Eleni Kavros DeGraw

House and Senate Democrats have directed a spotlight on the historic investments in our proposed state budget for the next biennium.

The budget reflects months of hard work and long hours by the legislature's Appropriations Committee. The budget proposal is responsible, balanced, and puts Connecticut on a path to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while positioning our state for future growth.

The proposal would invest in our future workforce, fight for racial equity, and support our most vulnerable without exceeding the state spending cap or touching the Rainy Day Fund, now at an historic high of $3.5 billion.

Our Priorities

Responding to COVID-19

This budget would fully fund our local health districts and create an Office of Pandemic Response to ensure our municipalities and our state have the necessary tools to combat the next public health emergency. Our budget also provides an additional $80 million to nonprofits that have been on the frontlines; invests in our nursing homes and correctional facilities to better equip staff and enhance care; and expands access to health care through Medicaid.

CT’s Economic Recovery

Connecticut cannot continue kicking the can down the road. Our proposed biennial budget is proactive in paying down our state's long-term liabilities while investing in our communities by distributing a portion of the state’s sales tax to cities and towns. It also works to restructure state government to be more efficient, which would result in huge savings. The proposal also focuses on workforce training opportunities by fully funding the Debt Free Community College program and expanding workforce training in manufacturing.

Supporting Education

This proposal supports the next generation of leaders. It restores funding for local education and invests $4.7 million in low-income school districts and districts with students learning English as a second language to help close the opportunity gap. This budget would also increase per-student funding for vocational agriculture and charter schools and funds a farm-to-table program in school cafeterias so students can access fresh, locally-sourced food while supporting Connecticut farmers. We also propose allocating funds for early childhood education programs.

Fighting Racism

We heard your calls for action and in this budget we've included funding and strategies to help eradicate systemic and institutional racism in our state. We have proposed allocating funds to establish a Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health and recognizing racism as a public health crisis. We're seeking to end the practice of charging incarcerated individuals to make phone calls and investing in programs to close the revolving door of incarceration. This budget also proposes funding to help reduce gun violence in our cities; invests in training for police officers; and establishes a Connecticut Inspector General to independently investigate officer-involved shootings and creates an office to identify individuals wrongfully convicted of a crime.

Supporting Our Most Vulnerable

We invest in low- and middle-income households. This budget proposal would repeal the poverty tax; restore tax exemptions for retirees; and would expand the Earned Income Tax Credits by providing a vital tax break for low-income residents. It also would expand the farmers market food voucher program and boost funding for the Temporary Family Assistance program.

We will help build a more resilient economy and more just state for everyone. I believe this budget proposal sets us on a path to growth and security for every resident by investing in our future and addressing longstanding inequities.

The proposal presented this week could change before it reaches the House floor for a vote, but I am confident that as we work collectively and collaboratively, we will be able to shape a better Connecticut.

NEW STATE UNEMPLOYMENT WORK SEARCH REQUIREMENT

If you have been collecting COVID-related unemployment, you should be aware of upcoming changes which will affect they way you file for and receive your benefits.

Last year, Connecticut Department of Labor waived the mandatory work search requirement as part of Connecticut’s public health response to the pandemic. The waiver allowed unemployed individuals to receive benefits even though they were not actively searching for work.

Beginning Sunday, May 30, 2021, the work search requirement will again be in effect and will require those receiving unemployment to document their efforts to find a job.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

If you, as a claimant, have been collecting COVID-related unemployment, you must now make reasonable weekly work search efforts by:

• Contacting an employer: Claimants must contact at least one employer per week for work for which the claimant is reasonably suited based upon prior work experience, skills, knowledge, and ability. Claimants may initiate contact online, in person, by phone, or by mail. They must ensure the employer has their call back information for hiring purposes.
• Documenting your work search efforts.

Claimants must also engage in at least two of the following or other similar work search activities (either in person or virtually):

• Participate in a job interview.
• Attend a workshop at an American Job Center or a job fair.
• Participate in reemployment service activities at an American Job Center.
• Create a reemployment plan.
• Create and post a resume to www.CTHires.com.
• Create a personal user profile on a professional networking site.
• Contact another employer for a job for which the claimant is reasonably suited as outlined above.

You can record your work search efforts using this form HERE. Beginning in July, claimants will be required to report this information when you file your weekly claim. If you fail to provide this information, it could result in your being denied unemployment for that week.

For a list of frequently asked questions regarding the work search requirement, click HERE. You may also contact the Consumer Contact Center by clicking HERE or by calling 203-941-6868 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

BILLS I SUPPORTED THAT PASSED IN THE HOUSE LAST WEEK

During the public health emergency, nursing home residents saw increased isolation as facilities worked to safely respond to the crisis – this can’t happen again. HB 6634: An Act Concerning Essential Support Persons And a State-Wide Visitation Policy For Residents Of Long-Term Care Facilities,  works to prioritize a resident's physical, emotional, and social needs while a long-term care facility is responding a public health emergency.

Reckless and distracted driving, even in work zones and school zones, are unfortunately still a problem across our roads and highways. HB 5429: An Act Concerning Pedestrian Safety, The Vision Zero Council, Speed Limits In Municipalities, Fines and Charges For Certain Violations And The Greenways Commemorative Account, is a commonsense approach that will enhance motor vehicle safety, keeping all those on the road safer.

HB 5737: An Act Establishing A Veterans Trail and Military Tourism Trail, is another bill I support wholeheartedly. We cannot honor our veterans enough.

THE HOUSE IS IN SESSION THIS WEEK

We're in session this week. You can follow along on CT-N by clicking on the image below.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

Elder mental health is critically important and estimates show that more than 20% of people over 60 have a mental or neurological disorder.

As we continue to destigmatize mental health disorders, providing services to this population is important because we know that their generation grew up with the stigma and may be reluctant to reach out for help and support.

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The Senior Outreach and Engagement Program provides assessment and case management services to at risk older adults (55 and older) by utilizing proactive approaches to identify, engage and refer seniors for various individually tailored community treatment options. For more information please click HERE.