Sen. Kevin Kelly

Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to increase funding for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The additional resources are intended to improve early-stage care for individuals experiencing psychotic illnesses. By directing money to this specific department, the legislation aims to enhance the availability of comprehensive treatment services for these patients.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows patients in nursing homes who become ill or disabled within six days of an election to designate someone to deliver their absentee ballot to them. The designated person must sign a consent form agreeing to deliver the ballot without tampering and personally submit the application to the municipal clerk. If the application is submitted by the designated person within the six-day window, the clerk will provide the absentee voting set to that individual. This change directly affects nursing home residents and their chosen representatives, streamlining the process for these specific voters to receive their ballots.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-run registry to help connect seniors and their families with qualified home care providers while improving oversight of these workers. Starting in 2025, the registry will allow users to search for caregivers based on specific skills like language proficiency and certifications, and it will also assist providers with recruitment, training, and benefits. The legislation mandates that agencies hiring home companions require new employees to complete training on recognizing and responding to harassment, abuse, and discrimination by clients. Additionally, the bill directs a state council to develop plans for better recruiting, training, and wage standards for personal care attendants to ensure higher quality care.

Maddy summaryHB 5491 establishes a new property tax exemption for Connecticut veterans who have a service-connected permanent and total disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill allows these veterans to exempt their primary residence from taxation, or if they lack a home, one motor vehicle garaged in the state. To qualify, veterans must submit proof of their disability rating to their local town assessor, with retroactive refunds available for up to three years if they missed the initial filing deadline. Additionally, the act modifies an existing lower-level disability exemption, increasing the property value threshold for veterans with non-permanent-and-total disabilities and adjusting amounts based on age and disability severity.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Eelgrass Working Group to meet by January 1, 2025, to review reports on eelgrass restoration policies and evaluate changes needed for state and federal permitting rules. It also establishes a new Connecticut Seagrass Coordinator who will work with agencies and universities to develop strategies for sustainable seed harvesting, aquaculture practices, and mooring systems that protect eelgrass habitats. Additionally, the coordinator will create specific metrics to measure the success and return on investment of state-led eelgrass restoration projects.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Commissioner of Public Health to collect and publish annual data on emergency department crowding for all hospitals in the state. The report must include specific metrics such as bed capacity, patient admission numbers, wait times for admission, and the duration patients spend waiting for inpatient beds after being admitted. Starting in 2024, this information will be made available on the Department of Public Health's website to increase transparency regarding hospital operations. The law also mandates that the Commissioner work with a designated working group and a hospital association representative to conduct this evaluation.