ParkConneCT Program Returns This Summer

June 8, 2022


 
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Dear Neighbor,

Thank you to everyone who joined the West Hartford delegation on Monday for our Legislative Lowdown! It was great to see everyone and discuss some of the policy highlights from the 2022 session. We accomplished a lot this session and we will continue to work to make our state a better place for everyone to live and grow. Public participation in our legislative process is the cornerstone of our democracy and moves our state forward. If you weren't able to tune in to the Legislative Lowdown, you can watch a recording of it here. If there's something you would like to discuss, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. Send me an email at Kate.Farrar@cga.ct.gov or give me a call at 860-240-8585. 
 
LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS
Last week, state leaders announced new investments are being made to defray certification-related testing costs for aspiring educators in Connecticut. The state will be using a total of $2 million over the next two years through the American Rescue Plan Act, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP-ESSER). Funding will include $750,000 in year 1 and $750,000 in year 2. The remaining $500,000 will be set aside to assist educators of color and other educators who will completing their student teaching in urban school districts. This initiative will aid Connecticut's effort to recruit a well trained and diverse educator workforce. The funding will be distributed to each of the Educator Preparation Programs across our state that choose to participate in the program. The program will be administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education's (SDE) Talent Office. SDE is committed to transparency and accountability as it uses federal and state funds. Each grant will be monitored and information will be publicly available through SDE's Electronic Grants Management System, here.

SDE is continuing to solicit plans from the public on its current and future planned investments of federal COVID-19 relief funds. You can submit written feedback by taking the survey linked here. The survey will be open until June 15.
 
STATE & LOCAL RESOURCES
The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) will be launching ReEmployCT on or around July 5, 2022 as part of its efforts to modernize its 40-year-old unemployment insurance system. The launch of ReEmployCT will impact residents filing for unemployment insurance as well as employers. Additional information about the new online system will be available in the coming weeks and CTDOL will notify UI filers directly about the changes through mail, email, and account notifications. For employers who are liable for unemployment taxes, ReEmployCT will bring everything online, make the process more efficient, and reduce UI paperwork by about 75%. Employers that formerly faxed or mailed hardcopy documents to CTDOL will be able to use the new web platform instead. 

To learn more about ReEmployCT, please click here.
 
It is now easier than ever to visit a Connecticut State Park.

ParkConneCT, a transportation service that offers fare-free buses to Connecticut beaches and state parks, is now open for the summer season. This expanded service will run through Labor Day. ParkConneCT makes our state parks and beaches more accessible, ensuring that all residents will be able to enjoy Connecticut's beautiful outdoor offerings.  

The following parks are included in the ParkConneCT program: 

  • Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison)
  • Silver Sands State Park (Milford)
  • Fort Trumbull State Park (New London)
  • Sleeping Giant State Park (Hamden)
  • Sherwood Island State Park (Westport)
  • Osbornedale State Park (Derby)
  • Indian Well State Park (Shelton)

As a reminder, all statewide busses will continue to operate without fare collection until December 1st, 2022. If you are looking for a great outdoor activity during the summer months, I encourage you to take advantage of the free ParkConneCT busses.

For more information on the program, including a schedule, please click here.
 
The state Department of Transportation is announcing that the Interstate 84 Eastbound Exit 41 On Ramp from South Main Street will be closed intermittently at night from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. over the next 6 months. The ramp will be closed to allow for the installation of drainage, milling of existing pavement and the placement of new pavement and lane markings. 

Traffic will be directed westerly along Route 71, then onto New Britain Ave., and finally entering I-84 East at Exit 40. For more information, please click here.
 
As always, if I can be of assistance to you and your family, please reach out to me at 860-240-8585 or email me at Kate.Farrar@cga.ct.gov. Follow @KateforCT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on everything I'm doing at the Capitol!

Sincerely,

Kate Farrar
State Representative
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