Connecticut Bills

signed · Connecticut · House May 30, 2024

HB 5274: AN ACT REVISING THE CHARTER OF THE SECRET LAKE ASSOCIATION.

HB 5274 amends the charter of the Secret Lake Association to update how meetings are scheduled, notified, and conducted. The bill allows the annual meeting date to be chosen by a majority vote of board members in May, rather than being fixed for the first Saturday in June, and increases the notice period for all meetings from five to ten days. It also adjusts the number of members required to form a quorum from twelve to five and changes the notice signature requirements for meeting announcements. Additionally, the act clarifies that association officers may receive reimbursement for actual expenses and updates the procedures for preparing and revising property assessment lists. These changes directly affect the governance structure and operational rules of the Secret Lake Association.

signed · Connecticut · House May 30, 2024

HB 5430: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF MIGRAINE TREATMENT FOR WOMEN AND VETERANS.

This bill directs the University of Connecticut Health Center's Department of Neurology to conduct a study on migraine treatments specifically for women and veterans. The study must be completed by July 1, 2025, with the results reported to state legislative committees responsible for public health and budget matters. This legislation does not change existing healthcare laws or funding but establishes a requirement for the university to investigate and share findings on this specific medical topic.

signed · Connecticut · House May 30, 2024

HB 5432: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM PLAN FOR THE GREATER MYSTIC AREA OF THE TOWNS OF GROTON, NEW LONDON AND STONINGTON.

This bill creates a working group to create a plan for growing the tourism industry in the Mystic Seaport area of Groton, New London, and Stonington. The group will be made up of representatives from the state government, local towns, hospitality businesses, and major tourist attractions, who will work together to propose new projects and marketing strategies. The working group must hold its first meeting within 60 days and submit a final report with its recommendations to state committees by January 1, 2025.

signed · Connecticut · House May 30, 2024

HB 5521: AN ACT CONCERNING A CONVEYANCE OF A PARCEL OF STATE LAND IN THE TOWN OF CHESHIRE.

This bill authorizes the state of Connecticut to transfer approximately 2.5 acres of land in the town of Cheshire to the municipality for use in economic development projects. The transfer will occur at no financial cost to the town, though the town is responsible for paying any survey fees if a survey is required. The town must sell the land at fair market value within three years, and any money earned from the sale must be turned over to the state's General Fund. Additionally, any development on the property must receive approval from a local water protection agency to ensure environmental safety. The state retains the right to reclaim the land if the town fails to sell it for the specified purpose by the deadline.

signed · Connecticut · House May 30, 2024

HB 5153: AN ACT CONCERNING ELIGIBILITY FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

This bill modifies the eligibility requirements for Connecticut's Workforce Housing Opportunity Development Program by adjusting the mix of rental units in new housing projects. Specifically, it changes the rule so that 50% of the units in a project must be rented to the workforce population, while 40% must be rented at market rates, reversing the previous allocation. The legislation also updates the legal definition of a "business firm" to include various regulated industries and clarifies what constitutes "substantial rehabilitation" for existing buildings. These changes directly affect developers, nonprofit housing organizations, and municipalities that apply for funding to build or renovate affordable rental housing.

signed · Connecticut · Senate May 30, 2024

SB 360: AN ACT CONCERNING THE TRANSCRIPT FEES CHARGED BY OFFICIAL COURT REPORTERS AND COURT REPORTING MONITORS.

SB 360 updates the fees that official court reporters and court recording monitors can charge for producing legal transcripts. The bill sets a new rate of $3.60 per page for private individuals and $2.40 per page for public officials, while also establishing lower rates for subsequent copies of the same document. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that administrative law judges' staff will receive the same compensation as court reporters and ensures that the Judicial Branch covers these costs when transcripts are requested for official court proceedings. These changes take effect on October 1, 2024, and directly impact the financial compensation received by court reporting professionals.

signed · Connecticut · House May 30, 2024

HB 5171: AN ACT CONCERNING THE WAIVER OF INTEREST ON CERTAIN DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS.

This bill requires municipal tax collectors to waive interest on delinquent property taxes if the delay is caused by an error made by the tax assessor or tax collector, rather than by the taxpayer. To qualify for this waiver, the tax collector and assessor must jointly confirm the error, and the decision must be approved by a vote of the municipality's legislative body. The law also mandates that tax collectors provide clear public notice regarding due dates, delinquency dates, and the applicable interest rate before taxes become late. Effective October 1, 2024, this change ensures that taxpayers are not penalized with interest when the government agency makes a mistake in calculating or collecting their taxes.

signed · Connecticut · Senate May 30, 2024

SB 327: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF HATE SPEECH AND BULLYING ON CHILDREN.

This bill establishes a temporary task force to study how hate speech affects the mental and physical health and school performance of children. The group will be composed of representatives from various organizations focused on child well-being, pediatric care, and anti-discrimination efforts, alongside state officials in health, education, and mental health. Members appointed by legislative leaders must represent specific areas such as race, religion, sexual identity, gender identity, or disability, while the task force is required to submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2025.

signed · Connecticut · Senate May 30, 2024

SB 127: AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES RELATING TO BACKGROUND CHECKS, CERTAIN SUBSIDIES, URGENT CRISIS CENTERS, DEPARTMENTAL RECORDS AND SPECIAL POLICE OFFICERS.

This bill updates the rules for placing children in foster care by clarifying who is eligible to care for them and strengthening background check requirements. It defines specific categories of caregivers, including "fictive kin," and mandates that all adults in a household must undergo state and national criminal history checks and abuse registry reviews before a child can be placed in their home. The law also requires these background checks to be repeated when a caregiver's license or approval is renewed, while allowing for streamlined checks if they were recently performed. Additionally, the bill permits placing children with relatives or fictive kin without a formal license if a home visit is conducted and a basic family assessment is completed, provided a criminal history search is still performed.

signed · Connecticut · Senate May 30, 2024

SB 342: AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN PEER SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS AND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION EMPLOYEES.

This bill establishes legal confidentiality protections for private conversations between Department of Correction officers and peer support team members. It defines "first responders" to include DOC officers and ensures that their discussions within peer support programs remain private unless the officer voluntarily waives this privilege. While the law generally prohibits sharing these details in legal proceedings or with third parties, it allows for disclosure in specific situations, such as when there is an immediate threat to safety or when the peer support member was directly involved in the incident. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and aim to encourage officers to seek mental health support without fear of their communications being used against them.

signed · Connecticut · House May 30, 2024

HB 5058: AN ACT ADOPTING THE NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT.

This bill, HB 5058, adopts the Nurse Licensure Compact into Connecticut law to allow nurses to hold a single license that permits them to practice in any other state that has also joined the agreement. Starting in October 2025, the state will issue multistate licenses to qualified nurses, eliminating the need to apply for separate permits in each neighboring jurisdiction. The agreement establishes a system where nurses must meet uniform standards and allows state boards to share information about disciplinary actions or investigations to protect public safety. While the bill simplifies the process for nurses to work across state lines, it also ensures that any violations of nursing laws in one participating state can be enforced by the boards in all other member states.

signed · Connecticut · House May 30, 2024

HB 5523: AN ACT CONCERNING ALLOCATIONS OF FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT, HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION AND THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2025.

HB 5523 directs federal American Rescue Plan funds to Connecticut state agencies for general government operations, human services, and education through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The bill allocates specific dollar amounts to various departments, including the Board of Regents for student retention and technology training, the Department of Developmental Services for caregiver support, and the Department of Economic and Community Development for grants to museums, aquariums, and community organizations. Additionally, the legislation provides funding for agricultural programs like farm-to-school initiatives and senior food vouchers, as well as operating support for public colleges and universities. These allocations aim to stabilize state programs and support local nonprofits and community venues during the specified biennium.

Bill results