State Senator Mary Ann Handley
September 30, 2008
Handley Touts New Laws to Improve Connecticut’s Healthcare & Consumer Protection
State Senator Mary Ann Handley (D-Manchester), the Senate Chair of the legislature’s Public Health Committee, today hailed tomorrow’s ‘effective date’ for several new laws to improve conditions for Connecticut residents in terms of both patient care in hospitals and product safety and value for consumers.
Senator Handley said that while many new laws become effective upon passage, most have a specified effective date to allow those affected by any changes the chance to prepare. Such is the case for several laws enacted earlier this year with an October 1 ‘effective date.’
“I’m most pleased about the law concerning hospital staffing that began in my committee in order to ensure adequate and appropriate health care services for all who are hospitalized,” Senator Handley said. “Especially in light of nursing shortages we wanted to guarantee that each hospital has in place a staffing plan to cover each unit in the hospital, including the emergency room, regardless of conditions.”
The law stipulates that each hospital must have such a plan available for inspection by the state Department of Public Health upon request.
“I’m also proud to have voted for a new law, which protects children and other consumers from unsafe and dangerous toys,” Senator Handley said. “Our new product safety recall provisions guard against children’s exposure to lead paint, asbestos, and other banned, hazardous substances. Furthermore, it requires stores to account for the proper disposal of all recalled products and requires them to publicize all recall notices so consumers can keep current with those potential hazards.”
Senator Handley also touted Public Act 08-115, An Act Concerning Telephone and Cable Installation Fees for Nursing Home Residents, which prohibits telephone and cable companies from charging nursing home residents and patients in other extended care facilities a separate installation fee each time they move from one room to another within the same facility.
“In most instances, nursing home residents depend upon a television as a major link to the outside world and because of their health, they’re less able to advocate for themselves when these new charges are applied,” Senator Handley said. “It seemed unfair and even unconscionable for these utility companies to pile on installation charges especially since the residents usually have not asked to move. So with this new law, we have ended these unfair fees.”
Senator Handley is serving her sixth term; in addition to her responsibility for the Public Health Committee, she is vice-Chair of both the Judiciary and Higher Education and Employment Enhancement Committees. She is a member of the Commerce Committee as well.
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Senator Handley’s |
Listing of Senator Handley’s recent press releases and a Press Kit with official head shots and bio. |
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