothe anyschool applicantin that,which onthe orpupil afteris Julyenrolled 1,shall 2026,contact hasthe notlocal certifiedhomeless complianceeducation withliaison designated by the uniformlocal inspectionor andregional evaluationboard of aneducation existingfor heating,the ventilationschool anddistrict, airpursuant conditioningto systemSubtitle pursuantB toof subsectionTitle (d)VII of sectionthe 10-220.McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time, to make a determination whether such pupil is a homeless child or youth, as defined in 42 USC 11343a, as amended from time to time.

TheIf followingit expensesis determined that such pupil is a homeless child or youth, the administration shall notconsider bethe eligibleimpact forof reimbursementhomelessness underon thisthe subsection:behavior of the pupil during the hearing.

RoutineSec.40.Subsections(a)and(b)ofsection10-16zofthegeneralstatutes maintenancearerepealedandthefollowingissubstitutedinlieuthereof(EffectiveJuly and1, cleaning2025): of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and work performed at or on a public school administrative or service facility that is not located or housed within a public school building.

Recipients of a grant under subparagraph (G) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be responsible for the routine maintenance and cleaning of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and provide training to school personnel and building maintenance staff concerning the proper use and maintenance of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

Sec.

26.

Subsection (c) of section 10-66bb of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

LCO 29 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 (c) On and after July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall review, annually, all applications and grant initial certificates of approval for charters, in accordance with subsections (e) and (f) of this section, for a local or state charter school located in [a town that has one or more schools that have been designated as a commissioner's network school, pursuant to section 10-223h, at the time of such application, or] a town that has been designated as a low achieving school district, pursuant to section 10-223e, at the time of such application.

(1) Except as provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no state charter school shall enroll (A) (i) more than two hundred fifty students, or (ii) in the case of a kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive, school, more than three hundred students, or (B) twenty-five per cent of the enrollment of the school district in which the state charter school is to be located, whichever is less.

(2) In the case of a state charter school found by the State BoardofEducationto have ademonstratedrecordofachievement, said board shall, upon application by such school to said board, waive the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection for such school.

(3) The State Board of Education shall give preference to applicants for charter schools (A) whose primary purpose is the establishment of education programs designed to serve one or more of the following student populations:

(i) Students with a history of low academic performance, (ii) students who receive free or reduced priced lunches pursuant to federal law and regulations, (iii) students with a history of behavioral and social difficulties, (iv) students identified as requiring special education, (v) students who are multilingual learners, or (vi) students of a single gender;

(B) whose primary purpose is to improve the academic performance of an existing school that has consistently demonstrated substandard academic performance, as determined by the Commissioner of Education;

(C) that will serve students who reside in a priority school district pursuant to section 10-266p;

(D) that will serve students who reside in a district in which seventy-five per cent or more of the enrolled students are members of racial or ethnic minorities;

(E) that demonstrate highly credible and specific strategies to attract, enroll and retain students from among the populations described in subparagraph (A)(i) to (A)(vi), inclusive, of this subdivision;

or (F) that, LCO 30 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 in the case of an applicant for a state charter school, such state charter school will be located at a work-site or such applicant is an institution of higher education.

In determining whether to grant an initial certificate of approval for a charter, the State Board of Education shall consider (i) the effect of the proposed charter school on (I) the reduction of racial, ethnic and economic isolation in the region in which it is to be located, (II) the regional distribution of charter schools in the state, (III) the potential of over-concentration of charter schools within a school district or in contiguous school districts, and (IV) the state's efforts to close achievement gaps, as defined in section 10-16oo, and (ii) the comments made at a public hearing conducted pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section or subparagraph (B)(ii) of subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of this section.

Sec.

27.

Subsection (c) of section 10-74i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

(c) Following the designation or establishment of a community school, but prior to the opening of such community school, the board of education shall conduct (1) an operations and instructional audit [, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-223h,] for an existing school that has been designated as a community school, (2) a community needs audit to identify the academic, physical, social, emotional, health, mental health and civic needs of students and their families that may impact student learning and academic achievement, and (3) a community resource assessment of potential resources, services and opportunities available within or near the community that students, families and community members may access and integrate into the community school.

Sec.

28.

Subdivision (14) of subsection (a) of section 4a-60g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

(14) "Municipal public works contract" means that portion of an LCO 31 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 agreement entered into on or after October 1, 2015, between any individual, firm or corporation and a municipality for the construction, rehabilitation, conversion, extension, demolition or repair of a public building, highway or other changes or improvements in real property, which is financed in whole or in part by the state, including, but not limited to, matching expenditures, grants, loans, insurance or guarantees.

[but excluding any project of an alliance district, as defined in section 10-262u, financed by state funding in an amount equal to fifty thousand dollars or less.] Sec.

29.

Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 8-240a of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

(a) As used in this section:

(1) ["Alliance district" has the same meaning as provided in section 10-262u] "Eligible community" means the fifty towns with the lowest equalized net grand list;

(2) "Environmental justice community" has the same meaning as provided in section 22a-20a;

and (3) "Low-income resident" means, after adjustments for family size, individuals or families whose income is not greater than (A) sixty per cent of the state median income, (B) eighty per cent of the area median income for the area in which the resident resides, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or (C) any other definition of "low-income resident" included in any program in the state that utilizes federal funding, as determined by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection.

(b) There is established a revolving loan and grant fund to be known as the "Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant Fund".

The fund may be funded from the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to section 8-240b or from any moneys available to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or from other LCO 32 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 sources.

Investment earnings credited to the fund shall become part of the assets of the fund.

Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the next fiscal year.

Payments of principal or interest on a low interest loan made pursuant to this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Housing Environmental ImprovementRevolving Loan and Grant Fund.

The fund shall be used to make grants or low interest loans pursuant to this section to pay reasonable and necessary fees incurred in administering loans under this section.

The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may enter into contracts with quasi- public agencies or nonprofit corporations to provide for the administration of the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant Fund by such entity or entities, provided no grant or low interest loan shall be made from the fund without the authorization of the commissioner as provided in this section.

(c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Housing, shall establish a pilot program or programs to provide financing or grants from the fund established in subsection (b) of this section for retrofitting projects for multifamily residences located in environmental justice communities or [alliance districts] eligible communities that (1) improve the energy efficiency of such residences, which may include, but need not be limited to, the installation of heat pumps, solar power generating systems, improved roofing, exterior doors and windows, improved insulation, air sealing, improved ventilation, appliance upgrades and any electric system or wiring upgrades necessary for such retrofit, (2) remediate health and safety concerns that are barriers to any such retrofit, including, but not limited to, mold, vermiculite, asbestos, lead and radon, or (3) provide services to assist residents and building owners to access and implement the programs established pursuant to this section or other available state or federal programs that enable the implementation of energy efficiency retrofitting.

Sec.

30.

Section 8-265pp of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):

LCO 33 of 64 Substitute Bill No.

1 The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority shall develop and administer a program of mortgage assistance to certified teachers (1) employed by priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p, (2) employed by transitionalschooldistrictspursuant to section10-263c, (3) employed by the Technical Education and Career System at a technical education and career school located in such priority or transitional school districts, (4) who teach in a subject matter shortage area pursuant to section 10-8b, (5) who graduated from a public high school in [an educational reform district, as defined in section 10-262u] a priority school district, or (6) who graduated from an historically black college or university or a Hispanic-serving institution, as those terms are defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965, P.L.