Substitute Senate Bill No. 1266

Public Act No. 239

An Act Concerning Authorization of State Grant Commitments for School Building Projects.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. The Commissioner of Education having reviewed applications for state grants for public school building projects in accordance with section 10-283 of the general statutes on the basis of priorities for such projects and standards for school construction established by the State Board of Education, and having prepared a listing of all such eligible projects ranked in order of priority, including a separate schedule of previously authorized projects which have changed substantially in scope or cost, as determined by said commissioner together with the amount of estimated grant with respect to each eligible project, and having submitted such listing of eligible projects, prior to December 15, 1998, to a committee of the General Assembly established under section 10-283a of the general statutes for the purpose of reviewing such listing, is hereby authorized to enter into grant commitments on behalf of the state in accordance with said section 10-283 with respect to the priority listing of such projects and in such estimated amounts as approved by said committee prior to February 1, 1999, as follows:

(a) Estimated Grant Commitments

Town	Estimated Total		Estimated
School		Project Costs	Grant
Project Number
HAMDEN
Bear Path Magnet School
082 MAG/EA		19,200,000	19,200,000
C.E.S.
Border Magnet School
026 MAG/N		29,337,600	29,337,600
ACES
Regional Community
Center Magnet
025 MAG/N		11,260,166	11,260,166
ACES
Educational Center for the Arts
027 MAG/P		5,452,975	5,452,975
BRIDGEPORT
New West Side
Elementary School
125 N		21,287,550	17,030,040
GUILFORD
Guilford High School
085 EA		2,800,000	980,000
HEBRON
Gilead Hill School
033 A		16,000	8,971
LEDYARD
Ledyard High School Vo-Ag
065 VA/EA		4,810,380	4,810,380
MANCHESTER
Robertson Elementary School
126 RE		320,000	203,424
NAUGATUCK
New Middle School
048 N		29,291,000	21,654,836
NEW HAVEN
Columbus School
325 E		539,000	425,433
NEWTOWN
New Elementary School
104 N		22,830,208	7,746,290
NORWALK
Brookside Elementary
197 N		16,215,000	5,616,876
SEYMOUR
New Middle School
045 N		33,847,092	21,276,282
SHERMAN
Sherman School
006 EA/RR*		7,146,013	1,837,240
SIMSBURY
Henry James Memorial School
088 EA		4,550,750	1,462,611
SIMSBURY
Tootin' Hills School
089 EA		7,500,000	2,410,500
SIMSBURY
Tariffville School
090 EA		4,184,035	1,344,749
SOUTHINGTON
Thalberg Elementary School
110 EA/RR		11,083,797	5,660,495
SOUTHINGTON
Strong Elementary School
111 EA		10,412,009	5,317,413
SOUTHINGTON
Hatton Elementary School
112 EA		10,782,742	5,506,746
STERLING
Sterling Memorial School
009 RE		150,000	103,395
WEST HARTFORD
Webster Hill Elementary School
177 EA		3,500,000	1,275,050
WEST HARTFORD
Norfeldt Elementary
School
178 EA		1,100,000	400,730
WEST HARTFORD
Braeburn Elementary School
179 EA		3,190,000	1,162,117
WEST HAVEN
Alma E. Pagels School
118 EA		9,237,500	7,026,966
WILTON
Wilton High School
049 EA		19,500,000	4,249,050
REG. DIST. #17
Killingworth Elementary School
034 RE		158,638	77,050
REG. DIST. #17
Burr Elementary School
035 RE		121,059	58,798
BERLIN
Berlin High School
060 A/TCH		1,500,000	583,950
BLOOMFIELD
Bloomfield Agri-Science Center
062 VA		460,315	460,315
EAST HARTFORD
Sunset Ridge School
218 A		1,024,000	702,157
EAST HARTFORD
Dr. John A. Langford School
220 EA		1,600,000	1,097,120
GLASTONBURY
Glastonbury High School
090 VE		223,330	223,330
GUILFORD
A.W. Cox Elementary School
081 EA		840,000	294,000
MIDDLETOWN
Middletown High School
104 VE		91,025	91,025
NEW HAVEN
New Jackie Robinson
Middle School
329 N		34,000,000	26,836,200
NEW HAVEN
Martin Luther King School
330 E		383,250	302,499
NEW HAVEN
Swing Space
331 P/A		5,250,000	4,143,825
NEWTOWN
Head O'Meadow
Elementary School
103 A		834,700	283,214
NORWALK
Brookside Elementary School
198 A/TCH		94,340	32,679
NORWALK
Columbus Elementary School
199 A/TCH		70,790	24,522
NORWALK
Cranbury Elementary School
200 A/TCH		97,705	33,845
NORWALK
Fox Run Elementary School
201 A/TCH		104,430	36,175
NORWALK
Jefferson Elementary School
202 A/TCH		74,154	25,687
NORWALK
Kendall Elementary School
203 A/TCH		90,975	31,514
NORWALK
Marvin Elementary School
204 A/TCH		80,882	28,018
NORWALK
Naramake Elementary School
205 A/TCH		74,155	25,687
NORWALK
Rowayton Elementary School
206 A/TCH		74,155	25,687
NORWALK
Silvermine Elementary School
207 A/TCH		90,975	31,514
NORWALK
Tracey Elementary School
208 A/TCH		94,338	32,679
NORWALK
Wolfpit Elementary School
209 A/TCH		87,610	30,348
PLYMOUTH
New Plymouth/Terryville
High School
047 N		37,500,000	26,516,250
SHELTON
New Intermediate School
074 N		36,386,000	14,943,730
SOUTHINGTON
Southington High School Vo-Ag
113 VE		47,000	47,000
SUFFIELD
Suffield Regional Vo-Ag Center
035 VE		200,000	200,000
THOMASTON
Thomaston High School
034 A*		5,238,709	3,218,139
THOMASTON
New High School
035 N		31,855,591	19,568,890
VERNON
Rockville High School
112 A		561,658	375,131
REG. DIST. #7
Northwestern Middle/High
School
024 VE		280,000	280,000
REG. DIST. #19
E. O. Smith High School
013 VE		233,130	233,130
ACES
William Douglas School
026 RENO/EA/RR		4,074,692	2,575,613
BARKHAMSTED
Barkhamsted School
011 A		402,600	191,235
BETHEL
Bethel Middle School
048 RR		1,350,000	621,945
CHESHIRE
Cheshire High School
087 RR		350,000	142,485
EAST HARTFORD
Sunset Ridge School
217 RR		576,000	394,963
ELLINGTON
Ellington High School
048 RR		50,000	29,465
FAIRFIELD
Stratfield Elementary School
095 RR		300,000	83,580
FARMINGTON
Noah Webster
Elementary School
052 RR		190,000	57,000
GROTON
Pleasant Valley School
147 RR		210,000	142,506
GROTON
Claude Chester School
149 EC		300,000	203,580
GROTON
Carl C. Cutler Middle School
150 EC		130,000	88,218
GUILFORD
E. C. Adams Middle School
082 RR		100,000	35,000
GUILFORD
Melissa Jones Elementary School
083 RR		70,000	24,500
GUILFORD
Guilford High School
084 RR		40,000	14,000
HAMDEN
Spring Glen School
078 RR		279,000	166,396
HAMDEN
Alice Peck School
079 RR		539,000	321,460
HAMDEN
Ridge Hill School
080 RR		552,000	329,213
HAMDEN
Spring Glen School
081 EC		445,000	265,398
HARTFORD
Quirk Middle School
234 RR/OT		700,000	547,470
HARTFORD
Fox Middle School
235 RR/OT		900,000	703,890
HARTFORD
M. L. King School
236 RR/OT		900,000	703,890
HARTFORD
M. D. Fox Elementary School
237 RR/OT		900,000	703,890
HARTFORD
J. C. Clark School
238 RR/OT		900,000	703,890
HARTFORD
Simpson-Waverly School
239 RR/OT		900,000	703,890
HARTFORD
Mt. Laurel Montessori Magnet
240 RR/OT		300,000	234,630
LEBANON
Lebanon Middle School
047 EC		1,023,950	665,568
NEW HAVEN
Bishop Woods School
320 RR		398,000	314,141
NEW HAVEN
Truman School
321 RR		257,000	202,850
NEW HAVEN
Barnard School
322 RR		257,000	202,850
NEW HAVEN
Clinton Avenue School
323 EC		499,500	394,255
NEW HAVEN
Truman School
324 EC		582,750	459,965
NEW LONDON
Central Administration
072 BE/TCH		47,725	18,579
OXFORD
Oxford Center School
023 RR		309,000	156,694
OXFORD
Great Oak Middle School
024 RR		136,000	68,966
SEYMOUR
Seymour Middle School
043 RR		286,525	180,110
SEYMOUR
Seymour High School
044 RR		268,375	168,701
SEYMOUR
Seymour High School
046 RR		669,460	420,823
SEYMOUR
Anna LoPresti School
047 RR		173,270	108,918
SHELTON
Booth Hill School
075 RR		333,500	136,968
SIMSBURY
Simsbury High School
087 RR		975,000	313,365
SOMERS
Mabelle B. Avery Middle School
030 RR		500,000	300,000
SOUTHINGTON
J. A. DePaulo Middle School
109 RR		300,000	153,210
TOLLAND
Tolland High School
058 RR		416,533	230,593
WATERBURY
Wilby High School
224 RR		1,700,000	1,317,500
WEST HAVEN
Clarence E. Thompson School
116 RR		180,000	136,926
WEST HAVEN
Seth Haley School
117 EC		489,000	371,982
WEST HAVEN
Clarence Thompson School
119 EC		460,500	350,302
WESTPORT
Staples High School
089 RR		2,600,000	547,820
WETHERSFIELD
Wethersfield High School
090 EC		220,000	97,438
WINCHESTER
Pearson Middle School
030 RR		110,900	77,231
WINDHAM
Sweeney Elementary School
065 RR		200,000	157,140
WOLCOTT
Wolcott High School
057 EC		1,034,989	643,142
WOLCOTT
Alcott Middle School
061 EC		656,429	407,905
WOLCOTT
Wakelee School
066 EC		55,041	34,202
REG. DIST. #14
Mitchell Elementary School
083 RR		79,319	37,962
REG. DIST. #17
Haddam-Killingworth
High School
030 RR		35,000	17,000

(b) Previously Authorized Projects Which Have Changed Substantially in Scope or Cost

Town	Original	Current
School
Project Number
BRIDGEPORT
Edison School
015-115 EA/RR
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	4,181,512	5,681,512
Total Grant	5,417,664	7,361,099
BRIDGEPORT
Hallen School
015-116 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	1,570,690	2,070,690
Total Grant	2,035,023	2,682,835
BRIDGEPORT
Madison School
015-118 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	4,964,960	6,464,969
Total Grant	6,432,718	8,376,164
CHESHIRE
Cheshire High School
025-086 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	5,800,000	9,250,000
Total Grant	2,299,120	3,666,700
EAST HARTFORD
Willowbrook School
043-200 EC
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	150,000	416,693
Total Grant	86,250	415,701
GLASTONBURY
New Middle School
054-089 N
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	33,985,000	38,721,000
Total Grant	11,408,765	12,998,640
GRANBY
Central Administrative Offices
056-041 PA/BE
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	923,380	800,000
Total Grant	202,820	175,720
GRANBY
Granby Memorial High School
056-042 RENO/EA/RR
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	16,354,405	19,990,991
Total Grant	7,184,490	8,782,042
HARTFORD
Fisher School
064-214 RR
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	550,000	3,092,500
Total Grant	424,270	2,385,555
HARTFORD
Math & Science Magnet
High School
064-216 MAG/N
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	40,516,229	46,000,000
Total Grant	40,516,229	46,000,000
HARTFORD
Hartford Public High School
064-227 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	50,855,000	88,195,000
Total Grant	39,229,547	68,033,623
KILLINGLY
Killingly High School
069-053 VA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	250,000	500,000
Total Grant	250,000	500,000
LEDYARD
Juliet Long School
072-061 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	12,000,000	9,761,356
Total Grant	7,585,200	6,170,153
MADISON
Daniel Hand High School
076-055 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	30,150,600	92,000,000
Total Grant	8,722,569	26,615,600
NEW BRITAIN
New Britain High School
089-125 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	12,000,000	17,201,267
Total Grant	16,160,481	23,341,143
NEW FAIRFIELD
New Fairfield High School
091-030 RR
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	500,000	1,105,000
Total Grant	185,700	410,397
NEW FAIRFIELD
Consolidated School
091-031 EA/RR
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	500,000	7,440,000
Total Grant	185,700	2,763,216
NEW FAIRFIELD
Meeting House Hill School
091-034 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	1,700,000	450,000
Total Grant	631,380	167,130
NEW HAVEN
Hillhouse High School
093-326 A
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	20,800,000	29,165,775
Total Grant	16,342,560	22,915,549
NEW HAVEN
Wilbur Cross High School
093-327 A
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	22,900,000	32,308,159
Total Grant	17,992,530	25,384,521
NEWINGTON
Newington High School
094-066 A
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	3,000,000	4,020,000
Total Grant	1,564,200	2,096,028
NORTH BRANFORD
North Branford
High/Intermediate School
099-044 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	4,000,000	5,985,091
Total Grant	2,228,400	3,334,294
REDDING
Read Middle School
117-019 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	4,100,000	5,710,250
Total Grant	937,260	1,305,363
STRATFORD
Second Hill Lane School
138-083 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	7,600,446	10,250,000
Total Grant	6,050,090	8,159,182
TRUMBULL
Regional Agriscience
And Technology Center
144-094 N
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	6,283,279	7,315,279
Total Grant	6,283,279	7,315,279
WESTPORT
Coleytown Middle School
158-077 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	18,000,000	19,421,900
Total Grant	6,580,161	7,099,956
WESTPORT
Green Farms
Elementary School
158-087 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	11,400,000	13,791,900
Total Grant	2,401,980	2,905,953
REGIONAL
DISTRICT #1
Housatonic Valley
Regional High School
201-031 VA/N
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	3,880,000	4,975,000
Total Grant	3,880,000	4,975,000
REGIONAL
DISTRICT #1
Housatonic Valley
Regional High School
201-032 EA
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	4,610,000	5,200,000
Total Grant	1,811,269	2,043,080
REGIONAL DISTRICT #6
Vo-Ag High School
206-042 VA/N
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	4,208,925	6,827,745
Total Grant	4,208,925	6,827,745
Metropolitan
Learning Center
241-088 MAG, CREC
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	33,273,713	33,273,713
Total Grant	33,273,713	33,273,713
MERIDEN
Thomas Edison Magnet
Middle School
080-076 MAG
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	26,500,000	31,800,000
Total Grant	26,500,000	31,800,000

WATERBURY
Rotella Magnet School
151-192N (MAG)
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	18,500,000	20,500,000
Total Grant	18,500,000	20,500,000

REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT #7
Northwest Regional High School Vo-Ag Center
207-022
Estimated...
Total Project Costs	2,719,725	3,319,725
Total Grant	2,719,725	3,319,725

Sec. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit, the town of Stamford may let out for bid on and commence projects for modular classrooms (Project Numbers 135-198 and 135-199) at Toquam Elementary and Turn of River Middle Schools and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for grant commitments from the state, provided plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit.

Sec. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit, the town of Wethersfield may let out for bid on and commence a project for roof replacement (Project Number 159-090) at Wethersfield High School and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit.

Sec. 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit, the town of New Fairfield may let out for bid on and commence projects for energy conservation and roof replacement (Project Numbers 091-029 and 091-030) at New Fairfield High School, alteration and roof replacement (Project Number 091-031) at Consolidated School, and extension and alteration (Project Number 091-034) at Meeting House School and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for grant commitments from the state, provided plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit.

Sec. 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 10-65, 10-287 and 10-287i of the general statutes, the grant to Regional School District Number 19 for the regional vocational agriculture center facilities at E.O. Smith High School (Project Number 219-011VA) shall be paid in accordance with the procedures specified in section 10-287i for grants authorized by the General Assembly on or after July 1, 1996.

Sec. 6. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 10-283 and 10-284 of the general statutes or any regulations adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that local legislative authorizations be obtained within one year of the authorization by the General Assembly of a grant commitment or requiring that the town begin constructing within two years after the effective date of the act of the General Assembly authorizing the Commissioner of Education to enter into grant commitments for such projects, the town of New Hartford shall have until June 30, 2000, to authorize and until June 30, 2001, to begin construction on a new school (Project Number 092-87-014N) or extension and alteration to the New Hartford Elementary School or Bakerville School (Project Numbers 092-022E and 092-021E) and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state.

Sec. 7. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 10-283 and 10-284 of the general statutes or any regulations adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that local legislative authorizations be obtained within one year of the authorization by the General Assembly of a grant commitment or requiring that the town begin constructing within two years after the effective date of the act of the General Assembly authorizing the Commissioner of Education to enter into grant commitments for such projects, the town of Thomaston shall have until June 30, 2000, to authorize and until June 30, 2001, to begin construction on the renovation project (Project Number 140-031) at the Thomaston Middle School and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state.

Sec. 8. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes and any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that the scope of a school building project be set at the time of application for a school building project grant, the town of Middletown may change the scope of the vocational agriculture center project at Middletown High School (Project Number 083-101VA/E).

Sec. 9. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that the highest projected enrolment for a school building project be calculated for the eight-year period from the date the local or regional board of education files a notification of a proposed school building project with the Department of Education, the town of Coventry may expand the period for the calculation of its projected enrolment for the extension and alteration and roof replacement project (Project Number 032-80-041 EA/RR) at Coventry Grammar School.

Sec. 10. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that the description of a project type for a school building project be made at the time of application for a school building project grant, the town of East Hampton may change the description of the extension and alteration project (Project Number 042-030EA) at East Hampton Center School to include roof replacement.

Sec. 11. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that the description of a project type for a school building project be made at the time of application for a school building project grant, the town of Middletown may change the description of the renovation, expansion, energy conservation and code compliance project (Project Number 083-077) at Moody Elementary School to include roof replacement.

Sec. 12. Notwithstanding the provisions of chapters 152 and 173 of the general statutes, the vote cast by the electors and voters of the towns of Beacon Falls and Prospect, being the member towns of Regional School District Number 16, at referenda held on November 21, 1998, relating to an appropriation of funds by said district for site acquisition for and design, construction, equipping and furnishing of a high school and the authorization of the issuance of bonds and temporary notes by said district to defray said appropriation, otherwise valid except for an error in the published notice of said referendum held in the town of Beacon Falls omitting the ballot heading, is validated. All acts, votes and proceedings of the officers and officials of Regional School District Number 16 pertaining to or taken in reliance on said referenda, otherwise valid except for such error, are validated.

Sec. 13. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit, the town of New Britain may let out for bid on and commence a project for the renovation of the Gates Building for the purpose of the relocation of the New Britain Board of Education (Project Number 089-152) and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for grant commitments from the state, provided plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit.

Sec. 14. (NEW) (a) The State Board of Education shall include reimbursement for reasonable lease costs that are determined by the Commissioner of Education to be required as part of a school building project grant under chapter 173 of the general statutes.

(b) The State Board of Education shall require renovation projects under chapter 173 of the general statutes to meet the same state and federal codes and regulations as are required for alteration projects.

Sec. 15. Subdivision (3) of section 10-282 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

(3) "School building project", except as used in section 10-289, means (A) the construction, purchase, extension, replacement, renovation or major alteration of a building to be used for public school purposes, including the equipping and furnishing of any such construction, purchase, extension, replacement, renovation or major alteration, the improvement of land therefor, or the improvement of the site of an existing building for public school purposes, but shall not include the cost of a site, except as provided in subsection (b) of section 10-286d, as amended by this act; (B) the construction and equipping and furnishing of any such construction of any building which the towns of Norwich, Winchester and Woodstock may provide by lease or otherwise for use by the Norwich Free Academy, Gilbert School and Woodstock Academy, respectively, in furnishing education for public school pupils under the provisions of section 10-34; and (C) the addition to, renovation of and equipping and furnishing of any such addition to or renovation of any building which may be leased, upon the approval of the State Board of Education, to any local or regional board of education for a term of twenty years or more for use by such local or regional board in furnishing education of public school pupils.

Sec. 16. Subsection (c) of section 10-283 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

(c) No school building project shall be added to the list prepared by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to subsection (a) of this section after such list is submitted to the committee of the General Assembly appointed pursuant to section 10-283a unless the project is for a school placed on probation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the project is necessary to preserve accreditation or the project is necessary to replace a school building for which a state agency issued a written notice of its intent to take the school property for public purpose. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to projects previously authorized by the General Assembly that require special legislation to correct procedural deficiencies.

Sec. 17. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted pursuant to said section, the projects for Betsy Ross, Nathan Hale and Jepsen Schools in New Haven, which are necessitated by the state taking of the property of Woodward School, are included in section 1 of this act and shall be eligible to be subsequently considered for grant commitments from the state, provided the school district files applications for such school building projects prior to June 30, 1999, and meets all other provisions of chapter 173 of the general statutes and any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education.

Sec. 18. Section 10-286d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof:

(a) Any grant for a completed school building project approved by the Commissioner of Education under the provisions of sections 10-282, as amended by this act, and 10-286 shall include an amount equal to the percentage determined in section 10-285a of the site-acquisition costs related to such project which are determined to be eligible by the Commissioner of Education, provided the site of such project was approved by the Commissioner of Education and by the local board of education in such school district prior to the date of beginning of construction. Such site-acquisition grant shall be in addition to the amount granted pursuant to section 10-286. In the case of new school building projects the date of site acquisition shall have no bearing on approval of a site-acquisition grant.

(b) For purposes of determining the amount of grants pursuant to subsection (a) of this section for a priority school district under section 10-266p, the Department of Education shall allow the reasonable cost, as determined by the commissioner, of acquiring property adjacent to an existing school site as an eligible cost if the acreage of the existing school site is less than half of the number of the acres permitted under regulations adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to this chapter.

Sec. 19. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit, the town of Plainville may let out for bid on and commence a project for asbestos removal (Project Number 110-054) at Linden Street School and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit.

Sec. 20. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit, the town of Enfield may let out for bid on and commence projects for asbestos abatement at Eli Whitney Elementary School (Project Number 049-107HV) and Henry Barnard Elementary School (Project Number 049-111HV) and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for grant commitments from the state, provided plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit.

Sec. 21. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-286 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education setting square footage specifications in effect at the time the school building projects (Project Numbers 159-046, 159-048, 159-049 and 159-050) at Charles Wright, Silas Deane Middle, Wethersfield High and Hammer Schools were authorized, the town of Wethersfield may use the square footage specifications in effect after July 28, 1986, for purposes of such projects.

Sec. 22. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-287 of the general statutes, in effect prior to July 6, 1995, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to said section requiring a competitive bidding process for change orders, the town of Stamford shall not be required to go through such process for change orders for the renovation projects for Newfield Elementary and Roxbury Elementary Schools (Project Numbers 135-152 and 135-153).

Sec. 23. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10-286 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that the highest projected enrolment for a school building project be calculated for the eight-year period from the date the local board of education files a notification of a school building project with the Department of Education, Regional School District Number 16 may calculate projected enrolment for the new high school project (Project Number 216-015) for a fourteen-year period from said date.

Sec. 24. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit, the town of Rocky Hill may let out for bid on and commence a project for code violation, lighting, electrical and fire systems (Project Number 119-046) at Myrtle H. Stevens School and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit.

Sec. 25. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit, the town of Hartford may let out for bid on and commence projects for roof replacement (Project Numbers 064-234, 064-0236, 064-179, 064-225) at Quirk Middle School, M. L. King School, Parkville School and Webster School and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for grant commitments from the state, provided plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit.

Sec. 26. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes and any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that the scope of a school building project be set at the time of application for a school building project grant, the town of Cromwell may change the scope of the project for a new elementary school and the scope of the extension and alteration and roof replacement project at Cromwell High School (Project Numbers 033-039N and 033-041 EA/RR).

Sec. 27. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-292 of the general statutes or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that a bid not be let out until plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit, Regional School District Number 5 may let out for bid on and commence a project for extension and alteration and site improvement (Project Number 205-036EA/SI) at Amity Regional High School and shall be eligible to subsequently be considered for a grant commitment from the state, provided plans and specifications have been approved by the Department of Education's school facilities unit.

Sec. 28. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-287 of the general statutes, in effect prior to July 6, 1995, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to said section requiring a competitive bidding process for change orders, Regional School District Number 5 shall not be required to go through such process for change orders for the extension and alteration and site improvement project (Project Number 205-036EA/SI) at Amity Regional High School.

Sec. 29. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that the description of a project type for a school building project be made at the time of application for a school building project grant, the town of Granby may change the description of the project for purchase and renovation of a building for board of education central administrative offices (Project Number 056-041N) to construction of a new building for such offices.

Sec. 30. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-283 of the general statutes and any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education requiring that the scope of a school building project be set at the time of application for a school building project grant, the town of Plymouth may expand the scope of the project for a new Terryville High School (Project Number 111-047N) to include board of education offices.

Sec. 31. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-287 of the general statutes, in effect prior to July 6, 1995, or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to said section requiring a competitive bidding process for change orders, the town of New Milford shall not be required to go through such process for change orders for the extension and alteration projects for Hill and Plain School (Project Number 096-024EA), John Pettibone School (Project Number 096-025EA), Northville Elementary School (Project Number 096-026EA), and Schaghticoke Middle School (Project Number 096-027EA).

Sec. 32. This act shall take effect from its passage.

Approved June 28, 1999