Significant Amendments to School Suspension Law

Legislators unanimously approved a bill that creates a new implementation date for in-school suspension and makes other modifications to the student school suspension law.

Legislators had amended the school suspension law in the 2007 session to require all students be kept in school when suspended, unless the student is deemed too dangerous or disruptive to remain in school. Teachers, however, raised concerns during an Education Committee informational hearing on how schools plan to comply with the changes to the school suspension law.

As a result, lawmakers approved legislation based on this input that makes three significant amendments to the 2007 school suspension law:

Delays the effective date of in-school suspensions from July 1, 2008, to July 1, 2009.

More broadly defines the in-school suspension location to include any building in the school system.

Requires the commissioner of education to issue guidelines by October 1, 2008, that would aid districts in defining whether or not a suspension should be in or out of school.

Retired teacher health insurance subsidy to increase

The monthly health insurance subsidy under the State Teachers’ Retirement System for certain retired teachers will increase from $110 to $220 per person under a bill that was proposed by CEA and approved unanimously by both houses of the General Assembly.

To qualify for the subsidy, the retiree/spouse must meet the three criteria established by the bill:

• Attain normal retirement age to participate in Medicare (currently age 65)
• Not be eligible for Part A of Medicare without cost
• Contribute at least $220 per month toward his or her medical and prescription drug plan provided by the board of education

The effective date of the change is July 1, 2008.

Bill would allow teachers to join state employee health insurance plan

A bill allowing city and town employees and retirees, certain municipal service contractors, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses to join the state employee health plan was overwhelmingly approved by legislators – but could face a veto by Governor M. Jodi Rell.

Under the legislation, employers joining must commit to participate in the state plan for three years, at the end of which they may renew for another three years. It also requires the state comptroller to develop procedures for employers to withdraw from coverage. And, for employers with public employee collective bargaining, the procedures must comply with state collective bargaining law.

The governor said she has strong reservations about the legislation. According to The Hartford Courant, Governor Rell said she viewed the legislation as “well-intentioned” but possibly “harmful” to the state employee health system.