SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 1111 – AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORIZATION OF STATE GRANT COMMITMENTS FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS AND CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE STATUTES CONCERNING SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS

§ 1 – Project Grant Commitments

The bill approves state grant commitments for school construction projects on the education commissioner's project priority list. The list consists of 18 new school projects and 21 previously authorized projects that have changed by more than 10% in cost or scope. Grant commitments for new projects total $247.3 million. The net increase in grant commitments for reauthorized projects is $151.2 million.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

§ 2 – Magnet School Moratorium

Starting July 1, 2009, the bill places a moratorium on new interdistrict magnet school construction until the education commissioner approves a comprehensive state-wide magnet school plan. The moratorium does not apply to magnets that help the state meet the goals of the 2008 Sheff v. O'Neill settlement, as determined by the commissioner.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009

§ 3 – Limit on Change Orders

After July 1, 2009, the bill limits state school construction grant reimbursements for change orders and change directives to an aggregate of 5% of the total authorized project cost. Currently, 50% of eligible change orders exceeding 5% are reimbursable.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009

§ 4 – Duplicative Projects

The bill allows the education commissioner to reject an application for a local school project if the project's proposed educational specifications or theme duplicates a program offered at a vocational-technical school or interdistrict magnet school in the same region.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009

§ 5 – Vocational-Technical School Project Construction Timetable

The bill requires the Department of Public Works to begin construction of authorized vocational-technical school building projects no later than 120 days after final approval of plans and specifications for the project.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009