Month: February 2025

SEN. SLAP SENDS LEGISLATION FULLY FUNDING COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO SENATE FLOOR

Posted on by Devin James

SEN. SLAP SENDS LEGISLATION FULLY FUNDING COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO SENATE FLOOR

Caption: State Representative Seth Bronko (R-Naugatuck), on left, speaks to State Senator Derek Slap during Thursday’s Higher Education Committee meeting.

Today, the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee cast a bipartisan vote to support Senate Bill 5, “An Act Concerning Higher Education Affordability and Accountability,” sending it to the Senate floor for further consideration. The bill fully funds the state’s Roberta B. Willis scholarship foundation, which provides financial relief to Connecticut four-year college and university students on a needs basis.

If made law, the law would fully fund the foundation’s scholarships, which provide students with between $4,500 and $5,200 per year toward tuition. In the 2022 fiscal year, 16,000 students qualifying for the scholarships did not receive state assistance, as only 31% of eligible students received scholarships due to underfunding.

In public testimony, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association noted only 40% of eligible students received grants in the 2023 fiscal year.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving testified that the legislation seeks to provide more predictable and timely financial support to Connecticut students pursuing their educations.

“Right now, the status quo in Connecticut is that two-thirds of students who are eligible for the Roberta B. Willis scholarship program – students from middle- and low-income families, many the first in their families to go to college – get nothing because we do not fully or adequately fund our public scholarship programs like many other states,” said State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Senate Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, during the Committee’s meeting today. “As a result, we have one of the worst brain drains in the country. That’s bad for families, it’s bad for our economy. This bill is a game changer. It’s an important statement from our committee that says this is important to support families and keep our students here.”

Under the legislation, beginning in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the Office of Higher Education would disburse funds for the scholarship program no later than May 1 for grants awarded in the following fall semester and November 1 for grants awarded in the following spring semester.

The bill also seeks to support Connecticut students and students and the state’s workforce as questions arise nationally and statewide regarding future federal funding for financial aid programs.

According to a study by the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, Connecticut is in the bottom ten states nationally regarding percentage of state higher education funding for student aid. As many as three out of four of students seeking undergraduate degrees in the United States remain in-state for college, but in Connecticut, that figure drops to about three out of five.

With final passage, Senate Bill 5 would become Connecticut’s latest Democrat-led expansion of access to higher education, building on the state’s debt-free community college program, automatic admission program and expanded access to lower-interest loans from the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority.

Senator Honig Condemns the Trump Administration’s Firing of Thousands of Veterans

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Honig Condemns the Trump Administration’s Firing of Thousands of Veterans

Senator Paul Honig, co-chair of the legislature’s Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee, released the following statement Wednesday in response to estimates that President Donald Trump’s administration had fired nearly 6,000 military veterans from the federal government:

“It’s shocking to have to say this, but here goes: it is unacceptable that the Trump administration has fired thousands of military veterans from the federal government in the last several weeks,” Senator Honig, D-Harwinton, said. “These are men and women who put everything on the line for our country, and we owe them better than an abrupt termination of their careers. We owe them better than the fear and anxiety that comes with depleting the family savings just to put food on the table. We owe them better than unemployment benefits and a frantic search for a new job.

“As Senate chair of the state legislature’s Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee, where we’ve been doing our best to improve the lives of Connecticut veterans, it is disheartening to watch the federal government casually inflict so much damage on a population to whom we owe so much. These firings are wrong and they should be reversed immediately.”

Senator Honig’s statement is a response to data released Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat who serves as ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, of Florida, which estimated that the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk had fired 5,857 veterans from a variety of federal agencies.

“Our veterans make significant sacrifices in service of our country, but those sacrifices do not seem to matter to President Trump and unchecked billionaire Elon Musk,” Congresswoman DeLauro said. “They are an essential part of our federal workforce, bringing their expertise to every single agency. Republicans are turning their back on them, allowing Musk to fire at least 6,000 veterans and leave them with no way to feed their families or keep a roof over their heads. This move should outrage anyone who respects our veterans and servicemembers and believes our promises to them should be upheld. We have repeatedly asked the Trump administration for additional information on the exact number of veterans they have fired and what they plan to do to support them. The American people deserve answers.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hugh McQuaid | Hugh.McQuaid@cga.ct.gov 

Sen. Lesser Statement on House Passage of Republican Budget Plan

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Lesser Statement on House Passage of Republican Budget Plan

HARTFORD – Today, Senator Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, released the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Republican budget plan.

“The Republican budget resolution is immoral, irresponsible, and dangerous. It opens the door for slashing hundreds of billions of dollars in funding for Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and SNAP – the federal food stamp program. It poses a massive threat to everyone who relies on Medicaid – the poor, seniors in nursing homes, 40% of children in Connecticut. It’s also going to wreak havoc with the finances of every health clinic and hospital in Connecticut – and to the state budget as a whole. Why? To give Elon Musk a tax cut he doesn’t even need.

“In addition to hurting Connecticut’s families, the resolution will wreak absolute havoc on Connecticut’s budget and finances. Medicaid is a $10 billion annual partnership between the state and federal government. And if Elon Musk and Donald Trump don’t keep their part of the bargain, it will absolutely devastate our state’s finances and the finances of nearly every healthcare provider and nonprofit in the state.

“This budget proposal is just the start of the process, but when fully enacted, it will slash federally funded human services by $880 billion, inevitably impacting patients and seniors right here in Connecticut.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Garnet McLaughlin | Garnet.McLaughlin@cga.ct.gov

Senator Hochadel Votes to Approve $40 Million in Special Education Funding

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Hochadel Votes to Approve $40 Million in Special Education Funding

Senator Jan Hochadel, D-Meriden, voted Tuesday to approve legislation containing an additional $40 million in state funding to help Connecticut municipalities support special education services as well as new directives to guide local school boards in the event that federal immigration officials seek to enter public schools.

“Providing quality education for every child is one of our most important responsibilities, and this funding is an essential step toward ensuring towns and cities have the resources they require to support students with special education needs,” Senator Hochadel said. “It’s critical the state continue to prioritize support for Connecticut classrooms to ensure that we equip all students with the tools for success, regardless of their needs.”

This legislation, approved on a 34 – 0 vote, adds to the $181 million which was previously appropriated for Fiscal Year 2025 bringing the total to $221 million.

The funding will be allocated through the Excess Cost Grant program and distributed to municipalities through a tiered reimbursement structure that prioritizes funding for the neediest cities and towns.

The legislation adopted Tuesday also contained new language designed to make it easier for local school boards to question federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents if they seek to enter a public school looking for information about potentially undocumented students.

“I have taught in enough classrooms to know that even minor disruptions can make learning and teaching challenging,” Senator Hochadel said. “No student—and no teacher—should have to live in fear of immigration officials entering a school and removing a child. Connecticut’s schools must remain places where every student feels safe enough to focus on their education. This bill ensures that our schools have a clear process for handling federal immigration actions, so that students can continue to learn without fear, and educators can do their jobs without distraction.”

The bill includes provisions to require that each school designate an administrator to interact with federal immigration authorities, amend its school safety and security plan to align with recent guidance from the state Department of Education (SDE) to protect the constitutional rights of all people in schools, and prohibit the discipline of any school employee who acts in accordance with that SDE guidance.

Contact: Hugh McQuaid | Hugh.McQuaid@cga.ct.gov

Senator Lesser Votes to Pass $40 Million in Emergency Funding for Special Education

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Lesser Votes to Pass $40 Million in Emergency Funding for Special Education

HARTFORD – Senator Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, voted Tuesday to approve legislation containing an additional $40 million in state funding to help Connecticut municipalities support special education services as well as new directives to guide local school boards in the event that federal immigration officials seek to enter public schools.

“I’m proud to support this $40 million in emergency support to help Connecticut towns and cities provide quality education for children with special needs,” Senator Lesser said. “This investment represents a first step toward addressing an urgent problem. It will not be the last. Today’s bill is a downpayment on our commitment to helping towns fund these rising costs, and I look forward to securing additional resources to ensure that all students in Middletown, Cromwell, Newington, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield get the support they deserve.”

This legislation, approved on a 34 – 0 vote, adds to the $181 million which was previously appropriated for Fiscal Year 2025 bringing the total to $221 million.

The funding will be allocated through the Excess Cost Grant program and distributed to municipalities through a tiered reimbursement structure that prioritizes funding for the neediest cities and towns.

The legislation adopted Tuesday also contained new language designed to make it easier for local school boards to question federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents if they seek to enter a public school looking for information about potentially undocumented students.

“Connecticut students deserve the opportunity to learn in peace, free from the disruptions caused by the chaos of the Trump administration,” Senator Lesser said. “Immigration authorities have a job to do, but we do not need federal agents in our classrooms, just like we don’t need them in our health centers or our houses of worship. I’m happy to support this bill, which provides Connecticut education officials with a clear process for considering the requests of immigration agents.”

The bill includes provisions to require that each school designate an administrator to interact with federal immigration authorities, amend its school safety and security plan to align with recent guidance from the state Department of Education (SDE) to protect the constitutional rights of all people in schools, and prohibit the discipline of any school employee who acts in accordance with that SDE guidance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hugh McQuaid | Hugh.McQuaid@cga.ct.gov

Senator Honig Votes to Approve $40 Million in Special Education Funding

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Honig Votes to Approve $40 Million in Special Education Funding

Senator Paul Honig, D-Harwinton, voted Tuesday to approve legislation containing an additional $40 million in state funding to help Connecticut municipalities support special education services.

“Towns across my district are contending with the rising cost of special education services. Through today’s vote, the legislature has taken emergency action to offer relief to local taxpayers across Connecticut,” Senator Honig said. “I’m happy to support this legislation because it will help to ensure that our communities can afford to meet the needs of every student, and I look forward to continuing to prioritize our support for special education.”

This legislation, approved on a 34 – 0 vote, adds to the $181 million which was previously appropriated for Fiscal Year 2025 bringing the total to $221 million.

The funding will be allocated through the Excess Cost Grant program and distributed to municipalities through a tiered reimbursement structure that prioritizes funding for the neediest cities and towns.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hugh McQuaid | Hugh.McQuaid@cga.ct.gov 

Senator Maroney Supports Emergency Legislation Including Funding for Special Education

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Maroney Supports Emergency Legislation Including Funding for Special Education

Today, state senator James Maroney (D-Milford) voted in support on a wide range of priorities including $40 million to help municipalities cover the cost of special education and allowing Connecticut colleges and universities to enter into deals with student-athletes to share revenue generated by the student’s sport or name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.

“I am proud to have voted in support of this crucial funding to help meet the growing needs of special education students,” said Senator Maroney. “Connecticut has made great strides in increasing support for education, but we must continue to prioritize our most vulnerable communities. Allowing colleges in Connecticut to enter into deals with student-athletes is a critical step in ensuring that our they are fairly compensated for their contributions while also maintaining the competitiveness of universities like UConn. By embracing these changes, we are not only supporting our athletes but also ensuring that Connecticut remains a powerhouse in collegiate athletics.”

Funding to Help Connecticut Municipalities Provide Special Education Services

This funding is in addition to the $181 million which was previously appropriated for Fiscal Year 2025 bringing the total to $221 million.

The funding will be allocated through the Excess Cost Grant program and distributed to municipalities through a tiered reimbursement structure that prioritizes funding for the neediest cities and towns.

Connecticut has made consistent and deliberate strides to increase its support of education over the last several years. State budgets adopted by the General Assembly have boosted funding for education by a total of $364 million since fiscal year 2023. The legislature supplemented this support with an additional $150 million dedicated to Education Cost Sharing Grants.

One of the ways in which Connecticut provides financial assistance to towns and cities for special education services is through the Excess Cost Grant program. This program is designed to offset significant expenses associated with educating certain students with special needs.

In 2022, the legislature amended the Excess Cost Grant program to create a tiered reimbursement structure to ensure that the state’s poorest municipalities were given funding priority. Meanwhile, state budgets have increased funding for the grants by $50 million over the last two fiscal years.

However, these efforts have not been enough to keep pace with significant increases in the need for additional special education funding experienced by Connecticut towns and cities. From fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2023, the estimated cost of fully funding the Excess Cost Sharing Grant program surged from $175.7 million to $203.8 million. That number climbed to $260 million in fiscal year 2024 and is estimated to be $289.3 million in 2025.

There are calls for more funding in addition to this immediate allocation. Budget deliberations are ongoing, and it is likely that the conversation surrounding special education funding will continue over the next several months. Senate Democrats have unveiled Senate Bill 1, An Act Increasing Resources for Students, Schools, and Special Education, and the House Democrats introduced House Bill 5001, An Act Concerning the Quality and Delivery of Special Education Services in Connecticut. Both pieces of legislation aim to reform Connecticut’s special education to lower costs, strengthen services, and provide more financial support.

Student-Athlete Compensation

The legislation also allows Connecticut colleges and universities to enter into deals with student-athletes to share revenue generated by the student’s sport or name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.

In July 2021, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) changed its longstanding policy in order to allow students to enter into NIL deals. In 2022 the Connecticut General Assembly passed a law allowing students to obtain such endorsement deals, becoming one of the first states in the country to do so.

Today’s legislation is in response to another recent policy change from the NCAA, allowing direct payments from the institutions to the student-athletes. This policy change comes as a result of an anticipated lawsuit settlement in House v. NCAA, expected at the end of March. The lawsuit was brought forward by several former NCAA athletes who claim that the NCAA rule prohibiting NIL deals prior to 2021 violated antitrust laws and athletes should be entitled to compensation for their role in college athletics.

Keeping Connecticut law in line with the new NCAA policy will ensure that Connecticut schools can remain competitive in talent recruitment, while compensating student athletes for their significant contributions to the school’s athletic programs. The legislation also exempts NIL and revenue sharing deals from FOIA requests in order to protect the competitive advantage for the schools during negotiations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michelle Rappaport | Michelle.Rappaport@cga.ct.gov| 508-479-4969

Senator Gaston Supports Emergency Legislation Including Funding for Special Education

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Gaston Supports Emergency Legislation Including Funding for Special Education

Today, state senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) voted in support on a wide range of priorities including $40 million to help municipalities cover the cost of special education, policies governing how schools interact with federal immigration officials, and grants for nonprofit organizations.

“Today, I am proud to cast my vote in support of a comprehensive bill that addresses several critical priorities for our state,” said Sen. Gaston. “The $40 million investment in special education will provide essential resources to municipalities, ensuring that all students have access to the education they deserve. Additionally, the bill strengthens policies to protect our students’ rights when interacting with federal immigration officials, creating a safer and more supportive environment for every child. By empowering school administrators to effectively handle potential encounters with federal immigration officials, we are ensuring that our schools remain safe, welcoming, and focused on providing a quality education to every child. Finally, by supporting grants for nonprofit organizations, we are empowering our communities to continue their important work. This bill reflects our commitment to equity, education, and community well-being across Connecticut.”

Funding to Help Connecticut Municipalities Provide Special Education Services

This funding is in addition to the $181 million which was previously appropriated for Fiscal Year 2025 bringing the total to $221 million.

The funding will be allocated through the Excess Cost Grant program and distributed to municipalities through a tiered reimbursement structure that prioritizes funding for the neediest cities and towns.

Connecticut has made consistent and deliberate strides to increase its support of education over the last several years. State budgets adopted by the General Assembly have boosted funding for education by a total of $364 million since fiscal year 2023. The legislature supplemented this support with an additional $150 million dedicated to Education Cost Sharing Grants.

One of the ways in which Connecticut provides financial assistance to towns and cities for special education services is through the Excess Cost Grant program. This program is designed to offset significant expenses associated with educating certain students with special needs.

In 2022, the legislature amended the Excess Cost Grant program to create a tiered reimbursement structure to ensure that the state’s poorest municipalities were given funding priority. Meanwhile, state budgets have increased funding for the grants by $50 million over the last two fiscal years.

However, these efforts have not been enough to keep pace with significant increases in the need for additional special education funding experienced by Connecticut towns and cities. From fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2023, the estimated cost of fully funding the Excess Cost Sharing Grant program surged from $175.7 million to $203.8 million. That number climbed to $260 million in fiscal year 2024 and is estimated to be $289.3 million in 2025.

There are calls for more funding in addition to this immediate allocation. Budget deliberations are ongoing, and it is likely that the conversation surrounding special education funding will continue over the next several months. Senate Democrats have unveiled Senate Bill 1, An Act Increasing Resources for Students, Schools, and Special Education, and the House Democrats introduced House Bill 5001, An Act Concerning the Quality and Delivery of Special Education Services in Connecticut. Both pieces of legislation aim to reform Connecticut’s special education to lower costs, strengthen services, and provide more financial support.

Guidance on School Interactions with Federal Immigration Officials
The legislation contains new language designed to make it easier for local school boards to question federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents if they seek to enter a public school looking for information about potentially undocumented students.
While there have been no known cases of federal ICE agents attempting to enter a Connecticut public school so far this year, this new language seeks to strengthen a school board’s ability to handle such a situation.

Section 1 of HB 7066:
Requires, by April 1, that each school have an administrator appointed to interact with federal immigration authorities.
Requires each school district’s school safety and security plan be amended in a manner consistent with the state Department of Education (SDE) guidance issued on January 28 that protects constitutional rights of all people in schools.
Prohibits discipline of a school employee who acts consistent with that SDE guidance.

HB 7066 is a complement to Gov. Ned Lamont’s Executive Branch action taken late last month. One week after President Trump was sworn into office on Jan. 20, Governor Lamont and SDE Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker issued guidance to every K-12 public school in Connecticut regarding the protection of students in the classroom when it comes to federal immigration enforcement activities.

Both Connecticut and federal law protect a student’s right to attend public school, regardless of their immigration status. The SDE guidance provides school personnel with a detailed framework for developing policies and procedures that protect student rights, consistent with state and federal law.

That SDE guidance suggests school personnel:
Request and record an immigration agents’ identification, including their name, badge or ID number, telephone number and business card.
Direct immigration agents to a designated school official if the agent requests access to records, information, non-public areas of a school, or a member of the school community.
Ask the agent if they have a judicial warrant to support their request and, if so, to produce such warrant.
Review any warrant or other materials produced to determine what it authorizes the agent to do and who issued it. Some immigration agents may have “administrative warrants” or orders that are not court orders issued by a United States district judge or magistrate; such administrative warrants may not authorize agents to access materials or enter areas where access is restricted to the public.
Consult with the school district’s legal counsel — or any guidance provided by legal counsel — on how to proceed depending on the nature of a request; whether a warrant is produced; the details of a warrant; the judicial or administrative nature of any such warrant; whether an immigration agent claims exigent circumstances; and any other considerations identified by legal counsel.

Grants for Nonprofit Organizations
The bill also appropriates $2.88 million to 23 different organizations that address children’s, immigrant, Jewish, women’s health, neighborhood, LBGTQ, and other issues, including:

$800,000 for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
$387,500 for the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective
$225,000 for the New Haven Gay and Lesbian Community Center
$225,000 for Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services

Another $62,500 was appropriated to each of the following organizations:
Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants
Jewish Family Services of Greenwich
Connecticut Immigrant and Refugee Coalition
Center for Children’s Advocacy
Anchor Health Initiative Corp.
Middlesex Hospital
Triangle Community Center
Queer Youth Program of Connecticut
Kids in Crisis
OutCT
Bridgeport Pride Center
PFLAG Enfield
PEERPRIDE
The World Health Clinicians
Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs
Upper Albany Neighborhood Collaborative
City Seed
Building One Community Corp.
Havenly
Junta For Progressive Action

Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox Supports Emergency Legislation Including Funding for Special Education

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox Supports Emergency Legislation Including Funding for Special Education

Today, state Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox (D-Bridgeport), Chair of the Special Education Committee, introduced a portion of House Bill 7067 on funding that will help municipalities cover the cost of special education. Senator Gadkar-Wilcox voted in support on a wide range of priorities including this $40 million allocation to cover the cost of special education.

The Senate passed House Bill 7067 today and was passed Monday evening by the House of Representatives. This bill includes a $40 million injection of state funding to municipalities to support special education needs for the current fiscal year.

“This investment is a direct response to the growing demand for special education services, and it demonstrates our commitment to equity in education,” said Senator Gadkar-Wilcox. “We are ensuring that every student, regardless of where they live, has access to the quality education they deserve. I remain committed to working with my colleagues to further strengthen our special education system and provide the support that every child deserves.”

Senator Gadkar-Wilcox, along with other members from the Special Education Committee, completed a listening tour and at every session, a clear message came through from teachers. They explained they were in crisis because of an exponentially increasing caseload and a lack of meaningful support. Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox said superintendents and Boards of Education explained that because of the increasing cost of services, they were in crisis and possible additional costs looming from federal funds added uncertainty. Without the additional funding, public schools would not be able to provide care and instruction that students need.

This funding is in addition to the $181 million which was previously appropriated for Fiscal Year 2025 bringing the total to $221 million.

The funding will be allocated through the Excess Cost Grant program and distributed to municipalities through a tiered reimbursement structure that prioritizes funding for the neediest cities and towns.

Connecticut has made consistent and deliberate strides to increase its support of education over the last several years. State budgets adopted by the General Assembly have boosted funding for education by a total of $364 million since fiscal year 2023. The legislature supplemented this support with an additional $150 million dedicated to Education Cost Sharing Grants.

One of the ways in which Connecticut provides financial assistance to towns and cities for special education services is through the Excess Cost Grant program. This program is designed to offset significant expenses associated with educating certain students with special needs.

In 2022, the legislature amended the Excess Cost Grant program to create a tiered reimbursement structure to ensure that the state’s poorest municipalities were given funding priority. Meanwhile, state budgets have increased funding for the grants by $50 million over the last two fiscal years.

However, these efforts have not been enough to keep pace with significant increases in the need for additional special education funding experienced by Connecticut towns and cities. From fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2023, the estimated cost of fully funding the Excess Cost Sharing Grant program surged from $175.7 million to $203.8 million. That number climbed to $260 million in fiscal year 2024 and is estimated to be $289.3 million in 2025.

There are calls for more funding in addition to this immediate allocation. Budget deliberations are ongoing, and it is likely that the conversation surrounding special education funding will continue over the next several months. Senate Democrats have unveiled Senate Bill 1, An Act Increasing Resources for Students, Schools, and Special Education, and the House Democrats introduced House Bill 5001, An Act Concerning the Quality and Delivery of Special Education Services in Connecticut. Both pieces of legislation aim to reform Connecticut’s special education to lower costs, strengthen services, and provide more financial support.

SENATOR ANWAR VOTES TO CREATE EXPEDITED CERTIFICATE OF NEED PROCESS FOR HOSPITALS EXPERIENCING BANKRUPTCY

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR ANWAR VOTES TO CREATE EXPEDITED CERTIFICATE OF NEED PROCESS FOR HOSPITALS EXPERIENCING BANKRUPTCY

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) joined the State Senate to vote in favor of legislation creating an emergency Certificate of Need process, specifically addressing hospitals undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.

“Our medical systems are already under strain, and the uncertainty and delays that come with the extended, complicated Certificate of Need process don’t always reflect the best outcomes for patients, workers or building operations,” said Sen. Anwar. “This new, expedited process for hospitals undergoing bankruptcy – meaning there’s a ticking clock and a need for action – will much better reflect the need for urgency and swift action in these serious circumstances.”

The usual Certificate of Need process under current law has a number of potential delay periods; the Office of Health Strategy has 30 days to determine if an application is complete, then a 30-day public comment period, public hearing and further waiting period are required as well before further action can be taken.

The new Certificate of Need process would shorten many of those time frames; the period to determine applications being complete shrinks from 30 to 3 days, decision deadlines are cut in half and public hearings become optional. OHS would also be required to narrow its focus of considering an application to just the impacts of hospital bankruptcy on patients and communities it serves.

Advocates and lawmakers have called for changes to the Certificate of Need process to accommodate rapid changes that can impact hospital operations. Prospect Medical Holdings Inc., which owns Manchester Memorial Hospital, Rockville General Hospital and Waterbury Hospital, has seen delays in attempting to sell those properties partially due to the Certificate of Need process.

“Currently, the three hospitals operated by Prospect Medical employ 6,000 people and provide care to 500,000 residents in their coverage areas,” Sen. Anwar said. “Their viability is critical to their communities. This bill makes sure that when an appropriate buyer is identified to make an acquisition, they won’t be slowed by the Certificate of Need process.”

The Connecticut Mirror said that the median average time from application submission to final decision in certificate of need cases from 2018 to 2024 was 7.5 months.

The new emergency process also recognizes the seriousness of potential interruptions of hospital care by centralizing the Certificate of Need’s focus on the direct impacts of a hospital’s bankruptcy impacting patients and communities.