2016 Legislative Session

Summary of Legislation

The summaries below outline Public Acts passed during both the 2016 Regular Session and the May Special Session of the Connecticut General Assembly that impact or may be of interest to the University of Connecticut. The summaries were either developed by the Office of Governmental Relations, the Office of Legislative Research or the Office of Fiscal Analysis.

The new Acts are organized by topic, and the topics are alphabetized. To access the complete text of a new law, please click on the Public Act or resolution number on the top of the summary. In some instances we have also included a link to the Fiscal Note associated with the Act, prepared by the legislature’s Office of Fiscal Analysis.

Please take the time to review all new legislation falling under your area of responsibility for the University, and take the steps necessary to ensure that the University is in compliance. If you have any questions about the new Public Acts or about implementation, please contact the Office of Governmental Relations.

CT HB 5383, PA 16-107
An Act Concerning the Farm Viability Matching Grant Program and the Connecticut Farm Link Program. This Act requires the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) to expand the Farm Link program, which links farmers and agricultural land owners who want to sell their farm or land with people who want to start or expand an agricultural business. The Act expands the program to farmers and land owners who want to lease or transfer their farm or land to others. Effective upon passage

CT SB 76, PA 16-37
An Act Concerning Connecticut’s Farm to School Program. This Act requires a food service management company to include in its response to a board of education’s request for proposal (RFP) or bid solicitation for a school nutrition program how the RFP or bid is consistent with the state’s farm to school program and how it facilitates the purchase of products from local farmers. The requirement applies to RFPs and bids posted to the state contracting portal, which the Department of Administrative Services maintains. When awarding a contract, which must be done in accordance with any applicable laws, regulations, or rules, the Act requires the board of education to give a preference to the RFP or bid that promotes the purchase of local farm products, all other factors being equal. Effective October 1, 2016, except for the regulations provision, which is effective upon passage

CT SB 230, PA 16-89
An Act Concerning the Siting of Certain Docks and Structures, the Use of Noise-Making Devices for Agricultural Purposes and Making Technical and Conforming Revisions to Environment-Related Statutes. This Act makes technical and conforming changes to various environment related statutes. Effective from passage

CT SB 231, PA 16-17
An Act Concerning Pollinator Health. This Act establishes numerous requirements related to pollinator health and habitat. Pollinators are organisms that spread pollen between flowers, such as bees and butterflies. Among other things, the Act: generally prohibits applying neonicotinoid (a) insecticide to linden or basswood trees or (b) labeled for treating plants to plants with blossoms (§§ 2 & 4); requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner to classify certain neonicotinoids as “restricted use” pesticides (§ 3); requires the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) commissioner to develop best practices for minimizing the release of neonicotinoid insecticide dust from treated seeds (§ 1); requires the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) to compile a citizen’s guide to model pollinator habitat (§ 11); establishes a Pollinator Advisory Committee to inform legislators on pollinator issues (§ 5); sets minimum employment credentials for apiary inspectors appointed by the state entomologist (§ 15); specifies that Connecticut Siting Council orders to restore or revegetate in certain rights-of-way must include provisions for model pollinator habitat (§ 13); includes model pollinator habitat in any conservation plan DoAg requires as part of its farm preservation programs (§§ 9 & 10); requires reports on the (a) effect of applying current pesticide spraying requirements to the planting of neonicotinoid-treated seeds, (b) conditions leading to an increase in varroa mites, and (c) areas where the Department of Transportation (DOT) can replace turf grass with native plants and model pollinator habitat (§§ 6, 7 & 12); allows the DOT commissioner to plant vegetation with pollinator habitat, including flowering vegetation, in deforested areas along state highway rights-of-way if there are federal funds available for the planting (§ 14); and authorizes the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to identify ways to foster development that increases pollinator habitat (§ 8). Effective from passage

CT SB 474, PA 16-1

An Act Making Adjustments to the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2017.

Efforts to Reduce the FY16 Deficiency: The following reductions were made to UConn and UConn Health’s FY16 state appropriations:

University of Connecticut Health Center	Operating Expenses	750,000
University of Connecticut Health Center	AHEC	1,097
University of Connecticut Health Center	Workers’ Compensation Claims	10,875
University of Connecticut Health Center	Bioscience	41,667
Department of Correction	Inmate Medical Services	619,950
University of Connecticut	Operating Expenses	1,500,000
University of Connecticut	Workers’ Compensation Claims	4,793
University of Connecticut	Next Generation Connecticut	40,523
Department of Education	CommPACT Schools	3,325

Effective from passage

CT SB 501, May Special Session, PA 16-2

An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium ending June 30, 2017.

Adjustments to FY17 State Appropriations – Section 1. State appropriation amounts provided to UConn and UConn Health for FY17 were adjusted as follows: Effective July 1, 2016

Storrs and Regional Campuses:

Budgeted Amount	Original Appropriation	Adjusted Amount for FY ‘17
Operating expenses	$225,082,283	$207,699,685
Workers’ Comp Claim	$3,092,062	$3,045,682
Next Generation Connecticut	$20,394,737	$19,072,546
Kirklyn M. Kerr Grant Program	$400,000	$100,000
Agency Total	248,969,082	$229,917,913
UConn 2000 Debt Service	$162.057 M	$172.057 M
The Governor’s Scholarship Program	$41m	$37m

UConn Health

Budgeted Amount	Original Appropriation	Adjusted Amount for FY ‘17
Operating expenses	$125,519,573	$115,911,785
AHEC	$433,581	$406,723
Workers’ Comp Claims	$7,016,044	$6,910,804
Bioscience CT	12,000,000	11,310,000
Agency Total	144,969,198	$134,539,312
DOC Inmate Medical Services	$92,877,416	$85,297,457

*Please note that the budget gives OPM the authority to: (1) make reductions in allotments to all Executive Branch agencies to achieve targeted savings of $68.848 M in FY17. Senate A limits the reduction to no more than 2% of any allotment to UConn and UCH; (2) make reductions in allotments to all Executive Branch agencies to achieve savings of $94.476 M in FY17 as long as no appropriation is cut more that 1%. See below for details.

Additional OPM FY17 Reductions – Section 34:

$68,848,968 reductions to be taken throughout the Exec Branch – NO exemption for higher ed, but Senate A limits the reductions to UConn and UConn Health budgets to 2% of any allotment. Effective from passage

Additional OPM FY16 and FY17 Reductions – Section 35:

FY16 – $93,076,192 in additional reductions to be taken from the Executive Branch – NO exemption for higher ed, but limits the higher ed reductions no more than 1% cut to any appropriation.

FY17 – $94,476,192 in additional reductions to be taken from the Executive Branch – NO exemption for higher ed, but limits these reduction to higher ed no more than 1% cut to any appropriation. Effective from passage

CT SB 503, May SS PA 16-4

An Act Authorizing and adjusting Bond of the State for Capital Improvements, Transportation and other Purposed and Authorizing State Grant Commitments for School Building Projects.

The following provisions are of interest to the University:

Waterbury – Section 9:

Includes $7m for Waterbury, but not from NEXGENCT funding, and does not include a requirement that UConn lease another building in downtown Waterbury.

UConn 2000 Named Project Change – Section 245

Includes the language change we requested to address the state auditors’ comments concerning the use of funds for deferred maintenance vs. infrastructure improvements.

UConn 2000 Deferral – Section 246:

As anticipated, defers $26m in bond funds from FY17 to FY18.

Effective July 1, 2016

CT HB 5228, 16-81
An Act Concerning the Notification of Department of Administrative Services Projects, the Definition of “Project” and Repealing a Provision Concerning State Agency Reporting of Certain Contractor Information. This Act eliminates requirements that the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) advertise, in a newspaper, bidding opportunities for (1) public works projects that use the design-build delivery method and (2) consultant services (e.g., architectural services, professional engineers, and accountants). Under existing law and the Act, it must advertise these opportunities on the State Contracting Portal website (§§ 1 & 3). The Act also increases, from $300,000 to $500,000, the threshold at which DAS must use the selection panel process to award consultant services contracts (§ 2). By law, DAS must establish a selection panel to evaluate consultant services proposals if the cost of those services exceeds the threshold. The panel must submit a list of the most qualified firms to the DAS commissioner, who must negotiate a contract with the firm ranked most qualified by the panel. Panels consist of three members for projects of less than $5 million and five members for projects of $5 million or more (CGS §§ 4b-56 to 4b-58). The Act eliminates a requirement that each public agency that purchases goods or services or leases real or personal property provide, annually by August 1, the revenue services commissioner with a list of all persons who provided goods or services or leased real or personal property to the agency. It also eliminates a requirement that the agency collect the contractor’s federal Social Security account number or federal employee identification number, or both, if available, or the reasons why they are unavailable (§ 501). Lastly, the Act repeals obsolete language concerning UConn’s Homer Babbidge Library and makes technical changes (§§ 2 & 4-13). Effective July 1, 2016

CT HB 5328, PA 16-104
An Act Concerning Public Work Contract Retainage and Enforcement of the Right to payment on a Bond. This Act generally lowers the maximum retainage allowed in state contracts from 10% to 7.5%. The Act prohibits state agencies, except the Department of Transportation, from withholding more than 7.5% from any periodic or final payment that is properly due to the general or prime contractor. It also prohibits the general or prime contractor from withholding from the subcontractor more than 7.5% or the amount the state agency withheld. The Act requires the retainage amount to be reduced to 5% when the contract is 50% complete. Such payment must be made within 90 days after a contractor or subcontractor submits a complete application for payment to the awarding authority demonstrating the contract is 50% complete. Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 2, PA 16-184
An Act Supporting Veteran-owned Small Businesses. This Act provides certain veteran-owned businesses with up to a 15% price preference for certain Department of Administrative Services (DAS) open market orders or contracts. By law, DAS may give a price preference to micro businesses of up to 10% in determining the lowest responsible qualified bidder. The Act increases this amount to up to 15% for veteran-owned micro businesses. A “micro business” is a business with gross revenue of up to $3 million in the most recently completed fiscal year, and a “veteran-owned micro business” is any such business of which at least 51% of the ownership is held by one or more veterans. As under existing law, a “veteran” is anyone honorably discharged or released from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces or their reserve components, including the Connecticut National Guard performing duty under Title 32 of federal law (e.g., certain Homeland Security missions). Effective October 1, 2016

CT SB 330, PA 16-9
An Act Concerning Demolition Permits.

In municipalities that impose a waiting period before granting a demolition permit for a building or structure, this Act prohibits a permit applicant from taking any action toward demolition during that time. Prohibited actions include site remediation and asbestos abatement. The prohibition does not apply if the municipality’s building official determines it would endanger public health. Effective October 1, 2016

CT SB 303, SA 16-1
An Act Concerning an Entrepreneur Learner’s Permit Program. The Act establishes an Entrepreneur Learner’s Permit pilot program to encourage and assist first-time entrepreneurs in certain business sectors by reimbursing them for state fees associated with forming a business. The Act requires Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (CI) to administer the program during FY 17 and FY 18 and caps the total amount of reimbursements provided under the program at $500,000 for each year. Entrepreneurs interested in participating in the program must apply to CI before forming the business, and CI must approve applications according to criteria it establishes. The Act also requires CI to evaluate the program’s effectiveness and report to the Commerce Committee by February 1, 2018.

Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 305, PA 16-200
An Act Establishing a State Film Permitting Process. This Act makes the Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Office of Film, Television, and Digital Media (“office”) the statewide point of contact for all film, television, and digital media producers requesting permission to: conduct film production activities (“film”) on state-owned property, including state roads and highways, railroads and train stations, state forests and parks, airports, seaports, hospitals, and all public higher education institution campuses and use any other state-owned real or personal property, except courthouses and judicial branch facilities, for film production. Effective October 1, 2016

CT SB 306, PA 16-201
An Act Concerning the Office of the Permit Ombudsman and Assistance for Bioscience Companies. This Act makes projects to develop bioscience businesses eligible for assistance from the Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Office of the Permit Ombudsman. By law, the office coordinates expedited permit reviews of eligible economic development projects with the transportation, public health, and energy and environmental protection departments. The Act also requires the permit ombudsman to assist and provide guidance to bioscience businesses seeking to expedite the review and approval of permits required by local zoning authorities. Effective October 1, 2016

CT SB 308, SA 16-21
An Act Concerning the Development of Recommendations for a Stranded Research and Development Tax Credit Program. This Act requires the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to develop legislative recommendations regarding the exchange of unused research and development credits for state financial assistance. Effective from passage

CT SB 401, 16-204
An Act Concerning the Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund and Investments by Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated. This Act allows Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (CI) to use its unrestricted funds and funds in the Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund (CBIF) to invest in private equity investment funds under certain conditions. It makes the following changes to CBIF administration and eligibility:

crediting to CI’s unrestricted funds any income or earnings in excess of the original award amount that result from CBIF financial assistance awards;
making businesses’ eligibility for CBIF funding contingent on annual commercial revenue, rather than the age of the business and current activity; and
allowing CI to provide, through CBIF, additional funding to eligible recipients that have already received financial assistance from CI or CBIF (“follow-on funding”).

Please note that some changes made in P.A. 16-204 were reversed in Section 22 of P.A. 16-3, discussed below. Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 461, PA 16-128
An Act Concerning a Small Minority Business Revolving Loan Fund. This Act establishes, within the Small Business Express program (SBX), up to two minority business revolving loan funds (“funds”) to support the growth of small minority-owned businesses by providing them with loans. Under the Act, the Department of Economic Development (DECD) must provide up to two minority business development entities with grants, from SBX bond funds, to establish the funds. The entities must use the grants to provide loans to small minority-owned businesses that meet SBX eligibility criteria. The Act also (1) specifies amounts, terms, and eligible uses of loans awarded from the funds; (2) imposes various administrative requirements on the funds; and (3) makes technical and conforming changes. Effective upon passage

CT SB 502, May Special Session, PA 16-3

An Act Concerning Revenue and other Items to Implement the Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2017.

Programs to Spur Innovation & Entrepreneurship – Sections 10, 16, 23 – 25, 27 & 28:

Establishes a Technology Talent Advisory Committee (UConn will be a member) within DECD to develop pilot programs to recruit software developers to Connecticut and train residents of the state in software development and such other technology fields, with the goal of increasing the number of software developers and persons employed in such other technology fields residing in Connecticut and employed by businesses in Connecticut by at least double the existing number. Specifically, the pilot programs can be for (1) marketing and publicity campaigns designed to recruit technology talent to the state; (2) student loan deferral or forgiveness for students who start businesses in the state; and (3) training, apprenticeship and gap-year initiatives (Section 23). Section 10 provides $2 million/year between FY17 and FY 21 for a pilot program.
Creates a Working Group of public and private institutions of higher education that shall develop a master plan for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship at in-state public and independent institutions of higher education which shall be submitted to the CTNext board of directors by May 1, 2017 (Section 27). Entrepreneurship grants-in-aid will be available to public and private institutions to further such master plan. Establishes a Higher Education Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee to review applications for higher ed entrepreneurship grants-in-aid that higher ed institutions or a partnership of one or more institutions, submit (Section 28). Sections 10 & 16 provide $2 million/year between FY17 and FY 21 these grants-in-aid.
Authorizes the Commissioner of DECD to establish a “knowledge center enterprise zone” surrounding any institution of higher learning in the state upon receipt from such institution of a proposal recommending the establishment of such zone, provided certain conditions are met (Section 24).
Allows the newly created CTNext board of directors to hire a policy institute, research organization or institution of higher education to audit and analyze a number of things including activity at the University of Connecticut that encourages or discourages entrepreneurship, including, but not limited to, an analysis of patenting and intellectual property licensing policies and hiring of faculty with entrepreneurial experience and activity that would increase the likelihood of new business formation (Section 25).

Effective from passage, for all except:

Sections 25 and 27: Effective July 1, 2016

Section 28: Effective October 1, 2016

UConn’s Center for Entrepreneurship – Section 19:

Removes the requirement that the accelerator and the law clinic associated with UConn’s Center for Entrepreneurship be located with CCAT in the Hartford area. Effective July 1, 2016

Connecticut Innovations & Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund – Section 22:

Modifies CGS 32-41cc, the Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund (CBIF) statute. This same statute was modified by SB 401 during the regular legislative session. Section 22 of the Implementer bill reverses some of the changes made in SB 401, specifically, those changes (1) that would have allowed CBIF funds, pending distribution, to be deposited with and invested by any institution designated by the CBIF administrator; and (2) that would have authorized Connecticut Innovations (CI) to use any income, earnings or return on investment made from CBIF loans as unrestricted CI funds. In other words, CI will have to deposit both funds repaid as loan principal and funds earned as income /return on investment into the CBIF, as it is required to do now. Note that other changes made in SB 401 will still go into effect.

Effective July 1, 2016

CT HB 5468, SA 16-9
An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study Issues Relating to the Recruitment of Manufacturing Teachers and Establishing a Task Force to Study Professional Development and In-Service Training Requirements for Educators. This Act establishes a task force to study issues relating to the recruitment of manufacturing teachers. Effective from passage

CT HB 5469, PA 16-189
An Act Concerning Student Data Privacy. This Act restricts how software and information contractors and website, internet service, or mobile application operators can use student information.

Effective October 1, 2016

CT HB 5470, PA 16-10
An Act Establishing a Pilot Program for Minority Students in High School to Pursue a College Degree in Education. This Act establishes an educator pathways pilot program for minority students in grades eleven and twelve to take college courses in the field of education at participating state universities. The following school districts and state universities shall be partners in the pilot program: (1) The boards of education for the New Haven school district and the West Haven school district and Southern Connecticut State University, (2) the board of education for the New Britain school district and Central Connecticut State University, (3) the board of education for the Windham school district and Eastern Connecticut State University, and (4) the board of education for the Danbury school district and Western Connecticut State University. Effective July, 1, 2016

CT HB 5553, PA 16-139
An Act Concerning Magnet School Tuition. This Act prohibits local or regional boards of education that operate inter-district magnet schools (“operating boards”) from charging tuition, under certain circumstances and with some exceptions, to other boards of education that send students to attend these magnet schools. Effective from passage

CT SB 317, PA 16-92
An Act Concerning Dyslexia. This Act establishes additional requirements for applicants seeking a teacher certification endorsement as a remedial reading, remedial language arts, or reading consultant. Beginning July 1, 2017, it requires that they complete a reading and language diagnosis and remediation program that includes supervised practicum hours and instruction in the detection of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for, students with dyslexia. This requirement applies to initial applicants for any of the three levels of teacher certification (initial, provisional, or professional) as well as certified teachers seeking the endorsement. Effective July, 1, 2016

CT SB 379,PA 16-41
An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Task Force. This Act: extends, from February 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, the report deadline for the minority teacher recruitment task force, expands its mission to include an analysis of the causes of minority teacher shortages in Connecticut, and makes other changes aimed at increasing minority teacher recruitment. Effective from passage

CT SB 382, SA 16-22
An Act Concerning Teacher Preparation Programs. This Act require the Department of Education and the Office of Higher Education to enter into an agreement with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation for the purposes of accrediting and establishing standards for teacher preparation programs in the state by December 16, 2016. Effective from passage

CT SB 272, PA, 16-196
An Act Concerning the Use of Microgrid Grants and Loans for Certain Distributed Energy Generation Projects and Long-Term Contracts for Certain Class I Generation Projects.

This Act expands the types of projects from which electric distribution companies (EDCs, i.e., Eversource and United Illuminating) must purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) in year six of their ongoing procurement (i.e., 2017) to include larger, low-emission generation. It also codifies the REC procurement schedule that, under current law, is only required if the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) determines that the cost of technologies included in purchase contracts has declined. (In practice, PURA determined that the cost has declined and thus extended the procurement schedule as required by law.) The Act also expands the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) microgrid grant and loan program to include matching funds or low interest loans for energy storage systems or distributed energy generation projects derived from Class I (e.g., solar or wind) or Class III energy sources (e.g., certain cogeneration or energy conservation) placed in service after July 1, 2016 for eligible microgrids. Under current law, recipients of grants and loans under DEEP’s microgrid program can only use the funds for design, engineering services, and interconnection infrastructure (i.e., not for generation). Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 394, PA 16-216
An Act Concerning Authorizations Relating to Virtual Net Metering. This Act requires the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to authorize an additional $6 million of virtual net metering credits per year to municipal customer hosts that have submitted their interconnection and virtual net metering applications to an electric distribution company (EDC, i.e., Eversource and United Illuminating) by April 13, 2016. The virtual net metering law allows municipal, state agency, and agricultural electric customers that install certain renewable generation systems (“hosts”) to (1) receive a billing credit for excess power their system generates and (2) share this credit with certain other accounts (“beneficial accounts”). For example, if a photovoltaic system on a school’s roof generated more power than the school used, a town could use the excess credits to reduce the electricity bill for its fire station. Current law caps the total amount of credits provided to beneficial accounts at $10 million per year and limits the three categories of hosts to 40% of this amount. Effective July 1, 2016

CT HB 5496, PA 16-134
An Act Concerning Certain Virtual Net Metering Facilities. This Act establishes a timeframe for certain projects to become operational and remain eligible for virtual net metering. The law required PURA to conduct a proceeding to develop administrative processes and program specifications for virtual net metering by October 1, 2013. In current practice, in accordance with PURA’s final decision in Docket 13-08-14RE01, once project administrators have satisfied all electric distribution company (EDC, i.e., Eversource and United Illuminating) requirements on a virtual net metering application and have been assigned an annual virtual net metering cap by the EDC, they have one year to begin commercial operation, though PURA may grant a six month extension. This current time limit applies regardless of any Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) permitting requirements or when such permits are issued. Effective from passage

CT HB 5540, PA 16-137
An Act Concerning the State Water Plan. This Act amends the legislative processes relating to the development of a state water plan. Effective October 1, 2016

CT SB 90, PA 16-88
An Act Concerning Water Main Grants and Filing Extensions for Certain Grand List Exemptions. This Act increases the grant amount certain municipalities are eligible to receive from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to provide long-term potable water supply facilities (e.g., water mains) that meet public water supply needs. Effective from passage

CT SB 301, PA 16-199
An Act Modifying the Standard for Mandatory Reporting of Environmental Spills.

This Act requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner to adopt regulations specifying numerical thresholds for reporting to DEEP discharges, spills, or other releases of specified substances, materials, and waste. A person responsible for a release must report it under the Act if it exceeds the applicable threshold. Effective October 1, 2016

CT HB 5050, PA 16-78

An Act Modernizing the Symbol of Access for Persons with Disabilities. This Act requires the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) commissioner, by January 1, 2017, to promulgate a policy and adopt regulations designating a new symbol of access for people with disabilities. The symbol, which replaces the international access symbol, must (1) depict a logo with a dynamic character leaning forward with a sense of movement, be readily identifiable, and be simply designed with no secondary meaning and (2) provide for the equivalent facilitation and accessibility as the international access symbol. Beginning January 1, 2017, the Act requires that any references in the State Building Code to the international symbol of accessibility be deemed to mean the new symbol established under the Act. It requires use of the new symbol in all buildings and structures constructed, substantially renovated, or expanded on or after that date.

CT HB 5627, PA 16-72
An Act Eliminating the Sales Tax on Parking Fees at Certain Federal, State and Local Parking Lots. This Act eliminates the sales tax on (1) seasonal parking fees at federal and state parking lots, and (2) parking fees at municipally owned parking lots. Effective from passage

CT SB 288, PA 16-197
An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health’s Recommendations on the Expansion and Construction of Water Systems. This Act revises the process for issuing certificates of public convenience and necessity for water companies seeking to expand or construct their systems. Effective October 1, 2016

CT SB 388, PA 16-215
An Act Concerning the Department of Administrative Services’ Recommendations Regarding the Adoption of the State Building and Fire Codes. This Act removes the State Building Code, the State Fire Prevention Code and the Fire Safety Code from the regulation-making proceedings set forth in chapter 54 of the general statutes. Effective from passage

CT SB 502, May Special Session, PA 16-3

An Act Concerning Revenue and other Items to Implement the Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2017.

Sales Taxes on Parking – Section 180:

Reinstates the sales and use tax exemption for seasonal parking lots maintained by the state or municipalities. Effective from passage

CT HB 5332, PA 16-179

An Act Concerning the Governor’s Scholarship Program. This Act makes numerous changes to the Governor’s Scholarship Program (renamed by the Act as the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program), the state’s financial aid program for Connecticut residents who attend a public or independent higher education institution in the state. Under current law, the program has three award categories: a (1) need and merit-based (i.e., merit) award, (2) need-based award, and (3) Charter Oak Grant. This Act makes the following changes, among others:

earmarks 2.5% of the program’s appropriation for use by the community-technical colleges for financial aid purposes;
establishes a maximum award amount for the need award;
requires that the maximum need award amount for part-time students be proportional to the maximum amount for full-time students;
eliminates requirements that need awards be made according to sliding scales annually determined by the Office of Higher Education (OHE), which administers the scholarship program;
revises the criteria for determining how funds for need awards must be allocated among higher education institutions;
prohibits OHE from making merit award determinations based on the order of institutions provided by a student on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid);
eliminates the performance incentive awards that were previously available; caps the percentage of the program’s appropriation that must be allocated to the merit award;
modifies the program’s compliance requirements; and
extends, from February 15 until May 1, the annual deadline by which higher education institutions must return unspent scholarship funds to OHE.

Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 501, May Special Session, PA 16-2

An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium ending June 30, 2017.

Adjustments to FY17 state appropriations – Section 1

Section 1 of this Act reduced the appropriation for the Governor’s Scholarship program from $41 million to $37 million for fiscal year 2017. Effective July, 1, 2016

CT SB 333, PA 16-93
An Act Concerning the Foundation of the University of Connecticut.

Increased Transparency & Reporting

This Act requires all public higher education foundations to compile annually the following information into one report to the General Assembly that would include:

a list of the current members and officers of the governing board of such foundation;
a copy of the most recent annual report of such foundation;
a copy of the most recent audited financial statements, management letter and audit opinion of such foundation;
a copy of the written agreement between such state agency and the foundation that is required under 4-37;
a copy of the written whistleblower policy required under section 4-37j;
a copy of any conflicts of interest policy of the foundation;
a copy of the foundation’s most recently filed Internal Revenue Service form 990, including all parts and schedules which are required to be made available for public inspection under the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations;
a copy of the bylaws of such foundation;
a report of the total number and average size of disbursements made during the prior fiscal year to each public institution of higher education for (i) undergraduate and graduate scholarships, fellowships and awards, (ii) program and research support, (iii) equipment, and (iv) facilities construction, improvements and related expenses; and
for any employee of the public institution of higher education for whom the foundation contributes some or all of the salary, wages or fringe benefit expenses, the foundation shall provide a report listing the position of each such employee and for each position the amount of the financial reimbursement by the foundation to the public institutions of higher education for such employee salary, wages or fringe benefit expense;
the identity of any person, firm or corporation or other entity donating funds or other things of value to the foundation, unless the donor has requested that such donor’s identity not be publicly disclosed;
a list of all deanships, professorships, chairs, schools, institutes, centers or facilities of the institution named in recognition of donors to the foundation which were approved by the board of trustees of the public institution of higher education during the prior fiscal year.

The Act ensures that the report to the General Assembly described above is a public record and shall be disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. Much of this information is now available to the public but it is not in one report that is accessible to legislators. Additionally, information listed in (I) regarding disbursements is new information that is not currently available.

Reducing & Eliminating University Support for the UConn Foundation

The Act also phases out University support (currently comprised of student tuition and fee revenue, it is important to note that no state appropriations support the UConn Foundation) as endowment levels increase. The Act decreases University support from the amount paid in fiscal year 2017 in the following manner:

one million if the market value of the endowment is equal to or greater than $500 million but less than $700 million dollars;
one million five hundred thousand dollars if the market value of the endowment as of January first of the preceding fiscal year is equal to or greater than seven hundred million dollars but less than nine hundred million dollars;
three million dollars if the market value of the endowment as of January first of the preceding fiscal year is equal to or greater than nine hundred million dollars but less than $1.25 billion dollars;
no cash payment shall be paid by the University to the foundation when the amount in such foundation’s endowment fund as of January first of the preceding fiscal year is equal to or greater than $1.25 billion;

There are also provisions to protect the UConn Foundation from unforeseen market downturns. If the market value of the foundation’s endowment fund as of January first of the preceding fiscal year decreases below any of the thresholds stated above, then the amount of the cash payment to the foundation may be increased consistent with the legislation.

Commitment to Student Support

The Act requires all public higher education foundations to use reasonable efforts to raise gifts and commitments for student support (includes scholarships, fellowships assistantships, awards and prizes) that together equal not less than fifteen percent (15%) of the total of all gifts and commitments raised by the foundation each fiscal year.

Technical Change on Audit Requirements

The Act also clarifies for all foundations subject to 4-37 what exactly is required relative to both the audit of a foundation’s financial statements and the determination of a foundation’s conformance with the provisions of sections 4-37e to 4-37i. The state auditors of public accounts agree that this is simply a technical revision that will help ALL foundations subject to 4-37 understand exactly what is required of them. As we have stated on numerous occasions, an “audit opinion” cannot be rendered on the Foundation’s conformance with the provisions of sections 4-37e to 4-37i. An “opinion” can be rendered, but not an “audit opinion.” Thus, the need for the clarification of the language as currently written.

Effective July 1, 2017

CT HB 5537, PA 16-66
An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes. This Act makes various revisions to the public health statutes including:

Medical Records Task Force–Section 46

The Act establishes a 10-member task force to study the furnishing of medical records by health care providers and institutions. The study must examine the (1) time frame for health care providers or institutions to respond to a request for medical records, (2) cost for research and copies in response to such requests, and (3) requirements of HIPAA regulations concerning individuals’ access to their own protected health information. Effective from passage

CT SB 298, PA 16-198
An Act Concerning Telehealth Services for Medicaid Recipients. This Act requires the Department of Social Services (DSS), within available state and federal resources, to provide Medicaid coverage for telehealth services that the commissioner determines are: 1. clinically appropriate to provide via telehealth, 2. cost-effective for the state, and 3. likely to expand access to medically necessary services for Medicaid recipients who experience undue hardship accessing appropriate health care services.

The Act requires the DSS commissioner to seek a federal waiver or amend the state Medicaid plan to obtain federal reimbursement for the cost of covering these services. By law, the department must submit a Medicaid waiver application or state plan amendment to the Appropriations and Human Services Committees for approval, denial, or modification. Lastly, the Act requires the commissioner to report by January 1, 2018 to the Human Services and Public Health committees on providing telehealth services to Medicaid recipients. Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 351, PA 16-95
An Act Concerning Matters Affecting Physicians, Health Care Facilities and Medical Foundations. This Act codifies rules relating to physician non-compete agreements and other hospital related issues. After weeks of negotiations and tweaking, the final language on non-competes was modified significantly and favorably. The Act:

No longer prohibits non-competes altogether when physicians leave to join or set up a nearby private practice.
Requires that all covenants to compete must be executed in a separate document.
Covenants not to compete cannot be longer than 1 year / 15 miles from the “primary site where the physician practices.”
If the physician works in multiple locations, defines the “primary site” as the location where the physician generates the majority of revenue, but gives the parties flexibility to agree upon a different site as the “primary site.” The “primary site” must be outlined in the separate agreement.
Covenants can be enforced if we terminate contracts for cause, or if a contract expires and is not renewed, as long as we make a bona fide offer to continue the contract on the same or similar terms.
We are still able to include and enforce provisions in physician contracts that require the payment of damages resulting from any injury suffered by reason of termination of such contract or agreement.

Other provisions in this Act require that JDH include in our bills to patients and third party payers the hospital’s cost-to-charge ratio, and; change the required information that we must give to patients when referring them to certain affiliated providers. The Act makes other changes relating to independent practice associations, medical foundations and “captive professional entities,” and gives new responsibilities to the Health Care Cabinet. It also requires the Department of Social Services commissioner to submit a plan to procure, rather than establish, a statewide health information exchange. Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 433, 16-205
An Act Concerning Standards and Requirements for Health Carriers’ Provider Networks and Contracts Between Health Carriers and Participating Providers. This Act requires health carriers (e.g., insurers and HMOs) to establish and maintain adequate provider networks to assure that all covered benefits are accessible to covered individuals without unreasonable travel or delay. Covered individuals must have access to emergency services at all times. Under current law, networks must be consistent with (1) the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) network adequacy requirements or (2) URAC’s provider network access and availability standards. (URAC, formerly known as the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission, and NCQA are nonprofit health quality organizations). Effective January 1, 2017

CT SB 502, May Special Session, PA 16-3

An Act Concerning Revenue and other Items to Implement the Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2017.

Outpatient Surgical Facilities – Sections 195 & 196:

Authorizes “outpatient surgical facilities” (as defined in the Act) that operate as ambulatory surgical centers to provide surgical services to patients requiring a period of post-operative observation but not requiring hospitalization if the expected duration of services does not exceed twenty-four hours following an admission. DPH may establish policies and procedures to implement. DPH must also study the implications of this change in the law. Effective July 1, 2016

Pediatric Dental Medicaid Rates

Subject to a 5% cut for FY17 (in DSS no specific language)

Medicaid Reimbursements for Hospitals – Sections 87:

Eliminates language currently in CGS 17b-239 stating that rates to be paid by the state to hospitals and free-standing chronic disease hospitals shall be based on “reasonable costs,” and specifies that DSS must establish and rebase the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) methodology in accordance with certain federal law provisions. It also requires DSS, for inpatient services that are not appropriate for DRG-based reimbursement, to reimburse the hospitals using any other methodology that complies with those federal requirements.

Establishes that on and after July 1, 2016, hospital outpatient and emergency room services will be based on the ambulatory payment classification (APC) system.

Allows DSS to establish a supplemental pool to provide payments to offset losses incurred, if any, by publicly operated acute care hospitals and acute care children’s hospitals as a result of the implementation of the APC system.

States that DSS cannot increase rates to hospitals based on inflation unless the approved state budget includes money for such increases.

Effective from passage

CT HB 5053, PA 16-43
An Act Concerning Opioids and Access to Overdose Reversal Drugs. This Act contains various provisions relating to opioid abuse prevention and treatment and related issues. With certain exceptions, it prohibits authorized practitioners from issuing a prescription for more than a 7-day supply to an adult for the first time for outpatient use, or to a minor; it makes various changes to the electronic prescription drug monitoring program; and it provides protection against civil and criminal liability for all licensed health care providers for treating overdoses with opioid antagonist and requires municipalities, by October 1, 2016, to amend their local emergency medical services (EMS) plans to ensure that specified first responders are equipped with an opioid antagonist and trained in administering it (§ 1). Effective upon passage

CT HB 5450, PA 16-23
An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana.

This Act makes various changes to the state’s medical marijuana program, which the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) administers. Among other things, the Act: 1. allows minors to be qualifying patients, subject to certain additional requirements and limitations beyond those that apply for adults; 2. adds to the list of qualifying debilitating conditions for adults; 3. requires patients to select a dispensary from which they will purchase marijuana, and subjects patients to a possible enforcement hearing if they possess marijuana obtained from another source; 4. allows dispensaries to distribute marijuana to hospices and other inpatient care facilities that have protocols for handling and distributing marijuana; 5. specifically allows nurses to administer marijuana in licensed health care facilities; 6. allows the DCP commissioner to approve medical marijuana research programs, requires him to adopt regulations on licensing research program employees and related matters, and requires research program subjects to register with the department; 7. requires the DCP commissioner to adopt regulations on licensing marijuana laboratories and laboratory employees; 8. makes changes to qualifications of and other matters concerning the medical marijuana board, including allowing the board to recommend that a medical condition, treatment, or disease be removed from the list of qualifying debilitating conditions; and 9. requires dispensaries to report annually to DCP. Effective October 1, 2016

CT HB 5537, PA 16-66
An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes. This Act makes various revisions to the public health statutes including:

Newborn Screening- Section 22

The Act specifies that adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is part of the required newborn screening tests. It repeals an obsolete provision requiring the DPH commissioner, by October 1, 2015, to execute an agreement with the New York State Department of Health to (1) conduct a newborn screening test for ALD using dried blood spots and (2) develop a quality assurance testing method for the screening test. Effective October 1, 2016

CT HB 5620 SA 16-4
An Act Concerning a Study of Impediments to Insurance Coverage for Substance Use Disorder Treatments. This Act requires the Insurance Commissioner to study the impediments that exist, if any, for insureds to receive treatments for substance use disorders under their health insurance policies or health benefit plans. Effective from passage

CT SB 70, PA 16-25
An Act Concerning Telehealth Providers. This Act adds licensed speech and language pathologists, respiratory care practitioners, and audiologists to the list of health care providers authorized to provide health care services using telehealth. Under the Act, they must provide telehealth services within their profession’s scope of practice and standard of care, just as other telehealth providers must under existing law. Effective October 1, 2016

CT SB 160, PA 16-162
An Act Concerning Prior Authorization for the Interhospital Transfer of Certain Newborn Infants and Their Mothers. This Act prohibits health carriers (e.g., insurers and medical service corporations) from requiring preauthorization for an interhospital transfer of a newborn infant experiencing a life-threatening emergency or condition or the infant’s hospitalized mother to accompany him or her.

CT SB 244, PA 16-90

An Act Concerning the Reporting of Injuries Resulting from the Discharge of a Firearm and Stab Wounds. This Act requires hospitals, outpatient surgical facilities, and outpatient clinics to report to the police on stab wounds that are serious physical injuries likely caused by a knife or other sharp or pointed instrument (“stab wounds”). Existing law already requires them to report on bullet wounds, gunshot wounds, and other injuries caused by a firearm discharge (“gunshot wounds”). The Act also (1) adds to the information that must be included in these reports and (2) sets requirements for how these health care facilities’ employees must handle evidence related to such injuries. Finally, under certain circumstances, the Act provides these facilities and their employees with immunity from civil or criminal liability or professional discipline for this reporting and related matters. Effective October 1, 2016

CT SB 289, PA 16-77
An Act Concerning Patient Notices, Designation of a Health Information Technology Officer, Assets Purchased for the State-Wide Health Information Exchange and Membership of the State Health Information Technology Advisory Council. This Act makes various revisions to the big hospital bill that passed last session (SB 811, Public Act 15-146), providing some clarity and relief to hospitals on matters relating to facility fees and notice provisions. It also makes changes relating to Health Information Technology. Effective upon passage

CT SB 371, PA 16-214
An Act Concerning the Use of Experimental Drugs. The Act allows manufacturers to provide terminally ill patients with investigational drugs under certain conditions. It defines a “terminal illness” as a medical condition that the treating physician anticipates, with reasonable medical judgment, will result in a patient’s death or a state of unconsciousness from which recovery is unlikely within a year. Effective October 1, 2016

CT SB 502, May Special Session, PA 16-3

An Act Concerning Revenue and other Items to Implement the Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2017.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Services – Sections 47-60:

Makes the Department of Social Services (DSS), rather than the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the lead agency for coordinating state agency functions that have responsibility for Autism Spectrum Disorder services and for applying for funding associated with ASD responsibilities. Effective July 1, 2016

Interpreters for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired – Section 80:

Allows, rather than requires, the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to provide dear or hard of hearing interpreting services to any person or entity upon request. By law, unchanged by the Act, anyone receiving interpreting services through DORS must reimburse the agency at rates it establishes. Effective July 1, 2016

Outpatient Surgical Facilities – Sections 195 & 196:

CT SB 368, PA 16-213
An Act Concerning the Insurance Department’s Market Conduct Authority and Data Call Confidentiality, Authorizing Multistate Health Care Centers in Connecticut, Eliminating a Health Carrier Utilization Review Report Filing Requirement, and Concerning Licensure of Single Purpose Dental Health Care Centers. This Act allows the Insurance Department to: license HMOs that offer only dental services; subjects foreign HMOs (e.g., those organized under the laws of another state) and dental-only HMOs to the same laws that currently apply to domestic HMOs, with certain exceptions and adds dental hygienists to the definition of “healing arts” for purposes of the HMO statutes (§ 20). Effective July 1, 2017

CT HB 5537, PA 16-66
An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes. This Act makes various revisions to the public health statutes including:

Dental Education in Infection Control- Sections 10-12

These sections require dentists and dental hygienists to complete at least one contact hour (i.e., 50 minutes) every two years of training or education in infection control in a dental setting, as part of existing continuing education requirements. The requirement applies to registration periods beginning on and after October 1, 2016. The Act makes a corresponding change by providing that dentists’ other continuing education must include at least one contact hour in any three, rather than four, of the 10 mandatory topics prescribed by the DPH commissioner. By law, starting with their second license renewal, (1) dentists generally must complete 25 contact hours of continuing education every two years and (2) dental hygienists generally must complete 16 contact hours every two years. Effective October 1, 2016

Dental Assistants-Section 38

Section 38 of the Act establishes a new designation of dental assistant called expanded function dental assistants (“EFDAs”). It changes some of the procedures a dentist can delegate to other dental assistants, allows a dentist to delegate more procedures if the assistant is an EFDA, and specifies the level of supervision required for both types of assistants. The Act places a number of requirements on EFDAs and the dentists that hire them. It requires dental assistants to receive training in infection control, starting in 2018. It also allows the DPH commissioner to adopt implementing regulations. Effective October 1, 2016

CT SB 67, PA 16-39
An Act Concerning the Authority and Responsibilities of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. This Act amends numerous statutes, allowing APRNs to certify, sign, or otherwise document medical information in several situations that currently require a physician’s signature, certification, or documentation. Examples include: issuing “do not resuscitate” orders, certifying a patient for medical marijuana use (except for glaucoma), and certifying a disability or illness for continuing education waivers or extensions for various health professions. The Act also extends certain reporting requirements to APRNs and allows optometrists to document vision-related information in a few situations that currently require a physician’s documentation (The Act also extends this authority to APRNs). Effective October 1, 2016

CT HB 5437, SA 16-8
An Act Concerning Nonemergency Medical Transportation for Medicaid Recipients. This Act requires the Commissioner of Social Services to initiate planning for a new service delivery model for nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) and (2) issue requests for proposals for NEMT. Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 295, SA 16-17
An Act Concerning Radiological and Imaging Services. This Act requires July 1, 2016, and quarterly thereafter until June 30, 2017, the Commissioner of Social Services to provide data on utilization trends in radiological and imaging services in the Medicaid program to the Council on Medical Assistance Program Oversight. Said council may review such data to determine the effect, if any, on patient access to radiological and imaging services due to reduced reimbursement for such services pursuant to the Department of Social Services’ Medicaid state plan amendment 15-020. Effective from passage

CT SB 445, SA 16-20
An Act Establishing a Health Data Collaborative Working Group. This Act requires that the chairpersons of the Commission on Economic Competitiveness appoint and convene a health data collaborative working group to examine and make recommendations regarding: (1) The anticipated digital infrastructure needs of the health care industry, the insurance industry, public and private universities and research institutions, including, but not limited to, access to data centers and private sector high-speed broadband networks; (2) The potential economic and employment benefits that may result from the development of such digital infrastructure; and (3) Means to encourage the development of such digital infrastructure, which may include, but not be limited to, the enactment of statutory and regulatory changes or the implementation of other approaches to support private, not public, investment in and development of such digital infrastructure. Effective from passage

CT HB 5070, PA 16-120
An Act Concerning Participation in the Standard Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Regarding Distance Learning Programs. This Act requires the Office of Higher Education (OHE), by January 1, 2017, to enter into a multistate or regional reciprocity agreement to allow Connecticut and its higher education institutions to participate in a nationwide state authorization reciprocity agreement on distance learning programs. The nationwide agreement must (1) establish uniform standards across states and (2) eliminate the need for participating states to assess the quality of a program offered by an out-of-state institution. (Presumably, the participating state would accept the authorization that an institution obtains from its home state.) Effective July 16, 2016

CT HB 5332, PA 16-179

earmarks 2.5% of the program’s appropriation for use by the community-technical colleges for financial aid purposes;
establishes a maximum award amount for the need award;
requires that the maximum need award amount for part-time students be proportional to the maximum amount for full-time students;
eliminates requirements that need awards be made according to sliding scales annually determined by the Office of Higher Education (OHE), which administers the scholarship program;
revises the criteria for determining how funds for need awards must be allocated among higher education institutions;
prohibits OHE from making merit award determinations based on the order of institutions provided by a student on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid);
eliminates the performance incentive awards that were previously available; caps the percentage of the program’s appropriation that must be allocated to the merit award;
modifies the program’s compliance requirements; and
extends, from February 15 until May 1, the annual deadline by which higher education institutions must return unspent scholarship funds to OHE.

Effective July 1, 2016

CT HB 5376, PA 16-106
An Act Concerning Affirmative Consent. By law, higher education institutions in Connecticut must adopt and disclose one or more policies on sexual assault, stalking, and intimate partner violence. Among other things, the policies must include provisions about (1) providing, to students and employees who report or disclose being victims of such violence, information about their options for assistance; (2) disciplinary procedures; and (3) possible sanctions. This Act requires institutions to use a standard of affirmative consent when determining, in the context of these policies, whether sexual activity is consensual. The policies must include clear statements advising students and employees of the affirmative consent standard. Additionally, the Act specifies that the policies must describe the institutions’ investigation procedures for students and employees. (Existing law requires that the policies describe the institutions’ disciplinary procedures.) The also requires that an official trained annually in issues relating to sexual assault, stalking, and intimate partner violence conduct investigations in which the respondents are students. (Existing law applies this requirement to disciplinary proceedings in which the respondents are students.) The Act requires higher education institutions (except for Charter Oak State College) to include, in the awareness programming they offer to students and employees, an explanation of the affirmative consent standard. It also replaces references to “victim” and “accused” in current law. Generally, it replaces references to (1) “victim” with “student or employee who reports or discloses the alleged violation” and (2) “accused” with “student or employee responding to such report or disclosure.” Effective July 1, 2016

CT HB 5470, SA 16-10
An Act Establishing a Pilot Program for Minority Students in High School to Pursue a College Degree in Education. This Act establishes an educator pathways pilot program for minority students in grades eleven and twelve to take college courses in the field of education at participating state universities. The following school districts and state universities shall be partners in the pilot program: (1) The boards of education for the New Haven school district and the West Haven school district and Southern Connecticut State University, (2) the board of education for the New Britain school district and Central Connecticut State University, (3) the board of education for the Windham school district and Eastern Connecticut State University, and (4) the board of education for the Danbury school district and Western Connecticut State University. Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 24, PA 16-36
An Act Concerning Program Approval For Independent Institutions Of Higher Education. This Act exempts, until July 1, 2018, certain nonprofit independent higher education institutions from the Office of Higher Education’s (OHE) approval process for new programs of higher learning and program modifications. In practice, certain institutions are already exempt from this process. The Act exempts such institutions that (1) are eligible to participate in the Federal Family Education Loan program; (2) do not have a financial responsibility score of less than 1.5, as determined by the U.S. Department of Education, for the most recent fiscal year for which the necessary data is available; and (3) have been located in Connecticut and accredited as degree-granting institutions in good standing for at least 10 years by a regional accrediting association recognized by the U.S. education secretary. It specifies that teacher education programs remain subject to the State Board of Education’s regulatory authority. Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 25, PA 16-154
An Act Concerning Special Police Forces on College Campuses. This Act permits the establishment of a special police force at each of the regional community-technical colleges, subject to approval by the Board of Regents for Higher Education. Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 273, PA 16-15
An Act Concerning Revisions to the Higher Education Statutes. This Act changes the title of the Connecticut State University System leader from “President of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” to “President of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.” It does so to differentiate this position from the Board of Regents for Higher Education leader, whose title is “Chairman of the Board of Regents for Higher Education.” These two positions have different responsibilities under state law.

CT SB 333, PA 16-93
An Act Concerning the Foundation of the University of Connecticut.

Increased Transparency & Reporting

This Act requires all public higher education foundations to compile annually the following information into one report to the General Assembly that would include:

a list of the current members and officers of the governing board of such foundation;
a copy of the most recent annual report of such foundation;
a copy of the most recent audited financial statements, management letter and audit opinion of such foundation;
a copy of the written agreement between such state agency and the foundation that is required under 4-37;
a copy of the written whistleblower policy required under section 4-37j;
a copy of any conflicts of interest policy of the foundation;
a copy of the foundation’s most recently filed Internal Revenue Service form 990, including all parts and schedules which are required to be made available for public inspection under the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations;
a copy of the bylaws of such foundation;
a report of the total number and average size of disbursements made during the prior fiscal year to each public institution of higher education for (i) undergraduate and graduate scholarships, fellowships and awards, (ii) program and research support, (iii) equipment, and (iv) facilities construction, improvements and related expenses; and
for any employee of the public institution of higher education for whom the foundation contributes some or all of the salary, wages or fringe benefit expenses, the foundation shall provide a report listing the position of each such employee and for each position the amount of the financial reimbursement by the foundation to the public institutions of higher education for such employee salary, wages or fringe benefit expense;
the identity of any person, firm or corporation or other entity donating funds or other things of value to the foundation, unless the donor has requested that such donor’s identity not be publicly disclosed;
a list of all deanships, professorships, chairs, schools, institutes, centers or facilities of the institution named in recognition of donors to the foundation which were approved by the board of trustees of the public institution of higher education during the prior fiscal year.

Reducing & Eliminating University Support for the UConn Foundation

one million if the market value of the endowment is equal to or greater than $500 million but less than $700 million dollars;
one million five hundred thousand dollars if the market value of the endowment as of January first of the preceding fiscal year is equal to or greater than seven hundred million dollars but less than nine hundred million dollars;
three million dollars if the market value of the endowment as of January first of the preceding fiscal year is equal to or greater than nine hundred million dollars but less than $1.25 billion dollars;
no cash payment shall be paid by the University to the foundation when the amount in such foundation’s endowment fund as of January first of the preceding fiscal year is equal to or greater than $1.25 billion;

Commitment to Student Support

Technical Change on Audit Requirements

Effective July 1, 2017

CT SB 426 PA 16-19
An Act Creating a Task Force to Improve Access to Legal Counsel in Civil Matters. This Act creates a task force to study the nature, extent and consequences of unmet legal needs of state residents in civil matters. The task force shall examine, on a state-wide basis, the impact that the lack of access to legal counsel in civil matters is having on the ability of state residents to secure essential human needs. Among others, the Dean of the University of Connecticut School of Law, or the dean’s designee is a member.

CT SB 501, May Special Session, PA 16-2

An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium ending June 30, 2017.

Adjustments to FY17 state appropriations – Section 1

Section 1 of this Act reduced the appropriation for the Governor’s Scholarship program from $41 million to $37 million for fiscal year 2017. Effective July, 1, 2016

National Center for Higher Education Management Systems – Section 25:

Allows $7500 from FY16 to continue into FY17 for Legislature to contract with National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Effective July 1, 2016

CT HB 5237, PA 16-83
An Act Concerning Fair Chance Employment. This Act prohibits employers from asking about a prospective employee’s prior arrests, criminal charges, or convictions on an initial employment application unless (1) the employer must do so under state or federal law or (2) the prospective employee is applying for a position for which the employer must obtain a security or fidelity bond or equivalent bond. Effective January 1, 2017

CT HB 5262, PA 16-10
An Act Establishing a Firefighters Cancer Relief Program. This Act creates the firefighters cancer relief account and the firefighters cancer relief program to provide wage replacement benefits to eligible paid and volunteer firefighters diagnosed with cancer. The Act establishes a new cancer relief subcommittee of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association to award benefits under the program. Firefighters are not eligible until July 1, 2019 (although another part of the Act states that eligibility starts in 2022, five years after the Act’s effective date). Effective February 1, 2017

CT SB 262, PA 16-195
An Act Concerning the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act and Active Duty Military Service. This Act requires certain private employers and the state to allow their employees to take unpaid time off when federal regulations determine a need exists arising from the employee’s spouse, son or daughter, or parent being on active duty or notified of an impending call or order to active duty in the armed forces (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force and any reserve component of these branches, including the Connecticut National Guard performing duty under Title 32 of federal law (e.g., certain Homeland Security missions)). Regulations adopted by the U.S. labor secretary determine the situations qualifying for leave. Effective from passage

CT SB 502, May Special Session, PA 16-3

An Act Concerning Revenue and other Items to Implement the Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2017.

State Employee (Non-Union) Pensions – Section 61:

Limits the pension payout for non-union employees hired after July 1, 2016 to $125,000.

Effective July 1, 2016

State Employee (Non-Union) Health Premiums – Section 117:

Gives the Commissioner of Administrative Services and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management the authority to establish health benefit premium cost sharing requirements for all non-represented classified and unclassified officers and employees, up to eighteen per cent of the total premium equivalent as determined by the Comptroller. Effective from passage

CT SB 445, SA 16-20
An Act Establishing a Health Data Collaborative Working Group. This Act requires the chairpersons of the Commission on Economic Competitiveness to appoint and convene a health data collaborative working group to examine and make recommendations regarding: (1) The anticipated digital infrastructure needs of the health care industry, the insurance industry, public and private universities and research institutions, including, but not limited to, access to data centers and private sector high-speed broadband networks;

(2) The potential economic and employment benefits that may result from the development of such digital infrastructure; and (3) Means to encourage the development of such digital infrastructure, which may include, but not be limited to, the enactment of statutory and regulatory changes or the implementation of other approaches to support private, not public, investment in and development of such digital infrastructure. Effective from passage

CT SB 295, SA 16-17
An Act Concerning Radiological and Imaging Services. This Act requires on July 1, 2016, and quarterly thereafter until June 30, 2017, the Commissioner of Social Services to provide data on utilization trends in radiological and imaging services in the Medicaid program to the Council on Medical Assistance Program Oversight. Said council may review such data to determine the effect, if any, on patient access to radiological and imaging services due to reduced reimbursement for such services pursuant to the Department of Social Services’ Medicaid state plan amendment 15-020. Effective from passage

CT SB 502, May Special Session, PA 16-3

An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium ending June 30, 2017.

Pediatric Dental Medicaid Rates

Subject to a 5% cut for FY17 (in DSS no specific language)

Medicaid Reimbursements for Hospitals – Section 87:

Establishes that on and after July 1, 2016, hospital outpatient and emergency room services will be based on the ambulatory payment classification (APC) system.

States that DSS cannot increase rates to hospitals based on inflation unless the approved state budget includes money for such increases.

Effective from passage

CT HB 5450, PA 16-23
An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana.

CT SB 309, SA 16-18
An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study Value-Based Pricing of Prescription Drugs. This Act establishes a task force to study value-based pricing of prescription drugs. Effective from passage

CT HB 5407, PA 16-150
An Act Concerning the Division of State-Wide Emergency Telecommunications. This Act requires the Division of State-Wide Emergency Telecommunications (DSET) within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) to implement a “next generation 9-1-1 telecommunication system” (“Next Gen. 9-1-1”) as part of the statewide enhanced emergency 9-1-1 program. DSET must also coordinate and assist in statewide planning for the new system, which must (1) have enhanced 9-1-1 service capabilities and (2) allow users to reach public safety answering points (PSAP) by transmitting text messages, images, or videos. PSAPs are 24-hour facilities that receive 9-1-1 calls and dispatch emergency response services (e.g., fire and police) or transfer the calls to other public safety agencies. The Act requires (1) municipalities to submit proposals for new PSAPs, and PSAPs to submit proposals for changes to an existing PSAP, to DSET for approval prior to implementation and (2) each PSAP to begin annually certifying to DSET, by January 1, 2017, that the information in the 9-1-1 service utilization plan is accurate. It requires the DESPP commissioner to adopt regulations concerning the content of a 9-1-1 service utilization plan. Effective October 1, 2016

CT HB 5547, SA 16-13
An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study the Training Curriculum and Education of Police Officers.

This Act establishes a task force to examine the education and training of law enforcement officers in the state relative to recognized national best practices. The task force shall examine: (1) The current basic curriculum and practices, (2) the instruction and delivery of the basic curriculum, (3) the feasibility and desirability of offering training at satellite campuses, and (4) such other topics as the task force deems appropriate relating to police training. The task force shall include one member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a social scientist employed by an institution of higher education in this state. The task force is required to reports its findings by October 1, 2017. Effective from passage

CT SB 120, PA 16-157
An Act Concerning the Authority of Deputy Fire Marshals and Fire Inspectors.

This Act gives local fire marshals the authority to delegate to deputy fire marshals or fire inspectors their authority to write citations for fire code violations, just as they may currently delegate their authority to issue orders or permits. The Act also makes technical and conforming changes, mostly clarifying that the inspectors and investigators referred to in the laws concerning the appointment and qualifications of local fire officials are fire code inspectors and fire investigators. Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 501, May Special Session, PA 16-2

An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium ending June 30, 2017.

Biomedical Research Trust Fund – as amended by Senate A – Section 9:

Distributes $1.3m to UConn Health – half for the purpose of funding melanoma research and half for funding the Bladder Cancer Institute. Effective July 1, 2016

Tobacco Settlement Fund into the Biomedical Research Trust Fund – Section 11:

Eliminates FY17 and subsequent years’ transfers from Tobacco Settlement Fund into the Biomedical Research Trust Fund, and sends the monies to the state’s General Fund instead. Effective July 1, 2016

CT SB 502, May Special Session, PA 16-3

An Act Concerning Revenue and other Items to Implement the Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2017.

Consolidations/Elimination of Commissions and Agencies – Section 129-177 & 210:

Eliminates the six legislative commissions and replaces them with a (1) 63-member Commission on Equity and Opportunity and (2) 63-member Commission on Women, Children, and the Elderly. With the exception of continuity of authority and transfer of officers and employees, the (1) former constitutes a successor to the African-American Affairs Commission, Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission, and Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission and (2) latter constitutes a successor to the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Children, and Commission on Aging. Both are part of the legislative department. Effective July 1, 2016

Eliminates the Commission on Health Equity (now codified at CGS 38a-1051) (Section 209).

Miscellaneous

Other sections of the Act re-establish the Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC), the Office of State Ethics (OSE) and the State Elections & Enforcement Commission (SEEC) as separate stand-alone agencies (in 2011, these agencies were merged with others into an umbrella agency, the Office of Governmental Accountability (OGA)). The other offices currently within OGA, including the Judicial Review Council, the Judicial Selection Commission, the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners, the Office of the Child Advocate, the Office of the Victim Advocate and the State Contracting Standards Board, remain within OGA.

CT HB 5356, PA
An Act Concerning Veterans’ Health Records. This Act prohibits health providers from charging for health records requested in support of claims or appeals for federal or state veterans’ benefits. Effective from passage

CT SB 205, 16-192
An Act Concerning Women Veterans. This Act requires the head of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) veterans’ advocacy and assistance unit to develop training on how to help and serve women veterans with regard to certain benefits and programs. DVA must also publish on the Internet (1) extensive and reliable data on women veterans and (2) content dedicated to matters of concern for women veterans. Effective October 1, 2016

Office of Governmental Relations

Agriculture

Athletics

Budget

Construction & Contracting

Economic Development

Education K-12

Energy

Environment

Ethics

Facilities Management

Financial Aid and Tuition

Foundation

Health Care- Administration & Finance

Health Care-Clinical

Health Care-Dentistry

Health Care-Medical Staff

Health Care-Studies

Health Insurance

Higher Education

Human Resources

Information Technology

Medicaid

Pharmacy

Public Safety & Emergency Medical Services

Research

State Agencies

Transportation

Veterans’ Issues