SEN. MARX JOINS SENATE TO PASS BILL SHE INTRODUCED TO IMPROVE DISCHARGE STANDARDS FOR PATIENTS RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL CARE
Today, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London), Vice Chair of the Public Health Committee, joined the Senate in the approval of legislation she introduced and co-sponsored that will improve hospital and nursing home discharge planning services in Connecticut. The legislation will update discharge planning services, requiring plans to include the date and location of each follow-up medical appointment scheduled before a patient’s discharge and a list of all medications the patient is currently taking and will take after discharge sent to their pharmacy. Sen. Marx introduced the bill reflective of her experiences providing care in her career as a nurse.
“Under modern discharge standards, a patient may be given a temporary prescription for medication and be asked to see a professional – only for that professional to be unavailable for weeks, harming their ability to receive that prescription and potentially harming their care in the process,” said Sen. Marx. “This bill is designed to reduce rehospitalization rates and make sure patients leaving the hospital after care are able to recover to the best of their ability. There are already standards in place for discharge from medical facilities – this will make sure they’re meeting patients where they need to be.”
Senate Bill 956, “An Act Requiring Discharge Standards Regarding Follow-Up Appointments and Prescription Medications For Patients Being Discharged From A Hospital Or Nursing Home Facility,” will require discharge service standards to require written information regarding the date and location of follow-up medical appointments scheduled before a patient’s discharge and a list of all medications a patient is taking and will take after discharge. Those discharge plans are already required to be written in consultation with a patient or their family or representative and their physician and a procedure to give a patient notice of that discharge plan before discharge.
Additionally, when a hospital or nursing home discharges a patient, the bill requires the facility to send information on each prescription ordered for a patient before discharge to a patient’s pharmacy. Sen. Marx highlighted the importance of this because it will provide pharmacists with more accurate information in filling prescriptions, including in filling patient pill boxes, to improve the safety of a discharged patient.
According to the Patient Safety Network, studies have shown that nearly 20% of hospital patients discharged from the hospital experience adverse events within three weeks of discharge and nearly 75% of those events could have been prevented or ameliorated. Adverse drug events are the most common discharge complication; procedural complications are also responsible for such issues. Nearly 20% of Medicare patients are rehospitalized within 20 days of discharge. With each rehospitalization adding to patient medical costs, hospital care capacity and worsening public health, improving rehospitalization rates is a significant need, which this bill aims to address.
Prior to its passage today, the bill passed the Public Health Committee in March by a unanimous 35-0 vote. It now heads to the House for further consideration.
Senator Gaston Supports Senate Passage of Legislation to Study the Potential Repeal of the Motor Vehicle Property Tax
Senator Gaston Supports Senate Passage of Legislation to Study the Potential Repeal of the Motor Vehicle Property Tax
Today, State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) is applauding Senate’s passage of legislation seeking to study the impacts of a potential repeal of the state’s motor vehicle property tax. The bill, which passed with a unanimous vote, would establish a task force which would study potential impacts and effects of a repeal of that tax. This bill seeks to pursue better and more equitable approaches to taxation and wishes to provide relief to taxpayers.
“I fully support this task force and commend my colleague Senator Rahman for bringing out this idea of having a team of voices that will introduce a list of recommendations,” said Sen. Gaston. “Bridgeport is one of the largest municipalities in this state and one of the greatest concerns I’ve heard from many low-income residents is inequality and disparity. Folks want this car tax eliminated. It impacts so many with fixed incomes and I hope this task force is able to recommend solutions that will alleviate financial struggles that families are facing.”
Senate Bill 497, “An Act Eliminating The Property Tax On Motor Vehicles And Establishing The Motor Vehicle Property Tax Revenue Replacement Account,” would establish a task force to study the feasibility of repealing the motor vehicle property tax and what options are available to replace resulting lost municipal revenue. The task force will look at how such a decision would impact municipal budgets and review possibilities that could replace lost revenue. Some possibilities listed in the legislation include 8% annual taxes on the total amount of premiums insurance companies earn from policies including automotive and homeowner’s insurance; additional funding mechanisms will be considered in the task force’s work.
The task force would include representatives of tax reform organizations, organizations supporting residents ages 50+, municipal leaders, insurance carrier officials, the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the Commissioner of Revenue Services and members of the Planning and Development and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees. The task force would report its findings by the end of January 2024.
Sen. Rahman proposed this legislation out of a desire to find improvements for residents struggling under high costs. The motor vehicle tax is regressive in locale and can add to high costs of vehicle ownership, putting additional pressure on taxpayers. As one example, due to local property taxes and mill rates differing significantly between different communities, a vehicle owner in Hartford can pay more than three times what a vehicle owner in Greenwich can pay each year.
Economically distressed municipalities are directly vulnerable to the motor vehicle tax’s financial burdens, noting that the most vulnerable residents in his community struggle with its costs amid other significant issues. Testimony from state residents in support of the bill cited its possibility to provide financial relief amid rising inflation.
Senate Bill 497 now heads to the House for further consideration.
SEN. RAHMAN LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION HE INTRODUCED TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL REPEAL OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE PROPERTY TAX
SEN. RAHMAN LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION HE INTRODUCED TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL REPEAL OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE PROPERTY TAX
Today, State Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester) led the Senate’s passage of legislation he introduced to the General Assembly this year, seeking to study the impacts of a potential repeal of the state’s motor vehicle property tax. The bill, which passed by unanimous 36-0 vote, would establish a task force which would study potential impacts and effects of a repeal of that tax; Sen. Rahman seeks to pursue better and more equitable approaches to taxation and wishes to provide relief to taxpayers.
“This bill is close to my heart and means a lot to my constituents. I’m glad we’re moving this conversation forward,” said Sen. Rahman. “The vehicle property tax model is outdated in Connecticut and we owe it to taxpayers to find new and better taxation methods. This tax disproportionately impacts seniors, young residents and workers and can have drastically different costs from community to community. This bill will study this issue thoroughly and determine the best possible ways to make changes in the future.”
Senate Bill 497, “An Act Eliminating The Property Tax On Motor Vehicles And Establishing The Motor Vehicle Property Tax Revenue Replacement Account,” would establish a task force to study the feasibility of repealing the motor vehicle property tax and what options are available to replace resulting lost municipal revenue. The task force will look at how such a decision would impact municipal budgets and review possibilities that could replace lost revenue. Some possibilities listed in the legislation include 8% annual taxes on the total amount of premiums insurance companies earn from policies including automotive and homeowner’s insurance; additional funding mechanisms will be considered in the task force’s work.
The task force would include representatives of tax reform organizations, organizations supporting residents ages 50+, municipal leaders, insurance carrier officials, the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the Commissioner of Revenue Services and members of the Planning and Development and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees. The task force would report its findings by the end of January 2024.
Sen. Rahman proposed this legislation out of a desire to find improvements for residents struggling under high costs. The motor vehicle tax is regressive in locale and can add to high costs of vehicle ownership, putting additional pressure on taxpayers. As one example, due to local property taxes and mill rates differing significantly between different communities, a vehicle owner in Hartford can pay more than three times what a vehicle owner in Greenwich can pay each year.
In testimony submitted in favor of the legislation, State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) noted that economically distressed municipalities are directly vulnerable to the motor vehicle tax’s financial burdens, noting that the most vulnerable residents in his community struggle with its costs amid other significant issues. Testimony from state residents in support of the bill cited its possibility to provide financial relief amid rising inflation.
Sen. Rahman is Senate Chair of the Planning and Development Committee, where the bill previously passed by a 14-7 vote on March 22. It heads to the House for further consideration.
STATE SENATOR MARTHA MARX WELCOMES $139,750 INVESTMENT IN SALEM OPEN SPACE BY GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
STATE SENATOR MARTHA MARX WELCOMES $139,750 INVESTMENT IN SALEM OPEN SPACE BY GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
Today, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) welcomed a $139,750 grant investment by Governor Ned Lamont’s administration and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to preserve 47.53 acres of open space in Salem. The grant was administered by the Governor’s administration through the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program, part of a $3.7 million investment to purchase more than 1,000 acres of open space across the state.
“The open space in our communities protects our environment and often provides lovely outdoor recreation for residents,” said Sen. Marx. “I’m grateful that the Governor’s administration is investing in open space in Salem, helping the Salem Land Trust educate our town in the process.”
“These state grants are important because they will increase the availability of open space so that we can protect the exquisite natural resources we have in Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “Protecting these lands will significantly improve the quality of life for our residents, attract visitors and businesses to the state, and continue making Connecticut a great place to live and work. I am glad the state could partner with towns on these projects.”
The Salem Land Trust will receive aid to acquire the Stahlschmidt Preserve Project, a 47.53-acre property at 460 Old New London Road through this grant. The property features about 15 acres of inland wetlands and supports a wide variety of plants, trees and wildlife. The Salem Land Trust plans to clear trees to create a public parking area at the road and a single loop trail for passive recreational and environmental educational use. The Trust may also work to install bridges and will develop a management plan for the property.
SEN. ANWAR LEADS SENATE PASSAGE TO IMPROVE DISCHARGE STANDARDS FOR PATIENTS RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL CARE
SEN. ANWAR LEADS SENATE PASSAGE TO IMPROVE DISCHARGE STANDARDS FOR PATIENTS RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL CARE
Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, led the Senate in the approval of legislation that will improve hospital and nursing home discharge planning services in Connecticut. The legislation will update discharge planning services, requiring plans to include the date and location of each follow-up medical appointment scheduled before a patient’s discharge and a list of all medications the patient is currently taking and will take after discharge.
“When a patient is discharged from the hospital, they are in a precarious state, and if they do not recover properly, their health could be threatened and they could be rehospitalized. This bill is trying to make sure that happens less often,” said Sen. Anwar. “By providing patients with more information upon their discharge and by ensuring their medical appointments and prescriptions are effectively released, we can take strong steps forward to improve care and patient health.”
Senate Bill 956, “An Act Requiring Discharge Standards Regarding Follow-Up Appointments and Prescription Medications For Patients Being Discharged From A Hospital Or Nursing Home Facility,” will require discharge service standards to require written information regarding the date and location of follow-up medical appointments scheduled before a patient’s discharge and a list of all medications a patient is taking and will take after discharge. Those discharge plans are already required to be written in consultation with a patient or their family or representative and their physician and a procedure to give a patient notice of that discharge plan before discharge.
Additionally, when a hospital or nursing home discharges a patient, the bill requires the facility to send information on each prescription ordered for a patient before discharge to a patient’s pharmacy. This will provide pharmacists with more accurate information in filling prescriptions, including in filling patient pill boxes, to improve the safety of a discharged patient.
According to the Patient Safety Network, studies have shown that nearly 20% of hospital patients discharged from the hospital experience adverse events within three weeks of discharge and nearly 75% of those events could have been prevented or ameliorated. Adverse drug events are the most common discharge complication; procedureal complications are also responsible for such issues. Nearly 20% of Medicare patients are rehospitalized within 20 days of discharge. With each rehospitalization adding to patient medical costs, hospital care capacity and worsening public health, improving rehospitalization rates is a significant need, which this bill aims to address.
Prior to its passage today, the bill passed the Public Health Committee in March by a unanimous 35-0 vote. It now heads to the House for further consideration.
Looney, Kushner Lead Passage of Workers’ Comp Coverage for PTSI in Any Employee
Looney, Kushner Lead Passage of Workers’ Comp Coverage for PTSI in Any Employee
HARTFORD – Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today led the bipartisan and unanimous Senate passage of a bill that will extend certain workers’ comp benefits now in place for police, firefighters and others who witness tragic events on the job to any employee on any job who witnesses similar tragedies.
Senate Bill 913, “AN ACT EXPANDING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURIES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES” passed the state Senate today on a unanimous and bipartisan 36-0 vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. The bill had previously passed the Labor Committee on a 10-1 vote and the Appropriations Committee on a 53-0 vote.
“Providing post-traumatic stress coverage for all workers is not just a matter of compassion, but a vital investment in the well-being and productivity of employees,” said Sen. Looney. “Traumatic events can have a profound impact on individuals, causing psychological distress and impairing their ability to work. By providing workers’ compensation coverage, we acknowledge the disabling reality of psychological injury and recognize the long-lasting effects of trauma.”
“Before I came to the Senate, I represented workers for 42 years in a variety of different types of workplaces. During that time, on occasion, we lost a member to a workplace tragedy. In one instance, a worker in a corrugated box manufacturing plant lost his life – he got trapped in a machine. It was really a horrible death. The trauma of the people who worked beside him was extreme. Another time, a man stepped backwards off a platform and fell to his death down a freight elevator shaft,” Sen. Kushner said. “Our union provided some specialized assistance for dealing with that type of trauma, and it gave me a real appreciation of how impactful these events can be. I brought forth this bill because I believe every worker should have some help and assistance when faced with these unique circumstances. Today, we are moving forward on an incredibly important issue for all workers in Connecticut.”
Current state law generally limits eligibility for PTSI benefits to certain first responders (e.g., police officers, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, and emergency 9-1-1 dispatchers) who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) as a direct result of certain qualifying events (e.g., witnessing someone’s death) that may occur in the line of duty.
Under S.B. 913 — if it is approved by the House and signed into law by Governor Lamont — beginning on January 1, 2024, eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for PTSI will cover any employee in Connecticut who is already covered by the workers’ compensation law; the workers’ compensation system in Connecticut covers nearly all employees despite their occupation, business size, employment duration, or the number of hours worked per day.
Under S.B. 913, all employees in Connecticut would be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if a mental health professional examines them and diagnoses PTSI as a direct result of an event that occurs in their course of employment in which they: view a deceased minor; witness (a) someone’s death or an incident involving someone’s death, (b) an injury to someone who then dies before or upon admission to a hospital as a result of the injury, or (c) a traumatic physical injury that results in the loss of a vital body part or a vital body function that results in the victim’s permanent disfigurement; or
carry, or have physical contact with and treat, an injured person who then dies before or upon admission to a hospital.
SEN. KUSHNER LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF WORKERS’ COMP COVERAGE FOR PTSI IN ANY EMPLOYEE
SEN. KUSHNER LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF WORKERS’ COMP COVERAGE FOR PTSI IN ANY EMPLOYEE
HARTFORD – State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today led the bipartisan and unanimous Senate passage of a bill that will extend certain workers’ comp benefits now in place for police, firefighters and others who witness tragic events on the job to any employee on any job who witnesses similar, tragedies.
Senate Bill 913, “AN ACT EXPANDING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURIES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES” passed the state Senate today on a unanimous and bipartisan 36-0 vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. The bill had previously passed the Labor Committee on a 10-1 vote and the Appropriations Committee on a 53-0 vote.
“Before I came to the Senate, I represented workers for 42 years in a variety of different types of workplaces. During that time, on occasion, we lost a member to a workplace tragedy. In one instance, a worker in a corrugated box manufacturing plant lost his life – he got trapped in a machine. It was really a horrible death. The trauma of the people who worked beside him was extreme. Another time, a man stepped backwards off a platform and fell to his death down a freight elevator shaft,” Sen. Kushner said. “Our union provided some specialized assistance for dealing with that type of trauma, and it gave me a real appreciation of how impactful these events can be. I brought forth this bill because I believe every worker should have some help and assistance when faced with these unique circumstances. Today, we are moving forward on an incredibly important issue for all workers in Connecticut.”
Current state law generally limits eligibility for PTSI benefits to certain first responders (e.g., police officers, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, and emergency 9-1-1 dispatchers) who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) as a direct result of certain qualifying events (e.g., witnessing someone’s death) that may occur in the line of duty.
Under S.B. 913 — if it is approved by the House and signed into law by Governor Lamont — beginning on January 1, 2024, eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for PTSI will cover any employee in Connecticut who is already covered by the workers’ compensation law; the workers’ compensation system in Connecticut covers nearly all employees despite their occupation, business size, employment duration, or the number of hours worked per day.
Under S.B. 913, all employees in Connecticut would be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if a mental health professional examines them and diagnoses PTSI as a direct result of an event that occurs in their course of employment in which they view a deceased minor, witness (a) someone’s death or an incident involving someone’s death, (b) an injury to someone who then dies before or upon admission to a hospital as a result of the injury, or (c) a traumatic physical injury that results in the loss of a vital body part or a vital body function that results in the victim’s permanent disfigurement, or carry, or have physical contact with and treat, an injured person who then dies before or upon admission to a hospital.
SEN. SLAP JOINS SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL REPEAL OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE PROPERTY TAX
SEN. SLAP JOINS SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL REPEAL OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE PROPERTY TAX
Today, State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) joined the Senate’s passage of legislation creating a study of the impacts of a potential repeal of the state’s motor vehicle property tax. The bill, which passed by a unanimous 36-0 vote, would establish a task force which would study potential effects of a repeal of that tax.
“The car tax is not only a nuisance and adds to the high cost of living in Connecticut, it is rendered unfairly and inequitably,” said Sen. Slap. “Of course, eliminating it – something I want to see happen – is not easy because we do not want to simply shift higher municipal taxes to homeowners and businesses. I’m pleased we are going to conduct a comprehensive study, with the goal of identifying ways to eventually get rid of the car tax.”
Senate Bill 497, “An Act Eliminating The Property Tax On Motor Vehicles And Establishing The Motor Vehicle Property Tax Revenue Replacement Account,” would establish a task force to study the feasibility of repealing the motor vehicle property tax and what options are available to replace resulting lost municipal revenue. The task force will look at how such a decision would impact municipal budgets and review possibilities that could replace lost revenue.
The task force would include representatives of tax reform organizations, organizations supporting residents ages 50+, municipal leaders, insurance carrier officials, the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the Commissioner of Revenue Services and members of the Planning and Development and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees. The task force would report its findings by the end of January 2024.
State Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester) proposed this legislation out of a desire to find improvements for residents struggling under high costs. The motor vehicle tax is regressive in locale and can add to high costs of vehicle ownership, putting additional pressure on taxpayers. As one example, due to local property taxes and mill rates differing significantly between different communities, a vehicle owner in Hartford can pay more than three times what a vehicle owner in Greenwich can pay each year.
In testimony submitted in favor of the legislation, State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) noted that economically distressed municipalities are directly vulnerable to the motor vehicle tax’s financial burdens, noting that the most vulnerable residents in his community struggle with its costs amid other significant issues. Testimony from state residents in support of the bill cited its possibility to provide financial relief amid rising inflation.
The bill previously passed the Planning and Development Committee by a 14-7 vote on March 22. It heads to the House for further consideration.
State Senator Jan Hochadel Supports Senate Passage of Bill Protecting Children Online
State Senator Jan Hochadel Supports Senate Passage of Bill Protecting Children Online
Today, State Senator Jan Hochadel (D-Meriden) applauds State Senate passage of a Senate Democratic Caucus priority bill concerning data privacy. This bill focuses on protecting consumers health data online.
Senate Bill 3, ‘An Act Concerning Online Privacy, Data And Safety Protections,’ passed the State Senate with a unanimous vote and now heads to the House of Representatives.
“Because so many children have access to the online world, it is imperative we have protections in place to create safe platforms for minors,” said Sen. Hochadel. “Creating these protections reduces children being taken advantage of when they use social media.”
SENATE BILL 3:
Health Data Privacy
Senate Bill 3 will help maintain a person’s privacy when seeking care at a medical office or abortion clinic and will protect a person’s privacy when using online apps. This bill will create privacy rights for consumer health data that are not provided under HIPPA or other laws.
Menstrual apps, smart watches, online stores, search engines, and other services using technology collect personal information that is used to make determinations about people’s health conditions that is then sold for marketing or other purposes. The bill prohibits businesses from collecting, sharing, or selling consumer health data without the person’s consent and ensures the consent is well informed and not buried in standard terms and conditions.
SB3 will also prohibit geofencing mental health facility, a reproductive health care facility, or a sexual health facility such as an abortion clinic. Geofencing is the practice of constructing consumer health data based upon the location of a person’s phone.
In the United States, if you tell a psychologist that you are depressed or suffer from a mental illness, your health privacy is protected under existing law. But if you download an app to manage your depression, your personal and health information can be bought, shared, and used for marketing or any other purpose. It is not only mental health apps that share our personal information, but also menstrual apps that assist with pregnancy, smart watches that count steps, and even purchases made online. Personal data is sold unrestricted, to anyone, in unregulated markets. Using geofencing, our information can be connected to locations we visit at specific times. Ad agencies have targeted people who have not only visited abortion clinics but have also run anti-choice advertisements on the phones of people in the waiting rooms.
Child Data Privacy and Well Being
If a service is offered to minors online, a data protection assessment must be given. The assessment addresses the purpose of the service being offered, categories of the personal data that is being collected, and purposes for which the controller processes the data collected.
According to a February report by the CDC, 57% of high school girls in 2021 reported feeling “persistently sad or hopeless” over the previous year, up from 36% in 2011. Thirty percent of high school girls seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, up from 19% in 2011. Teen boys have also experienced an increase in feeling persistently sad or hopeless, increasing from 21% in 2011 to 29% in 2021.
One explanation for the rapid deterioration of our children’s wellbeing is social media. Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have become standard for our youth. Social media can foster friends hips and expand connections, but it also has been determined to be the cause of loneliness. Tech companies push out content that is not age appropriate to tweens, and yet 38 percent of those 8 to 12 years old report using social media daily, an increase from 31 percent in 2019. Tech companies use personal data of minors to target them with advertisements, to lure them into scrolling longer, and bait them to watch just one more video.
SB3 will expand on previous data privacy legislation passed last year – “An Act Concerning Personal Data Privacy and Online Monitoring.” Under this bill, it will protect the privacy of minors and prohibit the use of their personal data from being used in ways that causes them harm. It follows the UK’s Age-Appropriate Design Code, after which Google made SafeSearch the default for minors, YouTube turned off autoplay and set bedtime reminders for minors, and TikTok disabled messaging between minors and unknown adults. While tech companies are adopting these and other protections for minors, not all are applied in the US.
Websites and apps that process personal data will need to take reasonable care to avoid certain “heightened risks” to minors, which includes unfair or deceptive treatment, financial, physical or reputational injury, or invasion of privacy. These apps must refrain from selling personal data of minors or using it for targeted advertising and may not use personal data to lure minors or extend their screen time, and geolocation data collected on a minor must only be used for providing the specific service sought out by the minor.
Senate Bill 3 now requires that parents can delete social media accounts if a child is under 16.
Dating Apps
Under this section of the bill, dating apps must offer an online safety center which will provide resources concerning safe dating the safety center will provide: Explanation of mechanism for reporting harmful or unwanted behavior; Safety advice to use when communicating online and meeting in person; A link to resources concerning domestic violence and sexual harassment; Educational information concerning romance scams.
Senator Hochadel Supports Passage of Bill That Regulates Artificial Intelligence in Connecticut
Senator Hochadel Supports Passage of Bill That Regulates Artificial Intelligence in Connecticut
Today, state Senator Jan Hochadel (D-Meriden), supported State Senate passage of a bill that will work to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Connecticut. The bill will set several requirements for state agencies’ development and use of automated systems for “critical decisions.”
Senate Bill 1103, ‘An Act Concerning Artificial Intelligence, Automated Decision-Making, And Personal Data Privacy.” Today it passed the Senate with a unanimous vote and now heads to the House of Representatives.
“I am hopeful this legislation will address and drastically reduce pre-determined online bias,” said Sen. Hochadel. “I know when people apply for a job, artificial intelligence algorithms will completely toss aside a resume submitted online just because of a few key words. This will eliminate discrimination for several folks who have encountered unfair treatment while applying for a job.”
Senate Bill 1103 will require assessments ahead of the implementation of AI in specific high-risk incidences. It will create policies and procedures to govern the state’s use of AI, and it will create a task force to work toward creating a Connecticut AT Bill of Rights.
SB 1103 will: establish an Office of Artificial Intelligence; exempt air carriers from certain provisions concerning data privacy; make sure a controller cannot process a consumer’s personal data for purposes of targeted advertising, or sell the consumer’s personal data without the consumer’s consent; establish a task force to study artificial intelligence and develop an artificial intelligence bill of rights; require the Office of Policy and Management to designate an AI officer to develop and adopt procedures for using automated systems; require the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) commissioner to designate an AI implementation officer.
In written testimony submitted by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, they stated one of the biggest problems they have seen is algorithms are trained on biased data. Police departments across the nation – including in Connecticut – use predictive policing algorithms to determine where to deploy officers to deter and investigate crime. They do so by looking at crime rates in the past. Many communities of color have been overpoliced in the past, however, due to bias such as racial profiling. The computer will therefore tell a department to send more police to an overpoliced area in order to address issues in what it identifies as a high crime area. As more police officers go to that area, the officers are more likely to arrest people there, while the same crimes in a different community go unaddressed.
Hiring algorithms have been shown to discriminate based on age. Some algorithms have given higher interest rates for loans based on race, and many government used algorithms in other states, ranging from provision of SNAP benefits to deciding when to investigate reported incidents of child abuse, have been shown to discriminate based on income.
The online world has the increased capacity to store data online that can relinquish unwanted results. AI can produce ethical challenges including lack of transparency and un-neutralized decisions. Choices made through AI can be susceptible to inaccuracies, discriminatory outcomes, and inserted bias.
Digital discrimination is the next frontier in the fight for civil rights. When most people think about discrimination, they think of intentional decisions made by humans against others based on their protected class. The danger of digital discrimination is that it is too often invisible both to the victim and the perpetrator. A few examples of how digital discrimination works will show why bills like HB 1103 are so important.