Published:
The last legislative session in Connecticut ushered in several new laws, deadlines, and initiatives for public colleges and universities in Connecticut. Some addressed long-time grievances from students, such as bursar holds on transcripts, while others aim to reduce costs associated with higher education; create jobs in high-demand fields; and expand training opportunities for would-be students.
The list below includes several new laws that will make a difference for many Central Connecticut State University students and their peers going forward.
Workforce development
PA 23-61, effective July 1, 2023, launched a green jobs corps program to create a talent development strategy, help communities respond to climate change, and reduce carbon emissions. Under the new law, the Connecticut Clean Economy Council must develop a workforce training plan for green jobs and submit it to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee by Feb. 1. Among other things, the plan must include the development of certificate and degree programs related to the green technology industry at in-state higher education institutions and technical education and career schools.
Health, wellness, and nursing programs
- As of Jan. 1, PA 23-41 requires the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and the University of Connecticut to provide reproductive health care services by licensed health care professionals to students who live on public college and university campuses. Member institutions must maintain a plan that outlines the availability of on-campus equipment and licensed health care providers, plus details on continuity of care during holiday and vacation breaks and between semesters.
- In accordance with PA 23-97, An Act Concerning Health and Wellness for Connecticut Residents, the Office of Workforce Strategy convened a working group to develop recommendations for expanding the health care workforce in the state. PA 23-97 aims to equalize access to physical, mental, and behavioral health care and to strengthen the state's response to the fentanyl and opioid epidemic. In its report due Jan. 1, the working group evaluated the quality of in-state education and clinical training programs for nurses and nurse’s aides; the potential for increasing the number of clinical training sites; and the expansion of these clinical training facilities. Using its assessments, the working group included a five- and 10-year plan to boost and expand health care services.
- PA 23-97 also allows the Office of Higher Education to enter into reciprocity agreements with one or more neighboring states to allow students attending a college or university in that state to train in a clinical rotation for credit in Connecticut if that state also allows a student attending a Connecticut college or university to train in a clinical rotation for credit in the other state.
- Concurrently, the Nursing Student Clinical Placement Task Force developed a plan due Jan. 1 to establish clinical placements for nursing students at public and private colleges and universities.
Cost savings for students
- Effective July 1, 2023, new laws tasked the Connecticut OER Coordinating Council with establishing a program to lower the cost of textbooks and course materials for high-impact courses at state higher education institutions. Open educational resources are college-level materials made available online to be used by students, faculty, and members of the public on an unlimited basis at a cost lower than the printed textbook or other educational materials or that are in the public domain or have been released under a creative commons attribution license.
- A new law requires the Office of Higher Education, within available appropriations, to establish a pilot program to annually reimburse those eligible for up to $5,000 of their student loan payments per year, up to four years. For each year they participate in the program, individuals must volunteer at a nonprofit organization for at least 50 unpaid hours. To qualify, participants must meet specified residency and income criteria and must have attended, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from, or left in good standing an in-state college or university.
- An existing law required the CSCU system, UConn, and the community colleges to waive undergraduate tuition fees for certain veterans and other eligible students. A new law that went into effect on July 1, 2023, codified existing practice by requiring CSCU and UConn to also waive graduate degree program tuition fees for these students.
- Paraeducators and school counselors are now eligible for the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority’s Alliance District Educator and Counselor Loan Subsidy Program. This program provides subsidized interest rates on CHESLA loans to eligible borrowers employed in alliance districts, subject to available funding.
- By July 1, CHESLA also must establish a Police Officer Loan Subsidy Program to subsidize interest rates on CHESLA loans to eligible municipal police officers employed in distressed municipalities, subject to available funding.
Last but not least…
As of Oct. 1, 2023, a new law generally prohibits Connecticut colleges and universities from withholding student transcripts from a student’s employer, prospective employer, or a branch of the U.S. military because the student owes the institution a debt.
To learn more about these state laws or others, go to https://cga.ct.gov/.