CSUS Legislative Initiatives


The 2010 Session of the General Assembly adjourned in May, 2010. The following are highlights of initiatives approved by the state legislature and the Governor that impact the four universities of CSUS.

2010 Legislation

Download a list of all 2010 bills impacting CSUS Download (pdf)

Key Legislation




House Bill 5024 (Public Act 10-8), An Act Concerning an Education Doctoral Degree Program in Nursing Education. This Act specifically authorizes the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) to award doctoral degrees in nursing education. It expands the CSUS's degree-granting authority, which currently includes doctoral degrees in education; masters degrees and other graduate study in education; and liberal arts and career programs at the bachelors, masters, and sixth year level.
Effective: Upon Passage
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/ACT/PA/2010PA-00008-R00HB-05024-PA.htm


Senate Bill 438 (Public Act 10-111), An Act Concerning Education Reform in Connecticut. This Act makes numerous changes to state education laws including setting higher standards to receive a high school diploma, including increasing the minimum credits necessary to graduate from 20 to 25, starting with the graduating class of 2018. It also allows teachers and administrators who had tenure in another school district in Connecticut or out-of-state and who take a job in a priority school district to attain tenure in the new district in half the usual time, i.e., after working 10 months rather than 20 months in the priority school district. It allows retired teachers to teach any subject, not just a shortage subject, in a priority school district for up to two consecutive years at full salary without loss of pension benefits.
Effective: July 1, 2010, except for the teachers' retirement and charter school construction grant provisions, which are effective upon passage.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/ACT/PA/2010PA-00111-R00SB-00438-PA.htm


Senate Bill 25 (Public Act 10-44), An Act Authorizing and Adjusting Bonds of the State for Capital Improvements and Other Purposes. Section 28 of this Act shifts $5 million in general obligation bond authorizations between two projects enumerated in Phase I of the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) 2020 plan, a system-wide capital improvement program. It does so by increasing the authorization for telecommunications infrastructure upgrades by $5 million and reducing the authorization for land and property acquisition by the same amount. This shift allows CSUS to undertake additional information technology projects, such as a Voice over Internet Protocol communications system.

By law, certain revisions to the CSUS 2020 plan require (1) the formal approval of the CSUS Board of Trustees and (2) subsequent enactment of a public or special act. These revisions are (1) the addition or deletion of a project or (2) an increase or decrease in the original project cost by an amount equal to 10% or more for projects estimated to cost less than $1 million or 5% or more for projects estimated to cost more than $1 million, as long as the change in cost is not due to a change in the cost of material (CGS - 10a-91d(c)).
Effective: July 1, 2010
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/ACT/PA/2010PA-00044-R00SB-00025-PA.htm


House Bill 5545 (Public Act 10-3), An Act Concerning Deficit Mitigation for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2010. The Act makes modifications and revenue adjustments to the FY 2010 budget. The various changes will result in a $323.2 million net reduction in the anticipated FY 2010 General Fund deficit. The Act transfers $1 million in CSUS reserves in FY 2010 and $2 million in CSUS reserves in FY 2011. In addition, it requires the CSUS absorb approximately $50,000 in costs related to the Bridges Program.
Effective: Various Dates
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/ACT/PA/2010PA-00003-R00HB-05545-PA.htm

Senate Bill 494 (Public Act 10-179), An Act Making Adjustments to State Expenditures for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2011. Section 43 of the Act increases the required transfer from the Connecticut State University System's (CSUS) operating reserve account to the General Fund for by $8 million (for a total of $10 million) in FY 2011.
Effective: July 1, 2010
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/ACT/PA/2010PA-00179-R00SB-00494-PA.htm


The 2009 Session of the General Assembly adjourned in June, 2009, and reconvened in Special Session during the summer of 2009. The following are highlights of initiatives approved by the state legislature and the Governor that impact the four universities of CSUS.

2009 Legislation

Download a list of all 2009 bills impacting CSUS Download (pdf)

Key Legislation



House Bill 6483 (Public Act 09-167), An Act Concerning Credit Card Offers on College Campuses. This Act requires the Board of Governors of Higher Education, by January 1, 2010, to adopt policies regulating credit card issuer marketing practices on Connecticut's public college campuses. The Act defines "marketing" as any activity attended and facilitated by a credit card issuer's agent or employee when it is designed to offer a credit card to students enrolled at a Connecticut public college. This does not include (1) activities open to or accessible by the general public, such as advertisements in posters, newspapers, magazines, television, radio, Internet, or other similar activities; or (2) activities or merchandising conducted within the physical boundaries of an on-campus financial services business. The Act also prohibits credit card issuer's from taking any debt collection action, including, telephone calls or demand letters, against a student's parent or legal guardian, unless the parent or guardian has agreed in writing to be liable for the student's debts under the credit card agreement. The Act defines a student as a person who is under age 21 enrolled full- or part-time at a public college.
Effective: July 1, 2009
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/ACT/PA/2009PA-00167-R00HB-06483-PA.htm

Senate Bill 795 (Public Act 09-159), An Act Concerning Graduate Programs at Charter Oak State College, the Kirklyn M. Kerr Grant Program and Veteran Tuition Waivers. The Act requires the boards of trustees of UConn, the Connecticut State University system, and the regional community-technical colleges to waive tuition for veterans who meet certain criteria. This Act allows the institutions to recover federal educational assistance payments under the 2008 Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act by limiting the waiver for eligible veterans who apply for these benefits. It (1) requires that the college waive only the tuition charges that exceed the amount of federal benefits granted for tuition and (2) establishes a formula for calculating the federal benefit amount.
Effective: July 1, 2009
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/ACT/PA/2009PA-00159-R00SB-00795-PA.htm

House Bill 6718 (Special Act 09-6), An Act Concerning State Personnel Cost Savings. This Act creates a retirement incentive program for nonunion state employees who are at least age 55 by June 30, 2009 and meet certain other requirements. The incentive allows eligible employees to add up to three years to their state service credit for the purpose of calculating retirement benefits. It also imposes seven days of mandatory unpaid furloughs on all nonunion full-time state employees between the Act's effective date and June 30, 2011 and requires part-time employees to take furlough days on a pro rata basis, based upon each employee's biweekly work schedule. The Act subjects nonunion state employees to the health care coverage provisions of the agreement between the state and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) that (1) was ratified on May 8, 2009 and (2) is subject to HR 31 and SR 28 of the 2009 session. The employees must meet any obligation or condition of the agreement including those concerning (1) prescription co-pay, (2) active employee health care premium cost sharing, (3) the closing of the preferred plan, (4) co-pays for preventive care, and (5) retiree health care. The Act's provisions cover nonunion state employees including managers, confidential employees, unclassified employees, appointed officials and employees, and employees of boards and commissions. Finally, the Act requires administrative services commissioner, in consultation with the comptroller, to report on the savings realized from implementing the retirement incentive program.
Effective: Upon passage
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/ACT/SA/2009SA-00006-R00HB-06718-SA.htm

 

Board Nominations

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

House Resolution 18, Resolution Confirming the Nomination of Theresa J. Eberhard Asch of Danbury to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/H/2009HR-00018-R00-HB.htm

House Resolution 23, Resolution Confirming the Nomination of Ronald J. Pugliese of Southbury to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/H/2009HR-00023-R00-HB.htm

Senate Resolution 15, Resolution Confirming the Nomination of Angelo J. Messina, Esquire, of Unionville to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/S/2009SR-00015-R00-SB.htm

Senate Resolution 16, Resolution Confirming the Nomination of John R. Sholtis, Jr., of Marlborough to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/S/2009SR-00016-R00-SB.htm

 


Key Legislation

Athletics

Senate Bill 553 (Public Act 08-89), An Act Establishing a Sports Advisory Board.
This Act requires the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism's (CCCT) executive director to appoint a Sports Advisory Board within CCCT to her about the most effective ways to utilize state resources to promote, attract and market in-state professional and amateur sports and sporting events. Such board shall also advise the executive director on ways to coordinate the use of state-owned facilities in order to enhance sports-related tourism in the state and develop methods for the dissemination of information concerning in-state professional and amateur sports and sporting events to residents of the state and the northeast. The Board includes an appointment from one of the Connecticut State Universities System's athletic departments.
Effective: Upon Passage
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00089-R00SB-00553-PA.htm




Financial Aid, Tuition Waivers and Student Fees

Senate Bill 48 (Public Act 08-71), An Act Concerning Tuition Waiver Benefit for Children and Surviving Spouses of Armed Forces Members Killed in Action.This Act requires the University of Connecticut, the Connecticut State University (CSU) system, and the regional community-technical colleges (CTC) to waive tuition for any state resident who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a state resident killed in action while performing active military duty in the U.S. Armed forces on or after September 11, 2001.
Effective: July 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00071-R00SB-00048-PA.htm




Security Plans and Public Safety

Substitute Senate Bill 467 (Public Act 08-157), An Act Concerning Security Protocol at the Constituent Units.This Act requires state higher education constituent units and private colleges and universities to submit a plan to the Department of Higher Education, by January 1, 2009, that identifies procedures to heighten, through effective educational strategies, faculty and staff awareness of students and other individuals who may pose a risk to themselves or others. The procedures must be designed to educate faculty and staff on how to recognize and respond to such individuals.
Effective: July 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00157-R00SB-00467-PA.htm




Student Affairs

Substitute House Bill 5158 (Public Act 08-147), An Act Making Changes to the Insurance Statutes.Sections 8 and 9 of the Act revise the criteria for determining when a child loses coverage under a private health insurance policy that the legislature enacted in 2007 and made effective January 1, 2009. This Act requires a child's coverage under an individual policy to continue at least until the policy anniversary date on or after the date the child: (1) marries; (2) ends his or her Connecticut residency, unless he or she is (a) under age 19 or (b) a full-time student at an accredited school of higher education; (3) becomes covered under a group health plan through his or her employment; or (4) turns age 26. The Act also requires group comprehensive care plans to (1) extend coverage eligibility to unmarried children under age 26 (thus eliminating the residency requirement and related exception) and (2) to offer continuation coverage to the end of the month in which the child meets the criteria for losing coverage under an individual policy.
Effective: Upon Passage
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00147-R00HB-05158-PA.htm




Teacher Preparation

Substitute House Bill 5590 (Special Act 08-5), An Act Concerning the Teaching of Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities.The Act requires the Commissioners of Education, Higher Education and Developmental Services, and the President of Southern Connecticut State University (or their designees), in consultation with the constituent units of the state system of higher education, independent colleges and universities, the State Education Resource Center, and the regional educational service centers to define autism and developmental disabilities, and to define a state-wide plan to incorporate methods of teaching children with autism and developmental disabilities into programs, requirements, and training. The Plan must be submitted by February 1, 2009. (It should be noted that the same language is also contained in Section 528 of Substitute Senate Bill 402 (Public Act 08-169), An Act Concerning Authorization of State Grant Commitments for School Building Projects and Concerning Changes to the Statutes Concerning School Building Projects.)
Effective: Upon Passage
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/SA/2008SA-00005-R00HB-05590-SA.htm

Autism Study Group
→ Report of the Study Group (pdf)
→ View member information (pdf)
→ View meeting minutes


Substitute House Bill 5871 (Public Act 08-107), An Act Concerning the BEST Program.This Act eliminates the Beginning Educator Support and training (BEST) Program as of July 1, 2009. It also eliminates the video component from the BEST assessment for new teachers for the 2008-09 school year.Further, this Act establishes a 21-member task force to develop a new mentor assistance program to replace the BEST program starting in the 2009-2010 school year and recommend transition procedures between the old and new programs. The House Majority Leader must appoint one faculty member from CSUS that teaches in a teacher preparation program to serve on the task force.
Effective: The BEST Program repeal takes effect July 1, 2009; the elimination of the video component of the BEST assessment takes effect July 1, 2008; and the task force takes effect upon passage.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00107-R00HB-05871-PA.htm






Environment and Energy

Senate Bill 615 (Public Act 08-186), An Act Concerning Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Cleaning Products, the State Hazardous Waste Program, Demonstration Projects, a Study of the Norwalk River Watershed, and the Sale of Certain Real Property.This Act states that no person shall use a cleaning product inside a building owned by the state unless such cleaning product meets guidelines or environmental standards set by a national or international environmental certification program approved by the Department of Administrative Services.
Effective: Upon passage, except the provisions on hazardous waste definitions, demonstration projects, and written notice about environmental matters are effective October 1, 2008.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00186-R00SB-00615-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5145 (Public Act 08-94), An Act Concerning Environmental Justice Communities and the Storage of Asbestos-Containing Material.This Act requires applicants seeking a new or expanded permit, certificate, or siting approval for certain facilities in an "environmental justice community" from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or the Connecticut Siting council to (1) file and receive approval of a meaningful public participation plan, including an informal public meeting, with DEP or the Siting Council, and (2) consult with municipal officials in the municipality or municipalities where the proposed facility will be located to evaluate the need for a community environmental benefit agreement. The Act excludes from the definition of affecting facilities (1) portions of electric generating facilities that use non-emitting and non-polluting renewable resources such as wind, solar, and hydropower or that use fuel cells; (2) any facility that received a Siting Council certificate on or before January 1, 2000; and (3) any facility under the control of the state higher education system that has undergone an environmental impact evaluation.The Act also restricts where persons or government agencies may place, store, dispose of, or deposit asbestos-containing materials.
Effective:January 1, 2009
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00094-R00HB-05145-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5600 (Public Act 08-98), An Act Concerning Connecticut Global Warming Solutions.This Act mandates reductions in state greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and makes changes designed to help the state achieve these reductions.It requires certain state agencies to identify (a) activities and facility improvements to meet state energy saving goals and (b) policies and regulations they may adopt to help meet the emission limits.
Effective: October 1, 2008, except the provisions concerning the DEP commissioner's contracting authority, which are effective upon passage.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00098-R00HB-05600-PA.htm
Substitute House Bill 5724 (Public Act 08-168), An Act Concerning Energy Scarcity and Security, Renwable and clean energy and a State Solar Strategy.This Act requires the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to conduct a petroleum sensitivity study of state agencies.The study must include a statewide assessment and inventory of state departments and agencies and their activities and corollary resource requirements concerning petroleum use.The Act also requires the Renewable Energy Investments Board to convene a working group to develop a plan to maximize the use of solar power and create a self-sustaining solar industry in Connecticut.
Effective: Upon Passage
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00168-R00HB-05724-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5730 (Public Act 08-137), An Act Concerning Environmental Health.This Act makes a number of changes to the Department of Public health's (DPH) review and approval process concerning proposals for new water supplies.
Effective: October 1, 2008, except for the relocation assistance provision, which is effective upon passage.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00137-R00HB-05730-PA.htm



Ethics

House Bill 6502, (Public Act 08-3 of the JSS), An Act Concerning Comprehensive Ethics Reform. This Act generally permits state courts to revoke or reduce any retirement or other benefit due to state or municipal officials or employees who commit certain crimes related to their employment.It makes it a class A misdemeanor for public servants to fail to report a bribe and expands illegal campaign finance practices to cover certain solicitations by chiefs of staff.Further, the Act makes several changes to state codes of ethics such as limiting gift exceptions, prohibiting state contractors from hiring certain former public officials and state employees, restricting the Office of State Ethics' (OSE) authority to issue subpoenas, prohibiting ex parte communications during OSE hearings on ethics complaints, limiting Citizens' Advisory Board members who can act on ethics complaints, and subjecting the governor's spouse to the code.It also requires OSE to provide mandatory training to legislators on the Code of Ethics for Public Officials.Finally, the Act requires public agencies to post, on available web sites, meeting dates, times, and minutes required by law to be publicly disclosed.
Effective: October 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00003-R00HB-06502SS2-PA.htm



Facilities, Contracting, State Purchasing and Construction

Substitute Senate Bill 397 (Public Act 08-78), An Act Concerning the State Building Works of Art Account.This Act establishes a subaccount in the state building works of art account in the General Fund called the "maintenance account."By law, the State Bond Commission must allocate at least 1% of bond proceeds for the construction, reconstruction, and remodeling of state buildings for art works.The bill requires the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism (CCCT) to determine the percentage of the 1% allocation, up to 10%, to credit to the maintenance account.The account's funds must be used solely to conserve, repair, and clean art works commissioned and purchased for state buildings using the proceeds of the 1% allocation.
Effective: July 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00078-R00SB-00397-PA.htm

Substitute Senate Bill 402 (Public Act 08-169), An Act Concerning Authorization of State Grant Commitments for School Building Projects, Changes to the Statutes Relating to School Construction, Regional School Districts and Magnet Schools, Providing Funding for Start-Up Costs for Magnet Schools and the Development of a Plan for the Teaching of Children with Autism.As part of the settlement for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al, the State Department of Education may allow the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, the board of governors for an independent college or university, on behalf of the independent college or university, cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and any other third-party not-for-profit corporation to apply for and shall be eligible to receive grants for magnet school building projects.
Effective: July 1, 2008 except for the grant commitments, which take effect on passage.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00169-R00SB-00402-PA.htm

Substitute Senate Bill 404 (Public Act 08-170), An Act Concerning Various Education Grants and Changes to the Statutes Concerning Magnet Schools, Vocational Agriculture Centers and the Certification of Bilingual Education Teachers.This Act, to assist the state with meeting the goals of Sheff v. O'Neill, allows the Connecticut State University System, UConn, and the regional community-technical colleges (CTC) to establish an inter-district magnet school. This Act also extends temporary certification requirements for bilingual education teachers for an additional year, until July 1, 2009.
Effective: July 1, 2008, except for the carry-forward provision, which is effective on passage.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00170-R00SB-00404-PA.htm

Senate Bill 679 (Public Act 08-154), An Act Concerning the Payment of Certain Costs from Bond Funds and the Creation of a Reciprocal Preference Statute. The Act changes the procedure for awarding state contracts when the lowest responsible qualified bidder is an out-of-state business that receives a preference in its home state.Beginning January 1, 2009, it requires the State Contracting Standards Board (SCSB) to publish an annual list of states that give preference to in-state bidders, including the percentage amount.The Act also requires that the list be made available to state contracting agencies and allows them to rely on it when determining the lowest responsible qualified bidder.
Effective: Upon passage, except the provision on preference in contracting is effective on October 1, 2009.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00154-R00SB-00679-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5537 (Public Act 08-83), An Act Concerning Construction Safety.Under current law, all employees performing manual labor on state or municipal building construction or repair contracts of $100,000 or more must prove they have completed a 10-hour construction safety and health course that meets federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Training Institute standards.This Act expands the construction safety training requirement to any public works project, which includes sewage and water treatment plants, site work, road and bridge work, parking lots, drainage systems, and other public projects that affect contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2009.
Effective: January 1, 2009
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00083-R00HB-05537-PA.htm

House Bill 5873 (Public Act 08-174), An Act Concerning the Face of Connecticut Steering Committee, the Preservation of Farmland, a Municipal Grant Program for Development Projects, Loans for Brownfield Purchasers and Tax Exemptions for Open Space Land Held by or for Certain Corporations.This Act makes various changes and expansions to the state farmland preservation program.It also makes changes to the Brownfield clean up and redevelopment program.
Effective: Upon passage, with the exemption for open space land applying to assessment years starting on or after October 1, 2007, and except for the new limits on the state's contribution in the Farmland Preservation Grant Program, which are effective October 1, 2008.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00174-R00HB-05873-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5899 (Public Act 08-141), An Act Concerning On-Line Procurement by State Agencies, Municipalities and Regional and Local School Districts.This Act allows contracting agencies to use a reverse auction to award contracts for goods or supplies if they determine that doing so would be advantageous to the agencies and ensure a competitive contract award.Contracting agencies may contract with a third party to prepare and manage the reverse auction.The bill requires that agencies comply with their policies and any applicable statutory requirements when using a reverse auction to award these contracts.
Effective: Upon Passage
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00141-R00HB-05899-PA.htm



Financial Aid, Tuition Waivers and Student Fees

Senate Bill 91 (Public Act 08-72), An Act Concerning Full Carryover Authority for the Capitol Scholarship Program.Under current law, the Department of Higher Education may carry forward up to 5% of its unspent annual appropriations for student financial assistance.This Act eliminates the 5% cap and limits the carry forward to unspent appropriations for the Capitol Scholarship Grant Program.
Effective: July 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00072-R00SB-00091-PA.htm

House Bill 5048 (Public Act 08-177), An Act Concerning Borrower Repayment and the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation.This Act authorizes the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation (CSLF) to repay certain borrowers 10% of their federal student loans made or guaranteed by CSLF.Eligible borrowers must (1) be state residents at the time they apply for repayment, (2) meet any applicable income limitations and criteria for subsidized federal student loans under the Higher Education Act of 1965, (3) have successfully completed the program for which the loan was made, and (4) apply for repayment between July 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008.The loans must be for an academic period prior to July 1, 1979. Any unspent appropriations for the repayment program that were transferred from the Department of Higher Education (DHE) to CSLF must be refunded to DHE on May 15, 2009.
Effective: Upon Passage
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00177-R00HB-05048-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5123 (Public Act 08-149), An Act Concerning the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation.This Act reduces the size of the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation's (CSLF) board of directors from 15 to 14 members and changes its composition.
Effective: July 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00149-R00HB-05123-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5545 (Public Act 08-57), An Act Concerning the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and Graduate Degrees for Members of the Connecticut National Guard.This Act (1) enacts and commits Connecticut to the terms of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and (2) creates an Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to administer and enforce the compact. It also expands the National Guard tuition waiver program at UConn and in the Connecticut State University (CSU) system to include graduate programs.
Effective:Upon passage for the compact; July 1, 2008 for the tuition waiver for guard members.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00057-R00HB-05545-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5933 (Public Act 08-143), An Act Concerning the Compensation of Wrongfully Convicted and Incarcerated Persons, the Duties and Duration of the Sentencing Task Force and the Preparation of Racial and Ethnic Impact Statements. The Act authorizes the Claims Commissioner to pay additional amounts for any other services a wrongfully convicted person may need to facilitate his or her reintegration into the community, including such the expenses of employment, training , and counseling; andtuition and fees at any constituent unit of the state system of higher education.
Effective: October 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00143-R00HB-05933-PA.htm



Health Care

Substitute Senate Bill 51 (Special Act 08-4), An Act Concerning Legislative Recommendations Concerning the University of Connecticut Health Center.The Act requires that Legislative Management contract with the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering to act as an independent monitor regarding the implementation of recommendations in the needs-based analysis of The University of Connecticut Health Center facilities plan. The Act requires that as part of Phase I the University of Connecticut Health Center and a regional hospital or hospitals develop a mutually agreed upon vision and set of guiding principles that will form the basis for establishing affiliation agreements between the health center and such regional hospital or hospitals as partners. As part of Phase II, the health center and a regional hospital or hospitals articulate affiliation agreements that detail the working relationships between the health center and a regional hospital or hospitals as partners to support excellence in medical education in the state.
Effective: Upon Passage
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/SA/2008SA-00004-R00SB-00051-SA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5902 (Public Act 08-79), An Act Concerning Hospital Staffing.The Act requires each licensed hospital, upon request, to make available to the Department of Public Health a prospective nurse staffing plan along with a written certification that the plan is sufficient to provide adequate and appropriate patient health care services in the ensuing hospital licensure period.
Effective: October 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00079-R00HB-05902-PA.htm



Higher Education

House Joint Resolution 86, Resolution Confirming the Nomination of Jean M. LaVecchia of Killingworth to be a Member of the Board of Governors for Higher Education.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/TOB/H/2008HJ-00086-R00-HB.htm

Substitute Senate Bill 465 (Public Act 08-163), An Act Establishing an Adult Literacy Board.This Act creates a 19-member Adult Literacy Leadership Board (with a member from Higher Education) within the Office of Workforce Competitiveness (OWC) and requires the board, among other things, to (1) develop a three-year strategic plan for an. adult literacy system, (2) prepare an annual report card on the status of adult literacy in the state, and (3) report annually to the governor and legislature on its activities. The board terminates on July 1, 2012.
Effective: July 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00163-R00SB-00465-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5050 (Public Act 08-116), An Act Concerning Hospital-Based Occupational Schools and Technical Revisions to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Statutes.This Act makes various technical changes to the higher education statutes and requires hospitals that offer any form or manner of trade, industrial, commercial, service, professional, or other occupational instruction for any remuneration, consideration, reward, or promise to obtain an authorization certificate from the higher education commissioner for such instruction. The hospital-based occupational school must pay a $200 application fee payable to the General Fund's Private Occupational School Student Protection Account when submitting an initial authorization application.
Effective: July 1, 2008, except for the technical changes provisions, which are effective upon passage.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00116-R00HB-05050-PA.htm



Human Resources

Substitute Senate Bill 65 (Public Act 08-4), An Act Allowing Blind or Physically Disabled State or Quasi-Public Employees to Use Accumulated Sick Leave for Guide Dog Training.This Act gives full-time employees and quasi-public agency employees who are blind or physically disabled the option of using accumulated paid sick leave to participate in guide dog training.
Effective: October 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00004-R00SB-00065-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5105 (Public Act 08-92), An Act Concerning the Minimum Wage.This Act raises the state minimum hourly wage from $7.65 to $8.00 beginning January 1, 2009, and to $8.25 beginning January 1, 2010.
Vetoed/Overridden
Effective: October 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00092-R00HB-05105-PA.htm



Information Technology

House Bill 5323 (Public Act 08-19), An Act Concerning the Department of Information Technology.This Act allows the state to purchase requisite information technology services through already existing federal contracts, conforms statutory language to current practice, adds "critical application recovery" as a goal of the annual information and telecommunication systems strategic plan published by the DOIT as part of its disaster planning in the event of an emergency, and reduces the periodic meetings of the Geospatial Information System Council (CSUS is a member) from monthly to quarterly.
Effective: Upon Passage
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00019-R00HB-05323-PA.htm



Privacy

Substitute House Bill 5658 (Public Act 08-167), An Act Concerning the Confidentiality of Social Security Numbers.This Act requires anyone possessing personal information about another person to safeguard it and the computer files and documents containing it. "Personal information" is information that can be associated with an individual through an identifier like a Social Security number.
It requires a business that collects Social Security numbers to create a privacy protection policy that must ensure confidentiality of Social Security numbers. The Act exempts state agencies and political subdivisions from the duty to safeguard personal information. The Act also subjects a person or entity that violates its provisions to a civil penalty of $500 for each violation, up to a maximum of $500,000 per event. It provides that a violation is not a violation if it is unintentional. Civil penalties must be deposited in the Privacy Protection Guaranty and Enforcement Account.
Effective: October 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00167-R00HB-05658-PA.htm



Student Affairs

Substitute Senate Bill 344 (Public Act 08-161), An Act Concerning the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program and the Recommendations of the Child Poverty and Prevention Council.This Act authorizes the Department of Social Services, in conjunction with Child Poverty and Prevention Council agency members, to work with local governments, institutions of higher education, community action agencies, and other entities to continue and expand efforts, within available appropriations, to enroll eligible individuals in the food stamp program and to enroll eligible food stamp participants in education, employment, and training activities.
Effective: October 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00161-R00SB-00344-PA.htm

Substitute House Bill 5701 (Public Act 08-184), An Act Concerning Revisions to Statutes Pertaining to the Department of Public Health.The Act clarifies and updates the public health statutes.In addition, Section 515 requires a student enrolling in an institution of higher education, on and after 8/1/10, to provide proof of adequate immunization against mumps and varicella. Section 525 of the Act authorizes DPH to waive, in full or in part, laboratory testing fees for institutions of higher education when performing chlamydia and gonorrhea testing if certain criteria are met. DPH is planning on increasing its schedule of laboratory testing fees as of July 2008. This will allow the department to exempt institutions of higher education from the fee increase for these tests; their fee will be maintained at current levels.
Effective: October 1, 2008 except the provisions concerning the Farmer's Market, Healthfirst Connecticut Authority Membership and State-Wide Primary Care Access Authority which are effective upon passage.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00184-R00HB-05701-PA.htm



Teacher Preparation

Substitute Senate Bill 403 (Public Act 08-148), An Act Concerning the Role of the State Board of Education in the Teacher Certification Revocation Process.This Act requires the education commissioner rather than the State Board of Education to make the final determination of whether to uphold the revocation of an educator's public school teaching credential when the educator has been convicted of certain crimes.
Effective: July 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00148-R00SB-00403-PA.htm


Substitute House Bill 5870 (Public Act 08-153), An Act Concerning Minor Changes to the Education Statutes.This Act makes changes to the Education statutes including a section that allows the State Board of Education to issue a temporary 90-day teaching certificate in the early childhood education endorsement area at a board of education's request.The existing conditions for 90-day certificates must be met for the endorsement's issuance.
Effective: July 1, 2008, except for the provisions on the educational interests of the state, the magnet school grant, early child teaching certificate, and the Committee on Educational Equity, which are effective on passage.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00153-R00HB-05870-PA.htm



Technical Revision

House Bill 5120 (Public Act 08-16), An Act Concerning Technical Changes to the Statutes Concerning the Connecticut State University System.This Act changes references to "Connecticut State University" to "Connecticut State University system," which conforms to other statutes. Effective:July 1, 2008
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00016-R00HB-05120-PA.htm



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