Maria Horn

This is my State Capitol update for the week of August 29.

If you prefer to watch rather than read, click the image below to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter.

• Sharon Hospital Labor & Delivery Update. Click here.
• DEEP Bear Management Program Update. Click here.
• Milling and Resurfacing on Route 7 in Kent, Cornwall, and Sharon. Click here.
• DEEP Open Space and Urban Green Grants now accepting applications. Click here.
• Thank you to Canaan Child Care Center and the CT Early Childhood Alliance. Click here. 
•  CT Youth Employment Program. Click here. 
• Guidance Released for CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program. Click here. 
• Upcoming Events. Click here.

• Preserving, strengthening, and expanding women’s health services, including maternity and Labor and Delivery services at Sharon Hospital; 
• Committing financial and operational resources towards the installation of a unified electronic medical records system, including related IT and cybersecurity expertise required for improvements of Nuvance’s IT infrastructure and enhancement of data security;
• Negotiating rates for reimbursement of services independently for Connecticut and New York facilities, and to otherwise comply with the terms of Connecticut’s new statute prohibiting all-or-nothing, anti-steering, anti-tiering clauses in network agreements between payors or plan sponsors and providers. The purpose of this statute is to enable employers, insurers and other payors to keep costs from skyrocketing as healthcare systems consolidate.

Under Connecticut law, the Office of the Attorney General receives notice when a Connecticut hospital, hospital system or other health care provider is a party to a merger or acquisition. The Office of the Attorney General is committed to investigating and enforcing against anticompetitive conduct or other barriers that would limit affordable access to quality healthcare.
 
This proposed transaction is also pending resolution before the Office of Health Strategy’s Certificate of Need regulatory process.
 

1. Attempt non-lethal methods to protect crops, apiaries, and livestock. 
2. Consult with a CT DEEP wildlife division biologist. 
3. If still experiencing damage, consider applying for a Bear Agricultural Damage Permit (Steps 1 and 2 must occur before applying for a permit). The application must be filled out completely to be processed. 

 
Electric fencing is the most effective non-lethal method to protect most types of agriculture from bears, including beehives, apiaries, gardens, chicken coops, small livestock pens, feed storage, fruit trees/small orchards, and small crop fields. The state believes electric fencing and other non-lethal methods will eliminate the need for permits for many types of damage to crops apiaries and livestock. DEEP's website provides links to resources on how to install electric fencing. However, electric fencing may not be feasible in all agricultural settings, such as large crop fields and orchards, due to cost and operational constraints.  
 
Each agricultural setting is unique, which is why DEEP's wildlife biologists will be inspecting each applicant’s property to verify the extent of the damage and ensure that non-lethal methods have been attempted properly, and if they have been attempted, they are not likely to work in the future. Where appropriate, the wildlife biologist will then issue permits for the take of black bear. All animals taken under the program must be turned over to DEEP. 

A new round of grant funding for the Open Space and Urban Green Grants was announced this week. DEEP encourages municipalities, land trusts, and water companies to apply for funding to aid in the purchase and protection of open space through the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program (OSWA). In addition, DEEP welcomes municipalities and land trusts for apply for funding through the Urban Green and Community Garden Program (UGCG). Both programs are accepting applications now through December 2, 2024.

For more information, please visit either website Open Space Grant or Urban Green Grant.

The Connecticut Youth Employment Program runs year-round. Youths who want to enroll can contact their region's Workforce Development Board by clicking HERE. More information can be found on the Connecticut Youth Employment Program webpage HERE.

The Goshen Recreation Summer Concert Series is underway. Bring your family, friends, snacks, chairs, blankets, and come have a good time!!!

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Maria Horn
State Representative