(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to this chapter, the State Board of Education may establish a pilot program for a period of five years that authorizes up to two school construction projects per year using a design-build contract and with the approval of the State Board of Education a town or regional school district may enter into a design-build contract for new school construction or renovation and shall be eligible to be considered for a grant commitment and progress payments from the state provided each design phase shall be reviewed and approved for compliance with all applicable codes by local authorities having jurisdiction over such codes. The provisions of section 10-287 relative to bidding all orders and contracts for school building construction shall not apply to any such project.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to this chapter, a town or regional school district choosing to use the design-build option pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall attend a meeting with Department of Education staff prior to executing a design-build contract. The department shall provide the town or regional school district with all of its code checklists and review materials which the town or regional school district shall use as a basis for obtaining plan approval by local officials having jurisdiction over such matters or other qualified code reviewers. It shall be the sole responsibility of the town or regional school district to ensure compliance with all applicable codes.

(c) The State Board of Education shall report in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and finance on or before January 15, 2008, on the efficiency and efficacy of using the design-build approach to school construction projects.

(May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-2, S. 12; P.A. 06-158, S. 11.)

History: May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-2 effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 06-158 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to extend program through 2008 and to expand program to include renovation projects, effective June 6, 2006.