New Laws January 1, Happy New Year!

December 29, 2023

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Dear Neighbor,

I want to wish you and your family a very safe and prosperous 2024! I also want to thank you all for your support throughout 2023. The next legislative session starts on February 7th. I look forward to serving you and addressing issues that affect our community.

In this edition of the weekly newsletter, we touch on the new laws set to take effect on January 1 and reminders about the Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest deadline coming up as well as the public meeting regarding the Town of Groton's Downtown Mystic Resiliency and Sustainability Plan Project.

Aundré

What's Our Rep Been Up To?

Family time is the best part of the holidays! My wife and I wish you all the best in 2024!

New Laws Taking Effect January 1, 2024

As we ring in the new year, there are some laws that become effective on January 1 that were passed during the 2023 legislative session addressing key issue areas including early voting, health and mental health, and online privacy and data protection.

There will also be an increase in the minimum wage effective January 1 from $15.00 to $15.69 made possible through

legislation passed in 2019, which implemented five incremental increases in the minimum wage followed by future adjustments that are tied to the percentage change in the federal employment cost index.

Although extensive, below I share some highlights, and a link to the complete list. Please feel free to share and reach out to my office if you would like more details on any of the new laws

EARLY VOTING (PA 23-5)

Establishes a framework for early, in-person voting requiring a 14-day early voting period for general elections, seven days for most primaries, and a four-day early voting period for special elections and presidential preference primaries.

HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE (PA 23-174)

Includes the creation of a Hospice Hospital at Home pilot program to provide in-home hospice care to patients through in-person visits and telehealth.

PROTECTING MATERNAL HEALTH (

PA 23-147)

Establishes a new license category for freestanding birth centers, an Infant Mortality Relief Program to review medical records and other data on infant deaths and a midwifery working group to study and make recommendations on advancing choices for community birth care.

ONLINE PRIVACY, DATA AND SAFETY PROTECTIONS (

PA 23-56)

Makes various changes to laws on data privacy and related issues, including provisions on consumer health data, minors’ social media accounts and online services, online dating operators, and a task force on internet crimes against children.

RESOURCES FOR PERSONS WITH AN INTELLECTUAL
OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY (

PA 23-137)

Among many supportive measures, creates a plan to establish a Transitional Life Skills College program to support certain people with IDD who are transitioning out of high school or to independent living.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS INJURIES (

PA 23-35)

Expands eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress injuries to all employees covered by the workers’ compensation law.

List of New Laws Going into Effect January 1, 2024

Reminder: MLK Essay Contest Deadline Fast Approaching

This is just a reminder that the deadline for Senator Chris Murphy’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest is fast approaching! Elementary, middle, and high school students from across Connecticut can help honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by submitting essays that reflect on Dr. King's dream, their aspirations, and the importance of what Dr. King means to them. Winners will be announced on Martin Luther King Day (Jan 15). The deadline to submit entries is January 5, 2024. Essays can be submitted by clicking on the image below.

Photo credit: National Geographic

Critical details to remember include:

Writing Prompt: Students must submit individual essays that reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream and work towards equality. Students should provide their own aspirations and the importance of what Dr. King means to them.
Word Count Guidelines:
Elementary School (K-5): 100-200 words: Elementary School Students may submit essays with drawings or photos.
Middle School (6-8): 300 words
High School (9-12): 500 words

Entries may be handwritten or submitted electronically using the form linked.

To Submit Essays by Mail, send all submissions to:
The Office of Senator Murphy c/o MLK Essay Contest
120 Huyshope Ave. Suite 401 Hartford, CT 06106
Submissions must include:
·         The student's first and last name
·         The name of the student's school (no abbreviations)
·         The address of the student's school
·         The student's grade and teacher
·         A parent's contact information (phone AND email, please)

Good luck!

Reminder: Public Meeting Jan. 4 for Downtown Mystic
Resiliency

and Sustainability Plan Project

I also wanted to remind you that the Town of Groton will host the final public meeting for the Downtown Mystic Resiliency and Sustainability Plan project on Thursday, January 4, 2024.

Please note that the event will be at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Pearl Street. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. with a presentation at 5:30 p.m.