Legislation Passed Tuesday and Wednesday

session
June 3, 2021
June is here and that means it's PRIDE MONTH!! Follow along this month as I share resources, legislation, events and trailblazing figures in the Connecticut LGBTQ+ community!
And did you know that June is Caribbean American Heritage Month? It is a time to celebrate the culture that these communities bring to our nation. Caribbean Americans have made our country more innovative and more prosperous; they have enriched our nation’s arts and culture, our public institutions, and our economy. 

Despite the powerful legacy of achievement of Caribbean Americans, many members of the Caribbean-American community continue to face systemic barriers to equity, opportunity, and justice. Systemic racism has uniquely impacted Black and Latino immigrant communities, including Caribbean Americans, leading to disparities in health care, education, housing, criminal justice, and economic opportunity.

We must come together to address those entrenched disparities — and bring our nation closer to its promise that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives.
Lastly, Happy World Bicycle Day! 🚴

Here are some driving tips to keep our cyclists safe:
  • Be considerate of vulnerable road users, show patience and respect 
  • Give cyclists a wide berth when overtaking 
  • When turning, watch for cyclists approaching 
  • Signal early to give cyclists plenty of time to see your intended maneuver when turning
  • If you believe cyclists have not seen your indication, stop and use your horn to alert them
  • If driving in the dark and approaching a cyclist, dip your headlights 
  • Look out for cyclists before opening your car door
This week the the House of Representatives is in session Tuesday through Saturday to pass several pieces of important legislation. Below I have provided highlights on a few of bills that passed Monday and Tuesday.
 
SB 186: With summer nearly here, high schoolers looking for work could get hired at our state's amusement parks. Today, the House voted to pass SB 186, which would permit individuals 16 years old to operate rides at amusement parks under the supervision of a qualified adult. 
 
HB 5027: Buying a house in Connecticut can be expensive, especially for first-time homebuyers. HB 5027 would help make the cost of buying a home more affordable by allowing individuals to open savings accounts dedicated to paying for a down payment. 
 
HB 6372: Under current law, residents who are already struggling financially and have less than $1,000 in their bank accounts or who receive wages directly deposited into their account must file for an exemption and provide documentation to protect their wages and other income from being subject to a debt collector. HB 6372 provides peace of mind for these residents by automatically protecting eligible funds from debt collectors. 
 
SB 891: For people facing tough times, our state’s Foreclosure Mediation Program has helped them stay in their homes. However, this program is scheduled to sunset in June 2023. SB 891 will extend this vital program for another 6 years until June 2029 to help homeowners reach settlements and keep their homes.
  
SB 89: Many people purchase travel insurance to help protect against trip cancellation for unforeseen circumstances, however, many policies do not offer protection if an insured person’s spouse, child, dependent relative residing in the policyholder’s household, or travel companion dies by suicide. The loss of a loved one by suicide is devastating, and SB 89, or Sean’s Bill, would require travel insurers to cover suicide, helping to protect families and combat the stigma of mental illness.
 
SB 999: Investing in the in-state clean technology workforce is a critical component to combatting climate change in the years to come. SB 999 will create continuity standards across the renewable energy industry resulting in several good paying jobs for Connecticut residents. 
 
HB 6402: The landscape of college sports athletics has shifted greatly over the last several decades – resulting in a need to modernize the standards for student athletes, especially when it comes to cashing in on their fame. Through the passage of HB 6402, Connecticut will move to join other states around the country to allow student athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness offering a significant recruiting advantage to our college sports programs. 
 
SB 1: Structural and systemic racism has a significant impact on the social determinants of health, leading to vast health disparities in our state. Among other impactful measures included in the omnibus bill to support accessible health care, SB 1 includes a provision to declare racism a public health crisis and assemble a panel to study the effects of racism on our health care system.