SENATOR SLAP VOTES TO INCREASE PROTECTIONS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) joined in the bipartisan and unanimous support of a 2023 Senate Democrats’ public policy priority to increase protections for domestic violence victims by expanding GPS monitoring of violent offenders, increasing funding for victim services, and preventing people convicted of certain domestic violence crimes from ever collecting any alimony from their former spouse.
Senate Bill 5, “AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTIONS AGAINST AND RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,” passed the state Senate today on a 36-0 unanimous vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Previously, the bill had received a 37-0 unanimous vote in the Judiciary Committee and a 55-0 unanimous vote in the Appropriations Committee.
“We must do all we can to not only prevent domestic violence from occurring, but also help victims when abuse does happen,” said Sen. Slap. “This bill provides better monitoring for abusers and victims alike, further expands victim’s services and helps prevents the potential of financial control to be used as a tool of abuse. It’s a bill that will protect victims in our state and I look forward to seeing it become law.”
In 2010, the General Assembly passed Public Act 10-144, which established a GPS (Global Positioning System) monitoring pilot program to protect victims in extremely dangerous situations; the pilot program has operated in the Bridgeport, Danielson, and Hartford judicial districts. Senate Bill 5 now expands the GPS monitoring program to cover the entire state.
The GPS expansion is expected to cost $8 million over 2024 and 2025; Democrats have already included the funding in their proposed legislative budget.
Under the program, after a person violates a restraining order or a protective order, a judge will evaluate whether that offender is a high risk, and if so, the domestic violence survivor will have the option of having the offender monitored by GPS. Although Connecticut currently has GPS monitoring for certain domestic violence offenders, as well as for some on parole or on the sex offender registry, this program is different. It provides live monitoring and alert notification for domestic violence survivors.
At the survivor’s discretion, the survivor carries his or her own GPS device, and the offender’s location is constantly monitored to ensure a safe distance is kept from not only the survivor’s home and work, but wherever they go. If ever the offender encroaches near the survivor or a forbidden buffer zone, the monitoring service will notify the survivor and law enforcement.
Senate Bill 5 also provides more than $43 million for victim’s services in Connecticut. The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund relies on fines and fees arising from federal prosecutions, and it is very volatile, peaking at $6.5 billion in 2017 but not rising above $822 million ever since. The VOCA Fund provides a number of services for crime victims, such as domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, human trafficking, child abuse, and families impacted by homicide. In federal fiscal year 2021, VOCA helped 104,366 victims of crimes in Connecticut, and most of the services were provided by community-based nonprofits. To avoid a drop in funding, Senate Bill 5 provides $13.175 million for Fiscal Year 2023 (beginning July 1) and $20 million for Fiscal Year 2024.
Finally, Senate Bill 5 prohibits any alimony by a domestic violence survivor to their spouse or former spouse who is convicted of an attempted murder, class A or B felony sexual assault, or a class A or B felony family violence crime. Current state law leaves it to the discretion of the court (a judge) to determine any alimony award; Senate Bill 5 removes this option from a judge to prevent those convicted of certain crimes from continuing to abuse their victim through the legal system.
The bill previously passed the Planning and Development Committee by a 14-7 vote on March 22. It heads to the House for further consideration.
SENATOR MARX VOTES TO INCREASE PROTECTIONS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SENATOR MARX VOTES TO INCREASE PROTECTIONS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) joined in the bipartisan and unanimous support of a 2023 Senate Democrats’ public policy priority to increase protections for domestic violence victims by expanding GPS monitoring of violent offenders, increasing funding for victim services, and preventing people convicted of certain domestic violence crimes from ever collecting any alimony from their former spouse.
Senate Bill 5, “AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTIONS AGAINST AND RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,” passed the state Senate today on a 36-0 unanimous vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Previously, the bill had received a 37-0 unanimous vote in the Judiciary Committee and a 55-0 unanimous vote in the Appropriations Committee.
“Victims of domestic violence are at a higher risk of experiencing future domestic violence. We need to work to protect them, and I’m grateful to vote for legislation that will do just that,” said Sen. Marx. “By monitoring survivors, not just offenders, we can better monitor whether they are at risk and provide additional deterrents for offenders. Drastically increasing victim’s services and reducing offenders’ abuse of the legal system will further benefit the wellbeing of survivors. I look forward to the House voting to move this bill forward.”
In 2010, the General Assembly passed Public Act 10-144, which established a GPS (Global Positioning System) monitoring pilot program to protect victims in extremely dangerous situations; the pilot program has operated in the Bridgeport, Danielson, and Hartford judicial districts. Senate Bill 5 now expands the GPS monitoring program to cover the entire state.
The GPS expansion is expected to cost $8 million over 2024 and 2025; Democrats have already included the funding in their proposed legislative budget.
Under the program, after a person violates a restraining order or a protective order, a judge will evaluate whether that offender is a high risk, and if so, the domestic violence survivor will have the option of having the offender monitored by GPS. Although Connecticut currently has GPS monitoring for certain domestic violence offenders, as well as for some on parole or on the sex offender registry, this program is different. It provides live monitoring and alert notification for domestic violence survivors.
At the survivor’s discretion, the survivor carries his or her own GPS device, and the offender’s location is constantly monitored to ensure a safe distance is kept from not only the survivor’s home and work, but wherever they go. If ever the offender encroaches near the survivor or a forbidden buffer zone, the monitoring service will notify the survivor and law enforcement.
Senate Bill 5 also provides more than $43 million for victim’s services in Connecticut. The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund relies on fines and fees arising from federal prosecutions, and it is very volatile, peaking at $6.5 billion in 2017 but not rising above $822 million ever since. The VOCA Fund provides a number of services for crime victims, such as domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, human trafficking, child abuse, and families impacted by homicide. In federal fiscal year 2021, VOCA helped 104,366 victims of crimes in Connecticut, and most of the services were provided by community-based nonprofits. To avoid a drop in funding, Senate Bill 5 provides $13.175 million for Fiscal Year 2023 (beginning July 1) and $20 million for Fiscal Year 2024.
Finally, Senate Bill 5 prohibits any alimony by a domestic violence survivor to their spouse or former spouse who is convicted of an attempted murder, class A or B felony sexual assault, or a class A or B felony family violence crime. Current state law leaves it to the discretion of the court (a judge) to determine any alimony award; Senate Bill 5 removes this option from a judge to prevent those convicted of certain crimes from continuing to abuse their victim through the legal system.
Senator Maroney Applauds Passage of Comprehensive Priority Legislation Focused on Improving Children’s Health and Protecting Literary Freedom
Senator Maroney Applauds Passage of Comprehensive Priority Legislation Focused on Improving Children’s Health and Protecting Literary Freedom
Today, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) applauded passage of Senate Bill 2 “An Act Concerning the Mental, Physical and Emotional Wellness of Children,” priority legislation for the caucus that, among other important factors, aims to protect libraries from the onslaught of book bans by conservatives that have been prevalent across the nation. The bill also contains several provisions crucial to fostering positive health and wellness for Connecticut children.
“Over the last several years we have witnessed a mental health epidemic in our country. Our local schools are dealing with the fallout of the increases in anxiety and depression among children. The addition of necessary resources allows for the continued support of students in need,” said Sen. Maroney. “This bill further ensures that children will be afforded the ability to learn about any subject. Literacy is important in the classroom and students should be provided with books with a diverse selection.”
SB 2 is a comprehensive bill that protects against politically fueled book bans, commonly by conservatives, which has remained an issue over the past year. The American Library Association (ALA) recently reported last year there were 1,269 attempts to ban books across the country, a sizable increase from the 729 in 2021. Last year, Texas banned 801 books from July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022 according to Statista. Florida banned 560 books and Pennsylvania banned 457 last year as well. According to PEN America, Between August and November, Missouri banned nearly 300 books in at least 11 school districts. These bans are targeted specifically at books regarding the LGBTQ community and communities of color. According to PEN America, “more than 40% of the banned titles address lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer themes or have prominent queer characters.” Per Statista, “40 percent of banned titles featured protagonists or other key characters of color.”
Rewarding Libraries that Protect Literary Freedom
SB 2 enables libraries that prioritize and protect literary freedom by establishing a system to review books that have been challenged via a policy set by their governing board to have access to a state grant which could provide a library with approximately $1,300 to $3,000 per library.
Per the legislation, ” no principal public library shall be eligible to receive a state grant, if such principal public library does not maintain and adhere to collection development, collection management, and collection reconsideration policies which are approved by their governing body. The collection reconsideration policy shall offer residents a clear process to request a reconsideration of library materials. In the instance of a book challenge, these policies shall govern.”
Addressing Birth to 3
Per the bill language, “the bill makes permanent the $200 general administrative payment the Office of Early Childhood commissioner must make to certain Birth to Three early intervention service providers that will sunset under current law on June 30, 2024.” This will go into effect July 1, 2023, if signed into law. Under the bill and current law, the commissioner must make these payments to providers for each child: with an individualized family service plan on the first day of the billing month; whose plan accounts for less than nine service hours during the billing month, as long as the provider delivers at least one service during the month
Creating Mental Wellness Days
SB 2 requires employers to allow service workers to use accrued paid sick leave for a “mental health wellness day” to attend to their emotional or psychological well-being. Currently, existing law allows service workers to use paid sick leave for their, or their spouse’s or child’s (1) illness, injury or health condition; (2) medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a physical or mental illness, injury, or health condition; or (3) preventive care. Per bill language, the legislation applies to specified service worker occupations covered by existing law, they are as follows: certain food service industry jobs; health care; hospitality; retail; sanitation industry workers
The legislation also covers certain, specific scenarios in which a worker would need to use a mental health wellness day. They are as follows: where a service worker is a victim of family violence or sexual assault, or the parent or guardian of a child who is a victim of family violence or sexual assault, provided such service worker is not the perpetrator or alleged perpetrator of such family violence or sexual assault; for medical care or psychological or other counseling for physical or psychological injury or disability, to obtain or obtaining services from a victim services organization; to relocate or while relocating due to such family violence or sexual assault; to participate or while participating in any civil or criminal proceedings related to or resulting from such family violence or sexual assault
If signed into law, this will go into effect on October 1, 2023.
Help for At-Risk Teenagers
SB 2 makes it optional for the State Department of Education (SDE) to hire one full-time employee responsible for awarding a grant to, and collaborating with, a nonprofit organization specializing in identifying and providing services for at-risk teenage students with depression, anxiety, substance abuse struggles, and trauma and conflict-related stresses, per the bill language. The bill continues: the organization must use the grant to train school behavioral health providers to provide them services. The bill allocates $15,000, for the 2024 fiscal year, to SDE from the federal funds the state received under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to fund the awarding of a grant to a nonprofit organization to train school behavioral health providers to identify and provide services for these students. This will go into effect July 1, 2023, if signed into law.
Due to the clear need for this bill, SB 2 received support during the public hearing period of the legislative session. Nicole Chen of Yale Dems spoke in favor of SB 2, saying, “this bill would allocate further resources towards improving children’s access to mental, physical, and emotional health services.” Chen added “this shortage of mental health services for children in Connecticut demands a solution. We should prioritize this issue, increasing funding along with access to professional services and training, in order to ensure children the chance at help.”
The bill heads to the state House of Representative for further debate and action. It previously passed the Committee on Children by a 13-6 tally before landing in the state Senate.
SENATOR SLAP ADDRESSES WEST HARTFORD UNITED NATIONS OF QUEST
SENATOR SLAP ADDRESSES WEST HARTFORD UNITED NATIONS OF QUEST
Today, State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) addressed West Hartford’s United Nations of Quest, a program held at West Hartford Town Hall where local students held a simulation of the United Nations. In an address to students, Sen. Slap discussed the importance collaboration with fellow lawmakers, despite potential disagreements, and the benefits of being active in local communities and beyond.
“Speaking with children about civic engagement and listening to their questions is one of the best parts of being a state senator,” said Sen. Slap. “We talked about the importance of listening to each other, how to find compromise, and the qualities needed to be an effective leader. I’m grateful for the dedicated educators who helped to organize this event and cannot wait to see how these students shape the future of our community.”
The United Nations of Quest, part of West Hartford’s QUEST program for gifted and talented students, was focused this year around helping students learn how to be civically engaged. Students worked on projects and proposals on topics including fighting world hunger and improving global quality education.
SENATOR NEEDLEMAN VOTES TO CREATE ANNE PETRY DAY, HONORING OLD SAYBROOK HISTORICAL LEGEND
SENATOR NEEDLEMAN VOTES TO CREATE ANNE PETRY DAY, HONORING OLD SAYBROOK HISTORICAL LEGEND
Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) joined the Senate’s passage of legislation designating May 10 of each year to be recognized as Ann Petry Day, part of approving new honorary days, weeks and months in the state. Petry, who hailed from Old Saybrook, was the first African-American female author to sell more than a million copies of a written novel.
“Today, we take action to ensure an Old Saybrook historical legend receives the respect she deserves,” said Sen. Needleman. “The accomplishments and works of Ann Petry speak for themselves. I’m proud to vote in favor of providing her with recognition for decades to come.”
Senate Bill 1158, “An Act Designating Various Days, Weeks and Months,” designates 12 additional commemorative days, weeks and months in Connecticut including Ann Petry Day. It now moves to the House.
SENATOR NEEDLEMAN VOTES TO INCREASE PROTECTIONS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SENATOR NEEDLEMAN VOTES TO INCREASE PROTECTIONS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) joined in the bipartisan and unanimous support of a 2023 Senate Democrats’ public policy priority to increase protections for domestic violence victims by expanding GPS monitoring of violent offenders, increasing funding for victim services, and preventing people convicted of certain domestic violence crimes from ever collecting any alimony from their former spouse.
Senate Bill 5, “AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTIONS AGAINST AND RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,” passed the state Senate today on a 36-0 unanimous vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Previously, the bill had received a 37-0 unanimous vote in the Judiciary Committee and a 55-0 unanimous vote in the Appropriations Committee.
“Domestic violence prevention and domestic violence support are vital to aid the recovery of victims, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to vote to strengthen protections for victims,” said Sen. Needleman. “By monitoring abusers and victims, expanding victim services and preventing abusers from weaponizing financial control, this bill places important and valuable protections in place aiding people across the state. I look forward to seeing it become law.”
In 2010, the General Assembly passed Public Act 10-144, which established a GPS (Global Positioning System) monitoring pilot program to protect victims in extremely dangerous situations; the pilot program has operated in the Bridgeport, Danielson, and Hartford judicial districts. Senate Bill 5 now expands the GPS monitoring program to cover the entire state.
The GPS expansion is expected to cost $8 million over 2024 and 2025; Democrats have already included the funding in their proposed legislative budget.
Under the program, after a person violates a restraining order or a protective order, a judge will evaluate whether that offender is a high risk, and if so, the domestic violence survivor will have the option of having the offender monitored by GPS. Although Connecticut currently has GPS monitoring for certain domestic violence offenders, as well as for some on parole or on the sex offender registry, this program is different. It provides live monitoring and alert notification for domestic violence survivors.
At the survivor’s discretion, the survivor carries his or her own GPS device, and the offender’s location is constantly monitored to ensure a safe distance is kept from not only the survivor’s home and work, but wherever they go. If ever the offender encroaches near the survivor or a forbidden buffer zone, the monitoring service will notify the survivor and law enforcement.
Senate Bill 5 also provides more than $43 million for victim’s services in Connecticut. The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund relies on fines and fees arising from federal prosecutions, and it is very volatile, peaking at $6.5 billion in 2017 but not rising above $822 million ever since. The VOCA Fund provides a number of services for crime victims, such as domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, human trafficking, child abuse, and families impacted by homicide. In federal fiscal year 2021, VOCA helped 104,366 victims of crimes in Connecticut, and most of the services were provided by community-based nonprofits. To avoid a drop in funding, Senate Bill 5 provides $13.175 million for Fiscal Year 2023 (beginning July 1) and $20 million for Fiscal Year 2024.
Finally, Senate Bill 5 prohibits any alimony by a domestic violence survivor to their spouse or former spouse who is convicted of an attempted murder, class A or B felony sexual assault, or a class A or B felony family violence crime. Current state law leaves it to the discretion of the court (a judge) to determine any alimony award; Senate Bill 5 removes this option from a judge to prevent those convicted of certain crimes from continuing to abuse their victim through the legal system.
SEN. FLEXER, REP. BLUMENTHAL LAUD COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF EARLY VOTING BILL, OTHER PRO-DEMOCRACY LEGISLATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
SEN. FLEXER, REP. BLUMENTHAL LAUD COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF EARLY VOTING BILL, OTHER PRO-DEMOCRACY LEGISLATION
HARTFORD – State Senator Mae Flexer and state Representative Matt Blumenthal (D-Stamford), who are the Co-Chairs of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, today welcomed committee passage of several important bills for the expansion and continuation of democracy in Connecticut, including bills to allow for early voting, no-excuse absentee voting, and to “remove or replace” faithless presidential electors who may attempt to subvert the presidential electoral ballot process.
The bills voted out of the GAE Committee today include:
· Senate Bill 1064, “An Act Concerning the Implementation of Early Voting.” Similar early voting bills include House Bill 5004 and Senate Bill 1057.
· Senate Joint Resolution 29 and House Joint Resolution 1, “Approving an Amendment to the State Constitution to Allow No-Excuse Absentee Voting”
· House Bill 6872, “An Act Concerning Faithless Presidential Electors and Authorizing Mandamus Actions Related to the Certification or Declaration of Election Results”
“Our early voting bills – where legislators are seeking voting up to 14 days before an election – will allow Connecticut residents to catch up with the rest of the country, most all of which already has early voting laws in place, including the Republican strongholds of Texas, Florida Arizona, Wyoming, West Virginia and North Dakota,” Sen. Flexer said. “This isn’t a Democrat or a Republican issue. This is a democracy and a voter participation issue. And it’s one that is long, long overdue to be implemented in our state.”
“Voting is a basic right in our democracy, and simplifying it for all eligible individuals is crucial,” Rep. Blumenthal said. “No-excuse absentee voting is a practical change that boosts ballot access and validates every vote.”
If passed by the House and Senate, the no-excuse absentee voting bills would appear on the November 5, 2024, ballot in Connecticut as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment (the early voting bill just went through a similar process last fall, and Connecticut voters approved it by a 3:2 margin).
House Bill 6872 would nullify the vote of, and remove, replace, and impose certain penalties on, so-called “faithless presidential electors,” those electors who had pledged to cast a state’s
electoral college ballot for a particular president and vice-president, but who then either votes for another person for one or both offices or who abstains from voting altogether.
The District of Columbia and over 30 states already have laws on the books requiring electors to vote faithfully for their party’s winning candidate. About 20 states also have laws to replace faithless electors or penalize them for violating their pledge. And in 2020 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld two state laws imposing sanctions on faithless electors—in both cases because the Constitution authorizes states to appoint electors “in such a manner as the legislature . . . may direct.”
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SEN. RAHMAN WELCOMES $440,000 IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT MANCHESTER TRAIL EXTENSION CONSTRUCTION
SENATOR RAHMAN VOTES TO INCREASE PROTECTIONS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Today, State Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester) welcomed the planned release of $440,000 to support construction of the Hop River Trail’s extension to the Cheney Trail. The funds will be used to create a 1.05-mile trail connecting the existing trails to provide pedestrians and bicyclists a safe, off-road route for recreation and transportation.
This project was included in the announcement that Governor Lamont’s administration and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will release $9 million in state grants through the Connecticut Recreational Trails Program to support trail planning, building, expansion and improvement in 50 locations across Connecticut.
“We have such beautiful, well-loved trails in Manchester and I’m excited that they’ll be joined together as the result of this grant funding,” said Sen. Rahman. “I’m grateful to the Governor’s administration and DEEP for their support of local recreation. Hiking, biking or walking our local trails is great for mental and physical health and I’m excited that folks won’t have to travel far to attain those benefits.”
“I am thrilled to announce funding for this project, which will improve and expand recreational trail opportunities around Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “The incredible response to this grant round shows the high demand for outdoor recreation in our state. Our residents and visitors continue to explore state parks, forests, and municipal open spaces and land trust preserves at record levels.”
These grant awards are partially a response to demand for outdoor recreation increasing dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. In 2022, 17 million people visited locations in the Connecticut State Parks and Forests system, up 75% from levels of 9-10 million in 2019. Outdoor recreation contributed nearly $4 billion to Connecticut in 2021 and supported more than 40,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Most projects receiving financial support are expected to be complete by 2026.
SEN. MARX WELCOMES $44,500 IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL TRAIL PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
SEN. MARX WELCOMES $44,500 IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL TRAIL PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Today, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) welcomed the planned release of $44,500 to support trail planning, construction and equipment development in projects supporting Old Lyme and Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford. This came as Governor Lamont’s administration and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced $9 million in state grants through the Connecticut Recreational Trails Program to support trail planning, building, expansion and improvement in 50 locations across Connecticut.
According to the Governor’s office, the funding will be allocated as follows: Old Lyme will receive $28,500 for the planning and design of a multi-purpose trail and bridge at Lieutenant River; Harkness Memorial State Park will receive $16,000 for the construction of renovations at the Harkness Boardwalk.
“I’m thrilled that we’ll soon have new recreational trails and resources for everyone to enjoy, and I’m grateful to the Governor’s administration and DEEP for selecting these projects for support,” said Sen. Marx. “Outdoor recreation is great for the heart and mind, and Connecticut is full of trails and paths that bring us face-to-face with our state’s natural beauty. I can’t wait to see what these projects completed.”
“I am thrilled to announce funding for these projects, which will improve and expand recreational trail opportunities around Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “The incredible response to this grant round shows the high demand for outdoor recreation in our state. Our residents and visitors continue to explore state parks, forests, and municipal open spaces and land trust preserves at record levels.”
These grant awards are partially a response to demand for outdoor recreation increasing dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. In 2022, 17 million people visited locations in the Connecticut State Parks and Forests system, up 75% from levels of 9-10 million in 2019. Outdoor recreation contributed nearly $4 billion to Connecticut in 2021 and supported more than 40,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Most projects receiving financial support are expected to be complete by 2026.
Senator Marx Joins Senate Democrats In Passage of Priority Legislation Improving Children’s Health and Protecting Literary Freedom
Senator Marx Joins Senate Democrats In Passage of Priority Legislation Improving Children’s Health and Protecting Literary Freedom
HARTFORD, CT – Today, Senate Democrats led passage of Senate Bill 2 “An Act Concerning the Mental, Physical and Emotional Wellness of Children,” priority legislation for the caucus that, among other important factors, aims to protect libraries from the onslaught of book bans by conservatives that have been prevalent across the nation. The bill also contains several provisions crucial to fostering positive health and wellness for Connecticut children.
“This bill protects at-risk teens, literary freedom and workers across the state, and its wide-ranging supports will benefit many across our state,” said State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London), who voted in support of the bill. “In an era of increased mental health issues, book bans and culture wars and an ever-growing need to provide relief to those struggling, I’m grateful to know my vote will support mental health support and protections for librarians who just want to help their communities learn, read and grow.”
SB 2 is a comprehensive bill that protects against politically fueled book bans, commonly by conservatives, which has remained an issue over the past year. The American Library Association (ALA) recently reported last year there were 1,269 attempts to ban books across the country, a sizable increase from the 729 in 2021. Last year, Texas banned 801 books from July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022 according to Statista. Florida banned 560 books and Pennsylvania banned 457 last year as well. According to PEN America, Between August and November, Missouri banned nearly 300 books in at least 11 school districts. These bans are targeted specifically at books regarding the LGBTQ community and communities of color. According to PEN America, “more than 40% of the banned titles address lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer themes or have prominent queer characters.” Per Statista, “40 percent of banned titles featured protagonists or other key characters of color.”
Rewarding Libraries that Protect Literary Freedom
SB 2 enables libraries that prioritize and protect literary freedom by establishing a system to review books that have been challenged via a policy set by their governing board to have access to a state grant which could provide a library with approximately $1,300 to $3,000 per library.
Per the legislation, ” no principal public library shall be eligible to receive a state grant, if such principal public library does not maintain and adhere to collection development, collection management, and collection reconsideration policies which are approved by their governing body. The collection reconsideration policy shall offer residents a clear process to request a reconsideration of library materials. In the instance of a book challenge, these policies shall govern.”
Addressing Birth to 3
Per the bill language, “the bill makes permanent the $200 general administrative payment the Office of Early Childhood commissioner must make to certain Birth to Three early intervention service providers that will sunset under current law on June 30, 2024.” This will go into effect July 1, 2023, if signed into law. Under the bill and current law, the commissioner must make these payments to providers for each child: with an individualized family service plan on the first day of the billing month; whose plan accounts for less than nine service hours during the billing month, as long as the provider delivers at least one service during the month
Creating Mental Wellness Days
SB 2 requires employers to allow service workers to use accrued paid sick leave for a “mental health wellness day” to attend to their emotional or psychological well-being. Currently, existing law allows service workers to use paid sick leave for their, or their spouse’s or child’s (1) illness, injury or health condition; (2) medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a physical or mental illness, injury, or health condition; or (3) preventive care. Per bill language, the legislation applies to specified service worker occupations covered by existing law, they are as follows: certain food service industry jobs; health care; hospitality; retail; sanitation industry workers
The legislation also covers certain, specific scenarios in which a worker would need to use a mental health wellness day. They are as follows: where a service worker is a victim of family violence or sexual assault, or the parent or guardian of a child who is a victim of family violence or sexual assault, provided such service worker is not the perpetrator or alleged perpetrator of such family violence or sexual assault; for medical care or psychological or other counseling for physical or psychological injury or disability, to obtain or obtaining services from a victim services organization; to relocate or while relocating due to such family violence or sexual assault; to participate or while participating in any civil or criminal proceedings related to or resulting from such family violence or sexual assault
If signed into law, this will go into effect on October 1, 2023.
Help for At-Risk Teenagers
SB 2 makes it optional for the State Department of Education (SDE) to hire one full-time employee responsible for awarding a grant to, and collaborating with, a nonprofit organization specializing in identifying and providing services for at-risk teenage students with depression, anxiety, substance abuse struggles, and trauma and conflict-related stresses, per the bill language. The bill continues: the organization must use the grant to train school behavioral health providers to provide them services. The bill allocates $15,000, for the 2024 fiscal year, to SDE from the federal funds the state received under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to fund the awarding of a grant to a nonprofit organization to train school behavioral health providers to identify and provide services for these students. This will go into effect July 1, 2023, if signed into law.
Due to the clear need for this bill, SB 2 received support during the public hearing period of the legislative session. Nicole Chen of Yale Dems spoke in favor of SB 2, saying, “this bill would allocate further resources towards improving children’s access to mental, physical, and emotional health services.” Chen added “this shortage of mental health services for children in Connecticut demands a solution. We should prioritize this issue, increasing funding along with access to professional services and training, in order to ensure children the chance at help.”
The bill heads to the state House of Representative for further debate and action. It previously passed the Committee on Children by a 13-6 tally before landing in the state Senate.
iving financial support are expected to be complete by 2026.