Bill Text: CT HB05423 | 2013 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Revisions To The Higher Education Statutes.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-07-11 - Signed by the Governor [HB05423 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2013-HB05423-Introduced.html
General Assembly |
Raised Bill No. 5423 | ||
January Session, 2013 |
LCO No. 577 | ||
*00577_______HED* | |||
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT |
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Introduced by: |
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(HED) |
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AN ACT CONCERNING TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 4-124dd of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) The board shall consist of the following members:
(1) A member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
(2) A member appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;
(3) A member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;
(4) A member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
(5) The Commissioners of Public Health [,] and Education and the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, or their designees;
(6) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and higher education and employment advancement, or their designees;
(7) A representative of the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing, established under section 20-88, who shall be appointed by said board; and
(8) A representative of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, who shall be appointed by said conference.
Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 10-16p of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) (1) The Department of Education shall be the lead agency for school readiness. For purposes of this section and section 10-16u, school readiness program providers eligible for funding from the Department of Education shall include local and regional boards of education, regional educational service centers, family resource centers and providers of child day care centers, as defined in section 19a-77, Head Start programs, preschool programs and other programs that meet such standards established by the Commissioner of Education. The department shall establish standards for school readiness programs. The standards may include, but need not be limited to, guidelines for staff-child interactions, curriculum content, including preliteracy development, lesson plans, parent involvement, staff qualifications and training, transition to school and administration. The department shall develop age-appropriate developmental skills and goals for children attending such programs. The commissioner, in consultation with the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the Commissioner of Social Services and other appropriate entities, shall develop a professional development program for the staff of school readiness programs.
(2) For purposes of this section:
(A) Prior to July 1, 2015, "staff qualifications" means there is in each classroom an individual who has at least the following: (i) A childhood development associate credential or an equivalent credential issued by an organization approved by the Commissioner of Education and twelve credits or more in early childhood education or child development, as determined by the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, after consultation with the Commissioners of Education and Social Services, from an institution of higher education [(1)] (I) accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or State Board of Education, and [(2)] (II) regionally accredited; (ii) an associate's degree with twelve credits or more in early childhood education or child development, as determined by the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, after consultation with the Commissioners of Education and Social Services, from such an institution; (iii) a four-year degree with twelve credits or more in early childhood education or child development, as determined by the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, after consultation with the Commissioners of Education and Social Services, from such an institution; or (iv) certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an endorsement in early childhood education or special education;
(B) From July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2020, "staff qualifications" means that for each early childhood education program accepting state funds for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child day care program or school readiness program, (i) at least fifty per cent of those individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of children hold (I) certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an endorsement in early childhood education or early childhood special education, or (II) a bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education, including, but not limited to, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child study, child development or human growth and development, from an institution of higher education [(1)] accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or State Board of Education, and [(2)] regionally accredited, provided such bachelor's degree program is approved by the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Department of Education, and (ii) such remaining individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of children hold an associate degree with a concentration in early childhood education, including, but not limited to, an associate's degree in early childhood education, child study, child development or human growth and development, from an institution of higher education [(1)] (I) accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or State Board of Education, and [(2)] (II) regionally accredited, provided such associate degree program is approved by the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Department of Education; and
(C) On and after July 1, 2020, "staff qualifications" means that for each early childhood education program accepting state funds for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child day care program or school readiness program, one hundred per cent of those individuals with the primary responsibility for a classroom of children hold (i) certification pursuant to section 10-145b with an endorsement in early childhood education or early childhood special education, or (ii) a bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education, including, but not limited to, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child study, child development or human growth and development, from an institution of higher education [(1)] (I) accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or State Board of Education, and [(2)] (II) regionally accredited, provided such bachelor's degree program is approved by the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Department of Education.
(3) Any individual with a bachelor's degree who, on or before June 30, 2015, is employed as a teacher by an early childhood education program that accepts state funds for infant, toddler and preschool spaces associated with such program's child day care program or school readiness program and meets the staff qualifications required under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be considered to meet the staff qualifications required under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (2) of this subsection. No such early childhood education program shall terminate any such individual from employment for purposes of meeting the staff qualification requirements set forth in subparagraph (B) or (C) of subdivision (2) of this subsection. Any such individual who terminates his or her employment with such early childhood education program and accepts a teacher position at another early childhood education program accepting state funds for spaces associated with such program's child day care program or school readiness program shall submit documentation of such individual's progress toward meeting the staff qualification requirements set forth in subparagraph (B) or (C) of subdivision (2) of this subsection in a manner determined by the Department of Education.
(4) Any individual with a bachelor's degree other than those bachelor's degrees specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision (2) of this subsection may submit documentation concerning such degree for review and assessment by the Department of Education as to whether such degree has a sufficient concentration in early childhood education so as to satisfy the requirements set forth in said subparagraphs (A) and (B).
Sec. 3. Subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 10-16p of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(B) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, and each fiscal year thereafter, if funds appropriated for the purposes of subsection (c) of this section are not expended, an amount up to five hundred thousand dollars of such unexpended funds may be available for the provision of professional development for early childhood education program providers offered by a professional development and program improvement system within the Connecticut State University System and available for use in accordance with the provisions of this subparagraph for the subsequent fiscal year. The Commissioner of Education may use such unexpended funds on and after July 1, 2012, in consultation with the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, to support early childhood education programs accepting state funds in satisfying the staff qualifications requirements of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. The Department of Education shall use any such funds to provide assistance to individual staff members, giving priority to those staff members attending an institution of higher education [(1)] (i) accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or State Board of Education, and [(2)] (ii) regionally accredited, at a maximum of five thousand dollars per staff member per year for the cost of higher education courses leading to a bachelor's degree or, not later than December 31, 2013, an associate's degree, as such degrees are described in said subparagraphs (B) and (C) at an in-state public institution of higher education or a Connecticut-based for-profit or nonprofit institution of higher education, provided such staff members have applied for all available federal and state scholarships and grants, and such assistance does not exceed such staff members' financial need. Individual staff members shall apply for such unexpended funds in a manner determined by the Department of Education. The Commissioner of Education shall determine, in consultation with the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, how such unexpended funds shall be distributed.
Sec. 4. Section 10a-10 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
The Office of Higher Education shall establish an Office of Educational Opportunity in the Office of Higher Education, within the limits of funds appropriated for such purpose. The [office] Office of Educational Opportunity shall assist the [board] Office of Higher Education in state-wide efforts to increase enrollment, retention and graduation of disadvantaged students.
Sec. 5. Subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 10a-109i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(C) In any such fiscal year in which the eligible gifts received by the university exceed the endowment fund state grant maximum commitment for such fiscal year, the amount in excess of such endowment fund state grant maximum commitment for such fiscal year [,] shall be carried forward and be eligible for a matching state grant in any succeeding fiscal year, from the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, inclusive, subject to the endowment fund state grant maximum commitment for such fiscal year. Any endowment fund eligible gifts that are not included in the total amount of endowment fund eligible gifts certified by the chairperson of the board of trustees pursuant to this subparagraph may be carried forward and be eligible for a matching state grant in any succeeding fiscal year from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, inclusive, subject to the endowment fund state matching grant maximum commitment for such fiscal year.
Sec. 6. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10a-223 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(1) "Authority" means the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority constituted as a subsidiary of the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority as provided in section 10a-179a;
Sec. 7. Subsection (c) of section 31-23 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(c) No minor under the age of eighteen years shall be employed or permitted to work in any occupation which has been or shall be pronounced hazardous to health by the Department of Public Health or pronounced hazardous in other respects by the Labor Department. This section shall not apply to (1) the employment or enrollment of minors sixteen years of age and over as apprentices in bona fide apprenticeship courses in manufacturing or mechanical establishments, technical high schools or public schools, (2) the employment of such minors who have graduated from a public or private secondary or technical high school in any manufacturing or mechanical establishment, (3) the employment of such minors who are participating in a manufacturing or mechanical internship in any manufacturing or mechanical establishment, or (4) the enrollment of such minors in a cooperative work-study program approved by the Commissioner of Education and the Labor Commissioner or in a program established pursuant to section 10-20a. No provision of this section shall apply to agricultural employment, domestic service, street trades or the distribution of newspapers. For purposes of this subsection, (A) "internship" means supervised practical training of a high school student or recent high school graduate that is comprised of curriculum and workplace standards approved by the Department of Education and the Labor Department, and (B) [the term] "cooperative work-study program" means a program of vocational education, approved by the Commissioner of Education and the Labor Commissioner, for persons who, through a cooperative arrangement between the school and employers, receive instruction, including required academic courses and related vocational instruction by alternation of study in school with a job in any occupational field, provided these two experiences are planned and supervised by the school and employers so that each contributes to the student's education and to his employability. Work periods and school attendance may be on alternate half days, full days, weeks or other periods of time in fulfilling the cooperative work-study program.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
from passage |
4-124dd(b) |
Sec. 2 |
from passage |
10-16p(b) |
Sec. 3 |
from passage |
10-16p(e)(2)(B) |
Sec. 4 |
from passage |
10a-10 |
Sec. 5 |
from passage |
10a-109i(b)(2)(C) |
Sec. 6 |
from passage |
10a-223(a)(1) |
Sec. 7 |
from passage |
31-23(c) |
Statement of Purpose:
To make revisions to the higher education statutes.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]