Three major economic development initiatives and a sweeping energy policy supported by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy have received final legislative approval and are likely to soon become a reality.
They include the $864 million “Bioscience Connecticut,” project, which passed the House on Tuesday and calls for a major renovation of the John Dempsey hospital and adding a patient care tower at the University of Connecticut Health Center.
It also greatly expands bioscience research and training facilities, increases student enrollment in the medical and dental schools and creates a new student loan forgiveness program for graduates who set up practice in Connecticut, The Associated Press reports.
The House also approved Tuesday Malloy’s hallmark economic development initiative known as the “First Five” plan, as well as a bill that calls for the creation of a new quasi-public Connecticut Airport Authority to run Bradley International Airport and the state’s general aviation airports.
Finally, the omnibus energy bill passed the House on Tuesday night. The sweeping policy reform bill creates a new Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, as well as creates a public agency to help raise private dollars for investment in energy technology.
The Senate previously passed all four bills.
“First Five” will provide incentives to the first five businesses that each bring a minimum of 200 new full-time jobs to the state within the next 2 years or invest at least $25 million and create at least 200 jobs within five years.
Under the airport proposal, the management and operation of Bradley and the five other regional airports will be transferred from the Department of Transportation to the new authority.
Malloy has said an independent authority is needed to reduce bureaucratic red tape and respond more quickly to market changes in the aviation industry.
Besides the DOT, other agencies and various boards currently oversee the airports.
Wednesday marks the last day of the 2011 legislative session, which ends at midnight.
