(a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate twenty million dollars.

(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Public Health for the purpose of providing grants-in-aid, which may be provided in the form of principal forgiveness, to eligible public water systems for eligible drinking water projects for which a project funding agreement is made on or after July 1, 2014, between the Commissioner of Public Health and the eligible public water system pursuant to sections 22a-475 to 22a-483, inclusive, under the public water system improvement program established in subsection (c) of this section.

(c) (1) For purposes of the public water system improvement program established pursuant to this section:

(A) “Eligible drinking water project” has the same meaning as provided in section 22a-475;

(B) “Eligible project costs” has the same meaning as provided in section 22a-475;

(C) “Eligible public water system” has the same meaning as provided in section 22a-475, except “eligible public water system” does not include eligible public water systems that are public service companies, as defined in section 16-1.

(2) All provisions applicable to drinking water projects under sections 22a-475 to 22a-483, inclusive, shall be applicable to the public water system improvement program, including eligibility of public water systems, eligible project costs, application procedures for financial assistance, and procedures for approving and awarding such financial assistance. The department shall comply with all allocation goals for smaller eligible public water systems and with the priorities for awarding financial assistance, as provided in sections 22a-475 to 22a-483, inclusive.

(3) An eligible public water system applying for financial assistance pursuant to this section shall submit to the department, along with the application submitted under sections 22a-475 to 22a-483, inclusive, a fiscal and asset management plan. The department shall provide financial assistance as follows:

(A) Eligible public water systems that serve ten thousand or fewer persons may receive financial assistance pursuant to this section for up to fifty per cent of eligible project costs;

(B) Eligible public water systems that serve more than ten thousand persons may receive financial assistance pursuant to this section for up to thirty per cent of eligible project costs; and

(C) Eligible public water systems that are for-profit companies may not receive additional financial assistance pursuant to this section.

(d) All provisions of section 3-20, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.

(P.A. 14-98, S. 46; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-4, S. 253.)

History: P.A. 14-98 effective July 1, 2014; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-4 amended Subsec. (a) by decreasing aggregate authorization from $50,000,000 to $20,000,000, effective July 1, 2016.