Senator Matt Lesser Releases Statement Following Democrats Plans for Covid-safe Voting in 2022 General Election
Today, State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown), Chair of the Insurance & Real Estate Committee, is releasing a statement after Democrats announced their plans for COVID-safe voting in 2022. Today, plans were announced to pass legislation within the next several weeks to continue to allow voting by absentee ballot through the 2022 general election.
“I’m thrilled Senate Democrats are leading on this issue,” said Sen. Matt Lesser. “Nobody should have to choose between their health or their family’s health and their right to vote.”
Senator Lesser also mentioned it as a major concern while participating in a public hearing on the Governor’s Emergency Powers yesterday.
Sen. Osten, Rep. Conley Ready Bills on Human Trafficking, Inmate Mental Health
Sen. Osten, Rep. Conley Ready Bills on Human Trafficking, Inmate Mental Health
HARTFORD – State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) and state Representative Christine Conley (D-Groton) will introduce two bills this session seeking to combat human sex trafficking in motels and hotels that rent rooms by the hour, and improving mental health services for inmates, where about 80% of females and a third of males are chronically mentally ill.
“We have a couple of seemingly intractable problems facing our state in the form of human sex trafficking at motels and mentally ill inmates, and we’ve got to get a handle on these two problems if we’re going to improve the lives of everyone in this state. I think the desire is there on the part of all legislators and advocates, so this is a year where we should make some solid progress,” Sen. Osten said.
“We need to do more in Connecticut to tackle the issue of human trafficking. This legislation to prohibit places of lodging from offering hourly rates would make it much more difficult for traffickers to conduct business. This is a necessary step toward combatting such a widespread issue,” Rep. Conley said. “On mental health, in our state and across the country we are seeing alarming rates of mental illness among inmates. We need to establish a taskforce to study this issue and to draft legislation to help offer more support to this vulnerable population.”
Neither bill has a bill number yet – those will not be assigned by the Legislative Commissioner’s Office for another week or so – but Sen. Osten and Rep. Conley make the purpose of their bills clear in the bill submission form.
Sen. Osten and Rep. Conley have asked that state law be amended to prevent motels and hotels from offering hourly rates, and that any person seeking to rent a room has to provide identification.
“I’ve spoken with the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, and even they’re in agreement with this bill, because truckers don’t rent hotel rooms by the hour. They also have a national group called ‘Truckers Against Trafficking’ who’ve been looking at ways to address this problem, and they feel this bill is one tool in the toolbox to end human sex trafficking,” Sen. Osten said. “Even the Connecticut Lodging Association supports the concept of this bill. I’ve asked them both to come and testify when we have a public hearing on this bill.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has noted that human traffickers often take advantage of the privacy and anonymity accessible through the hotel and motel industry, and that those locations – which often charge as little as $20 an hour to rent a motel room – can be especially attractive locations for all forms of trafficking.
Motel and hotel staff are also not necessarily educated on how to recognize and report signs of trafficking, DHS said. For example, to combat human trafficking, DHS suggests that hotel staff look for guests who show signs of malnourishment, poor hygiene, and fatigue; who lack freedom of movement or are constantly being monitored; who have no control over or possession of money or identification; and who may be dressed inappropriately for their age.
The other bill filed by Sen. Osten and Rep. Conley seeks to create a state task force that will identify the mental health status of Connecticut’s inmate population; assess how much time someone with a mental health condition serves of their sentence compared to other inmates; weigh DEHMS oversight of identified inmates from incarceration until discharge; identify any childhood physical or sexual trauma they may have; consider conducting an EEG (electroencephalogram) on inmates to identify any possible brain seizure activity; and identify recidivism rates among inmates with mental health needs and what, if any, services they had received since discharge.
“In July 2020, The Connecticut Sentencing Commission reported that 81% of female inmates and 28% of male inmates are chronically mentally ill. And I think even those numbers are low,” Sen. Osten said. “Since the closure of state psychiatric institutions, our state prisons are increasingly being used as de facto psychiatric institutions. We need a task force to study the consequences of that and offer some legislative solutions.”
The report can be found here: http://ctsentencingcommission.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mental-Health-Memo.pdf
The 2022 legislative session begins Wednesday, February 9 and concludes May 4.
Senator Needleman Announces Fighting Invasive Species in Connecticut Waters a Key Priority for 2022 Legislative Session
Senator Needleman Announces Fighting Invasive Species in Connecticut Waters a Key Priority for 2022 Legislative Session
Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) announced that one of his foremost priorities in the 2022 legislative session involves battling invasive species in Connecticut waterways, most prominently Hydrilla, an aquatic plant that has caused headaches in state bodies of water since at least 2016. A majority of lakes, rivers and ponds in the state have some form of invasive species, which can not only bring harm to the natural ecosystems of those bodies of water but depress rates of recreation on those bodies of water, negatively impacting local economies.
“When more than half of lakes in Connecticut contain at least one invasive species, according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the time to act is now,” said Sen. Needleman. “Invasive species in our bodies of water have a directly negative impact on our state’s ecosystem, often swallowing up the majority of resources and harming other forms of life in the process. The CAES reported that in 2020, more than 200 acres of the Connecticut River’s lower third was overgrown with hydrilla.”
“But this doesn’t just impact bodies of water – it impacts our daily lives. The rivers and ponds many of us live near become dirty, water turning green and slimy and fresh water smelling awful. Boating, swimming and outdoor recreation become health risks. Businesses relying on tourism traffic, or businesses needing access to bodies of water, suffer and struggle. Invasive species harm quality of life here in Connecticut as a whole, and that’s why it’s never been more important for us to put additional steps in place to fight back against them.”
Sen. Needleman plans to work with his colleagues to provide resources to municipalities battling Hydrilla, which pose an additional risk, according to UConn – fragments of the plant on boat trailers or waterfowl can lead to its spreading in additional locations. Sen. Needleman plans to introduce or co-sponsor legislation that will provide additional funds to towns and cities, giving them more ability to fight the invasive species.
This effort will build upon 2019 legislation that required all state residents with boats to purchase a $5 invasive species stamp, with out-of-state boaters paying $25, with those funds aiding restoration and rehabilitation of lakes, rivers and ponds, eradication of aquatic invasive species, public education and grants to conduct further research.
Commerce Committee Co-Chairs Hartley, Currey Issue Statement Praising Appointment of Paul Lavoie as Connecticut’s Next Chief Manufacturing Officer
Commerce Committee Co-Chairs Hartley, Currey Issue Statement Praising Appointment of Paul Lavoie as Connecticut’s Next Chief Manufacturing Officer
State Senator Joan Hartley (D – Waterbury) and State Representative Jeff Currey (D – East Hartford, Manchester, South Windsor), the Senate and House Chairs of both the Connecticut General Assembly’s Commerce Committee and Manufacturing Caucus, issued the following statement commending the appointment of Paul Lavoie as the state’s next Chief Manufacturing Officer:
“As Connecticut continues to revitalize and grow its manufacturing sector, having an experienced leader like Paul at the helm will be an incredible asset. Having played a pivotal role in initiatives to expand operations at several local manufacturers in our state, Paul has the confidence and expertise to advance the work that Colin Cooper started. We are excited to work in collaboration with Paul to move this vital industry forward and strengthen our state’s economy for years to come. We are grateful to Colin’s service over the past few years as our state’s first chief manufacturing officer and wish him well in his retirement.”
Read the governor’s full announcement at https://bit.ly/3J6Z6vL.
Norwich to Receive Grant for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Project
Norwich to Receive Grant for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Project
EAST HARTFORD – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti announced today that the Town of Norwich will be awarded a grant for a local project relating to pedestrian and bicycle safety. Norwich will receive $599,887 for the installation of 0.6 miles of sidewalks along West Town Street on State Route 642.
“I’d like to thank Governor Lamont and Commissioner Giulietti for their continued commitment to pedestrian safety throughout the state, especially for our community. Installing a sidewalk will not only protect our residents, but visitors as well. I am thrilled that we now have the funds to complete this essential project,” said State Representative Kevin Ryan (D- Bozrah, Montville, Norwich).
“West Town Street is a bustling and vibrant business area, but it’s not very pedestrian friendly. People shouldn’t be forced to drive from store to store or walk in the breakdown lane of a very busy state road, if they’re out running errands,” said state Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague). “These new sidewalks, paid for by the State of Connecticut, will increase citizen safety and increase business activity at the same time.”
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In total, the CT DOT awarded $8.2 million in grants to 17 towns and cities across Connecticut. The towns and cities that have been selected to receive grants will be expected to complete the project within three years.
Duff, Miller, and Haskell Call on Darien Board of Education to Reconsider Open Choice Program
Duff, Miller, and Haskell Call on Darien Board of Education to Reconsider Open Choice Program
Today, State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford), and Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), called on the Darien Board of Education to reconsider the Open Choice Program. This week the Darien Board of Education voted to not participate in the Open Choice Program and not receive students from Norwalk this fall. Senators Duff, Miller, and Haskell have released the following statement in response to this action:
“Last legislative session we were proud to expand the successful Open Choice program to include Norwalk, opening the door for students to attend public schools in surrounding towns, including Darien. Open Choice is a win-win, allowing both urban and suburban students to gain exposure to new communities and experiences. Strengthening the understandings of diversity and inclusion among our young people cannot be done with just a mission statement. Diversity and inclusion are lived, not just promised. We call on the Darien Board of Education to reconsider their rejection of the Open Choice Program and do what is best for both Darien and Norwalk students.”
The Board of Education voted 5-4 last night against the Open Choice Program, with all ‘No’ votes coming from Republican board members. The four ‘Yes’ votes came from three Democratic board members and one Republican board member.
The Open Choice program allows urban students to attend public schools in nearby suburban towns. Enrollments are offered by school districts on a space-available basis in grades K-12. If the program was to move forward, it would have allowed 16 kindergartners from Norwalk to attend Darien’s four elementary schools this fall.
According to the U.S. Census report, 91% of the population in Darien is white, 0.9% is Black or African American, 5.6% of the population is Asian, 0.1% is Native Hawaiian, 4.1% is Hispanic or Latino, and 2.1% is two or more races. The Open Choice program helps to diversify the classrooms which leads to better education outcomes for students. Young children benefit from different perspectives and a variety of backgrounds in the classroom. Without a program such as Open Choice, young children lose out on opportunities that make for a successful future.
Duff, Miller, and Haskell Call on Darien Board of Education to Reconsider Open Choice Program
Duff, Miller, and Haskell Call on Darien Board of Education to Reconsider Open Choice Program
Today, State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford), and Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), called on the Darien Board of Education to reconsider the Open Choice Program. This week the Darien Board of Education voted to not participate in the Open Choice Program and not receive students from Norwalk this fall. Senators Duff, Miller, and Haskell have released the following statement in response to this action:
“Last legislative session we were proud to expand the successful Open Choice program to include Norwalk, opening the door for students to attend public schools in surrounding towns, including Darien. Open Choice is a win-win, allowing both urban and suburban students to gain exposure to new communities and experiences. Strengthening the understandings of diversity and inclusion among our young people cannot be done with just a mission statement. Diversity and inclusion are lived, not just promised. We call on the Darien Board of Education to reconsider their rejection of the Open Choice Program and do what is best for both Darien and Norwalk students.”
The Board of Education voted 5-4 last night against the Open Choice Program, with all ‘No’ votes coming from Republican board members. The four ‘Yes’ votes came from three Democratic board members and one Republican board member.
The Open Choice program allows urban students to attend public schools in nearby suburban towns. Enrollments are offered by school districts on a space-available basis in grades K-12. If the program was to move forward, it would have allowed 16 kindergartners from Norwalk to attend Darien’s four elementary schools this fall.
According to the U.S. Census report, 91% of the population in Darien is white, 0.9% is Black or African American, 5.6% of the population is Asian, 0.1% is Native Hawaiian, 4.1% is Hispanic or Latino, and 2.1% is two or more races. The Open Choice program helps to diversify the classrooms which leads to better education outcomes for students. Young children benefit from different perspectives and a variety of backgrounds in the classroom. Without a program such as Open Choice, young children lose out on opportunities that make for a successful future.
Senator Needleman Encouraged as Essex, Westbrook Receive Grants for Transportation, Accessibility Upgrades
Senator Needleman Encouraged as Essex, Westbrook Receive Grants for Transportation, Accessibility Upgrades
Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) was encouraged to hear Essex and Westbrook will receive just under $800,000 in collective grants supporting upgrades to transportation and accessibility infrastructure in those two towns. The grants were released under the Department of Transportation’s Community Connectivity Grant Program, which provides funding for local initiatives improving safety and accessibility for bicyclists and pedestrians in and around community centers. The grants are intended to support health and environmentally sustainable local travel, also supporting underserved communities by providing equitable levels of access to safe, affordable transportation.
“I’m grateful to Governor Lamont and Transportation Commissioner Guilietti for their support of local, healthy transportation,” said Sen. Needleman. “These grants will play a significant role in supporting pedestrians and bicyclists in Essex and Westbrook, especially valuable in giving them safer means of transportation in enhancing sidewalk conditions. I am encouraged to see how our communities benefit from this commitment to health, exercise and access.”
In the most recent round of grant funding, Essex received $595,611 to support sidewalk construction and improvements along River Road. Westbrook received a grant of $197,578 to support YMCA pedestrian accessibility sidewalk connections on Essex Road and Spencer Plains Road.
Duff, Miller, and Haskell Call on Darien Board of Education to Reconsider Open Choice Program
Duff, Miller, and Haskell Call on Darien Board of Education to Reconsider Open Choice Program
Today, State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford), and Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), called on the Darien Board of Education to reconsider the Open Choice Program. This week the Darien Board of Education voted to not participate in the Open Choice Program and not receive students from Norwalk this fall. Senators Duff, Miller, and Haskell have released the following statement in response to this action:
“Last legislative session we were proud to expand the successful Open Choice program to include Norwalk, opening the door for students to attend public schools in surrounding towns, including Darien. Open Choice is a win-win, allowing both urban and suburban students to gain exposure to new communities and experiences. Strengthening the understandings of diversity and inclusion among our young people cannot be done with just a mission statement. Diversity and inclusion are lived, not just promised. We call on the Darien Board of Education to reconsider their rejection of the Open Choice Program and do what is best for both Darien and Norwalk students.”
The Board of Education voted 5-4 last night against the Open Choice Program, with all ‘No’ votes coming from Republican board members. The four ‘Yes’ votes came from three Democratic board members and one Republican board member.
The Open Choice program allows urban students to attend public schools in nearby suburban towns. Enrollments are offered by school districts on a space-available basis in grades K-12. If the program was to move forward, it would have allowed 16 kindergartners from Norwalk to attend Darien’s four elementary schools this fall.
According to the U.S. Census report, 91% of the population in Darien is white, 0.9% is Black or African American, 5.6% of the population is Asian, 0.1% is Native Hawaiian, 4.1% is Hispanic or Latino, and 2.1% is two or more races. The Open Choice program helps to diversify the classrooms which leads to better education outcomes for students. Young children benefit from different perspectives and a variety of backgrounds in the classroom. Without a program such as Open Choice, young children lose out on opportunities that make for a successful future.
Senator Slap Named AARP Older Worker Champion
Senator Slap Named AARP Older Worker Champion
The AARP of Connecticut has named State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) an Older Worker Champion for leading the passage of a landmark bill fighting age discrimination in Connecticut. Sen. Slap first introduced the bill in 2019 and was lead sponsor and advocate for three years, leading to its passage with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the Senate and House. The legislation prevents employers from asking for age-related information on initial job applications, specifically date of birth, employment attendance or graduation dates barring required occupational need, helping applicants get their foot in the door and increase their chances of success.
“I am honored to receive this award from AARP, and am glad that my colleagues and I were able to get this done,” said Sen. Slap. “We built a consensus, worked collaboratively, mobilized older workers, and partnered with the Senior Job Bank and AARP to pass this legislation. Beginning on October 1 of last year, when it took effect, this key bill removes a key loophole, where employers cannot ask about a candidate’s age in the interview process but can do it on an application, from the hiring process.”
“AARP thanks Senator Slap for his years of support to level the playing field for experienced workers,” said Nora Duncan, State Director of AARP Connecticut. “Job candidates should be judged on their experience and skills, not their date of birth or graduation date. Age discrimination against age 40-plus has been illegal in the U.S. for 50 years and Connecticut is now a leader in closing big loopholes in the hiring process.”
With Connecticut having the sixth-oldest population in the United States, a workforce where as many as 35% of workers are at least 50 and 61% of those surveyed by AARP either seeing or experiencing age discrimination – as well as 44% of those surveyed being asked age-related questions during the hiring process – taking steps to fight age discrimination is more important than ever.
With the bill’s passage in 2021, Connecticut became the fifth state, after California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, to ban age questions during the hiring process, with other states considering similar legislation.
The AARP has several programs for experienced workers seeking career changes, including Encore!Connecticut, which assists professionals and managers aged 50 and older in transitioning from corporate work to nonprofit careers; scholarships for older students aged 50 and up enrolling in Connecticut community college manufacturing programs; and upcoming programs for experienced workers to improve their training in digital skills.
Workers who have experienced age-related discrimination during the hiring process should contact the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities to file a complaint by visiting the Commission’s website or calling the central office at 860-541-3400