Democrats Announce Plans for COVID-Safe Voting in 2022
HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford) announced plans to pass legislation within the next several weeks to continue to allow for COVID-safe voting by absentee ballot through the 2022 general election.
The Democratic leaders of the General Assembly released the following statement:
“Voting is the fundamental right underlying our entire democracy. While other states are restricting voting rights, we will take action to ensure that everyone that was able to vote before COVID will continue to be able to vote this year as COVID persists. We will continue the COVID safety measures of 2020 and 2021 for 2022 and allow for everyone who fears exposure to COVID to vote by absentee ballot.”
Democrats Announce Rules for Increased Public Access to General Assembly
Democrats Announce Rules for Increased Public Access to General Assembly
HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford), and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) announced the remote access rules for the beginning of the 2022 legislative session of the General Assembly beginning Wednesday, February 9. The remote rules will be revisited throughout the session. Public Hearings and committee meetings that are held for organizational purposes, raising bills or voting on resolutions will be held remotely during the month of February. This policy will be reviewed in late February.
- A decision on committee meetings that vote on (Joint Favorable) bills, will also be made towards the end of February.
- During Zoom public hearings, members of the public will once again be able to testify remotely from the safety and convenience of their home.
“The General Assembly’s pandemic response has resulted in more ease of access over the past two years,” said Sen. Looney. “As elected representatives of the people we are always sensitive to the need for transparency and accessibility.”
“We fully expect to revisit this as more data comes in toward the end of the February and into March. It’s important to be flexible and follow the numbers. Data will drive our decisions,” Speaker Ritter said.
“The past two years have presented unimaginable challenges for the people of Connecticut,” said Sen. Duff. “Democrats adapted our rules and procedures to ensure people still have the unprecedented access to members of the General Assembly that has been the bedrock of Connecticut politics for generations. This year will be no different and will allow for the record-breaking public participation to continue as we begin the 2022 legislative session.”
- Thanks to the option for members of the public to testify about proposed bills via Zoom from the comfort of their home, car, or office, the amount of public hearing testimony submitted to the Judiciary Committee increased by 44% from 2017 to 2021, from 1,500 pieces of pre-pandemic, in-person public bill testimony submitted in 2017 to 2,162 pieces of remote-only public bill testimony submitted in 2021 during the pandemic.
- The number of public hearings held by legislative committees in pre-pandemic 2019 and pandemic 2021 remained essentially unchanged: 163 in-person public hearings in 2019, and 157 online public hearings in 2021. Public hearings for the legislature’s three most important committees – Judiciary, Appropriations and Finance – actually increased by 10% from 2019 to 2021. Public Health Committee public hearings increased 25% from 2019 to 2021.
“I’ve received calls from constituents informing me that with the remote public hearings they have been able to testify for their first time in their lives on proposed legislation,” Sen. Looney said. “The only complaints I have heard come from Republicans and others who want to make some sort of public spectacle out of their testimony, usually for partisan political reasons.”
“With remote testimony, from my experience on the Finance Committee, people have been able to call in from their cars, from their place of work, to testify on a bill,” said Senator John Fonfara (D-Hartford), who is Senate Chair of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. “People who have never even been in this building before have suddenly had the chance, thanks to the remote option, to testify and make a difference.”
- “Like my colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus I welcome the ability for the public to provide remote testimony,” said Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee. “The process could be intense prior to the rules change allowing for remote public hearings, particularly for legislators and the staff of the Judiciary Committee as hearings in that committee are frequent and long in duration. Remote access has increased hearing length but we see that as a good thing. It means that people who would testify but don’t have the luxury of taking a whole day to do so now can. It means those who would testify but don’t have transportation may do so. Remote hearings increased access to participate in our democracy. So we view it as leaning into what we believe in: a fairer, more transparent and more democratic process.”
- The number of votes taken in state Senate increased in 2021, or remained essentially unchanged, from previous, non-pandemic years. The Senate took 481 votes in 2021 (the “long session”) compared with 444 votes in 2019, 472 votes in 2017 and 485 votes in 2015. The number of bills passed in the state Senate in 2021 remained essentially unchanged from the pre-pandemic long session of 2019: 286 bills passed in 2021, compared to 296 bills passed in 2019.
Senator Matt Lesser Releases Statement Following Democrats Plans for Covid-safe Voting in 2022 General Election
Senator Matt Lesser Releases Statement Following Democrats Plans for Covid-safe Voting in 2022 General Election
Today, State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown), Chair of the Insurance & Real Estate Committee, is releasing a statement after Democrats announced their plans for COVID-safe voting in 2022. Today, plans were announced to pass legislation within the next several weeks to continue to allow voting by absentee ballot through the 2022 general election.
“I’m thrilled Senate Democrats are leading on this issue,” said Sen. Matt Lesser. “Nobody should have to choose between their health or their family’s health and their right to vote.”
Senator Lesser also mentioned it as a major concern while participating in a public hearing on the Governor’s Emergency Powers yesterday.
State Senator Will Haskell Releases Statement Regarding 2022 State of the State Address
State Senator Will Haskell Releases Statement Regarding 2022 State of the State Address
Today, State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee, released the following statement responding to Governor Ned Lamont’s 2022 State of the State address:
“Governor Lamont’s address today was meaningful and ambitious, especially as it related to our Transportation future. I’m more confident than ever that the Executive and Legislative branch are primed to partner on finally bringing our infrastructure into the 21st century. As my colleagues in the Senate know, I’m fixated on speeding up our Metro-North trains. As Governor Lamont said, we can and must take full advantage of President Biden’s historic infrastructure package to cut the amount of time that commuters spend on the train and increase the time that they can spend with their families.
One particular obsession of mine has been the lack of cell or Wi-Fi service along the busiest commuter train line in the country. Riders can connect to Wi-Fi on Amtrak, most commercial airlines, but they can’t even make a call while on Metro-North? It drives me nuts that commuters aren’t able to use their time on the train efficiently, and I want to thank the Governor for proposing almost $30 million to improve connectivity along our rail lines. Let’s get this done.”
Sen. Osten, Rep. Conley Ready Bills on Human Trafficking, Inmate Mental Health
Sen. Osten, Rep. Conley Ready Bills on Human Trafficking, Inmate Mental Health
HARTFORD – State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) and state Representative Christine Conley (D-Groton) will introduce two bills this session seeking to combat human sex trafficking in motels and hotels that rent rooms by the hour, and improving mental health services for inmates, where about 80% of females and a third of males are chronically mentally ill.
“We have a couple of seemingly intractable problems facing our state in the form of human sex trafficking at motels and mentally ill inmates, and we’ve got to get a handle on these two problems if we’re going to improve the lives of everyone in this state. I think the desire is there on the part of all legislators and advocates, so this is a year where we should make some solid progress,” Sen. Osten said.
“We need to do more in Connecticut to tackle the issue of human trafficking. This legislation to prohibit places of lodging from offering hourly rates would make it much more difficult for traffickers to conduct business. This is a necessary step toward combatting such a widespread issue,” Rep. Conley said. “On mental health, in our state and across the country we are seeing alarming rates of mental illness among inmates. We need to establish a taskforce to study this issue and to draft legislation to help offer more support to this vulnerable population.”
Neither bill has a bill number yet – those will not be assigned by the Legislative Commissioner’s Office for another week or so – but Sen. Osten and Rep. Conley make the purpose of their bills clear in the bill submission form.
Sen. Osten and Rep. Conley have asked that state law be amended to prevent motels and hotels from offering hourly rates, and that any person seeking to rent a room has to provide identification.
“I’ve spoken with the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, and even they’re in agreement with this bill, because truckers don’t rent hotel rooms by the hour. They also have a national group called ‘Truckers Against Trafficking’ who’ve been looking at ways to address this problem, and they feel this bill is one tool in the toolbox to end human sex trafficking,” Sen. Osten said. “Even the Connecticut Lodging Association supports the concept of this bill. I’ve asked them both to come and testify when we have a public hearing on this bill.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has noted that human traffickers often take advantage of the privacy and anonymity accessible through the hotel and motel industry, and that those locations – which often charge as little as $20 an hour to rent a motel room – can be especially attractive locations for all forms of trafficking.
Motel and hotel staff are also not necessarily educated on how to recognize and report signs of trafficking, DHS said. For example, to combat human trafficking, DHS suggests that hotel staff look for guests who show signs of malnourishment, poor hygiene, and fatigue; who lack freedom of movement or are constantly being monitored; who have no control over or possession of money or identification; and who may be dressed inappropriately for their age.
The other bill filed by Sen. Osten and Rep. Conley seeks to create a state task force that will identify the mental health status of Connecticut’s inmate population; assess how much time someone with a mental health condition serves of their sentence compared to other inmates; weigh DEHMS oversight of identified inmates from incarceration until discharge; identify any childhood physical or sexual trauma they may have; consider conducting an EEG (electroencephalogram) on inmates to identify any possible brain seizure activity; and identify recidivism rates among inmates with mental health needs and what, if any, services they had received since discharge.
“In July 2020, The Connecticut Sentencing Commission reported that 81% of female inmates and 28% of male inmates are chronically mentally ill. And I think even those numbers are low,” Sen. Osten said. “Since the closure of state psychiatric institutions, our state prisons are increasingly being used as de facto psychiatric institutions. We need a task force to study the consequences of that and offer some legislative solutions.”
The report can be found here: http://ctsentencingcommission.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mental-Health-Memo.pdf
The 2022 legislative session begins Wednesday, February 9 and concludes May 4.
Senator Needleman Announces Fighting Invasive Species in Connecticut Waters a Key Priority for 2022 Legislative Session
Senator Needleman Announces Fighting Invasive Species in Connecticut Waters a Key Priority for 2022 Legislative Session
Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) announced that one of his foremost priorities in the 2022 legislative session involves battling invasive species in Connecticut waterways, most prominently Hydrilla, an aquatic plant that has caused headaches in state bodies of water since at least 2016. A majority of lakes, rivers and ponds in the state have some form of invasive species, which can not only bring harm to the natural ecosystems of those bodies of water but depress rates of recreation on those bodies of water, negatively impacting local economies.
“When more than half of lakes in Connecticut contain at least one invasive species, according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the time to act is now,” said Sen. Needleman. “Invasive species in our bodies of water have a directly negative impact on our state’s ecosystem, often swallowing up the majority of resources and harming other forms of life in the process. The CAES reported that in 2020, more than 200 acres of the Connecticut River’s lower third was overgrown with hydrilla.”
“But this doesn’t just impact bodies of water – it impacts our daily lives. The rivers and ponds many of us live near become dirty, water turning green and slimy and fresh water smelling awful. Boating, swimming and outdoor recreation become health risks. Businesses relying on tourism traffic, or businesses needing access to bodies of water, suffer and struggle. Invasive species harm quality of life here in Connecticut as a whole, and that’s why it’s never been more important for us to put additional steps in place to fight back against them.”
Sen. Needleman plans to work with his colleagues to provide resources to municipalities battling Hydrilla, which pose an additional risk, according to UConn – fragments of the plant on boat trailers or waterfowl can lead to its spreading in additional locations. Sen. Needleman plans to introduce or co-sponsor legislation that will provide additional funds to towns and cities, giving them more ability to fight the invasive species.
This effort will build upon 2019 legislation that required all state residents with boats to purchase a $5 invasive species stamp, with out-of-state boaters paying $25, with those funds aiding restoration and rehabilitation of lakes, rivers and ponds, eradication of aquatic invasive species, public education and grants to conduct further research.
Commerce Committee Co-Chairs Hartley, Currey Issue Statement Praising Appointment of Paul Lavoie as Connecticut’s Next Chief Manufacturing Officer
Commerce Committee Co-Chairs Hartley, Currey Issue Statement Praising Appointment of Paul Lavoie as Connecticut’s Next Chief Manufacturing Officer
State Senator Joan Hartley (D – Waterbury) and State Representative Jeff Currey (D – East Hartford, Manchester, South Windsor), the Senate and House Chairs of both the Connecticut General Assembly’s Commerce Committee and Manufacturing Caucus, issued the following statement commending the appointment of Paul Lavoie as the state’s next Chief Manufacturing Officer:
“As Connecticut continues to revitalize and grow its manufacturing sector, having an experienced leader like Paul at the helm will be an incredible asset. Having played a pivotal role in initiatives to expand operations at several local manufacturers in our state, Paul has the confidence and expertise to advance the work that Colin Cooper started. We are excited to work in collaboration with Paul to move this vital industry forward and strengthen our state’s economy for years to come. We are grateful to Colin’s service over the past few years as our state’s first chief manufacturing officer and wish him well in his retirement.”
Read the governor’s full announcement at https://bit.ly/3J6Z6vL.
Norwich to Receive Grant for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Project
Norwich to Receive Grant for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Project
EAST HARTFORD – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti announced today that the Town of Norwich will be awarded a grant for a local project relating to pedestrian and bicycle safety. Norwich will receive $599,887 for the installation of 0.6 miles of sidewalks along West Town Street on State Route 642.
“I’d like to thank Governor Lamont and Commissioner Giulietti for their continued commitment to pedestrian safety throughout the state, especially for our community. Installing a sidewalk will not only protect our residents, but visitors as well. I am thrilled that we now have the funds to complete this essential project,” said State Representative Kevin Ryan (D- Bozrah, Montville, Norwich).
“West Town Street is a bustling and vibrant business area, but it’s not very pedestrian friendly. People shouldn’t be forced to drive from store to store or walk in the breakdown lane of a very busy state road, if they’re out running errands,” said state Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague). “These new sidewalks, paid for by the State of Connecticut, will increase citizen safety and increase business activity at the same time.”
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In total, the CT DOT awarded $8.2 million in grants to 17 towns and cities across Connecticut. The towns and cities that have been selected to receive grants will be expected to complete the project within three years.
Duff, Miller, and Haskell Call on Darien Board of Education to Reconsider Open Choice Program
Duff, Miller, and Haskell Call on Darien Board of Education to Reconsider Open Choice Program
Today, State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford), and Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), called on the Darien Board of Education to reconsider the Open Choice Program. This week the Darien Board of Education voted to not participate in the Open Choice Program and not receive students from Norwalk this fall. Senators Duff, Miller, and Haskell have released the following statement in response to this action:
“Last legislative session we were proud to expand the successful Open Choice program to include Norwalk, opening the door for students to attend public schools in surrounding towns, including Darien. Open Choice is a win-win, allowing both urban and suburban students to gain exposure to new communities and experiences. Strengthening the understandings of diversity and inclusion among our young people cannot be done with just a mission statement. Diversity and inclusion are lived, not just promised. We call on the Darien Board of Education to reconsider their rejection of the Open Choice Program and do what is best for both Darien and Norwalk students.”
The Board of Education voted 5-4 last night against the Open Choice Program, with all ‘No’ votes coming from Republican board members. The four ‘Yes’ votes came from three Democratic board members and one Republican board member.
The Open Choice program allows urban students to attend public schools in nearby suburban towns. Enrollments are offered by school districts on a space-available basis in grades K-12. If the program was to move forward, it would have allowed 16 kindergartners from Norwalk to attend Darien’s four elementary schools this fall.
According to the U.S. Census report, 91% of the population in Darien is white, 0.9% is Black or African American, 5.6% of the population is Asian, 0.1% is Native Hawaiian, 4.1% is Hispanic or Latino, and 2.1% is two or more races. The Open Choice program helps to diversify the classrooms which leads to better education outcomes for students. Young children benefit from different perspectives and a variety of backgrounds in the classroom. Without a program such as Open Choice, young children lose out on opportunities that make for a successful future.
Duff, Miller, and Haskell Call on Darien Board of Education to Reconsider Open Choice Program
Duff, Miller, and Haskell Call on Darien Board of Education to Reconsider Open Choice Program
Today, State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford), and Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), called on the Darien Board of Education to reconsider the Open Choice Program. This week the Darien Board of Education voted to not participate in the Open Choice Program and not receive students from Norwalk this fall. Senators Duff, Miller, and Haskell have released the following statement in response to this action:
“Last legislative session we were proud to expand the successful Open Choice program to include Norwalk, opening the door for students to attend public schools in surrounding towns, including Darien. Open Choice is a win-win, allowing both urban and suburban students to gain exposure to new communities and experiences. Strengthening the understandings of diversity and inclusion among our young people cannot be done with just a mission statement. Diversity and inclusion are lived, not just promised. We call on the Darien Board of Education to reconsider their rejection of the Open Choice Program and do what is best for both Darien and Norwalk students.”
The Board of Education voted 5-4 last night against the Open Choice Program, with all ‘No’ votes coming from Republican board members. The four ‘Yes’ votes came from three Democratic board members and one Republican board member.
The Open Choice program allows urban students to attend public schools in nearby suburban towns. Enrollments are offered by school districts on a space-available basis in grades K-12. If the program was to move forward, it would have allowed 16 kindergartners from Norwalk to attend Darien’s four elementary schools this fall.
According to the U.S. Census report, 91% of the population in Darien is white, 0.9% is Black or African American, 5.6% of the population is Asian, 0.1% is Native Hawaiian, 4.1% is Hispanic or Latino, and 2.1% is two or more races. The Open Choice program helps to diversify the classrooms which leads to better education outcomes for students. Young children benefit from different perspectives and a variety of backgrounds in the classroom. Without a program such as Open Choice, young children lose out on opportunities that make for a successful future.