Cristin McCarthy Vahey

This week brought a number of updates, including the signing of reproductive rights bills and the Fairfield Police Department 5K. To learn more, click on the links below or scroll through the e-mail.

• Reproductive Rights Bill Signings
• Fairfield Police Department 5K
• Emergency Preparedness Disaster Kit
• FPS Green Team Tip

Earlier this week, I joined Governor Lamont, LT Governor Bysiewicz, legislative colleagues and fellow Reproductive Rights Caucus members for the signing of a series of new laws protecting reproductive rights and gender affirming care here in Connecticut. As Co-Chair of the Public Health Committee, I worked in concert with other legislative leaders to negotiate language, work with stakeholders and advocates, and assure passage of the provider protection and pharmacy bills.

Together with Representatives Sarah Keitt and Jenn Leeper, I worked with Senator James Maroney and the Reproductive Rights caucus leaders to assure privacy protections not only for reproductive care, but broader privacy protections for our children as well.

Representative Keitt and I celebrated the passage of these bills with Department of Public Health Commissioner Juthani and Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Cafferelli, both of whom are fellow Fairfielders.

These new laws include:

• Protecting medical providers from adverse actions taken by another state: Public Act 23-128 enacts a law protecting licensed medical providers in Connecticut from any adverse actions taken by another state as a result of a provider’s involvement in otherwise legal and competent reproductive health care services and gender affirming care. This includes providing reproductive care services on behalf of a patient who arrives in Connecticut from a state where such care has been made illegal. In these situations, the law generally prohibits the suspending, revoking, or denying the renewal of a medical provider’s license or other credentials, so long as those providers are following Connecticut law. (Effective upon passage.)
• Allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control: Public Act 23-52 enacts a law allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain types of birth control without patients first needing to visit their doctor as required under previous law. Enabling pharmacists to prescribe birth control will improve access to this medication, especially in rural and underserved areas where access to reproductive health care is limited. The law permits pharmacists to prescribe a hormonal contraceptive and emergency contraceptive only if they have completed an accredited educational training program related to the prescribing of hormonal contraceptives and emergency contraception. (Effective upon passage, pending the adoption of updated regulations from the Department of Consumer Protection.)
• Increasing access to reproductive care by college students at public institutions of higher education: Public Act 23-41 enacts a law requiring public higher education institutions with on-campus residences to develop a plan by January 1, 2024, that addresses students’ need for reproductive health care, including contraception, abortion, and gender-affirming care. The plan must address the availability of equipment and licensed health care providers to provide reproductive health care services on residential campuses or in the surrounding community; opportunities for providing reproductive health care; means for ensuring the continuity of care during holiday and vacation periods between semesters; and an estimate of the costs associated with plan implementation. Developing these plans at higher education institutions will ensure that these services are available to students who live on campus and depend on them for most of their living necessities, including food, housing, transportation, and other health care needs. Additionally, it will ensure these services are available to those students who are attending a public college in Connecticut and are from other states where such care is banned or otherwise restricted. (Effective July 1, 2023.)
• Protecting the privacy of patient health data online: Public Act 23-56 enacts a law establishing safeguards for the collection, sharing, and selling of personal health data by businesses and service providers operating online platforms in Connecticut that have the ability to collect personal information about an individual. This can include items such as internet searches, GPS tracking devices, and apps that keep track of a person’s health information. While this law protects a wide scope of personal health information, it explicitly includes safeguards regarding those on reproductive health. These standards will help individuals who are seeking health care information and services online trust that their personal data and information is secure and cannot be collected and used against them. (Effective July 1, 2023.)

This week, my family and I participated in the 5^th Annual Fairfield Police Department 5K. This is a great community event with participation from beloved local businesses including Super Duper Weenie, Colony Pizza, Athletic Brewing Company, and more. It was fun to gather as a community and support the Fairfield Police Union Scholarship Fund and the Police Foundation. I was glad I had the chance to see our Deputy Chief Keith Broderick and wish him well as he retires this week following a long and distinguished career here in Fairfield. Thank you for your service to Fairfield!

Thanks also to the volunteers who make up the Fairfield Community Emergency Response Team. These volunteers were out along the course on Wednesday, as they are at so many community events. Bravo, CERT!

Hurricane season is upon us so now is the time to be sure you are prepared for any weather emergencies. Be sure you have a basic disaster kit ready to go. You can learn more about what you need and how to prepare at https://www.ready.gov/kit If you have not signed up for the Fairfield or Bridgeport emergency notification systems, you can do so here:

https://www.fairfieldct.org/emergencymanagement

https://veoci.com/v/p/form/y9qpadaf4mq9

Rep. Jenn Leeper and I often join the monthly meeting of the Sustainable Fairfield Waste sub-committee. There we have learned about the amazing work of the Fairfield Public Schools Green Team champions. Check out below for ways you can help our schools, our town, and our environment.