CT HB07019

Repeals and replaces provisions of Section 10-262j governing minimum education budget requirements for towns and regional school districts, effective July 1, 2015.

Establishes new minimum budget requirements for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 based on prior year appropriations plus aid increases, while allowing specified reductions for districts with declining enrollment, high poverty rates, or documented operational efficiencies.

Permits districts with 20% or more students eligible for free/reduced lunches to reduce budgets by up to 1.5% due to enrollment decline; districts with less than 20% may reduce by up to 3%.

Prohibits budget reductions for alliance districts and top 10% performing districts; allows Commissioner of Education discretion for districts that have permanently closed schools due to declining enrollment.

Amends Section 10-262i to define "aid increase" as the difference between current and prior year state aid payments, and updates references in Sections 10-4a and 10-4b to reflect the revised minimum budget requirement framework.