Legislation Passed Through The House

session
June 8, 2021
There are only 2 more days in the legislative session for the House to pass bills. As we enter the home stretch of session, please look out for my newsletters with information on legislation passed.
SB 894: Connecticut's craft beer industry continues to boom, and it may receive a boost. 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. 
 
SB 914: 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. 
 
SB 700: 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.
 
HB 6517: 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. 
 
HB 5597: 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. 

SB 972: 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. 
HB 6442: 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.  
 
SB 989: 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. 
 
SB 1008: 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. 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.
 
SB 1037: 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.
 
SB 927: 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.
 
SB 975: Many of the privileges we enjoy at home are denied to Connecticut's long-term care facility residents. 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.
 
HB 6587: 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. 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. 
 
SB 56: 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.
 
SB 660: 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. 
 
SB 1011: 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. 
 
SB 1059: 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. 
SB 363: This bill will expand the Attorney General's authority to protect the civil rights of Connecticut residents by allowing an investigation into allegations that civil rights are being violated and initiate legal proceedings in response. 
 
HB 6467: Through a partnership between the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), financial institutions, and Community Economic Financial Institutions, HB 6467 aims to achieve inclusive economic growth by promoting additional financing options for businesses across the state, specifically for those which are small and minority-owned.
 
SB 763: Mandatory reporters play a critical role in spotting the signs of elder abuse and ensuring that our older community members are safe. With an increasing number of older adults relying on paratransit services to get around, SB 763 adds paratransit drivers to Connecticut's list of those mandated to report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment – offering a comprehensive solution to keeping our older adults safe.