Marcus Brown

Dear Neighbor,

I hope you are well.  I hope those of faith had peaceful celebrations and spiritual reflections as our communities observed religious traditions this weekend.



Last week, we were back in session for the first time in a few weeks, voting on Judicial, Executive & Legislative nominations.



While it was one of the lighter session days, upcoming session days will soon pick up as proposed bills have narrowed down through committees. I will keep you updated as bills advance through the House.



It is my honor to represent our district. I am excited to hear from you about the issues raised in this newsletter or any other topics you think I should know about.

Governor Ned Lamont announced that his administration is awarding nearly $1 Million in grants to Bridgeport public schools to make upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Bridgeport is in the first wave of funding for HVAC upgrades and is part of a larger initiative from the state. 



The grants are being awarded through the HVAC Indoor Air Quality Grants Program for Public Schools, a newly established state program that is administered by the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services.



This initial round opened on September 14, 2022, and school districts seeking grants were required to submit applications to the state by December 1, 2022.  Municipalities are required to provide matching grants to fund the project costs. Examples of eligible projects include:

• Replacing, upgrading, or repairing boilers and other heating and ventilation components;
• Replacing controls and technology systems related to HVAC operations;
• Installing or upgrading air conditioning or ventilation systems; and
• Other similar work approved by the commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services.

It was created as part of the budget adjustment bill that Governor Lamont signed into law in 2022 (Public Act 22-118). The program has been allocated $150 million through two revenue streams, including $75 million from state bond funding and $75 million from the state’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

On April 1, a number of resources that offered vital assistance to our most vulnerable community members came to an end or ended expanded eligibility.

• Free Bus Services in Connecticut
  • Bus fares for all buses and ADA paratransit in Connecticut have returned
  • Federal restrictions prevent the state from extending this benefit for more than a year
• SNAP Bump Payments and Automatic Determination
  • Families will no longer receive the additional pandemic-related payment in the middle of the month
  • Redeterminations restarted and will occur every 6 months
  • DSS does not have any control over when these benefits end because funding was provided under federal legislation
• HUSKY Continuous Coverage
  • Medicaid enrollees will again have to provide proof of eligibility annually

Personal care attendants (PCAs) will have additional access to affordable health insurance after an agreement was reached to expand the application deadline for PCAs to apply for the first round of the new premium assistance benefit.



PCAs, who provide valuable services and support to more than 7,000 of Connecticut’s Medicaid consumers so they can remain in their homes and communities, may now apply for the premium benefit through April 7. The special enrollment period for coverage through Access Health CT, the state's health insurance exchange, runs until May 15. For those who do not apply for assistance by April 7, another application period will be provided later this year with payment on or around September, in time for the traditional open enrollment period on Access Health CT.

 

Connecticut is one of the first states to do this, and I encourage all PCA s who are not enrolled in health coverage to sign up for this important benefit.

Access Health CT has a special enrollment period and dedicated telephone line with navigator assistance for PCAs so that they can easily find the best health insurance option for them and obtain enrollment support. The Access Health CT navigators also screen the PCAs for eligibility for the HUSKY and Covered CT programs. 

 

PCAs will soon receive communication with instructions on how they can access this important benefit.

Tax filing season is upon us. As you prepare to file, I urge you to be mindful of potential scams. The IRS produces a list of "dirty dozen" tax scams.  While these scams can occur year-round, they tend to increase during this time of the year. It’s wise to stay on top of the latest list of common issues—and take some simple steps to stay safe from them.

A great way to protect yourself is to do additional research on anything that seems suspicious. Do not click on an email or a link to an unfamiliar website. Never give out any personal information—especially your Social Security Number—to someone claiming to represent the IRS over the phone or online. When in doubt, visit IRS.gov for additional guidance.

 

Filing taxes can be a stressful process. Avoiding these scams can prevent an even larger headache. The deadline to file is April 18.

The Summer Enrichment Grant Program is back! 🏕️



Thanks to a third round of funding to the Connecticut State Department of Education, this program can once again provide equitable, high-quality, and accessible summer enrichment opportunities for Connecticut children.



Camps can use the funds for expanding the number of students served, adding additional support services and/or activities, and subsidizing enrollment costs by providing scholarships for families from low-income backgrounds.



You can learn more here: bit.ly/3l6Bb9q