October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October 25, 2021

I have shared pieces of legislation that have hit close to home this year. However, the passage of Public Act 21-78 was by far the most impactful. PA 21-78 strengthened protections for domestic violence victims and survivors.

 This issue was especially pertinent to me because I lost a colleague and friend to domestic violence this year. The House debated and passed this bill less than a week after I lost my friend. It hurt to speak on the floor - honestly, it was gut wrenching, real and raw. But this work matters, and I thought it was important for her story to be told.

After I spoke on the House floor, I reached out to constituents, friends, women in our community I know who are survivors of domestic violence are because these laws matter to real people.

The unfortunate truth is that domestic violence exists in every community. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men are affected by domestic violence every day. Public Act No. 21-78 offers more support and protection to victims of domestic violence. We strengthened protections for domestic violence victims and survivors, by expanding the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control. Coercive control is a pattern or behavior that can use threatening, intimidation, or exploitation to trap individuals in abusive relationships.
 
This expanded definition recognizes intimate partner violence can be more than physical abuse – it can take shape as emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse. This measure will help make the process of filing for restraining orders, divorce, child custody, and other family court matters easier for victims and survivors. It would also create a new legal aid program to provide legal representation for victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Our  laws can and will do better to protect women, and that matters. It won't bring my friend back, but it maybe we can save someone else and there is comfort in that. To support and help victims and survivors and fight domestic violence visit CTSafeConnect.org or call or text (888) 774-2900. Help is available 24/7.

Mask Mandate Rescinded for East Windsor

The Town of East Windsor announced that they have lifted their mask mandate, effective immediately. First Selectman Jason Bowsza made this decision after carefully monitoring local trends in COVID cases.

President Biden at UCONN

I was honored to join my colleagues and welcome President Joe Biden to my alma mater and to celebrate the dedication of the UCONN Dodd Center. 
 
We welcomed the president to our beautiful state on the anniversary of the commencement of the Military Tribunal at Nuremberg, where Thomas Dodd was executive counsel.
 
Today we were joined by the federal delegation, state executive office holders and many students, the future solution makers of all our worlds greatest challenges - to learn about the Dodd family's legacy and recommit ourselves to human rights. 
 
UCONN is where so many great futures begin, including this recommitment to educating, supporting and empowering the future of the human rights movement. 

Water Planning Council Meeting

The Water Planning Council Meeting met earlier this month! We are making sure every avenue is pursued to ensure that  every household in our district has access to safe drinking water.

Town Meeting on the Future of East Windsor Parks and Rec

East Windsor town officials are working to develop a "master plan" for the Parks and Recreation Department. This plan will outline what the department will look like over the course of the next ten years. The town is looking for public input on this plan. Residents will be able offer their ideas and suggestions during a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall.

Suicide Prevention Event for Ellington Parents

The Ellington Board of Education and Youth Services Department have partnered to create suicide prevention programs that aim to promote good mental heath in our schools and community. Check out the flyer below for more information. 

 Fines for Distracted Driving Increased

As life starts to return to normal and the holidays arrive, many of us will be back on the road again. More time on the road means more opportunities for distracted driving. As of October 1, penalties for texting and driving increased in an effort to stop distracted driving.

Distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of accidents on our roads, with nearly 5,000 crashes attributed to distracted driving in Connecticut in 2020 alone.

Connecticut law prohibits the use of any hand-held mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers who are 16 or 17 years of age are prohibited from using a cell phone or mobile device at any time, even with a hands-free accessory.
The new fines for driving while distracted are:

  • For the first violation, offenders are fined $200 (was previously $150)
  • For a second violation, offenders are fined $375 (was previously $300)
  • For a third or subsequent violation, offenders are fined $625 (was previously $500)

Throughout the month of October, state and local police will be increasing enforcement of the new distracted driving law.

Please urge your family and friends to put their cell phones away while driving. No text message or phone call is worth putting yourself and others at risk.

For more information, visit www.distraction.gov.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Did you know October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month? National Disability Employment Awareness Month began in 1945 to highlight the contributions of people with disabilities to the workforce and to raise awareness of the inequities they face.

As our state continues to bounce back from the pandemic, it is critical that all individuals in our community have access to employment opportunities. Ensuring that everyone has the necessary employment resources benefits both individual families and our state as a whole.

In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Connecticut Department of Labor and Department of Aging and Disability Services have announced that Connecticut’s 9th annual Disability Employment Resource Fair will be held on October 22.

The fair will be a virtual event this year. The presentation will include information about resources such as free employment services, transportation, legal rights, assistive technology, education and more!

To register for the fair please click here.

ASL Interpreters will be provided and a PowerPoint of the event will be sent out to all attendees following the event. If you need large print or a Word document, please contact Jill Larmett at jlarmett@capitalworkforce.org.

In addition to the annual Disability Employment Resource Fair, assistance for jobseekers is available virtually and in-person, including at:

·       The Connecticut Department of Labor’s American Job Centers (appointments are recommended). More information is available at portal.ct.gov/ajc.

·       CTHires, which serves as a one-stop resource to search for jobs, create a resume, and find training. More information is available at portal.ct.gov/cthires.

·       Additional job fair that are scheduled frequently across the state. For a full schedule, visit portal.ct.gov/AJC/recruitmentevents.

Please take a moment this month to recognize the strides we have made in disability employment, and all the work we have left to accomplish.

Unemployment Benefits Overpayment Waiver
 
The Connecticut Department of Labor has recently reported that around 13,000 unemployment benefit recipients received overpayments throughout the pandemic. These claims constitute about $30 million in accidental overpayments. It is important to note that while this amount looks daunting, most of these overpayments were caused by simple errors at little to no fault of the claimant.
 
Since the announcement, many of you have reached out with concerns about overpayments and are wondering, will I have to pay this money back?
 
The short answer is, not necessarily. You may qualify for a "non-fraud overpayment waiver."

What is a waiver?
 
A waiver forgives part, or all, of the overpayment debt accrued by an unemployment claimant.
 
Overpayment may be eligible for a waiver if:

  • There was an unintentional error on the part of the claimant, employer, or CTDOL.
  • There was no attempt to obtain unemployment benefits to which the claimant knew they were not eligible (fraud).
  • The Employment Security Appeals Division reverses a decision to grant unemployment benefits and that leaves the claimant with an overpayment debt.

 
Can I get a waiver?
 
Waivers will be considered for accidental overpayments only. CTDOL notifies claimants that they may be eligible for a waiver during the pre-determination process and sends a questionnaire that the claimant fills out and returns. Most waivers are granted for:

  • A mental or physical condition which would significantly reduce opportunity for employment.
  • An error on the part of CTDOL or the Appeals Division.
  • Claimant bankruptcy.
  • Economic grounds when it’s against equity and good conscience to have an overpayment repaid.

 
The questionnaire and hearing request must be completed and returned together to CTDOL within 14 days of the mail date (this is on the upper right corner of the pre-determination letter.) 
 
What if I didn’t get a questionnaire with my pre-determination letter?
 
If you didn’t receive a waiver questionnaire, this means CTDOL claims you may not be eligible for one. If you believe this is not correct and that you are eligible for a waiver based on the criteria above, you are encouraged to reach out to the Consumer Contact Center with questions.
  
Please also remember that you can reach out to me if you need any assistance moving forward with this process, I will do all I can to help.