State Capitol Update for the week of March 7th
March 11, 2022Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of March 7th.
If you prefer to watch rather than read, click here.
Earlier this week, my committee had the distinction of holding the first hybrid Committee Meeting, allowing members to participate either online or physically in Room 1B in the Legislative Office Building. Because we are still operating under rules requiring remote meetings, the meeting was not technically a hybrid meeting but rather a “Remote in Hearing Room Option” meeting. And we wonder why the government gets a reputation for making everything obscure.
It did feel like a big step forward to return to the hearing rooms that have gone mostly unused for the last two years, even though masks are still required in those rooms for those not recognized to speak. Many towns in the 64th District are engaging in the same struggle as the legislature. The ability to participate in local meetings from home has increased civic participation throughout the region, though it never quite replaces in-person interactions. Conducting a hybrid meeting can be tricky and does require an investment in equipment that allows those online to be a meaningful part of the conversation. Several towns have made that investment and are figuring out how to make the process work.
The ability to conduct local meetings virtually was enacted during the pandemic and is scheduled to sunset on April 30. There is a bill in the Planning and Development Committee, HB 5269, which would make that ability permanent, allowing towns to continue to conduct virtual or hybrid meetings and in-person ones. How do you feel about that? Has the option of online participation made it easier for you to participate in local government, or has it weakened the interaction for you? I’d love to hear from you.
Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- COVID-19 Weekly Update. Click Here
- Upcoming hearings – schedule. Click Here
- Regional Vaccination Clinic. Click Here
- DEEP to hold a virtual meeting on hazard tree removal policy on March 15. Click Here
- PURA to conduct Public Listening Session. Click Here
- Price gouging is illegal: how to report it. Click Here
- Shepaug Valley School to host the 18th Annual World Affairs Forum on March 19. Click Here
- 150 proposals submitted by Connecticut high school students, are under consideration for COVID relief funding. Click Here
- Providing information to Connecticut residents. Click Here
For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled “Data Tracker.”
Public Hearing Schedule for the coming week
A look at the schedule of public hearings being held this week. Please remember that you only need to register if you wish to provide testimony. If you want to observe the hearings, you can tune in to watch the proceedings live on the committee’s YouTube channel.
You can register to testify and find more detail on this week’s public hearings, including the bills that will be heard, in this week’s CGA Bulletin. You can access the Bulletin here: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABulletin/Bulletin.asp
Regional Vaccination Clinic
A reminder that Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS) will be hosting a Pediatric (Ages 5-11) Vaccination Clinic today, Friday, March 11, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m., in partnership with Griffin Health. This is open to the public and no appointments are necessary. A parent or guardian must accompany the child, ages 5-11, and only the pediatric Pfizer vaccination will be administered. A Pediatric Intake Form.pdf must be completed - you may print and complete it in advance, or forms will be available to complete at each clinic.
A second clinic will be held on Friday, April 1, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Only pediatric (ages 5-11) vaccinations will be administered at these clinics – no adult (12+) doses will be available.
Reminder re meeting of Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on March 16 at 6:30
As a result of Section 1 of Public Act 20-5, the Take Back Our Grid Act, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) will have an open proceeding to investigate, develop, and adopt a framework for implementing performance-based regulations for the electric distribution companies in Connecticut – Eversource and United Illuminating.
A virtual Public Listening Session will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. and the public and non-traditional stakeholders are encouraged to participate and offer comments.
If you are not able to attend the virtual forum, but are interested in submitting written comments, please send them to PURA. ExecutiveSecretary@ct.govreferencing Docket No. 21-05-15 in the subject line.
As always, if you need additional information, please feel free to contact me.
Price gouging is illegal: how to report it
Connecticut and the nation have seen gas prices increase at an alarming rate during this time of global unrest and the effect of market volatility on commodity prices.
While price fluctuations are expected, there are some unscrupulous businesses that exploit these conditions to gouge consumers at the pump.
The practice of charging unconscionably high prices immediately before market disruptions that cannot be attributed to additional costs is illegal in our state.
If you believe a business is engaging in price gouging, you may file a report with the Office of the Attorney General online at https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/ or call 860-808-5318.
Shepaug Valley School to host 18th Annual World Affairs Forum on March 19
Former journalist and human rights activist Wendy Luers will join students from the Humanities Department of Shepaug Valley School at the 18th Annual Shepaug World Affairs Forum on Saturday, March 19th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens in Washington Depot.
The Shepaug World Affairs Forum is an annual public event that showcases and celebrates student interest in international affairs. Each year an accomplished expert in international relations serves as the keynote speaker. The speaker engages with student panelists and community members in spirited discussion and at times debate regarding the most pressing issues that shape the world today.
Wendy Luers, the founder and President of The Foundation for a Civil Society (FCS) in New York, a cultural,democratization and non-profit organization will present the keynote address and will share stories and strategies for effective leadership in the complicated world of international relations. She will also inspire Shepaug students to be leaders in both current and emerging issues. Students will present prepared remarks about leadership following Mrs. Luers keynote address.
This is a free event and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early to secure a seat. A meet and greet with the panelists will follow the presentation. Refreshments will be served. For the safety of everyone involved, masks may be required. For additional information contact Chris Dennis at dennisc@region-12.org.
150 proposals submitted by Connecticut high school students are under consideration for COVID relief funding
150 proposals submitted by high school students across Connecticut have been deemed eligible by the Connecticut State Department of Education to be voted on as part of the Voice4Change initiative, a first-of-its-kind campaign that is empowering students to decide how $1.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding for schools will be spent.
The governor launched the initiative in November, explaining that its goal is to increase student engagement by challenging students to think critically to solve real-world problems, while also giving them a voice in how these relief funds will be used. The Connecticut State Department of Education set aside funding from the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund to support the initiative.
Students in participating high schools were required to submit proposals to the state outlining how they would spend up to $20,000 in their schools. A total of 201 proposals were received and thoroughly reviewed by staff from the Connecticut State Department of Education to ensure they meet federal rules for ARP ESSER investments, as well as alignment with the department’s state-level priorities. From those, 150 proposals from 54 high schools were deemed eligible.
Students from participating high schools will vote on the proposals on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The Connecticut State Department of Education will announce the winners in early April and begin working with districts to disperse funds and bring the proposals to life.
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More information about the initiative can be found online at portal.ct.gov/Voice4Change. Any questions can be directed to SDE.ARPESSER@ct.gov.
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