Senator Hochadel Leads Senate Passage on Bill Addressing Climate Crisis in Schools
Today, state Senator Jan Hochadel (D-Meriden), Senate Vice Chair of the Environment Committee, lead State Senate passage of a bill that will help create an environmentally safe classroom for students across Connecticut.
Senate Bill 961, ‘An Act Concerning Carbon-Free School Requirements For New School Construction And Establishing Other School Construction And Public Health Requirements For School Districts,’ will allow districts to apply for a grant through the Greenbank to perform an energy feasibility study for each school building in the district. It will also ask all Superintendents to prioritize projects by greenhouse gas emission reductions and cost effectiveness, with the hope they will replace old equipment with new equipment that is energy efficient.
“Every child deserves to have a safe and healthy classroom and school. Every child – mine and yours – should have a future on a healthy planet,” said Sen. Hochadel.
Senate Bill 961 will also help Connecticut to move towards carbon-neutral schools. The goal is to have any new construction, replacement, or extension of a public-school building after July 1, 2024, be net-zero energy. The transition to renewable power in our schools will help identify opportunities for improvement. This change will result in energy cost savings for taxpayers and reductions in dangerous greenhouse gas emission.
This bill now heads to the state House of Representatives.
Senator Gaston Leads Senate Passage on Bill Combating Gun Violence
Senator Gaston Leads Senate Passage on Bill Combating Gun Violence
Today, state Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport), Senate Chair of the Public Safety and Security Committee, lead State Senate passage of a bill that will create new programs in our state to help reduce gun violence.
Senate Bill 1162, ‘An Act Requiring Community Roundtable and Funding Community Policing Programs To Combat Gun Violence’, passed the state senate and now heads to the House of Representatives.
“Too many young lives are lost every day to careless acts of gun violence, and we need to take the steps necessary in accountability and preventative measures,” said Sen. Gaston. “It takes a community and with a collaborative effort I am positive we can begin to make a difference. Every community member deserves to lay their head down at night not having to worry about the next shooting incident.”
Senate Bill 1162 requires law enforcement units to hold community roundtables to discuss with community representatives gun violence prevention methods.
Working together collaboratively with our law enforcement and sharing different policies allows for dedicated members of our community to produce new and innovative strategies to put an end to gun violence. In Bridgeport, a town Senator Gaston represents, crime has decreased from 2022. From January to March of 2022, there were 20 calls to Bridgeport police for shooting incidents. Within the same time frame, from January to March in this year of 2023, there were 11 calls for shooting incidents. These 11 incidents although decreased, still 11 too many. Discussions are critical as it allows different members in our community to come together and brainstorm solutions that can be used across each municipality here in our state.
SB 1162 requires law enforcement agencies in each town in Connecticut to hold meetings with representatives from social services and mental health agencies, organizations that serve the municipality, people from organizations that seek to combat gun violence in the municipality, representatives from the judicial branch, and one or more prosecutors serving the judicial district that includes the municipality. During these meetings, it will be encouraged to share information and data that has been collected over the past months while developing strategies to reduce gun violence and crime throughout the state. Discussions held will also require everyone to work collaboratively to improve the responsiveness and accountability of law enforcement. All these meetings that take place will be open to the public.
This robust approach takes a holistic and integrated methodology in addressing the root causes of violence and will help find multiple pathways to address it by having a myriad support of social services working to develop solutions. Recently, this bill was voted out of the Public Safety and Security Committee with bi-partisan support.
Senator Cabrera Leads Senate Passage of Bill Protecting First Responders from Discrimination by Life Insurance Companies
Senator Cabrera Leads Senate Passage of Bill Protecting First Responders from Discrimination by Life Insurance Companies
State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden), Senate Chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, led state Senate passage of a bill to protect first responders from discrimination by life insurance companies when diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome. Senator Cabrera said this is a strong bill that will protect our heroes who work every day to protect us.
Senate Bill 1015, ‘An Act Prohibiting Life Insurance Companies From Discriminating Against First Responders Diagnosed With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,’ now heads to the state House of Representatives for further debate and action.
“The traumatic events our first responders witness in an effort to protect us, provide care and be a calming force during periods of unrest should not be used against them when they are in need of support,” said Sen. Cabrera. “This legislation is necessary. I am proud my colleagues joined me in advancing this out of the state Senate.”
This bill prohibits life insurers from delivering, issuing, renewing, or continuing a life insurance or annuity policy in Connecticut that excludes coverage solely because someone is a “first responder” (e.g., ambulance driver) diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The bill also prohibits life insurers from taking any of the following actions based on an individual’s status as a first responder diagnosed with PTSD: making any distinction or discrimination against a person in premiums or rates; demanding or requiring greater premiums than from a first responder not diagnosed with PTSD of the same age, sex, general health, and hope of longevity; rebating, discounting, or lowering the benefit amount paid upon death, or similarly requiring heirs, executors, or beneficiaries to accept less than the full payout compared to a similarly situated person. Under the bill, a violation of any of these three provisions is an unfair and deceptive insurance practice under the Connecticut Unfair Insurance Practices Act (CUIPA).”
This legislation received support during the public hearing portion of the legislative session with Thomas Burr, Public Policy Manager at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, stating: “We know only too well that people with any sort of serious mental health condition, no matter how well managed, and no matter how long the person has been in recovery, can count on being routinely turned down when trying to acquire any sort of life insurance policy from an insurance company. We get calls on a regular basis from individuals who find this sad fact out when they attempt to apply for life insurance, then subsequently are turned down. Therefore, not only do we feel that an exception by made for 1st Responders with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) diagnosis, but honestly, ANYONE with a mental health diagnosis. While we appreciate the business decisions that must be made, at the end of the day it is all about MANAGING RISK, not avoiding risk completely and denying people reasonable protections that they are willing to pay for. To do otherwise is discrimination, pure and simple, and should not be tolerated in any form in a just and fair society.”
SB 1015 passed out of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee unanimously. If advanced from the House, it will land on Governor Ned Lamont’s desk.
SENATOR SLAP, STATE SENATE PASS BILL TO HELP COMBAT ILLEGAL ORGANIZED ‘STREET TAKEOVERS’
SENATOR SLAP, STATE SENATE PASS BILL TO HELP COMBAT ILLEGAL ORGANIZED ‘STREET TAKEOVERS’
Today, State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) joined the State Senate in its approval of legislation creating a regional task force that will work to combat illegal “street takeovers,” where organized groups of drivers in a variety of vehicles fill streets in cities or towns, sometimes obstructing traffic and causing public disturbances.
Senate Bill 1036, “An Act Establishing A Greater Hartford Regional Law Enforcement Task Force To Combat Illegal Roadway Traffic Activity,” will require the Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to establish a regional task force that will work to combat illegal traffic activities in the Greater Hartford area.
“The ‘takeovers’ can be scary and threaten public safety,” said Sen. Slap. “The creation of a task force will help prevent the takeovers from happening and support law enforcement’s efforts to keep our streets safe. I’m encouraged that we’re taking action today against this practice and hope this task force’s findings can help prevent future issues for motorists.”
In recent years, organized groups of individuals driving motor vehicles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and other vehicles have created organized “street takeovers,” where hundreds will descend onto an area. Several have involved public disturbances and obstructions of traffic. Various events have led to property damage and some have spurred violence.
Under the bill, the Task Force would comprise state and local law enforcement officers in the Greater Hartford area. The take force will be allowed to ask for and receive aid from any federal, state or local agency.
The bill passed the Public Safety and Security Committee by a 25-0 vote in March.
SENATOR RAHMAN WELCOMES $258,992 IN SUMMER ENRICHMENT GRANTS FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN SUMMERS OF 2023, 2024
SENATOR RAHMAN WELCOMES $258,992 IN SUMMER ENRICHMENT GRANTS FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN SUMMERS OF 2023, 2024
Today, State Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester) welcomed the state’s announcement that $258,992 in state grants will be awarded to organizations in the 4th Senate District in the summers of 2023 and 2024 through the state’s Summer Enrichment Program. This came as part of an announced $13 million in grants provided to 110 organizations across the state for the next two summers.
This program is intended to connect Connecticut students whose education was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with low- or no-cost high-quality enrichment opportunities when out of school in the summer months, This includes at summer camps, childcare centers and other similar programs, with communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic given priority support.
“Especially after the last few years, children need every opportunity to learn, grow and develop, and I’m proud that these grants will help foster that,” said Sen. Rahman. “Children all around our state will have new, hands-on opportunities to learn thanks to these investments in our future. I’m grateful to the Governor and the Department of Education for their support of state education services.”
“Since we created this program a couple of years ago, these grants have expanded access to summertime learning opportunities for thousands of Connecticut students who otherwise may not have been able to enroll in this kind of high-quality programming,” Governor Lamont said. “Summer camps are a valuable experience for children when they are out of school – not only for supporting their overall education, but also when it comes to strengthening their social skills and emotional well-being. Continuing this program has been an important priority for our administration, and I’m glad that we are able to provide funding for it for another two summers.”
The following organizations in Sen. Rahman’s district received funding: Andover Elementary School will receive $42,000 in the summers of 2023 and 2024; Manchester’s Camp Merrie-Wood will receive $50,000 in the summers of 2023 and 2024; Glastonbury’s Smith Middle School will receive $37,496 in the summers of 2023 and 2024.
SENATOR SLAP WELCOMES $398,235 IN SUMMER ENRICHMENT GRANTS FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN SUMMERS OF 2023, 2024
SENATOR SLAP WELCOMES $398,235 IN SUMMER ENRICHMENT GRANTS FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN SUMMERS OF 2023, 2024′
Today, State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) welcomed the state’s announcement that $398,235 in state grants will be awarded to organizations in the 5th Senate District in the summers of 2023 and 2024 through the state’s Summer Enrichment Program. This came as part of an announced $13 million in grants provided to 110 organizations across the state for the next two summers.
This program is intended to connect Connecticut students whose education was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with low- or no-cost high-quality enrichment opportunities when out of school in the summer months, This includes at summer camps, childcare centers and other similar programs, with communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic given priority support.
“These funds will play a huge role in supporting education and summer enrichment for children in communities across the state, and I’m excited to see significant funding is supporting our region,” said Sen. Slap. “I’m grateful to the Governor and Department of Education for investing in our communities.”
“Since we created this program a couple of years ago, these grants have expanded access to summertime learning opportunities for thousands of Connecticut students who otherwise may not have been able to enroll in this kind of high-quality programming,” Governor Lamont said. “Summer camps are a valuable experience for children when they are out of school – not only for supporting their overall education, but also when it comes to strengthening their social skills and emotional well-being. Continuing this program has been an important priority for our administration, and I’m glad that we are able to provide funding for it for another two summers.”
The following organizations in Sen. Slap’s district received funding: Bloomfield’s Auerfarm will receive $150,000 in the summers of 2023 and 2024; West Hartford’s Camp KO will receive $48,735 in the summer of 2023 and $49,500 in the summer of 2024.
SEN. KUSHNER WELCOMES 2023, 2024 ENRICHMENT GRANTS FOR SUMMER CAMPS IN DANBURY & RIDGEFIELD
SEN. KUSHNER WELCOMES 2023, 2024 ENRICHMENT GRANTS FOR SUMMER CAMPS IN DANBURY & RIDGEFIELD
DANBURY– State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today welcomed $400,000 in federal aid for summer enrichment programs at four summer camps in Danbury and Ridgefield for 2023 and 2024.
Established by Governor Ned Lamont in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Connecticut Summer Enrichment Program connects grade K-12 students whose education may have been negatively impacted by the pandemic with low-cost or no-cost, high-quality enrichment opportunities when they are out of school during the summer months.
The grants include $100,000 each for the Jericho Maple Avenue Learning Program and the Jericho Spring Street Learning Program in Danbury, and $100,000 each for the Boys & Girls Clubs at 10 and 41 Governor Street in Ridgefield. 110 organizations in Connecticut are being awarded more than $13 million in grants from federal COVID-19 relief dollars, including from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.
“School will be out soon, and summer enrichment programs like these will keep kids on track academically and potentially result in higher graduation rates down the road. I’m excited for all the possibilities that these grants will provide our young students,” Sen. Kushner said.
Jericho’s Summer Learning Program is designed to combat the out-of-school “summer slide” among kindergartners through 12th grade students who come from low-income, inner-city families and who are at risk of dropping out of school. K-5th graders participate in a seven-week, full-day camp that supports a child’s academic success, through programs that reinforce reading, math, and bible studies, and 6th-12th are involved in seven-week, full-day programming that reinforces skills students need for success in high school and beyond, with group and one-to-one tutoring.
The Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield is a youth activity center designed to offer programs for school-aged children after school and during vacations in five core areas: The Arts, Character & Leadership, Education, Health & Life Skills, and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys & girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.
SENATOR RAHMAN LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION CREATING TAX ABATEMENT FOR CERTAIN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
SENATOR RAHMAN LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION CREATING TAX ABATEMENT FOR CERTAIN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
Today, State Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester), Senate Chair of the Planning and Development Committee, led the Senate’s passage of legislation that will establish a tax abatement for certain conservation easements.
Under Senate Bill 998, “An Act Establishing A Tax Abatement For Certain Conservation Easements,” municipalities could optionally exempt any portion of land from real property taxes that qualifies as a greenway, is a recreational trail less than one hundred feet wide and is subject to a conservation easement conveyed from its owner to a municipality, the state or a nonprofit land conservation organization. The bill also specifies that a greenway trail corridor can be deemed open space land.
“Abatements for conservation, specifically to aid the development and preservation of local trails, can be a valuable tool for municipalities to use,” said Sen. Rahman. “This bill will provide towns and cities with new options and opportunities to support local recreation, supporting community health and local property values in the process. I look forward to this bill passing the House and becoming law.”
This bill received significant support from land conservation groups, with the East Coast Greenway Alliance, Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments, Connecticut Forest and Park Association and Connecticut Land Conservation Council, among others, all supported the development of this tax abatement, noting that while private landowners play a role in keeping trail corridors unbroken, those lands are also vulnerable to disruption without incentives for protection. They noted that completed trails also boost local property values, which would play a role in reducing the small decrease in local tax rolls created by the legislation.
Samuel S. Gold, Executive Director of the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments, also testified in support, noting that the abatements would be a tool to municipalities working to make their communities more livable.
The bill previously passed the Planning and Development Committee by a 14-7 tally in March, the Appropriations Committee by a 35-17 tally in May and the Finance Committee by a 37-13 tally in May. It now heads to the House for further consideration.
SENATOR MARX PROUD TO SUPPORT SENATE LEGISLATION BENEFITTING SENIORS FINANCIALLY AND THROUGH STRONGER CARE STANDARDS
SENATOR MARX PROUD TO SUPPORT SENATE LEGISLATION BENEFITTING SENIORS FINANCIALLY AND THROUGH STRONGER CARE STANDARDS
Today, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) was proud to join the State Senate in its approval of two bills that will provide additional support to seniors throughout the state. The first is designed to establish a revolving loan account, assisting senior homeowners who have delinquent property tax payments; the second will implement the recommendations of the Homemaker-Companion Agency Task Force, improving transition registration and oversight for homemaker-companion agencies.
“As a visiting nurse, I work with many seniors throughout our community, and I’m proud to vote for these bills because they will directly benefit quality of life and available resources for seniors across the state,” said Sen. Marx. “Senior homeowners who are behind on their tax payments deserve opportunities to catch up. Seniors deserve high quality of care from homemaker-companion agencies and should have recourse to take action if that care doesn’t meet needed standards. I’m looking forward to these bills becoming law to benefit seniors throughout our communities.”
Senate Bill 900, “An Act Establishing A Revolving Loan Account To Assist Elderly Homeowners,” would establish such an account to support any property owner aged 65 or older who has lived in the same town or city for at least 10 years, has lived in their home full-time for eight of the last ten years and meets low income thresholds to receive a tax reduction through the fund, as long as their property is not encumbered and the principal of the loan does not exceed taxes levied against the property.
This bill received support from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, which noted the bill would aid distressed elderly homeowners experiencing financial difficulties. It previously passed the Aging Committee by a 15-0 vote.
Senate Bill 1025, “An Act Implementing The Recommendations Of The Homemaker-Companion Agency Task Force,” would take the recommendations of that task force and make changes including: transferring responsibility for registration and oversight of homemaker-companion agencies from the Department of Consumer Protection to the Department of Public Health; allow the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to revoke, suspend, refuse to issue or renew certificates of registration, place on probation or issue a letter of reprimand to a facility deemed to have acted against regulations; develop and implement mandatory training standards for agency employees; and require development of a written contract or service plan within seven calendar days of services beginning, among other changes.
This bill received support from the Department of Social Services, Home Care Association of America and a number of home care agencies across the state. It previously passed the Aging Committee by a 15-0 vote.
SENATOR NEEDLEMAN WELCOMES $665,527 IN SUMMER ENRICHMENT GRANTS FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN SUMMERS OF 2023, 2024
SENATOR NEEDLEMAN WELCOMES $665,527 IN SUMMER ENRICHMENT GRANTS FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN SUMMERS OF 2023, 2024
Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) welcomed the state’s announcement that $665,527 in state grants will be awarded to organizations in the 33rd Senate District in the summers of 2023 and 2024 through the state’s Summer Enrichment Program. This came as part of an announced $13 million in grants provided to 110 organizations across the state for the next two summers.
This program is intended to connect Connecticut students whose education was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with low- or no-cost high-quality enrichment opportunities when out of school in the summer months, This includes at summer camps, childcare centers and other similar programs, with communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic given priority support.
“Local children will have new opportunities to learn and grow, all while having fun, this summer thanks to these important grants,” said Sen. Needleman. “I’m grateful to Governor Lamont and the Department of Education for their support.”
“Since we created this program a couple of years ago, these grants have expanded access to summertime learning opportunities for thousands of Connecticut students who otherwise may not have been able to enroll in this kind of high-quality programming,” Governor Lamont said. “Summer camps are a valuable experience for children when they are out of school – not only for supporting their overall education, but also when it comes to strengthening their social skills and emotional well-being. Continuing this program has been an important priority for our administration, and I’m glad that we are able to provide funding for it for another two summers.”
The following organizations in Sen. Needleman’s district received funding: Chester’s Camp Hazen YMCA will receive $100,000 distributed in $50,000 allotments in 2023 and 2024; Colchester’s Summer Day Camp will receive $148,595 in 2023 and $148,803 in 2024; Old Saybrook’s Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center will receive $19,754 allocations in 2023 and 2024; Westbrook’s Valley Shore YMCA will receive $113,437 in 2023 and $115,184 in 2024.