Dear Neighbor,
The pandemic has produced numerous challenges and exacerbated existing institutional inequities. Throughout the 2021 session, my colleagues and I worked to address these new challenges and the existing injustices by passing over 350 bills and resolutions.
I know the past year has been difficult for each individual and family in our community, and I believe the legislation passed in Hartford will empower everyone in our district. This session I championed the following legislation: Ban on No Knock Warrants; put community violence prevention programs on a path to sustainable funding and growth in our state - to serve more victims of gun violence and their families and instituted the Community Investment Fund (which allocates $2 billion for needed projects in communities like ours). I also worked with my colleagues to pass a bipartisan budget that will strengthen our economy and invest in our infrastructure, sustainability efforts, and education. I have fought to ensure the city of Bridgeport will see an increase in funding in both Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 through this budget. I am confident that these state investments will see our community recover and thrive as we move out of this pandemic.
Please continue reading for more information on legislative highlights and resources developed this session that will benefit your family, our district, and our state.
Best,
Andre Baker
124th District
Fighting for Equality
CONNECTICUT HAS MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM
- Passed Clean Slate legislation that erases most misdemeanor crimes after 7 years and some lesser felonies after 10 years
- Ended the practice of charging prisoners to use the phone
- Banned no-knock warrants
- Declared racism a public health crisis and created a Commission on Racial Equity tasked with eliminating health disparities
- Established a commission to study the impact on different racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups
- CT joined seven states in making it illegal to discriminate based on hair texture and protective hairstyle (“CROWN ACT”)
Healthcare
ENSURING BETTER HEALTHCARE COVERAGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY
- We ensured dental coverage for kids through their parents’ plans, up to the age of 26
- Provided new health care coverage to 40,000 low-income residents and families (regardless of immigration status)
- Put community violence prevention programs on a path to sustainable funding and growth in our state – to serve more victims of gun violence and their families.
A Democracy that Works for All of Us
- Voters will get to decide in 2022 if we should have early, in-person voting and in 2024 you’ll decide if every registered voter in CT should be able to vote by absentee ballot
- Ended prison gerrymandering – the practice of counting prisoners as if they were registered voters when determining what districts our elected officials represent
- Restored voting rights for individuals in community facilities or on parole
- Guaranteed two hours off from work to vote in state and federal elections
- Paved the way for permanent drop boxes for absentee ballots
- Protected voters’ personal information
Housing Costs and Fairness
CAPPING LATE FEES FOR MISSED RENT AND ENSURING WALKTHROUGHS FOR NEW TENANTS
Beginning this October, this new law will cap the late fees landlords can put on a late rent payment and only allow it to be applied to the most recent rent. This law will also guarantee any new renters the ability to walk through their unit before they move in, so they know the quality and condition of their unit at the time they sign their lease.
STRENGTHENED NUMEROUS PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM LOSING THEIR HOMES DURING TOUGH TIMES
We passed legislation to extend the state’s successful foreclosure mediation program, establish a lien assistance program and expand the state’s existing Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program.
Standing up for Seniors
RIGHT TO VIRTUAL VISITATION FOR RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOMES AND LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES
COVID-19 exposed the devastating effects that isolation has on our
nursing home residents, so we responded by ensuring everyone access to virtual visits and monitoring by loved ones.
PROHIBITING AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS
We strengthened laws protecting seniors in the workplace by making it a discriminatory practice to require an applicant disclose their age, date of birth, or graduation date unless it is needed as part of the job qualification or required under Federal law.
Budget 2022-23
| STATE AID FOR BRIDGEPORT | Fiscal Year 21 | Fiscal Year 22 |
|---|---|---|
| PILOT | $9,784,627 | $20,633,697 |
| Education Cost Sharing | $187,414,378 | $188,944,438 |
| Total | $216,334,531 | $228,787,289 |