Bills & Legislation

AN ACT CONCERNING THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES.

To eliminate the statutorily prescribed amount for payment to part-time board members.

Judiciary Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DISPOSITION OF CASES BEFORE THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

To (1) permit health clubs and gyms to offer separate areas for exercise on the basis of sex, and (2) make statutory changes to commission processes involving requests for early legal intervention, the reopening of previously closed complaints and time parameters for pursuing a complaint in court.

Judiciary Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING A BRIDGE PROGRAM TO ALLOW ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.

To establish a plan for a state-funded bridge program for persons at risk of losing federal food, health care and housing assistance.

Appropriations Committee

AN ACT REVISING THE DEFINITION OF "RETIRED POLICE OFFICER" FOR PURPOSES OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING SCHOOL SECURITY SERVICES.

To revise the definition of "retired police officer" for the purposes of certain provisions regarding school security services.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING CYBERSECURITY.

To establish various cybersecurity provisions relating to (1) a cybersecurity framework, (2) a prohibition on penalizing cybersecurity employees for certain reports, (3) notifications regarding cybersecurity incidents, (4) minimum safeguards, (5) quantum-transition readiness requirements, (6) the "Connecticut Cybersecurity Seed Fund" grant program, (7) a "bug bounty" program, (8) the dissemination of cybersecurity intelligence, (9) the State Cybersecurity Intelligence Task Force, and (10) the state's operational response to cybersecurity emergencies.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING FIREWORKS, FOUNTAINS AND NOVELTIES.

To require the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to conduct a study of the general statutes and regulations of Connecticut state agencies relating to fireworks to determine whether any revisions to such statutes or regulations are necessary and to submit a report concerning the results of such study.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE IMPAIRED DRIVING ENFORCEMENT AND DRUG RECOGNITION TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.

To establish the impaired driving enforcement and drug recognition training grant program and require that a certain portion of a cannabis-related tax be expended for the purposes of providing grants pursuant to said program.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DISPLAY OF LIGHTED LAMPS ON BICYCLES, ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND ELECTRIC SCOOTERS.

To require each bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter operated upon the public highway to display a lighted lamp upon the forward part of such bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter during certain times.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING LIQUOR PERMITS, FIRE SAFETY AND PREVENTION INSPECTIONS, THE REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION AND JUICE BARS.

To (1) delete a provision regarding certain inspections not being deemed to constitute a precondition to renewal of a liquor permit, (2) modify certain requirements relating to fire safety and prevention inspections, (3) require certain nonresident owners, project-based housing providers or agents in charge to register certain information, and (4) establish various requirements relating to juice bars.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE STATUTORY ROLES OF THE VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY POSITIONS IN THE STATE.

To establish a working group to study the statutory roles of the various law enforcement and public safety positions in the state.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING FIREFIGHTER CANCER.

To (1) make various revisions relating to the Fallen Hero Fund, firefighter cancer death benefits, survivor health insurance coverage and associated payments and reimbursements, and (2) establish a pilot program to reimburse firefighters who receive screening for cancers common to firefighters.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING STATE POLICE ASSIGNED TO HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

To establish that for any sworn member of the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection assigned to a highway construction project administered by the Department of Transportation, such sworn member shall be paid at a rate established pursuant to an agreement executed between the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Commissioner of Transportation.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE OFFERING PRICE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND PROVISIONS OF THE FRANCHISE ACT GOVERNING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS OR DISTRIBUTORS AND AUTOMOBILE DEALERS.

To (1) require a car dealer to include any dealer conveyance fee in the stated price of a motor vehicle in advertisement and in communications with a prospective buyer, and (2) make changes to the Franchise Act as it applies to car manufacturers, distributors and dealers.

Transportation Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

To require the Commissioner of Transportation to consider the carbon sequestration by trees and other vegetation along highways and determine if revisions to the guidelines governing tree and vegetation management by the Department of Transportation are necessary.

Transportation Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES AND RIDER SAFETY.

To require a transportation network company to (1) annually conduct criminal history records checks of transportation network company drivers, (2) provide annual sexual misconduct prevention and driver education training, and (3) implement certain safety features through its digital network to ensure the safety of riders.

Transportation Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM MODERNIZATION.

To revise various transportation-related statutes concerning (1) the type of vehicles eligible for a rebate or voucher under the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate program, (2) the matching grant program for modernizing existing traffic signal equipment and operations, (3) the requirements for zero-emission school buses and alternative fuel school buses and the related grant program for the purchasing or leasing of zero-emission school buses, (4) a working group to study incentives to increase the use of freight rail transportation in the state, and (5) a working group to study incentives to transport municipal solid waste by freight rail.

Transportation Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING BATTERY-POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT FUNDING FOR MUNICIPALITIES, REGIONAL SCHOOLS AND COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPERS.

To transition to battery powered leaf blowers and related equipment throughout the state.

Environment Committee

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP CONCERNING ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACILITIES AND ELECTRIC GRID CAPACITY PLANNING.

To require the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to convene a working group for the purpose of examining and making recommendations regarding the siting and use of electric transmission facilities and electric grid capacity planning in the state.

Energy and Technology Committee

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY ISSUES RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING.

To establish a task force to study issues relating to consumer protection and occupational licensing.

General Law Committee

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF STATE ETHICS FOR REVISIONS TO THE STATE CODES OF ETHICS.

To (1) require members of boards, commissions, committees and councils within the Executive Department with contract authority to file statements of financial interests, (2) permit the filing of the name of certain tax-sheltered annuity retirement plans in lieu of naming specific securities within such statements, and (3) apply substantial conflict of interest provisions in the state code of ethics for public officials and state employees to conflicts involving the public official's or state employee's nonstate employer or spouse's nonstate employer.

Government Oversight Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT OVER FRAUD AND WASTE AND ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND EFFICIENCY.

To establish a working group to uncover fraud and waste in state government, establish the Office of Government Oversight and Efficiency, require state agencies to notify affected parties of material and substantial changes in law, establish the Results-Based Accountability Working Group and require the involvement of additional committees and public officials for audit reports that have financial implications.

Government Oversight Committee

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DISCLOSURE OF THE RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE CONCERNING MASS REQUESTS UNDER THE ACT.

To prohibit disclosure of the residential address of public school teachers under the Freedom of Information Act and to establish a task force to study how to respond to the issue of mass requests created by artificial intelligence.

Government Oversight Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING HUSKY C ASSET LIMITS.

To phase-in the elimination of asset limits in the HUSKY C program.

Human Services Committee

AN ACT EXPANDING EMERGENCY MEDICAID COVERAGE.

To expand emergency Medicaid coverage to the extent permissible under federal law.

Human Services Committee

AN ACT REQUIRING NURSING HOMES TO SPEND EIGHTY PER CENT OF REVENUE ON DIRECT PATIENT CARE.

To require nursing homes to spend eighty per cent of revenue on direct patient care.

Human Services Committee

AN ACT EXPANDING MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

To disregard certain income for older adults with disabilities when determining their eligibility for Medicaid.

Human Services Committee

AN ACT COMPENSATING SPOUSES FOR STATE-FUNDED HOME CARE.

To authorize payment to spouses and others who provide care under the state-funded portion of the Connecticut home-care program for the elderly.

Human Services Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING STEP THERAPY REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS COVERED UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM AND REQUIRED NOTICE TO ENROLLEES OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG PAYMENT SUSPENSIONS, DENIALS OR IMPOSITION OF NEW REQUIREMENTS.

To align step therapy requirements with manufacturer guidelines for prescription drugs covered under the Medicaid program.

Human Services Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING NOTICE TO PARTIES BEFORE A FAIR RENT COMMISSION.

To require fair rent commissions to notify parties to a hearing of their rights under the hearing and the scope of the commission's lawful authority.

Housing Committee

AN ACT DEFINING ADVANCE RENTAL PAYMENTS.

To differentiate advance rental payments and security deposits and permit the use of advance rental payments.

Housing Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMPOSITION OF FAIR RENT COMMISSIONS.

To require that fair rent commissions consist of an equal number of landlords and residential tenants.

Housing Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF HOUSING POLICY.

To study the housing policies of the state.

Housing Committee

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE CONCERNING THE REMOVAL AND STORAGE OF PROPERTY OF EVICTED TENANTS.

To require that personal property left behind after eviction be stored for fifteen days by the plaintiff and to permit the plaintiff to dispose of such property as such plaintiff sees fit following the expiration of fifteen days.

Housing Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING UNIT-EQUIVALENT POINTS FOR DEVELOPMENTS SUBJECT TO LITIGATION.

To prevent the receipt of housing unit-equivalent points for certain units located in developments subject to the affordable housing appeals process for a period of more than six months.

Housing Committee

AN ACT ALLOWING LONG-TERM RENTAL OF BEDROOMS IN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME AS OF RIGHT.

To allow rental of bedrooms in a single-family home as of right.

Housing Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING RETURN OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PAYMENTS.

To shorten the time period that health carriers may cancel, deny or demand the return of payment from health care providers and to require that health carriers establish an electronic appeal process.

Insurance and Real Estate Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH COVERAGE.

To: (1) require certain health insurers, preferred provider networks and other entities to include certain provisions in contracts with health care providers regarding reimbursement for certain covered health benefits, (2) clarify the definition of "anti-steering clause" under section 38a-477i of the general statutes, (3) require the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study concerning various revisions to the insurance statutes, (4) change the time period that a health carrier and participating provider shall continue to abide by the terms of a contract under section 38a-472f of the general statutes, (5) prohibit a health carrier from using a software tool to downcode or deny certain health insurance claims, (6) establish a rebuttable presumption for purposes of the review of an adverse determination under section 38a-591e of the general statutes, and (7) prohibit certain health carriers from requiring step therapy for prescription drugs used to treat a chronic, disabling or life-threatening condition.

Insurance and Real Estate Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING FEES CHARGED FOR CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECKS.

To waive certain fees for criminal history records checks in the case of a person seeking a pardon.

Judiciary Committee

AN ACT PROTECTING CHILDREN'S SAFETY BY REQUIRING AFFIRMATIVE CONSENT BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN FOR THE USE OF A CHILD'S LIKENESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

To prohibit the use of a child's likeness for purposes of marketing or advertising on social media without the affirmative consent of a parent or guardian.

Committee on Children

AN ACT CONCERNING BREASTFEEDING IN THE WORKPLACE, PRE AND POST-SHIFT HOURS AND ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY WORKPLACE HEAT SAFETY STANDARDS.

To (1) align state and federal law regarding break times for the purpose of breastfeeding or expressing milk during the work day, (2) include security screenings required by an employer in the definition of "hours worked" for purposes of chapter 558 of the general statutes, and (3) establish a task force to study and provide recommendations for the establishment of heat safety standards in the workplace.

Labor and Public Employees Committee

AN ACT INCREASING THE THRESHOLD AMOUNT FOR FELONY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FRAUD.

To increase the threshold dollar amount for an individual to become guilty of a felony for receiving unemployment benefits by fraudulent means.

Labor and Public Employees Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING PORTAL-TO-PORTAL WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES.

To provide portal-to-portal workers' compensation coverage for employees of a public works department.

Labor and Public Employees Committee

AN ACT INCREASING THE PER DIEM RATE FOR MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF LABOR RELATIONS AND COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION.

To increase (1) the per diem rate for regular and alternative members of the State Board of Labor Relations, and (2) the compensation the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration members receive for their services.

Labor and Public Employees Committee

AN ACT ESTABLISHING STANDARD OF REVIEW FOR TEACHER TERMINATION DECISIONS AND REQUIRING TERMINATION HEARINGS TO BE BEFORE A NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR.

To (1) establish a just cause standard for teacher termination decisions, (2) require teacher termination hearings be before a neutral arbitrator, and (3) make the decisions of such neutral arbitrator binding.

Labor and Public Employees Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE MINIMUM FAIR WAGE AND PERSONS EMPLOYED AT CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS.

To clarify that persons employed at cannabis establishments are to be paid the minimum fair wage.

Labor and Public Employees Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE FOR CONDITIONS RELATED TO MENOPAUSE.

To (1) require employers to provide reasonable accommodations in the workplace for conditions related to menopause, (2) require the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities to develop a model workplace policy regarding reasonable accommodations for conditions related to menopause, and (3) require the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities to develop education materials regarding conditions related to menopause.

Labor and Public Employees Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING STAFFING IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS DIVISION IN THE LABOR DEPARTMENT.

To increase the number of staff at the Unemployment Insurance Benefits Division in the Labor Department.

Labor and Public Employees Committee