Sen. Kasser Applauds Final House Passage Of Domestic Violence Law
HARTFORD – State Senator Alex Kasser (D-Greenwich), who has spent years working with domestic violence organizations and advocating for the rights of domestic violence victims all across Connecticut, today applauded the House of Representatives for giving final passage to a bill she co-authored, Senate Bill 1091, which is often referred to as Jennifers’ Law.
The law expands the definition of domestic violence to include non-physical violence or “coercive control,” which is a pattern of threatening, humiliating, or intimidating acts that harm a person and deprive them of their freedom, autonomy and human rights. This new and expanded definition of domestic violence will now apply to all family court proceedings – restraining orders, divorce and custody cases.
The bill also establishes a new legal aid program to provide legal representation for victims of domestic violence who apply for restraining orders. And if a victim receives a restraining order, and rents her home, she now has the right to change her locks to keep her home safe. The bill also allows someone to be charged for a hate crime if they assault a person “in substantial part” because of their race, religion, country of origin or sexuality.
Sen. Kasser issued the following statement on final passage of the bill, which now heads to Governor Lamont for his signature into law:
“Passage of Senate Bill 1091, also known as “Jennifers’ Law,” today in the House is a milestone victory for victims of abuse, who are primarily women and children. Victims are demeaned and violated inside their homes, then discredited and rejected when they appeal for help. Their power is taken from them, but this groundbreaking legislation gives it back. It ensures every person’s autonomy – the ability leave an abusive situation and regain control of their own lives.
”We are all Jennifer. Whether we are male or female, black or white, gay or straight, rich or poor, urban or suburban, we are all susceptible to the abuse of power that can come at the hands of the people we trust the most – our own family members. This legislation declares that abuse of power inside a family or household is unacceptable. And all forms of abuse – physical, sexual, emotional, financial, legal and psychological – will now be recognized. These behaviors can be subtle and hard to recognize, especially when the abuser appears charming and nice on the outside. This legislation gives courts, attorneys and individuals the tools to recognize and prevent domestic Vvolence, including the invisible abuse we call coercive control.
“I am profoundly grateful to the loved ones of Jennifer Farber Dulos, Jennifer Magnano, and the hundreds of other women who died trying to get free. You never gave up the fight for justice, and together we are making sure they did not die in vain.
“I am also profoundly grateful to the many brave survivors of domestic violence who spoke out at great risk to themselves in support of this legislation. Their strength and courage made this possible. For many, the struggle to get free can take years, sometimes decades. Victims of abuse are forced to make tremendous sacrifices – they often lose their homes, their jobs and their financial security and spend years in court. Some victims even lose their children. And some lose their lives. Freedom should not come at such a terrible cost.
”I look forward to seeing the governor sign this bill into law so the Judicial Branch can enforce it, as the law and ensure every person’s right to be safe and free. With continued effort, we can achieve justice for all Jennifers.”
Duff Statement on Norwalk Police Hiring Practices
Duff Statement on Norwalk Police Hiring Practices
NORWALK, CT – Today, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) released the following statement following reports of the Norwalk Police Department hiring two new police officers that formerly worked for the Bridgeport Police Department. One officer was involved in the shooting death of 15-year-old Jayson Negron of Bridgeport in 2017. The other police officer was accused of excessive force.
“This incident and other recent incidents at the Norwalk Police Department are why I have fought for increased police accountability and reform at the state level. Certain towns and cities have proven over and over they are unable or incapable of holding bad cops accountable. Police officers that have violated the public’s trust should be properly punished and not rehired the next town over. I am reviewing the action by the Norwalk Police Department to see if any state laws are violated or if more state regulations are needed to ensure we have police departments that are prioritizing public safety.”
Sen. Hartley and Rep. Napoli Applaud Waterbury Business Receiving Farm Transition Grant
Sen. Hartley and Rep. Napoli Applaud Waterbury Business Receiving Farm Transition Grant
State Senator Joan Hartley and State Representative Ronald Napoli Jr., members of the Waterbury legislative delegation, applauded the awarding of a grant from the state Department of Agriculture’s Farm Transition Grant Program to a local business in Waterbury. The matching grant program is aimed at the strengthening the economic viability of farmers and agricultural cooperatives in Connecticut looking to expand and diversify their operations. Over 5,500 farms reside in Connecticut and they collectively contribute more than $4 billion to the state’s economy.
Micro2Life, LLC of Waterbury was awarded a grant in the New Farmer Microgrant category for equipment to hydroponically grow leafy greens. Micro2Life, LLC is centered around a mission of educating and supplying organic microgreens and vegetables to the local community.
“The long-term growth of Connecticut’s farmers and agriculture businesses yields benefits for the entire local region from creating job opportunities to supplying nutritious food to residents. These grants are a welcome support in achieving these benefits,” said, Sen. Hartley and Rep. Napoli. “We thank the Connecticut Department of Agriculture for their continual support of local farms and agriculture producers in the state.”
This grant was one of 24 grants totaling over $490,000 to be distributed from the Farm Transition Grant Program to agriculture producers across Connecticut.
This year’s grant program was restructured to improve its response to gaps in the agricultural industry and better support Connecticut’s agriculture producers during all stages of their businesses. This year’s restructuring led to the creation of four new grant categories, including the New Farmer Microgrant. More information about the Farm Transition Grant Program can be found at www.CTGrown.gov/Grants.
Senator Haskell Joins Senate Final Approval of Bill Modernizing Connecticut’s Red Flag Law He Co-Sponsored
Senator Haskell Joins Senate Final Approval of Bill Modernizing Connecticut’s Red Flag Law He Co-Sponsored
HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport) joined the Senate in its vote to strengthen Connecticut’s “red flag” laws, expanding the weapons covered under risk warrants and allowing family and household members to apply for risk protection order investigations. The legislation, passed by the House on May 12 by a 93-55 margin, passed the Senate today by a 23-12 margin and now heads to Governor Lamont’s desk to be signed into law. Sen. Haskell co-sponsored the law.
“In 1998, Connecticut passed the first ‘red flag’ law in the country to keep firearms away from individuals whose families consider them to be a danger to themselves or others. Today, we took steps to make sure it remains relevant and important,” said Sen. Haskell. “This bill has saved dozens of lives in the last two decades, but today, we sought to fix it further. For instance, under these changes, a person deemed to be a risk to themselves or others cannot purchase a new firearm, closing a loophole of access that could lead to violence. Additionally, sometimes individuals are uncomfortable reporting a loved one to the police; this legislation allows them to report that individual to the courts instead. I’m proud to join my colleagues in sending it to Governor Lamont’s desk to be signed into law.”
House Bill 6355, “An Act Concerning Risk Protection Orders Or Warrants And Disqualifiers For Firearm Permits And Eligibility Certificates,” expands the scope of Connecticut’s “red flag” laws to cover additional deadly weapons and allows law enforcement officials or a state’s attorney or assistant state’s attorney to apply for a risk protection order prohibiting a person from acquiring or possessing firearms, other deadly weapons or ammunition.
The bill further allows adult family or household members or medical professionals to apply for a risk protection order investigation, which will determine whether a person poses a risk of imminent injury to himself, herself or someone else. If police determine there is probable cause to believe the person poses such a risk, they must seek a risk protection order and, when applicable, a risk warrant.
Further changes in the bill include removing the current one-year maximum period on the state’s hold of items seized under a risk warrant, instead continuing the protection order/seizure period until the person successfully petitions the court to terminate the order and warrant; individual may periodically challenge their order starting 180 days after an initial hearing. The bill further narrows the list of people to whom someone under a risk warrant may transfer firearms or ammunition, bars people under risk protection orders or investigation orders from obtaining handgun or long gun permits, and extends existing criminal penalties for unlawful possession of handguns or other firearms, electronic defense weapons or ammunition to people possessing such items if they know they are subject to risk protection or investigation orders.
Sen. Flexer Applauds Final House Passage Of Domestic Violence Bill
Sen. Flexer Applauds Final House Passage Of Domestic Violence Bill
HARTFORD – State Senator Mae Flexer, who has spent years working with domestic violence organizations and advocating for the rights of domestic violence victims all across Connecticut, today applauded the House of Representatives for giving final passage to a bill she authored which makes Connecticut once again a national leader for the strongest laws responding to domestic violence.
The bill expands the definition of domestic violence in state law to include the “coercive control” so often exhibited in domestic abuse situations that follows a pattern of threatening, humiliating, or intimidating acts that harm a person and deprive them of their freedom, autonomy and their human rights.
The bill also establishes a new legal aid program to provide legal representation for victims of domestic violence who file restraining orders, and which changes the standard for a hate crime to allow someone to be charged if their assault on a person’s race, religion, country of origin was motivated “in substantial part” by those characteristics, and was not simply the “sole” motivating factor for that assault, as current state law requires.
“This legislation will save lives, plain and simple. The changes in this bill will be a lifeline to the more than a third of all Connecticut women who will experience some form of intimate partner violence or stalking in their lifetime. It’s the result of years of input and experience and advocacy to give victims the tools to leave abusive relationships and hold their abusers accountable,” Sen. Flexer said. “For years, our neighbors facing domestic violence have dealt with obstacle after obstacle in order to escape from an abusive situation. The bill eliminates many of those obstacles and it represents our commitment to the citizens of Connecticut to protect them, and to make their lives better.”
Senate Bill 1091 passed the state Senate last month with a 35-1 vote, and after today’s 134-8 House passage, it now heads to Governor Lamont for his signature into law.
SB 1091 is the result of months of work by Sen. Flexer to update Connecticut’s domestic violence laws to allow more favorable and fair treatment of victims seeking restraining orders, divorce, child custody, and other matters in family court. When signed into law by the governor. Connecticut will be the second state in the country to add coercive control to our statutes.
SB 1091 creates a more efficient restraining order process, allowing victims to email marshals the forms needed to serve a restraining order on the alleged abuser. Currently, the forms must be physically delivered by the applicant to the courthouse. The bill also allows victims the option of testifying remotely in court proceedings — and not in presence of their alleged abuser — if they have a hearing for a restraining order, a protective order, or a standing criminal protective order.
The bill requires that a safe space be provided to victims of family violence in all court locations constructed after July 1, 2021; it allows the state Department of Social Services to expedite general assistance to victims of domestic violence by not factoring in the income of the alleged abuser when determining the amount of assistance available to them; it requires court officials to consider cash-only bonds when previous family violence court orders have been violated; and it establishes a process for tenants to change the locks on their apartments after obtaining a protective order or a restraining order.
The bill’s creation of a new, so-called “Civil Gideon” program will, through the Connecticut Bar Foundation, provide grants to non-profits to provide legal services in the five judicial districts with the highest number of applications for restraining orders: Fairfield (Bridgeport), Hartford, New Haven, Stamford-Norwalk and Waterbury.
In one study, victims of domestic violence with access to legal counsel reported substantially less revictimization. Another study found that domestic violence victims with legal counsel had higher employment rates and used less government programs, thereby saving the sponsoring state twice as much as the program’s cost.
The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and its 18 member agencies were the key proponent of this national leading legislation.
No-Excuse Absentee Voting Gets Final Approval from Democrats in the State Senate; Voters Decide in 2024 with One More Vote
No-Excuse Absentee Voting Gets Final Approval from Democrats in the State Senate; Voters Decide in 2024 with One More Vote
HARTFORD – Despite significant Republican objection to improving democracy in Connecticut, Democrats in the state Senate today approved a measure that will allow residents to vote in 2024 on whether they want to allow for “no excuses” absentee voting in Connecticut – thereby removing the state’s five current restrictions for voting absentee and finally moving Connecticut into the 21st Century of voting rights and responsibilities, like most other American states.
The state Senate voted 27-9 to approve House Joint Resolution 58,
“A RESOLUTION PROPOSING A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.” The measure will now be considered by Connecticut voters at the polls in November 2024 should it be approved again by the Legislature in 2023. State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) joined the Senate in approving the ballot measure.
“Only 32 percent of states do not have freely accessible absentee voting laws, despite widespread approval of the policy from the public, no matter their political affiliation,” said Sen. Needleman. “During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, absentee voting allowed Connecticut voters to safely cast their ballots on their own terms; in future years, that flexibility will remain valuable to countless voters, and they deserve to make the final decision on this issue in 2024.”
The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to remove Connecticut’s current constitutional restrictions on absentee voting. Connecticut currently only allows absentee voting in five very particular circumstances:
- you’re out of town all day on Election Day
- you’re sick or have a physical disability and cannot make it in-person to the polls
- your religion forbids you from any secular activity on Election Day
- you’re on active duty in the Armed Forces; or
- you’re an election official whose duties will keep you from voting on Election Day.
73% of all Connecticut voters support expanding access to absentee ballots to all voters without requiring an excuse, including 90% of Democrats, 75% of unaffiliated voters and almost half of all Republicans.
In November 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and after legislative Democrats allowed for people to vote from home to avoid contracting COVID-19, more than a third of all the ballots cast in Connecticut were cast by absentee: 650,000 out of 1.8 million ballots cast.
As of 2020, 34 other U.S. states had no-excuses absentee voting laws on their books: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Delaware and New Hampshire are also considering legislation this year to allow for no-excuse absentee voting.
No-Excuse Absentee Voting Gets Final Approval from Democrats in the State Senate; Voters Decide in 2024 with One More Vote
No-Excuse Absentee Voting Gets Final Approval from Democrats in the State Senate; Voters Decide in 2024 with One More Vote
HARTFORD – Despite significant Republican objection to improving democracy in Connecticut, Democrats in the state Senate today approved a measure that will allow residents to vote in 2024 on whether they want to allow for “no excuses” absentee voting in Connecticut – thereby removing the state’s five current restrictions for voting absentee and finally moving Connecticut into the 21st Century of voting rights and responsibilities, like most other American states.
The state Senate voted entirely along party lines 27-9 to approve House Joint Resolution 58,
“RESOLUTION PROPOSING A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.” The measure will be considered by Connecticut voters at the polls in November 2024 upon a second passage by the legislature in 2023. State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) joined the Senate in approving the ballot measure.
“Absentee ballots are a wonderful tool for anyone unable to reach a polling place on Election Day, but our state is in the minority of those preventing widespread access to them,” said Sen. Anwar. “I’m glad voters will have the final say in 2024 on potentially expanding access to these tools, allowing more flexibility and freedom for anyone to make their voice heard.”
The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to remove Connecticut’s current constitutional restrictions on absentee voting. Connecticut currently only allows absentee voting in five very particular circumstances:
- you’re out of town all day on Election Day
- you’re sick or have a physical disability and cannot make it in-person to the polls
- your religion forbids you from any secular activity on Election Day
- you’re on active duty in the Armed Forces; or
- you’re an election official whose duties will keep you from voting on Election Day.
73% of all Connecticut voters support expanding access to absentee ballots to all voters without requiring an excuse, including 90% of Democrats, 75% of unaffiliated voters and almost half of all Republicans.
In November 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and after legislative Democrats allowed for people to vote from home to avoid contracting COVID-19, more than a third of all the ballots cast in Connecticut were cast by absentee: 650,000 out of 1.8 million ballots cast.
As of 2020, 34 other U.S. states had no-excuses absentee voting laws on their books: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Delaware and New Hampshire are also considering legislation this year to allow for no-excuse absentee voting.
Sen. Kushner Leads Final Approval of Bill to Require Study of Disparities in Connecticut for Minority-Owned Small Business Funding
Sen. Kushner Leads Final Approval of Bill to Require Study of Disparities in Connecticut for Minority-Owned Small Business Funding
HARTFORD – State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) on Wednesday led the Senate’s final approval of legislation requiring a study of disparities in Connecticut among minority-owned small business. This legislation, House Bill 6476, “An Act Concerning A Disparity Study,” would require the Commission on Human Rights to analyze the state’s Supplier Diversity Program, also known as the “Set-Aside Program.” Following the House’s 117-28 vote last week to pass the legislation, the Senate’s vote today moves the bill to Governor Ned Lamont’s desk to be signed into law. Sen. Kushner is Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.
“We’re asking the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities to conduct a disparity study regarding Connecticut’s ‘Set Aside’ program, which helps small businesses and women-owned and minority-owned businesses identify opportunities for growth. We need to understand where we’re leveling the playing field here in Connecticut for these businesses and where we need to make improvements, ” said Senator Kushner. “My Democratic colleagues and I have committed ourselves over the past year to addressing the systemic inequities of Connecticut’s economy. This bill is an important next step towards that goal.”
The study in question will investigate disparity specifically concerning the Set-Aside Program, which provides funding and resources to minority-owned small businesses in Connecticut, including businesses owned by women, ethnically diverse individuals and individuals with disabilities. Through the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the program guarantees state contracting opportunities for qualified and underutilized small businesses. Currently, state agencies provide just 6.25 percent of funds to small businesses, a quarter of the funding distributed in total to small businesses.
Connecticut has not conducted a formal study of disparity for nearly 30 years, and updating such a report will reflect changes in state demographics and state resources in the ensuing years. It is believed that current data no longer provides a full representation of current small contractor underutilization; such a study will provide new data on contractor ownership to better ensure equity.
No-Excuse Absentee Voting Gets Final Approval from Democrats in the State Senate; Voters Decide in 2024 with One More Vote
No-Excuse Absentee Voting Gets Final Approval from Democrats in the State Senate; Voters Decide in 2024 with One More Vote
HARTFORD – Despite near unanimous Republican objection to improving democracy in Connecticut, Democrats in the state Senate today approved a measure that will allow residents to decide in 2024 whether our state should allow for “no excuse” absentee voting in Connecticut – thereby removing the state’s current restrictions for voting absentee.
The state Senate voted 27-9 to approve House Joint Resolution 58, “A RESOLUTION PROPOSING A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.” If approved a second time by the Legislature in 2023, the measure will be considered by Connecticut voters at the polls in November 2024. State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), Senate Vice Chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, joined the Senate in approving the ballot measure.
“In the most recent election, emergency measures were taken to ensure that voters could participate from the comfort and safety of their own home. Why should that level of democratic accessibility go away when the pandemic comes to an end?” said Sen. Haskell. “This bill is about empowering voters — regardless of which candidate or party they support. I’m disappointed that the resolution was subject to such a partisan divide in the Senate, but I’m confident that Connecticut residents will decide to modernize our elections when they head to the polls in 2024.”
The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to remove Connecticut’s current constitutional restrictions on absentee voting. Connecticut currently only allows absentee voting in five very particular circumstances:
- you’re out of town all day on Election Day
- you’re sick or have a physical disability and cannot make it in-person to the polls
- your religion forbids you from any secular activity on Election Day
- you’re on active duty in the Armed Forces; or
- you’re an election official whose duties will keep you from voting on Election Day.
73% of all Connecticut voters support expanding access to absentee ballots to all voters without requiring an excuse, including 90% of Democrats, 75% of unaffiliated voters and almost half of all Republicans.
In November 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic and after legislative Democrats allowed for people to vote from home to avoid contracting COVID-19, more than a third of all the ballots cast in Connecticut were cast by absentee: 650,000 out of 1.8 million ballots cast.
As of 2020, 34 other U.S. states had no-excuses absentee voting laws on their books: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Delaware and New Hampshire are also considering legislation this year to allow for no-excuse absentee voting.
Expanded Recycling & Anti-Litter Bill Passes State Senate
Expanded Recycling & Anti-Litter Bill Passes State Senate
This October, Connecticut liquor wholesalers will begin collecting a 5-cent surcharge on 50ml “nip” liquor bottles and then turn that money over to cities and towns to fight the widespread litter of these little liquor bottles under a bill passed today in the state Senate. State Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) joined the Senate in approving the legislation.
The bill also expands the list of drink bottles requiring a deposit to include hard seltzer and hard cider as well as plant water, juice, juice drinks, tea, coffee, kombucha, plant infused drink, and sports and energy drinks, and it raises the deposit amount on them from 5 cents to 10 cents, beginning January 1, 2024.
“This bill would help encourage people in Connecticut to recycle which helps to sustain a better environment, ” said Sen. Maroney. “Increasing the amount of cans and bottles recycled, increases the revenue earned and put back into our cities and towns.”
Senate Bill 1037, “AN ACT CONCERNING SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT,” passed the Senate on a bipartisan 33-1 vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
SB 1037 is the result of a long debate in Connecticut about how to remove plastic and glass bottle litter from our environment, and how to address the popularity of new types of drinks – besides just soda and beer – to include the variety of hard seltzers, hard ciders, sports drinks, and other popular new beverages crowding grocery store aisles and the resulting litter in our environment.
The issue of “nip” litter has been especially troublesome: with no deposit required on them, the tiny liquor bottles have become the focus of local, annual grassroots nip clean-up drives that can collect as many as 50,000 nip bottles in a single day from neighborhood streets, parks, riverbanks, forests, and storm drains.
SB 1037 bill specifically requires that liquor wholesalers who sell nip bottles must pay 5 cents per bottle sold twice a year to the city or town where the nips were sold, with the money to be used by the town specifically for cleaning up any nip bottle trash by – for example – hiring a recycling coordinator, installing storm drain filters, or purchasing a mechanical street sweeper or vacuum to remove nip trash from streets, sidewalks and lawns.
To help address the issue of solid waste management, and to save municipalities money in their waste disposal costs, SB 1037 also directs the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (o begin the in-state processing of no less than 80% of the wine and liquor bottles sold into Connecticut and turn them into furnace-ready cullet (broken glass ready for recycling) to be used in cement, glass and fiberglass products.