Sec. 32-605. Reports. Audits. Compliance of operations.
Sec. 32-610. Exemptions from taxes.
Sec. 32-612. Downtown higher education center project development.
Sec. 32-615. Bond authorization for the downtown higher education center project.
Sec. 32-600. Definitions. As used in this chapter and sections 32-650 to 32-668, inclusive, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Authority” means the Capital Region Development Authority created pursuant to section 32-601.
(2) “Capital city project” means any or all of the following: (A) A convention center project as defined in subdivision (3) of this section; (B) a downtown higher education center; (C) the civic center and coliseum complex; (D) the development of the infrastructure and improvements to the riverfront; (E) (i) the creation of up to three thousand downtown housing units through rehabilitation and new construction, and (ii) the demolition or redevelopment of vacant buildings; (F) the addition to downtown parking capacity; (G) development and redevelopment; and (H) the promotion of and attraction to in-state professional and amateur sports and sporting events. All capital city projects shall be located or constructed and operated in the capital city economic development district, as defined in subdivision (7) of this section, provided any project undertaken pursuant to subparagraph (G) of this subdivision may be located anywhere in the town and city of Hartford, any project undertaken pursuant to subparagraph (D) or (E) (ii) of this subdivision may be located anywhere in the town and city of Hartford or town of East Hartford, and any project undertaken pursuant to subparagraph (H) of this subdivision may be located anywhere in the state.
(3) “Convention center” means a convention facility constructed and operated in the capital city economic development district, including parking for such facility, in conjunction with a privately developed hotel, including ancillary facilities and infrastructure improvements as more particularly described in the master development plan.
(4) “Convention center facilities” means (A) the convention center and the related parking facilities, as defined in section 32-651, to the extent such related parking facilities are developed, owned or operated by the authority, (B) the on-site related private development, as defined in section 32-651, to the extent any such on-site related private development is developed, owned or operated by the authority pursuant to a determination by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the authority that such development, ownership or operation by the authority is necessary and in the public interest, and (C) a central heating and cooling plant serving the convention center, the related parking facilities, the related private development and, to the extent of any surplus capacity, other users. “Convention center facilities” does not include the convention center hotel.
(5) “Convention center hotel” means the privately developed hotel required to be constructed and operated in conjunction with the convention center, as more particularly described in the master development plan, as defined in section 32-651, including the second phase of the convention center hotel as therein described.
(6) “Convention center project” means the development, design, construction, finishing, furnishing and equipping of the convention center facilities and related site acquisition and site preparation.
(7) “Capital city economic development district” means the area bounded and described as follows: The northerly side of Masseek Street from the intersection of Van Dyke Avenue proceeding westerly to the intersection of Van Block Avenue, proceeding northerly along Van Block to the intersection of Nepaquash Street, proceeding easterly to the intersection of Huyshope Avenue, proceeding northerly along Huyshope Avenue to the intersection of Charter Oak Avenue, proceeding westerly along Charter Oak Avenue to Wyllys Street, proceeding along Wyllys Street to Popieluszko Court, north on Popieluszko Court to Charter Oak Avenue proceeding westerly to Main Street, proceeding south along Main Street to Park Street, thence west along Park Street to the intersection of Laurel Street, proceeding north on Laurel Street to the intersection of Capitol Avenue, proceeding west on Capitol Avenue to the intersection of Forest Street, proceeding north on Forest Street to the intersection of Farmington Avenue, proceeding east on Farmington Avenue to the intersection of Asylum Avenue, proceeding east on Asylum Avenue, thence northwesterly along the Exit 48 on ramp to Interstate 84 northward to the railroad, now proceeding northeasterly along the railroad to its intersection with the southerly railroad spur, thence proceeding southeasterly along the railroad R.O.W. to the Bulkeley Bridge. Thence easterly to the city line. Proceeding south along city boundary to the point perpendicular with Masseek Street. Thence westerly to the point of beginning.
(8) “Capital region” means the towns contiguous to the city of Hartford, including the town of East Hartford and excluding the towns of Newington and West Hartford.
(9) “Private development district” means any land on the Adriaen's Landing site that is designated jointly by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the authority as available for the purpose of on-site related private development and in need of inducement for private development and operation. Only land on which construction of a building or improvement is to commence on or after July 1, 2008, shall be so designated. Any land so designated shall remain part of the private development district during the term, including any extensions, of any agreement providing for payments to the authority in lieu of real property taxes entered into pursuant to subsection (f) of section 32-602, and thereafter, until the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the authority certify that such designation is no longer a needed inducement to private development and operation. As used in this subdivision, “land” includes an easement to use air space, whether or not contiguous to the surface of the ground.
(P.A. 98-179, S. 1, 30; P.A. 99-241, S. 17, 66; P.A. 00-140, S. 1, 40; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-5, S. 23; P.A. 08-185, S. 5, 6; P.A. 12-147, S. 8; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 187; P.A. 13-247, S. 232; P.A. 21-193, S. 21; P.A. 22-118, S. 470; P.A. 25-73, S. 12.)
History: P.A. 98-179 effective June 1, 1998; P.A. 99-241 added definition of “convention center”, redefined “convention center project” and deleted definition of “sports megaplex”, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-140 made technical changes in Subdivs. (2) and (3), added new Subdivs. (4) and (5) to define “convention center facilities” and “convention center hotel”, redesignated former Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (6) and (7), and amended Subdiv. (6) by changing “convention center and related site preparation” to “convention center facilities and related site acquisition and site preparation”, effective May 2, 2000; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-5 amended Subdiv. (4) to add provisions re central heating and cooling plant in definition of “convention center facilities”, effective August 15, 2002; P.A. 08-185 amended Subdiv. (4) by dividing existing provisions into Subparas. (A) and (C) and adding Subpara. (B) re on-site related private development and added Subdiv. (8) defining “private development district”, effective June 12, 2008; P.A. 12-147 redefined “authority” in Subdiv. (1), redefined “capital city project” in Subdiv. (2), redefined “capital city economic development district” in Subdiv. (7), added new Subdiv. (8) defining “capital region” and redesignated existing Subdiv. (8) as Subdiv. (9) and made a technical change therein, effective June 15, 2012; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 redefined “capital city project” in Subdiv. (2), effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-247 redefined “capital city project” by deleting “the renovation and rejuvenation of” in Subdiv. (2), effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 21-193 redefined “capitol city project” in Subdiv. (2), effective July 13, 2021; P.A. 22-118 amended Subdiv. (9) by replacing reference to Sec. 32-602(e) with reference to Sec. 32-602(f); P.A. 25-73 amended Subdiv. (8) by redefining “capital region” to exclude towns of Newington and West Hartford, effective July 1, 2025.
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Sec. 32-605. Reports. Audits. Compliance of operations. (a) In lieu of the report required under section 1-123, within the first one hundred twenty days of each fiscal year of the Capital Region Development Authority, the board of directors of the authority shall submit a report to the Governor, the Auditors of Public Accounts and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) A list of all bonds issued during the preceding fiscal year, including, for each such issue, the financial advisor and underwriters, whether the issue was competitive, negotiated or privately placed, and the issue's face value and net proceeds; (2) a description of the capital city project or any economic development project in the capital region in which the authority is involved, its location and the amount of funds, if any, provided by the authority with respect to the construction of such project; (3) a list of all outside individuals and firms, including principal and other major stockholders, receiving in excess of five thousand dollars as payments for services; (4) an annual comprehensive financial report prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for governmental enterprises; (5) the cumulative value of all bonds issued, the value of outstanding bonds and the amount of the state's contingent liability; (6) the affirmative action policy statement, a description of the composition of the work force of the authority by race, sex and occupation and a description of the affirmative action efforts of the authority; (7) a description of planned activities for the current fiscal year; (8) a list of all private investments made or committed for commercial development within the capital city economic development district; and (9) an analysis of the authority's success in achieving the purposes stated in section 32-602.
(b) The board of directors of the authority shall annually contract with a firm of certified public accountants to undertake an independent financial audit of the authority in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The board shall submit the audit report to the Governor, the Auditors of Public Accounts and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding.
(c) The authority shall designate a contract compliance officer from the staff of the authority to monitor compliance of the operations of facilities under the management or control of the authority, the convention center, convention center hotel and related parking facilities of the center and the hotel, with the provisions of state law applicable to such operations, including, but not limited to, this section and sections 32-650 to 32-668, inclusive, and with applicable requirements of contracts entered into by the authority, relating to set-asides for small contractors and minority business enterprises and required efforts to hire available and qualified members of minorities, as defined in section 32-9n, and available and qualified residents of the city of Hartford for jobs in such operations. Such officer shall file, each year during the period of facility operations, a written report with the authority as to findings and recommendations regarding such compliance.
(P.A. 98-179, S. 6, 30; P.A. 99-241, S. 21, 66; P.A. 00-140, S. 37, 40; P.A. 12-147, S. 14; P.A. 14-227, S. 2; P.A. 18-137, S. 11; P.A. 23-197, S. 7; P.A. 25-168, S. 125.)
History: P.A. 98-179 effective June 1, 1998 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (d) the phrase “whether there has been significant cost increases” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “there have been significant cost increases”); P.A. 99-241 added Subsec. (a)(8) re list of private investment for commercial development in district and made technical change, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-140 added Subsec. (e) re convention center operations contract compliance officer, effective May 2, 2000; P.A. 12-147 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “Capital City Economic Development Authority” with “Capital Region Development Authority” and add “or any economic development project in the capital region in which the authority is involved”, deleted former Subsec. (d) re two-year performance review report, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (d) and amended same by deleting reference to convention center operations and adding provision re facilities under management or control of authority, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 14-227 amended Subsec. (b) to delete provision re compliance audit in lieu of audit required under Sec. 1-122 and amended Subsec. (c) to delete provision re annual audit by Auditors of Public Accounts; P.A. 18-137 deleted former Subsec. (b) re contract for compliance audit and redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) and (d) as Subsecs. (b) and (c), effective June 11, 2018; P.A. 23-197 amended Subsec. (a)(4) to change “a comprehensive annual financial report” to “an annual comprehensive financial report”; P.A. 25-168 amended Subsec. (a) to replace 90 days with 120 days, effective July 1, 2025.
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Sec. 32-610. Exemptions from taxes. The exercise of the powers granted by section 32-602 constitute the performance of an essential governmental function and the Capital Region Development Authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon or in respect of the convention center or the convention center project, as defined in section 32-600, or any land or improvements owned or leased by the authority, levied by any municipality or political subdivision or special district having taxing powers of the state and such project and the principal and interest of any bonds and notes issued under the provisions of section 32-607, their transfer and the income therefrom, including revenues derived from the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation of every kind by the state of Connecticut or under its authority, except for estate or succession taxes but the interest on such bonds and notes shall be included in the computation of any excise or franchise tax. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the convention center and the related parking facilities owned by the authority shall be deemed to be state-owned real property for purposes of sections 12-18b and 12-19b and the state shall make grants in lieu of taxes with respect to the convention center and such related parking facilities to the municipality in which the convention center and such related parking facilities are located as otherwise provided in sections 12-18b and 12-19b and with respect to any land or improvements owned or leased by the authority not otherwise exempt from taxation.
(P.A. 98-179, S. 11, 30; P.A. 99-241, S. 60, 66; P.A. 00-140, S. 28, 40; P.A. 12-147, S. 19; P.A. 15-244, S. 203; P.A. 25-168, S. 126.)
History: P.A. 98-179 effective June 1, 1998; P.A. 99-241 added “convention center or the”, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-140 added provision re the convention center and related parking facilities as state-owned property for purposes of making grants in lieu of taxes, effective May 2, 2000; P.A. 12-147 replaced “Capital City Economic Development Authority” with “Capital Region Development Authority”, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 15-244 replaced references to Sec. 12-19a with references to Sec. 12-18b, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 25-168 added provisions re any land or improvements owned or leased by the Capital Region Development Authority, effective July 1, 2025.
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Sec. 32-612. Downtown higher education center project development. (a) A downtown higher education center project, as described in section 32-600, shall be developed by the Department of Administrative Services in consultation with the Board of Regents for Higher Education. Said project shall not require approval by the State Properties Review Board.
(b) (1) No payments shall be made by the department on account of any downtown higher education center project contract awarded by or for the department until the bills or estimates presented for such payment shall have been duly certified to be correct by the department. No payments shall be made from any other fund on account of any contract for a downtown higher education center project awarded until the bills or estimates presented for such payment shall have been duly certified to be correct by the department.
(2) Provision shall be made in each contract to the effect that payment is limited to the amount provided therein and that no liability of the state shall and may be incurred beyond such amount.
(3) The department shall require, for the protection of the state, such deposits, bonds and security in connection with the submission of bids, the award of project contracts and the performance of work as the department shall determine to be appropriate and in the public interest of the state.
(c) For the purposes of part III of chapter 557, authority projects shall be deemed to be a state public works project and consist of public buildings.
(P.A. 98-179, S. 17, 30; P.A. 99-241, S. 53, 66; P.A. 11-51, S. 90; P.A. 13-247, S. 200; P.A. 25-22, S. 110.)
History: P.A. 98-179 effective June 1, 1998; P.A. 99-241 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to procedures for designated projects under Sec. 4b-24, effective June 28, 1999; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Department of Public Works” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Construction Services” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 13-247, “Department of Construction Services” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Administrative Services” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges with Board of Regents for Higher Education in Subsec. (a), effective June 9, 2025.
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Sec. 32-615. Bond authorization for the downtown higher education center project. (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power, from time to time, but in no case later than June 30, 2005, to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate thirty 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 Connecticut State Community College for the purpose of development of the downtown higher education center project, as defined in section 32-600.
(c) 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 said 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. 98-179, S. 21, 30; P.A. 25-22, S. 111.)
History: P.A. 98-179 effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to regional community-technical college system with Connecticut State Community College, effective June 9, 2025.
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