State Capitol Update for the Week of July 18th

July 22, 2022
Dear Friend,

This is my State Capitol update for the week of July 18th.

If you prefer to watch rather than read, click on the play button to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter.
 
Our first extended heat wave is with us.  Yesterday thunderstorms moved through the southern part of the district, causing some tree damage and briefly lowering temperatures in their wake, but today we will be back in the 90s, so I hope that shade, a slower pace, and maybe a lake or pool are part of your plans for the weekend.  The state has activated the extreme hot weather protocol, making cooling centers available to vulnerable residents (see below for more information). 
 
Events this weekend include the annual Cornwall Rummage Sale at Mohawk Ski Lodge.  (It extends through Monday, which should give all of us time to move slowly through the vast array of items.) 
 
On Sunday, July 24, there will be a rally for Women’s Reproductive Rights at 4pm on the Norfolk Village Green.  As we watch state after state eliminate access to abortion care following the Supreme Court’s erasure of a woman’s right to make this choice, it is important for those of us fighting for the rights of all women to access full reproductive healthcare to gather and share ideas on how best to protect all women.  I hope to see you there. 
 
On that topic, I want to give a shout out to Reverend John A. Nelson, of the Congregational Church of Salisbury, whose article in the Berkshire Eagle was featured in Linda Greenhouse’s New York Times column today on why the Dobbs decision, overruling Roe, was about religious doctrine, not the Constitution. Many faith leaders who among the early advocates for the safe, legal, abortion, and, as Reverend Nelson notes, “religious convictions lead many to honor and advocate for women’s control over their bodies.”  I highly recommend both articles.
Here is a list of today's topics:
  • COVID-19 Weekly Update Click here
  • Extreme hot weather protocol in place in Connecticut Click Here
  • Child Tax Rebate Application deadline is July 31 Click Here
  • National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:  Call or text 988 Click Here
  • Bipartisan Legislation addressing motor vehicle theft and juvenile crime signed into law Click Here
  • Federal support for CT entrepreneurs and small businesses  Click Here
  • How CTs Districts Plan to Spend COVID-Relief Funds Click Here
  • Cornwall Woman’s Society Rummage Sale: July 23-25, 2022 Click Here
  • Infant Formula Shortage Update Click Here
  • Providing information to Connecticut residents Click Here
COVID-19 weekly update
For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
 
Extreme hot weather protocol in place in Connecticut
The summer's first heat wave is here. The next several days are set to continue to see temperatures in Connecticut reach more than 90 degrees with a heat index of triple digits at times, which has prompted activation of state’s extreme hot weather protocol effective through 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 24.

The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from hot conditions. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies, municipalities, and other partners to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 to make sure that information regarding cooling centers is available statewide, providing a location to get some relief from the hot conditions.
Anyone in need of a cooling center should call 2-1-1 or look online at 211ct.org to find their nearest location.

Heat-related illness can affect anyone, though some people are at greater risk than others, including infants and young children, people 65 years of age or older, those who are overweight and anyone who overexerts during work or exercise or is physically ill with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
 

Additional safety tips and extreme heat-related information can be found on 211ct.org's Extreme Hot Weather Page or in 2-1-1 Extreme Heat Precautions and Safety Tips. 
Child Tax Rebate Application deadline is July 31


With less than two weeks before the program’s July 31 deadline, it is estimated that only about half of the estimated eligible households have applied for assistance, according to the state Department of Revenue Services. To see whether your family might be eligible, click here or call 211.
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:  Call or text 988

Those who are experiencing a mental health crisis no longer need to remember 1-800-273-8255 or wait hours for help. They can now call or text the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, to connect with mental health professionals who are trained to respond to these emergencies.

The three-digit number replaces the 10-digit 800 number to the Lifeline. Individuals can call, 

chat, or text 988 to reach free and confidential emotional support around the clock, seven days a week. 


The Lifeline consists of a national network of more than 200 local crisis centers to get people the help they need, when they need it. Last year, one in five calls to a suicide crisis hotline resulted in a dropped call while others waited hours for assistance.

The three-digit Lifeline is a step forward in transforming America's mental health response and suicide prevention. You can learn more about the Lifeline 

here.

For further crisis intervention resources available here in Connecticut, 

click here.
Bipartisan Legislation addressing motor vehicle theft and juvenile crime signed into law

 
Over the past two years, Connecticut, like many states across our country, has experienced an uptick in juvenile motor vehicle thefts and other criminal activity.  After much bipartisan work to develop smart juvenile justice reforms, I'm pleased to share that bipartisan legislation addressing the pandemic-driven uptick in juvenile crime has been signed into law.

The new law updates Connecticut's criminal justice statutes so that our courts and law enforcement can effectively respond to juveniles with repeated motor vehicle theft and other crimes. This law: 

  • Makes juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings more effective
    • Requires youth who are arrested but not detained to be brought before the court within five business days.
    • Increases from six to eight hours the amount of time a youth can be held if police are awaiting a judicial ruling on a detention order or are trying to locate a parent or guardian.
    • Provides police officers with access to electronic records containing statewide pending charges and 90 days of prior arrest records.
    • Allows courts to formally order that a youth be assessed for services.
  • Provides more intensive responses to juveniles with serious, repeated charges
    • Expands the special juvenile probation docket to include homicide and firearm crimes.
    • Allows courts to order GPS monitoring for a youth charged with a second or subsequent motor vehicle offense.
  • Focuses motor vehicle theft penalties on people with prior offenses
    • Establishes a new structure for motor vehicle thefts with penalties that become more serious for subsequent offenses rather than basing penalties on the value of the vehicle.

This law, coupled with increased investment in diversion programs and services, will help stem juvenile crime over the long-term. Connecticut remains one of the safest places to live because of smart-on-crime policy and I will continue to support forward-thinking initiatives.

In addition to this legislation, the budget adjustment bill signed into law this spring (Public Act 22-118) makes several significant investments, using American Rescue Plan Act authorizations and state appropriations, to increase public safety, including:

 

  • $11.4 million for law enforcement-led strategies and partnerships to trace recovered firearms to their source, reduce stolen cars and violence, expand support for communities experiencing increases in violent crime, and promote safety on rural roads;
  • $7.5 million for community- and public- health-led strategies to prevent and reduce gun violence;
  • $4.1 million for upgrades to forensic science technology to speed up and improve the investigation and clearing of criminal cases; and

$3.3 million to provide at-risk juveniles with access to services and diversion programs.

Federal Government approves Connecticut’s plan to support entrepreneurs and small businesses with COVID recovery funding

 
 

The U.S. Treasury Department has approved the State of Connecticut’s plan to deploy up to $119.5 million in funding through the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI).

 

Connecticut’s SSBCI program will support underserved entrepreneurs across the state through a variety of loan and equity programs designed to spur small business growth, create jobs, promote equity, and catalyze green technologies.

 

This new federal support will enable the launch of two initiatives central to the overarching  Economic Development Action Plan, a strategic package of initiatives undertaken in 2021 that totals more than $600 million over five years that will result in a projected 80,000 new jobs.

 

SSBCI funds will be administered by Connecticut Innovations, the state’s strategic venture capital arm and leading source of financing and ongoing support for innovative, growing companies.

 

With this capitalization, Connecticut Innovations will launch two new funds:

 

  • The Connecticut Future Fund, supporting entrepreneurs from underserved and diverse backgrounds who lead small businesses in a variety of sectors; and
  • The ClimateTech (CT) Fund, supporting early-stage businesses with a focus on clean energy, environmentally safe manufacturing, and climate resiliency.

 

Both of these new funds will be supplemented with existing Connecticut Innovations funds. Other SSBCI funds will support existing Connecticut Innovations programs, such as initiatives to support bioscience and advanced manufacturing businesses. Connecticut Innovation’s investments will include early-stage venture debt and equity investments.
How CTs Districts Plan to Spend COVID-Relief Funds: an analysis from the School State Finance Project
 
How are Connecticut's school districts using $1.1 billion in federal COVID-relief aid? How do these plans compare to districts across the country? The School State Finance Project tackled these questions in an interesting new report with FutureEd (a Georgetown University think tank) and ConnCAN that I thought I’d share, as it provides the most comprehensive look so far at COVID-relief funding for Connecticut's schools.
Click Here to View Report
Key findings of the report
 
STAFFING
  • School staffing is the top spending priority statewide with more than 50% of approved ESSER III dollars going toward hiring, rewarding, or training staff members. 
  • Districts with the highest rates of economically disadvantaged students are putting roughly half of their funds toward staffing, while districts in the state's most affluent municipalities are using about two-thirds of their funds for staffing.
  • The state’s overall level of investment in staffing exceeds that found in the national sample.
     

ACADEMIC RECOVERY

  • The ARP mandates districts spend at least 20% of their ESSER III funds to address learning loss.
  • Addressing learning takes many forms in Connecticut’s districts, with investments in instructional materials and summer learning most common.
  • Connecticut's districts plan to spend a combined $229 million targeting learning loss.
  • The share of statewide spending on addressing learning loss is lower than the share dedicated to learning loss nationwide.

MENTAL & PHYSICAL HEALTH

  • Student mental and physical health are key concerns, with more than two-thirds of the state’s districts planning to invest in those areas.
  • Districts with the highest rates of economically disadvantaged students are the most likely to spend on mental and physical health.
  • Family engagement is a key strategy that Connecticut districts are far more likely to embrace than those nationwide.

  
SPECIAL POPULATIONS

  • Connecticut districts plan to spend a combined $62 million for higher-need student populations, particularly students with disabilities and English language learners.
  • 30% of districts plan to spend funds on supporting students with disabilities, more than twice the share of districts nationally.
  • Nearly 1 in 5 districts plans to set aside money for English language learners.

FACILITIES & OPERATIONS

  • Nearly three-quarters of districts plan to spend on repairs, construction projects, and transportation needs.
  • As much as $238 million in 139 districts will go toward capital projects and operational spending.
  • About half the projects involve improving air quality and ventilation, similar to national rates.
Cornwall Woman’s Society Rummage Sale: July 23, 24, and 25, 2022

Infant Formula Shortage Update
Read More Here
Providing information to Connecticut residents
 
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus. Residents can also subscribe to text message alerts from the state by texting the keyword COVIDCT to 888-777.
 
Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Anyone who is out-of-state or requires a toll-free number can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 by dialing 1-800-203-1234. This is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms are strongly urged to contact their medical provider.