Sen. Anwar Votes for Passage of Legislation to Protect Employees From Being Fired for Not Attending Closed-Door Meetings on Political Matters
HARTFORD, CT – Today, state Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) voted in favor of legislation to protect workers’ rights. The bill passed by a 23-11 vote in the state Senate. Senate Bill 163, An Act Protecting Employee Freedom of Speech and Conscience, “generally prohibits employers, including the state and its political subdivisions, from disciplining or discharging (i.e., penalizing) an employee or threatening to do so because the employee refused to attend employer-sponsored meetings, listen to speech, or view communications primarily intended to convey the employer’s opinion about religious or political matters,” according to Office of Legislative Research bill analysis.
“At a time when unionization, the best way to empower workers and guarantee them favorable working conditions, is seeing a resurgence, this bill could not be better timed,” said Sen. Anwar. “There is a pervasive trend in many industries where the mere mention of unionization can lead to retaliation against employees, including mandatory meetings full of anti-union rhetoric. This has a chilling effect on the employer/worker relationship. By passing this legislation today, we create a standard ending the practice of forcing captive audiences into mandatory meetings and strengthening worker protections to act and believe as they choose.”
Per the legislation, “political matters” relates to the following:
- Elections for political office
- Political parties
- Proposals to change legislation or regulation
- Decisions to join or support a political party or political, civic, community, fraternal, or labor organization
Under SB 163, “religious matters” relates to:
- Religious affiliation and practice
- Decisions to join or support a religious organization or association
SB 163 sets a minimum state labor standard, like setting a state minimum wage or state health and safety standards. It protects employees’ psychological safety on the job just as state health and safety laws protect employees’ physical safety on the job. This legislation accomplishes these protections for employees without infringing on employers’ First Amendment rights. Rather, it affirms the employer’s First Amendment right to call an employee meeting at any time on any subject. It does not prevent employers or anyone else from discussing religion, politics or other topics. SB 163 only prohibits the firing (or otherwise disciplining) of employees who leave the meeting because they do not wish to listen to the employer’s opinions about religion or politics.
SB 163 prioritizes the rights of workers and received support from many during the public testimony period of the legislative session. Rob Baril, president of Meriden District 1199NE said “I’ll start by saying that one of the only vehicles for working people to have a better life is by coming together to form a union and have a voice on their job. Unfortunately, during the process, workers are forced to be a part of captive audience or group meetings and also one on one meetings. These meetings are intended to intimidate workers and deter them from forming a union.’ They added, “Senate Bill 163 allows employees the right — when the subject of the meeting is about the employers’ position on politics, religion or labor organizing — to stop listening, walk away, return to work and not participate without the fear of facing discipline or termination.”
The International Union of Operating Engineers also provided testimony in support of this important bill stating it is needed in work climates that may intimidate workers. “Employees are constantly observed, made false promises, and sometimes even harassed for the slightest hint that they might be considering siding with our union before an NLRB-conducted election for representation.”
Madeline Granato, the policy director of Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, spoke to the importance of unions and the how this legislation protects the rights of workers to organize and join if they see fit. “Unions boost workers’ economic security. Workers who join together to bargain wages, hours and working conditions earn better wages, utilize fewer safety net services, and experience less turnover than non-union workers. When workers organize to form unions, however, Connecticut employers frequently utilize captive audience meetings and other hostile tactics. Captive audience meetings are mandatory, closed-door meetings during work hours, that often deter workers from choosing a union.”
Legislation like SB 163 is gaining traction nationwide. Oregon, Wisconsin, and New Jersey have passed similar legislation. At least 13 other state legislatures have considered this issue, including Massachusetts, and New York. SB 163 passed the Judiciary Committee by a 23-15 tally on March 29.
Senator Pat Billie Miller Leads Passage of Bill Providing a Cash Refund for Remaining Gift Card Balances
Senator Pat Billie Miller Leads Passage of Bill Providing a Cash Refund for Remaining Gift Card Balances
Today, state Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford), Chair of the Banking Committee, led passage of Senate Bill 179, An Act Concerning Cash Refunds For The Balance Of A Gift Card. This bill requires merchants to provide a cash refund upon request for gift card balances under five dollars.
“This bill allows people to keep their money in their pocket and I am pleased to lead its passage in the state Senate,” said Sen. Miller. “Instead of having a gift card with a small balance sitting in your drawer, Connecticut residents will be able to redeem that remaining low balance and put it toward something else they may need.”
Under current law, accepting a gift card as payment must give the purchaser cash for the remaining balance on the card after the purchase if the balance is under $3, if the purchaser requests it and provides the proof of purchase or a gift receipt for the gift card. This bill increases the balance threshold from $3 to $5. It also eliminates the requirement to provide the proof of purchase or a gift receipt.
This bill has support from Connecticut Citizen Action Group and AARP, both submitting positive testimony in favor of the bill. AARP said consumer spending is responsible for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic output, and older adults are responsible for a disproportionate share of consumer spending. According to the AARP Longevity Economy Report, older adults contribute $8.3 trillion to the U.S. economy every year. It is critical to put policies in place that protect consumers and do not disadvantage them causing financial strain. Gift cards are financial products that have already been paid for – they are the equivalent of cash. When there is very little money left, consumers shouldn’t be required to buy something for potentially much more money in order to spend the small remaining balance.
The Connecticut Citizen Action Group said this is a basic issue of fairness. Consumers should not have to spend additional money to access the full value of a gift card. Increasing the cash out value to $5 from $3 is a small amount and the right thing to do for families, especially when they are already paid for.
In 2020, when Sen. Miller was a State Representative, she provided testimony in support of House Bill 5296, An Act Concerning Cash Refunds for the Balance of a Gift Card. Sen. Miller said gift cards have steadily grown in popularity among consumers and recipients alike. The combination of flexibility and convenience provided by a gift card allows recipients to receive the perfect gift, one they can select for themselves. Sen. Miller believes this bill will benefit the consumer and the retailer. Unfortunately, this bill did not go through the full legislative process because the legislature had to shift their focus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Senator James Maroney Leads Passage of Data Privacy Bill
Senator James Maroney Leads Passage of Data Privacy Bill
Today, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), Chair of the General Law Committee, led passage of Senate Bill 6, An Act Concerning Personal Data Privacy And Online Monitoring. This bill will help to protect consumers online in Connecticut. In 2021, Senator Maroney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) worked together on establishing a consumer data bill of rights that would protect Connecticut residents’ online privacy. The bill received favorable votes in three committees and the Senate but did not receive a vote in the House.
“I am honored to have been able to work with advocates, analysts from the data privacy industry, and my fellow senators and representatives to help craft a bill that protects our residents online,” said Sen. Maroney. “This piece of legislation provides some of the strongest privacy protections for children in the country, while not overly burdening small businesses. In our connected world, almost all of our movements can be tracked. This will give us the right to know what is being tracked about us and the ability to opt out of the sale of our personal data.”
“I would like to thank Senator Looney for making this bill a part of the Senate Democratic agenda this year and Senator Maroney for leading passage of a bill I first began working on in 2017,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. “Together we are one step closer to strengthening online privacy for consumers. This bill will put Connecticut in an elite spot as one of the first states to protect people’s personal data.”
“The use of data online has transformed into a billion-dollar industry that leverages people’s personal information for profit,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “This bill will enshrine guidelines and rules to better protect the privacy of Connecticut residents online. Today continues Connecticut’s commitment to consumer protection and vigilance against predatory practices.”
“We applaud Connecticut lawmakers for advancing SB 6, to protect the privacy of Connecticut consumers online,” said Maureen Mahoney, Senior Policy Analyst, Consumer Reports. “The collection and monetization of Connecticut consumers’ personal data has dramatically expanded over the last thirty years, but consumers have almost no say over whether their information will be shared by a company with countless others. This bill helps correct the power imbalance, by giving consumers key rights to access, delete, and stop the sale of their information – and includes crucial provisions to ensure that consumers can easily exercise their preferences.”
“There can be no doubt that the passage of SB6 is due to the hard work of Senator Maroney, who spent months building consensus and working with various stakeholders to resolve difficult issues,” said David Stauss, Co-Chair of Data Privacy and Cybersecurity at Husch Blackwell. “Once it goes into effect, SB6 will provide Connecticut residents with substantial privacy rights enjoyed by only a handful of US citizens.”
“According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2021 monetary losses as a result of frauds and scams were up 59% in Connecticut from the year before, for a total of nearly $41 million,” said Nora Duncan, AARP CT State Director. “Identity theft and imposter scams were the top two frauds reported nationwide. This legislation provides consumer choice and control of personal data, privacy by design, and transparency and accountability for the companies that hold and process personal data. Over time, these measures will help flip the script on the criminal element using personal data to defraud people of all ages in Connecticut.”
This bill establishes a framework for controlling and processing personal data, and establishes responsibilities and privacy protection standards for data controllers and processors. It also grants consumers the right to access, correct, delete and obtain a copy of personal data, and opt out of the processing of personal data for the purposes.
In February 2021, Sen. Maroney introduced Senate Bill 893, “An Act Concerning Consumer Privacy,” which would have created a consumer data bill of rights and required big-tech companies to clearly state what data is being collected, how it’s being used, and why – and consumers would have the right to see that data, fix any errors in it, or delete it all.
Under this data privacy bill, companies will be required to clearly cite a privacy policy telling consumers what data is being collected, how it is being used, and why. This way, consumers are aware and have the right of knowing what information is being collected from them, the ability to see and fix any false data that is collected from them, and the right to have any collected data be deleted.
The bill will also prohibit companies from discriminating against those who choose to exercise these rights. This bill will provide protection over user information, thus preventing companies from abusing their data. It will require companies to lessen the amount of data they collect and only use it for the purposes they are collected it for; therefore having less data breaches and identity theft.
Currently, children’s online privacy protection imposes certain requirements on operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13 years of age, and on operators of other websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information online from a child under 13 years of age. This data privacy bill also raises the children’s online privacy protection rule to children under 16 years of age. It also matches California’s laws for the strongest protections for children online.
The legislation will ensure transparency within companies and consumers, therefore guaranteeing that consumers know just how much of their information is being collected and are given the right to control what is done with that data.
Bill Supporting Extension of Research & Development Tax Credits for Small Businesses Approved by Senate
Bill Supporting Extension of Research & Development Tax Credits for Small Businesses Approved by Senate
State Senator Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury, Naugatuck, and Middlebury), Senate Chair of the state legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus, led approval of Senate Bill 351, which now advances it to the state House of Representatives for consideration. The bill directs the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, in consultation with the state Department of Revenue Services, to study the possibility of extending research and development (R&D) tax credits to pass-through entities which can include LLCs, sole proprietorships, and S-corporations. The bill advances to the state House of Representatives for consideration.
“A career in manufacturing or bioscience is a pathway to the middle-class,” said Sen. Hartley. “I appreciate the bipartisan and business community support for this bill to study a tax relief option that could be extended to support Connecticut businesses, including small-sized manufacturers and start-ups in the bioscience industry sector.”
The bill received support from advocates and business leaders representing ManufactureCT, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association’s Bioscience Growth Council, and the Greater New Haven & Quinnipiac Chambers of Commerce. They touted several benefits extending R&D tax credits to pass-through entities would have for the manufacturing and bioscience business sectors including:
- Would support the growth of small manufacturers who may not otherwise have the resources or employees to make an investment in research and development efforts
- Research funding circulating throughout the state economy
- CBIA highlighted in testimony that an analysis by the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services found that for every $1 of a research and development tax credit there is $30 invested in Connecticut
- Assist Connecticut in recruiting more bioscience businesses to the state
Senate Passes Bill Banning Single-Use Styrofoam and Trays in Schools & Restaurants After July 1, 2024
Senate Passes Bill Banning Single-Use Styrofoam and Trays in Schools & Restaurants After July 1, 2024
HARTFORD – The state Senate today voted to ban the use of many single-use expanded polystyrene products – most often referred to under their trademarked name ‘Styrofoam’ – from schools, universities and restaurants in Connecticut beginning July 1, 2024, thereby significantly reducing the amount non-recyclable material that contributes thousands of tons of waste every year to Connecticut’s rapidly filling municipal landfills.
State Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford), who is Senate Chair of the Environment Committee, led debate and passage of the Senate Bill 118, which passed on a 23-11 vote. The measure now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration before the legislature adjourns for the year on May 4.
“I am thrilled with the passage of this important ban out of the Senate chamber this evening,” Sen. Cohen said. “We have learned that not only is polystyrene harmful to our environment, but it has detrimental impacts to our health and safety. With so many alternatives on the market these days and many schools and restaurants already choosing to offer those substitutes, it makes sense to make this policy statewide.”
SB 118 has four main components:
Connecticut’s public schools, regional school districts, regional vocational-technical schools, UConn, all four state universities, 12 community colleges and Charter Oak State College must phase-out the use of expanded polystyrene trays by July 1, 2024. Schools have to end or amend any purchasing contracts for such trays by July 1, 2023 and discontinue use of the trays by July 1, 2024.
Restaurants and catering businesses are prohibited from providing or distributing single-use expanded polystyrene food and beverage containers to customers beginning July 1, 2024. Exempted from the ban are containers that are filled and sealed before being received by a restaurant or caterer that are sold to customers, or containers used by a butcher or store to hold raw meat.
The owner or operator of a restaurant or caterer who violates the ban will receive a warning for a first violation, a $200 fine for a second violation, a $500 fine for a third violation, and a $1,000 fine for a subsequent violation. Restaurants and caterers can only be issued one violation per day. The ban would be enforced by a local health department or health district, or by the state departments of Public Health, Consumer Protection or the Energy and Environmental Protection.
By February 1, 2025, the DPH, DCP, and DEEP must submit a report to the legislature on the law’s enforcement and the need to establish a hardship waiver for any restaurant or caterer with a demonstrated financial hardship directly caused by the law.
At its February 25 public hearing, the polystyrene ban was supported by an 8:1 margin by Connecticut residents. Many spoke of the non-recyclable nature and potentially hazardous nature of the material, which was invented in the 1940s at Dow’s Chemical Physics Lab.
The Earth Resource Foundation reported in 1986 – nearly 40 years ago – that Styrofoam manufacturers were the fifth-largest producer of toxic waste in the word; the Green Dining Alliance estimates that 2.3 million tons of expanded polystyrene products end up in landfills every year, accounting for about 30% of all the landfill space on the planet. In Connecticut, a 2015 report concluded that about 12,000 tons of food-grade expanded polystyrene – not including waste from schools – was thrown away every year in Connecticut’s trash.
During the bill’s public hearing, Julie DesChamps of Waste Free Greenwich – part of a coalition of groups forming ReThink Disposable CT – testified that the group conducted a survey of 31 Connecticut school districts in 2021 and found that 80% of them had already switched from expanded polystyrene trays to some type of safer, more environmentally friendly disposable or even reusable food serviceware. Districts that have already transitioned away from Styrofoam school food trays include New Canaan, Norwich, Wilton, Bristol, New Haven, Norwalk and Stamford.
Senate Passes Bill Preventing Colleges from Holding Transcripts of Job-Seeking Alumni Due to Student Debt
Senate Passes Bill Preventing Colleges from Holding Transcripts of Job-Seeking Alumni Due to Student Debt
Today, State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Senate Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, led the Senate’s passage of legislation ensuring colleges and universities cannot hold the transcripts of alumni applying for jobs due to the student debt held by those alumni.
When college alumni apply for jobs, they often need to submit their academic transcript to employers. Some colleges and universities have policies where students and alumni with student debt cannot access their transcripts; these policies can prevent alumni from attaining employment to pay down that debt, restricting career opportunities. With the high cost of tuition at many colleges and universities, these policies can lead to financial harm for students.
“Students and alumni who owe their schools money are best positioned to pay off their debts if they are employed,” said Sen. Slap. “This bill ensures they can have their transcripts sent to prospective employers. It ends the practice of so-called ‘transcript holds’ for job seekers.”
Senate Bill 17, “An Act Prohibiting An Institution Of Higher Education From Withholding Transcripts,” would prohibit Connecticut higher education institutions from refusing to provide transcripts to employers or prospective employers in the case of owed debt.
Groups including the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and Student Loan Fund Borrowers Collective testified in support of the legislation, pointing to the high cost of student loans for many current and past students and loans’ rippling effects on employment and finances. Restrictions on transcript access, they argued, also disproportionately impacts those with lower incomes.
The bill now moves to the House for further consideration. It was previously approved by the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee by a 20-3 vote.
Student-Athletes To Benefit From Bill Just Passed By Senate
Student-Athletes To Benefit From Bill Just Passed By Senate
Senator Slap: “Allowing student-athletes at Connecticut schools to use their school’s logo will generate more endorsement deals and help schools compete for athletes.”
HARTFORD – Today, the State Senate passed a so-called “name, image and likeness” bill, making it easier for student-athletes to negotiate with third parties and use their school’s logo in an endorsement agreement. Currently, Connecticut is one of only two states which prohibit student-athletes from using their schools’ logo or watermark as part of an endorsement contract. UConn testified in support of the legislation and argued the change would align Connecticut with other states and help them recruit students. The use of any logo or watermark would still need to be approved by the school or college.
“This bipartisan legislation builds on our recently enacted name, image and likeness bill passed last year,” said Senator Slap. “Student-athletes deserve to benefit from their talents and achievements. Passing this legislation helps them do that, while also helping our local schools and universities compete with those in other states.”
Senate Bill 20, “An Act Concerning The Name, Image and Likeness of Student Athletes,” ends Connecticut’s ban on student-athletes using a higher education institution’s institutional marks – for instance, the University of Connecticut’s phrases like “UConn” and “UConn Huskies” and Jonathan the Husky mascot – in their endorsement contracts or employment. Students will still need to negotiate with their school on the use of those marks.
Upon passage, it will be up to each school to enact a policy on use of their logo as part of any student-athlete endorsement deal.
In 2021, Sen. Slap led the Senate’s passage of legislation allowing student-athletes in colleges and universities to earn compensation through endorsement or employment contracts unrelated to their athletic programs, as well as obtain legal or professional representation from attorneys or sports agents, as long as they comply with their policies on such activities. This ended a long-held practice in college athletics where student-athletes would not be able to benefit financially from their work in athletic programs – even as college athletic events and leagues, such as the annual March Madness basketball tournament, drive billions of dollars of revenue annually. This legislation goes further in ensuring student-athletes can be identified in such endorsements with the images, phrases and information relevant to their athletic careers.
In testimony in front of the Higher Education Committee, UConn executive associate athletic director Neal Eskin gave support to the legislation, saying it would enhance opportunities for student-athletes – and for colleges and universities as well, in that endorsements with references to colleges and universities “may heighten institutional exposure and awareness.” Additionally, he noted, Connecticut’s status currently preventing such usage would allow Connecticut to better compete with schools in other states, as students choosing to enroll would have the same opportunities as those allowing use of institutional marks.
The bill now heads to the House for a vote.
Senator Haskell Cuts Traffic
Senator Haskell Cuts Traffic
This week, State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee, led the Senate’s approval of legislation that would address traffic congestion in Connecticut, helping constituents get where they need to go. The bill would ensure law enforcement officials are trained in traffic management techniques and increase the deployment of drones to avoid extended lane closures.
“Connecticut residents know a thing or two about traffic. In fact, drivers in the Stamford area experience some of the worst congestion in the country, spending an average of 74 hours idling on the road and forgoing $1,095 per capita,” said Sen. Haskell. “This bill will help get Connecticut moving again, saving the folks we serve time, money, and perhaps some headaches. I want to especially thank Vitalij, a project engineer at the Department of Transportation who enjoyed learning about drones during his off time. He took that knowledge into work one day and volunteered to help the Department use drones to conduct complex inspection work. In the months that followed, he trained other pilots to operate a fleet of drones, saving taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars and avoiding unnecessary road closures each time engineers need an up-close look under bridges, over highways and atop high wires. The state police have even begun using drones to collect data quickly after major accidents, then clear the roadway and alleviate traffic. We should be doing more of this 21st work, and I’m proud that this bill will formalize drone deployment and build on the project that Vitalij started.”
Senate Bill 389, “An Act Concerning Traffic Mitigation,” makes two changes to traffic management law, including:
- By the end of 2022, the Police Officer Standards and training, or POST, Council will work with the Department of Transportation to develop a traffic incident management curriculum for police officers, which must align with Federal
- Highway Administration training and provide for a systematic, planned and coordinated approach for responding to and clearing traffic incidents to safely and efficiently restore traffic capacity; by October 2023, police basic or review training programs will include the curriculum.
- By October 2022, the Department of Transportation and Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection commissioners will need to develop plans to expand the use of drones for inspection of vehicle accidents and traffic accidents and for inspection of existing transportation facilities.
Use of drones will be key to increase the efficiency of accident surveying and infrastructure inspection, allowing for vital information to be collected accurately without deploying staff and shutting down traffic. This legislation passed the Senate with a bipartisan 34-2 vote.
Senator Haskell Leads Passage of Legislation to Address Trucker Shortage, Reduce Recidivism
Senator Haskell Leads Passage of Legislation to Address Trucker Shortage, Reduce Recidivism
Today, State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee, led the Senate’s passage of legislation that would empower incarcerated people who are nearing the end of their sentence to earn a commercial learners’ permit. Incarcerated individuals who are re-entering the community within six months and retain eligibility to drive commercial vehicles would be given an opportunity to study for and take the knowledge test necessary to earn a Commerical Learners’ Permit. This bill is intended to both provide a pathway to good-paying jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals, helping to reduce recidivism, and also provide a robust workforce pipeline for the trucking industry during a period of supply chain challenges.
“Too often, folks re-entering society struggle to find a job after serving their time behind bars. Tragically, joblessness drives some of these individuals back into crime, and the vicious cycle of recidivism hampers opportunity and growth,” said Sen. Haskell. “Meanwhile, workforce shortages in the trucking industry have strained our supply chain, here in Connecticut and across the country. Our legislation aims to address both problems by helping incarcerated people who are nearing the date of their release to earn a Commercial Learner’s Permit. Entering society with this permit in hand, they’re likely to be recruited for paid apprenticeships, and they may soon find themselves earning over $60,000 per year. That’s a victory for those who are hoping to turn the page and start a new chapter in their life, and it’s a victory for our state’s economy. In short, this bill is a win-win.”
Senate Bill 334, “An Act Making The Commercial Driver’s License Knowledge Test Available To Certain Incarcerated Persons,” requires the commissioner of the Department of Corrections to provide space and technology for the administration and preparation of the knowledge test. The commissioner will also need to assign personnel and provide resources to administer testing in corrections facilities. Incarcerated persons who are disqualified from driving a commercial vehicle or who have lost driving privileges due to their criminal history will not be allowed to operate vehicles.
This legislation received support from a variety of sources – the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Department of Corrections, ACLU of Connecticut, Office of Workforce Strategy and Motor Transport Association of Connecticut all testified in support. Joe Sculley, President of the MTAC, testified that there is a severe shortage of truck drivers and the industry needs highly-motivated staff ready to work hard. He said the MTAC expects formerly incarcerated persons would fill that role. The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving testified in support as well, noting that access to education and workforce development programs for incarcerated men and women are an essential strategy in preparing for employment and successful re-entry to society after incarceration.
The Department of Corrections noted in testimony that it plans to provide computer tablets to inmates, which it believes can be used to aid access to these programs.
This legislation passed the Transportation Committee in March by a 35-0 vote. It now heads to the House for further consideration.
Senator Anwar Leads Senate Passage of Legislation Investigating Sex Offenders in Long-Term Care
Senator Anwar Leads Senate Passage of Legislation Investigating Sex Offenders in Long-Term Care
Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) led the Senate’s passage of legislation investigating current state standards regarding sex offender status of long-term care residents. The legislation would establish a task force studying the impacts of residents with such status for both their own and environmental health and well-being.
Sen. Anwar is a co-sponsor of the legislation, which was spurred by a May 2021 incident where a resident of a long-term care facility on a sexual offender list committed assault against a staff member. That incident occurred in Sen. Anwar’s district.
“After the serious incident that occurred in an East Windsor nursing home last year, it is imperative that we take action to prevent and better understand the consequences of sex offenders in long-term care homes,” said Sen. Anwar. “There is a loophole in state law where registered sex offenders’ status is not reported if they are transferred to state long-term care facilities from other states. This is the first step toward closing this loophole and making these facilities safe for all residing there.”
Senate Bill 254, “An Act Establishing A Task Force To Study The Impact Of A Resident Who Appears In A Sex Offender Registry On the Environment Of A Long-Term Care Facility And Of Such Registries On The Health Of A Person Who Appears In One” would establish a task force to study means of ensuring resident and employee health and safety with a resident appearing in state- or national sex offender databases, including the impact they would have on the facility environment; the impact of offender registry databases on individuals; and any necessary legislative changes to ensure health and safety of all parties involved. The task force would need to release a report to the General Assembly by the end of 2022.