Senator Needleman Leads Regional Roundtable Discussion on Better Responses and Solutions to the Opioid Crisis

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Webmaster

Senator Needleman Leads Regional Roundtable Discussion on Better Responses and Solutions to the Opioid Crisis

State Senator Norm Needleman, center, leads a roundtable discussion on responses to the opioid crisis Thursday in East Hampton.

EAST HAMPTON, CT – Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-33rd District) led a roundtable discussion on the opioid crisis in Connecticut and in local communities at the East Hampton American Legion Post 64. Over the course of an hour, Sen. Needleman joined a coalition of community leaders, including law enforcement, nonprofit and healthcare professionals, as well as those personally affected by addiction, to discuss current responses, what strategies do and don’t work, and how to better battle opioid addiction.

Joining Sen. Needleman were Chief Dennis Woessner of the East Hampton Police Department, Senior Officer Robert Labonte of the Colchester Police Department, Colchester Youth and Social Services Director Valerie Geato, East Haddam Youth and Family Services Director Toni McCabe, Youth & Prevention Program Coordinator for East Haddam Youth and Family Services John Fournier, Barbara Moore of the Stronger Bridges Support Group, and a mother and daughter who spoke of their experiences with addiction and seeking treatment.

Planned to coincide with this weekend’s national Drug Take-Back Day, the roundtable discussion covered topics including making Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal drug, available to law enforcement officers free of charge. Chief Woessner said his department responded to eight overdoses in 2018 using Narcan, and while all eight lives were saved, the department has to pay for every dose. The Richards discussed the need to involve those who have experienced addiction in designing and planning treatment programs and expanding access to proper recovery programs. The discussion also touched upon current and future approaches to police response, community support and education for opioids and addiction.

“It’s great bringing people together from all different perspectives, from people who deal with prevention on a daily basis, to the police, who are very sympathetic and understanding, to people in recovery and people from state and other treatment facilities, to converse and try to find solutions to what is an intractable problem,” said Sen. Needleman. “The state needs to do its part, but communities, locally, need to work together. And I think it’s particularly important to note we need to be very careful about demonizing people who fall into the trap of addiction. No one is born wanting to be an addict. We need to help our children, our friends, our parents, our neighbors.”

“I want to thank Sen. Needleman for having me,” said Brittany Richards, who has struggled with addiction. “We got out a lot of things we needed to in regards to the changes we need in treatment and recovery. I have been pushing and trying to get into things like this for a long time, and he’s the only Senator I’ve seen trying to make a change in addiction. You need support when you’re an addict, especially when you’re going through recovery, and I find there’s not as much support, and there’s a lot of stigmatization. There is still a big stigma.”

“It’s an epidemic, and we need a team approach to try to solve it,” said Chief Woessler. “We need to work together to stop this problem.”

“It’s always beneficial to have the opportunity to bring prevention groups and individuals from the recovery community together to discuss the issues we’re all trying to deal with on a daily basis,” said McCabe. “I would love to see next steps in terms of where we go from here. This was a very beneficial conversation, but it’s only the beginning.”

Bill to Create Elder and Disabled Adult Abuse Offender Database Passes State Senate

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Webmaster

Bill to Create Elder and Disabled Adult
Abuse Offender Database Passes State Senate

HARTFORD, CT – Today, legislation to create and publicize a public database of offenders whom have abused the elderly or adults with disabilities passed the State Senate by a bipartisan, unanimous vote. State Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), who co-chairs the Aging Committee, said this legislation will provide peace of mind to the elderly and their families.

“Connecticut is the sixth oldest state in the nation and as investigations of elder abuse have doubled in the past several years in our state, it is vital to our community to protect this populace and this bill is a step in the right direction,” said Sen. Maroney. “I look forward to continue working with all my colleagues to get this bill signed into law.”

Senate Bill 832, “An Act Concerning Registries of Persons Found Responsible For Assaults or Other Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation or Abandonment of Elderly Persons or Persons with Disabilities,” will create a public database combining existing registries of offenders who have been convicted of assault or any form of abuse. This database is an important step towards protecting elderly and disabled adults from anyone convicted of assault, neglect, exploitation, abandonment or any other form of abuse.

The Department of Energy and Public Protection will establish and maintain the database and the Department of Health will publish the database on its website. The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors will also provide a portal on its website which links to publicly available databases.

Twenty six states are using elderly abuse registries according to the National Adult Protective Services Association. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), despite some estimates ranging as high as five million elders being victims of abuse each year, only one in 14 cases are reported to the authorities. Elders who have been victims of abuse have a 300 percent higher risk of death compared to elders who have not been abused according to the NCOA

“Other states have taken this step in order to protect their elderly community and we must do the same,” said Sen. Maroney. “This legislation will ensure that everyone has the necessary information to keep their loved ones safe from abuse, neglect or exploitation. These heartbreaking cases of abuse are preventable and I am pleased we are moving in the right direction to ensure the elderly, adults with disabilities and their families no longer have to suffer.”

Before State Senate approval, SB 832 was successfully voted out of the Aging Committee by a unanimous vote. The bill now awaits action the State House of Representatives. If enacted, this legislation will go into effect on no later than January 1, 2020.

Legislation to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors Passes State Senate

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Webmaster

Legislation to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors Passes State Senate

HARTFORD, CT – Today, by a bipartisan vote, the State Senate advanced legislation which will allow insured individuals to keep information about healthcare received private by a 18-11 tally. State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown), co-chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said this legislation will protect domestic violence survivors.

“Domestic violence survivors need to feel safe using their coverage,” said Sen. Lesser. “This legislation closes a loophole in HIPAA and ensures that when domestic violence survivors receive care, we keep their medical history private. Currently this information is shared with the policy holder – who could be their abuser. ”

Senate Bill 977, “An Act Concerning Explanation of Benefits (EOB)” has been supported across the state, including by Planned Parenthood of Southern New England and the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) which sees this as a vital tool to allow victims of violence to seek care without fear of retaliation. When the abuser is the policy holder, it presents a deterrent to domestic violence survivors seeking care over fear the policy holder will be alerted to their medical use. SB 977 will keep this information confidential to the patient, enabling them to seek care without fear of retaliation. Ashley Starr Frechette, the Director of Health Professional Outreach at CCADV provided public testimony on SB 977 and said this is crucial legislation for protecting survivors.

“One in four women and one in seven men have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives,” said Frechette. “Victims of domestic violence suffer from health consequences related to domestic violence at an incredibly high rate, and unfortunately breeches in patient confidentiality often occur through EOBs and other methods of communication generated by health plans and insurers. This violates basic rights to privacy and puts victims of domestic violence in extreme danger. Passing SB 977 would allow victims to choose a safe and appropriate method of receiving their Personal Health Information and EOB, without the fear that their abuser will get a copy.”

The Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Susan Yolen, said this legislation will ensure survivors feel safe using their coverage.

“With a growing number of people receiving insurance coverage for their health care, it’s vital that everyone feel safe enough to use their coverage,” said Yolen. “This bill will provide those who have health insurance an additional layer of privacy to encourage them to make the best use of their coverage.”

SB 977 will do the following:

Allow individuals to choose how they receive EOBs and allow individuals to not receive EOBs at all
Allow individuals to choose how they receive EOBs, either by mail or electronically
Prohibit insurers from requiring covered individuals to waive their right to limit disclosures as a precondition to any action regarding their policy

SB 977 covers individuals who are legally able to consent to their own care. Currently in Connecticut law, minors have the right to consent to HIV/AIDS testing and treatment, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, reproductive health care, substance abuse treatment, and mental health treatment. These are the only services that a minor can consent to.

Allowing any insured enrollee to request that EOB documents about their care be redirected to another address (including email) or not issued is an important step toward improving privacy. The subscriber can still access information about the use of the plan or a deductible, through other means including the carrier’s web portal.

This legislation applies to insurers, health care centers, hospital and medical service corporations, fraternal benefit services and any other entity which delivers, issues, renews, amends or continues a health insurance policy. According to the Office of Fiscal Analysis, this legislation presents no fiscal impact to Connecticut taxpayers.

On March 19, SB 977 advanced out of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee by a 15-5 tally. The bill now awaits action by the State House of Representatives.

Moore Joins Call for CT’s ‘Clean Slate’ Bill

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Webmaster

Moore Joins Call for CT’s ‘Clean Slate’ Bill

HARTFORD, CONN. – Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) joined in supporting Connecticut’s “Clean Slate” legislation, which would allow for automatic expungements of criminal records for individuals who have completed their sentence and also remained crime-free for three years after a misdemeanor and five years after a non-violent felony. The bill was voted out of the Judiciary Committee earlier this month.

“The Clean Slate Act will continue to make Connecticut more just for those seeking a second chance,” said Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport). “Our society must strive to be equitable and fair for all our citizens. Together with open hearts and open minds we can remove barriers and ensure a person that has served his or her time for a crime is not sentenced to a life of punishment. With a clean slate people can get a job, find housing, and fully re-enter society.”

Currently, one-in-three Americans have a criminal record. For these people, even after they’ve fully paid their dues to society and remained crime-free, they face continued discrimination and lost opportunity as the vast majority of employers, landlords, and colleges use background checks to screen applicants. The result is that even a minor infraction made long-ago can follow a person their entire lives, essentially condemning them to a life sentence of poverty.

The current system also harms Connecticut’s economy. One recent study estimated that $87 billion in economic activity is lost each year in the United States due to obstacles associated with criminal records, with Connecticut’s portion of that lost economic activity standing at more than $1 billion. Connecticut’s Clean Slate bill would help negate these losses by allowing more citizens to re-enter their local communities and their local economy through improved access to jobs, housing, and continued education.
“A criminal record should not be a life sentence to unemployment, underemployment, and poverty,” said Reverend Anthony Bennett of Mt. Aery Baptist Church in Bridgeport and Co-Chair of CONECT. “Connecticut’s Clean Slate bill will give thousands of Connecticut citizens a better chance at economic opportunity. It’s the fair thing to do, and it will help bolster our local economy at the same time.”

“Clean Slate would enable and empower those who have paid their debt to society to become fully re-integrated into their societies with good jobs, fair housing, a quality education and a chance to contribute to their community and our local economy,” said Reverend Megan Lloyd Joiner of the Unitarian Society of New Haven.

“The time for Clean Slate is now. Today tens of thousands live with stigma of criminal record,” said Phil Kent of Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden, CT. “We say if you do the time and pay your debt you can return to society, but not in Connecticut – not yet.”
“This important legislation will help level the playing field for Connecticut’s racial minorities,” said Senator Gary Winfield, co-Chair of the Judiciary Committee and a primary sponsor of the bill. “Despite important gains in criminal justice reform here in Connecticut, racial minorities are still far more likely to have a criminal record, even surpassing national averages. That’s just unacceptable here in Connecticut. We can and should do better, and this year we can start by passing common-sense Clean Slate legislation.”

“Clean Slate is about simple fairness,” said Rep. Steve Stafstrom, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee and a primary sponsor of the bill. “It’s about more than just finding a job, it’s also about access to a quality education and a safe place to live. At a time when so many Americans, and especially people of color, are facing an uphill batter for equality and opportunity, this bill is a simple but incredibly effective way to give more people a shot at success.”

“My goal here today is not only to get my own record expunged, but also to help the men in my houses, and all those across the state whose nonviolent, drug-related crimes are well in the past and who deserve a chance at a future,” said Richard DelValle, an advocate for the Clean Slate legislation who runs recovery houses in New Haven for men battling the disease of addiction.

“A person, who made a mistake and paid his debt to society, shouldn’t be shunned forever,” said Lonnie Spaulding, advocate for Clean Slate Legislation who shared his personal story at the event. “Their record shouldn’t keep them from finding employment or getting loans or Pell Grants to go back to school and find decent-paying jobs.“

Today in Hartford an event in support of the bill was hosted by Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut (CONECT), a collective of churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and civic organizations from New Haven and Fairfield Counties – representing more than 20,000 people from different races, faith backgrounds, and living in both cities and suburbs – that have joined together to take action on social and economic justice issues of common concern. CONECT has made an impact on issues as varied as gun violence, health insurance rates, police reform, immigrant rights, and more.

Senator Needleman Lauds Governor Lamont’s First Executive Order Strengthening Energy Savings Projects

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Webmaster

Senator Needleman Lauds Governor Lamont’s First Executive Order Strengthening Energy Savings Projects

State Sen. Norm Needleman, hand on chair, stands with a coalition of lawmakers and energy leaders as Governor Ned Lamont signed his first executive order Wednesday in the State Capitol.

HARTFORD, CT – Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) joined a coalition of legislative and business leaders as Governor Ned Lamont signed his first executive order. Members of the Energy & Technology Committee and energy leaders gathered in Governor Lamont’s office as he signed an order strengthening Connecticut’s Lead by Example program.

“As chair of the Energy & Technology Committee, I applaud Gov. Lamont’s work in strengthening our state’s environmental and energy sustainability while simultaneously infusing new opportunities to find cost savings through more efficient practices,” said Sen. Needleman. “The Lead by Example program stands to support our state and save millions of dollars in coming years through increased use of energy-efficient, environmentally conscious products. It has already saved state agencies more than $6 million annually since 2012. Governor Lamont’s order today will help that number grow.”

“Sustainability is good for our planet, and good for taxpayers, too,” Governor Lamont said. “As a major consumer of energy with more than 3,000 structures and 3,500 vehicles in our fleet, we can lower the state’s operating costs, support investment in sustainable businesses, and safeguard our environment. Working together across agencies, we are improving the performance and efficiency of state government, starting with our environmental and carbon footprint.”

Gov. Lamont’s executive order directs the Office of Policy and Management, the Department of Administrative Services and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to work together on an interagency committee setting goals for agencies regarding onsite heating and cooling, electricity, clean energy, vehicle fleets, waste management and water use, among others. This work is prioritized to not require bonding and to seek a target of zero net emissions by 2050.

This expansion of Lead by Example will help meet state overall goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent, waste disposal by 25 percent and water consumption by 10 percent by 2030.

Senator Haskell Stands With Constituents Advocating for Gun Safety Legislation at the State Capitol

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Webmaster

Senator Haskell Stands With Constituents Advocating for Gun Safety Legislation at the State Capitol

State Senator Will Haskell meets with advocates from Moms Demand Action during a Tuesday event advocating for gun safety legislation.

HARTFORD, CT – Today, State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport) stood alongside Moms Demand Action advocates, including many of his constituents from the 26th District, in the State Capitol’s Old Judiciary Room to endorse legislation that will increase gun safety. Haskell and many assembled political leaders, including Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), and State Senators Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Christine Cohen (D-Guilford), Mary Abrams (D-Meriden) and Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), voiced support for key legislation that would restrict access to untraceable firearms and ensure responsible possession and ownership of firearms.

“Today, dozens of my constituents flooded the halls of the Capitol to advocate for common-sense gun safety bills. Together, we’re fighting for new laws that will keep us safe. We can’t let unregistered, homemade guns continue to threaten our safety,” said Sen. Haskell. “We can’t let Ethan Song be just another victim of an unsecured gun. We can’t leave guns sitting out in homes with children who might think they’re toys, or in cars, ready for the taking by those who wish to do harm. I stand with Moms Demand Action and will do all I can to advocate for gun safety reform when these bills reach the Senate floor. It’s time to do the job that our constituents elected us to do. We know it’s going to be a tough fight, but as Kristen Song said, ‘Bring it on.’”

Moms Demand Action advocated for three bills Tuesday, all of which Sen. Haskell sponsored. They include the following:

House Bill No. 7218, commonly known as “Ethan’s Law,” proposes that all firearms being held in any home with a minor under the age of 18 be responsibly stored in a lockbox or gun safe. Current Connecticut law only requires loaded firearms to be stored, and only when a minor is under the age of 16, a resident in a home is ineligible to possess firearms, or a resident poses risk of injury to himself or others.

The bill is named after Ethan Song, a Guilford teen who was killed by a loose firearm in a friend’s house in early 2018. Ethan was one of hundreds of American children who, each year, gain access to firearms not properly stored and unintentionally shoot themselves or others. This legislation would also protect against illegally trafficked guns by making firearms more difficult to steal from homes.

House Bill No. 7219 is intended to prevent access to “ghost guns,” which are made with parts created by 3D printers, and works to ensure all guns have serial numbers and are traceable. Currently, retailers can sell firearm receivers freely. Those receivers need further work before they are completed, but an individual can finish creating necessary parts to build their own gun. This law prohibits the assembly or manufacturing of a firearm without a serial number, preventing undue access to firearms and ensuring all firearms are identifiable and traceable by law enforcement if necessary.

House Bill No. 7223 requires owners of pistols and revolvers to keep their weapons in locked containers whenever they leave their firearms in vehicles. This legislation would work to improve responsible storage of guns and prevent firearm thefts from vehicles, as nearly 25 percent of stolen guns are taken from vehicles – and that number has doubled since 2006.

Moms Demand Action also advocated for increased funding for Project Longevity, a program that uses group violence intervention to deter gun violence in the state, specifically in New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford. Between 2012 and 2016, homicides in those three cities declined by more than half, and the New Haven Police Chief has specifically cited Project Longevity as helping that decline. However, funding for the program is currently at $574,000, well below its previous appropriations; Moms Demand Action asked for it to be fully funded at $1.2 million annually.

Sen. Lesser Joins Rep. Wood, Turco and Newington Mayor Zartarian to Stuff Easter Baskets for Active Duty Servicemen and Women

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Webmaster

Sen. Lesser Joins Rep. Wood, Turco and Newington Mayor Zartarian to Stuff Easter Baskets for Active Duty Servicemen and Women

State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) joined State Representatives Kerry Wood (D-Rocky Hill) and Gary Turco (Newington), Newington Mayor Roy Zartarian and Stew Leonard’s CEO Stew Leonard, Jr., to help stuff Easter baskets full of goods for an Easter dinner for active duty servicemen and women as part of Stew Leonard’s “Operation Basket” on Friday, April 19, 2019.

Sen. Cohen Joins United States Sen. Murphy for Tour of the Meigs Point Nature Center

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Webmaster

Sen. Cohen Joins United States Sen. Murphy for Tour of the Meigs Point Nature Center

MADISON, CT – Today, State Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) joined United States Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) for a tour of the Meigs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset Beach State Park.

“The Meigs Point Nature Center is an amazing resource which provides an engaging environmental education experience for young people and families,” said Sen. Cohen. “Thank you to Meigs Point Nature Center’s director Ranger Russ Miller and the Friends of Hammonasset for the tour of such an important and useful learning tool for our community.”

Ranger Miller led the tour, showing Sen. Cohen and Sen. Murphy the native turtles, snakes, crabs and fish in the state-of-the-art Nature Center. Opened in the spring of 2016, the Nature Center contains multiple exhibits, a gift shop and a patio. The Nature Center offers environmental education for all ages, and due to its location at Hammonasset Beach State Park, they are frequented by many Connecticut families. The Meigs Point Nature Center offers summer programs, birthday parties and off-site learning opportunities as well.

To keep the environment at Hammonasset Beach State Park safe and enjoyable for all whom visit, Sen. Cohen introduced legislation that would ban smoking and vaping on beaches in state parks. The Environment committee, a committee that Sen. Cohen co-chairs, passed Senate Bill 752 with bipartisan support showing a 25-4 tally. It now awaits action by the State Senate and State House of Representatives. If enacted, the ban will go into effect on July 1, 2019.

“As co-chair of the Environment Committee, I was thrilled to see this legislation make it out of committee and eventually onto the State Senate floor,” said Sen. Cohen. “Second hand smoke and vapor presents a litany of health issues for young children and adults. Additionally, discarded cigarette butts and vapor cartridges negatively impact our environment and native animals at our state park beaches.”

Lesser Introduced Legislation to Provide Consumer Protections for College Students Approved Unanimously by State Senate

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Webmaster

Lesser Introduced Legislation to Provide Consumer Protections for College Students Approved Unanimously by State Senate

HARTFORD, CT – Today, legislation to protect consumers from being defrauded by for-profit colleges and private occupational institutions passed the State Senate by a unanimous and bipartisan vote. State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) introduced this bill and provided public testimony for it as well. He said this legislation will provide students with important consumer protections.

“There have been too many instances of for-profit colleges and occupational schools defrauding students in recent years,” said Sen. Lesser. “Now they’re forcing students to give up their rights to pursue justice.”

Co-chair of the Higher Education and Employee Advancement Committee, State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), said this bill establishes necessary consumer protections to ensure students are not being defrauded.
“This bill puts important protections in place to keep consumers from being taken advantage of by private occupational and for-profit schools,” said Sen. Haskell. “Students should know from the start whether their schools seek to limit their participations or claims, not learn about those clauses after they have been wronged. This bill serves to hold bad actors accountable and protect students who choose to invest in a degree.”
If enacted, Senate Bill No. 81, “An Act Making Certain Private Occupational Schools Ineligible for A Certificate of Authorization and Public Funds,” would prevent private occupational schools and for-profit colleges that require students to waive certain rights as a condition of enrollment from receiving a certificate of authorization or public funds from the Office of Higher Education.

“This bill provides students with trust in the notion of consumer protection and is an important win in the consumer battle against mandatory arbitration clauses,” said Sen. Lesser.

Senate Bill No. 81 would reject for-profit colleges and private occupational institutions from requiring students to give up their right to join in class action lawsuits in order to stay enrolled, limit any claim made against the institution or assert any claim in anything less than a judicial forum. The bill passed the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee by a 16-5 vote. It will now await further action in the State House of Representatives.

Bill Aimed to Better Treat and Prevent Mental Illness in Higher Education Passes Senate

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Webmaster

Bill Aimed to Better Treat and Prevent Mental Illness in Higher Education Passes Senate

State Senator Will Haskell discusses Senate Bill No. 750 Wednesday on the Senate floor.

HARTFORD, CT – Today, State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport) led debate on a bill to improve prevention and treatment of mental illnesses at institutions of higher education in Connecticut. The bill passed through the State Senate on a unanimous and bipartisan basis. State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), Senate Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, lauded the bill’s advancement.

“Mental illness is something that affects so many people, especially in college settings,” said Sen. Haskell. “According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, from 2009 to 2015, anxiety on college campuses grew by almost 6 percent, while instances of depression and panic attacks each increased by about 3 percent. Up to 75 percent of mental illnesses arise before the age of 24, but only one in every five college students with mental illness seek help in a given year. That underlines the gravity of the epidemic of mental health on our college campuses. By putting this task force in place, we can learn how to best support our students and give them the care they need. Our institutions of higher education are perhaps Connecticut’s greatest asset. We cannot let depression or anxiety harm Connecticut students and this asset.”

Senate Bill No. 750, “An Act Concerning the Prevention and Treatment of Mental Illness at Institutions of Higher Education,” will put a task force in place that studies policies and procedures currently in place to prevent or treat mental illnesses in students. The task force will further recommend state-wide policies regarding mental health services in higher education.

Among the task force’s responsibilities is the development of a report of its findings, which it will need to submit to the General Assembly by January 1, 2020. In that report, the task force will report on colleges and universities’ informing of students of mental health services, how those services are distributed, rates of usage of those services, levels of engagement with organizations providing treatment and service, comments from students and alumni who utilized those services, how schools treat students who take leaves of absence due to mental illness, training of staff who identify students experiencing mental illness, and analyzing types of services sought by students.

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and the University of Connecticut both advocated in support of this bill, as did a number of students. Before its acceptance by the Senate, it was unanimously approved by the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.