HB 6483 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM.

Substitute House ofBill Representatives File No.

7046483 GeneralPublic AssemblyAct January Session, 2021(Reprint of File No.

267)21-86 SubstituteAN HouseACT BillCONCERNING No.THE ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM.

6483 As Amended by House Amendment Schedule "A" Approved by the Legislative Commissioner May 20, 2021 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM.

For purposes of establishing the residency of a child of a member of the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, and who is seeking enrollment in a school under the jurisdiction of a local or regional board of education for a town in which sHB6483such /child Fileis No.not yet a resident, such board shall accept the military orders directing such member to the state or any other documents from the armed forces indicating the transfer of such member to the state as proof of residency.

704Any sHB6483board Fileof education which denies school accommodations, including a denial based on an issue of residency, to Substitute House Bill No.

7046483 any such child isshall notinform yetthe aparent resident,or guardian of such boardchild shallor acceptthe child, in the militarycase ordersof directingan suchemancipated memberminor, toa thepupil stateeighteen years of age or anyolder otheror documentsan unaccompanied youth, as described in 42 USC 11434a, as amended from thetime armedto forcestime, indicatingof his or her right to request a hearing by the transferboard of sucheducation memberin toaccordance with the stateprovisions asof proofsubdivision (1) of residency.subsection (b) of this section.

Any board of education which denies school accommodations, including a denial based on an issue of residency, to any such child shall inform the parent or guardian of such child or the child, in the case of an emancipated minor, a pupil eighteen years of age or older or an unaccompanied youth, as described in 42 USC 11434a, as amended from time to time, of his or her right to request a hearing by the board of education in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section.

The state board shall award a Purple Star School designation to any school that (1) employs a staff member who serves as a military liaison for the school and whose duties include (A) identifying military-connected students enrolled at the school, (B) serving as the point of contact between the school and military-connected students and their families, (C) identifying appropriate school services available to military-connected students, sHB6483and /(D) Fileassisting No.in coordinating school programs relevant to military- connected students;

704(2) sHB6483compiles Fileand makes available on the Internet Public Act No.

70421-86 and2 (D)of assisting3 inSubstitute coordinatingHouse schoolBill programsNo. relevant to military- connected students;

(2)6483 compiles and makes available on the Internet web site for the school, information and resources available to military- connected students and their families, including, but not limited to, (A) the registration process for enrollment and the transferring of student records to the school, (B) academic planning, including curriculum and advanced placement classes offered at the school, (C) counseling and other support services available for military-connected students enrolled at the school, and (D) the contact information for the military liaison of the school;

sHB6483Approved /June File28, 2021 Public Act No.

70421-86 sHB64833 Fileof No.3

704 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2021 10-186(a) Sec.

2 July 1, 2021 New section sHB6483 / File No.

704 4 sHB6483 File No.

704 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 22 $ FY 23 $ Education, Dept.

GF - Cost 60,000 60,000 State Comptroller - Fringe GF - Cost 24,780 24,780 Benefits1 Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill results in an annual cost of approximately $84,780, beginning in FY 22, associated with a part-time Program Development Coordinator within the State Department of Education, with a salary of $60,000 and corresponding fringe benefits of $24,780.

The newly established position would be responsible for establishing and maintaining the Purple Star School Program, including providing in- service training and professional development for staff members on issues related to military-connected students.

House "A" makes various procedural changes that do not result in a fiscal impact.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.

The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts administered by the Comptroller.

The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost associated with most personnel changes is 41.3% of payroll in FY 22 and FY 23.

sHB6483 / File No.

704 sHB6483 File No.

704 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 6483 (as amended by House "A")* AN ACT CONCERNING THE ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM.

SUMMARY This bill requires local and regional boards of education to accept, as proof of residency for any child of an armed forces member who is seeking enrollment in a public school, the military orders directing the member to the state or any other armed forces’ documents indicating the member’s transfer to the state.

By law and under the bill, “armed forces” means the U.S.

Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force and any of their reserve components, including the Connecticut National Guard when under federal service.

The bill also requires the State Board of Education (SBE), within available appropriations, to establish a Purple Star School Program to designate schools that provide specific support services, assistance, and initiatives for military-connected students and their families.

Under the bill, a “military-connected student” is a public-school student who (1) is a dependent of a current or former armed forces member or (2) was a dependent of a member killed in the line of duty.

*House Amendment “A” (1) requires boards of education to accept other armed forces documents indicating the member’s transfer to the state as proof of residency, rather than allowing them to specify the required documentation, and (2) adds the qualification that SBE establish the Purple Star School Program within available appropriations.