Crime in CT Continues Declining, New Laws Effective Oct. 1 and More!

New Laws Taking Effect October 1

September 30, 2022

Dear Neighbor,

The temperatures are cooling and the leaves are turning, letting us know autumn is here and not just a date on the calendar. And with the new season comes some new laws that will take effect this Saturday. Keep reading below to learn more about what those laws are and how they might impact you and your family.

In this week's email, you will find information on:

New Laws Take Effect on October 1
Crime in CT Continues to Decline
National Clean Energy Week
CT Clean Energy Investments
The PACT Act is Positively Impacting Veterans
Virtual Women & Money Roundtable

New Laws Take Effect on October 1

This weekend, several new laws in Connecticut will go into effect on October 1. These laws are a result of my colleagues' hard work during the 2022 session. Below are just some of the laws that will take effect and what they mean for you.

Making Juneteenth a State Holiday
Public Act 22-128 designates June 19, known as Juneteenth Independence Day, a legal state holiday.

Addressing Children's Mental Health Concerns
Public Act 22-47 is a transformative piece of legislation that takes steps to bolster Connecticut's children's mental and behavioral health system and improve the delivery and accessibility of services. Parts of this law will take effect to increase the number of qualified health care providers by permitting out-of-state providers to apply for edited licensure in Connecticut; create a statewide emergency service telecommunications plan addressing mental health, behavioral health, or substance use disorder needs; and expand Connecticut's emergency response team.

Juvenile Justice Reforms & Firearm Background Checks
To respond to pandemic-related crime, the Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 22-115. Provisions taking effect will streamline juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings; create more intensive responses to juveniles with serious repeated charges, focusing on motor vehicle thefts; and the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will notify local law enforcement if a resident fails a background check when trying to purchase a firearm.

Connecticut Clean Air Act
Public Act 22-25 takes steps to cut transportation-related emissions, improve air quality, and realize a greener, more sustainable state for all. Parts of the law will go into effect:

Electrifying state vehicles
Establishing the "right to charge" allowing renters to request electric charging stations at their residences
Transitioning to zero-emission school buses
Prohibiting planned community associations from adopting rules that would prevent unit homeowners from installing solar panels

Click the button below to view the full list of laws taking effect on October 1. To read a related news story, please click here.

New Laws Effective Oct. 1

Crime in CT Continues to Decline

CT House Democrats have led bipartisan discussions to develop policy that will address not just the symptoms of crime, but the cause of it.

Connecticut's annual crime statistics report indicates these thoughtful policy solutions are working. According to the report, between 2020 and 2021, Connecticut experienced decreases in violent and property crimes, continuing the downward trend we've seen over the past several years.

Additionally, data over the last 10 years shows overall crime in our state has dropped 30%. This includes a 43% reduction in violent crime and a 29% reduction in property crime.

Our police and courts need additional tools to hold offenders accountable and protect the public, so this session, I proudly supported a juvenile justice law, which takes effect on Oct. 1, that will:

Toughen penalties for vehicle thefts
Address lab and case backlogs
Expand the use of GPS monitoring in some cases
Provide more hands-on training and crisis training to police

I also backed significant investments in crime prevention and reduction initiatives in the state budget adjustment bill that was signed by the Governor earlier this summer. The investments will:

Speed up the processing of court cases
Help victims and survivors recover from crime through safety planning, crisis counseling, mental health treatment, and support for survivors of domestic violence
Trace firearms to their sources, reduce stolen cars, reduce violent crime, and promote safety on rural roads
Support community and public health-led strategies to prevent and reduce gun violence
Utilize the latest forensic science technologies to speed up investigations and clear criminal cases

We must focus on further reducing crime by working together with law enforcement and community partners to ensure Connecticut remains one of the safest places to live and work in the country.

Download Full Annual Crime Statistics Report Here

National Clean Energy Week

Did you know that September 26 through 30 is designated as National Clean Energy Week?

Connecticut has taken steps to work towards a greener, cleaner energy future for all. In 2019, Governor Lamont signed an executive order establishing the GreenerGov CT initiative to advance environmental leadership and save taxpayers money by reducing operating costs and the environmental impacts of state government facilities. Each year, a progress report is released monitoring our state's progress. To read the 2022 Progress Report, click here.

The progress our state has made comes as a result of bold policy initiatives, like the Connecticut Clean Air Act that I proudly supported this session. Some provisions of the law take effect on Saturday, including:

Electrifying state vehicles
Establishing the "right to charge" allowing renters to request electric charging stations at their residences
Transitioning to zero-emission school buses
Prohibiting planned community associations from adopting rules that would prevent unit homeowners from installing solar panels

What affects the environment also affects each one of us. I will continue to advocate for meaningful policy solutions that move our state closer to achieving its climate goals to protect our planet and our future.

CT Clean Energy Investments

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There is no better opportunity than now for our state to invest in low-cost clean energy to meet our state's climate goals and deliver affordable, reliable energy. Governor Lamont unveiled a new energy investment plan that works toward Connecticut's climate goals through the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) 2022 Procurement Plan. The state is preparing a series of procurements that could secure clean energy resources like storage, solar, and transmission, at a lower cost. The plan seeks to take advantage of new federal tax credits and clean energy resources included in the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.

The 2022 Procurement Plan calls for the procurement of solar resources and energy storage systems and calls for regional action on electricity transmission to unlock affordable, offshore development, and utilize federal funding for regional transmission approaches.

DEEP will issue a schedule of the next steps in the coming weeks and will host a kick-off event on Wednesday, October 5 to present the planned procurement process. You can email DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov for more information about the event.

If you want to learn more about DEEP's 2022 Procurement Plan, please click here.

CT Receives National Recognition for Digital Government Excellence

Connecticut has worked to build an all-digital state government that provides residents and businesses with tools to digitally connect to state services. In recognition of the state's efforts, the Center for Digital Government has awarded Connecticut with a grade of A- and ranked it third for information technology leadership in the U.S. The grade was included in the organization's 2022 Digital States Survey.

A listing of all 50 states and their grades is published on the Center for Digital Government’s website here.

PACT Act is Positively Impacting Veterans

Nearly two months after being signed into law, the federal Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act has profoundly impacted veterans' access to health care and benefits. Since the PACT Act was signed in August, veterans have filed more than 200,000 total claims. The law represents the most significant health care and benefits expansion for veterans exposed to toxins in more than 30 years.

The law extends eligibility for VA health care for veterans with toxic exposures and veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras. It adds more than 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures, and requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a toxic exposure assessment to every veteran enrolled in VA health care.

If you're a veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for benefits under the PACT Act. You can learn more here.

Virtual Women & Money Roundtable

The Fairfield Public Library is inviting residents to gain a better understanding of today's financial markets on Wednesday, October 12 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The Virtual Women and Money Roundtable will feature presenters Julia Strayer, Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and Liz Maccarone, Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. For more information about this insightful virtual event, please click here.