Senate Democrats Proudly Lead Passage of Bill Increasing Police Accountability Statewide

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Webmaster

Senate Democrats Proudly Lead Passage of Bill Increasing Police Accountability Statewide

Today, the Senate Democratic Caucus proudly led the introduction and passage of legislation that will increase accountability for police officers statewide. In recent years, Senate Democrats have championed the passing of similar legislation, and these latest changes come as they heard the cries of protestors nationwide as a movement erupted in May 2020 in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among so many others, by police and law enforcement.

“Since June, we’ve seen residents across Connecticut raise their voices in peaceful protest, demanding change,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven). “With Senate passage of the police accountability bill, we have affirmed to the people of Connecticut that their voices were not ignored and that changes in laws and policies enhancing transparency and professionalism in policing will be the new norm in our state.”

“Over the past few months, I’ve heard from and marched with constituents who demanded change and accountability in policing,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “These calls have been echoed across the state and throughout our country, putting us in a unique position for change. By passing this bill, it shows that, as a legislature, we are committed to addressing the structural issues that exist and seek reform so that residents, particularly residents of color, regain trust and confidence in their police departments.”

“Today, the Senate took a step to right the wrongs of the past,” said Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven) who serves as Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee. “For years, I’ve stood side by side with activists and organizers who have fought tirelessly for social justice and changes in our criminal justice system. This is long-term work and addressing the systemic and racist policies that exist in this system and in policing will not be solved by one piece of legislation. But by passing this police accountability bill, we are finally acknowledging that these entrenched, systemic behaviors are unacceptable, and change is needed.”

This legislation is designed to provide additional accountability for police departments across the state to improve public interaction and to ensure officers are held responsible if they act in an unacceptable manner. It takes significant steps to overhaul current practices, including the following:

Requires police officers and correctional officers to intervene when a colleague is using excessive illegal force. If the onlooking officer does not intervene, then he or she may be charged for the same acts as the officer breaking the law.
Demilitarizes the police. Bans the acquisition of military grade equipment on the Department of Defense federal control list, authorizes DESPP to order police departments dispose of certain pieces of equipment currently in possession, and prohibits any such equipment in possession from being used for crowd control or intimidation tactics.
Entirely overhauls police training in the state. Instead of our current system, where police training varies from state police to town police, and from town to town, all future training would be conducted by the Police Officers Standards and Training Council (POST), which would be restructured with new members and more oversight. Implicit bias training would be mandatory for all officers, and a statewide standard would be developed for crowd control.
Sets standards for applicable for police departments across the state – Starting in 2015, and going forward, each police department must obtain and maintain accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. These standards will ensure a proper level of professionalism and organization so that all of our departments can provide the service deserving of the people’s trust. POST will use its resources to assist departments to achieve accreditation if it not obtained or lost in future years. The benefit of accreditation go beyond building community trust, it also promotes accountability within the department and lowers risk of liability.
Authorizes an independent statewide council to revoke the certification of any police officer. Individual police departments do not always remove officers who violate the law or their code of ethics, in part because the departments are too protective of their own. Allowing POST to suspend or revoke an officer’s certification will ensure independent review is conducted of police misconduct. Further, disciplinary records would be made available to the public through FOIA, and if an officer’s certification is revoked, he or she would be barred from working for another department or as a private security officer.
Eliminates qualified immunity that prohibits legal claims against police officers who violate a person’s equal protection rights. This immunity prevents legal claims against officers for discretionary acts that are not willful or reckless. Even good intentions of officers can lead to violations of our rights. This change will make the state, towns, and officers more accountable for their actions, and make law enforcement adjust the way they have operated.
Establishes a new independent Office of the Inspector General to investigate deaths caused by police. Since 2001, 76 people have died in our state when an officer used a gun or other deadly force. After investigations by the State’s Attorney Office, only one officer was charged with a crime, and there was no conviction. The State’s Attorneys develop close relationships with police to ensure our laws are enforced, but those relations can also create conflicts of interest, which we can eliminate with a new independent Inspector General’s office.
Prohibits officers from searching you or your car simply by asking for your consent. Unfortunately, interactions with police can be scary, tense, and confusing. If an officer asks to conduct a search, people often feel obligated to give consent despite their right to say no because they are afraid of escalating a situation with law enforcement or being charged for disobeying an officer. Under the bill, an officer cannot search a person without probable cause, and cannot search a car without probable cause or the driver’s unsolicited consent.

Senator Daugherty Abrams Votes for Insulin Price-cap, Police Accountability, Absentee Ballot, Telehealth Legislation

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Webmaster

Senator Daugherty Abrams Votes for Insulin Price-cap, Police Accountability, Absentee Ballot, Telehealth Legislation

Special Senate Session Gives Final Approval to Four New Public Policies

HARTFORD – State Senator Mary Daugherty Abrams (D- Meriden, Middlefield, Rockfall, Middletown, Cheshire) today joined with her colleagues in a special session of the Connecticut State Senate to approve a host of new public policy initiatives to improve police interactions with residents, expand the use of absentee ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic, cap out-of-pocket costs for lifesaving insulin, and continue telehealth medical consultations during the coronavirus crisis.

The bills – which were approved by the House of Representatives last week – now head to Governor Lamont, who is expected to sign them into law.

“While this year’s session was cut short, I was glad to return to the Capitol to vote on four important pieces of legislation that will have positive impacts on Connecticut residents during this difficult time,” said Sen. Daugherty Abrams, “As Chair of the Public Health Committee, telehealth has long been a priority, and while this expansion only lasts until March, I am committed to further working on this issue in next year’s session. I was also proud to vote for two other bills that will lead to a healthier state—capping the cost of insulin will improve the lives of thousands and expanding absentee ballot access will allow people exercise their right to vote in November without risking their health. Finally, I was proud to vote in favor of police accountability legislation. I hope that this bill will only be the beginning of our work towards a more just world, not just in criminal justice, but in healthcare, housing, employment, education, and beyond.

Highlights of the bills approved today by Sen. Abrams include:

Capping the Price of Insulin and Related Supplies
The bill caps a person’s out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $25 per month, caps noninsulin drugs like glucagon at $25 per month, and caps diabetic equipment and supplies (such as blood glucose test strips, glucometers, lancets, and syringes) at $100 per month. The bill also authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense up to a 30-day supply of ’emergency’ insulin if a person has less than a seven-day supply and would otherwise not be able to obtain any lifesaving insulin.

Telehealth
The bill continues for the foreseeable future the temporary waiver of customary restrictions on online medical health care services (“telehealth”) so that during the COVID-19 pandemic more patients can be attended to in the comfort of their own home.

Increasing Police Accountability with the Public
Prompted by protests around Connecticut in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd, this bill provides additional accountability for police departments to improve relationships between the communities and the police. Highlights include:

Changes in the membership of the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST), which provides certifications and trainings to police officers in Connecticut. POST will be reconstituted to include persons impacted by the judicial system and towns of various sizes.
POST will issue an annual report on police department efforts to recruit minority officers, and it will develop new crowd control policies, require implicit bias training, and ensure that police disciplinary records are subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.
Uniformed police officers must have their names and badge numbers readily visible on all outer garments.
Cities and towns can create civilian review boards, which will have subpoena power through their local legislative bodies (i.e. Board of Selectmen).
Body and dashboard cameras will be mandatory for any officer interacting with the public.
Chokeholds, strangleholds and other tactics restraining oxygen and blood flow are banned, and officers will have whistleblower protections to report excessive use of force.
A new Independent Office of the Inspector General will conduct use of force investigations.

Temporarily Expanded Absentee Ballot Access
This bill allows Connecticut citizens who are concerned about contracting the coronavirus at a polling location to vote instead by mail in the November election– an option which had previously been denied them. Connecticut law currently only allows state residents the right to vote by absentee ballot for six specific reasons:

If the voter is on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces
If the voter will be absent from town during the entire time that polls are open
If the voter is ill
If the voter has a physical disability which prevents them from voting in person
If the voter’s religion prohibits them from voting that day
Or if the voter is working at the polls in a primary, election or referendum

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 48,000 people in Connecticut and killed more than 4,400 state residents, has raised concerns about standing in line at the polls or voting in a crowded polling location, especially for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, who are particularly susceptible to the coronavirus.

The new bill amends Connecticut law for 2020 only to allow for absentee voting due to “the sickness of COVID-19.” The bill also allows any person who is in line to vote before polls close at 8 p.m. to access Connecticut’s “same-day registration” procedure at that polling location, as long as they meet all of the state’s voter eligibility requirements (existing state law only allows for same-day voter registration from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. at specific locations in town, but then the voter must proceed to their own local polling place in order to cast their vote.)

Eastern Connecticut Legislators Demand Answers from Eversource

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Webmaster

Eastern Connecticut Legislators Demand Answers from Eversource

Today, State Senators Norm Needleman (D-Essex), Cathy Osten (D-Sprague), Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) and Heather Somers (R-Groton) along with State Representatives Kate Rotella (D-Stonington), Joe DelaCruz (D-New London), Kevin Ryan (D-Norwich), Christine Conley (D-Groton, Ledyard), Anthony Nolan (D-New London), Brian Smith (D-Colchester), Holly Cheeseman (R-East Lyme), Mike France (R-42), Kathleen McCarty (R-Waterford, Montville) and Devin Carney (R-Lyme), demanded answers from Eversource Energy following a significant number of state residents reporting increases in their electric bills. As of July 1, 2020, Eversource said it passed along a rate increase to customers due to a state mandated agreement with the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant to buy power, but Senators and Representatives are calling for a hearing to determine exactly why this spike in Eversource electric bills has occurred.

Eastern Connecticut legislators are asking Eversource to explain why this charge is being passed onto customers and to stop placing the blame on a recent state law regarding Millstone.

“I am asking Eversource not to place their extra charges onto customers especially during a pandemic,” said Sen. Needleman. “Some folks can’t afford the basic necessities and an extra charge on their bill is making it even harder for families to get by. I am asking Eversource for answers. What is the real reason so many are seeing a huge increase in their electricity bills.”

“This is an inappropriate time for such a drastic increase in the distribution rates from Eversource especially as generation rates are declining in Connecticut,” said Sen. Formica. “The Energy Committee leadership will hold an electronic public hearing so that Eversource can come before us and testify as to their justification for this rate hike. Additionally, I have signed a letter with all leaders of the General Assembly to PURA asking for an immediate suspension of these increases and for PURA to conduct a thorough review of this request.”

“This is an inappropriate time for such a drastic increase in the distribution rates from Eversource especially as generation rates are declining in CT,” said Sen. Osten. “The Energy Committee leadership will hold an electronic public hearing so that Eversource can come before us and testify as to their justification for this rate hike. Additionally, I concur with the letter of the Energy Committee leadership to PURA asking for an immediate suspension of these increases and for PURA to conduct a thorough review of this request.”

“Connecticut citizens are already subjected to some of the highest electricity costs in the nation. It is unacceptable that PURA would approve this drastic increase during a pandemic,” said Sen. Somers. “Eversource needs to critically explain and justify this especially in light of the fact generation rates re decreasing in Connecticut. The fact generation is decreasing should be evidence this increase is not due to a Millstone Agreement but rather other factors in including transmission”

“Many Connecticut residents are still reeling from the economic impact of COVID-19. Consumers should not be expected to shoulder the burden of these extra costs, especially during this time of uncertainty. These extra charges must be stopped at once”, said Rep. Conley.

“I am saddened and disturbed that Eversource is attempting to blame the historic power purchase agreement that preserved 1500 jobs, carbon free power and 1.6 billion dollar annual contribution to the Connecticut economy for recent increases in customers’ bills,” said Rep. Cheeseman. “Eversource’s own filing with the Public Utility Regulatory Authority states: ‘….the impact of the July 1st rate change for a typical residential (Rate 1) Standard Service customer using 700 kWh per month will be a rate increase of 3.5 % or $5.58 per month.’ If that is the case, it is impossible to believe Eversource’s assertion that bills have doubled because of the Dominion agreement. I join my colleagues’ call for an immediate suspension of these rate increases and a legislative hearing to demand real answers from Eversource, not more excuses.”

The rate increase comes as hundreds of thousands of residents are unemployed or have been furloughed because businesses were forced to shut down.

The Department of Energy Environmental Protection has directed electric distribution companies like Eversource to enter into long-term agreements to purchase a specified amount of energy, which allows a constant price for their energy over a long period of time. The electric distribution companies, which, in Connecticut do not own generation, can resell the purchased energy and recover the costs from ratepayers through a reconciling component of their bills. These legislative leaders are calling upon Eversource to provide an explanation to customers as to why their bills have spiked and will continue to go up. It is believed there are other factors that are going into this extra charge and say the state being responsible is not the underlying reason.

Senate Democrats Proudly Lead Passage of Bill Increasing Police Accountability Statewide

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Webmaster

Senate Democrats Proudly Lead Passage of Bill Increasing Police Accountability Statewide

Requires police officers and correctional officers to intervene when a colleague is using excessive illegal force. If the onlooking officer does not intervene, then he or she may be charged for the same acts as the officer breaking the law.
Demilitarizes the police. Bans the acquisition of military grade equipment on the Department of Defense federal control list, authorizes DESPP to order police departments dispose of certain pieces of equipment currently in possession, and prohibits any such equipment in possession from being used for crowd control or intimidation tactics.
Entirely overhauls police training in the state. Instead of our current system, where police training varies from state police to town police, and from town to town, all future training would be conducted by the Police Officers Standards and Training Council (POST), which would be restructured with new members and more oversight. Implicit bias training would be mandatory for all officers, and a statewide standard would be developed for crowd control.
Sets standards for applicable for police departments across the state – Starting in 2015, and going forward, each police department must obtain and maintain accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. These standards will ensure a proper level of professionalism and organization so that all of our departments can provide the service deserving of the people’s trust. POST will use its resources to assist departments to achieve accreditation if it not obtained or lost in future years. The benefit of accreditation go beyond building community trust, it also promotes accountability within the department and lowers risk of liability.
Authorizes an independent statewide council to revoke the certification of any police officer. Individual police departments do not always remove officers who violate the law or their code of ethics, in part because the departments are too protective of their own. Allowing POST to suspend or revoke an officer’s certification will ensure independent review is conducted of police misconduct. Further, disciplinary records would be made available to the public through FOIA, and if an officer’s certification is revoked, he or she would be barred from working for another department or as a private security officer.
Eliminates qualified immunity that prohibits legal claims against police officers who violate a person’s equal protection rights. This immunity prevents legal claims against officers for discretionary acts that are not willful or reckless. Even good intentions of officers can lead to violations of our rights. This change will make the state, towns, and officers more accountable for their actions, and make law enforcement adjust the way they have operated.
Establishes a new independent Office of the Inspector General to investigate deaths caused by police. Since 2001, 76 people have died in our state when an officer used a gun or other deadly force. After investigations by the State’s Attorney Office, only one officer was charged with a crime, and there was no conviction. The State’s Attorneys develop close relationships with police to ensure our laws are enforced, but those relations can also create conflicts of interest, which we can eliminate with a new independent Inspector General’s office.
Prohibits officers from searching you or your car simply by asking for your consent. Unfortunately, interactions with police can be scary, tense, and confusing. If an officer asks to conduct a search, people often feel obligated to give consent despite their right to say no because they are afraid of escalating a situation with law enforcement or being charged for disobeying an officer. Under the bill, an officer cannot search a person without probable cause, and cannot search a car without probable cause or the driver’s unsolicited consent.

Senator Haskell Votes for Absentee Ballot Expansion, Insulin Price-cap, Police Accountability, and Telehealth Coverage Legislation

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Webmaster

Senator Haskell Votes for Absentee Ballot Expansion, Insulin Price-cap, Police Accountability, and Telehealth Coverage Legislation

Special Senate Session Addresses Urgent Issues

HARTFORD – State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport) today joined his colleagues in a special session of the Connecticut State Senate to approve a host of new public policy initiatives. These include expanding access to absentee ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic, capping out-of-pocket costs for lifesaving insulin, continuing telehealth coverage and improving policing in Connecticut.

The bills – which were approved by the House of Representatives last week – now head to Governor Lamont, who is expected to sign them into law.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic cut short our traditional legislative session, I’m proud to have worked on legislation that will promote public health, and democratic participation,” said Sen. Haskell. “I’ve been talking about these issues with my constituents for months, and I’m proud to help deliver this real progress.”

Highlights of the bills approved today by Sen. Haskell include:

Expanding Absentee Ballot Access
This bill allows Connecticut citizens who are concerned about contracting COVID-19 at a polling location to vote by mail instead. Connecticut law only allowed state residents the right to vote by absentee ballot for six specific reasons:

If the voter is on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces
If the voter will be absent from town during the entire time that polls are open
If the voter is ill
If the voter has a physical disability which prevents them from voting in person
If the voter’s religion prohibits them from voting that day
Or if the voter is working at the polls in a primary, election or referendum

This historic pandemic, which has infected more than 48,000 people in Connecticut and killed more than 4,400 state residents, has raised serious concerns about the public health implications of standing in line at the polls, or voting in a crowded polling location. This is especially dangerous for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, as doctors have warned that they are particularly susceptible to the virus.

The new law amends Connecticut statutes for 2020 only to allow for absentee voting due to “the sickness of COVID-19.” The bill also allows any person who is in line to vote before polls close at 8 p.m. to access Connecticut’s “same-day registration” procedure at that polling location, so long as they meet all of the state’s voter eligibility requirements.

Capping the Price of Insulin and Related Supplies
The bill caps the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $25 per month, caps noninsulin drugs like glucagon at $25 per month, and caps diabetic equipment and supplies (such as blood glucose test strips, glucometers, lancets, and syringes) at $100 per month. The bill also authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense up to a 30-day supply of ’emergency’ insulin if a person has less than a seven-day supply and would otherwise not be able to obtain any lifesaving insulin.

Telehealth
The bill continues the temporary waiver of restrictions on online medical health care services (“telehealth”) so that constituents can continue to safely access physical and mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care should be accessible and convenient in the 21st century.

Increasing Police Accountability with the Public
Prompted by demands for police accountability at marches across Connecticut, this bill creates additional accountability for police departments and brings us closer to the promise of equal justice under the law. Highlights include:

Uniformed police officers must have their names and badge numbers readily visible on all outer garments.
Cities and towns can create civilian review boards, which will have subpoena power through their local legislative bodies(i.e. Board of Selectmen).
Body and dashboard cameras will be mandatory for any officer interacting with the public.
Chokeholds, strangleholds and other tactics restraining oxygen and blood flow are banned, and officers will have whistle-blower protections to report excessive use of force.
A new Independent Office of the Inspector General will conduct investigations after deadly force is used by law enforcement.
Changes in the membership of the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST), which provides certifications and training to police officers in Connecticut. POST will be reconstituted to include persons impacted by the judicial system and towns of various sizes.
POST will issue an annual report on police department efforts to recruit minority officers, and it will develop new crowd control policies, require implicit bias training, and ensure that police disciplinary records are subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.

Special Session July 28th 2020

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Webmaster

CT State Senate July 28th 2020 Special Session

Special Senate Session Gives Final Approval to Four New Public Policies

Absentee Ballot

This bill allows Connecticut citizens who are concerned about contracting the coronavirus at a polling location to vote instead by mail in the November election– an option which had previously been denied them. The new bill amends Connecticut law for 2020 only to allow for absentee voting due to “the sickness of COVID-19.”

Police Accountability

This bill provides additional accountability for police departments to improve relationships between the communities and the police.

Capping Costs for Diabetes

The bill caps a person’s out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $25 per month, caps noninsulin drugs like glucagon at $25 per month, and caps diabetic equipment and supplies. The bill also authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense up to a 30-day supply of ’emergency’ insulin.

Senator Anwar on Capping Costs for Diabetes

Telehealth

The bill continues for the foreseeable future the temporary waiver of customary restrictions on online medical health care services (“telehealth”) so that during the COVID-19 pandemic more patients can be attended to in the comfort of their own home.

Senator Anwar Applauds Passage of Bill to Cap Cost of Insulin and Diabetes Supplies

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Webmaster

Senator Anwar Applauds Passage of Bill to Cap Cost of Insulin and Diabetes Supplies

Today, the Senate Democratic Caucus passed legislation that will help residents in the state who have diabetes. The bill, contains several provisions to help patients and their families afford insulin. Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) today applauded the passage of a bill that will cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $25 per month for those who have state regulated health plans. This bill also caps the cost of insulin-related supplies such as syringes, pumps, and glucose meters at $100 per month.

“What we have done today will provide relief to thousands of families in our state. Insulin costs have skyrocketed in the last two decades, and this legislation fights that unfair inflation,” said Sen. Anwar. “When as many as one in four Connecticut residents actually ration insulin to be able to afford it, we must take action, and I hope we can continue this momentum to help more people who are struggling.”

The bill authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense up to a 30-day supply of insulin if a person has less than a seven-day supply and will otherwise not be able to obtain such insulin. Pharmacists will accept insurance or case payment. This option is available to patients once every 12-months and pharmacists will update the statewide prescription drug monitoring program to ensure.

These new implementations will now create a new affordable pathway for residents in Connecticut. As a state, we now have the lowest cap altogether, including insulin, noninsulin, equipment and devices. As this moves forward, we continue to try to help people who don’t have insurance using two different approaches. One being to obtain affordable insulin at community health centers and expanding Medicaid to cover folks who have Type 1 diabetes.

Under the federal 340 prescription drug program, individuals who receive health services from federally certified “covered entities,” have access to significantly reduced drug costs. Diabetics with high cost insulin are often good candidates for 340B discounts, especially those with high-deductible health plans. Unfortunately, many people struggling to pay for their insulin are not aware of the federal resources.

The bill establishes a working group to consider whether DSS should implement a new program that direct individuals with diabetes to covered entities. If established, the program would include an informational website that can inform individuals whether their prescribed insulin is available through the 340B program, and what the potential savings are. DSS, through the website, would arrange referrals to a covered entity for an appointment within 30 days.

Senator Anwar Glad to Join Senate Passage of Bill Concerning Telehealth Services

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Webmaster

Senator Anwar Glad to Join Senate Passage of Bill Concerning Telehealth Services

Today, the Senate Democratic Caucus passed legislation concerning telehealth services that will provide new tools to doctors and other medical providers in the near future to continue interaction between a patient and telehealth provider and remote patient monitoring. State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) was pleased to vote to support the legislation.

“Telehealth provides important health care opportunities for everyone, from mental health services to routine checkups,” said Sen. Anwar. “Telehealth calls have even been used to advise patients regarding COVID-19, including whether they should obtain tests or whether they should seek additional care for their conditions. As a physician myself, I’m pleased to see this option will remain available for those who need it, both patients and professionals, through to the middle of next year.”

During the coronavirus crisis in the state, many changes were implemented to keep residents of Connecticut safe including a virtual practice of medicine. The Department of Public Health waived several requirements in order to provide audio and visual communication between providers and patients. Telehealth has played a huge role beginning in the middle of March following the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Providers have been able to perform under federal privacy requirements while providing reliable treatment through these platforms. Teleheath has been proven to be an essential tool during the coronavirus crisis and it will continue to be a tool for doctors and providers to use in the future if needed. If telehealth wasn’t available through the duration of the pandemic, many doctors and health care professionals would have suffered greater financial hardship.

This bill allows telehealth by audio-only, instead of requiring video. It will impact patients of Medicaid, Children’s health insurance program, and in-network providers. It will expand the types of providers who may provide services through telehealth including dentists, behavior analysts, genetic counselors, music therapists, and art therapists, all of which is currently permitted under EO. The bill also allows telehealth services by additional licensed professions; those being physician assistants, physical therapist assistants, and occupational therapy assistants, nurse midwives, athletic trainers.

Furthermore, the telehealth bill allows providers licensed in other states to provide telehealth services to Connecticut residents provided they have minimum professional liability insurance coverage. It requires a provider to determine whether a patient has health insurance coverage and whether such coverage includes telehealth services, before providing the service.

Most of the legislation’s changes will be in place through June 30, 2021.

Senator Anwar Applauds Passage of Expanded Absentee Voting Law in Connecticut

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Webmaster

Senator Anwar Applauds Passage of Expanded Absentee Voting Law in Connecticut

HARTFORD – Democratic State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor applauded the final passage in the Senate today of a bill that will allow Connecticut citizens who are concerned about contracting the coronavirus at a polling location this year to vote instead by mail – an option which had previously been denied them.

The Senate today approved House Bill 6002, “AN ACT CONCERNING ABSENTEE VOTING AT THE 2020 STATE ELECTION AND ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION,” by a vote of 35-1; the bill overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives last week and now heads to Governor Lamont, who is expected to sign the bill into law.

“Today, I voted for, and the Senate approved, legislation that will benefit democracy by ensuring all can cast their votes safely and easily,” said Sen. Anwar. “I am proud of our accomplishments today knowing folks will have the option during the elections to use an absentee ballot and not have to risk their health during a pandemic.”

Connecticut law currently only allows its state residents to vote by absentee ballot for six specific reasons:

If the voter is on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces
If the voter will be absent from town during the entire time that polls are open
If the voter is ill
If the voter has a physical disability which prevents them from voting in person
If the voter’s religion prohibits them from voting that day
Or if the voter is working at the polls in a primary, election or referendum

But the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 48,000 people in Connecticut and killed more than 4,400 state residents, has raised concerns about standing in line at the polls, or voting in a crowded polling location – especially for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, who are particularly susceptible to the coronavirus.

The solution is (House or Senate bill number), which amends Connecticut law for 2020 only to allow for absentee voting due to “the sickness of COVID-19.”

The bill also allows any person who is in line to vote before polls close at 8 p.m. to access Connecticut’s “same-day registration” procedure at that polling location, as long as they meet all of the state’s voter eligibility requirements; existing state law only allows for same-day voter registration from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. at specific locations in town, but then the voter must proceed to their own local polling place in order to cast their vote.

The issue of expanded absentee voting in Connecticut received widespread support at last week’s public hearing on the bill, when nearly 250 people submitted testimony online or via email. The bill was supported by the AARP, the League of Women Voters, ConnPIRG, the ACLU, the CCAG, disability rights advocates, religious leaders, retirees, civic organizations, municipal officials, social workers, and hundreds of others.

Connecticut has an unusually low absentee voting record when compared to America as a whole. There have been 21.7 million ballots cast in Connecticut over the past 32 years, with only 1.5 million cast via absentee ballot – just seven percent all votes cast, according to online statistics from the Secretary of the State’s office.

But in 2018, 23% of all U.S. residents voted via absentee ballot, according to the U.S. Census – more than three times Connecticut’s average. In 2018, only 60% of Americans physically voted in-person at a polling location, while in Connecticut, 94% of state residents voted in-person.

Senator Maroney Votes for Absentee Ballot, Insulin Price-cap, Telehealth Legislation

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Webmaster

Senator Maroney Votes for Absentee Ballot, Insulin Price-cap, Telehealth Legislation

Special Senate Session Gives Final Approval to Requested Public Policies

HARTFORD – State Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) today joined with his colleagues in a special session of the Connecticut State Senate to approve a host of new public policy initiatives that the public demanded in order to expand the use of absentee ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic, cap out-of-pocket costs for lifesaving insulin, and continue telehealth medical consultations during the coronavirus crisis.

The bills – which were approved by the House of representatives last week – now head to Governor Lamont, who is expected to sign them into law.

“Today I am proud. This is a step in the right direction for Connecticut,” said Sen. Maroney. “The passage of these bills will offer a new pathway for health for residents in Connecticut. The passage of the expansion of increasing the cap on insulin costs ensures that multiple residents in the state’s lives will be saved. The problem of the lack of affordability of insulin will decrease immediately as families will now be able to budget for the necessities to save their loved one’s who need the life-saving medication. Making telehealth more accessible lessens the risk of those in Connecticut coming down with virus that we are still working on fighting. Offering absentee ballots also lessens the risk of people getting sick by allowing them to choose how they execute their right to vote.”

Highlights of the bills approved today by Sen. Maroney include:

Temporarily Expanded Absentee Voting
This bill allows Connecticut citizens who are concerned about contracting the coronavirus at a polling location this year to vote instead by mail – an option which had previously been denied them. Connecticut law currently only allows state residents the right to vote by absentee ballot for six specific reasons:

If the voter is on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces
If the voter will be absent from town during the entire time that polls are open
If the voter is ill
If the voter has a physical disability which prevents them from voting in person
If the voter’s religion prohibits them from voting that day
Or if the voter is working at the polls in a primary, election or referendum

The global COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 48,000 people in Connecticut and killed more than 4,400 state residents, has raised concerns about standing in line at the polls, or voting in a crowded polling location – especially for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, who are particularly susceptible to the coronavirus.