SEN. ANWAR JOINS SENATE PASSAGE OF BILL PROVIDING CASH REFUNDS FOR GIFT CARD BALANCES UP TO FIVE DOLLARS
HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) joined the state Senate passage of a bill that will increase the amount of cash that consumers can get back on their unused gift cards from three dollars to five dollars – thereby making Connecticut one of the most generous states in the nation when it comes to gift card protections.
Senate Bill 1018, “AN ACT CONCERNING CASH REFUNDS FOR GIFT CARD BALANCES,” passed the Senate on an overwhelmingly bipartisan 32-3 vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
If SB 1018 is approved by the House and signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut would join just six other states – Colorado, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Puerto Rico– in offering consumers up to five dollars cash back on their unused gift cards. California offers up to $10 cash back, and Massachusetts offers cash back on any balance after 90% of the value of the gift card has been spent.
“Gift cards are great gifts – until there’s $3.13 left on a $100 card,” said Sen. Anwar. “This bill is customer-friendly and makes it easier for people to rest assured that a gift they give will be used in full.”
Not only would SB 1018 increase the cash back value on unused gift cards to five dollars, but consumers would not have to provide a proof of purchase receipt for the gift card, which some retailers demand.
Today’s Senate action comes at a time when American consumers are drowning in unspent gift cards. According to a February 2023 report from Credit Summit, an online provider of financial advisory services, Americans have amassed $21 billion in unspent gift cards. A separate study on gift card usage found the average amount on unused gift cards in 2022 was $175 per person, up from $116 in 2021.
Millennials and GenZ (ages 18-41) have amassed the most unused gift cards, with about 50% reporting they have unused gift cards laying around, with unused balances ranging from $150 to $225. Only 40% of older Americans (GenX and Boomers, ages 42-76) report having unused gift cards on-hand, with balances ranging from $130 to$180.
Connecticut remains one of the most consumer-friendly states in America when it comes to gift cards. Not only does Connecticut allow consumers to get cash back on unused balances, Connecticut is also one of the few states in America that prevents retailers from instituting fees on gift card balances – 33 other states allow such fees. And 29 other states allow their governments to take all or a portion of unspent gift card balances, usually after three to five years of inactivity; Connecticut does not.
Sen. Miller Leads Passage Of Bill Providing Cash Refunds For Gift Card Balances Up To Five Dollars
Sen. Miller Leads Passage Of Bill Providing Cash Refunds For Gift Card Balances Up To Five Dollars
State Senator Patricia Billie Miller (D-Stamford) today led state Senate passage of a bill that will increase the amount of cash that consumers can get back on their unused gift cards from three dollars to five dollars – thereby making Connecticut one of the most generous states in the nation when it comes to gift card protections.
Senate Bill 1018, “AN ACT CONCERNING CASH REFUNDS FOR GIFT CARD BALANCES,” passed the Senate on an overwhelmingly bipartisan 32-3 vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
If SB 1018 is approved by the House and signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut would join just six other states – Colorado, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Puerto Rico– in offering consumers up to five dollars cash back on their unused gift cards. California offers up to $10 cash back, and Massachusetts offers cash back on any balance after 90% of the value of the gift card has been spent.
“Five dollars may not sound like much, and maybe five dollars is easy to spend at a Target or Home Depot or a CVS,” said Sen. Miller, who is Senate Chair of the Banking Committee. “But think about a gift card to a clothing store or a restaurant, a bookstore, sporting goods, electronics, baby supplies – there’s little you can buy there for five dollars, and what that does is it causes you to spend more than you normally would, or leave it in a drawer at home, just because you have a few dollars left on a gift card. I think most people would rather have that money back in their wallet.”
Not only would SB 1018 increase the cash back value on unused gift cards to five dollars, but consumers would not have to provide a proof of purchase receipt for the gift card, which some retailers demand.
Today’s Senate action comes at a time when American consumers are drowning in unspent gift cards. According to a February 2023 report from Credit Summit, an online provider of financial advisory services, Americans have amassed $21 billion in unspent gift cards. A separate study on gift card usage found the average amount on unused gift cards in 2022 was $175 per person, up from $116 in 2021.
Millennials and GenZ (ages 18-41) have amassed the most unused gift cards, with about 50% reporting they have unused gift cards laying around, with unused balances ranging from $150 to $225. Only 40% of older Americans (GenX and Boomers, ages 42-76) report having unused gift cards on-hand, with balances ranging from $130 to$180.
Connecticut remains one of the most consumer-friendly states in America when it comes to gift cards. Not only does Connecticut allow consumers to get cash back on unused balances, Connecticut is also one of the few states in America that prevents retailers from instituting fees on gift card balances – 33 other states allow such fees. And 29 other states allow their governments to take all or a portion of unspent gift card balances, usually after three to five years of inactivity; Connecticut does not.
State Senator Saud Anwar Joins Senate Passage of Bill Requiring Crisis Intervention Training, Collaboration Between Police And Social Workers
State Senator Saud Anwar Joins Senate Passage of Bill Requiring Crisis Intervention Training, Collaboration Between Police And Social Workers
Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) joined the Senate’s passage of a bill that will require police officer training on strategies including crisis intervention and develop recommendations on how police officers and social workers may collaborate.
Senate Bill 972, “An Act Concerning Crisis Intervention Training For Police Officers And Collaboration Between Police Officers And Social Workers,” now heads to the House of Representatives.
“Our police officers work to protect and serve our communities, but every call they receive is vastly different,” said Sen. Anwar. “Individuals experiencing mental health issues may require special concern and consideration when they interact with police. Crisis intervention training can provide safer and meaningful advances in sensitive situations and social workers can provide additional insight and improve the results of a given call. I look forward to seeing this bill become law; I know it will have positive benefits for our state.”
Currently, each police training program given by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST), the State Police, or a police department must include POST-developed curricula for police officers on interacting with either people who have mental or physical disabilities or are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. This bill will require POST to add crisis intervention strategies to training for police officers to use when interacting with people with mental illness in crisis.
Crisis Intervention Training will help reduce the risk of serious injuries during an interaction between officers and a person with mental illness. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the lack of mental health crisis services across the U.S. has resulted in law enforcement officers serving as first responders to most crises. A Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program is an innovative, community-based approach to improve the outcomes of these encounters. CIT programs create connections between law enforcement, mental health providers, hospital emergency services and individuals with mental illness and their families.
SB 972 will also work to build relationships between police officers and social workers. A list of recommendations on how police officers can collaborate with social workers will be determined. Police are often the first responders to individuals in distress and sometimes they are the only responders.
The most comprehensive police social work practice is found in Illinois and Wisconsin. Police social workers are employed within more than 35 police departments and provide a variety of services in response to domestic violence, elder abuse and mental health.
The Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers submitted written testimony explaining the avenues social workers take when assisting those in crisis. The president wrote, “Social workers have extensive training in working with diverse populations, are problem solvers, experts in de-escalation. Through a “person-in-environment” approach, they can assist individuals and families to resolve societal problems. Social workers are aware of community resources and know how to access them. Social workers are advocates for clients in a way that creates trust and supportive relationships.”
Police officers are experts in addressing issues of law enforcement, social workers are experts in resolving social problems that bring individuals into encounters with the police.
State Senators James Maroney and Saud Anwar Commit to Regulating Artificial Intelligence in Connecticut
State Senators James Maroney and Saud Anwar Commit to Regulating Artificial Intelligence in Connecticut
This morning, state Senators James Maroney (D-Milford) and Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) joined with the Connecticut Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to discuss the implications of the state using algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for decision-making. The Advisory Committee that Senator Anwar is apart of recently released a report on the potential harms and abuse of Artificial Intelligence. While Artificial Intelligence can work to create a more efficient way to work and live, it is unknown the danger what this access to AI tools can produce online.
“It is so important that we begin to regulate the state government’s use of Artificial Intelligence,” said Sen. Maroney. “We need to require impact assessments ahead of implementing AI in the decision-making process and ensure that there are no disparate impacts. We have seen how AI can impact us all. Hiring algorithms have been shown to discriminate based on age and some algorithms have given higher interest rates for loans based on race. A method needs to be put in pace to eliminate discrimination based on internal data stored online.”
“Artificial intelligence is growing all around us, from ChatGPT to algorithms driving our preferred apps, but we need to make sure it is not used to propagate unfair systems,” said Sen. Anwar. “This report is illuminating and reinforces the need to make sure AI is not corrupted by the inherent bias of its users.”
This legislative session, Senator Maroney authored and introduced Senate Bill 1103, ‘An Act Concerning Artificial Intelligence, Automated Decision-Making, And Personal Data Privacy,’ will work to regulate the state’s use of Artificial Intelligence.
SB 1103 will require assessments ahead of the implementation of AI in specific high-risk incidences. It will create policies and procedures to govern the state’s use of AI, and it will create a task force to work toward creating a Connecticut AT Bill of Rights.,/p>
The online world has the increased capacity to store data online that can relinquish unwanted results. AI can produce ethical challenges including lack of transparency and un-neutralized decisions. Choices made through AI can be susceptible to inaccuracies, discriminatory outcomes, and inserted bias.
State Senator James Maroney Leads Passage of Bill That Creates Kiosks To Recycle Electronics
State Senator James Maroney Leads Passage of Bill That Creates Kiosks To Recycle Electronics
Today, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), Senate Chair of the General Law Committee, lead State Senate passage of a bill that will establish an expansion of automatic kiosks for people to recycle their unwanted electronic devices.
Senate Bill 974, ‘An Act Concerning Pharmacies And Pharmacists,’ passed the Senate with a unanimous vote and now heads to the House of Representatives.
“Allowing for automated kiosks to recycle cell phones throughout the state will help remove them from our waste stream. This is better for the environment and also gives consumers the opportunity to make some money. It is a win win.” said Senator Maroney.
Under Senate Bill 974, the interactive kiosks will be required to be located in secure retail spaces that allow people to recycle their used personal electronic devices. In order to recycle a used electronic device, such as a mobile phone, the kiosk will ask for identification. A person must provide a current government-issued photo identification card. Each time an electronic device is recycled, the kiosk will give the person cash or electronic payment for the deice. The kiosk will keep data from each transaction for three years.
Also under SB 974, there will be a holding period. Kiosks will not be able to recycle, sell, or dispose of a device for at least 15 days. During the 15-day holding period, law enforcement may ask the kiosk operator to give an electronic device to the law enforcement agency or officer for inspection.
Senator James Maroney Welcomes Funding to Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point
Senator James Maroney Welcomes Funding to Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point
Today, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) welcomed $750,000 in federal funding for the Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) Coastal Center at Milford Point. The funding will expand hands-on school, afterschool, and summer science enrichment programs for modernization and technology enhancement project at the Milford Point Coastal Center.
“The Connecticut Audubon Society is such a deserving place to receive this funding for all the work they do preserving wildlife and nature,” said Sen. Maroney. “From school programs, to volunteerism, to various programs and events, there is always priority made to help birds and plants in our ecosystem. Expanding afterschool and summer programs for kids will improve children’s nature-based education.”
This project will enable the expansion of CAS’s hands-on school, afterschool, and summer science enrichment programs that support teachers in implementing Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in a multidisciplinary format. This support would enable the expansion of this program across K-5 grades, provide afterschool and summer science enrichment programs, and expand the high school and college mentorship and career training program that CAS launched in 2021 in Norwalk schools.
SEN. NEEDLEMAN JOINS GOVERNOR LAMONT, ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO APPLAUD PURA APPROVAL OF PERFORMANCE-BASED REGULATION FOR UTILITIES
SEN. NEEDLEMAN JOINS GOVERNOR LAMONT, ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO APPLAUD PURA APPROVAL OF PERFORMANCE-BASED REGULATION FOR UTILITIES
State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) on Friday was proud to join local, state and federal leaders at Colchester Town Hall to celebrate the groundbreaking of Colchester’s new Senior Center. Sen. Needleman joined U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, former Connecticut State Representative Brian Smith, Colchester First Selectman Andreas Bisbikos, Colchester Selectwoman Rosemary Coyle and Colchester Senior Services Patty Watts for a standing-room-only community celebration of the new facilities.
The town’s existing senior center will relocate operations at the completion of construction to a newly constructed 14,650-square-foot facility near Colchester’s downtown, nearly tripling in size the available space there. The new facility will offer a café, game room, arts and crafts classroom, library, conference room and a fitness center larger than 2,200 square feet. Its design is built around strengthening community partnerships and expanding services improving independence, health, wellness and quality of life for Colchester seniors.
“This is about everyone who’s been involved and everyone who’s worked hard to make this happen. Colchester deserves a senior center that serves the needs of this community,” said Sen. Needleman. “I’m excited to have played a small part in making this happen. I can’t wait to visit after the ribbon-cutting and see the facilities.”
“From the first day I took office, I heard about this, and this is going to be a spectacular facility that is going to enable important activities in connecting seniors to benefits,” said U.S. Rep. Courtney. “Clearly, the town and state stood up in a huge way to make sure the funds were available for this project.” Rep. Courtney continued by lauding town and local leaders for their work in moving the project forward and presented them with a United States flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on April 20; it will be flown over the senior center the day of its ribbon-cutting.
Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz said that almost immediately after being elected Lieutenant Governor in 2018, she heard from Coyle, Rep. Smith and Sen. Needleman, all advocating for support for the Senior Center. “What is most impressive is that in January 2022, we announced the $2.5 million state funding for the senior center; since then, membership of the Senior Center has grown 137%, so we know there is huge demand for the services the Senior Center provides,” she said. “The Governor and I wanted to fund this project because we wanted to make sure seniors could be engaged in the community, can be healthy and independent and can stay at home. Since COVID, the need for personal and emotional connection is so important for everyone’s mental and physical health.”
“The senior center project has been a very long journey,” said First Selectman Bisbikos. “In the end, my administration will deliver on this project, come hell or high water. Our seniors deserve a center that they can call home.” Bisbikos described challenges the town faced in the process of developing the senior center project and thanked residents who played key roles in its development.
“This community, these people and the elected officials who have followed this through the years have all done their part to make this happen,” said Selectwoman Coyle, who said the town’s senior center’s development dates back as far as 2006 and thanked former selectmen for their efforts in development. “This vision was our community coming together and building something for its people and its seniors. What an exciting thing for our town.”
In December 2021, Sen. Needleman joined with state and town legislators and officials, including Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz and former Rep. Smith, to celebrate a $2.5 million state bonding grant committed toward the construction of the new senior center.
In January 2023, the Colchester Board of Selectmen approved a $8.625 million bid supporting construction for the new senior center; in a town referendum in 2021, town voters approved a $9.5 million cost for the center.
Senate President Looney & Speaker Ritter Release Statement Regarding State Budget
Senate President Looney & Speaker Ritter Release Statement Regarding State Budget
Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) released the following statement regarding the state budget:
“Thank you to the members of the Appropriations and Finance committees for their work in producing a budget and revenue bill this week. We are profoundly grateful to the committee chairs for their hard work in building a consensus, a process we can especially appreciate.
This budget will serve as a foundational document as we continue to work to pass a budget by the end of this legislative session.
As we move forward, we will be looking at finding ways to bolster funding in a number of critical areas – including nonprofits, public schools, higher education, healthcare and childcare workers, paraprofessionals and group homes – while still protecting the fiscal health of the state and providing residents with historic tax relief.”
Duff, Norwalk Delegation Release Statement on Norwalk Transit District
Duff, Norwalk Delegation Release Statement on Norwalk Transit District
Today, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), Representative Lucy Dathan (D-142), Representative Dominique Johnson (D-143), Representative Kadeem Roberts (D-137), and Representative Travis Simms (D-140) released the following statement in regards to the Norwalk Transit District.
“After numerous conversations with representatives of the Norwalk Transit District, we will be putting a hold on our proposed legislation to dissolve the Norwalk Transit District and merge the services into the operations of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. These discussions have resulted in a number of promised changes which we believe, if implemented, will result in better services for the residents who rely on our local public transportation. We will be watching the actions of the Norwalk Transit District and listening to riders over the next year to determine the progress of the district.”
This year Sen. Duff, Rep. Dathan, Rep. Johnson, Rep. Roberts, and Rep. Simms introduced Senate Bill 630, An Act Concerning the Norwalk Transit District. Under the bill the Norwalk Transit District would have been dissolved on January 1, 2024 and all funds and property of the district would pass to the Connecticut Department of Transportation which would provide transit services to the areas previously served by the Norwalk Transit District.
The bill language was merged into a larger bill, Senate Bill 904, which passed the Transportation Committee on March 17. The bill is currently before the State Senate awaiting action.
SENS. MARX, NEEDLEMAN JOIN LT. GOV. BYSIEWICZ IN OLD LYME TO CELEBRATE $12.009 MILLION TO IMPROVE SCHOOL AIR QUALITY THROUGH GRANT PROGRAM
SENS. MARX, NEEDLEMAN JOIN LT. GOV. BYSIEWICZ IN OLD LYME TO CELEBRATE $12.009 MILLION TO IMPROVE SCHOOL AIR QUALITY THROUGH GRANT PROGRAM
Today, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) and State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) joined Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Region 18 Superintendent Ian Neviaser and Lyme and Old Lyme local leaders at Center School in Old Lyme to celebrate the state’s approved release of $12.009 million in grant funding to support improved air quality in Region 18 schools.
Region 18 Schools, located in Lyme and Old Lyme, will receive three grants, each supporting air quality improvements and upgrades in local schools, through the HVAC Indoor Air Quality Grant Program for Public Schools. The Consolidated School will receive $3.051 million, the Center School will receive $2.719 million and the Middle School will receive $6.24 million. These funds can be used to replace, upgrade, or repair boilers and other heating and ventilation components; replacing controls and technology systems related to HVAC operations; installing or upgrading air conditioning or ventilation systems; and other similar work approved by the Department of Administrative Services.
“It is very exciting that Region 18 is one of the first districts to get this grant funding,” said Sen. Marx. “I still remember the stories of the challenges educators and parents faced and fought through during COVID, and that hard work cannot be forgotten. So let’s try and do this for a lot of schools and bring positive change to our classrooms. The kids, educators and staff deserve this; everyone deserves a safe working and learning environment,”
“We learned firsthand through the school of hard knocks the importance of air quality,” said Sen. Needleman. “It was a hard way to learn, but I’m glad we’re on track, and I think we need to upgrade all of our schools throughout the state to make sure our kids and our teachers have a safe environment to work and learn.”
“This is a major investment in school infrastructure, in the health of our children and students and in the health of our teachers and staff who work there,” said Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz. “This is a really big and important investment. It’s also an investment in job creation; Our friends in the building trades such as plumbers and pipefitters will be on site working at schools across our state. There will be a lot of folks in Lyme and Old Lyme doing this important work.”
“This is a project we hope to begin construction on in the next several months and hope to complete it within the next year or two,” said Superintendent Neviaser. “This is not just for one school, it’s for four schools, and we’re appreciative of the hard work put in. We look forward to completing this project on time and under budget.”
In 2022, the General Assembly voted to create the Indoor Air Quality Grant Program, as part of an effort to improve ventilation and air conditions in schools statewide. Local and regional boards of education and regional education service centers can use those funds to make valuable improvements. Municipalities are responsible to provide matching grants to fund work not covered by grants. Eligible schools and districts are those found to have the greatest need for indoor air quality improvements; factors considered include school HVAC system age, air quality issues at the school and overall school building age and condition. Along with creating that program, the state additionally invested in a pipeline training system for HVAC work and strict standards for inspection and evaluation of HVAC on an accelerated schedule compared to previous state law.
In November 2022, Old Lyme voters approved $57.5 million in bonding for renovations and updates to local schools, with projects including updates to HVAC, air conditioning and ventilation at four Lyme regional schools that had last been renovated roughly two decades prior. In past interviews, Neviaser said these projects included applying for the state grant program for air quality improvements as a significant issue was their age; some Region 18 schools have systems dating back to the 1960s, he said.