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I hope this message finds you and your family well! As we debate the budget tonight, I wanted to share an update, and will be in touch early next week with big news about what's in the budget.
The House has been in session every day as we are advocating for the residents of our communities, and we have passed numerous bills, which you can read more about further down in this email. It has been a busy and productive week, from debating on the House Floor to meeting with community members and advocates in the final weeks of the session. This week, we are back at the Capitol fighting the good fight to get meaningful legislation passed this Session.
As always, I am here to listen and be a resource for Ansonia and Derby residents, whether it be to discuss a policy item, navigate a state agency, or anything else you may need help with that is under my jurisdiction. Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office at any time and email me at kara.rochelle@cga.ct.gov. |
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| Honoring Mayor Frank Tyszka at Polish Day |
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This Thursday, we welcomed Ansonia Mayor Frank Tyszka to the State Capitol to be honored at the 35th Annual Polish Day at the Capitol Celebration. His contributions to our community and the Polish community across the state do not go unnoticed.
After the Polish Day celebrations, Mayor Tyszka joined me in the Chamber and around the Capitol for a bit of advocacy for our city. I am so grateful to have a strong partner in the good work for the people of Ansonia. |
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| Upgrades to the Derby and Ansonia Train Stations |
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This week, I was proud to join community leaders to announce the start of major upgrades at the Derby and Ansonia train stations to modernize the stations.
Stations will feature raised platforms, real-time arrival information, ticket vending, improved lighting, and clear wayfinding. Each location will be ADA accessible, with better pedestrian access and safer passenger flow.
In Derby, the project will restore the vacant historic station building to provide indoor waiting space and add new bus bays to strengthen connections with local transit services, creating a more seamless regional hub.
This is a major investment of tens of millions of dollars for the stations, building on the investment in increased train service in recent years and the purchase of hundreds of millions of dollars in new trains, which will be on the tracks in the coming years. I want to thank Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut Department of Transportation, our federal delegation, and my state delegation colleagues on this team effort and major investment in the Naugatuck Valley!
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| HB 5003 Passes the House and Senate |
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HB5003 passed the House AND Senate this week! I am a proud co-author of this bill and am proud to see it pass both chambers. The bill supports and protects women in the workplace, Healthcare Workers, Teachers, Para-educators, Building Trades, Service workers, Firefighters, Police Officers, EMS, Veterans, Carpenters, Judical Marshalls, Public Works Employees, PCA’s, and more.
I am incredibly thankful for all of the talented, hardworking legislators I worked with on this bill, this was a true team effort and labor of love for the hardworking people of Connecticut.
House Bill 5003 now moves onto the Governor's Desk to be signed into law .
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| Derby's Downtown Redevelopment |
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This week in the House we passed a bill to convey land from the state in Derby necessary for Derby’s downtown redevelopment.
And, importantly, the cost will be picked up by the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority, not Derby taxpayers, for the land. This is an important step as Derby continues forward with efforts for downtown redevelopment.
This was a team effort of the Derby Delegation in conjunction with Mayor Joseph DiMartino. This also would not have been possible without the smart step of the Derby Aldermen and Alderwomen to opt into a partnership with the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority. Team work, and continued forward movement for Derby!
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| Click here to watch my remarks on the House Floor |
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| Protecting Connecticut Consumers |
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Across Connecticut and the nation, consumers have reported being encouraged, and even pressured, to sign up for financial products such as medical credit cards, loans, and lines of credit while undergoing treatment, in pain, or under sedation. Many later face unexpected high-interest charges due to confusing promotional terms, leaving them burdened with significant and unforeseen debt. This week, the House passed a measure to protect Connecticut consumers.
HB 5127 addresses these concerns by establishing clear, targeted protections while preserving consumer choice and access to financing options. Key provisions of the legislation include:
- Targeted safeguards during vulnerable moments: Providers are generally prohibited from advertising, soliciting, or offering third-party financing while a patient is under anesthesia, receiving care, or in treatment areas. Regulated discussion may still occur in waiting rooms and other rooms within health care facilities to ensure transparency
- Empowering consumer decision-making: The bill prohibits providers from completing or submitting financing applications on behalf of patients, ensuring individuals maintain control over financial decisions.
- Improved transparency and reduced confusion: Restrictions on co-branding prevent misleading associations between care providers and financial products, while required disclosures ensure patients clearly understand terms and conditions in their primary language.
- Eliminating conflicts of interest: Providers may not receive financial incentives for promoting third-party financing options.
- Preventing unexpected costs: The bill limits when charges can be applied to financing accounts and enhances transparency around ancillary products, including return options in certain cases.
- Mandatory disclosure protections: Patients must sign a standardized disclosure form before engaging in financing discussions, ensuring informed consent.
This measure passed with vast bipartisan support and now moves to the Senate.
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| Supporting and Furthering Protections for Seniors |
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This week, we also passed three pieces of legislation that originated in the Aging Committee.
The first, HB 5142, extends protections for the use of technology to residents of residential care homes and sets a penalty for violation of the protections. It ensures residents in residential care homes can set up virtual monitoring systems so families have peace of mind and they can keep an eye on their loved ones. In the case of roommates, permission must sign off on paperwork, which can change at any time. With the support of many stakeholders, the legislation passed unanimously, 150-0-1 in the House.
The second, HB 5143, requires homemaker companion agency employees to complete eight hours of basic training each year, including training on topics such as: helping individuals with Alzheimer’s, identifying abuse, identifying when care is above capacity of a homemaker companion, and hygiene assistance. Currently, there isn’t a set training for homemaker companions. The bill had strong bipartisan support, passing 149-1-1 in the House.
HB 5140 allows dental hygienists to serve underserved homebound patients in private residences, such as seniors, veterans, and the disabled, who would likely go without dental care. Dental hygienists currently are allowed by law to work in facilities such as senior centers and preschools without the oversight of a dentist, and this legislation expands upon that. The dental hygienist will have worked under the supervision of a dentist for more than two years. With the support of stakeholders such as the CT Oral Health Initiative (COHI) and the Connecticut State Dental Association, the bill passed unanimously, 144-0, with seven absent/note voting.
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The Derby Public Library will hold a Job Search Support program on Wednesday, May 6th and 20th, from 5 to 6 p.m., and Thursday, May 14th and 28th, 10 to 11 a.m., for 30 minute time slots. Contact Marc Weissman at 203-736-1482 or mweissman@biblo.org.
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The Ansonia City-Wide Tag Sale is set for Saturday, May 16th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All funds will support Ansonia's Summer Youth Programs.
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Save the Date for a Pet Health and Wellness Clinic on May 29th, hosted by me, State Senator Jorge Cabrera, and Ansonia Mayor Frank Tyszka! The clinic will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ansonia Armory. Click here to register and make an appointment.
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Save the Date for the Lower Valley Job Fair happening June 24th from 10 am to 1 pm at Ansonia High School!
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Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267. Follow my Facebook page for regular legislative updates.
All my Best,
Kara Rochelle
State Representative
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