“Expanding the board and making the healthcare advocate a voting member will help guarantee better representation for all stakeholders and especially the people who are in need of affordable, quality health care,” said Megna, House chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, which introduced legislation (HB 5013).

The exchange is a marketplace that will offer affordable, high quality health insurance options, providing relief to families and small businesses who are struggling to afford insurance.

The exchange was created by legislation enacted last year as a quasi-public agency, governed by a board of directors, which is empowered to help individuals and small employers obtain health insurance. The exchange will be fully operational starting in 2014.

“The new legislation not only affords broader representation but also ensures that the exchange board is in compliance with federal regulations. The bill also clarifies the law’s conflict of interest provisions,” Megna said.

The legislation requires the president pro tempore of the Senate to appoint a small-organization employer for a 2-year term and requires the speaker of the House to appoint a consumer for a 2-year term. In addition, the majority leaders in the House and Senate will jointly appoint a new member representing consumers and the minority leaders in the House and Senate jointly will name a new member representing small business. This would increase the board from 11 voting members to 16 voting members.

“Working on House Speaker Chris Donovan’s small business health care task force made me realize that approximately 600,000 people in the state work for small business and health care is a major issue for them,” Megna said.

The bill also clarifies that employees may not serve as consultants to trade associations of insurers, insurance brokers, health care providers, or health care facilities. Current statute already prohibits exchange board members from being employed by or members of these groups.

If a hurricane is downgraded to a tropical storm before it hits Connecticut, property-casualty insurers could not apply higher, so-called "hurricane deductibles" under a new bill that unanimously passed the state House Wednesday.

The legislation also protects homeowners and business owners from price gouging by vendors who charge for snow removal from roofs and boarded-up damaged homes and businesses.

"Many homes and businesses were subjected to these large financial deductibles during Hurricane Irene even though it was a tropical storm when it struck Connecticut last year," state Rep. Robert Megna, D-New Haven, House chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee.

The Insurance Department has a guideline for insurers on the books now, but it is not a state law. This would effectively make a law out of what is already a non-binding rule.

The difference is hundreds or thousands of dollars because a standard deductible is often $500 or $1,000, compared with a hurricane deductible of 1 percent to 5 percent of the home's value.

"We are now one step closer to protecting homeowners from insurance industry abuse," said state Rep. James M. Albis, D-East Haven, chair of the Shoreline Preservation Task Force.

The research institute funded by proprety-casualty insurer takes issue with the idea that hurricane deductibles are "insurance industry abuse."

"The deductibles that applied in the wake of (Tropical Storm) Irene were the deductibles that were approved by the Insurance Department," said Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute. "And the deductibles that applied were triggered by the language that was in the policies, again, that was approved by the Insurance Department. So, there were no abusive behaviors or provisions in place by insurers. I think the effort here is to achieve consistency. So, any comments that this curbs some kind of abusive practice by insurers are completely out of line and false."

The head of Connecticut's Insurance Department, Commissioner Thomas B. Leonardi, announced in December 2011 that his agency changed guidelines regarding when insurance companies can apply hurricane deductibles. The department responded to a backlash following Tropical Storm Irene, which ravaged homes and businesses on Aug. 28.

During hurricanes, many East Coast and Gulf Coast states allow insurers to apply a higher deductible, an amount of cash that homeowners spend out of pocket before an insurer pays for the remaining cost of storm-related damage. The higher deductibles were allowed because the coastal insurance market had fewer insurers offering coverage and premiums were higher without the hurricane deductibles.

Connecticut regulators had allowed insurers to apply higher deductibles for hurricane-related damage, even if the storm was downgraded to a lesser storm up to 24 hours earlier — as was the case with Irene. That was changed in December, and insurers had until March 1 to rewrite their policies and submit them to the department for review.

“Many homes and businesses were subjected to these large financial deductibles during Hurricane Irene even though it was a tropical storm when it struck Connecticut last year,” Megna said.

“We are now one step closer to protecting homeowners from insurance industry abuse,” said Albis, who testified in favor of the legislation (HB 5230) at an earlier public hearing.

The legislation also protects homeowners and business owners from price gouging by unscrupulous vendors who charge for snow removal from roofs and boarding up damaged homes and businesses.

Further the bill assures that no matter what peril strikes, a home or business owner has ample time to file a lawsuit, if necessary, and cannot receive a lower building damage settlement based merely on the location of the residential or commercial building. In addition, the legislation ensures that the settlement will be made in a timely manner.

“Consumers have a right to know when their health carrier has filed for a new rate and the Department has worked closely with carriers to develop a letter on rate notification. Together with the Department’s postings, this letter is another important outreach resource that we can use to help educate policyholders about insurance rate procedures in Connecticut,” Commissioner Leonardi said. “I appreciate the efforts and cooperation of the carriers to keep their customers well-informed every step of the rate process.”

The Commissioner said companies have agreed to mail out the notification letters at the same time they submit a rate filing to the Department. The letters will go out consumers who have individual policies and, in the case of small group, will be mailed to the employer. The letter will direct consumers to the Health Insurance Rate Filing link on the Department’s Web site. The site includes the company’s rate request, correspondence with the Department, a section for public comment and a brief easy-to-understand summary of the entire filing. The letter also directs the policyholder to the Department’s e-Alert section.

“For the sake of consumers, I am very happy with this announcement,” said Rep. Robert Megna (D-New Haven), House chair of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee.“Informing consumers ahead of time of any potential rate increase will allow them flexibility in their financial planning.”

The Insurance Department uses several ways to notify the public each time a carrier files for rate change. Subscribers to e-Alerts get an e-mail with a link to the rate filing section. The Department also posts news of the filing on the cover of its Web site, on Facebook and on Twitter.

The agreement drew praise from advocates, the industry and key state lawmakers:

“I appreciate the Commissioner's efforts to secure this agreement with insurers, in lieu of legislation,” said State Healthcare Advocate Victoria Veltri. “OHA has advocated for years for meaningful, advanced notice to consumers of proposed rate increases to allow consumers the option to shop for a new plan, prepare for a rate increase and/or provide comment to the Insurance Department on the insurer’s justification for the rate increase.

“This provision for direct notification of rate increase requests is an important part of the transparency and accountability we’ve been working toward in the state’s rate approval process – it’s gratifying to know consumers will now have more information available to them so they can participate more knowledgably in the proceedings,” Senator Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. (D-Woodbridge), Senate chair of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said.

"The process initiated by Commissioner Leonardi worked because everyone - the Department, legislators, interest groups and payers - have had the same goal in mind: putting the best possible information in the hands of consumers and encouraging them to participate in the Department's robust rate review process,” said Keith Stover, spokesman for the Connecticut Association of Health Plans. “We applaud the Commissioner's work and the Department's willingness to develop a sound, practical approach to a vital consumer issue."

Rep. Robert Megna (D-New Haven), House chair of the committee, praised the approval. “Many homes and businesses were subjected to these large financial deductibles during Hurricane Irene even though it was a tropical storm when it struck Connecticut last year,” he said.

“This bill is an important step forward in protecting consumers from insurance industry abuse following a storm of the magnitude of Irene,” said Rep. James M. Albis (D-East Haven), who testified in favor of the bill at an earlier public hearing.

The bill also protects homeowners and business owners from price gouging by unscrupulous vendors who charge for snow removal from roofs and boarding up damaged homes and businesses.

Further the bill assures that no matter what peril strikes, a home or business owner has ample time to file a lawsuit, if necessary, and cannot receive a lower building damage settlement based merely on the location of the residential or commercial building. In addition, the legislation ensures that the settlement will be made in a timely manner. In addition, the legislation ensures that the settlement will be made in a timely manner.

HARTFORD — Democratic House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, is hoping this fourth try is the charm as he and other lawmakers propose a health care initiative to help small businesses save on health care costs.

Assistance for this group has been either rejected by former Gov. M. Jodi Rell, dropped from a plan approved by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy or lost when the proposed SustiNet health care option fizzled.

This latest bill would apply to employers with fewer than 50 workers, including self-employed individuals, who could purchase insurance through the state employee plan, allowing them to take advantage of the state's buying power.

It eliminates an insurer's ability to adjust small group premiums not only for gender and occupation, but also for age, which goes beyond what the federal health reform bill requires. Donovan, in his testimony, said premiums will not rise as the work force ages and therefore it removes a disincentive to hiring older workers.

The bill also requires insurers to offer policies to associations that could pool together and be rated on claims experience, just like large employers. Current state law allows certain employers to band together, but not associations.

The proposal also requires insurers to detail whether their current plans meet the minimum cost-sharing standards that will be in place in 2014 when most of federal health reform kicks in. It must cover at least 60 percent of projected medical expenses.

Donovan said these small employers also would be able to get claims information on an annual basis so they can better manager their costs.

This year municipalities will be able to join the state plan, while it will be offered to nonprofits next year. He said the governor wanted to see those two aspects unfold before small businesses were included.

The proposed legislation came out of a study group put together by Donovan, whose members also included state Rep. Robert Megna, D-New Haven, and state Sen. Joseph. J. Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, who are the co-chairmen of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee.

Donovan testified that one of the biggest constraints on small businesses expanding is the cost of health care with just over half, 53.1 percent, in a position to offer health insurance to their workers. He said they have not been able to "aggregate their risk" and have been "subject to unpredictable health care costs from year to year."

"Here in Connecticut we call it the insurance capital of the world and that's a good thing because it means we have a lot of people employed in the insurance industry. But when I think about what we're actually trying to do here by giving everyone access to insurance we're really trying to make Connecticut the true insurance capital," Megna said in a statement.

Crisco, in a statement, said throughout his tenure on the Insurance Committee, "I have been working to increase access to health care coverage and at the same time, distribute the risk to insurers in an effort to lower the cost of that coverage."

Flanked by fellow legislators and advocates for health reform, Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan launched what's likely to be his final push for the state to adopt one of his favorite causes -- opening the state employee health care pool to the public.

The concept is a top item on the wish list of advocates for universal health care who want an alternative to private insurance, but they could face an uphill fight in getting it adopted. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration has been cool to the concept, which has drawn opposition from the insurance industry and some business groups.

This year's proposal would let employers with fewer than 50 employees, including people who are self-employed, buy insurance through the state employee health plan. It would also change some rules for the small group insurance market, prohibiting insurers from adjusting premiums based on age, gender, occupation or group size, and requiring insurers to give premium quotes to groups of small businesses that seek coverage together as an association.

The bill grew out of the recommendations of a working group on small business health care that Donovan established, which was led by Insurance and Real Estate Committee Co-Chairman Robert Megna, D-New Haven.

Opening the state employee plan to small businesses and the public was part of last year's proposal to create a state-run health plan called SustiNet, but it was left out under a compromise between the Malloy administration, Donovan, D-Meriden, and Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn. Malloy had raised concerns about the proposal's cost and potential effect on the insurance industry.

This year's proposal has drawn support from advocates for universal health care and small businesses, as well as state Comptroller Kevin Lembo, who said in written testimony that opening the state employee pool to outside groups would give them access to lower administrative fees and premiums and cost stability. His office is in the process of offering state-run insurance to municipalities, something made possible through last year's SustiNet compromise.

But critics say the proposal could put the state at risk for higher costs and is inconsistent with provisions of federal health reform that take effect in 2014.

Eric George, a lobbyist for the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, said it would be problematic to open the state employee health care pool to the public because the population that would join could include older, less healthy people whose health care needs would raise the costs the state would have to bear.

In addition, he said, prohibiting insurers from adjusting premiums based on age, gender and other factors would likely raise the cost of insuring younger people, which could cause them to drop out of the pool, leaving it more heavily weighted with older people -- also causing costs to rise.

Donovan is running for Congress and is in his last session leading the House. Asked whether his departure adds to the urgency of passing a pooling bill this year, Donovan said he expects other lawmakers, including Megna, Public Health Committee Co-Chair Betsy Ritter, D-Waterford, and Insurance and Real Estate Committee Co-Chair Joseph Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, to continue pushing for it.

Connecticut businesses with fewer than 50 employees would be allowed to buy into the health insurance made available to state workers if a proposed bill makes it through the legislature.

The legislation is proposed by House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, and the co-chairmen of the legislature's insurance and real estate committee — state Rep. Robert Megna, D-New Haven, and Sen. Joseph J. Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge.

"This bill gives small employers new bargaining power, increases transparency and eliminates disincentives to hiring older, more skilled workers," Donovan said. "By allowing small employers to purchase insurance through a large pool, we can lower costs and make rates more predictable."

The legislation would allow small businesses to buy a quality product at lower premiums, Megna said.

Various versions of the same bill have floated in the legislature for years. Small businesses have long struggled to find affordable health insurance for employees.

Allowing small employers to buy insurance through a large pool such as the state employee health insurance system would lower premiums and make rates more predictable, the legislators said. State worker health insurance is a relatively comprehensive plan in terms of benefits.

"Here in Connecticut we call it the insurance capital of the world and that's a good thing because it means we have a lot of people employed in the insurance industry," he said. "But when I think about what we're actually trying to do here by giving everyone access to insurance, we're really trying to make Connecticut the true insurance capital."

The legislation would also eliminate insurers' ability to adjust small-group premiums based on age, gender, occupation or group size. The law, if passed, would require insurers to rate and offer policies to associations, allowing small businesses to band together with professional associations to receive a lower premium quote based on a larger pool.

The legislation would also help individual owners of small businesses find more affordable health care for their families.

One small business owner who has had difficulty finding affordable health insurance is Carolyn Malon, a dentist and owner of Family Dental Care of Farmington. Last year, Malon bought a health plan for her family that had a high deductible, to allow her to pay a lower premium.

House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden), the co-chairmen of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, Rep. Robert Megna (D-New Haven) and Sen. Joseph J. Crisco Jr., (D-Woodbridge), and members of the working group announced the legislation (HB 5487) Tuesday during a press conference in Hartford.

The working group, chaired by Megna, has been studying and seeking to overcome the obstacles that small business owners face in seeking to purchase health insurance coverage for employees and their families.

“The cost of providing health insurance is stifling small business growth. It is not uncommon for small employers to face annual double-digit premium increases, making it nearly impossible to budget for health care costs,” Donovan said. “This bill gives small employers new bargaining power, increases transparency and eliminates disincentives to hiring older, more skilled workers. By allowing small employers to purchase insurance through a large pool, we can lower costs and make rates more predictable.”

“This legislation will make the market work for small businesses as well as it does for large groups – providing a quality product at a lower premium,” Megna said. “Here in Connecticut we call it the insurance capital of the world and that’s a good thing because it means we have a lot of people employed in the insurance industry. But when I think about what we’re actually trying to do here by giving everyone access to insurance we’re really trying to make Connecticut the true insurance capital,” Megna said.

“In a word, the working group determined small businesses and the self-employed are at a competitive disadvantage in the health care market because they lack leverage and the commensurate purchasing power that accompanies economies of scale,” Crisco said.

“Throughout my tenure on the Insurance Committee I have been working to increase access to health care coverage and at the same time, distribute the risk to insurers in an effort to lower the cost of that coverage,” Crisco said.

Joining them in the announcement were Dr. Carolyn Malon, a dentist and owner of Family Dental Care of Farmington, and Kevin Galvin, owner of Connecticut Commercial Maintenance Inc. and co-founder and chairman of Small Business for a Healthy Connecticut, a statewide network of small business owners.

“Connecticut needs to recognize the plight of small business and level the playing field by providing more health care options for small-business owners,” Galvin said.

Malon said it is difficult for small-business owners to find affordable health care options. “As both a small business owner and a health care provider, I am very familiar with the challenges employers face and also can’t over-emphasize the importance of access to quality insurance that covers routine, preventative care.”

Malon recounted her own experience last year that demonstrated the need for affordable health care. In trying to keep their health insurance premiums down, she and her husband took a gamble on a policy with higher deductibles. “The decision backfired when our son was hospitalized for treatment of a blood-borne staph infection. Due in part to our high deductible, our out of pocket cost for his treatment amounted to more than $9,000,” she said. “A bill like this is beyond many citizens’ ability to pay.”

The legislation:

• Permits small employers with fewer than 50 employees, including self-employed individuals, to purchase employee health insurance through the state employee plan. This would allow them to take advantage of the state’s bargaining power to secure good health care at affordable prices.
• Eliminates insurers’ ability to adjust small group premiums based on age, gender, occupation or group size.
• Requires insurers to rate and offer policies to associations. This would enable small businesses to band together with their professional associations and receive a premium quote based on the health experience of the entire group.
• Requires insurers to report on whether employers’ current insurance plans meet the minimum standards that will be in place in 2014.

Speaker Donovan asked the business owners and legislators of his Working Group on Small Business Health Care last fall to examine obstacles and opportunities for small business seeking to purchase health insurance coverage for their employees and families. The group was led by Representative Megna, the House chair of the legislature’s Insurance Committee.

“I heard from small businesses across Connecticut that health-care costs are too high,” Donovan said. “I launched this working group to recommend changes to existing law and new legislation to give small-business owners health-care coverage options.”

Donovan said that as health-care costs have grown, small businesses have had to drop and cut coverage or sacrifice job growth. “Some can’t attract and retain talented employees because quality health insurance is unaffordable. It is important that we listen to the proposals offered today and take steps to make health insurance for small businesses affordable, comparable, available, accessible and meaningful,” he said.

“I am pleased that we were able to bring employers together to examine the barriers to affordable health coverage and provide some solutions,” Megna said. “This set of recommendations will make the market work for small businesses as well as it does for large groups – providing a quality product at a lower premium.”

The group met Monday and approved the following recommendations:

• Permit small businesses, including businesses of one, to purchase employee health care coverage through the state employee health plan
• Stimulate greater competition within the individual and small group markets on and off  the exchange by promoting non-profit health insurance options that add value, such as a publicly administered health insurance plan and the Co-Op, an option available under health reform
• Improve transparency in health care costs by promoting initiatives that help employers and consumers compare coverage and costs and promote strategies that better manage health
• Implement “pure” community rating in the small group market so that a small business’ premiums can no longer be adjusted based on the age, gender or similar demographics of the group
• Require insurance carriers to rate and offer a policy to association groups
• Require carriers to report the actuarial value of plans to the purchaser of the plan
• Strongly consider merging the individual and small group markets inside and outside the exchange
• Consider offering a Basic Health Program for low income individuals in order to lower costs for small businesses in the exchange

“These recommendations will help small employers leverage buying power, stimulate competition and value, and remove a major hurdle to job growth at a time when we are looking to small businesses to lead our economic recovery,” Megna said.

“I want to thank the small business owners who contributed to this work. I also want to thank Chairman Bob Megna for leading the group to this important set of recommendations,” Donovan said.

“These were two incredible storms that caused an untold amount of damage,” said House Insurance Committee Chair Robert Megna (D-New Haven). “Hundreds of complaints have been filed over the way insurance companies have handled claims. As a result, we have many questions about how the companies responded to car, home and business property owners.”

Megna said he was also troubled by the “massive deductibles” some policyholders had to pay and the misleading way some policies were written, leading consumers to believe they had adequate coverage.

“Homeowners were misled by policies containing “windstorm” deductibles. They wrongly thought the deductibles only applied to hurricanes. Now they are subject to massive deductibles, possibly making their claims non-compensable, meaning they will receive nothing for their claims,” Megna said.

“At today's hearing we were determined to hear from insurers how they met clients’ needs after these recent storms and gauge the overall impact of resulting claims on the state's insurance industry,” Senate Committee Chair Joseph J. Crisco Jr. (D-Woodbridge) said. “Part of this committee’s responsibility, beyond assurance of adequate insurance coverage at reasonable prices, is ensuring proper follow-through on claims, if and as they become necessary,” he said.

“These storms were unprecedented and have clarified some weaknesses and inconsistencies in our insurance system, which have had a devastating impact on far too many home- and business owners in our state,” said House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden). “We have informally heard from many consumers who have expressed concern about the timeliness and fairness with which their claims are being resolved. For example, we heard from a restaurant owner who filed a claim for tens of thousands of dollars of spoiled food – his insurer refused to pay the claim and instead instructed him to sue CL&P.”

“We have heard from consumers who have paid their premiums on time and in-full year after year and taken precautions to keep their property safe – only to face delays and lack of communication when they were forced file a claim and use their insurance this fall,” Donovan said. “We have also heard of inconsistencies in the way large homeowners deductibles are applied and disclosed to consumers. That is why it is important to engage in a dialogue on these issues, seek answers to help resolve complaints and outstanding claims, improve communication with consumers and work together to put protections in place for the next storm.”

“We as a legislature need to make sure that our small businesses in Connecticut have the opportunity to be adequately protected through their insurance coverage,” said Senate President Donald E. Williams Jr. (D-Brooklyn). “For many of these small businesses, having adequate coverage – and knowing all of their insurance options – could mean the difference between the inconvenience of closing their doors for a week, or the tragedy of closing their doors forever.”

Megna said the upcoming legislative session should deal with the issues that have been raised. “We need to protect homeowners and business owners from misleading language about hurricane deductibles by defining in statute that nothing other than a hurricane will trigger a windstorm deductible from now on and the homeowner or business owner will be informed of the amount of any such elected deductible,” Megna said.

According to House Insurance Committee Chair Robert Megna (D-New Haven), invited speakers will make presentations from 1-2:30 p.m. and public testimony will begin at 2:30 p.m. Those submitting testimony are asked to submit 35 copies of written testimony to the committee staff two hours prior to the start of the hearing in Room 2800 of the LOB. Sign-up for the hearing will begin at 11 a.m. in Room 2800 of the LOB. Public testimony will be limited to three minutes per person.

Senate Insurance Committee Chair Joseph Crisco said the committee will examine the process by which the insurance industry responded to car, home and business owners on property claims in the wake of both storms. In addition, he said, the committee will review complaints received by the Insurance Department from policyholders with respect to the industry's timeliness and fairness in servicing claims.

Senate Bill 11 called for a number of requirements for individual and small group health insurance companies. Changes included: increasing the amount of time required before a new rate can take effect, requiring a symposium on a rate filing if certain criteria are met, and mandating the Insurance Department post rate filings on its website and provide a 30-day public comment period.

Under an agreement reached between the executive and legislative branches, the Office of Health Advocate (OHA) can request that the Commissioner hold a hearing for rate increases of at least 15 percent or more on individual and small group HMO plans. The collaboration allows for up to four hearings a year while the Commissioner can exercise his current broad statutory authority to hold hearings on other health products, including long term health care policies, if necessary. Additional changes could be discussed next year.

“The General Assembly overwhelming approved Senate Bill 11 because its members believe in the importance of changing the way rate hikes are approved,” said Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn). “The Governor shares our concerns and is working with us to immediately improve the process.”

House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) said, “We passed this bill after hearing from thousands of residents facing unconscionable increases in their insurance premiums—small businesses, self-employed individuals and those looking for work—folks who have no leverage to negotiate with the big insurance companies. That is why I am pleased that Governor Malloy and Commissioner Leonardi have agreed to a compromise that will allow public hearings and the participation of the Healthcare Advocate in the rate approval process.”

“Disagreement over the specifics of certain legislation is inevitable, but fortunately we all agree that there must be greater transparency in the rate approval process,” said Senator Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven / Hamden). “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to work with the Malloy Administration and begin work on a compromise that will benefit consumers and enhance close scrutiny of proposed health insurance increases.”

“This compromise will ensure that consumers have a voice in proposed insurance rate increases without compromising the health and competitiveness of the state’s insurance industry,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “Particularly as the state works to implement federal healthcare reform, it’s important that we strike that delicate balance.”

State Senator Joseph J. Crisco (D-Woodbridge), Senate chair of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said “To me it just seems like common sense that approval for any rate increase should be granted in conjunction with a requirement that insurance companies or the Insurance Department maintain and make available better records and subject the applicant to some measure of public scrutiny,” Senator Crisco said. “The agreement we've negotiated represents a first step toward greater transparency and better access to application materials in Connecticut's insurance rate approval process."

State Rep. Robert W. Megna (D-New Haven), House chair of the Insurance Committee, said, “We have heard from many concerned consumers and advocates about this veto. People get sticker shock when they see their annual premium increases. It is crucial that people get notice of excessive increases and an opportunity to have a say in the state’s consideration of these rates. I am glad to see the Insurance Department will be connected to the public in making these decisions.”

The legislation (HB 6234) now goes to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for his approval.

Megna said that each year hundreds of condominium owners file complaints with both the state Attorney General and the Department of Consumer Protection regarding the management of condominium associations.

 “This legislation will help remove any unhealthy influence on the democratic process of the condominium association by management companies,” said Megna, House chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee.

The bill promotes a healthy democratic process in the management of condominium associations and prevents associations from being held responsible for the improper actions or bad decisions of property managers.

“Community association management companies, because of their financial relationship with the condominium association, should clearly stay away from the democratic process of the board of directors of the condominium association,” Megna said. “This legislation helps ensure that.”

The bill now heads to Governor Malloy who has promised to sign the bill into law.

The bill provides paid sick leave to service workers and excludes manufacturers and certain non-profit organizations. The bill does not require covered employers to provide paid sick leave to day or temporary workers or non-hourly employees such as salaried employees.

“This is an historic achievement because Connecticut is the first state in the nation to pass such legislation,” Rep. Zalaski said. “We have sent a message that Connecticut values its workers and people should not be forced to work when they are sick.”

Rep. Zalaski, who is House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee and a chief proponent of the bill, led the floor debate over the bill for more than 11 hours fighting off several amendments proposed by opponents.

Under the bill, service employees would earn one hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked. The number of permitted sick days is capped at five per year.

The earliest service workers can begin accruing sick leave is January 1, 2012. The workers must have worked for the employer for at least 680 hours and worked an average of at least 10 hours a week for the employer in the most recently completed calendar quarter.

“It’s an historic moment,” House Speaker Christopher Donovan (D-Meriden) said. “This is the right thing to do. People who work get sick and they deserve to be protected.”

“Paid sick days are good for both workers and businesses because we have created a better, healthier and safer environment for people who work and live in Connecticut,” Rep. Zalaski said. “Now, I look forward to Governor Malloy’s signature on the bill.”

“This legislation protects home and business owners at a time when they may not be making the best decisions because of the pressures from a catastrophic loss,” said state Rep. Robert W. Megna (D-New Haven), the House chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee.

Rep. Megna authored the legislation, An Act Concerning Payment For Repair Or Remediation Following A Covered Loss Under A Personal Or Commercial Risk Policy (HB 6233).

Rep. Megna said the bill protects property owners by voiding any contract that does not provide notice to the homeowner or business owner of the work to be undertaken and the estimated total cost.

“The bill will help stabilize insurance premiums paid by the owners, while preventing the compensation that they are due from being diverted to the remediation vendors,” he said.

The legislation now awaits action by the Senate.

Megna, who championed the bill, which was introduced and approved recently by his committee, said it could become landmark legislation for the country.

“The current practice of using depressed real estate markets as the basis for lowering settlement offers is unfair and undermines the general method of settling building damage claims based upon the cost to repair or reconstruct,” he said. 

“This bill will protect a company or individual homeowner who has a fire or some other loss to property or business,” Megna said. “It will help businesses and homeowners obtain the money they truly need for repairs or rebuilding.”

“This bill seeks to remove any unhealthy influence on the democratic process of the condominium association by management companies,” said state Rep. Robert W. Megna (D-New Haven), who introduced the legislation and is the House chair of the committee.

“Each year hundreds of condominium owners file complaints with both the state Attorney General and the Department of Consumer Protection regarding the management of condominium associations,” he said Friday.

The bill promotes a healthy democratic process in the management of condominium associations and prevents associations from being held responsible for the improper actions or bad decisions of property managers.

“Community association management companies, because of their financial relationship with the condominium association, should clearly stay away from the democratic process of the board of directors of the condominium association,” Megna said.

“No condominium association of homeowners should have to bear the responsibility of the improper management of any condominium association,” he added.

Led by Public Health Committee House Chair, State Rep. Betsy Ritter (D-Waterford/Montville), Insurance House Chair, Rep. Robert Megna (D-New Haven) and Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-New Britain), Human Services House Chair, testimony was heard, including from Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) on sweeping health insurance reform measures on the legislative agenda this session.

“With major changes on the horizon in the way we think about and provide healthcare, innovative legislation that provides for preventative care, lowering costs and increasing efficiencies should be top priorities this session,” Public Health Chair Ritter said. “I am pleased that Connecticut has taken the lead in this effort, and I am eager to play a major role in support of legislation that will help us move our state in the right direction.”

“This is an exciting time in the history of healthcare for the people of Connecticut,” said Rep. Megna, who is the House chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. “Not only are we evolving into a healthcare system that provides access and affordability for tens of thousands of Connecticut residents, but we are also giving financial relief to the taxpayer and small businesses with the passage of these bills.”

“Skyrocketing insurance rates are crippling Connecticut’s small businesses and wreaking havoc with municipal budgets throughout the state,” said State Rep. Tercyak, House Chair of the Human Services Committee. “Bulk purchasing of health insurance is the remedy—it will bring lower rates and better health care.”

“Today is an important day as we move to advance consumer based health care reforms in our state that will provide real choices and affordable opportunities for individuals, small businesses and the nonprofit sector,” Speaker Donovan stated. “If the financial challenges of the last few years have taught us anything, it is that healthcare is an economic issue for municipalities and for businesses large and small.”

The following bills were included on the agenda:

• HB 6308 (Raised) - An Act Establishing The Connecticut Healthcare Partnership.
• HB 6305 (Raised) - An Act Concerning Implementation Of The Sustinet Plan.
• HB 6323 (Raised) - An Act Making Conforming Changes To The Insurance Statutes Pursuant To The Federal Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act, And Establishing A State Health Partnership Program.
• SB 921 (Raised) - An Act Establishing A State Health Insurance Exchange.
• HB 6322 (Raised) - An Act Concerning State Prescription Drug Purchasing.