HARTFORD – State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport) today joined his colleagues in a special session of the Connecticut State Senate to approve a host of new public policy initiatives. These include expanding access to absentee ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic, capping out-of-pocket costs for lifesaving insulin, continuing telehealth coverage and improving policing in Connecticut.
The bills – which were approved by the House of Representatives last week – now head to Governor Lamont, who is expected to sign them into law.
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic cut short our traditional legislative session, I’m proud to have worked on legislation that will promote public health, and democratic participation,” said Sen. Haskell. “I’ve been talking about these issues with my constituents for months, and I’m proud to help deliver this real progress.”
Highlights of the bills approved today by Sen. Haskell include:
Expanding Absentee Ballot Access
This bill allows Connecticut citizens who are concerned about contracting COVID-19 at a polling location to vote by mail instead. Connecticut law only allowed state residents the right to vote by absentee ballot for six specific reasons:
This historic pandemic, which has infected more than 48,000 people in Connecticut and killed more than 4,400 state residents, has raised serious concerns about the public health implications of standing in line at the polls, or voting in a crowded polling location. This is especially dangerous for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, as doctors have warned that they are particularly susceptible to the virus.
The new law amends Connecticut statutes for 2020 only to allow for absentee voting due to “the sickness of COVID-19.” The bill also allows any person who is in line to vote before polls close at 8 p.m. to access Connecticut’s “same-day registration” procedure at that polling location, so long as they meet all of the state’s voter eligibility requirements.
Capping the Price of Insulin and Related Supplies
The bill caps the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $25 per month, caps noninsulin drugs like glucagon at $25 per month, and caps diabetic equipment and supplies (such as blood glucose test strips, glucometers, lancets, and syringes) at $100 per month. The bill also authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense up to a 30-day supply of ’emergency’ insulin if a person has less than a seven-day supply and would otherwise not be able to obtain any lifesaving insulin.
Telehealth
The bill continues the temporary waiver of restrictions on online medical health care services (“telehealth”) so that constituents can continue to safely access physical and mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care should be accessible and convenient in the 21st century.
Increasing Police Accountability with the Public
Prompted by demands for police accountability at marches across Connecticut, this bill creates additional accountability for police departments and brings us closer to the promise of equal justice under the law. Highlights include: