CT SB00542

Waives penalties for towns that reduced education budgets in fiscal year 2018 due to cuts to equalization aid grants resulting from reductions in Public Act 17-2 or withholding of state financial assistance.

Prevents the State Board of Education from determining that such towns failed to meet budget maintenance requirements or requiring forfeiture of twice the education budget reduction amount.

Modifies fiscal year 2019 education budget requirements to base comparisons on pre-reduction fiscal year 2018 appropriation amounts rather than amounts after mid-year cuts were applied.

Redefines "equalization aid grant amount for the previous fiscal year" to mean the amount towns were entitled to prior to any reductions made during fiscal year 2018 due to Public Act 17-2 or state financial assistance withholdings.

Allows school districts with declining enrollment or qualifying savings to reduce fiscal year 2019 education budgets by specified percentages, subject to Commissioner of Education approval for amounts exceeding thresholds.