SEN. KUSHNER WELCOMES FORTHCOMING MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE TO $15 AN HOUR
HARTFORD – State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today joined Governor Ned Lamont and other state officials to celebrate the impending increase of Connecticut’s minimum wage from $14 per hour to $15 per hour on Thursday, June 1, 2023.
The minimum wage increase is the result of a bill that Sen. Kushner voted for on May 16, 2019, which increased Connecticut’s minimum wage from $10.10 an hour to $15 an hour in one-dollar increments over the past five years.
“A few years ago, I was talking with some young people playing pick-up basketball. They told me they really weren’t into politics. So I asked, did any of you get a dollar an hour increase at work a few weeks ago? The conversation totally changed and they became quite animated. Young people who didn’t show a great interest in politics were truly excited about getting a raise. I pointed out that it happened because of people who voted for me and people like me. Voting in elections can make a difference in your paycheck,” Sen. Kushner said. “In a few days, we will achieve the $15 an hour minimum wage that we passed at 2:44 in the morning on that May day in 2019. Today we celebrate the difference that we are making for working families in Connecticut – not only raising the minimum wage this year, but by indexing it, it will automatically continue to rise. That makes all the late nights and long drives worthwhile.”
Beginning on January 1, 2024, Connecticut’s minimum wage will be indexed to the employment cost index, which is calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor and which tracks movement in the cost of labor, as measured by wages and benefits, at all levels of a company.
Prior to the 2019 law, Connecticut has 37 minimum wage increases over 65 years, beginning at 75 cents an hour in 1951 and not reaching $10 an hour until 2017.
SENATOR ANWAR LEADS SENATE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION ABSOLVING THOSE ACCUSED AND CONVICTED OF WITCHCRAFT IN 1600S
SENATOR ANWAR LEADS SENATE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION ABSOLVING THOSE ACCUSED AND CONVICTED OF WITCHCRAFT IN 1600S
Righting a wrong that has stood in Connecticut’s history for centuries, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) today led the State Senate’s approval of a resolution absolving the dozens of women and men who were accused, convicted and even executed for the crime of witchcraft in the 1600s. Recognizing that in today’s society, it is accepted that these women and men were innocent of such charges, the resolution seeks to bring relief to the descendants of those who were maligned and acknowledge that they were treated wrongly. Sen. Anwar and State Representative Jane Garibay (D-Windsor) were instrumental in the resolution’s passage; it passed the Senate with a 33-1-2 vote.
“We cannot go back in time and prevent the banishment, tarnishing or execution of the innocent women and men who were accused of witchcraft, but we can acknowledge the wronghoods they faced and the pain they felt, pain still recognized by their survivors today,” said Sen. Anwar. “Today, the Senate took an important step to own our state’s history and provide relief to the memories of the deceased and their descendants who still struggle with their ancestors’ wrongful treatment.”
House Joint Resolution 34, “Resolution Concerning Certain Witchcraft Convictions In Colonial Connecticut,” acknowledges that in the 1600s, at least 34 women and men were indicted for alleged crimes of “witchcraft and familiarities with the devil.” Of those, 12 were convicted and 11 were executed. It is acknowledged today that all accused were innocent, and that legal procedures of the 1600s would not meet modern standards. Additionally, misogyny played a large part in these trials and their denial of defendants’ rights and dignity, the resolution notes.
The resolution apologizes to those victims on the behalf of the State of Connecticut, apologizes to the descendants of those indicted, convicted and executed, apologizes for the harm done to those persons’ posterity and acknowledges that trauma and shame continues to affect the families of the accused.
This resolution received strong support in testimony from advocates including the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project. Kimberly Black of the Project, whose 14th-generation great grandmother Mary Sanford was hanged as a witch after conviction, noted that the resolution supported not only families of the victims but families and descendants of the accusers as well. “This can send a message about the dangers of alienating people,” Black testified, and creates an opportunity to educate the public on the Connecticut Witch Trials, shining a light on past history in Connecticut.
Dr. Charles Button of Central Connecticut State University, also testified in support of the measure. Button noted his family descends from both perpetrators and victims of the Hartford Witch Panic in the 1600s – “this resolution would bring peace and closure” to a complicated family history, he said.
Prior to its passage today, this resolution passed the House on May 10 by a vote of 121-30 and the Judiciary Committee by a 28-9 vote on March 27. It now heads to Governor Lamont’s desk for his signature.
Sen. Gaston Applauds Senate Passage Of New Bill To Protect Voting Rights In Connecticut
Sen. Gaston Applauds Senate Passage Of New Bill To Protect Voting Rights In Connecticut
Even as some Republican-led states across America engage in an all-out war on democracy and a reduction in voting rights for some American citizens, state Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) voted for a bill designed to protect democracy in Connecticut and voting rights for all Connecticut citizens.
Senate Bill 1226, “An Act Concerning State Voting Rights In Recognition of John R. Lewis,” a bill named in honor of the late Georgia Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis who died in 2020 at age 80, passed the Senate and now heads to the House of Representatives.
If approved by the House of Representatives and signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont, S.B. 1226 would codify into Connecticut state law several aspects of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, which bans discrimination in voting and prohibits any city or town from engaging in intimidating, deceptive, or obstructive acts that affect a person’s right to vote.
“As the late honorable John Lewis’s former intern, I am proud to stand up in his honor as we codify anti-discrimination protections for residents in our state when they cast their votes in elections,” said Sen. Gaston. “Congressman Lewis was a fighter who believed in social justice and I believe we are bringing justice to voters here in our state. No person regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or creed should feel any barriers when heading to the polls and should feel protected when performing their rights.”
Specifically, S.B. 1226: makes resolving Voting Rights Act complaints easier and faster by fast-tracking the complaint process at the local level, leading to more collaborative resolutions and less lengthy federal litigation (which can take years); creates a central data hub for publicly available election and demographic information; expands language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency; empowers voters to fight against intimidation, deception and obstruction; helps municipalities identify and fix problems before voters are affected; enable Connecticut judges to order appropriate, tailored remedies to address harm.
Connecticut needs to pass its own state law to protect voting rights because in 2013, the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court gutted Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act, thereby allowing individual states to pass restrictive voting laws if they so choose.
Congress tried to pass the federal John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in 2021 to counteract this, but the bill failed in the U.S. Senate due to Republican opposition.
According to the Human Rights Campaign (https://www.hrc.org/resources/voting-rights-advancement-act), the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 included a requirement designed to ensure minority voters across the country are able to participate equally in the electoral process, which prohibited discriminatory voting practices and removed many barriers to voting.
But in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a key provision of it: among the invalidated provisions was an enforcement mechanism that prevented states from making changes to their voting laws and practices if they have a history of voting discrimination, unless they clear those changes with federal officials. The Supreme Court ruled that the formula for deciding which states and towns have a history of voting discrimination (and were therefore required to pre-approve changes in voting laws and practices) was unconstitutional. This severely weakened the federal government’s oversight of discriminatory voting practices.
Ever since the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision, various Republican states and localities across America have brazenly pushed forward discriminatory changes to voting practices, such as changing district boundaries to disadvantage certain voters, instituting more onerous voter identification laws, and changing polling locations with little notice. These laws especially disenfranchise people of color, the elderly, low-income people, transgender people and people with disabilities. As a result, millions of American voters in some Republican-led state are now more vulnerable to discrimination now than at any time since the Voting Rights Act was signed into law more than half a century ago.
SEN. SLAP JOINS SENATE PASSAGE OF NEW BILL TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS IN CONNECTICUT
SEN. SLAP JOINS SENATE PASSAGE OF NEW BILL TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS IN CONNECTICUT
HARTFORD – State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Senate Vice Chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, today voted for a bill designed to protect democracy in Connecticut and voting rights for all Connecticut citizens.
Sen. Slap voted to support Senate Bill 1226, “AN ACT CONCERNING STATE VOTING RIGHTS IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN R. LEWIS,” a bill named in honor of the late Georgia Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis who died in 2020 at age 80.
If approved by the House of Representatives and signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont, S.B. 1226 would codify into Connecticut state law several aspects of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, which bans discrimination in voting and prohibits any city or town from engaging in intimidating, deceptive, or obstructive acts that affect a person’s right to vote.
“One of our most sacred rights is the right to vote and this bill strengthens and protects that right for all citizens,” said Sen. Slap. “I’m so gratified that as other states roll back voter protections, we are doing the opposite with this legislation. Combined with reforms like early voting and no-excuse absentee ballots, both of which we will advance this year, Connecticut is standing up for voting rights and helping to protect our democracy.”
Specifically, S.B. 1226: makes resolving Voting Rights Act complaints easier and faster by fast-tracking the complaint process at the local level, leading to more collaborative resolutions and less lengthy federal litigation (which can take years); creates a central data hub for publicly available election and demographic information; expands language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency; empowers voters to fight against intimidation, deception and obstruction; helps municipalities identify and fix problems before voters are affected; enable Connecticut judges to order appropriate, tailored remedies to address harm.
Connecticut needs to pass its own state law to protect voting rights because in 2013, the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court gutted Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act, thereby allowing individual states to pass restrictive voting laws if they so choose.
Congress tried to pass the federal John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in 2021 to counteract this, but the bill failed in the U.S. Senate due to Republican opposition.
According to the Human Rights Campaign (https://www.hrc.org/resources/voting-rights-advancement-act), the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 included a requirement designed to ensure minority voters across the country are able to participate equally in the electoral process, which prohibited discriminatory voting practices and removed many barriers to voting.
But in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a key provision of it: among the invalidated provisions was an enforcement mechanism that prevented states from making changes to their voting laws and practices if they have a history of voting discrimination, unless they clear those changes with federal officials. The Supreme Court ruled that the formula for deciding which states and towns have a history of voting discrimination (and were therefore required to pre-approve changes in voting laws and practices) was unconstitutional. This severely weakened the federal government’s oversight of discriminatory voting practices.
Ever since the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision, various Republican states and localities across America have brazenly pushed forward discriminatory changes to voting practices, such as changing district boundaries to disadvantage certain voters, instituting more onerous voter identification laws, and changing polling locations with little notice. These laws especially disenfranchise people of color, the elderly, low-income people, transgender people and people with disabilities. As a result, millions of American voters in some Republican-led state are now more vulnerable to discrimination now than at any time since the Voting Rights Act was signed into law more than half a century ago.
SEN. FLEXER LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF NEW BILL TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS IN CONNECTICUT
SEN. FLEXER LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF NEW BILL TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS IN CONNECTICUT
HARTFORD – Even as some Republican-led states across America engage in an all-out war on democracy and a reduction in voting rights for some American citizens, state Senator Mae Flexer today led passage of a bill designed to protect democracy in Connecticut and voting rights for all Connecticut citizens.
Sen. Flexer today voted in support of Senate Bill 1226, “AN ACT CONCERNING STATE VOTING RIGHTS IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN R. LEWIS,” a bill she authored which is named in honor of the late Georgia Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis who died in 2020 at age 80.
The bill passed the Senate on a 27-9 vote. If approved by the House of Representatives and signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont, S.B. 1226 would codify into Connecticut state law several aspects of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, which bans discrimination in voting and prohibits any city or town from engaging in intimidating, deceptive, or obstructive acts that affect a person’s right to vote.
“As we are seeing the erosion of voting rights protections at the federal level, it’s important for Connecticut to step-up and codify the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and to add extra protections for voters throughout Connecticut to ensure that everyone has access to the vote and that they can elect officials who truly represent their community,” said Sen. Flexer. “This bill is better in some ways than the federal law because we offer stronger voter protections with less bureaucracy and expense. This bill gives people an easier access point to change the voting systems and political structures, and it allows communities to work together toward a solution, so all voices are truly represented.”
Specifically, S.B. 1226: makes resolving Voting Rights Act complaints easier and faster by fast-tracking the complaint process at the local level, leading to more collaborative resolutions and less lengthy federal litigation (which can take years); creates a central data hub for publicly available election and demographic information; expands language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency; empowers voters to fight against intimidation, deception and obstruction; helps municipalities identify and fix problems before voters are affected; enable Connecticut judges to order appropriate, tailored remedies to address harm.
Connecticut needs to pass its own state law to protect voting rights because in 2013, the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court gutted Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act, thereby allowing individual states to pass restrictive voting laws if they so choose.
Congress tried to pass the federal John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in 2021 to counteract this, but the bill failed in the U.S. Senate due to Republican opposition.
According to the Human Rights Campaign (https://www.hrc.org/resources/voting-rights-advancement-act), the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 included a requirement designed to ensure minority voters across the country are able to participate equally in the electoral process, which prohibited discriminatory voting practices and removed many barriers to voting.
But in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a key provision of it: among the invalidated provisions was an enforcement mechanism that prevented states from making changes to their voting laws and practices if they have a history of voting discrimination, unless they clear those changes with federal officials. The Supreme Court ruled that the formula for deciding which states and towns have a history of voting discrimination (and were therefore required to pre-approve changes in voting laws and practices) was unconstitutional. This severely weakened the federal government’s oversight of discriminatory voting practices.
Ever since the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision, various Republican states and localities across America have brazenly pushed forward discriminatory changes to voting practices, such as changing district boundaries to disadvantage certain voters, instituting more onerous voter identification laws, and changing polling locations with little notice. These laws especially disenfranchise people of color, the elderly, low-income people, transgender people and people with disabilities. As a result, millions of American voters in some Republican-led state are now more vulnerable to discrimination now than at any time since the Voting Rights Act was signed into law more than half a century ago.
SEN. ANWAR JOINS SENATE PASSAGE OF NEW BILL TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS IN CONNECTICUT
SEN. ANWAR JOINS SENATE PASSAGE OF NEW BILL TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS IN CONNECTICUT
HARTFORD – State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) today voted for a bill designed to protect democracy in Connecticut and voting rights for all Connecticut citizens.
Sen. Anwar voted to support Senate Bill 1226, “AN ACT CONCERNING STATE VOTING RIGHTS IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN R. LEWIS,” a bill named in honor of the late Georgia Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis who died in 2020 at age 80.
If approved by the House of Representatives and signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont, S.B. 1226 would codify into Connecticut state law several aspects of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, which bans discrimination in voting and prohibits any city or town from engaging in intimidating, deceptive, or obstructive acts that affect a person’s right to vote.
“The right to vote is sacred and should be protected at all costs. My colleagues and I voted tonight to do just that,” said Sen. Anwar. “I’m proud that the Senate this year is working to not only protect but improve voters’ access to the polls.”
Specifically, S.B. 1226: makes resolving Voting Rights Act complaints easier and faster by fast-tracking the complaint process at the local level, leading to more collaborative resolutions and less lengthy federal litigation (which can take years); creates a central data hub for publicly available election and demographic information; expands language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency; empowers voters to fight against intimidation, deception and obstruction; helps municipalities identify and fix problems before voters are affected; enable Connecticut judges to order appropriate, tailored remedies to address harm.
Connecticut needs to pass its own state law to protect voting rights because in 2013, the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court gutted Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act, thereby allowing individual states to pass restrictive voting laws if they so choose.
Congress tried to pass the federal John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in 2021 to counteract this, but the bill failed in the U.S. Senate due to Republican opposition.
According to the Human Rights Campaign (https://www.hrc.org/resources/voting-rights-advancement-act), the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 included a requirement designed to ensure minority voters across the country are able to participate equally in the electoral process, which prohibited discriminatory voting practices and removed many barriers to voting.
But in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a key provision of it: among the invalidated provisions was an enforcement mechanism that prevented states from making changes to their voting laws and practices if they have a history of voting discrimination, unless they clear those changes with federal officials. The Supreme Court ruled that the formula for deciding which states and towns have a history of voting discrimination (and were therefore required to pre-approve changes in voting laws and practices) was unconstitutional. This severely weakened the federal government’s oversight of discriminatory voting practices.
Ever since the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision, various Republican states and localities across America have brazenly pushed forward discriminatory changes to voting practices, such as changing district boundaries to disadvantage certain voters, instituting more onerous voter identification laws, and changing polling locations with little notice. These laws especially disenfranchise people of color, the elderly, low-income people, transgender people and people with disabilities. As a result, millions of American voters in some Republican-led state are now more vulnerable to discrimination now than at any time since the Voting Rights Act was signed into law more than half a century ago.
Sen. Cabrera Gives Final Approval to Early Voting Bill
Sen. Cabrera Gives Final Approval to Early Voting Bill
HARTFORD – State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) this evening gave final passage to House Bill 5004, “AN ACT IMPLEMENTING EARLY VOTING,” which establishes a framework for early, in-person voting for all general elections, primaries, and special elections in Connecticut held on or after January 1, 2024.
Democrats passed the bill in the House and Senate after 60% of Connecticut voters approved of an early voting change last fall to the state constitution. Forty-six American states already allow some form of early voting.
“We know Connecticut voters want increased access at the polls and with today’s vote we provided them with the access many other states already provide their residents,” said Sen. Cabrera, “Both no-excuse absentee ballot voting and early voting enables more people to participate in their democracy and choose the leaders that govern their communities. As someone who came from a working-class family, I know how challenging it can be complete the day’s tasks at work and home and find time to get to the polls on a Tuesday in November. Today, we’ve strengthened our democracy by removing the roadblocks that make voting unnecessarily harder and I’m proud to vote yes.”
Specifically, the bill requires a 14-day early voting period for general elections, a seven-day period for most primaries, and a four-day early voting period for special elections and presidential preference primaries.
Every city and town in Connecticut must establish at least one early voting location and may establish more. Early voting locations must be open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., including weekends, except that on the last Tuesday and Thursday before the election, the locations must be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The bill also sets various requirements and procedures for early voting including voter eligibility, same-day election registration, ballot custody, staffing and training, and materials.
The bill now heads to Governor Ned Lamont for his signature of the bill into law.
SEN. LESSER APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION DOUBLING ACCESSIBILITY OF DEBT-FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR STUDENTS IN CONNECTICUT
SEN. LESSER APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION DOUBLING ACCESSIBILITY OF DEBT-FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR STUDENTS IN CONNECTICUT
HARTFORD, CT – Today, State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) voted to pass Senate Bill 8, a flagship priority bill of the Senate Democratic caucus, seeking to make higher education more affordable in Connecticut and ensure graduates of Connecticut colleges and universities remain in the state after completing their studies. Most prominently, the bill would expand the state’s debt-free community college program to include returning students and increase minimum program award amounts; in doing so, the bill will double the students currently eligible for debt-free community college programs from 12,000 to 24,000.
“Higher education continues to power the American dream and is critical for Connecticut’s economic future,” said Sen. Lesser. “This bill is an important statement that college affordability remains front of mind, including debt-free community college. But we have more work to do to ensure sustainable funding of our state colleges and universities in the state budget.”
Senate Bill 8, “An Act Concerning Higher Education Affordability and Graduate Retention,” seeks to make the following changes to higher education in Connecticut:
It would expand the Pledge to Advance CT, which provides debt-free community college to first-time students in the state, to include returning students as well.
Thousands of students have been able to access community college without accruing debt since PACT began providing aid in 2020. This would allow students returning to college with previous experience to take advantage of this program as well.
Students will no longer be required to graduate from a Connecticut high school.
The bill also increases minimum awards for students who have all of their costs paid from $250 to $500 per semester for full-time students and from $150 to $250 for part-time students per semester.
It requires American Rescue Plan Act funds for the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program, which provides merit- and need-based financial aid to students attending in-state colleges and universities, to be reallocated from regional community-technical colleges to the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities to be expended as grants supporting students. ARPA funds will be used first to make sure these funds are expended before they expire.
The bill also prevents the lapsing of Roberta Willis Scholarship funds, allowing for the program to operate without issue in perpetuity.
Colleges and universities will need to notify the Office of Higher Education when new educational programs are started or discontinued at least annually on or before the last day of each semester.
The bill previously passed the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee by a 21-1 tally in March. It now heads to the House for further consideration.
Sen. Lesser Leads Passage of Legislation Requiring Air Conditioning in Nursing Homes
Sen. Lesser Leads Passage of Legislation Requiring Air Conditioning in Nursing Homes
HARTFORD, CT – Today, State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown), Senate Chair of the Human Services Committee, led passage of SB 989 requiring nursing homes provide air conditioning in patient rooms.
“It is simply unacceptable that many vulnerable, aging residents in nursing homes do not have access to adequate temperature control in their rooms,” said Sen. Lesser. “These residents are oftentimes already dealing with aches and ailments and various health issues, excessive heat can create uncomfortable conditions at best and at worst, exacerbate existing health concerns. I am pleased to partner with AARP and the Connecticut Long Term Care Ombudsman to improve conditions across the state – this legislation is long overdue.”
The legislation will require that each nursing home provides an air conditioner in every patient room by no later than January 1, 2026. The legislation also establishes a loan account within the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority to provide financial assistance to an owner of a nursing home facility for costs incurred to install the air conditioning systems.
SENATOR MARX VOTES FOR POLICIES BENEFITTING WORKERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
SENATOR MARX VOTES FOR POLICIES BENEFITTING WORKERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Today, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) voted with the Senate to support policies that will make life a little better for workers and the environment in Connecticut. Her votes included support to update the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program, first passed in 2019 and made available to the public in 2022, making it more friendly to workers by prohibiting disability insurance benefit reductions and increasing eligible organizations , and voting in favor of legislation creating a Public Schools Solar Power Systems and Energy Efficiency Projects Financing Program through the Connecticut Green Bank, helping schools and municipalities improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and resources.
“These bills are representative of ground-level, real-world changes that the Legislature can press forward,” said Sen. Marx. “They will help workers with significant problems avoid reduced benefits from disability insurance because they claim paid family medical leave. They will help our environment by allowing local schools and municipalities better afford valuable upgrades – and benefit workers in the process by expanding employment opportunities in the process. I love being a Senator because I get opportunities to support legislation like this.”
Senate Bill 1179, “An Act Amending Connecticut Paid Family Medical Leave,” prohibits certain disability insurance policies from reducing benefits due to receipt of benefits from the Paid Family and Medical Leave program and allows tribal enterprises, such as the commercial businesses managed or controlled by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation or Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, to enroll in the program – which represents many businesses including those at the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos.
Ed Hawthorne, President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, testified in March that this bill comes as some employers have required employees to exhaust PFML benefits before short-term disability benefits, even as workers have paid into both programs as required by law. The bill now moves to the House for further consideration.
Senate Bill 961, “An Act Concerning Carbon-Free School Requirements For New School Construction And Establishing Other School Construction And Establishing Other School Construction And Public Health Requirements For School Districts,” would establish the Public Schools Solar Power Systems and Energy Efficiency Projects Financing Program through the Connecticut Green Bank. That program would provide financing to public school districts looking to voluntarily install solar power systems and energy efficiency improvements. Projects would undergo feasibility and energy-efficiency studies to determine cost-effectiveness.
The program would also see contractors enroll in an apprenticeship program supporting workforce development programs connecting workers residing in the same municipality as a project and workers traditionally underrepresented in employment.
This bill received strong support from education and clean energy advocates for its benefits both to resources in educational institutions and for the state’s environment. It previously passed the Environment Committee by a 22-10 tally in March and now heads to the House for further consideration.