Legislation Passed 5/4/21

michel
May 7, 2021
During Tuesday's session, the Connecticut House of Representatives unanimously voted in favor of H.B. 5596, An Act Concerning Telehealth.  If passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor, this bill would extend telehealth benefits for Connecticut residents for the next two years. 
Telehealth services have been immensely beneficial to both patients and providers during this pandemic and has been crucial to our most vulnerable residents. Because of the extension, individuals in the state will have access to in-depth healthcare from the comfort of their home as we transition out of the pandemic.

Quality healthcare is important, especially during a global pandemic. Telehealth services ensure that all patients have access to effective assistance from their provider, whether it be in-person or virtually. 
In addition to An Act Concerning Telehealth, the house passed several other pieces of important legislation on Tuesday, which I have highlighted below.

HB 6378: Prevailing Wage Contracts
To ensure laborers across the state are receiving fair wages, the House has passed HB 6378 to codify prevailing wage contract rates. 

HB 6389: Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
HB 6389 provides privacy and security for vulnerable individuals seeking medical care. By safeguarding the explanation of benefits, all individuals can more freely obtain care for highly sensitive conditions. https://bit.ly/3ugyLUR
 
HB 6590: Domestic Violence
Sexual orientation, gender identity, or being a survivor of domestic violence survivor should not be a hinderance to accessing insurance, but Connecticut currently does not offer protections against discrimination for these groups. HB 6590 removes a current barrier to accessing this basic need and offers necessary protections to guarantee complete equity and inclusivity. https://bit.ly/3b3uxIE

HB 6625: Continuing Education for Public Adjusters
The property and casualty sector of the insurance industry is complicated and constantly changing. HB 6625 adopts continuing education requirements for public adjusters to be kept up to date so that the Connecticut consumers can rest assured that they are protected. https://bit.ly/3b3KdeK

HB 6105: Birth Certificates for Adult Adoptees
Birth certificates can hold the key to who we are – for many adoptees, that clarity has been missing. With the passage of HB 6105, the House has taken a step towards allowing adoptees 18 and over an understanding of their families' history. https://bit.ly/3ejKCvO
HJ 50: Taiwan Sister-State
Did you know that Connecticut and Taiwan are Sister States? 22 years ago, the state of Connecticut and Taiwan formed a Sister-State Relationship to recognize our mutual support of a closer economic and trade partnership. The House recognized this special relationship and reaffirmed our continued channel of cultural, educational and economic exchange. https://bit.ly/3xNq6eL
 
HB 6579: Simplifying Election Administration
In the land of steady habits, it's often necessary to update our processes to ensure they are working to meet the needs of our current age. With the passage of HB 6579, the House has done just that by modernizing and simplifying election administration processes to meet today’s needs. https://bit.ly/3xRkJvg
 
HB 6356: Real Estate Receiverships
To reduce ambiguity in real estate receiverships, HB 6356 provides uniformity and predictability in the rules and guidelines for all courts in Connecticut when appointing a received to a property. https://bit.ly/3h3z6qk

HB 5895: Student Loan Debt Task Force
Too many carry the burden of student loan debt throughout their lives. Many young people are living paycheck to paycheck with the cost of their loan debt making milestones like buying a house, achieving an advanced degree, affording a family, and so much more seem like impossibilities. HB 5895 will establish a task force to investigate what tools are needed to address this crisis. https://bit.ly/3vH7YRV