Moving Bills Along

March 3, 2022

As the Legislative session heats up, I want to bring you up to date on the bills I am most involved in on behalf of our community. The subjects range from Aquatic Invasive Plants to End-of-Life Compassionate Care to support for non-profits.

Please be aware that in a short session (held in the even-numbered years) individual legislators rarely get to raise their own bills; rather, the legislative committees having jurisdiction over particular concepts or subjects must raise an individual legislator’s bill as a “committee bill.”

Therefore, I’m very pleased to say that of the three proposals I submitted, two have been raised as committee bills (one by the Environment Committee and one by the Education Committee).

I will continue to co-sponsor bills as they move along in committee. If these concepts matter to you, please consider testifying in writing and/or “in person” via Zoom. (All public hearings this session will be held remotely, which opens opportunities to those unable to get to the Capitol.) If you would like help with the process of testifying, please contact me. It’s vital that legislators hear from citizens, and not just lobbyists!

Bill Concepts I Introduced:

Raised Bill 5285 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM

(The public hearing for this bill is this FRIDAY, March 4 at 11 a.m.)

This environmental justice bill would require that all public schools, regardless of zip code, teach students about climate change. Two years ago it passed in the House but was never called in the Senate, and so it died. Hoping this is the year it becomes law!

Raised Bill 5143 AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE OF AQUATIC SPECIES

(The public hearing for this bill was last Friday.)

This bill would create within the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station a clearinghouse for the study and control of plants like hydrilla, which is choking the Connecticut River, many of its coves and several tributaries. It will protect the environment, our tourism industry and the boating/marina economy.

Proposed Bill LCO No. 874 AN ACT CONCERNING COMPENSATION FOR NONPROFIT PROVIDERS OF HUMAN SERVICES

Although it wasn’t raised, this bill, aimed at making non-profit reimbursement support more fair and predictable, has helped move the needle on a similar bill in the Appropriations Committee. Our State must increase financial reimbursement rates for our non-profits!

All of the following bills have either already been discussed in public hearing or are on the schedule in their respective committees to be heard.

House Bills
HB-5132, AN ACT CONCERNING COMPENSATION FOR NONPROFIT PROVIDERS OF HUMAN SERVICES.

HB-5001, AN ACT CONCERNING CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.

HB-5045, AN ACT REDUCING LEAD POISONING.

HB-5103, AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CREDIT AGAINST THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX FOR PARENTS WHO EXPERIENCE THE BIRTH OF A STILLBORN CHILD.

HB-5119, AN ACT PERMITTING PHARMACISTS TO ADMINISTER THE INFLUENZA VACCINE TO CHILDREN TWELVE YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

HB-5134, AN ACT CONCERNING FAMILY PLANNING INITIATIVES.

HB-5143, AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES.

HB-5160, AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES.

HB-5225, AN ACT PROHIBITING CLAWBACK OF CERTAIN FUNDS RETAINED BY NONPROFIT PROVIDERS OF HUMAN SERVICES UNDER CONTRACT WITH STATE AGENCIES.

HB-5267, AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT'S STRATEGIC PLANNING REGARDING THE PROMOTION OF ARTS AND CULTURE.

HB-5285, AN ACT CONCERNING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

Senate Bills:
SB 4, AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONNECTICUT CLEAN AIR ACT.