Dear Neighbors,
This year’s legislative session has concluded. We passed new legislation that will shape our state for years to come. The headline from the session is the passage of a bipartisan budget, the second in two years.
We worked on policies that support small businesses, workforce development and make our state a place that we can proudly raise our families. I am committed to fighting for you to build a bright future for Connecticut and Waterbury.
I hope you find the enclosed information helpful. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if I can be of service to you or your family. It is such an honor to serve our community.
Sincerely,
Bipartisan Budget
I’m proud to have voted for another bipartisan budget agreement that restores funding to the Medicare Savings Program, maintains the “Rainy Day” fund reserves at the highest level in over a decade and restores partial funding to the Energy Efficiency Fund. In addition, the agreement does not increase income, sales or other state taxes. Other highlights include:
- Increases state aid for Waterbury schools by over $2.8 million more than we received last year
- Restores funding for the state’s health insurance program for working parents, known as HUSKY A
- Prevents service cuts and rate increases for trains and bus operations
- Restores and protects funding for Summer Youth Employment programs
- Provides funding for the towns and non-profits that are working with displaced students from Hurricane Maria
Minority Teacher Recruitment
This year we put into law many of the policies that the Minority Teacher Recruitment Task Force and State Department of Education (SDE) have worked hard to implement over that past few years. These policies are aimed at developing a thriving and diverse teacher workforce in our state. The State Department of Education will work to develop new alternative routes to certification for paraprofessionals, charter school teachers and veterans. Additionally, SDE will work with vendors to allow certain teachers to retake their licensure test for free if they do not successfully pass the first time.
Youth Violence Prevention Funding
This year we passed bipartisan legislation that will make Waterbury eligible for part of a $1.9 million Youth Violence Initiative grant to reduce gang violence, and provide funding to local community agencies and programs. This is will help in Waterbury’s fight against crime and violence.
Pay Equity
Women still earn less than men. This inequity is perpetuated by the practice of asking for salary history during the hiring process, ensuring that women who were underpaid at their first job continue to be underpaid. This session we strengthened our pay equity laws by preventing employers from asking about wage history.
Sewage Spill Right to Know Act
I’m proud to have led the charge on legislation that would increase the reporting requirements by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) following a sewage spill. This law was born out of the delays in reporting the massive sewage spill last October. Under the new law it will be required that information on spills be posted on DEEP’s website within 24 hours after an unanticipated spill begins and a press release be sent out with information on the spill. This will help with the flow of information following a spill.
Reducing Prescription Drug Costs
Recognizing that prescription drug prices are the number one driver of rising healthcare costs, we passed legislation to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable by increasing transparency. This landmark legislation creates a mechanism by which drug rebate savings are reflected in your premiums. Additionally, health carriers must submit information about which drugs are most frequently prescribed and which are most expensive. This is part of our overall effort to lower drug costs.