SEN. KUSHNER HAILS BIPARTISAN LABOR COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF PTSD WORKERS’ COMP COVERAGE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
HARTFORD – State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today welcomed the bipartisan passage in the Labor and Public Employees Committee of a bill designed to extend worker’s compensation PTSD coverage not just to police, firefighters, and other first responders who may witness traumatic events, but to any worker in any job who may witness similar, traumatizing events.
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.
The Labor Committee today endorsed Senate Bill 913, “AN ACT EXPANDING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURIES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES,” which would provide worker’s compensation benefits for any worker who witnesses a variety of traumatic events while on the job, such as witnessing the death or dismemberment of a person. The bill specifically mentions the trauma experienced by Connecticut health care workers who have seen more than 12,000 state residents die of COVID-19 over the past three years.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
“I believe the bipartisan work we have done in previous years to extend workers’ comp benefits to police, firefighters and others has really informed our conversations on extending workers’ comp for any employee who witnesses some life-changing tragedy on the job. There’s a new realization of just how traumatic some non-emergency work can be,” Sen. Kushner said. “Some of the past concerns about increased municipal costs have not been borne out, and I believe we’ll see the same when and if we extend these rights to all employees. I’m cautiously optimistic of passage this year.”
The 2023 session of the Connecticut General Assembly concludes at midnight on Wednesday, June 8, 2023.
State Senator James Maroney To Lead Public Hearing On Social Media Bill Requiring Parental Consent
State Senator James Maroney To Lead Public Hearing On Social Media Bill Requiring Parental Consent
Today, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), Senate Chair of the General Law Committee, will lead a public hearing on multiple bills addressing social media concerns including Senate Bill 395, “An Act Concerning Social Media And Parental Consent.”
“The pandemic accelerated the use of technology in our classrooms and so many more children have an online presence,” said Sen. Maroney. “While social media can be a positive, it can also do harm. We need to protect our children with the increased access they have to the online world.”
Senate Bill 395, introduced by state Senator Saud Anwar, will require a child under 16-years-old to obtain parental consent before using and opening a social media account.
“Social media’s negative effects can expose children to images and information that can be directly harmful,” said Sen. Anwar. “It can also expose them to bad actors who may seek to take advantage of them. I’m hopeful that we can take steps toward better protecting our youth through steps such as requiring parental consent for social media access.”
The data on the harmful impacts of social media on our children present serious issues such as depression, diet, cyberbullying including wide range of psychological and behavioral problems, body image and online grooming. Pediatricians have been raising alarm to the escalating effects of Internet on children’s mental and developmental growth. Social media accounts become a permanent and public image of children. It is important to recognize that Social Media use has its benefits, but excessive or inappropriate use can lead to a range of negative outcomes. These include mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, as well as unhealthy eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity-related issues. In addition, social media can contribute to negative body image and encourage unhealthy weight loss practices, particularly among young adolescent girls with low self-esteem.
Parental consent will ensure the use of social media by a child will be used in a more secure and reliable manner. Mandating the uploading of a signed document with specific details about the child and the parent’s permission and restrictions can help reduce the risk of children accessing social media without their parents’ knowledge or consent.
Senator Moore to Lead Public Hearing on Senate Democratic Priority Housing Bill
Senator Moore to Lead Public Hearing on Senate Democratic Priority Housing Bill
Today, Tuesday, February 28, state Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport), Senate Chair of the Housing Committee, will lead a public hearing on Senate Bill 4, ‘An Act Concerning Connecticut’s Present And Future Housing Needs’ to promote fair and equitable housing opportunities in every community in the state. .
This bill will establish a fee for rental applications, set up a housing opportunity development program, create business tax credits, develop a program of mortgage assistance for developers, launch a 5-year pilot program to improve old multifamily affordable housing residences in environmental justice communities, put in place a pilot program to provide temporary housing for the homeless and veterans needing respite care and establish a study to learn how to transform commercial and retail properties into livable housing.
“I am determined to pass legislation that will help alleviate the lack of affordable housing and provide a fair and equitable solution for renters and landlords,” said Senator Moore. “The Housing Committee will work to implement solutions that address homelessness, establish programs to address the cost of housing, and work with towns on plans to create housing.
Financial difficulties, especially ones exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to homelessness rising for the first time since 2012 and a surge in evictions; apartment vacancy rates in Connecticut are some of the lowest in the United States of America. Senate Bill 4 will help identify and develop housing opportunities to address these issues.
Senate Bill 4
Future Tenants
- No landlord can demand any payment for a rental application from a prospective tenant
- A landlord may charge a fee for a tenant screening report if the fee for the tenant screening report is less than the actual cost paid by the landlord for the report
- The landlord will be required to waive all fees for the screening report if the prospective tenant provides the landlord with one done within thirty days
Addressing Homelessness
- The Commissioner of Housing will establish a pilot program to provide temporary housing for persons experiencing homelessness and veterans who need respite care. It will be administered in three municipalities, each with a minimum of seventy-five thousand population, and provide a minimum of 20 housing units
Increase Housing Options
- The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection will establish a pilot program to provide grants to individuals modernizing multifamily residences built before 1980 and located in environmental justice communities that improve the energy efficiency of those residences. For example, installing solar power generating systems or installing heat pumps
- A task force will be established to study the potential growth of affordable housing in the state by converting underutilized commercial and retail properties, including shopping malls, hotels, and warehouses, into such housing
Tax Credit Vouchers
- The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority will administer a system of tax credit vouchers for business firms making cash contributions to housing programs
- The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority will offer mortgage assistance to developers who build or rehabilitate affordable housing throughout the state
Workforce Housing Opportunity Development Program:
- Established a housing opportunity development program to be administered by the Department of Housing
- Workforce housing opportunity developers will receive a tax exemption
- All development projects have a deadline of three years after the date of approval by the Department of Housing
State Senator James Maroney Provides Written Testimony On Improving Major Highways In CT
State Senator James Maroney Provides Written Testimony On Improving Major Highways In CT
This week, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), testified during the Transportation Committee’s Public Hearing on Senate Bill 623, ‘An Act Concerning Route Shield Pavement Markings At Major Highway Intersections. SB 623 will work to improve safety at major highway intersections, specifically Interstate Routes 95 and 91 in the city of New Haven and at the intersection of Interstate Routes 91 and 84 in Hartford.
“Painting route shields on the highway at the interchanges would further improve traffic flow and potentially help to reduce accidents,” said Sen. Maroney. “These route shield markings would help with guiding, warning, regulating traffic, and provide additional emphasis on motorists safety. I am committed to improving our driver’s safety in our state and I will continue to advocate for increased visuals on our roadways.”
In ,Senator Maroney’s testimony, he explains how the bill was introduced, by one of his constituents who wants to see route markers painted on the pavement as they are when you drive over the Tappanzee Bridge in New York at the exchange of I-87 and I-287. Senator Maroney said while there were no statistics specific to painting the route markers on the pavement readily available, pavement markings are seen to reduce accidents by 13% according to studies and help calm and improve traffic flow.
SEN. KUSHNER HAILS BIPARTISAN LABOR COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF PTSD WORKERS’ COMP COVERAGE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
SEN. KUSHNER HAILS BIPARTISAN LABOR COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF PTSD WORKERS’ COMP COVERAGE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
HARTFORD – State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today welcomed the bipartisan passage in the Labor and Public Employees Committee of a bill designed to extend worker’s compensation PTSD coverage not just to police, firefighters, and other first responders who may witness traumatic events, but to any worker in any job who may witness similar, traumatizing events.
The Labor Committee today endorsed Senate Bill 913, “AN ACT EXPANDING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURIES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES,” which would provide worker’s compensation benefits for any worker who witnesses a variety of traumatic events while on the job, such as witnessing the death or dismemberment of a person. The bill specifically mentions the trauma experienced by Connecticut health care workers who have seen more than 12,000 state residents die of COVID-19 over the past three years.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
“I believe the bipartisan work we have done in previous years to extend workers’ comp benefits to police, firefighters and others has really informed our conversations on extending workers’ comp for any employee who witnesses some life-changing tragedy on the job. There’s a new realization of just how traumatic some non-emergency work can be,” Sen. Kushner said. “Some of the past concerns about increased municipal costs have not been borne out, and I believe we’ll see the same when and if we extend these rights to all employees. I’m cautiously optimistic of passage this year.”
The 2023 session of the Connecticut General Assembly concludes at midnight on Wednesday, June 8, 2023.
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LEGISLATION STUDYING ELIMINATION OF CAR TAX, INTRODUCED BY SEN. RAHMAN, PASSES PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
LEGISLATION STUDYING ELIMINATION OF CAR TAX, INTRODUCED BY SEN. RAHMAN, PASSES PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
This week, legislation introduced to the General Assembly that would create a task force to study the feasibility of eliminating the property tax on motor vehicles passed through the Planning and Development Committee. The bill, introduced by State Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester), seeks to find a better and more equitable approach than the motor vehicle tax, which is regressive in locale; due to local property taxes differing significantly among different communities, a vehicle owner in Hartford likely pays more than three times more than a driver in Greenwich, a disparity between communities Sen. Rahman seeks to address. The bill passed on Wednesday by a 14-7 vote.
“This bill was introduced to begin the process of modernizing the vehicle property tax and seeking more progressive models of taxation,” said Sen. Rahman. “I’m looking forward to the findings that this task force will uncover should the bill reach final passage in the Senate and House. The language of this bill has changed out of a desire to ensure such a significant change is thoroughly studied and considered before action is taken. The vehicle property tax is regressive in its current form, and can have a negative impact on municipal affordability; it disproportionately impacts seniors, young residents and workers, not to mention its differing impact on residents in different communities. I remain committed to finding cost savings to help residents who may be experiencing financial strains.”
Senate Bill 497, “An Act Eliminating The Property Tax On Motor Vehicles And Establishing The Motor Vehicle Property Tax Revenue Replacement Account,” after recent adjustments to bill language, will establish a task force to study the feasibility of repealing the motor vehicle property tax and what options are available to replace resulting lost municipal revenue. The task force will look at how such a decision would impact municipal budgets and review possibilities that could replace lost revenue.
Potential revenue mechanisms could include an annual 8% surcharge on direct net premiums received by insurance carriers and insurance on automotive and homeowner insurance policies, though the task force will pursue additional possibilities. The task force would include representatives of tax reform organizations, organizations supporting residents ages 50+, municipal leaders, insurance carrier officials, the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the Commissioner of Revenue Services and members of the Planning and Development Committee. The task force would report its findings by the end of 2023.
The bill now proceeds to the Senate floor for further consideration.
Senator Gaston Leads Public Hearing on Police Traffic Stops
Senator Gaston Leads Public Hearing on Police Traffic Stops
Today, state Senator Herron Gaston (D-Bridgeport), Chair of the Public Safety and Security Committee, is leading a public hearing on Senate Bill 1022, ‘An Act Requiring Police Officers To Provide A Driver With The Reason For A Traffic Stop And Concerning Certain Police Officer Training,’ a bill Senator Gaston introduced this legislative session.
Senate Bill 1022 will require police officers to inform drivers of the reason for a traffic stop and encourage additional police officer trainings on de-escalation, use of force, customer service, diversity, and bias.
“I know there are times when a person has broken a law and they deserve to be pulled over, rightfully so, but they also deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Sen. Gaston. “There needs to be a trust that is created between motorists and law enforcement. It is critically important for our law enforcement to exemplify basic courtesy during any traffic stop. I want to continue to fight for drivers behind the wheel.”
Currently in Connecticut, an officer does not have to tell you why you are being pulled over, they can ask you for your ID during a traffic stop. Research shows police officers stop Black drivers more often than White drivers and according to the Open Policing Project, on a typical day in the U.S., police officers conduct more than 50,000 traffic stops, with officers generally stopping Black drivers at a higher rate than white drivers. Sometimes officers take advantage and will not disclose a reason a person is being pulled over. A study done in 2020 shows Black drivers were 20 percent more likely to be stopped than white drivers, and Black drivers were searched about 1.5 to 2 times as often as white drivers.
In September 2022, the 10-year-anniversary of the Alvin W. Penn Act took place, named after the late state Senator Alvin W. Penn. This is Connecticut’s anti-racial profiling law that prohibits any law enforcement agency from stopping, detaining, or searching any motorist when the stop is motivated solely by considerations of the race, color, ethnicity, age, gender or sexual orientation of that individual. Alvin Penn was a hero who fought for our rights. Senate Bill 1022 will work to improve upon this anti-racial profiling law.
Senators Looney & Duff Release Statement Regarding Eversource’s 2022 Profits
Senators Looney & Duff Release Statement Regarding Eversource’s 2022 Profits
Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) released a statement regarding Eversource’s 2022 profit announcement.
“In announcing $1.4 billion in profit, Eversource CEO Joe Nolan gloated that the company ‘completed an excellent year providing dedicated and tireless service to our 4.4 million customers.’ The electricity customers of Connecticut would beg to disagree. While Eversource shareholders and corporate leadership may celebrate increasing profits in 2022, the public Eversource serves has only seen increased prices. We see the people and businesses on the other side of those profits and Eversource’s business practices demonstrate that they are woefully incapable of working for their customers. Additionally, when Eversource touts infrastructure investments the public should remember that the company recoups every penny it puts in and are not an excuse for raising costs. We will continue to increase accountability and oversight of Eversource and all utility companies to ensure customers are put before profits.”
Senator Marilyn Moore Supports New Housing Proposals
Senator Marilyn Moore Supports New Housing Proposals
Today, state Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport), Senate Chair of the Housing Committee, joined Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz in Bridgeport as he presented his housing proposals. As Chair of the Housing Committee, Senator Moore oversees legislation that will support and increase access to affordable and workforce housing throughout Connecticut.
“I am looking forward to this legislative session as we continue to tackle the housing affordability crisis in our state,” said Sen. Moore. “We need to approach this crisis with a comprehensive plan for our current residents as well as people who want to move to Connecticut. Low-income families are experiencing something nobody should have to experience, that is having to choose between paying rent and other life necessities. I am determined to pass legislation that will help alleviate the lack of affordable housing and provide a fair and equitable solution for renters and landlords. Programs such as those outlined in Governor Lamont’s proposal are the first step in purchasing a home.”
Financial difficulties, especially ones exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to homelessness rising for the first time since 2012 and a surge in evictions; apartment vacancy rates in Connecticut are some of the lowest in the United States of America.
Recently, Senator Moore introduced housing legislation, under Senate Bill 4, that will help identify and develop housing opportunities, which will receive a public hearing. Sen. Moore is proposing four initiatives to help address affordable housing in Connecticut that include:
- Creating a 4-year pilot program with $150 million that would retrofit older buildings in Connecticut and improve their energy efficiency.
- Introducing a renters’ bill of rights.
- Respite housing for homeless.
- Moratorium on rent increases during a declared public health emergency.
A public hearing for Senate Bill 4 is expected to take place next week.
Senators Looney & Duff Release Statement Regarding Eversource’s 2022 Profits
Senators Looney & Duff Release Statement Regarding Eversource’s 2022 Profits
Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) released a statement regarding Eversource’s 2022 profit announcement.
“In announcing $1.4 billion in profit, Eversource CEO Joe Nolan gloated that the company ‘completed an excellent year providing dedicated and tireless service to our 4.4 million customers.’ The electricity customers of Connecticut would beg to disagree. While Eversource shareholders and corporate leadership may celebrate increasing profits in 2022, the public Eversource serves has only seen increased prices. We see the people and businesses on the other side of those profits and Eversource’s business practices demonstrate that they are woefully incapable of working for their customers. Additionally, when Eversource touts infrastructure investments the public should remember that the company recoups every penny it puts in and are not an excuse for raising costs. We will continue to increase accountability and oversight of Eversource and all utility companies to ensure customers are put before profits.”