Session Updates & Upcoming Events

mccv
February 18, 2022

 

As we enter this President’s Day weekend, I wanted to share some information with you about the following:
  • Youth Advisory Council with Rep. Leeper
  • Business Advisory Council with Fairfield Delegation
  • Children’s Mental Health Bill
  • Last Week’s Vote on Executive Orders
  • Navigating the Legislative Session Virtually

Together with Representative Leeper I am happy to re-start something we had done a few years back, a Youth Advisory Council. Our first meeting will be held virtually on February 27th at 4:30PM.
The Council will meet periodically during the session to gather input, discuss legislation in Hartford, and hear directly from our students. This will also be an opportunity to ask us questions and share thoughts about the legislative process. I hope that you will share this info with your children, students and friends!

To register for the Youth Advisory Council, please click here.
 
This Tuesday, February 22nd from 7:00PM - 8:30PM, the Fairfield delegation will host the first meeting of the Bipartisan Fairfield Legislative Business Advisory Council. We will provide information on how the legislative process works and business-related updates from the legislature and what it could mean for your business. This is an opportunity to ask questions and stay informed throughout the 2022 session.

To register,

please click here or on the image below.
 
Children & Families' Mental Health

I have been honored to join a bipartisan working group to develop legislation aimed at providing additional support, resources, and structural change to the children’s mental health system in our state. Today the Speaker, Majority leader and colleagues joined our group, led by Representatives Exum and Linehan, to share details regarding the proposal.

This comprehensive proposal, HB 5001 AN ACT CONCERNING CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH, encompasses schools, healthcare settings, insurance eligibility, screening tools, and more. The Public Health and Children’s Committee will hold a joint hearing on this and SB 2 AN ACT EXPANDING PRESCHOOL AND MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN,

 Friday, February 25th beginning at 9AM. If you are interested in providing written or oral testimony, you can find information on how to do so by clicking here and scrolling to page 15.

The press conference was streamed Live on CT-N, but you can watch the on-demand version by clicking here.
 
Navigating the 2022 Session

On February 9th, we convened for opening day of the 2022 legislative session. This was the view from my seat in the chamber that day.
Throughout the remainder of this month, the legislative process will operate like it did last year with virtual committee meetings and public hearings.

During virtual hearings, there are three ways you can submit testimony:
  • In Writing - Use the Calendar, Bulletins & Agenda to find out how to submit testimony in writing before the start of the hearing. Most committees will accept written testimony via email, prior to start of the hearing. Some may also accept written testimony by mail. 
  • By Phone - If a phone number is listed on the bulletin, you may be allowed to testify by phone. Follow the instructions in the bulletin to make sure you have been authorized to testify, as well as any special instructions you might need to follow. 
  • By Video Call - Virtual Hearings are conducted via Zoom. Depending on the type of meeting or hearing, you may have the opportunity to testify live via zoom by pre-registering.

For step-by-step instructions, click here. To watch any public hearing, you can stream it live on CT-N.
In addition to public hearings, there are numerous ways for you to stay engaged in the legislative process. Below are just some of the resources available to you:
  • The non-partisan Office of Legislative Research recently published the 2022 Major Issues report, which summarizes key issues the legislature could take up during the upcoming session.
  • Register for the CGA's Bill Tracking system, here, to follow any bill as it moves through the legislative process. 
  • Follow CTN for live coverage of committee meetings and House and Senate floor debates.
  • Are you curious about how your tax dollars are spent? The State Comptroller's OpenConnecticut web portal allows residents to track state government spending in real time.

Your voice is fundamental to the legislative process, and I hope you will continue to reach out to me to share your thoughts, ideas, and questions.
 
Last Week's Vote on Executive Orders

Last week, the legislature passed two separate bills, one which declared a continued state of emergency, allowing Connecticut to continue receiving $32 million per month in SNAP benefits. The funds provide food to SNAP recipients. In Fairfield, 1,316 people are impacted and in neighboring Bridgeport, 31,794 people utilize these resources. A total of 369,218 CT residents are eligible for SNAP benefits.
 
In a separate vote, the legislature voted to extend 12 executive orders. The legislation provides for a removal of the school mask mandates by February 28th; it empowers local Boards of Education to make decisions to continue mask requirements after the statewide mask mandate is lifted; allows the Commissioner of Public Health to reinstate a mask requirement through June 30 - only in the event of an alarming increase in hospitalizations and virus prevalence; and it extends measures to facilitate the State’s continuing response to COVID-19. All of these are time-limited. In Fairfield, schools will be mask optional beginning February 28th. You can find detailed information on other aspects of the bill here.