Sen. Rahman Introduces Legislation To Cap Rental Application Fees, Helping Lower Cost Barriers To Housing
Working to reduce housing access costs for Connecticut residents, especially young renters and those on limited budgets, State Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester) has introduced legislation to cap the amount landlords may charge for application fees and tenant screening reports. The legislation would also require landlords to show proof of tenant screening reports. The bill in question is Senate Bill 878, “An Act Concerning Rental Application Fees and Tenant Screening Reports.”
“When we face housing shortages and are trying to retain young workers in our state, we need to do more to aid residents in being able to access housing,” said Sen. Rahman. “I’ve heard stories from constituents and colleagues that landlords and housing complexes are charging application fees, often non-refundable, valued as high as hundreds of dollars. This effectively serves as a financial barrier to housing, especially for someone applying to multiple properties. Additionally, if a landlord collects a tenant screening report, they should show proof of such a report, as landlords could potentially simply pocket a fee or charge more than the report’s value. In an environment where these factors can add to renters’ struggles to find housing, such changes can help reduce costs and prevent further restrictions on housing availability.”
Other states have already passed laws capping rental application fee costs; California, Delaware, New York and Colorado are among the states with such laws.
While the average rental application fee in the United States stands at around $30 per applicant, property managers and landlords can charge more. For prospective applicants, these fees can add up to hundreds of dollars with no guarantee of finding new or better housing. Such fees can be especially challenging for some; a 2022 Zillow survey found Black and Hispanic renters were nearly twice as likely to report submitting five or more housing applications. The survey further found people of color paid, on average, higher median application fees than white renters.
These increased fees are coming during a time of economic uncertainty, adding to an already challenging climate for Connecticut residents. This can have ripple effects that impact the state’s workforce negatively; for instance, the Connecticut Insider reported in 2022 that nearly 1/3 of “Gen Z” live at home with parents or relatives, and in 2020, nearly 3 million Americans moved in with relatives. In 2021, a quarter of adults ages 25-34 lived in multigenerational households; that’s up 9% from 1971. Any efforts to reduce costs will help reduce these burdens and aid renters.
Sen. Anwar: Rebuilding Health Care In Connecticut In The Post-Pandemic Era
Sen. Anwar: Rebuilding Health Care In Connecticut In The Post-Pandemic Era
With nearly three years passing since the first confirmed infection of COVID-19 in Connecticut, the health care field in Connecticut has suffered serious damage including staff attrition and a decline in quality of care. State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, has introduced several legislative proposals to the General Assembly to address those policies and better prepare Connecticut for future emergencies on a similar scale – including for businesses who may seek to profit off others.
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were clear flaws and holes in our health care systems, which served as pressure points that could cause further damage in the event of disaster,” said Sen. Anwar. “In 2023, after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, disaster has clearly struck, and the damage is evident. Health care staff are leaving the field, and those who valiantly keep fighting to save lives see their jobs made more difficult. Our hospitals are not prepared for surges of illness; the ‘tripledemic’ of COVID, flu and RSV made that evident, pushing resources to their limit. And in the event of future disaster, the same exploitation and price-gouging seen in parts of the state in 2020 could repeat, enriching a few while financially harming many more. We owe it to ourselves to fight for the future of health care and prevent past problems from arising once again. Otherwise, we may find ourselves repeating what didn’t work in worse circumstances.”
Foremost, Sen. Anwar has proposed mandating nurse-to-patient staffing ratios at the state and federal levels after hearing from nurses in the field – and gaining firsthand experience working as a pulmonologist and physician – of the stressors and issues they’ve experienced while providing care in understaffed, overworked hospitals and care facilities. According to the American Federation of Teachers union, in which doctors and nurses are represented, adding one patient to a nurse’s workload results in a 7% increased risk of in-hospital mortality and a 48% increase in risk of a child being readmitted to the hospital within a month.
At least two bills have been introduced regarding improved staffing through the Public Health Committee. One of them, House Bill 6148, “An Act Concerning Minimum Staffing Levels For Nurses,” would establish minimum staffing levels including one nurse to one patient in operating rooms and for emergency department trauma patients; one nurse to two patients in intensive or critical care units and other key care areas; one nurse to four patients in areas such as pediatric units, emergency departments and telemetry units; and one nurse to six patients in postpartum and psychiatric units.
Additionally, Senate Bill 50, “An Act Concerning Support for Surge Capacity for Emergency Rooms, Hospitals and Nursing Care Facilities,” introduced to the Public Health Committee, would amend the general statutes to require emergency rooms, hospitals and nursing care facilities for emergency or disaster events. The legislation specifically would require those facilities to have adequate stocks of child and adult medical supplies, including common medications.
This bill comes in response to recent waves of illness and infection, including COVID-19 infection waves and the “tripledemic” of fall/winter 2022/23 with increased transmission of influenza and RSV in addition to COVID-19, that have placed enough stress and pressure on health care that traditional and customary medicines saw widespread shortages. It would also serve to protect against additional emergency events like severe weather or mass shootings, ensuring any situation requiring rapid surge medical response would be met with proper response.
Further, Senate Bill 41, “An Act Concerning The Authority of the Office of the Attorney General To Bring An Action Against A Seller Who Engages In Price Gouging During A Disaster or Emergency,” introduced to the General Law Committee, would amend the general statutes to allow the office of the Attorney General to take action against sellers engaging in price gouging in the wake of a major event.
Similar legislation was introduced in 2022, but not passed, with intention of fixing laws in place prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. While price gouging is illegal during emergency declarations, the Office of the Attorney General lacked the ability to crack down on suppliers, wholesalers or rental and leading businesses; in 2022 testimony, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said price gougers would be able to continue to profit in the event of a future emergency should the law not be changed. Such an action would not only provide increased protection in the wake of mass illness but additional emergency situations such as extreme weather.
Senate Democrats Announce Agenda to Strengthen Education and Our Workforce
Senate Democrats Announce Agenda to Strengthen Education and Our Workforce
HARTFORD, CT — Today, the Senate Democratic Majority of the Connecticut General Assembly unveiled more of its legislative priorities for the 2023 session, focusing on strengthening Connecticut’s education and workforce by addressing issues of college affordability, lowering barriers to job training, increasing clarity and transparency in how K through 12 schools report their spending, expanding paid sick leave, and implementing predictable work scheduling for Connecticut’s workers.
Today’s announcement marks the second of four successive days of public policy statements from Senate Democrats on a wide variety of issues confronting Connecticut and its residents: improving personal safety, strengthening education and Connecticut’s workforce, improving mental and physical health, and lowering costs for consumers.
“Once again, we will advance an agenda that supports the education, health, and dignity of this generation and the next generation of Connecticut workers,” said Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “People have historically been attracted to Connecticut because of our high-quality public education system and the strong workforce protections that we have. People deserve a state government that is supportive of their efforts to balance work and family, while pursuing their goals in life. We hear them and will fight for a Connecticut that works for them.”
“One of Connecticut’s greatest strengths is its workforce. This year, Senate Democrats will make a historic investment in the future of our state’s residents by expanding the successful debt-free community college program and lowering the cost to attend college,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “We also must keep our promise to Connecticut’s workers, many of whom were on the frontlines of the pandemic, by upholding the dignity of work. We will expand paid sick leave and finally pass a predictable scheduling law. It’s about giving stability and economic security to some of the state’s hardest workers.”
Today’s announcement focuses on specific public policy areas, including:
Education
SB 1: AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSPARENCY IN EDUCATION, to provide equal and comprehensive access to education and academic opportunities for all children in Connecticut.
Every year, school districts in Connecticut spend billions of dollars and are required to report financial data on certain expenditures to the Connecticut Department of Education. However, the nine categories to report data on are overly broad and vague. These categories include “Support Services – school based administration” (supplies), “Support Services – students” (employee benefits), “central and other support services” (property), and “Enterprise operations.”
The lack of detailed reporting requirements makes it difficult to compare the spending practices of school districts, even if they are similarly sized. Additionally, the general reporting categories allow school districts to have different interpretations of what information is expected of them to be shared.
In fiscal year 2021, municipalities in Connecticut spent about $9.3 billion on education, not including school construction expenses paid for by the State of Connecticut. With more information on how these billions of dollars are spent, we can better target that funding to areas with the greatest need and that will have the greatest impact.
In response, Senate Bill 1 will:
- Create stronger oversight and uniformity in reporting on how school districts are spending funds to support students and schools
- Increase state supports and resources for children’s mental and behavioral health in schools
- •Address increasing class sizes
- •Address teacher shortages
- •Ensure effective and quality teacher evaluations
- •Ensure money is being spent on our students in the classroom
“All of our children should receive a high-quality education that prepares them for success in a 21st century economy. Just as important, we have to better equip educators with the tools they need to instruct and care for Connecticut’s young leaders – a heightened priority as schools struggle with teacher shortages and burnout,” said state Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford), Co-Chair of the Education Committee. “We can’t fully address these priorities and other pressing issues in education without stronger information sharing on how school districts spend funding.”
Higher Education
SB 8: AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHER EDUCATION AFFORDABILITY, GRADUATE RETENTION AND STUDENT HEALTH, to provide increased financial support for our state colleges and universities to enhance ongoing services on campus for all students, and to improve the state’s efforts in the retention of graduates from the state’s institutions of higher education.
Connecticut’s colleges and universities offer academic programs for numerous in-demand job fields, including nursing and computer and information technology. These professions are in need of skilled workers either due to a prolonged shortage or are expected to have above-average job growth for the next several years.
However, the demand for skilled workers has run up against student enrollment concerns in Connecticut’s institutions of higher education since 2010. More specifically, enrollment in the state’s universities dropped by 8.1 percent in the last two years – a troubling trend, especially for state residents most likely to benefit from attaining a college degree. Data from the state Department of Education found that college enrollment among low-income students has dropped from 58 percent in 2018-19 to 51 percent in 2021-22.
To lower barriers to job training and address enrollment problems, Senate Democrats will:
Expand Connecticut’s Debt-Free Community College Program
In 2019, Senate Democrats passed debt-free community college in Connecticut for first-time students – also known as PACT: Pledge to Advance CT – who are attending community college full-time. In 2021, the PACT program was expanded to include part-time students.
As a result, over 10,000 students are now enrolled in the program. PACT has addressed head-on enrollment concerns at the state’s community colleges, but the need for skilled workers cannot be met by only students coming directly out of high school.
Senate Democrats will:
- Build on the PACT’s success by expanding eligibility to include students returning to community college
- Increase the current $250 per semester given to students under PACT to cover non-tuition expenses like buying textbooks
Put More Money into the Roberta Willis Scholarship Program
State budgets crafted and led by Senate Democrats the past two years have appropriated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to increase student aid for Connecticut’s students.
Senate Democrats will:
- Target additional funds toward the underfunded Roberta Willis Scholarship Program. The expansion of the program would make it more affordable to attend the state’s four-year universities and earn a college degree – a key selling point in working to boost student enrollment as potential students compare attending a public or private institution of higher education.
“If we want to truly grow Connecticut’s economy, we must ensure that Connecticut has the best trained and educated workforce in the nation. Senate Bill 8 will help make this a reality by expanding access for students and aligning the needs of employers with the skills of graduates. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both chambers and both parties to make smart investments in higher education that will pay dividends for generations to come,” said State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Co-Chair of the Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee.
Workforce
Connecticut has been a champion of worker’s rights and the ability for employees to care for their personal wellbeing and that of their families. In recent years, Senate Democrats have passed paid family and medical leave and raised the minimum wage, which will reach $15 in June 2023.
This legislative session, Senate Democrats will reaffirm its commitment to pro-worker policies that will make Connecticut an even more attractive place to work, build a life, and raise a family by prioritizing:
Expanding Paid Sick Leave
Connecticut was the first state to pass paid sick leave legislation over a decade ago. In the years since, other states have followed Connecticut’s lead and even surpassed in offering more encompassing paid sick leave policies for their states’ workers.
Under current law in Connecticut, only hourly employees working for an employer with more than 50 workers – with additional eligibility qualifications – are required to be given up to 40 hours of annual paid sick leave. These restrictive qualifications under current state law mean that an estimated only 11 percent of Connecticut employees are required to be provided paid sick leave, according to a study by the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Once at the forefront, Connecticut has fallen behind neighboring states – such as New York and Rhode Island – and states across the country – including Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado – in having paid sick leave laws that cover more workers. States like Arizona require all employers to offer paid sick leave with very limited exceptions.
In response, Senate Democrats will:
- Expand its paid sick leave law to include all private sector workers. This expansion of paid sick leave empowers workers to be able to care for their health and wellness
Predictable Scheduling
Every day, thousands of Connecticut workers in hourly positions show up to their jobs ready to carry out their responsibilities and do a hard day’s work. However, their ability to show up to work revolves around unpredictable work schedules that can include “on-call” shifts with no guarantee of actual work and canceled shifts with little notice and no pay.
This indignity on workers hurts their ability to pay household bills, arrange medical appointments, secure child care, or financially plan for their families future. These tasks are already difficult considering these jobs – such as in retail and food establishments – pay minimum wage or less if a tipped position while providing few, if any, benefits.
To address this economic injustice, Senate Democrats will:
- Pass a law requiring a predictable schedule for Connecticut’s service-sector workers.
Business industries, such as food establishments and hospitality, have struggled to hire workers the past couple of years. A more stable work schedule would incentivize residents to apply for and stay in these industries.
- A predictable schedule would give workers with children a greater ability to be involved in their child’s upbringing and development
- Over 250,000 of the state’s hourly workers have kids under 18 according to the Connecticut AFL-CIO and Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund
- Connecticut would join states across the nation that have approved predictable scheduling laws including Oregon, Philadelphia, San Jose, New York City, and Chicago
“Time and time again we see what a difference having a skilled, well-paid, well-compensated workforce makes to our quality of life here in Connecticut, both to our residents and our businesses,” said state Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), who is Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. “This year we plan to make life better for both workers and businesses by expanding paid sick leave and requiring predictable work scheduling. The past few years of the pandemic and its fallout have shown us that engines of our economy are employees, and we have to ensure that they have the opportunities and protections in place to make them as productive and successful as possible.”
Senate Democrats Announce Agenda to Strengthen Education and Our Workforce
Senate Democrats Announce Agenda to Strengthen Education and Our Workforce
HARTFORD, CT — Today, the Senate Democratic Majority of the Connecticut General Assembly unveiled more of its legislative priorities for the 2023 session, focusing on strengthening Connecticut’s education and workforce by addressing issues of college affordability, lowering barriers to job training, increasing clarity and transparency in how K through 12 schools report their spending, expanding paid sick leave, and implementing predictable work scheduling for Connecticut’s workers.
Today’s announcement marks the second of four successive days of public policy statements from Senate Democrats on a wide variety of issues confronting Connecticut and its residents: improving personal safety, strengthening education and Connecticut’s workforce, improving mental and physical health, and lowering costs for consumers.
“Once again, we will advance an agenda that supports the education, health, and dignity of this generation and the next generation of Connecticut workers,” said Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “People have historically been attracted to Connecticut because of our high-quality public education system and the strong workforce protections that we have. People deserve a state government that is supportive of their efforts to balance work and family, while pursuing their goals in life. We hear them and will fight for a Connecticut that works for them.”
“One of Connecticut’s greatest strengths is its workforce. This year, Senate Democrats will make a historic investment in the future of our state’s residents by expanding the successful debt-free community college program and lowering the cost to attend college,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “We also must keep our promise to Connecticut’s workers, many of whom were on the frontlines of the pandemic, by upholding the dignity of work. We will expand paid sick leave and finally pass a predictable scheduling law. It’s about giving stability and economic security to some of the state’s hardest workers.”
Today’s announcement focuses on specific public policy areas, including:
Education
SB 1: AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSPARENCY IN EDUCATION, to provide equal and comprehensive access to education and academic opportunities for all children in Connecticut.
Every year, school districts in Connecticut spend billions of dollars and are required to report financial data on certain expenditures to the Connecticut Department of Education. However, the nine categories to report data on are overly broad and vague. These categories include “Support Services – school based administration” (supplies), “Support Services – students” (employee benefits), “central and other support services” (property), and “Enterprise operations.”
The lack of detailed reporting requirements makes it difficult to compare the spending practices of school districts, even if they are similarly sized. Additionally, the general reporting categories allow school districts to have different interpretations of what information is expected of them to be shared.
In fiscal year 2021, municipalities in Connecticut spent about $9.3 billion on education, not including school construction expenses paid for by the State of Connecticut. With more information on how these billions of dollars are spent, we can better target that funding to areas with the greatest need and that will have the greatest impact.
In response, Senate Bill 1 will:
- Create stronger oversight and uniformity in reporting on how school districts are spending funds to support students and schools
- Increase state supports and resources for children’s mental and behavioral health in schools
- •Address increasing class sizes
- •Address teacher shortages
- •Ensure effective and quality teacher evaluations
- •Ensure money is being spent on our students in the classroom
“All of our children should receive a high-quality education that prepares them for success in a 21st century economy. Just as important, we have to better equip educators with the tools they need to instruct and care for Connecticut’s young leaders – a heightened priority as schools struggle with teacher shortages and burnout,” said state Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford), Co-Chair of the Education Committee. “We can’t fully address these priorities and other pressing issues in education without stronger information sharing on how school districts spend funding.”
Higher Education
SB 8: AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHER EDUCATION AFFORDABILITY, GRADUATE RETENTION AND STUDENT HEALTH, to provide increased financial support for our state colleges and universities to enhance ongoing services on campus for all students, and to improve the state’s efforts in the retention of graduates from the state’s institutions of higher education.
Connecticut’s colleges and universities offer academic programs for numerous in-demand job fields, including nursing and computer and information technology. These professions are in need of skilled workers either due to a prolonged shortage or are expected to have above-average job growth for the next several years.
However, the demand for skilled workers has run up against student enrollment concerns in Connecticut’s institutions of higher education since 2010. More specifically, enrollment in the state’s universities dropped by 8.1 percent in the last two years – a troubling trend, especially for state residents most likely to benefit from attaining a college degree. Data from the state Department of Education found that college enrollment among low-income students has dropped from 58 percent in 2018-19 to 51 percent in 2021-22.
To lower barriers to job training and address enrollment problems, Senate Democrats will:
Expand Connecticut’s Debt-Free Community College Program
In 2019, Senate Democrats passed debt-free community college in Connecticut for first-time students – also known as PACT: Pledge to Advance CT – who are attending community college full-time. In 2021, the PACT program was expanded to include part-time students.
As a result, over 10,000 students are now enrolled in the program. PACT has addressed head-on enrollment concerns at the state’s community colleges, but the need for skilled workers cannot be met by only students coming directly out of high school.
Senate Democrats will:
- Build on the PACT’s success by expanding eligibility to include students returning to community college
- Increase the current $250 per semester given to students under PACT to cover non-tuition expenses like buying textbooks
Put More Money into the Roberta Willis Scholarship Program
State budgets crafted and led by Senate Democrats the past two years have appropriated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to increase student aid for Connecticut’s students.
Senate Democrats will:
- Target additional funds toward the underfunded Roberta Willis Scholarship Program. The expansion of the program would make it more affordable to attend the state’s four-year universities and earn a college degree – a key selling point in working to boost student enrollment as potential students compare attending a public or private institution of higher education.
“If we want to truly grow Connecticut’s economy, we must ensure that Connecticut has the best trained and educated workforce in the nation. Senate Bill 8 will help make this a reality by expanding access for students and aligning the needs of employers with the skills of graduates. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both chambers and both parties to make smart investments in higher education that will pay dividends for generations to come,” said State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Co-Chair of the Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee.
Workforce
Connecticut has been a champion of worker’s rights and the ability for employees to care for their personal wellbeing and that of their families. In recent years, Senate Democrats have passed paid family and medical leave and raised the minimum wage, which will reach $15 in June 2023.
This legislative session, Senate Democrats will reaffirm its commitment to pro-worker policies that will make Connecticut an even more attractive place to work, build a life, and raise a family by prioritizing:
Expanding Paid Sick Leave
Connecticut was the first state to pass paid sick leave legislation over a decade ago. In the years since, other states have followed Connecticut’s lead and even surpassed in offering more encompassing paid sick leave policies for their states’ workers.
Under current law in Connecticut, only hourly employees working for an employer with more than 50 workers – with additional eligibility qualifications – are required to be given up to 40 hours of annual paid sick leave. These restrictive qualifications under current state law mean that an estimated only 11 percent of Connecticut employees are required to be provided paid sick leave, according to a study by the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Once at the forefront, Connecticut has fallen behind neighboring states – such as New York and Rhode Island – and states across the country – including Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado – in having paid sick leave laws that cover more workers. States like Arizona require all employers to offer paid sick leave with very limited exceptions.
In response, Senate Democrats will:
- Expand its paid sick leave law to include all private sector workers. This expansion of paid sick leave empowers workers to be able to care for their health and wellness
Predictable Scheduling
Every day, thousands of Connecticut workers in hourly positions show up to their jobs ready to carry out their responsibilities and do a hard day’s work. However, their ability to show up to work revolves around unpredictable work schedules that can include “on-call” shifts with no guarantee of actual work and canceled shifts with little notice and no pay.
This indignity on workers hurts their ability to pay household bills, arrange medical appointments, secure child care, or financially plan for their families future. These tasks are already difficult considering these jobs – such as in retail and food establishments – pay minimum wage or less if a tipped position while providing few, if any, benefits.
To address this economic injustice, Senate Democrats will:
- Pass a law requiring a predictable schedule for Connecticut’s service-sector workers.
Business industries, such as food establishments and hospitality, have struggled to hire workers the past couple of years. A more stable work schedule would incentivize residents to apply for and stay in these industries.
- A predictable schedule would give workers with children a greater ability to be involved in their child’s upbringing and development
- Over 250,000 of the state’s hourly workers have kids under 18 according to the Connecticut AFL-CIO and Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund
- Connecticut would join states across the nation that have approved predictable scheduling laws including Oregon, Philadelphia, San Jose, New York City, and Chicago
“Time and time again we see what a difference having a skilled, well-paid, well-compensated workforce makes to our quality of life here in Connecticut, both to our residents and our businesses,” said state Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), who is Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. “This year we plan to make life better for both workers and businesses by expanding paid sick leave and requiring predictable work scheduling. The past few years of the pandemic and its fallout have shown us that engines of our economy are employees, and we have to ensure that they have the opportunities and protections in place to make them as productive and successful as possible.”
Senate Democrats Announce Agenda to Strengthen Education and Our Workforce
Senate Democrats Announce Agenda to Strengthen Education and Our Workforce
HARTFORD, CT — Today, the Senate Democratic Majority of the Connecticut General Assembly unveiled more of its legislative priorities for the 2023 session, focusing on strengthening Connecticut’s education and workforce by addressing issues of college affordability, lowering barriers to job training, increasing clarity and transparency in how K through 12 schools report their spending, expanding paid sick leave, and implementing predictable work scheduling for Connecticut’s workers.
Today’s announcement marks the second of four successive days of public policy statements from Senate Democrats on a wide variety of issues confronting Connecticut and its residents: improving personal safety, strengthening education and Connecticut’s workforce, improving mental and physical health, and lowering costs for consumers.
“Once again, we will advance an agenda that supports the education, health, and dignity of this generation and the next generation of Connecticut workers,” said Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “People have historically been attracted to Connecticut because of our high-quality public education system and the strong workforce protections that we have. People deserve a state government that is supportive of their efforts to balance work and family, while pursuing their goals in life. We hear them and will fight for a Connecticut that works for them.”
“One of Connecticut’s greatest strengths is its workforce. This year, Senate Democrats will make a historic investment in the future of our state’s residents by expanding the successful debt-free community college program and lowering the cost to attend college,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “We also must keep our promise to Connecticut’s workers, many of whom were on the frontlines of the pandemic, by upholding the dignity of work. We will expand paid sick leave and finally pass a predictable scheduling law. It’s about giving stability and economic security to some of the state’s hardest workers.”
Today’s announcement focuses on specific public policy areas, including:
Education
SB 1: AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSPARENCY IN EDUCATION, to provide equal and comprehensive access to education and academic opportunities for all children in Connecticut.
Every year, school districts in Connecticut spend billions of dollars and are required to report financial data on certain expenditures to the Connecticut Department of Education. However, the nine categories to report data on are overly broad and vague. These categories include “Support Services – school based administration” (supplies), “Support Services – students” (employee benefits), “central and other support services” (property), and “Enterprise operations.”
The lack of detailed reporting requirements makes it difficult to compare the spending practices of school districts, even if they are similarly sized. Additionally, the general reporting categories allow school districts to have different interpretations of what information is expected of them to be shared.
In fiscal year 2021, municipalities in Connecticut spent about $9.3 billion on education, not including school construction expenses paid for by the State of Connecticut. With more information on how these billions of dollars are spent, we can better target that funding to areas with the greatest need and that will have the greatest impact.
In response, Senate Bill 1 will:
- Create stronger oversight and uniformity in reporting on how school districts are spending funds to support students and schools
- Increase state supports and resources for children’s mental and behavioral health in schools
- •Address increasing class sizes
- •Address teacher shortages
- •Ensure effective and quality teacher evaluations
- •Ensure money is being spent on our students in the classroom
“All of our children should receive a high-quality education that prepares them for success in a 21st century economy. Just as important, we have to better equip educators with the tools they need to instruct and care for Connecticut’s young leaders – a heightened priority as schools struggle with teacher shortages and burnout,” said state Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford), Co-Chair of the Education Committee. “We can’t fully address these priorities and other pressing issues in education without stronger information sharing on how school districts spend funding.”
Higher Education
SB 8: AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHER EDUCATION AFFORDABILITY, GRADUATE RETENTION AND STUDENT HEALTH, to provide increased financial support for our state colleges and universities to enhance ongoing services on campus for all students, and to improve the state’s efforts in the retention of graduates from the state’s institutions of higher education.
Connecticut’s colleges and universities offer academic programs for numerous in-demand job fields, including nursing and computer and information technology. These professions are in need of skilled workers either due to a prolonged shortage or are expected to have above-average job growth for the next several years.
However, the demand for skilled workers has run up against student enrollment concerns in Connecticut’s institutions of higher education since 2010. More specifically, enrollment in the state’s universities dropped by 8.1 percent in the last two years – a troubling trend, especially for state residents most likely to benefit from attaining a college degree. Data from the state Department of Education found that college enrollment among low-income students has dropped from 58 percent in 2018-19 to 51 percent in 2021-22.
To lower barriers to job training and address enrollment problems, Senate Democrats will:
Expand Connecticut’s Debt-Free Community College Program
In 2019, Senate Democrats passed debt-free community college in Connecticut for first-time students – also known as PACT: Pledge to Advance CT – who are attending community college full-time. In 2021, the PACT program was expanded to include part-time students.
As a result, over 10,000 students are now enrolled in the program. PACT has addressed head-on enrollment concerns at the state’s community colleges, but the need for skilled workers cannot be met by only students coming directly out of high school.
Senate Democrats will:
- Build on the PACT’s success by expanding eligibility to include students returning to community college
- Increase the current $250 per semester given to students under PACT to cover non-tuition expenses like buying textbooks
Put More Money into the Roberta Willis Scholarship Program
State budgets crafted and led by Senate Democrats the past two years have appropriated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to increase student aid for Connecticut’s students.
Senate Democrats will:
- Target additional funds toward the underfunded Roberta Willis Scholarship Program. The expansion of the program would make it more affordable to attend the state’s four-year universities and earn a college degree – a key selling point in working to boost student enrollment as potential students compare attending a public or private institution of higher education.
“If we want to truly grow Connecticut’s economy, we must ensure that Connecticut has the best trained and educated workforce in the nation. Senate Bill 8 will help make this a reality by expanding access for students and aligning the needs of employers with the skills of graduates. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both chambers and both parties to make smart investments in higher education that will pay dividends for generations to come,” said State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Co-Chair of the Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee.
Workforce
Connecticut has been a champion of worker’s rights and the ability for employees to care for their personal wellbeing and that of their families. In recent years, Senate Democrats have passed paid family and medical leave and raised the minimum wage, which will reach $15 in June 2023.
This legislative session, Senate Democrats will reaffirm its commitment to pro-worker policies that will make Connecticut an even more attractive place to work, build a life, and raise a family by prioritizing:
Expanding Paid Sick Leave
Connecticut was the first state to pass paid sick leave legislation over a decade ago. In the years since, other states have followed Connecticut’s lead and even surpassed in offering more encompassing paid sick leave policies for their states’ workers.
Under current law in Connecticut, only hourly employees working for an employer with more than 50 workers – with additional eligibility qualifications – are required to be given up to 40 hours of annual paid sick leave. These restrictive qualifications under current state law mean that an estimated only 11 percent of Connecticut employees are required to be provided paid sick leave, according to a study by the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Once at the forefront, Connecticut has fallen behind neighboring states – such as New York and Rhode Island – and states across the country – including Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado – in having paid sick leave laws that cover more workers. States like Arizona require all employers to offer paid sick leave with very limited exceptions.
In response, Senate Democrats will:
- Expand its paid sick leave law to include all private sector workers. This expansion of paid sick leave empowers workers to be able to care for their health and wellness
Predictable Scheduling
Every day, thousands of Connecticut workers in hourly positions show up to their jobs ready to carry out their responsibilities and do a hard day’s work. However, their ability to show up to work revolves around unpredictable work schedules that can include “on-call” shifts with no guarantee of actual work and canceled shifts with little notice and no pay.
This indignity on workers hurts their ability to pay household bills, arrange medical appointments, secure child care, or financially plan for their families future. These tasks are already difficult considering these jobs – such as in retail and food establishments – pay minimum wage or less if a tipped position while providing few, if any, benefits.
To address this economic injustice, Senate Democrats will:
- Pass a law requiring a predictable schedule for Connecticut’s service-sector workers.
Business industries, such as food establishments and hospitality, have struggled to hire workers the past couple of years. A more stable work schedule would incentivize residents to apply for and stay in these industries.
- A predictable schedule would give workers with children a greater ability to be involved in their child’s upbringing and development
- Over 250,000 of the state’s hourly workers have kids under 18 according to the Connecticut AFL-CIO and Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund
- Connecticut would join states across the nation that have approved predictable scheduling laws including Oregon, Philadelphia, San Jose, New York City, and Chicago
“Time and time again we see what a difference having a skilled, well-paid, well-compensated workforce makes to our quality of life here in Connecticut, both to our residents and our businesses,” said state Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), who is Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. “This year we plan to make life better for both workers and businesses by expanding paid sick leave and requiring predictable work scheduling. The past few years of the pandemic and its fallout have shown us that engines of our economy are employees, and we have to ensure that they have the opportunities and protections in place to make them as productive and successful as possible.”
Senate Democrats Announce Agenda to Strengthen Education and Our Workforce
Senate Democrats Announce Agenda to Strengthen Education and Our Workforce
HARTFORD, CT — Today, the Senate Democratic Majority of the Connecticut General Assembly unveiled more of its legislative priorities for the 2023 session, focusing on strengthening Connecticut’s education and workforce by addressing issues of college affordability, lowering barriers to job training, increasing clarity and transparency in how K through 12 schools report their spending, expanding paid sick leave, and implementing predictable work scheduling for Connecticut’s workers.
Today’s announcement marks the second of four successive days of public policy statements from Senate Democrats on a wide variety of issues confronting Connecticut and its residents: improving personal safety, strengthening education and Connecticut’s workforce, improving mental and physical health, and lowering costs for consumers.
“Once again, we will advance an agenda that supports the education, health, and dignity of this generation and the next generation of Connecticut workers,” said Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “People have historically been attracted to Connecticut because of our high-quality public education system and the strong workforce protections that we have. People deserve a state government that is supportive of their efforts to balance work and family, while pursuing their goals in life. We hear them and will fight for a Connecticut that works for them.”
“One of Connecticut’s greatest strengths is its workforce. This year, Senate Democrats will make a historic investment in the future of our state’s residents by expanding the successful debt-free community college program and lowering the cost to attend college,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “We also must keep our promise to Connecticut’s workers, many of whom were on the frontlines of the pandemic, by upholding the dignity of work. We will expand paid sick leave and finally pass a predictable scheduling law. It’s about giving stability and economic security to some of the state’s hardest workers.”
Today’s announcement focuses on specific public policy areas, including:
Education
SB 1: AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSPARENCY IN EDUCATION, to provide equal and comprehensive access to education and academic opportunities for all children in Connecticut.
Every year, school districts in Connecticut spend billions of dollars and are required to report financial data on certain expenditures to the Connecticut Department of Education. However, the nine categories to report data on are overly broad and vague. These categories include “Support Services – school based administration” (supplies), “Support Services – students” (employee benefits), “central and other support services” (property), and “Enterprise operations.”
The lack of detailed reporting requirements makes it difficult to compare the spending practices of school districts, even if they are similarly sized. Additionally, the general reporting categories allow school districts to have different interpretations of what information is expected of them to be shared.
In fiscal year 2021, municipalities in Connecticut spent about $9.3 billion on education, not including school construction expenses paid for by the State of Connecticut. With more information on how these billions of dollars are spent, we can better target that funding to areas with the greatest need and that will have the greatest impact.
In response, Senate Bill 1 will:
- Create stronger oversight and uniformity in reporting on how school districts are spending funds to support students and schools
- Increase state supports and resources for children’s mental and behavioral health in schools
- •Address increasing class sizes
- •Address teacher shortages
- •Ensure effective and quality teacher evaluations
- •Ensure money is being spent on our students in the classroom
“All of our children should receive a high-quality education that prepares them for success in a 21st century economy. Just as important, we have to better equip educators with the tools they need to instruct and care for Connecticut’s young leaders – a heightened priority as schools struggle with teacher shortages and burnout,” said state Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford), Co-Chair of the Education Committee. “We can’t fully address these priorities and other pressing issues in education without stronger information sharing on how school districts spend funding.”
Higher Education
SB 8: AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHER EDUCATION AFFORDABILITY, GRADUATE RETENTION AND STUDENT HEALTH, to provide increased financial support for our state colleges and universities to enhance ongoing services on campus for all students, and to improve the state’s efforts in the retention of graduates from the state’s institutions of higher education.
Connecticut’s colleges and universities offer academic programs for numerous in-demand job fields, including nursing and computer and information technology. These professions are in need of skilled workers either due to a prolonged shortage or are expected to have above-average job growth for the next several years.
However, the demand for skilled workers has run up against student enrollment concerns in Connecticut’s institutions of higher education since 2010. More specifically, enrollment in the state’s universities dropped by 8.1 percent in the last two years – a troubling trend, especially for state residents most likely to benefit from attaining a college degree. Data from the state Department of Education found that college enrollment among low-income students has dropped from 58 percent in 2018-19 to 51 percent in 2021-22.
To lower barriers to job training and address enrollment problems, Senate Democrats will:
Expand Connecticut’s Debt-Free Community College Program
In 2019, Senate Democrats passed debt-free community college in Connecticut for first-time students – also known as PACT: Pledge to Advance CT – who are attending community college full-time. In 2021, the PACT program was expanded to include part-time students.
As a result, over 10,000 students are now enrolled in the program. PACT has addressed head-on enrollment concerns at the state’s community colleges, but the need for skilled workers cannot be met by only students coming directly out of high school.
Senate Democrats will:
- Build on the PACT’s success by expanding eligibility to include students returning to community college
- Increase the current $250 per semester given to students under PACT to cover non-tuition expenses like buying textbooks
Put More Money into the Roberta Willis Scholarship Program
State budgets crafted and led by Senate Democrats the past two years have appropriated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to increase student aid for Connecticut’s students.
Senate Democrats will:
- Target additional funds toward the underfunded Roberta Willis Scholarship Program. The expansion of the program would make it more affordable to attend the state’s four-year universities and earn a college degree – a key selling point in working to boost student enrollment as potential students compare attending a public or private institution of higher education.
“If we want to truly grow Connecticut’s economy, we must ensure that Connecticut has the best trained and educated workforce in the nation. Senate Bill 8 will help make this a reality by expanding access for students and aligning the needs of employers with the skills of graduates. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both chambers and both parties to make smart investments in higher education that will pay dividends for generations to come,” said State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Co-Chair of the Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee.
Workforce
Connecticut has been a champion of worker’s rights and the ability for employees to care for their personal wellbeing and that of their families. In recent years, Senate Democrats have passed paid family and medical leave and raised the minimum wage, which will reach $15 in June 2023.
This legislative session, Senate Democrats will reaffirm its commitment to pro-worker policies that will make Connecticut an even more attractive place to work, build a life, and raise a family by prioritizing:
Expanding Paid Sick Leave
Connecticut was the first state to pass paid sick leave legislation over a decade ago. In the years since, other states have followed Connecticut’s lead and even surpassed in offering more encompassing paid sick leave policies for their states’ workers.
Under current law in Connecticut, only hourly employees working for an employer with more than 50 workers – with additional eligibility qualifications – are required to be given up to 40 hours of annual paid sick leave. These restrictive qualifications under current state law mean that an estimated only 11 percent of Connecticut employees are required to be provided paid sick leave, according to a study by the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Once at the forefront, Connecticut has fallen behind neighboring states – such as New York and Rhode Island – and states across the country – including Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado – in having paid sick leave laws that cover more workers. States like Arizona require all employers to offer paid sick leave with very limited exceptions.
In response, Senate Democrats will:
- Expand its paid sick leave law to include all private sector workers. This expansion of paid sick leave empowers workers to be able to care for their health and wellness
Predictable Scheduling
Every day, thousands of Connecticut workers in hourly positions show up to their jobs ready to carry out their responsibilities and do a hard day’s work. However, their ability to show up to work revolves around unpredictable work schedules that can include “on-call” shifts with no guarantee of actual work and canceled shifts with little notice and no pay.
This indignity on workers hurts their ability to pay household bills, arrange medical appointments, secure child care, or financially plan for their families future. These tasks are already difficult considering these jobs – such as in retail and food establishments – pay minimum wage or less if a tipped position while providing few, if any, benefits.
To address this economic injustice, Senate Democrats will:
- Pass a law requiring a predictable schedule for Connecticut’s service-sector workers.
Business industries, such as food establishments and hospitality, have struggled to hire workers the past couple of years. A more stable work schedule would incentivize residents to apply for and stay in these industries.
- A predictable schedule would give workers with children a greater ability to be involved in their child’s upbringing and development
- Over 250,000 of the state’s hourly workers have kids under 18 according to the Connecticut AFL-CIO and Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund
- Connecticut would join states across the nation that have approved predictable scheduling laws including Oregon, Philadelphia, San Jose, New York City, and Chicago
“Time and time again we see what a difference having a skilled, well-paid, well-compensated workforce makes to our quality of life here in Connecticut, both to our residents and our businesses,” said state Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), who is Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. “This year we plan to make life better for both workers and businesses by expanding paid sick leave and requiring predictable work scheduling. The past few years of the pandemic and its fallout have shown us that engines of our economy are employees, and we have to ensure that they have the opportunities and protections in place to make them as productive and successful as possible.”
Senate Democrats Announce Agenda to Strengthen Education and Our Workforce
Senate Democrats Announce Agenda to Strengthen Education and Our Workforce
HARTFORD, CT — Today, the Senate Democratic Majority of the Connecticut General Assembly unveiled more of its legislative priorities for the 2023 session, focusing on strengthening Connecticut’s education and workforce by addressing issues of college affordability, lowering barriers to job training, increasing clarity and transparency in how K through 12 schools report their spending, expanding paid sick leave, and implementing predictable work scheduling for Connecticut’s workers.
Today’s announcement marks the second of four successive days of public policy statements from Senate Democrats on a wide variety of issues confronting Connecticut and its residents: improving personal safety, strengthening education and Connecticut’s workforce, improving mental and physical health, and lowering costs for consumers.
“Once again, we will advance an agenda that supports the education, health, and dignity of this generation and the next generation of Connecticut workers,” said Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “People have historically been attracted to Connecticut because of our high-quality public education system and the strong workforce protections that we have. People deserve a state government that is supportive of their efforts to balance work and family, while pursuing their goals in life. We hear them and will fight for a Connecticut that works for them.”
“One of Connecticut’s greatest strengths is its workforce. This year, Senate Democrats will make a historic investment in the future of our state’s residents by expanding the successful debt-free community college program and lowering the cost to attend college,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “We also must keep our promise to Connecticut’s workers, many of whom were on the frontlines of the pandemic, by upholding the dignity of work. We will expand paid sick leave and finally pass a predictable scheduling law. It’s about giving stability and economic security to some of the state’s hardest workers.”
Today’s announcement focuses on specific public policy areas, including:
Education
SB 1: AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSPARENCY IN EDUCATION, to provide equal and comprehensive access to education and academic opportunities for all children in Connecticut.
Every year, school districts in Connecticut spend billions of dollars and are required to report financial data on certain expenditures to the Connecticut Department of Education. However, the nine categories to report data on are overly broad and vague. These categories include “Support Services – school based administration” (supplies), “Support Services – students” (employee benefits), “central and other support services” (property), and “Enterprise operations.”
The lack of detailed reporting requirements makes it difficult to compare the spending practices of school districts, even if they are similarly sized. Additionally, the general reporting categories allow school districts to have different interpretations of what information is expected of them to be shared.
In fiscal year 2021, municipalities in Connecticut spent about $9.3 billion on education, not including school construction expenses paid for by the State of Connecticut. With more information on how these billions of dollars are spent, we can better target that funding to areas with the greatest need and that will have the greatest impact.
In response, Senate Bill 1 will:
- Create stronger oversight and uniformity in reporting on how school districts are spending funds to support students and schools
- Increase state supports and resources for children’s mental and behavioral health in schools
- •Address increasing class sizes
- •Address teacher shortages
- •Ensure effective and quality teacher evaluations
- •Ensure money is being spent on our students in the classroom
“All of our children should receive a high-quality education that prepares them for success in a 21st century economy. Just as important, we have to better equip educators with the tools they need to instruct and care for Connecticut’s young leaders – a heightened priority as schools struggle with teacher shortages and burnout,” said state Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford), Co-Chair of the Education Committee. “We can’t fully address these priorities and other pressing issues in education without stronger information sharing on how school districts spend funding.”
Higher Education
SB 8: AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHER EDUCATION AFFORDABILITY, GRADUATE RETENTION AND STUDENT HEALTH, to provide increased financial support for our state colleges and universities to enhance ongoing services on campus for all students, and to improve the state’s efforts in the retention of graduates from the state’s institutions of higher education.
Connecticut’s colleges and universities offer academic programs for numerous in-demand job fields, including nursing and computer and information technology. These professions are in need of skilled workers either due to a prolonged shortage or are expected to have above-average job growth for the next several years.
However, the demand for skilled workers has run up against student enrollment concerns in Connecticut’s institutions of higher education since 2010. More specifically, enrollment in the state’s universities dropped by 8.1 percent in the last two years – a troubling trend, especially for state residents most likely to benefit from attaining a college degree. Data from the state Department of Education found that college enrollment among low-income students has dropped from 58 percent in 2018-19 to 51 percent in 2021-22.
To lower barriers to job training and address enrollment problems, Senate Democrats will:
Expand Connecticut’s Debt-Free Community College Program
In 2019, Senate Democrats passed debt-free community college in Connecticut for first-time students – also known as PACT: Pledge to Advance CT – who are attending community college full-time. In 2021, the PACT program was expanded to include part-time students.
As a result, over 10,000 students are now enrolled in the program. PACT has addressed head-on enrollment concerns at the state’s community colleges, but the need for skilled workers cannot be met by only students coming directly out of high school.
Senate Democrats will:
- Build on the PACT’s success by expanding eligibility to include students returning to community college
- Increase the current $250 per semester given to students under PACT to cover non-tuition expenses like buying textbooks
Put More Money into the Roberta Willis Scholarship Program
State budgets crafted and led by Senate Democrats the past two years have appropriated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to increase student aid for Connecticut’s students.
Senate Democrats will:
- Target additional funds toward the underfunded Roberta Willis Scholarship Program. The expansion of the program would make it more affordable to attend the state’s four-year universities and earn a college degree – a key selling point in working to boost student enrollment as potential students compare attending a public or private institution of higher education.
“If we want to truly grow Connecticut’s economy, we must ensure that Connecticut has the best trained and educated workforce in the nation. Senate Bill 8 will help make this a reality by expanding access for students and aligning the needs of employers with the skills of graduates. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both chambers and both parties to make smart investments in higher education that will pay dividends for generations to come,” said State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Co-Chair of the Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee.
Workforce
Connecticut has been a champion of worker’s rights and the ability for employees to care for their personal wellbeing and that of their families. In recent years, Senate Democrats have passed paid family and medical leave and raised the minimum wage, which will reach $15 in June 2023.
This legislative session, Senate Democrats will reaffirm its commitment to pro-worker policies that will make Connecticut an even more attractive place to work, build a life, and raise a family by prioritizing:
Expanding Paid Sick Leave
Connecticut was the first state to pass paid sick leave legislation over a decade ago. In the years since, other states have followed Connecticut’s lead and even surpassed in offering more encompassing paid sick leave policies for their states’ workers.
Under current law in Connecticut, only hourly employees working for an employer with more than 50 workers – with additional eligibility qualifications – are required to be given up to 40 hours of annual paid sick leave. These restrictive qualifications under current state law mean that an estimated only 11 percent of Connecticut employees are required to be provided paid sick leave, according to a study by the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Once at the forefront, Connecticut has fallen behind neighboring states – such as New York and Rhode Island – and states across the country – including Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado – in having paid sick leave laws that cover more workers. States like Arizona require all employers to offer paid sick leave with very limited exceptions.
In response, Senate Democrats will:
- Expand its paid sick leave law to include all private sector workers. This expansion of paid sick leave empowers workers to be able to care for their health and wellness
Predictable Scheduling
Every day, thousands of Connecticut workers in hourly positions show up to their jobs ready to carry out their responsibilities and do a hard day’s work. However, their ability to show up to work revolves around unpredictable work schedules that can include “on-call” shifts with no guarantee of actual work and canceled shifts with little notice and no pay.
This indignity on workers hurts their ability to pay household bills, arrange medical appointments, secure child care, or financially plan for their families future. These tasks are already difficult considering these jobs – such as in retail and food establishments – pay minimum wage or less if a tipped position while providing few, if any, benefits.
To address this economic injustice, Senate Democrats will:
- Pass a law requiring a predictable schedule for Connecticut’s service-sector workers.
Business industries, such as food establishments and hospitality, have struggled to hire workers the past couple of years. A more stable work schedule would incentivize residents to apply for and stay in these industries.
- A predictable schedule would give workers with children a greater ability to be involved in their child’s upbringing and development
- Over 250,000 of the state’s hourly workers have kids under 18 according to the Connecticut AFL-CIO and Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund
- Connecticut would join states across the nation that have approved predictable scheduling laws including Oregon, Philadelphia, San Jose, New York City, and Chicago
“Time and time again we see what a difference having a skilled, well-paid, well-compensated workforce makes to our quality of life here in Connecticut, both to our residents and our businesses,” said state Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), who is Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. “This year we plan to make life better for both workers and businesses by expanding paid sick leave and requiring predictable work scheduling. The past few years of the pandemic and its fallout have shown us that engines of our economy are employees, and we have to ensure that they have the opportunities and protections in place to make them as productive and successful as possible.”
Senate Democrats Announce “A Safer Connecticut” Agenda
Senate Democrats Announce “A Safer Connecticut” Agenda
Addresses issues of domestic violence, online privacy, transportation safety, and improved access to mental health and addiction treatment
HARTFORD, CT — Today, the Senate Democratic Majority of the Connecticut General Assembly announced the first of its legislative priorities for the 2023 session, focusing on creating “A Safer Connecticut” for our residents by addressing the issues of domestic violence, online privacy, transportation safety, and improved access to mental health and addiction treatment.
Today’s announcement marks the first of four successive days of public policy statements from Senate Democrats on a wide variety of issues confronting Connecticut and its residents: improved personal safety, strengthening education and Connecticut’s workforce, improving mental and physical health, and lowering costs for consumers.
“Safety has been at the crux of all modern societies. As far back as 1689 in John Locke’s ‘Second Treatise on Civil Government’ he states ‘The great end of men’s entering into society being the enjoyment of their properties in peace and safety,'” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven). “Fast forward to 2023 and our safety concerns have moved past the worries over the absolute power of a King or Lord to the unchecked power of massive technology corporations. The fear of being broadsided by a passing horse has been replaced by the fear of being broadsided by a 5,000 pound pickup truck while crossing the street, riding a bike, or changing lanes in a vehicle. The times have changed but the need for safety remains. Our ‘A Safer Connecticut’ agenda addresses through sound public policy the varying safety concerns we all have in a modern world.”
“As a father of two older boys, I understand the pleas of children for the latest and greatest cell phone,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “When that parent finally breaks down and buys that new phone for their child like we all do, we need to make sure our kids are safe and protected once they power that device on. Big Tech is collecting too much data on all of us, but especially our children. That data is bought and sold, exploiting our most personal information. Beyond the technology companies, there is the very real increase of online threats, stalking and harassment by dangerous individuals. We need to be doing everything we can to not only hold those criminals accountable, but also to prevent their access to our youth in the first place.”
Today’s “A Safer Connecticut” announcement focuses on a number of public policy areas including:
Online Safety & Privacy
Senate Bill 3: AN ACT CONCERNING ONLINE PRIVACY AND PROTECTIONS will help reduce electronic harassment by modernizing state laws to deal with ever-changing electronic harassment methods.
“With the proliferation of online hacking and the scamming we have a responsibility to try and stay one step ahead of them. It’s a never-ending challenge,” said state Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), who is Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee. “What we see happening with adult online users is problematic. What is even scarier is the access online predators have to our children.”
“Privacy is a human right,” said state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford). “Medical information should only be accessible to a patient and their medical provider. The choice to have a family or not have a family should be between a woman and her medical professionals, and not intruded on by digital advertising. We have seen a rise in anxiety among children and much of that has been caused by the increase in social media usage. We are seeking to ensure that apps designed for children are designed with the best interest of the child in mind, not with what is best for the bottom line.”
From 2014 to 2020, the share of Americans reporting online experience with physical threats, stalking, sexual harassment, or sustained harassment has risen from 14% to 25% (Emily A. Vogels, The State of Online Harassment, Pew Research, January 13, 2021). As more of our world moves online and children engage online at younger and younger ages, Connecticut needs to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect people, especially kids, online.
Many people are familiar with federal HIPPA laws, which require your personal health information to be kept private between you, your doctor, and anyone you choose to share it with (such as a spouse or insurance company). But there’s a lot more private health information that is not covered by HIPPA, such as your phone location if you visit an abortion clinic, or a menstrual cycle app that you keep on a smartphone.
Law enforcement officials are also constantly challenged by electronic harassment, threats, fraud and other illegal acts that can be hard to investigate and prosecute.
Senate Bill 3 seeks to address both of these issues by:
- Identifying and holding accountable individuals who have an online presence only to gain personal information and potentially try to harm children
- Maintaining a woman’s privacy when she seeks medical care at a medical office or abortion clinic by outlawing any ‘geo-fencing’ which could be triggered when a smartphone or other device enters a particular location
- Assisting law enforcement by requiring that when a warrant is issued to investigate suspected criminal activity at a telecommunication provider, website, or social media site, that telecom provider cannot disclose the existence of the warrant to the target for 90 days, in order to prevent the possible deletion or destruction of any electronic evidence
- Placing more restrictions on social media companies and other online entities that collect and sell the personal information of children under age 18
- Requiring employers, when responding to recommendations about a previous employee, to disclose any history of sexual harassment where a complaint was filed, as well as all acts of sexual assault
- Requiring dating apps to ask users whether they are on a sex offender registry, notifying them that providing false information is a crime, and then requiring that online platform to disclose that information in the user’s online profile
Domestic Violence
Senate Bill 5: AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTIONS AGAINST AND RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, will provide even greater protections for – and enhanced responses to – people involved in domestic and intimate partner violence.
“Connecticut is known for being at the forefront nationally when it comes to domestic violence protections,” said state Senator Mae Flexer.” We have an obligation to continue looking at ways to protect the lives of those who have been victims of, or who could become victims of, domestic or intimate partner violence. We will continue to invest in the systems that support survivors in our courts, through counseling for families and children and the housing needs that are more and more dire. We also need to send a strong message to potential abusers that we will do everything in our power to stop the abuse, hold you accountable and to protect lives from harm.”:
Senate Bill 5 will::
- Look at new standards (i.e. acceptable timely responses) between local police departments and state offices, such as the State’s Attorney’s Office
- Examine and expand the Judicial Branch pilot program which uses GPS monitoring of certain people convicted of violating a protective order
- Continue innovative funding for advocates that support survivors and children and fill in the gap for a decline in federal funds for domestic violence agencies across the state
- Prevent a domestic violence victim from having to pay any alimony to an abuser convicted of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, or certain other Class A and B felonies
Mental Health and Addiction
Senate Bill 9: AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS, will strengthen our response to the fentanyl and opioid epidemic and improve access to physical, mental and behavioral health care.
“In the first nine months of 2022 we had over 1,000 drug overdose deaths in Connecticut – four people a day on average” said state Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), who is Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee. “It’s almost all opioids and fentanyl, and it’s affecting people in their homes, across decades of different age ranges, and impacting whites, Blacks and Hispanics in large numbers. We can and must do more for our state residents to protect them from this scourge of tainted and deadly drugs.”
According to the state Department of Public Health, from January to the first week of November 2022, there were 1,139 confirmed fatal overdoses in Connecticut, with 85% of the cases involving fentanyl and 24% involving the animal tranquilizer xylazine. In 2021, about 60% of drug overdose deaths occurred in the person’s home.
Senate Bill 9 will:
- Create more access to the anti-overdose drug Narcan, such as through bulk purchases or prescribing it along with new and refilled opioid prescriptions
- Pilot a safe injection site program
- Create more access to fentanyl strips, which test unregulated or counterfeit drugs for possible fentanyl contamination in powder or pill form
- Improve access to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCS), such as hormonal implants and hormonal or copper IUD’s
- Allow for pharmacist-provided (over-the-counter) contraceptive care, such as birth control pills, without a doctor’s prescription. Both The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and The American Academy of Family
- Create new discharge standards for patients being discharged from a hospital and or nursing homes
- Expand Connecticut’s healthcare workforce by creating job pipelines at younger ages (similar to Connecticut’s existing technical school job pipeline for manufacturing jobs)
- Improve EMS services throughout Connecticut through increased state funding
Physicians have called for making birth control pills available over-the-counter without a prescription
Motorist, Pedestrian, and Cyclist Safety
“While there has been increased focus on making improvements to roadway safety, the seemingly constant barrage of wrong-way driver reports and news of motorist, pedestrian and bicyclist deaths are evidence that much more needs to be done,” said state Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford), who is the new Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee. “If the people of Connecticut are serious about creating safer roadways in our state – and I believe that they most certainly are – we are going to offer them some fairly comprehensive new public policies to help achieve that.”
“Last year, Connecticut saw its highest number of pedestrian deaths since 1988. Meanwhile, the number of fatal crashes on state roads has increased about 40% since 2019. Additionally, wrong-way driving deaths in Connecticut more than doubled from 2018 to 2022.
Topics that the Transportation Committee will be looking at include:
- Implementing additional countermeasures to decrease accidents and fatalities caused by wrong-way driving
- Creating a State Police “fatal collision reduction team” charged with identifying the motor vehicle violations most associated with crashes, identify intersections throughout Connecticut with a history of crashes, and engage in high-visibility enforcement of these violations and intersections
- Creating violation-specific motor vehicle license retraining classes
- Studying whether bicyclists should stop at red lights, and whether to amend Connecticut’s right-on-red turn law (such as banning right turns at red lights where a crosswalk is present)
- Creating a new driver video regarding laws impacting motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists and ways to reduce accidents as part of the state MV licensing requirement
- Creating a public health campaign at pharmacy counters and cannabis retailers warning of the dangers of driving while under the influence of certain medications or cannabis
- Allowing cities and towns to install automatic speed cameras and issue infractions in school zones and at intersections with a history of crashes
- Requiring drivers to stop and grant the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk, rather than “slow or stop” for pedestrians in a crosswalk, as is current law
- Allowing speed limits not to exceed 65mph on multiple lane, limited access highways in Connecticut, rather than setting an established speed of 65 mph (i.e. speed limits could be lower on certain roadways depending on design, population and traffic flow)
- Banning all open containers of alcohol in a motor vehicle in Connecticut. Connecticut is one of just 11 states in America and the only state in the Northeast that allows open containers of alcohol in motor vehicles
- Requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet; there have been 190 unhelmeted motorcycle operators or passengers fatally injured on Connecticut roads over the past five years
SEN. COHEN WELCOMES $200,000 IN GRANTS FOR LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
SEN. COHEN WELCOMES $200,000 IN GRANTS FOR LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
State Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) today welcomed the news that 24 grants totaling over $200,000 have been approved by the CT Cultural Fund for historical, music, dance, arts and other cultural organizations in the 12th State Senate District.
“For over a quarter-century these general operations grants have been making a difference in keeping Connecticut’s arts and cultural organizations vibrant and relevant in communities all across the state, including right here along the shoreline and in south-central Connecticut,” Sen. Cohen said. “So much of who we are as citizens revolves around music and history and theatre – all the things that bring beauty and meaning to our lives in different and sometimes unexpected ways. Just like our small businesses and teachers and first responders, the arts have to be supported too. I’m really thankful for these grants.”
The grants – which were awarded by CT Humanities to organizations locally and across Connecticut – were funded the Connecticut General Assembly. The grants are part of the nearly $31 million allocated in 2022-2023 to support CT Humanities’ mission of connecting people to cultural and humanities organizations via grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs.
Local grant recipients include:
Branford
- Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance $6,200
- Branford Historical Society $5,500
- Chestnut Hill Concerts $6,500
- Legacy Theatre $16,800
- Stony Creek Museum $5,600
East Haven
- East Haven Arts Commission, Inc. $5,500
- The Shore Line Trolley Museum $19,100
Guilford
- Guilford Art Center $25,900
- Guilford Community Television (GCTV) $7,400
- Guilford Keeping Society $6,500
- Guilford Performing Arts Festival $5,900
- Henry Whitfield State Museum $5,000
- Project: Music Heals Us $10,100
- Starship Dance Theater $5,400
- The Dudley Farm Museum $6,900
- The Hyland House Museum $5,800
Killingworth
- Killingworth Historical Society *$5,600
Madison
- Deacon John Grave Foundation $5,800
- Madison Historical Society $8,900 15
- Madison Lyric Stage $7,900
- New Haven Chorale $9,500
- The Barn $8,200
Middlefield
- Middlefield Historical Society $5,100
North Branford
- Historical Society $5,200
Senate Democrats Announce “A Safer Connecticut” Agenda
Senate Democrats Announce “A Safer Connecticut” Agenda
Addresses issues of domestic violence, online privacy, transportation safety, and improved access to mental health and addiction treatment
HARTFORD, CT — Today, the Senate Democratic Majority of the Connecticut General Assembly announced the first of its legislative priorities for the 2023 session, focusing on creating “A Safer Connecticut” for our residents by addressing the issues of domestic violence, online privacy, transportation safety, and improved access to mental health and addiction treatment.
Today’s announcement marks the first of four successive days of public policy statements from Senate Democrats on a wide variety of issues confronting Connecticut and its residents: improved personal safety, strengthening education and Connecticut’s workforce, improving mental and physical health, and lowering costs for consumers.
“Safety has been at the crux of all modern societies. As far back as 1689 in John Locke’s ‘Second Treatise on Civil Government’ he states ‘The great end of men’s entering into society being the enjoyment of their properties in peace and safety,'” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven). “Fast forward to 2023 and our safety concerns have moved past the worries over the absolute power of a King or Lord to the unchecked power of massive technology corporations. The fear of being broadsided by a passing horse has been replaced by the fear of being broadsided by a 5,000 pound pickup truck while crossing the street, riding a bike, or changing lanes in a vehicle. The times have changed but the need for safety remains. Our ‘A Safer Connecticut’ agenda addresses through sound public policy the varying safety concerns we all have in a modern world.”
“As a father of two older boys, I understand the pleas of children for the latest and greatest cell phone,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “When that parent finally breaks down and buys that new phone for their child like we all do, we need to make sure our kids are safe and protected once they power that device on. Big Tech is collecting too much data on all of us, but especially our children. That data is bought and sold, exploiting our most personal information. Beyond the technology companies, there is the very real increase of online threats, stalking and harassment by dangerous individuals. We need to be doing everything we can to not only hold those criminals accountable, but also to prevent their access to our youth in the first place.”
Today’s “A Safer Connecticut” announcement focuses on a number of public policy areas including:
Online Safety & Privacy
Senate Bill 3: AN ACT CONCERNING ONLINE PRIVACY AND PROTECTIONS will help reduce electronic harassment by modernizing state laws to deal with ever-changing electronic harassment methods.
“With the proliferation of online hacking and the scamming we have a responsibility to try and stay one step ahead of them. It’s a never-ending challenge,” said state Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), who is Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee. “What we see happening with adult online users is problematic. What is even scarier is the access online predators have to our children.”
“Privacy is a human right,” said state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford). “Medical information should only be accessible to a patient and their medical provider. The choice to have a family or not have a family should be between a woman and her medical professionals, and not intruded on by digital advertising. We have seen a rise in anxiety among children and much of that has been caused by the increase in social media usage. We are seeking to ensure that apps designed for children are designed with the best interest of the child in mind, not with what is best for the bottom line.”
From 2014 to 2020, the share of Americans reporting online experience with physical threats, stalking, sexual harassment, or sustained harassment has risen from 14% to 25% (Emily A. Vogels, The State of Online Harassment, Pew Research, January 13, 2021). As more of our world moves online and children engage online at younger and younger ages, Connecticut needs to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect people, especially kids, online.
Many people are familiar with federal HIPPA laws, which require your personal health information to be kept private between you, your doctor, and anyone you choose to share it with (such as a spouse or insurance company). But there’s a lot more private health information that is not covered by HIPPA, such as your phone location if you visit an abortion clinic, or a menstrual cycle app that you keep on a smartphone.
Law enforcement officials are also constantly challenged by electronic harassment, threats, fraud and other illegal acts that can be hard to investigate and prosecute.
Senate Bill 3 seeks to address both of these issues by:
- Identifying and holding accountable individuals who have an online presence only to gain personal information and potentially try to harm children
- Maintaining a woman’s privacy when she seeks medical care at a medical office or abortion clinic by outlawing any ‘geo-fencing’ which could be triggered when a smartphone or other device enters a particular location
- Assisting law enforcement by requiring that when a warrant is issued to investigate suspected criminal activity at a telecommunication provider, website, or social media site, that telecom provider cannot disclose the existence of the warrant to the target for 90 days, in order to prevent the possible deletion or destruction of any electronic evidence
- Placing more restrictions on social media companies and other online entities that collect and sell the personal information of children under age 18
- Requiring employers, when responding to recommendations about a previous employee, to disclose any history of sexual harassment where a complaint was filed, as well as all acts of sexual assault
- Requiring dating apps to ask users whether they are on a sex offender registry, notifying them that providing false information is a crime, and then requiring that online platform to disclose that information in the user’s online profile
Domestic Violence
Senate Bill 5: AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTIONS AGAINST AND RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, will provide even greater protections for – and enhanced responses to – people involved in domestic and intimate partner violence.
“Connecticut is known for being at the forefront nationally when it comes to domestic violence protections,” said state Senator Mae Flexer.” We have an obligation to continue looking at ways to protect the lives of those who have been victims of, or who could become victims of, domestic or intimate partner violence. We will continue to invest in the systems that support survivors in our courts, through counseling for families and children and the housing needs that are more and more dire. We also need to send a strong message to potential abusers that we will do everything in our power to stop the abuse, hold you accountable and to protect lives from harm.”:
Senate Bill 5 will::
- Look at new standards (i.e. acceptable timely responses) between local police departments and state offices, such as the State’s Attorney’s Office
- Examine and expand the Judicial Branch pilot program which uses GPS monitoring of certain people convicted of violating a protective order
- Continue innovative funding for advocates that support survivors and children and fill in the gap for a decline in federal funds for domestic violence agencies across the state
- Prevent a domestic violence victim from having to pay any alimony to an abuser convicted of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, or certain other Class A and B felonies
Mental Health and Addiction
Senate Bill 9: AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS, will strengthen our response to the fentanyl and opioid epidemic and improve access to physical, mental and behavioral health care.
“In the first nine months of 2022 we had over 1,000 drug overdose deaths in Connecticut – four people a day on average” said state Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), who is Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee. “It’s almost all opioids and fentanyl, and it’s affecting people in their homes, across decades of different age ranges, and impacting whites, Blacks and Hispanics in large numbers. We can and must do more for our state residents to protect them from this scourge of tainted and deadly drugs.”
According to the state Department of Public Health, from January to the first week of November 2022, there were 1,139 confirmed fatal overdoses in Connecticut, with 85% of the cases involving fentanyl and 24% involving the animal tranquilizer xylazine. In 2021, about 60% of drug overdose deaths occurred in the person’s home.
Senate Bill 9 will:
- Create more access to the anti-overdose drug Narcan, such as through bulk purchases or prescribing it along with new and refilled opioid prescriptions
- Pilot a safe injection site program
- Create more access to fentanyl strips, which test unregulated or counterfeit drugs for possible fentanyl contamination in powder or pill form
- Improve access to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCS), such as hormonal implants and hormonal or copper IUD’s
- Allow for pharmacist-provided (over-the-counter) contraceptive care, such as birth control pills, without a doctor’s prescription. Both The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and The American Academy of Family
- Create new discharge standards for patients being discharged from a hospital and or nursing homes
- Expand Connecticut’s healthcare workforce by creating job pipelines at younger ages (similar to Connecticut’s existing technical school job pipeline for manufacturing jobs)
- Improve EMS services throughout Connecticut through increased state funding
Physicians have called for making birth control pills available over-the-counter without a prescription
Motorist, Pedestrian, and Cyclist Safety
“While there has been increased focus on making improvements to roadway safety, the seemingly constant barrage of wrong-way driver reports and news of motorist, pedestrian and bicyclist deaths are evidence that much more needs to be done,” said state Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford), who is the new Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee. “If the people of Connecticut are serious about creating safer roadways in our state – and I believe that they most certainly are – we are going to offer them some fairly comprehensive new public policies to help achieve that.”
“Last year, Connecticut saw its highest number of pedestrian deaths since 1988. Meanwhile, the number of fatal crashes on state roads has increased about 40% since 2019. Additionally, wrong-way driving deaths in Connecticut more than doubled from 2018 to 2022.
Topics that the Transportation Committee will be looking at include:
- Implementing additional countermeasures to decrease accidents and fatalities caused by wrong-way driving
- Creating a State Police “fatal collision reduction team” charged with identifying the motor vehicle violations most associated with crashes, identify intersections throughout Connecticut with a history of crashes, and engage in high-visibility enforcement of these violations and intersections
- Creating violation-specific motor vehicle license retraining classes
- Studying whether bicyclists should stop at red lights, and whether to amend Connecticut’s right-on-red turn law (such as banning right turns at red lights where a crosswalk is present)
- Creating a new driver video regarding laws impacting motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists and ways to reduce accidents as part of the state MV licensing requirement
- Creating a public health campaign at pharmacy counters and cannabis retailers warning of the dangers of driving while under the influence of certain medications or cannabis
- Allowing cities and towns to install automatic speed cameras and issue infractions in school zones and at intersections with a history of crashes
- Requiring drivers to stop and grant the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk, rather than “slow or stop” for pedestrians in a crosswalk, as is current law
- Allowing speed limits not to exceed 65mph on multiple lane, limited access highways in Connecticut, rather than setting an established speed of 65 mph (i.e. speed limits could be lower on certain roadways depending on design, population and traffic flow)
- Banning all open containers of alcohol in a motor vehicle in Connecticut. Connecticut is one of just 11 states in America and the only state in the Northeast that allows open containers of alcohol in motor vehicles
- Requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet; there have been 190 unhelmeted motorcycle operators or passengers fatally injured on Connecticut roads over the past five years