Malloy vetoes college-closure bill

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HARTFORD – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s first veto of the legislative session on Monday targeted a bill that would have given the General Assembly the ultimate authority on whether the Board of Regents could close state colleges or universities.

Malloy said the bill, which started as an effort to prevent the planned closure of the Meriden satellite campus of the Middlesex Community College, was an overreach.

Last year he vetoed eight bills and the Legislature declined to attempt any overrides.

The college-related bill passed the House on April 14 in an 86-56 vote, far short of the 101 votes needed in the House to override a veto.

The bill, which originated in the Senate, won unanimous approval there after an amendment was added to allow the General Assembly to make the final decision on all colleges and universities, not just the Meriden branch for which it was originally drafted.

The day after the House vote, the Board of Regents voted to keep the branch open and the resume enrollment for the summer and fall sessions.

“While I understand and share the concerns surrounding the question of the status of the Meriden Center instructional site of the Middlesex Community College, this matter is now resolved,” Malloy said in his veto message to Secretary of the State Denise Merrill.

“The Board governs the state’s regional community-technical college system, the Connecticut State University System and Charter Oak State College.  It was created to operate the Regents system within the framework of the budget enacted by the legislature.  It is therefore appropriate and necessary for the Board and the employees of the Regents system to consider cost-cutting measures, as needed, as part of their basic budgetary responsibilities. The Board is best positioned to determine appropriate measures to take in light of fiscal constraints, enrollment changes, or health and safety issues. In addition, current state law already requires that the closure of any campus be approved by 2/3 vote of the Board and that a notice be sent to the General Assembly.  Unfortunately, this bill was passed by the legislature before that existing process could be completed and, if enacted, this legislation would create an additional process for campus closures above what already exists.”