Bills & Legislation

AN ACT CONCERNING A REDUCTION OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AND POLYSTYRENE WASTE.

To reduce the production of single-use plastics and polystyrene waste in the state.

Environment Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, A DEPUTY STATE FIRE MARSHAL, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE FIRE MARSHAL TRAINING COUNCIL AND A FIRE AND CATASTROPHIC RESTORATION BUSINESS LICENSE.

To (1) establish that the State Fire Marshal shall (A) not be dismissed unless the Commissioner of Administrative Services notifies the State Fire Marshal and gives the State Fire Marshal an opportunity to be heard at a public hearing; and (B) appoint a Deputy State Fire Marshal; (2) modify the membership of the Fire Marshal Training Council; and (3) establish that no person shall engage in the business of a fire and catastrophic restoration business unless such person holds a license.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING AN EQUITABLE MEDICAID AUDIT, BILLING AND REIMBURSEMENT POLICY FOR PHARMACIES.

To ensure a fair process for pharmacies regarding Medicaid billing and reimbursements.

Human Services Committee

AN ACT PROHIBITING DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADVERTISEMENTS.

To prohibit direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertisements directed at consumers in this state.

General Law Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF ACCESSIBLE SEATING FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS AT VENUES THAT RECEIVE STATE FUNDING.

To require a study of requiring venues that receive state funding to have dedicated accessible seating for the visually impaired close to performance areas.

Government Administration and Elections Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE COACHES AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS UNDER A PEER SUPPORT TREATMENT MODEL.

To provide Medicaid coverage for peer support services.

Human Services Committee

AN ACT REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE STRATEGY TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EXPAND PAID WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

To require the Office of Workforce Strategy to establish a working group to develop a plan for a grant program to increase the availability of and student participation in paid internships and work-based learning opportunities.

Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING CLOSURES AND EVACUATIONS OF RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND NURSING HOMES.

To (1) require nursing homes and residential care homes to consider resident proximity to family and other support networks when transferring or discharging a resident, (2) require the Commissioner of Public Health to study nursing home and residential care home evacuation procedures relating to transportation, (3) require nursing homes and residential care homes to maintain insurance for residents' personal property lost or damaged as a result of an evacuation, (4) establish a database that provides real-time tracking of nursing home and residential care home bed availability, (5) establish an automated benefits transfer system to facilitate the transfer of benefits and payments when a nursing home or residential care home resident is transferred to a new facility on an emergency basis, and (6) require the Commissioner of Public Health to study methods to employ alternative housing solutions to provide living arrangements to residential care home residents impacted by mandated bed reductions.

Aging Committee

AN ACT REESTABLISHING THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM REVIEW AND INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE.

To reestablish the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee.

Government Administration and Elections Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS.

To (1) prohibit certain recreational or educational children's programs from using the term "camp" in advertising materials, (2) require certain employees of municipal recreational or educational children's programs to submit to comprehensive background checks, (3) require municipal recreational or educational children's programs to maintain certain staffing ratios and employ staff persons trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid, and (4) require certain employees of municipal recreational or educational children's programs to serve as mandated reporters and complete related training.

Committee on Children

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION TO STUDY A HUSKY FOR ALL SINGLE-PAYER UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM.

To establish a commission to conduct an economic analysis of establishing a universal health care program open to all in the state.

Human Services Committee

AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF HEALTH CARRIER COVERAGE GUIDELINES, UTILIZATION REVIEW AND COVERAGE FOR LIFE-SAVING MEDICAL TREATMENT OR SERVICES.

To require that the Insurance Commissioner conduct a study of: (1) Health carrier coverage guidelines in this state as compared to such coverage guidelines in other states; (2) utilization review transparency measures and time limits concerning utilization review of nonurgent and urgent care requests; and (3) mandated health insurance coverage for life-saving medical treatment or services.

Insurance and Real Estate Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING PROCEEDINGS OF THE SITING COUNCIL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING CERTAIN UTILITY EXPENDITURES.

To modify provisions concerning the Connecticut Siting Council, including by establishing the Consumer Counsel as a party in proceedings, requiring disclosure of utility retention of lobbyists and excluding lobbying and certain other costs from being considered operating costs for ratemaking purposes and modifying submission and notification requirements for council applications.

Government Administration and Elections Committee

AN ACT CONVEYING A PARCEL OF STATE LAND IN THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH.

To convey a parcel of state land in the town of Plymouth to Gentile's Campground for open space, recreational or lodging purposes.

Government Oversight Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE UNIFORM INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENT REPORT AND CERTAIN REPORTS BY PEACE OFFICERS.

To require (1) the Commissioner of Transportation to conduct a study of any changes necessary to conform the uniform investigation of accident report to the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria, and (2) a peace officer to prepare a report when such officer requests emergency medical services for a person who experiences an emergency medical condition or is medically unstable while in direct audio or visual contact with, or under the custody or control of, such officer.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP TO STUDY NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE.

To (1) designate April nineteenth of each year as Connecticut Liver Health Day, and (2) require the Commissioner of Public Health to (A) establish and administer a program to promote liver health in the state and increase public awareness of and education regarding certain liver diseases, (B) develop a plan to provide mobile transient elastography for liver fibrosis in high-risk communities in the state, and (C) develop and implement a 5-2-1-0 Let's Go! campaign.

Public Health Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING GRANTS FOR THE REMOVAL OF PFAS FROM FIRE APPARATUS.

To (1) establish that municipalities shall provide additional sets of turnout gear to firefighters who are diagnosed with cancer, have a predisposition to cancer or have an increased risk of developing cancer, (2) establish a pilot program to screen paid and volunteer firefighters for cancers common to firefighters, and (3) make independent fire companies and state entities eligible for grants to remove PFAS from fire apparatus and also allow grants to provide reimbursement for removals of PFAS that occurred prior to July 1, 2023.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PEDIATRIC HOSPICE WORKING GROUP.

To (1) require the working group concerning pediatric palliative and hospice care to develop recommendations for the establishment of a Children's Health, Advocacy, Management and Palliative Care program and Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Care Center of Excellence pilot program, and (2) require the Commissioner of Public Health to establish such programs.

Public Health Committee

AN ACT REQUIRING NEWBORN SCREENING FOR DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.

To require newborn screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Public Health Committee

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM CONCERNING THE USE OF BODY SCANNING MACHINES IN CERTAIN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND REQUIRING REPORTS CONCERNING STRIP AND CAVITY SEARCHES IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

To require the Department of Correction to report concerning the potential use of body scanning machines in correctional facilities and policies and information concerning the conduct of strip searches and cavity searches of persons who are incarcerated.

Government Oversight Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING.

To (1) eliminate the requirement that a petition for post-conviction DNA testing be made at any time during the term of the petitioner's incarceration, and (2) set forth that the denial of such petition is a final judgment for purposes of an appeal.

Judiciary Committee

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION CONCERNING CHILD CARE SERVICES, EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO PATIENTS RECEIVING PRENATAL CARE.

To require the Office of Early Childhood to develop and administer a pilot program to disseminate information concerning child care services, early intervention programs and financial assistance programs to patients receiving prenatal care.

Committee on Children

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REGARDING THE SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS STATUTES.

To implement the recommendations of the Department of Administrative Services regarding the school building projects statutes.

Education Committee

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE REVIEW OF HEALTH CARE ENTITY TRANSACTIONS.

To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.

REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR PURSUANT TO JOINT RULE 9

AN ACT CONCERNING EXPENDITURES OF THE GENERAL FUND.

To review appropriations from the General Fund.

Appropriations Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF WAGE AND HOUR INVESTIGATORS AT THE LABOR DEPARTMENT.

To increase the number of wage and hour investigators employed by the Labor Department.

Labor and Public Employees Committee

AN ACT REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TO STUDY THE AVAILABILITY OF CHILD CARE SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO ADDRESS INFANT AND TODDLER CHILD CARE SERVICES NEEDS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

To require the Office of Early Childhood to conduct an annual study of child care availability throughout the state and to develop a plan to address infant and toddler childcare needs for low-income families.

Committee on Children

AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORIZATION OF STATE GRANT COMMITMENTS FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS AND REVISIONS TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS STATUTES.

To authorize state grant commitments for school building projects and make revisions to the school building project statutes.

Education Committee

AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ELECTRONIC PORTAL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR STATE GRANT PROGRAMS.

To require the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to establish an electronic portal containing information a regarding state grant programs, including applications for such programs.

Government Administration and Elections Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING LIMITS ON SPECIAL EDUCATION EXPENDITURES.

To require a report on special education expenditures.

Appropriations Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC SCHOOL SECURITY PERSONNEL TRAINING.

To (1) provide that an instructor approved by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and elected by a local or regional board of education may provide training to armed and unarmed security personnel employed in the public schools, (2) provide that such training may be provided at the Connecticut Police Academy or any other location elected by the local or regional board of education, and (3) establish certain training requirements for armed and unarmed security personnel.

Public Safety and Security Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REFORMS TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE.

To (1) allow certain processing of absentee ballots prior to the day of an election, primary or referendum, (2) provide for notification of electors whose absentee ballots have been marked "Rejected" to advise of the opportunity to vote in person, (3) require that ballots be counted on the day of an election or primary beginning at eight o'clock a.m., (4) require individuals signing petitions to date their signatures thereon, (5) provide that petition forms for candidacies for municipal offices are available from the Secretary of the State instead of the registrar of voters, (6) limit the reasons after the close of the polls for which the canvass may be interrupted prior to the transmission of the preliminary results to the Secretary, (7) for discrepancy recanvasses, (A) require that all districts in a municipality be examined and not just the district in which the discrepancy was found, and (B) allow one party representative to communicate directly with the moderator, (8) require the Secretary to test the election management system, and give a demonstration thereon to local election officials, prior to each election and primary, (9) require the registrars of voters in each municipality to display a poster in each early voting location to assist electors in looking up their proper respective voting district to ensure they receive the correct early voting ballot, (10) require the Secretary to approve at least one electronic poll book for local election official use by January 1, 2027, (11) allow municipalities of a certain size to reduce their number of polling places for primaries, and (12) appropriate funds to the office of the Secretary of the State for early voting purposes.

Government Administration and Elections Committee

AN ACT RESTORING SERVICE ON THE SHORE LINE EAST RAIL LINE.

To require the Department of Transportation to fully restore service on the Shore Line East rail line.

Transportation Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PARK REPLACEMENT STATUTE.

To clarify the municipal requirement to replace land taken for other purposes that was previously dedicated to open space or park space.

Environment Committee

AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A CAPTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OR USING PARAMETRIC INSURANCE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS IMPACTED BY THE EFFECTS OF SEVERE WEATHER.

To require that the Insurance Commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Agriculture, conduct a feasibility study for establishing a captive insurance company or providing insurance coverage through parametric contracts to provide financial assistance to farmers in the state impacted by the effects of severe weather.

Insurance and Real Estate Committee

AN ACT REQUIRING A BIENNIAL STUDY OF PAYMENT PARITY FOR SERVICES UNDER CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES IN THE STATE AND THE HUSKY HEALTH PROGRAM.

To require a biennial study of payment parity for services under certain individual and group health insurance policies in the state and the HUSKY Health program.

Public Health Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE TRANSFORMING CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.

To add members to the Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee.

Appropriations Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING CANNABINOIDS, HEMP AND HEMP PRODUCTS.

To (1) redefine "marijuana" to exclude certain products, (2) define "naturally manufactured hemp cannabinoid" and "low-THC hemp product", (3) redefine "synthetic cannabinoid", "independent testing laboratory", "manufacture" and "manufacturer hemp product", (4) authorize licensees to sell high-THC hemp products and naturally manufactured hemp cannabinoids to certain persons, (5) authorize additional persons to conduct testing of manufacturer hemp products and modify various requirements concerning testing procedures, (6) authorize unlicensed sales of certain low-THC hemp products, (7) modify various requirements concerning packaging, presenting and advertising manufacturer hemp products, and (8) modify various provisions concerning the THC content of hemp and manufacturer hemp products.

General Law Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING EXPENDITURES OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUND.

To review appropriations from funds other than the General Fund.

Appropriations Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE EXPANSION OF LONG-TERM CARE OPTIONS FOR MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES.

To expand long-term care options for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Human Services Committee

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROTECTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES.

To (1) limit the use of electronic monitoring by an employer, and (2) establish various requirements concerning the use of artificial intelligence systems by employers.

Labor and Public Employees Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE CREATION OF THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM PORTAL.

To create the Early Care and Education Program Portal to provide families with a means of accessing real-time information about slot availability in early care and education programs in the state.

Committee on Children

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STATE CONTRACTING STANDARDS BOARD.

To make revisions to provisions concerning the State Contracting Standards Board recommended by the board, including by giving the board authority over quasi-public agency procurement, prohibiting the Governor from reducing allotments to the board, requiring the online posting of emergency procurements, revising requirements regarding proposed privatization contracts, and providing that provisions in title 4e supersede certain other provisions.

Government Administration and Elections Committee

AN ACT ALLOWING COURT DISCRETION TO ADD A FAMILY VIOLENCE COMPONENT TO THE PRETRIAL SUPERVISED DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES.

To require the Court Support Services Division to determine if a person has the capacity to participate in domestic violence treatment either in concurrence with or following the completion of mental health treatment in cases involving a family violence crime.

Judiciary Committee

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES.

To require the Office of Policy and Management to administer a program to provide grants-in-aid to municipalities for costs related to the construction, improvement and expansion of public infrastructure associated with the construction of certain dwellings and housing that are subject to affordable housing deed restrictions.

Planning and Development Committee

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RISK-LIMITING AUDITS WORKING GROUP.

To implement the recommendations of the risk-limiting audits working group.

Government Administration and Elections Committee

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE POLICY AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

To implement the recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee.

Judiciary Committee