Page 489

House Bill No. 5506

Public Act No. 22-118 489 of 739

progress payments for the state share of eligible project costs calculated pursuant to sections 10-65, 10-76e and 10-286, at such time and in such manner as the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall prescribe provided no payments shall commence until the applicant has filed a notice of authorization of funding for the local share of project costs, and provided further no payments other than those for architectural planning and site acquisition shall be made prior to approval of the final architectural plans pursuant to section 10-292. For any project authorized on or after July 1, 2024, the Department of Administrative Services shall withhold five per cent of a grant if the commissioner determines that the applicant has failed to comply with the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 4a-60g relating to minority business enterprises. The Department of Administrative Services shall withhold [eleven] five per cent of a grant pending completion of an audit pursuant to section 10-287 provided, if the department is unable to complete the required audit within six months of the date a request for final payment is filed, the applicant may have an independent audit performed and include the cost of such audit in the eligible project costs. Sec. 367. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Administrative Services shall administer a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system grant program to reimburse local and regional boards of education for costs associated with projects for the installation, replacement or upgrading of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings. (b) (1) A local or regional board of education or a regional educational service center may apply, at such time and in such manner as the Commissioner of Administrative Services prescribes, for a grant for a project involving the installation, replacement or upgrading of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other improvements to indoor air quality in school buildings. A local or regional board of