Rep. Cindy Harrison

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of an "employee" to include students enrolled in vocational agricultural programs at regional science and technology centers. Specifically, it grants these students access to workers' compensation coverage if they participate in approved public work-study programs or official internships. The change takes effect on October 1, 2024, and applies only to students who are actively working under these specific educational arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals who intentionally injure or kill police animals or dogs in volunteer search and rescue teams to pay financial restitution. The law mandates that these payments cover veterinary costs for injuries and the expenses of purchasing and training a replacement animal if the original one is unable to work. Anyone found guilty of harming these working dogs faces felony charges, potential fines or imprisonment, and the obligation to reimburse the owning unit or individual. The financial penalties are designed to ensure that the costs of replacing injured or killed service animals are borne by the person responsible for the harm.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Connecticut's laws to ban the sale, purchase, and cultivation of specific invasive plants based on recommendations from the Invasive Plants Council. It adds a new list of prohibited species that will become illegal to trade starting October 1, 2024, while also extending existing bans on other plants and adding a new restriction on callery pear trees effective in 2027. The law allows exceptions for moving plants for research, education, or eradication purposes and prohibits municipalities from passing conflicting local ordinances. Anyone caught violating these rules faces a fine of up to one hundred dollars for each plant involved.

Maddy summarySB 341 creates a new "Fallen Officer Fund" to provide financial support to the families of police officers who die while performing their duties. The bill defines a "surviving family" to include spouses, dependent children, and other designated beneficiaries, with priority given to awards for dependent children and spouses. Upon receiving a claim, the Comptroller will distribute one-time lump-sum payments of $100,000 from the fund to eligible families, ensuring these payments do not reduce any other benefits they may receive. Additionally, the legislation updates state tax rules to exclude certain specific income sources, such as qualified dividends and railroad retirement benefits, from the calculation of Connecticut adjusted gross income.