Senate Passes Bipartisan Bills Strengthening Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Laws

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Webmaster

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bills Strengthening Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Laws

The Connecticut Senate today passed two bills aimed at combating domestic violence and human trafficking in Connecticut.

House Bill 7299, An Act Concerning Strengthening Laws Concerning Domestic Violence, passed the Senate in a bipartisan, unanimous vote.

The bill strengthens domestic violence laws in Connecticut and increases penalties for stalking and other forms of violence against women by amending criminal statutes governing stalking to include social media, telephone, and other forms of harassment, tracking and intimidation, and strengthens penalties for those convicted of stalking. It also reclassifies suffocation under the strangulation statutes, and enhances the penalty for violation of the conditions of release of an offender.

“It is critical that our domestic violence laws adapt in order to keep up with our changing forms of communication,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “With threats and harassment made through social media platforms increasing, the General Assembly is ensuring that victims are fully protected under the law.”

The bill previously passed the State House of Representatives on a unanimous vote.

If signed into law, the bill would:

Change the “standard of fear” required for the stalking statutes;
Include suffocation in the strangulation statutes;
Delete from the statues the requirement that the contents of a restraining order forwarded to law enforcement include the applicant’s affidavit;

The Senate also passed HB 7309, An Act Concerning Human Trafficking which aims to prevent sex trafficking by increasing penalties for sex trafficking, providing greater education to state agencies, and adding members to the state’s Trafficking in Persons Council.

“We are sending a strong message that perpetrators of human trafficking will be subject to prosecution to the fullest extent of the law,” said Senator Duff.

If signed into law, the bill would:

Increase the penalty for trafficking in persons from a class B to a class A felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison in line with federal statute, and broaden the definition of “sex trafficking”.
Create a new crime, “commercial sex abuse of a minor,” which would be a class B felony, and a
Class A felony if the minor is under 15 years of age. Patronizing a minor is currently a class C felony.
Provide and require training for state public safety, legal, and health care employees, and public school employees for identifying and reporting human trafficking.
Require an increased number of businesses to post signage with the Trafficking in Persons Council hotline number.
Expand the membership of the state’s Trafficking in Persons Council, including adding an individual who has been a victim of sex trafficking.

The bill passed on a unanimous and bipartisan basis in the House of Representatives on May 17 and in the Senate Friday morning.

Both bills now head to Governor Dannel P. Malloy for his signature or veto.

Moore Supports Senate Passage of Bill Recognizing the Work of Community Health Workers

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Webmaster

Moore Supports Senate Passage of Bill Recognizing the Work of Community Health Workers

Supporting Our Community Health Workers

"Because community health care workers are part of the communities they serve, they’re able to reach men, women, and children that we don’t have access to otherwise, especially in communities of color. Their role cannot be understated and it’s important they get the support they need."
– Senator Marilyn Moore

Posted by CT Senate Democrats on Thursday, May 25, 2017

Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) today supported Senate passage of legislation ensuring Connecticut’s community health workers (CHW) get the recognition they deserve by establishing in statute a definition for CHW and their roles and responsibilities.

“Community health workers are a vital piece of the overall well-being of our cities and towns. Because they are part of the community where they serve, they’re able to reach men, women, and children we usually don’t have access to, especially in communities of color,” Sen. Moore said. “I think it’s really important during these times, that we have people who can reach the community to educate people about health risks and be the health navigators. Their role cannot be understated and it’s important they get the support they need.”

Community health workers are a vital part of the effort to eliminate health disparities in Connecticut. CHW are trusted members of their community, with a unique understanding of the experience, language, culture and socioeconomic needs of the people they serve. This understanding makes them highly effective at reaching underrepresented communities and ensuring that the people who live there receive the care they need. CHW help bridge cultural and socioeconomic gaps between caregivers and their patients. This has been shown to result in expanded access to services, more follow-up appointments and better health outcomes.

Establishing a statutory definition of CHW is needed to officially clarify their role and the scope of their practice, as well as the process by which a person can be certified and recognized as competent in their field. This will help develop the profession, increase the number of CHW and further integrate them into Connecticut’s public health system.

Senate Bill 126 defines a community health worker as a public health outreach professional with an in-depth understanding of the experience, language, culture and socioeconomic needs of the community who:

Serves as a liaison between individuals within the community and health care and social services providers to facilitate access to such services and health-related resources, improve the quality and cultural competence of the delivery of such services and address social determinants of health with a goal toward reducing racial, ethnic, gender and socioeconomic disparities, and
Increases health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of services including outreach, engagement, education, coaching, informal counseling, social support, advocacy, care coordination, research related to social determinants of health and basic screenings and assessments of any risks associated with social determinants of health.

Now that SB 126 has passed in the Senate, it moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Combat Human Trafficking

Posted on May 26, 2017November 4, 2023 by Webmaster

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Combat Human Trafficking

The Connecticut Senate today passed a bill to combat human trafficking in Connecticut through increased penalties, training and awareness.

HB 7309, An Act Concerning Human Trafficking, aims to prevent sex trafficking by adding members to the state’s Trafficking in Persons Council, increasing penalties for sex trafficking, and providing greater education to state agencies.

“This legislation builds upon the bill we passed last year updating our state’s human trafficking laws, and specifically adds language to increase the penalties for perpetrators of this heinous crime,” said Senator Tim Larson (D-East Hartford), the Democratic senate chairman of the legislature’s Public Safety and Security Committee. “It also ramps up the public awareness component of last year’s legislation, because it’s critical that our community partners on the ground who are most likely to encounter victims and perpetrators of human trafficking know the signs and how to report it. We need to do all we can to educate the public on this crucial issue in order to prevent this horrible crime from happening, and protect and assist those who have been victimized by traffickers.”

The bill would:

Expand the membership of the state’s Trafficking in Persons Council, including adding an individual who has been a victim of sex trafficking.
Increase the penalty for trafficking in persons from a class B to a class A felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison in line with federal statute, and broaden the definition of “sex trafficking”.
Create a new crime, “commercial sex abuse of a minor,” which would be a class B felony, and a Class A felony if the minor is under 15 years of age. Patronizing a minor is currently a class C felony.
Require an increased number of businesses to post signage with the Trafficking in Persons Council hotline number.
Provide and require training for state public safety, legal, and health care employees, and public school employees for identifying and reporting human trafficking.

The bill passed on a unanimous and bipartisan basis in the House of Representatives on May 17 and in the Senate Friday morning. It goes next to the desk of Governor Dannel P. Malloy for his signature.

Gerratana Leads Passage of Legislation Recognizing the Critical Work of Community Health Workers

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Webmaster

Gerratana Leads Passage of Legislation Recognizing the Critical Work of Community Health Workers

SB 126 Establishes a Statutory Definition for “Community Health Workers”

Connecticut’s community health workers (CHW) will begin to get the recognition they deserve as result of legislation championed by Senator Terry Gerratana (D-New Britain). Today, Senator Gerratana led Senate passage of SB 126, which establishes in statute a definition for CHW and the roles and responsibilities they have.

“Barriers of language, culture and socioeconomic differences often prevent people from receiving the health care they need, and that is why community health workers are so important,” said Senator Gerratana. “These health outreach professionals are able to break down those barriers and improve health outcomes in underserved communities. This bill defines their role in statute, allowing the field and their impact on our healthcare landscape to grow.”

SB 126 defines a community health worker as “a public health outreach professional with an in-depth understanding of the experience, language, culture and socioeconomic needs of the community who:

Serves as a liaison between individuals within the community and health care and social services providers to facilitate access to such services and health-related resources, improve the quality and cultural competence of the delivery of such services and address social determinants of health with a goal toward reducing racial, ethnic, gender and socioeconomic disparities, and
Increases health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of services including outreach, engagement, education, coaching, informal counseling, social support, advocacy, care coordination, research related to social determinants of health and basic screenings and assessments of any risks associated with social determinants of health.”

Now that SB 126 has passed in the Senate, it moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Fonfara Remembers Fallen Hartford Hero

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Webmaster

Fonfara Remembers Fallen Hartford Hero

I would like to take a moment today to commemorate the sacrifices of our military men and women who have laid down their lives in the service of our country.

Since the founding of this nation, Connecticut residents have answered the call of duty in defense of the United States.

On this Memorial Day, let us reflect on those individuals who so bravely gave their lives in the face of grave danger.

There is a “Wall of Honor” at the State Capitol that pays tribute to the Connecticut men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces who lost their lives in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Unfortunately, there is one face on that wall known to our community.

U.S. Army Sgt. Edward J. Frank II, of Hartford, was 26 years old when he lost his life in the line of duty in Afghanistan in 2011.

I would ask that you keep Sgt. Frank and other fallen heroes in your mind and their families in your heart as we honor their immense sacrifice.

Senator Hartley E-News: Creating Jobs and Expanding Bioscience With Smart State Investments

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Webmaster

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to End Possibility of Mileage Tax Study

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Webmaster

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to End Possibility of Mileage Tax Study

Ending the Possibility of a Mileage Tax StudyMileage Tax Study

“Today’s bipartisan vote officially puts an end to this debate; however, it is still critically important that Connecticut pursue sensible solutions to fund our transportation infrastructure.”
– Senator Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader
http://senatedems.ct.gov/duff-news/684-duff-170525#sthash.7u5y3tot.dpuf

Posted by CT Senate Democrats on Thursday, May 25, 2017

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today helped lead bipartisan passage of a bill ending the possibility of Connecticut joining a multi-state effort to study the implementation of a mileage tax. Senator Duff has been a strong opponent of the mileage tax since the idea was first floated in 2015.

After the state Department of Transportation in 2015 entered into a multi-state federal study to examine how vehicles travel along roads in the Northeast, Senator Duff strongly objected to a part of that study that evaluated a vehicle mileage tax.

“My reaction and the reaction of the Senate Democrats to this concept was quick and clear: a vehicle mileage tax does not have support here in Connecticut,” said Senator Duff. “Today’s bipartisan vote officially puts an end to this debate; however, it is still critically important that Connecticut pursue sensible solutions to fund our transportation infrastructure.”

Last month, the commissioner of the State Department of Transportation wrote to the I-95 Coalition ending Connecticut’s participation in the group coordinating the research of the tax. Today’s vote will prevent the state from reengaging in the process.

Month: May 2017