Hubert Delany

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
I hope you and your family are enjoying the brighter weather in warmer times.
 
This week, my colleagues and I were back in session voting on judicial, executive & legislative nominations.
 
It was one of the lighter session days. However, our work will start to pick up now that proposed bills have been put through the committee process.
 
I would like to wish families of faith and their loved ones peaceful celebrations and spiritual reflection as our communities observe religious traditions.
 
Below you will find information about upcoming local events, and programs I hope will be of use to you and your family.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to approve an arbitration award between the State of Connecticut and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC).This is anticipated to impact 34,514 employees including, state employees, national guard members, and employees at quasi-public agencies. 
 
Payments will be broken down between hourly and non-hourly employees. Hourly employees will receive an average amount of $1,475. Non-hourly employees will receive payments based on their adjacent employer: 1,949 national guard members will receive an award of $1,500, 5,046 UConn employees will receive $500, and a subset of 150 UConn employees will receive $1,000. The majority of the payments are being made with ARPA funds.

To learn more about HB 6667, please click HERE.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I want you to be aware of the resources available to you in our community. If you need help, you can call (888) 999-5545 anytime to speak with a certified sexual assault crisis counselor in English. Dial (888) 568-8332 to speak with an expert in Spanish.
 
You can also contact any of the member sexual assault crisis programs in our state by clicking on THIS LINK and scrolling down to the “Need Help” section. These non-profit organizations provide free, confidential service in a safe, caring environment.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to focus our 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.

This year's theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month is “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity.” The campaign calls on all individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions to change ourselves and the systems surrounding us to build racial equity and respect. CLICK HERE for more information.

On April 1, a number of resources that offered vital assistance to our most vulnerable community members came to an end or ended expanded eligibility.

• Free Bus Services in Connecticut
  • Bus fares for all buses and ADA paratransit in Connecticut have returned
  • Federal restrictions prevent the state from extending this benefit for more than a year
• SNAP Bump Payments and Automatic Determination
  • Families will no longer receive the additional pandemic-related payment in the middle of the month
  • Redeterminations restarted and will occur every 6 months
  • DSS does not have any control over when these benefits end because funding was provided under federal legislation
• HUSKY Continuous Coverage
  • Medicaid enrollees will again have to provide proof of eligibility annually

If you, or a loved one were utilizing any of these resources and are now experiencing a disruption in vital care, please contact me by clicking the email button below. My office and I will work to provide additional resources that may be able to offer you necessary assistance.

Join us for panel discussion with my legislative colleagues concerning the wave of recent book bans across the country and the importance of diverse learning materials and the legislature's sanctuary library initiative known as Senate Bill 2. It will be held April 13. Check out the flyer below for more information.