CT HB05592

Waives penalties on school boards that reduced education budgets for fiscal year 2018 due to cuts to their equalization aid grants under Public Act 17-2 or state financial assistance reductions.

Prohibits the State Board of Education from determining that affected towns failed to meet education funding requirements or requiring them to forfeit twice the amount of their budgeted appropriation reduction.

Modifies the fiscal year 2019 education budget baseline to use the pre-reduction fiscal year 2018 budget amount, allowing towns to account for prior year aid cuts when calculating required budget levels.

Defines "equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year" as the fiscal year 2018 entitlement prior to any mid-year reductions, ensuring aid reduction calculations are not compounded.

Permits qualifying school districts to reduce fiscal year 2019 budgets based on enrollment declines, tuition changes, documented efficiencies, or regional collaboration, with commissioner approval required for reductions exceeding specified thresholds.