Dear Neighbor,
This year’s legislative session has concluded and with it the passage of new legislation that will shape our state for years to come. The headline from the session is the passage of a bipartisan budget which funds transportation infrastructure, restores cuts to education and restores funding for the Medicare Savings Plan – all without raising taxes.
We worked on policies that support small businesses, workforce development and making our state a place where we can proudly raise our families. I am committed to fighting for you to build a bright future for Connecticut and our Hartford community.
I hope you find the enclosed information helpful. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if I can be of service to you or your family. It is my pleasure and honor to serve as your state representative.
Sincerely,
Components of the bipartisan budget agreement that I supported include:
- No income, sales or other state tax increases
- Increased state aid for education over 2018 levels
- Restored funding to Medicare Savings Program that helps low-income elderly individuals and the disabled pay for the cost of medicine and health care premiums
- Restored funding to Husky A, juvenile justice programs, developmental services, and partial funding to the Energy Efficiency Fund
- Maintains the “Rainy Day” Fund reserves at the highest level in over a decade
- Reinstated the Renters Rebate program that helps so many people on fixed incomes in the fall
Additionally, the state has pledged to Hartford support of up to $550 million to assist with our city’s long-term budget.
Dreamers
A new law allows certain students without legal immigration status, including honorably discharged veterans, access to institutional aid to attend a state public higher education institution. The act extends eligibility to these students if they meet certain residency, age, and criminal history requirements and file with the institution an affidavit about their intent to legalize their immigration status. PA 18-2
Minority Teacher Recruitment
The State Dept. of Education (SDE) will work to develop new alternative routes to certification for paraprofessionals, charter school teachers, and veterans. SDE will also work with vendors to allow certain teachers to retake their licensure test for free if they do not successfully pass the first time. PA 18-34
Pay Equity
Employers are now prohibited from asking about a prospective employee’s salary history. This does not apply if (1) the prospective employee voluntarily discloses their salary history or (2) a federal or state law specifically authorizes the disclosure or verification of salary history for employment purposes. Employers may ask about the other compensation structure elements, but not about their value. PA 18-8
State Bond Funding for Hartford
Despite tough economic times, Hartford received funding for a number of critical projects.
Approved Items Include:
- $3,000,000 to finance minority business initiatives under the Small Business Express Program.
- $6,000,000 loan for Phase 2 redevelopment of the former Chester A. Bowles Park. 43 new rental housing units, 38 will be income restricted affordable units.
- $9,000,000 Grant-in-aid to finance relocating tenants and cover additional costs with the decommissioning and demolition of the Westbrook Village moderate rental housing projects.
- $12,860,000 for housing projects and grants-in-aid for public infrastructure projects in Hartford.