Bill > SB01555

This bill establishes and refines a ten-year plan to address concentrated poverty in specific census tracts, primarily focusing on creating an Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement within the Department of Economic and Community Development. The bill expands the office's responsibilities by requiring consultation with additional state departments and agencies, including the Department of Housing, regional workforce development boards, and others, when developing strategies to reduce poverty in targeted areas. It creates a pilot program for participating census tracts in the four municipalities with the most concentrated poverty, with the goal of reducing the percentage of households below the federal poverty level to 20% or lower over ten years. The bill mandates multiple progress reports, including an initial report by June 1, 2025, and annual reports starting in 2027 that will be presented to the General Assembly and various state agencies. Additionally, the bill requires state agencies to prioritize projects included in the ten-year plan for grants and funding, and by January 1, 2029, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development must recommend whether to expand the pilot program to other concentrated poverty census tracts. The legislation also provides a mechanism for community development corporations to take legal action if state or municipal officials fail to meet their responsibilities under the plan.

Budget and Finance

Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee (J)

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB01555&which_year=2025