Joseph J. Crisco, Jr.

Crisco Joins Task Force to Address Small Business Healthcare Costs, Issues

State Senator Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. (D-Woodbridge), Senate chair of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, is now part of a new working group to address healthcare-related challenges faced by small businesses in the state. Senator Crisco is one of two senators on the task force; seven state representatives will also serve. The group includes 16 members from the small business community as well.

The primary focus of the group will be scrutiny of state laws and regulations pertaining to health insurance coverage for small business owners, employees, and family members. It will work to identify flaws and obstacles so troublesome existing law can be amended and ineffective current regulations can be altered.

“With full acknowledgement that the small business sector is the traditional cradle for job growth and economic prosperity it is vitally important for us to streamline the process by which they provide health coverage for their employees and dependents,” Senator Crisco said. “Availability, accessibility, and affordability will be the watchwords as we continue our efforts to make health insurance coverage part of the landscape for every Connecticut resident.”

Senator Crisco said the Working Group on Small Business Health Care, as it is known, held its first, organizational meeting in Hartford last week.

“I look forward to exploring the policy alternatives that will unfold as this group conducts its business in the coming months,” Senator Crisco said. “We firmly believe that as we reign in the costs and other obstacles in providing healthcare coverage for small businesses we will unbridle the economic engine inherent in that sector of our economy.”

“I’m grateful to Speaker of the House Chris Donovan for the opportunity to serve on this working group and will welcome the input from small business leaders assembled from throughout the state,” Senator Crisco added.

Senator Crisco has served in the General Assembly since 1993. In addition to his responsibility for the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, he is vice chair of the Banks Committee and Commerce Committee, Ranking Member of its Internship Committee, and serves on the Legislative Management Committee and Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee.