Legislative & Local Updates - June 29

June 30, 2023
Happy summer! While things tend to slow down over the summer, I will continue to keep you updated regularly on pertinent information to the 57th District. 

On a personal note...

After a year of supporting efforts to improve maternal and infant health in the legislature, I find myself once again re-educated and re-invigorated to support mothers and babies in future legislative sessions.

A week ago, we welcomed our son into our family. For the second time, my husband and I were quickly reacquainted with the pain of having your new baby rushed away from you to the neonatal intensive care unit. This time - although our son is 4 weeks older gestational age than our daughter was - our baby had difficulty breathing independently and needed medical intervention.

We received excellent care at Hartford Hospital, and he continues to receive round-the-clock care at Connecticut Children's Hospital, but we again know the pain of leaving a hospital without your baby and the true physical and soul exhaustion of spending every waking hour at the hospital bedside to sleep at home and turn around again the next day, praying for continued improvement and no setbacks. This time, while balancing the needs of a precocious 4-and-a-half-year-old.

Since becoming NICU parents, we've met dozens of families with similar stories, many with long and arduous stays, made challenging by baby's health, parents' health, and many tragically strained by work, healthcare, and insurance barriers.

I share this because I think you, as my constituents, should know about your legislator's passions rooted in joy and those rooted in distress. The things that forge us as human beings, we bring with us in what we do and legislate, and no doubt, my family is going through something that is shaping us.

I also thank you for your grace. These next few weeks will be rough on my family, so expect delays and know that I have an excellent team working on ensuring that my office's operations continue as uninterrupted as possible. Still, there will be things that wait until our family has recovered.

My family sincerely appreciates the community's kindness, generosity, and prayers in this difficult time.

Respectfully and with gratitude,

Jaime
 

Congratulations, Graduates!
 
Congratulations to the 2023 graduates of Ellington, Rockville, and East Windsor High Schools! I wish you the best as you embark on the next leg of your journey - whether it's college or trade school, the military, or the workforce. 
 

CAPITOL UPDATES
 

A number of new laws that my colleagues and I worked on during the 2023 legislative session to implement meaningful change will take effect in Connecticut on July 1.

Here are some of the highlights:

Early Voting

Connecticut was one of the few states in the country that did not allow early voting which provides voters with options to accommodate busy and hectic schedules. Effective July 1, voters will have 14 days of early voting for general elections, 7 days of early voting for most primaries, and 4 days of early voting for special elections and presidential preference primaries.  
 

Voting Rights Act

Our state has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country. This new law prohibits intimidation, deception, or obstruction related to voting and allows aggrieved parties to seek remedies in court.
 

Debt-Free Community College Eligibility Changes

The law extends eligibility for the state’s debt-free community college program to returning students by removing requirements that a qualifying student must be a first-time enrollee at a community-technical college and awards must be applied during a student’s first 48 consecutive months, thus allowing returning students to receive the award if they meet all other eligibility requirements.
 

Baby Bonds

Under the law, $3,200 would be placed in a trust on behalf of each baby born into HUSKY, the state’s Medicaid program, starting July 1. Those investments would grow over time and recipients could access that money between the ages of 18-30.
 

Endometriosis Data and Biorepository Program

Endometriosis is an underdiagnosed condition. For those suffering from this condition, endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus with nearby reproductive organs often affected. The law requires UConn Health Center to develop an endometriosis data and biorepository program to enable and promote research on early detection and ways to manage the condition in adolescents and adults.
 

Menstrual Products

Certain public agencies will start providing free menstrual products including public colleges and universities, and homeless and domestic violence shelters that receive state aid.

 
New Laws July 1

 
Your calls, emails, and testimony at public hearings during this year's legislative session had a direct influence on these new laws. Thank you for your input and please continue expressing your views and making your voice heard during our legislative process.
 
It's 2023. Fast, reliable internet connectivity is a necessity in our increasingly digital world.

This funding, announced by President Biden and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, will help connect unserved and underserved residents and small businesses in our state, leveling the playing field as we work toward our goal of universal access to one gigabit per second download speeds and 100 megabits per second upload speeds that are becoming the standard of the industry. 
 

Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt recently announced that the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has awarded grants to 25 entities through the Farm Viability Grant totaling more than $750,000. Funded projects directly respond to problems, interests, or needs in the state’s agricultural industry, specifically within the areas of urban agriculture; food supply chain; diversity, equity, and inclusion in Connecticut agriculture; and farmland access. A new question of focus for infrastructure improvement at 4-H camps and agricultural science and technology education (ASTE) centers was also added this year, along with two microgrant categories for municipal farm maps and certified farmers’ market promotion and outreach.

I'm pleased to share with you that Ellington Farmers Market has received a $4,968 microgrant in the Farmers’ Market Promotion and Outreach category for increased outreach and marketing of the Farmers Market via print and online advertisements.

This grant is made possible through the approval of the state budget, which I voted for. 
 
Governor Ned Lamont announced recently that the State of Connecticut is releasing more than $7 million in state grants to several nonprofit organizations for the purposes of making facility and infrastructure upgrades at 34 cultural and historic sites statewide.
 
The funds are being released under the state’s Good to Great Grant Program, which is co-administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and CT Humanities. It was established in 2014 with the goal of helping nonprofit arts, cultural, or history organizations enhance visitors’ experiences in engaging, meaningful, and relevant ways.

Locally, Strong Family Farm in Vernon is a recipient, awarded $107,870 to implement occupancy compliance upgrades.

As with the Farm Viability Grant above, this funding was made possible through the state budget, which I voted in favor of.
 
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending the swearing-in ceremony for Chief Matt Carl of the East Windsor Police Department. Chief Carl is the fifth chief of police and has served the residents of East Windsor for 27 years, starting as a patrolman. Best wishes as you start this new journey, Chief Carl. I look forward to working with you!
 
Thank you to everyone who came to "Neighbors Make the Difference Day" on June 13 to help with trail and bridge projects in Ellington. Thank you to First Selectman Lori Spielman and the Town of Ellington, Ellington Trails Committee, and Ellington's Key Bank for your hard work. 

Neighbors Make the Difference Day is an annual event I plan to continue to support, and I was sorry to miss this year's while I was in labor! 
 

COMMUNITY EVENTS
 
The Wall of Honor, located in Arbor Park (Main Street), recognizes deserving citizens for exceptional contributions to the Town of Ellington. If you wish to nominate a candidate for this honor, please contact the First Selectman’s Office at 860-870-3100 for an application, or download one from the website, www.ellington-ct.gov/our-community/wall-of-honor. You can also submit a nomination online.

Please note that if you submitted an application in the previous three years, it will be included in the pool of current eligible candidates. The Board of Selectmen Town Policies Committee will review the applications and may recommend a recipient to the Board of Selectmen at their July 10 meeting.

If a recipient is chosen, his/her name will be engraved on the Wall of Honor and unveiled at a public ceremony on September 9, at 4 p.m., just prior to the Fire Department’s parade.
 
Ellington Historical Society presents "Monster Trucks and More" on Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Nellie McKnight Museum. Carilli Brothers Motorsports will be bringing their Monster Trucks, and additional military vehicles, race cars, and even a vintage fire truck will also be on site. Food will be available and the Museum, Farm Exhibit, Crystal Lake Showcase, and Nellie’s Mercantile will also be open during the event.
 
Cornerstone invites community members to volunteer for the SoupFest Planning Committee.

Soupfest, which began in 1984, will benefit Cornerstone’s programs which provide services primarily in the tri-town area but are open to anyone needing help. This is Cornerstone’s largest annual fundraiser. Cornerstone is looking for individuals to join the SoupFest Planning Committee. The first monthly meeting will be at 4 p.m. on July 27 at Cornerstone, with weekly meetings beginning in September. Areas of interest include ticket sales, raffle ticket sales, decorations, volunteers, setup/take down, donations for raffles, sponsors, permits, restaurants/cooks, public relations/press, and more!

Please reach out to Alexis at alexis.carmicheal@cornerstone-cares.org if you would like to be a part of this exciting and rewarding event.
 

RESOURCES
 
I'm pleased to share with you that the CT Summer at the Museum program is BACK this summer! Under the program, Connecticut children ages 18 and under – plus one accompanying adult – can receive free admission to any of the participating museums, including historic house museums, historic sites, historical societies, art museums, children’s museums, science centers, special-interest museums, natural history museums, university museums, arboretums/botanical gardens, and zoos.

The list of museums just came out and includes more than 120 options across the state, such as:

Tolland County

Hartford County

Participating museums have the discretion to administer the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program to the best of their ability and according to their needs. Certain restrictions may apply, and capacity may be limited (e.g., limit to one adult per household, block-out dates, exclusions for special events, etc.). Connecticut residents should check each museum’s website to learn of any restrictions before visiting.
     
    Vernon Public Schools will have summer meal sites for Summer 2023! Free breakfasts and lunches are available to all children 18 and under until August 18 at Rockville Public Library, Park West Apartments, and Vernon Center Middle School. No registration or sign-in is required. All children must be present, and food must be consumed on-site – there is no parent pick-up this summer. 
     
    The Vernon Explorers are looking for a few good young men and women, who are interested in law enforcement or public safety. If you know anyone who is interested, they can call the Police Explorer Advisor, Officer Perez at 860-872-9126, ext. 2035.
     
     
    Cornerstone is currently looking for volunteers to drive the new van for food pick-ups.

    Driver Requirements:

    • Valid driver's license with a clean driving record
    • Ability to lift ~40 lbs. (not required, but greatly appreciated)
    • Ability to commit to a consistent schedule

    Email alexis.carmicheal@cornerstone-cares.org for more details or to sign up!
     
    From the Connecticut Department of Education: There are low and no-cost summer camp opportunities for every child in CT! Whether your child wants to be an artist or a scientist, or prefers a summer in the outdoors, there are many options to explore. Visit summerct.org to find the best summer experience for your child.