SEN. KUSHNER WELCOMES NEW STATE GRANT FOR CANDLEWOOD LAKE AQUATIC INVASIVES EDUCATION

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Devin James

SEN. KUSHNER WELCOMES NEW STATE GRANT FOR CANDLEWOOD LAKE AQUATIC INVASIVES EDUCATION

DANBURY -State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) this week welcomed a grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection that will provide $27,553 to the Candlewood Lake Authority to provide outreach and education to boaters regarding the dangers of invasive plants and animals to Candlewood Lake.

Connecticut recognized the problem of invasive species in our lakes and streams in 2019 when it established an aquatic invasive species (AIS) stamp and associated fee that applies to all registered boats using Connecticut waters. Public Act 19-190 created a dedicated funding stream through the $7 stamp for in-state vessels to fund education and remediation efforts around Connecticut.

DEEP has previously awarded approximately $1.5 million to 59 projects during the first four years of the AIS Grant Program. Sen. Kushner was the lead sponsor of the 2019 legislation due to her concerns about invasive species affecting outdoor recreation and home values on Candlewood Lake.

“We needed to address this invasive species problem. Candlewood Lake is a huge economic driver in western Connecticut as well as being a beautiful natural resource,” Sen. Kushner said. “I’m pleased that Republicans joined Democrats in creating a dedicated funding stream for a program that every city and town across Connecticut can take advantage of to keep its waters clean.”

PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MOVES BILL BETTER PROTECTING NURSING HOME, ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS TO SENATE FLOOR

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Devin James

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MOVES BILL BETTER PROTECTING NURSING HOME, ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS TO SENATE FLOOR

The Public Health Committee today voted to send legislation aimed to better protect residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities against potential cardiac impacts to the Senate floor.

Senate Bill 1190, “An Act Requiring Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities To Be Equipped With An Automated External Defibrillator,” would require facilities to carry an automated external defibrillator.

The facilities would need to provide AEDs in a central location of the facility by 2026, make the AED’s location known to residents and visitors, and ensure staff members are trained in its use.

The bill passed by a 31-1 tally, with State Representative Anne Dauphinais the lone vote against.

“Many nursing homes have been forthcoming that they already have AEDs installed in their facilities, but the realization that we could have them in every nursing home is a significant one,” said State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee. “AEDs save lives and this legislation seeks to further their use successfully in locations where cardiac events are often seen.”

“Having AEDs in place in nursing homes, comparing the outcomes from AEDs to CPR, is a no-brainer,” said State Representative Henry Genga (D-East Hartford), a co-sponsor of the bill, during the public hearing.

Automatic external defibrillators, often shortened to AEDs, are used in emergency cardiac situations to restore normal heart rhythms. According to the American Heart Association, these pieces of equipment play significant roles in helping individuals experiencing cardiac arrest, especially in public locations. The AHA reported that 90% of cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minute of having issues survive, which is key; an individual’s chances of surviving during a cardiac event while waiting for medical services declines by 10% each minute.

National Institutes of Health reporting backs that up – a study of nearly 50,000 cardiac arrests found that 67% of individuals who received aid from an AED survived, while only 43% who waited for emergency medical services survived. AED administration early also contributed to a significant improvement in reduced disability after these events, with minimal disability in 57% of AED patients but just 33% for EMS patients.

About 1,700 lives are saved in the United States every year by AEDs, the NIH found.

Currently, seven states have requirements regarding AEDs in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, including Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.

AEDs are currently required to be in K-12 schools, higher education institutions’ athletic departments, public golf courses, dialysis units, surgical facilities and emergency vehicles. In 2021, Senate Democrats led passage of legislation requiring AEDs to be installed in gyms and health clubs around the state.

Looney and Duff Statement on the Passing of Former Senator Joseph Crisco Jr.

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Devin James

Looney and Duff Statement on the Passing of Former Senator Joseph Crisco Jr.

HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) released the following statement on the passing of former Senator Joseph Crisco Jr. of Woodbridge.

“Joe Crisco was a friend and dedicated senator, who served the state of Connecticut with a dignified statesmanship that’s become too uncommon in today’s age of coarse politics,” Senator Looney said. “As chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, Joe championed policies that expanded access to care, but none were more personal than his advocacy for broader insurance coverage of breast cancer screenings. His work has saved lives and left a lasting impact on Connecticut. My thoughts are with his wife, Patricia, their family, and all who knew and loved him.”

“I had the privilege of serving alongside Joe Crisco in the state Senate for many years and saw firsthand his dedication to the people of Connecticut,” Senator Duff said. “Joe was a steady and trusted voice for his constituents in the Naugatuck Valley. He was a champion for patients, a proponent of higher education, and a leader in advancing economic development. His impact will be felt for generations, and he will be deeply missed. My condolences go out to his wife, Patricia, and his family during this difficult time.”

Former Senator Joseph Crisco Jr., a native of the Fair Haven section of New Haven, represented Connecticut’s 17th Senate District from 1993 to 2017, serving the communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck, and Woodbridge. In addition to his time in the Senate, he served as a member of the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees, the State Board of Higher Education, the Governor’s Commission on Financial Assistance for Higher Education, the Woodbridge Board of Education and the State Community and Technical Colleges Board of Trustees.

Senator Crisco also served as an associate professor of economics at Quinnipiac College, Sacred Heart University, and the University of New Haven.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | 203-710-0193 | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov

Looney and Duff Statement on the Passing of Former Senator Joseph Crisco Jr.

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Devin James

Looney and Duff Statement on the Passing of Former Senator Joseph Crisco Jr.

Senator Crisco also served as an associate professor of economics at Quinnipiac College, Sacred Heart University, and the University of New Haven.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | 203-710-0193 | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov

West Hartford Delegation, Education Leaders Welcome Immediate State Funding for Special Education

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Devin James

West Hartford Delegation, Education Leaders Welcome Immediate State Funding for Special Education

From left to right: West Hartford Superintendent Paul Vicinus Jr., Board of Education Chair Dr. Lorna Thomas-Farquharson, State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, State Sen. Derek Slap, State Rep. Kate Farrar

Today, State Senator Derek Slap, State Representatives Jillian Gilchrest, Tammy Exum, Kate Farrar, Bobby Gibson and James Sanchez, along with West Hartford Superintendent Paul Vicinus Jr. and Board of Education Chair Dr. Lorna Thomas-Farquharson welcomed the announcement of an immediate allocation of state funding for special education.

Early next week, the legislature will vote to approve an immediate $40 million injection of state funding to municipalities to support special education needs for the current fiscal year. This funding is in addition to the $181 million which was previously appropriated for Fiscal Year 2025 bringing the total to $221 million. The specific allocation for West Hartford schools will be announced at a later date.

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

The House will convene on Monday, February 24 and the Senate on Tuesday, February 25.

“It is our constitutional and moral obligation to provide an education for all Connecticut students of every need level. This is a good downpayment on what must be a larger commitment to help towns and taxpayers cover the expenses of special education.” said Sen. Derek Slap. “Skyrocketing costs have outpaced the state’s increased payments and left local governments in an impossible situation. I am pleased with this immediate injection of funds for the current fiscal year. While there is more work to do, I hope this mid-year appropriation shows local taxpayers, parents and educators that we are listening.

“We heard loud and clear from our town leaders and families that special education funding is needed now,” said Rep. Jillian Gilchrest. “I am proud that the Legislature is prioritizing public education and taking action to ensure our students are supported.”

“This allocation of immediate funding for special education underscores the importance of this issue,” Rep. Tammy Exum said. “Students with disabilities shouldn’t be short-changed, and neither should teachers. This funding ensures both will have the support for the services they need to succeed.”

“Special education funding is critical to support our community so that every child receives the opportunities they deserve,” said Rep. Kate Farrar. “This additional funding for West Hartford is essential not only to support special education students but to reduce cuts to other educational needs in our town.”

“I am thrilled that West Hartford will receive a significant investment in special education,” said Rep. Bobby Gibson. “This funding will provide a great boost to services and programs that help our students succeed.”

“Investing in special education is an investment in every child’s right to reach their full potential,” said Rep. James Sánchez. “This funding ensures that students with diverse needs have the resources and support they deserve to thrive in school and beyond.”

“We are appreciative of the Legislature’s support of our educational mission, especially recognizing the unique needs of all children,” said West Hartford Superintendent Paul Vicinus Jr. and Board of Education Chair Dr. Lorna Thomas-Farquharson in a joint statement. “As a district, we are committed to providing equitable education to all of our students and greatly appreciate funding provided in support of special education. When it comes to helping our young people learn, we have to work together, for as it has been said ‘Little eyes watch what we do far more than little ears hear what we say’. This funding will support needed programming and help to significantly fill shortfalls for our most impacted learners. Thank you for responding to a need that serves our most precious in need, our children.”

Earlier this session, Senate Democrats 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.

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.

Contact: Garnet McLaughlin
860-304-2319

Bill to Declare National Women Veterans Recognition Day Passes Committee

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Devin James

Bill to Declare National Women Veterans Recognition Day Passes Committee

Today, during the Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee Meeting, a bill to designate National Women Veterans Recognition Day in Connecticut was passed. This bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Senate Bill 721, “An Act Designating National Women Veterans Recognition Day,” sponsored by Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester), would proclaim June 12th of each year as National Women Veterans Recognition Day, to recognize the significant contributions of women who bravely and honorably served in the United Sates armed forces.

“Women have played critical roles in the military for decades, but their contributions have often been overlooked or underappreciated. Recognizing them ensures their service is properly honored alongside their male counterparts,” said Senator Rahman. “Their courage, sacrifices, and unwavering dedication to our country deserve recognition and appreciation every day. This day will ensure their stories are told, their service is acknowledged, and their contributions are celebrated, inspiring future generations of women to continue breaking barriers and making history.”

According to the Army Women’s Foundation, June 12 is Women Veterans Recognition Day and each year on June 12, the observance is celebrated in recognition of the anniversary of the 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act signing. The first Women Veterans Day was held on June 12, 2018, marking the 70th anniversary of the groundbreaking Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948. That law enabled women to serve as permanent, regular members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.

In written testimony submitted by the Alison Weir, the Executive Director of the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, she wrote, “it is more important than ever to recognize the contributions women have made to in service in the military, dating back to the Revolution. It is not “woke” to acknowledge the sacrifices women have made in service to the nation, and their role in ensuring the effectiveness and lethality of the U.S. Armed Forces.”

Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox Statement on Trump Administration’s Termination of Teacher Pipeline Grant

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Devin James

Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox Statement on Trump Administration’s Termination of Teacher Pipeline Grant

Today, State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, Senate Chair of the Special Education Committee and Constitutional Law professor, issued a statement in response to President Trump’s Department of Education abruptly revoking a $3.38 million Teacher Quality Partnership Program Grant to address critical teacher shortages in Bridgeport.

“The Special Education Committee just completed a listening tour across the state and the resounding consensus was that we have a critical teacher shortage. This federal grant was providing funding to create a pipeline for teachers in high need areas, like Bridgeport. This will impact students, teachers, parents and local municipalities who are already struggling to find teachers. Moreover, the freezing of federal funds that have already been allocated by Congress is grossly unconstitutional, in violation of the Impoundment Control Act, and creates chaos and uncertainty among institutions and organizations relying on these funds, as well as the communities they serve.”

The grant was issued to Sacred Heart University who worked in partnership with Bridgeport and Stamford Public Schools to create a teacher pipeline. The program offers a year-long, co-teaching residency and a significantly subsidized tuition benefit. These funds would have helped recruit, train and retain 80 educators to serve Connecticut’s highest-needs school, with a particular focus on shortage areas like special education and STEM.

The notification of immediate grant termination cited, “The Acting Secretary of Education has determined that, per the Department’s obligations to the constitutional and statutory law of the United States, this priority includes ensuring that the Department’s grants do not support programs or organizations that promote or take part in diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives or any other initiatives that unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or another protected characteristic.”

SEN. OSTEN, EASTERN CT LEGISLATORS PUSH FOR RE-WRITING THE STATE’S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY MAP

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Devin James

SEN. OSTEN, EASTERN CT LEGISLATORS PUSH FOR RE-WRITING THE STATE’S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY MAP

State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) is leading a bipartisan push by more than a dozen eastern Connecticut lawmakers to re-write the state’s ‘opportunity map’ which is used by state agencies to determine where scarce housing funds should go – and most of them currently go to ‘high opportunity’ Fairfield County and not to dozens of low- or moderate-opportunity towns in eastern Connecticut.

Sen. Osten has co-sponsored Senate Bill 1128, “AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONNECTICUT HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY CONNECTICUT OPPORTUNITY MAP,” which requires the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority to update not only the Connecticut Opportunity Map but also the underlying policies in creating the map.

The bill is just the latest attempt by eastern Connecticut lawmakers to level the playing field when it comes to the state distribution of tax credits for builder to construct more affordable housing in the state.

“We must sound like a broken record making the same argument over and over and over again, but it’s time for Connecticut economic policy to stop hobbling those cities and town who want to get ahead, and who need to get ahead, when it comes to affordable housing. We just can’t keep rewarding the same Gold Coast towns because they’ve already got it all and now they’re getting even more,” Sen. Osten said. “Every Connecticut town needs affordable housing, including eastern Connecticut. Just ask any of the several hundred defense subcontractors in the region who can’t get enough people to work for them because there’s no place to live. That’s got to change.”

Both The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) and the state Department of Housing (DOH) use the Connecticut Opportunity Map to determine financing opportunities offered by CHFA and DOH. According to the DOH, opportunity mapping is a way to look at neighborhood resources and outcomes such as school performance, poverty concentration, safety and more. “Where you live affects your access to opportunity — and this can be mapped … The goal of opportunity mapping is to identify opportunity-rich and opportunity isolated communities. With a basic understanding of the geography of opportunity we can then better determine who has access to opportunity resources and how to remedy opportunity inequality.”

Eastern Connecticut towns score poorly on the opportunity map. The entire eastern third of Connecticut – essentially from Union and Ashford down through Windham, Lebanon and Salem to East Lyme, and every town to the east – are labelled as low- or moderate-opportunity options for new housing funds.

But nearly all of Fairfield County – outside of Bridgeport – is labelled as high opportunity.

In June 2021, Sen. Osten and a group of Democratic lawmakers from eastern Connecticut secured a one-month delay and a review of a proposed change CHFA to its new rules governing how the state distributes millions of dollars in tax credits for affordable housing development.

CHFA has long emphasized opportunity score when deciding what affordable housing projects will receive state tax credits, thereby lowering the cost for builders. Cities and towns are graded according to the degree of ‘opportunity’ in the surrounding community, usually defined as a town’s school rating, its poverty rate, its proximity to community colleges, and its jobs-to-population ratio. A high opportunity score is desirable, and a low opportunity score makes it virtually impossible to receive state grants for affordable housing construction.

But the next month, CHFA approved its opportunity map as proposed. Under CHFA’s scoring system, only 1% of the towns in Tolland, Windham and New London Counties – about a third of Connecticut’s land mass – qualify as “high” opportunity areas, compared to 20% statewide.

EAST WINDSOR DELEGATION WELCOMES $2 MILLION SMALL CITIES GRANT AWARDED TO EAST WINDSOR TO IMPROVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Devin James

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

EAST WINDSOR DELEGATION WELCOMES $2 MILLION SMALL CITIES GRANT AWARDED TO EAST WINDSOR TO IMPROVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Today, the East Windsor delegation of lawmakers, including State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), State Representative Jaime Foster (D-East Windsor, Ellington) and State Representative Carol Hall (R-Enfield, East Windsor), welcomed the announcement that East Windsor will receive $2 million in grants through the Community Development Block Grant Small Cities program to support capital improvements to local affordable housing.

East Windsor’s funds will support capital improvements to the existing Park Hill affordable housing complex with 84 units, with funds used to support energy efficiency upgrades through installation of heat pumps; improved siding, insulation, windows and doors; and new kitchens, stoves and flooring throughout units. Work would also include handicapped accessibility upgrades to bathrooms, converting tubs to showers for elderly and disabled residents.

“This investment in our community will support dozens of local households with long-term benefits that will pay off for decades,” said Sen. Anwar. “I’m grateful to Governor Lamont and our state for their continual support.”

“These upgrades will provide improved energy efficiency and resources for residents of Park Hill, which means they’ll have real-world, long-term benefits for them,” said Rep. Foster. “I’m grateful and encouraged by Governor Lamont’s support for East Windsor.”

“It is so important to continue to improve and upgrade the existing affordable housing in Connecticut,” Rep. Hall said. “These grants assist our low- and moderate-income families by providing tangible quality of life improvements for them and to our overall community and I look forward to more grant opportunities for residents of the 59^th District.”

The $2 million grant is administered with support from the state Department of Housing with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Eligible projects are required to be in a municipality with fewer than 50,000 residents.

SEN. CABRERA CITES ALGORITHMIC DISCRIMINATION CONCERNS AS PART OF BLACK & PUERTO RICAN CAUCUS’S EIGHT LEGISLATIVE PILLARS FOR 2025

Posted on February 13, 2025February 14, 2025 by Devin James

SEN. CABRERA CITES ALGORITHMIC DISCRIMINATION CONCERNS AS PART OF BLACK & PUERTO RICAN CAUCUS’S

EIGHT LEGISLATIVE PILLARS FOR 2025

HARTFORD – State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) announced today that the artificial intelligence algorithmic discrimination concerns as outlined in Senate Bill 2 is one of the Top 8 public policy pillars that the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus will seek to pass into law this session.

“The federal government under Donald Trump will do nothing with Elon Musk and David Sacks — a tech venture capitalist — being in charge of federal artificial intelligence policy. They’re more concerned with the investment portfolios of the tech millionaires and billionaires than the lives and the opportunities of the people of Connecticut,” Sen. Cabrera said. “We need the AI protections that Senate Bill 2 will enshrine. Among other things, we need to require companies to test certain algorithms to ensure they’re fair and accurate.”

Sen. Cabrera spoke at the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus’s press conference on its 2025 legislative priorities. The Caucus, formed in 1976, consists of about three dozen House and Senate members with the goal of promoting and assisting minorities in becoming more actively involved in the political process, in attaining political office, and in raising the economic potential for minorities in Connecticut.

Sen. Cabrera spoke specifically about the problem of discriminatory algorithms used by artificial intelligence that can prevent minority citizens from getting jobs, mortgages, paying too much for college, and other issues. Senate Bill 2 – one of the Senate Democrats’ Top 12 priorities in 2025 – seeks to protect all Connecticut consumers from the risks of algorithmic discrimination and the unfair treatment posed by artificial intelligence.

AI logarithmic discrimination could increase the racial wealth gap in America by $43 billion every year, according to a 2023 McKinsey Report. As examples of AI algorithm discrimination, Sen. Cabrera noted:

-A 2014 Amazon hiring algorithm for technology job openings weeded out women by checking resumes to see if they had played on a women’s sports team in college.

-iTutor was sued after its algorithm rejected job applicants that were over age 55 for women and 60 for men.

-Another hiring algorithm determined that parents made worse employees because they tend to take more time off to care for children.

-A student loan algorithm charged higher interest rates if you graduated from a historically Black university.