Connecticut Bills

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5503: AN ACT CONCERNING INSURANCE MARKET CONDUCT AND INSURANCE LICENSING, THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT'S TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND OTHER REVISIONS TO THE INSURANCE STATUTES AND CAPTIVE INSURANCE.

This bill directs the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to conduct a study on workforce shortages, development programs, and training availability within the state. The study must analyze how these factors impact commercial activity and must be completed by January 1, 2025. Once finished, the commissioner is required to submit a report detailing the findings to the joint standing committee on commerce. This legislation creates a new reporting requirement but does not immediately change existing laws or allocate specific funding.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5500: AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO VARIOUS LAWS CONCERNING IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION, JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SALARIES AND CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

This bill updates laws regarding juror compensation and modifies procedures for risk protection orders. It requires employers to pay regular wages to full-time employees serving as jurors for the first five days of their duty, while providing state-funded flat fees and travel reimbursements to part-time and unemployed jurors. Additionally, the legislation clarifies the criteria judges must consider when issuing risk protection orders, specifically including recent acts of cruelty toward animals as evidence of potential danger. These changes aim to ensure fairer financial treatment for jurors and provide clearer guidelines for public safety orders.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5236: AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION.

This bill updates regulations for the Department of Consumer Protection regarding landscape architect licensing and home improvement contractor oversight. For landscape architects, it clarifies that licensure requires passing a specific exam and allows applicants with degrees from non-accredited schools or civil engineering experience to qualify under certain conditions. Regarding home improvement contractors, the law expands the commissioner's authority to revoke or suspend licenses for a broader range of violations, including unfair business practices and felony convictions. Additionally, the bill establishes a Home Improvement Guaranty Fund and sets annual fees for salesmen and contractors to help reimburse owners for unpaid work.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5429: AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMMISSARY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR YOUTH IN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION FACILITIES.

This bill requires the Department of Correction to create and submit a detailed plan for improving commissary services for youth in state facilities. The plan must replace the current monetary system with one that rewards positive behavior and ensures equitable access for vulnerable groups, such as those with disabilities or no family support. It also mandates the inclusion of menstrual products, strategies for transferring saved funds when youth move to adult facilities, and regular feedback sessions with the incarcerated youth. The Department must begin implementing these equitable access procedures immediately and fully adopt the new plan by November 1, 2023. Finally, the Commissioner of Correction is required to report on the plan's progress and any necessary changes to the legislature by July 1, 2024.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5211: AN ACT CONCERNING VIRTUAL CURRENCY AND MONEY TRANSMISSION.

HB 5211 updates Connecticut's financial regulations by repealing and replacing the definitions within the state's money transmission laws to include virtual currency and related digital assets. The bill directly affects money transmission businesses, their owners, and employees by formally defining terms such as "virtual currency," "money transmission," and "authorized delegate" to ensure these modern financial activities are covered under existing rules. A key provision clarifies who counts as a "control person" or "key individual" by specifying ownership thresholds and family relationships, while also distinguishing between active managers and passive investors. These changes aim to provide clear legal guidelines for how licensed entities must operate and report transactions involving digital currencies and electronic payment instruments.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5498: AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION SECURITY AND TRANSPARENCY, THE COUNTING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS, ABSENTEE VOTING FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS OF NURSING HOMES, SECURITY OF CERTAIN ELECTION WORKERS, STATE ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION COMPLAINTS, BALLOTS MADE AVAILABLE IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH AND VARIOUS OTHER REVISIONS RELATED TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.

This bill updates Connecticut election laws to enhance security and transparency for absentee voting. It requires municipalities to install video recording devices on secure drop boxes to capture footage of ballot deposits, with these recordings made public within five days of the election. The legislation also mandates that clerks record exactly how each absentee ballot was returned - whether by mail, drop box, or in person - and retain unopened envelopes to prevent tampering. Additionally, the bill clarifies procedures for voters requesting additional absentee ballots and ensures that any rejected ballots are properly logged and stored.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5267: AN ACT MAKING CHANGES TO AND REPEALING OBSOLETE PROVISIONS OF STATUTES RELEVANT TO THE LABOR DEPARTMENT.

This bill updates the legal authority of the state Labor Department by clarifying the powers of the Labor Commissioner and repealing outdated statutes. It allows the commissioner to adopt regulations for employment programs, seek court orders to enforce compliance, and help recognize military training for professional licenses. Additionally, the bill requires employers to submit quarterly wage reports that will eventually include details like job titles and worksite locations starting in 2026. The legislation also establishes a new advisory committee to coordinate occupational health clinics and improve disease prevention strategies.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5507: AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINES AND THE MEMBERSHIP AND PROCESSES OF THE CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL.

This bill updates Connecticut laws to include large electric transmission lines in the regulatory process managed by the Connecticut Siting Council. It specifically defines transmission lines with a capacity of sixty-nine kilovolts or more as "affecting facilities," which subjects them to the same environmental review and public participation requirements as other major infrastructure projects. The legislation also adjusts the financial rules for these proceedings by raising the municipal participation fee to seventy-five thousand dollars and increasing the reimbursement limit for towns involved in the process. Additionally, the bill requires applicants to provide detailed information about proposed transmission routes, including maps, cost estimates, and justifications for why specific paths were chosen over alternatives. These changes aim to ensure that communities have a clearer voice and adequate resources when large power lines are proposed for construction.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5511: AN ACT CONCERNING THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

This bill expands the membership of the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee to include additional representatives from municipalities, recovery coaching, and specific treatment providers, while also updating the committee's composition to ensure greater public involvement and transparency in how opioid settlement funds are spent. The legislation requires the committee to oversee the allocation of these funds for substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services, with new appointees designated by the Governor and legislative leaders. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Commissioner of Education submit biennial reports on student data to the Office of Fiscal Analysis without including personally identifiable information. Finally, it clarifies that certain collective bargaining agreements must be filed with the General Assembly and receive legislative approval before taking effect if they would override existing laws or regulations.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5299: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISIONS TO THE JOBSCT PROGRAM AND THE COMMERCE AND RELATED STATUTES.

This bill updates the state's job creation tax rebate program by replacing its existing definitions with a new set of terms to clarify eligibility and requirements. It directly affects businesses applying for economic development rebates by establishing specific rules for what counts as a new employee, a full-time job, and a qualified wage. Key provisions redefine a qualified business to include sectors like finance, technology, and clean energy, while setting wage thresholds based on local median income or a scaled minimum wage. The legislation also introduces stricter criteria for counting new jobs, ensuring they are not temporary, seasonal, or replacements for existing positions, and adds provisions for employees with intellectual disabilities.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5426: AN ACT CONCERNING ENERGY ASSISTANCE STUDIES AND FUEL VENDOR REIMBURSEMENT.

This bill updates the rules for Connecticut's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to improve how fuel vendors are paid and to ensure fair pricing for heating services. It requires the state to create a plan that includes criteria for emergency aid, outlines how to handle fuel deliveries, and establishes a timeline for reimbursing vendors within ten business days after they submit invoices. Additionally, the legislation mandates that starting in 2025, the state must set new pricing standards to fairly compensate vendors for their costs while keeping the maximum funding available for recipients. The bill also directs the state to purchase fuel directly for low-income households and prohibits vendors from discriminating against recipients based on their payment or delivery plans.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 6, 2024

HB 5474: AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL APPROVALS FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, FINES FOR VIOLATIONS OF LOCAL ORDINANCES, REGULATION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, NOTICES OF RENT INCREASES AND THE HOUSING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT REVOLVING LOAN AND GRANT FUND.

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

Bill results