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Wednesday
HB 5420
Our men and women in uniform face increased stress, PTSD, depression, and higher rates of suicide. If an officer faces a mental health assessment and requires treatment, they should be able to focus on recovery and not have to worry about their job protection or potential retribution. With the passage of HB 5420, the House has acted to ensure the necessary protections so that officers can focus on their mental health.
Click here to learn more.
HB 5313
Nursing homes have faced critical shortages in the last few years and as they work to replace staff, they have faced challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified individuals – including increasingly relying on nursing pool agencies which often cause the cost of labor to skyrocket. Just passed by the House, HB 5313 establishes maximum rates nursing pool agencies may charge a facility.
Click here to learn more.
HB 5200
To ensure that the state is prepared for the energy option of the future, the House acted on HB 5200 to study the feasibility, workforce development opportunities, and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen power.
Click here to learn more.
HB 5278
Patients who will be under deep sedation, anesthesia or may fall unconscious should be sure that they can trust in their medical professionals to keep them safe and remain transparent about the procedures they may face. HB 5278 will require physicians to receive explicit consent before a pelvic exam can be performed, in addition to ensuring providers are properly educated on conditions such as endometriosis to increase patients' dignity and bodily autonomy. Click here to learn more.
HB 5301
Throughout a child's life in public K-12 schools, they have access to programs that supply free and reduced meals - but food insecurity doesn't end on graduation day. For college-age students, food insecurity can become a significant barrier in their ability to pursue and succeed at a higher education institution. Just passed by the House, HB 5301 will work to identify the nutritional needs of students and establish strategies to combat food insecurity at our colleges and universities, among other initiatives to better support students, including creating a plan to build additional childcare facilities at state colleges and universities.
Click here to learn more.
Thursday
HB 5248
Gaining meaningful employment is a critical component to reentering your community following incarceration – but too often individuals face significant barriers, which limit opportunity and the ability to succeed in reintegrating. The House just passed HB 5248 to remove these barriers for individuals with a criminal record trying to obtain a professional license.
Click here to learn more.
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During First Selectman Bowsza's visit to the Capitol, we met with state Senator Saud Anwar and had a lengthy conversation surrounding well water contamination. The East Windsor delegation is working in conjunction with state agencies such as the Department of Public Health and CT Water to address this issue.
Here are some things I am always working on to benefit the district:
- Email and phone calls to follow up on local issues
- Keep in touch with municipal CEOs to collaborate!
- Sharing funding announcements with local orgs who might not see things I get
- Stay in touch with local PDs
- Stay in touch with local school admin
- Meeting with constituents about local issues and asks
- Planning / organizing outreach events and office hours to keep open and transparent office
| All this week and next, my daughter is wearing my flag pin to school.
She misses me while I'm in Hartford and I told her we could match with our pins over our hearts to stay close.
Being a working parent is hard and we all have our villages who make it workable.
I'd like to take a moment to thank her teachers and paras - Mrs. Collins, Mrs. DeFelice, Mrs. Kogut and Mrs. Hoffman - who she loves like family.
My parents who covered Spring Break and my in-laws who help every week.
My in-laws who help every week.
And finally Lydia Welti and Rachel Mangold, who love on her weekly.
This work takes a village, these wonderful people are mine. |
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to focus attention on the prevalence of sexual assault in our communities, uplift the voices of survivors and commit ourselves to putting an end to sexual violence.
Last year, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a bill which focused specifically on protecting sexual assault victims on college campuses. HB 6374 requires Connecticut colleges to conduct a sexual assault misconduct survey every two years and establishes a Council on Sexual Misconduct Climate Assessments to assist higher education institutions in collecting this information.
This year, we are advocating for the passage of HB 5472, An Act Concerning Sexual Assault, and the Absence of Consent. This bill updates statutory language to define "consent" for purposes of sexual assault and clarifies that sexual intercourse without consent is a crime. HB 5472 was voted out of the Judiciary Committee and will be sent to the floor for debate and consideration.
The Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence launched their annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign. This year’s theme is healing through community. Visit endsexualviolencect.org to find out how you can get involved in building survivor communities that provide solace, connection, and prevent further violence.
If you or someone you love needs support, call or text their 24-hour hotline:
1-888-999-5545 for English,1-888-565-8332 para Español.
I hope you will join me this month in honoring the resilience of survivors as we work towards building safer communities.
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Spring Break Intern Update
Kathrine Santini, a high school student on spring break, helped my office put together materials to help Ellington apply for Congressionally Directed Spending to support police and public safety. I am happy to report that the town has secured the funding! Thanks again for all of your help Kathrine!
| Grant Opportunity for Summer Camps
There are new grant opportunities for summer camps and daycares.
Per the Office of Governor Ned Lamont, "a competitive grant application will be launched to award enrichment grants to eligible organizations to provide students and families with engaging summer enrichment and learning experiences. Applicants can apply for either one expansion grant (up to $75,000) or one innovation grant (between $75,000 and $250,000) per program site. Camps can use the funds to expand the number of students served, add additional supper services and activities, and subsidize enrollment costs by providing scholarships to families from low-income backgrounds."
Click here to learn more |
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| American Rescue Plan Task Force
The Town of Ellington is looking for ideas on how to spend funds allocated from the American Rescue Plan (ARP).
The next meeting of the American Rescue Plan Task Force is scheduled for April 28, 2022 at 2:00 pm in the Nicholas J. DiCorleto, Jr. Meeting Hall.
Please visit the Town of Ellington website with any additional questions. |
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The Town of Ellington is Hiring
The Town of Ellington is hiring a Department of Public Works/WPCA Administrator.
Click here for more information and to apply: https://www.ellington-ct.gov/.../department-of-public.
North Central District Health Department
The North Central District Health Department will soon be offering weekly office hours for those looking to do the following:
1. Planning to open a food establishment, hair and/or nail salon or barber shop;
2. Considering the purchase of an existing food establishment or salon; or
3. A residential building addition, deck, shed or swimming pool.
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