Session Wrap Up 6.1
June 5, 2021Structural 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.
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.
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.
The House passed SB 2, an omnibus bill that would help improve the lives and health of all children in our state.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Many of the privileges we enjoy at home are denied to Connecticut's long-term care facility residents. Just passed by the House, SB 975 strengthens the nursing home patients' bill of rights so residents may treat their living space as their home, protecting their rights to privacy, health, and safety. Every resident deserves the safety and security of a home-like environment.
Sewage spills can harm our waterways and contaminate public drinking water or swimming areas. SB 927 would establish a system enabling Connecticut residents to be notified of sewage spills. Residents should have the right to know when there's a public health risk.
With recent and proposed changes to the state's waste management, Connecticut's recycling program is ready for reform. Commonly known as the "bottle bill," SB 1037 will make changes to increase the redemption and recycling rates for bottles and cans to save our communities money and protect our environment. It will also invest in redemption centers to make recycling more convenient and viable.
Pulse oximeters are valuable tools that can help diagnose conditions like asthma, lung cancer, and others. However, they are 3 times more likely produce inaccurate readings when used on individuals with darker skin. Just passed by the House, SB 1008 would inform health care providers, pharmacies, insurers, and others that these devices can be inaccurate when used on people of color. It also prohibits insurers from denying benefits coverage based on blood oxygen levels measured by a pulse oximeter. By bringing attention to this weakness, we can help improve health outcomes and care.
One in four Americans have experienced online hate and harassment, but Connecticut’s statutes regarding stalking and harassment have not kept pace with technology. SB 989 will update Connecticut's laws to combat online harassment and protect those subject to it.
From schools to jobs to meetings, most of our lives moved online over the last year – exposing the extreme inequities in broadband access and the need to bridge the digital divide. HB 6442 will work to address these inequities and provide reliable broadband access across our state.
The opioid epidemic has devastated our state. HB 5597 would help combat this epidemic by creating a task force to study the response protocols used by emergency responders and medical personnel following an opioid overdose death. It also requires the state Department of Public Health Commissioner to develop guidelines for the use of non-pharmaceutical methods of treating chronic pain and conduct community outreach to raise awareness. This bill could save lives and address the stigma of opioid use disorder.
In 2019, Connecticut became the first state to provide burial rights for Hmong Laotian Special Guerilla Unit Veterans at the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown. To further recognize the contributions and sacrifices these soldiers made serving alongside U.S. service members during the Vietnam War in the U.S. secret war in the Kingdom of Laos, the House passed SB 914, which expands their access to certain veterans' benefits. We hope this measure will honor their service, which helped bring many U.S. service members home.
For municipalities purchasing open space, undisclosed dams can be costly to remove. Additionally, dams can endanger the surrounding environment should they fail. With the passage of SB 700, residents selling their property would be required to disclose any dams that are or have been registered with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This bill will help promote safety and transparency in real estate transactions.
Over 2,000 Connecticut students were diagnosed with dyslexia during the 2018-19 school year, and 80% of students with learning disabilities have dyslexia. To improve instruction and better support students with dyslexia, the House passed HB 6517. This bill establishes an Office of Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities that will help teachers identify students who may have dyslexia and become more effective at instructing them to achieve greater success. The first step in helping students overcome challenges in the classroom is identifying why they're struggling. This bill provides the tools to help students succeed.
Your state government is supposed to serve as an equitable representation of our communities, but across gender and race lines, barriers have maintained a largely uniform state government where women and people of color are underrepresented.
SB 883 would adopt the recommendations of the Governor's Council on Women and Girls to remove barriers to childcare expenses for candidates running for state elected office and increase transparency of processes to ensure equity when appointing individuals to boards and commissions.
Connecticut has the nation's highest cost for phone calls made to and from the state's prisons. Families spend a combined $12 million just to stay in touch with their incarcerated loved ones. SB 972 corrects this dubious policy. By enabling incarcerated individuals to stay connected to their families, we can help halt the revolving door of recidivism.
Connecticut's craft beer industry continues to boom, and it may receive a boost. Just passed, SB 894 would permit the sale of alcohol-infused treats, like chocolate at package stores, and the use of a self-pour automated machine to serve beer, certain ciders, and wine. This is an innovative way to keep our craft beer industry on an upward track.
No one should be denied employment because of their age, yet studies have found that 60 percent of workers over 45 have experienced or seen age discrimination. SB 56 would strengthen protections against age discrimination by prohibiting employers from asking job applicants their age, date of birth, and graduation date.
Epinephrine cartridge injectors, such as EpiPens, are lifesaving tools for individuals with life-threatening allergies, however high prices keep these devices out of reach. EpiPens can cost up to $700, leading consumers to hang on to long-expired epinephrine injectors or forego them altogether. Just passed, HB 6587 would cap the cost at $25 and require health carriers to include at least one covered epinephrine injector on its lowest cost-sharing tier for certain insurance plans.
Connecticut's current domestic violence laws fall short of offering comprehensive support and protection for survivors. SB 1091 updates our laws to, among other changes, expand the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control. Though seemingly small, these changes can offer more positive outcomes to individuals trapped in abusive relationships.
Opioid antagonists, like Naloxone or Narcan, and EpiPens save countless lives, rescuing individuals from an accidental overdose or a severe allergic reaction respectively. SB 1011 will require police officers, who are often the first responders to a scene, to carry and effectively administer these life-saving medications.
Over this past year, our health care providers served on the frontlines working tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of our communities – often facing the darkest moments of the pandemic and witnessing untold traumas. Many of our first responders are now suffering from anxiety, PTSD, and other lasting mental health and emotional impairments. SB 660 will expand Workers' Compensation to better support first responder's mental and emotional health in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Solitary confinement causes irreparable harm, leaving individuals to suffer from damaging and often life-long psychological effects. While only a step towards reform to our system, SB 1059 limits the practice of solitary confinement at Connecticut's correctional facilities, in addition to increasing transparency and accountability within the correctional system.