2019 Legislative Session Summary

Summary of Legislation

The summaries below outline Public Acts passed during the 2019 Regular 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 state Office of Legislative Research or the state 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, click on the Public Act or resolution number on the top of the summary.

Full 2019 Legislative Report

CT SB 233, PA 19-18 An Act Concerning Cottage Food Products and the Production of Honey and Maple Syrup. This Act exempts all in-state maple syrup and honey production, including its preparation, packaging, labeling, and sale, from regulation under the state’s Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and cottage food law, which the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) oversees. It also exempts the producers from the requirement to obtain a DCP food manufacturing license. The Act instead subjects maple syrup and honey producers to licensing, inspection, and enforcement by the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) commissioner and his authorized agents.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT SB 745, PA 19-7 An Act Requiring a Feasibility Study on the Establishment of an Environmental Agricultural Program at Public Institutions of Higher Education. This Act requires UConn to study the feasibility of establishing an environmental agricultural program at the constituent units within each board's jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, certificate or degree programs related to environmental agriculture, organic agriculture or greenhouse construction. The report is due not later than January 1, 2020.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 893, PA 19-3; An Act Concerning a Pilot Program for Hemp Production. This Act requires the state Department of Agriculture (DoAg) commissioner to establish and operate a hemp research pilot program in Connecticut. Until he adopts related regulations, the commissioner must use procedures and guidance policies that meet specified minimum standards and are consistent with federal law. The bill also requires the DoAg commissioner to prepare a hemp production state plan in accordance with federal law for approval by the governor and attorney general. He must do this in consultation with the office of the chief state’s attorney. (The bill does not specify a deadline for doing this.) Once approved, the commissioner must submit the plan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary for approval. The bill establishes licensing requirements, qualifications and fees for hemp growers, processors, and manufacturers. It requires DoAg to license and regulate growers and processors and the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to license and regulate manufacturers. (A manufacturer is one who converts hemp into a product intended for human consumption (i.e., “consumable”).)The bill also establishes inspection and testing requirements for growers and processors, as well as independent testing requirements for manufacturers to ensure that hemp plants and products comply with state and federal requirements. It imposes penalties for violations.

A number of sections are of interest to UConn. Section 1(a)(14) provides the University with the ability to test hemp provided it receives ISO 17025 accreditation. Other sections in the Act also exempt higher education institutions, other state agencies or departments from paying license fees for growing or processing when such application fees are for cultivation or processing for research purposes.

Effective from passage

CT SB 893, PA 19-3 was amended by the Budget:

CT HB 7424, PA 19-117 An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June Thirtieth, 2021, and making Appropriations therefor, and Implementing Provisions of the Budget.

§ 152-154: Under PA 19-3, hemp intended to be manufactured as a consumable product must be tested for microbiological contaminants, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and pesticide chemical residue. The act required DCP to prescribe testing standards in regulations. The amendment in the budget bill removes the requirement for regulations. Under the Act, DCP must prescribe the standards and publish them on the agency’s website. If a hemp sample fails the testing, PA 19-3 requires the manufacturer to dispose of the entire batch from which the sample was taken in accordance with procedures the DCP commissioner adopts in regulations. The Act eliminates the requirement for regulations and instead requires the manufacturer to dispose of the batch in accordance with provisions already outlined in PA 19-3 (i.e., embargo the batch, label it as adulterated, notify DoAg and DCP, and destroy and dispose of the product in a way the DCP commissioner determines).The Act also makes a correction in definitions to accurately reflect the technical name of “THC” as delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol.

Effective from passage

CT HB 5002, PA 19-35 An Act Concerning a Green Economy and Environmental Protection. Among other things, this Act exempts certain anaerobic digestion facilities from the requirement to obtain a permit from DEEP to construct and operate a solid waste facility (sections 15-18).

Effective from Passage

CT HB 6637, PA 19-190 An Act Requiring an Invasive Species Stamp for the Operation of a Motorboat on the Waters of the State. This Act requires owners of registered vessels (i.e., generally, any type of watercraft except a seaplane) to pay an annual aquatic invasive species (AIS) fee. The annual fee is $5 for in-state vessels and $20 for out-of-state vessels.

Effective January 1, 2020

CT HB 7424, PA 19-117 An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June Thirtieth, 2021, and making Appropriations therefor, and Implementing Provisions of the Budget.

Section 364 – Admission Taxes. Provides an exemption from the 10% admission tax, on and after July 1, 2020, to any event at the Dunkin' Donuts Park in Hartford. Between July 1, 2019 and July 1, 2020, the tax imposed for Dunkin' Donuts Park events shall be five per cent of the admission.

Also, for the following venues and events, for sales occurring on or after July 1, 2019, but prior to July 1, 2020, the tax imposed under this section shall be seven and one-half per cent of the admission charge. After July 1, 2020, the tax will be 5%:

Any event at the XL Center in Hartford;
Any event at Dillon Stadium in Hartford;
Any athletic event presented by a member team of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball at the New Britain Stadium;
And other named venues.

Budget

CT HB 7424, PA 19-117 An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June Thirtieth, 2021, and making Appropriations therefor, and Implementing Provisions of the Budget.

Summary

UNIVERSITY OF Connecticut	FY 19-20	FY 20-21
Operating Expenses	198,083,555	208,979,109
Workers’ Compensation Claims	2,271,228	2,271,228
AGENCY TOTAL	200,354,783	211,250,337

UNIVERSITY OF Connecticut HEALTH CENTER
Operating Expenses	109,785,175	116,556,690
AHEC	375,179	375,832
Workers’ Compensation Claims	2,670,431	2,917,484
Bioscience	15,400,000	16,000,000
AGENCY TOTAL	128,230,785	135,850,006

Effective July 1, 2019

Notes:

Block Grants to UConn & UConn Health are at the same levels that were included in the Governor’s proposed and Appropriations Committee proposed budgets.
For UConn, the budget merges the funds that were previously included in the two separate line items entitled “Operating Expenses” and “Next Generation Connecticut” – the UConn block grant now includes only an “Operating Expenses” line (and funds appropriated for Workers’ Compensation claims). UConn Health still has separate lines for “Operating Expenses” and “Bioscience CT”
Section 44 – Unfunded SERS Liability funds for UCH. Provides UConn Health with an additional $33.2m in FY20. This section also provides the community colleges with $8.2m in FY20 and $20.35m in FY21 to help with unfunded SERS liabilities.
- 44. (Effective July 1, 2019) (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the Comptroller shall fund the portion of the state employees' retirement system fringe benefit recovery rate attributable to the unfunded liability of said system, for employees of The University of Connecticut Health Center who are supported by resources other than the General Fund, in an amount not to exceed $33,200,000 from the amount appropriated in section 1 of this act to the State Comptroller, for State Employees' Retirement System Unfunded Liability.

Lapses:

Section 11 – Lapses for GF Savings. Allows OPM to make reductions in allotments for the executive branch to achieve General Fund savings amounting to $29,015,570 for FY20 and to $26,215,570 for FY21.

NOTE: It is not clear to what extent these lapses and others throughout the budget bill will be applied to or impact the UConn and UConn Health budgets.

Section 13 – Lapses for State-Wide Hiring Savings. Allows OPM to make reductions in allotments in any budgeted agency of the executive branch in order to achieve state-wide hiring savings of $7m in each FY 2020 & 2021.

Section 14 – Lapses to Reduce Pension & Healthcare Expenditures. Allows OPM to make reductions in allotments in any budgeted agency and fund of the State in order to reduce pension and healthcare expenditures by $163.2m for FY20 and by $256.2m for FY21.
Section 51 – Lapses for Contract Savings. Allows OPM to make reductions in allotments in any budgeted agency of the executive branch for FY20 and FY21 in order to achieve savings in the General Fund of $5m during FY21 and $15m in FY22 associated with contracting savings initiatives

Contracting

CT SB 857, PA 19-94 An Act Concerning Expedited Approval of Affirmative Action Plans Submitted by Contractors to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. By law, the successful bidder for certain large state contracts must file with and obtain the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities’ (CHRO) approval for an affirmative action plan before the contract is awarded. A contractor who is not subject to this requirement still must file an affirmative action plan with CHRO if the contractor (1) has 50 or more employees and (2) is awarded such a contract for more than $50,000 (“other contractors”). This Act requires the CHRO executive director or her designee to review and approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove affirmative action plans submitted by other contractors within 120 days after their submission. If she or her designee fails to do so, the bill deems the plans approved or deficient without consequence and requires her or her designee, within 15 days, to provide the contractor written notice of the action taken.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT SB 916, PA 19-126 An Act Concerning Applications for Prequalification by Contractors and Substantial Subcontractors. This Act modifies the required contents of the application form used by the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to prequalify state public works contractors. Specifically, it removes information related to pending matters and adds information concerning the nonpayment of wages or benefits. By law, state public works contracts that exceed $500,000 (or $1.5 million for DAS-administered projects), generally, must be awarded to a contractor that is prequalified by DAS (CGS § 4b-91).

Effective October 1, 2019

CT HB 6666, PA 19-141 An Act Requiring the Prompt Payment of Contractors. Relating to state contracts for goods and services and construction projects, this Act reduces the timeframe in which state agencies must pay a small contractor under the Small and Minority-Owned Business Set-Aside program, from 30 days to 25 days from the date payment is due.

CT HB 6927, SA 19-11 An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study Debarment and Limitations on the Awarding of State Contracts. This Act establishes a task force to study Connecticut's debarment procedures and how such procedures relate to other states and title 31 of the general statutes. UConn is named as a member.

Effective from passage

CT HB 7087, PA 19-136 An Act Concerning the Reporting of the Triennial Audit of State Contracting Agencies by the State Contracting Standards Board and the Membership and Quorum Requirements of the Board. Existing law requires the State Contracting Standards Board (SCSB) to audit state contracting agencies every three years and, within 30 days after completion, issue and deliver a compliance report, which is a public record. This Act explicitly directs SCSB to issue and deliver the compliance report to the state contracting agency. The Act allows the agency to respond in writing to SCSB’s report within 60 days after receipt. It specifically makes the response a public record. After receiving the response, or after 60 days have elapsed with no response, the Act allows the SCSB to submit both the report and response, if any, to the Appropriations and Government Administration and Elections committees, as well as the contracting agency’s committee of cognizance.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT SB 5, SA 19-6 An Act Establishing a Workforce Pipeline and Job Creation Task Force. This Act establishes a workforce pipeline and job creation task force to prepare the state's future workforce for well-paying manufacturing and technical jobs located in Connecticut.

Effective from passage

CT SB 570, PA 19-54 An Act Concerning Opportunity Zones. This Act makes various changes concerning the promotion and development of the state’s federally designated opportunity zones.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 1026, PA 19-21 An Act Concerning a Marketing Plan to Promote the Bioscience Industry in the State. This Act requires Connecticut Innovations (CI), by February 1, 2020, in consultation with a bioscience trade group to contract with an advertising agency to create a marketing plan, social media campaign, and dedicated website to promote Connecticut as a bioscience hub. CI must report to the Commerce Committee by January 1, 2021, on the results of the marketing plan, campaign, and website.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 1028, PA 19-22, An Act Concerning Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated and Private Equity Investment. This Act makes Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated (CI) the successor agency of the Connecticut Brownfields Redevelopment Authority (CBRA),assuming all of CBRA’s powers, rights, interests, and obligations(see BACKGROUND).It deems CBRA, which is currently a subsidiary of CI, dissolved without needing any notice of filing; consent of any third party; instrument of assignment or assumption; or any other action. It makes various conforming changes related to dissolving CBRA. The Act also changes certain requirements in CI’s investment policies for equity investment funds and funds of funds including requiring that the fund manager for any such investment have a Connecticut office

Effective from passage

CT SB 1029, PA 19-150 An Act Concerning Workforce Development. This Act requires the principals of technical education and career schools to meet with representatives from electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities and from state colleges and universities offering public utility management courses to access the community’s and utilities’ workforce needs and modify the curriculum accordingly.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT SB 1130, PA 19-154 An Act Concerning Various Initiatives at the University Of Connecticut. This Act makes various changes related to entrepreneurship and economic development at UConn. It does the following, among other things:

modifies UConn’s existing faculty recruitment program and requires the Board of Trustees (BoT) to develop a new recruitment plan(§ 1);
requires UConn’s president, on and after October 1, 2019,to spearhead efforts to promote UConn’s entrepreneurship and innovation to prospective students and faculty in ways the president deems appropriate(§ 2);
requires the BoT to freely license, and release for open, public use, all patents it holds that have not been used for commercialization or licensed for at least 10 years, as long as the inventor is first offered the right to license the patent(§ 2);
requires UConn’s president and BoT to build and foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at UConn and build relationships with other higher education institutions (§ 2);
requires the UConn president to oversee the development of a plan regarding technology transfer policies and entrepreneurship and innovation at UConn (§ 3); and
modifies how CT Next’s Higher Education Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee must prioritize grant applications (§ 4).

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 932, PA 19-34 An Act Concerning the Staff Qualifications Requirement for Early Childhood Educators. Under current law, state-funded early childhood education program staff must meet an increasingly advanced level of educational attainment over the next several years in three phases. This Act gives staff more time to comply with the requirements by (1) adding an additional phase and (2) extending the first phase and delaying implementation of the remaining phases by two years. Each phase of increased qualifications has a range of acceptable qualifications and within each range there is always a minimum level. The Act broadens acceptable requirements under certain conditions.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 935, PA 19-61, An Act Requiring the office of Early Childhood to Develop A Proposed Early Childhood Educator Compensation Schedule. This Act requires the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) to (1) establish a proposed early childhood educator compensation schedule for state-qualified employees of early childhood education programs and (2) consider certain factors in doing so. Under the Act, an early childhood education program is any child care or school readiness program that accepts state funds for infant, toddler, and preschool spaces.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 936, 19-121 An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the office of Early Childhood. This Act implements the recommendations of the office of early childhood.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 956, PA 19-63, An Act Concerning Guidelines for a Comprehensive School Counselor Program. This Act requires the State Board of Education (SBE), in collaboration with a state-wide school counselors association, to adopt guidelines for a comprehensive school counseling program by July 1, 2020. The guidelines must ensure that all students have access to a comprehensive school counseling program that provides academic, social-emotional, and post-secondary and career-readiness programming by an adequately trained certified school counselor.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 957, PA 19-128 An Act Concerning the Inclusion of Computer Science Instruction in the Public School Curriculum, Programs of Teacher Preparation and Alternate Route to Certification Programs and the Creation of an Adjunct Computer Science Instructor Permit and a Computer Science Endorsement. This Act adds computer science to the list of subjects that must be taught in public schools (§ 1). It makes computer programming a required component of computer science instruction, rather than a stand-alone instruction topic as under current law. The Act also makes the following changes in teacher preparation and certification laws relating to computer science or subject shortage areas: 1. requires teacher preparation programs leading to professional certification to revise their computer science curriculum (§ 2); 2. requires the Office of Higher Education (OHE), in collaboration and consultation with the State Department of Education (SDE), to develop an alternate route to certification (ARC) program for computer science teachers, which must include mentored apprenticeships and program admission criteria (§ 3); 3.requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt regulations by July 1, 2020, that provide computer science teaching certification standards, which must (a) create a computer science endorsement and (b) allow applicants to fulfill certification requirements by completing prescribed courses of study or other experience that SBE deems appropriate (§ 4); 4. requires SBE to approve and adopt, by January 1, 2020, a computer science subject area assessment for teacher certification (§ 5); 5. requires SBE, beginning July 1, 2020, to allow applicants for teacher certification in a subject shortage area who receive a “satisfactory” rather than “excellent” score on the subject area assessment to substitute the score for the subject area certification requirements in law(§ 6);6. requires SBE, beginning July 1, 2020, to allow computer science certificate applicants or currently certified teachers in other subject areas seeking to teach computer science to substitute a satisfactory score on the assessment for the subject area certification requirements in law (§ 6); and 7. establishes the “computer science education account” in the General Fund (§ 10).

Effective dates vary

CT SB 1018, PA 19-130 An Act Concerning the Opportunity Gap. This Act results in a potential redistribution of how a priority school district spends their priority district grant, if they do not show performance index improvement by FY 22. The Act also requires priority school districts to conduct a program evaluation of how priority school district funds are spent, Additionally the Act requires the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS) to identify and develop a list of career in critical construction trades that are essential to the needs of the state. The CTECS are also required to a plan to create or expand existing programs to meet the identified needs.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 1020, PA 19-100 An Act Concerning the Inclusion of Instruction in Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Practice in the Preservice Training, Professional Development and in-Service Training Provided to Teachers. This Act changes the term “cultural competency” to “culturally responsive pedagogy and practice” in laws addressing required: 1.teacher preparation training, 2.special education coursework necessary to qualify for an initial educator certification, and 3.instruction in an alternate route to certification (ARC).It also adds culturally responsive pedagogy and practice to the teacher professional development and in-service training that boards of education are required to provide for their teachers.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 1022, PA 19-74 An Act Concerning Minority Teacher Recruitment and Retention. Among other things, this Act requires the State Department of Education’s (SDE) Minority Teacher Recruitment Policy Oversight Council (i.e., “council”) to develop and implement strategies and use existing resources to ensure that local and regional boards of education annually hire and employ at least 250 new minority teachers and administrators. It also includes provisions related to: 1.expanding teacher certification reciprocity with other states (§ 2), 2.mortgage assistance for teachers who graduated from colleges and universities that traditionally serve minority students (§ 3), 3.re-employment of retired teachers who graduated from colleges and universities that traditionally serve minority students (§ 4), 4.flexibility in certain teacher certification requirements (§ 5), and5.removing subject-matter assessment requirements for teachers seeking to be recertified after their certification lapses in certain cases (§ 6)

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 1067, SA 19-8 An Act Establishing A Task Force To Analyze the Implementation of Laws Governing Dyslexia Instruction and Training. This Act stablishes a task force to analyze and make recommendations on the implementation of the laws governing dyslexia instruction and training. The task force includes two members appointed by the Governor who are representatives of public institutions of higher education in the state responsible for administering programs of teacher preparation.

Effective from passage

CT SB 1069, PA 19-91 An Act Concerning Various Revisions and Additions to the Education Statutes. This Act makes changes to laws governing criminal history checks for school personnel. Specifically, it establishes separate but analogous criminal history check requirements, similar to those required under current law, for school personnel employed by “eligible school operators” and “nongovernmental school operators” (§§ 1 & 2). The main distinction between the requirements for these two types of operators is the federal law with which the criminal history checks must comply. The Act also makes the following related changes: 1. creates separate criminal history check requirements for teacher preparation program participants fulfilling student teaching requirements in schools (“student teachers”), and requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) to waive the fees for its criminal history records checks (§ 3); 2. establishes separate criminal history check requirements for all other individuals performing services that cause them to have direct contact with students, replacing several other distinct classifications of school personnel (e.g., public assistance employment program workers and supplemental service providers) (§§ 1 & 4); and 3. makes changes relating to the dissemination of criminal history and child abuse registry check results (§ 1).

Effective July 1, 2019

CT HB 7082, PA 19-12 An Act Concerning the Inclusion of Black and Latino Studies in the Public School Curriculum. This Act adds African-American and black and Puerto Rican and Latino studies to the required programs of study for public schools and requires all local and regional boards of education (“boards”) to include these topics in their curriculum beginning with the 2021-22 school year. As with other courses required under existing law, the State Board of Education (SBE) must make curriculum materials available to help boards develop their instructional programs.

Effective dates vary

CT HB 7113, PA 19-139 An Act Concerning Education Issues. Among other things, this Act established a working group to study issues relating to the implementation of the pre-service performance assessment, edTPA, as adopted by the State Board of Education on December 7, 2016, as part of teacher preparation programs, as defined in section 10-10a of the general statutes. The working group shall examine how such assessment is being implemented in teacher preparation programs in the state, the financial costs associated with such assessment on institutions of higher education and students enrolled in teacher preparation programs, whether such assessment is evidence-based or a best practice, whether other states are using such assessment as part of teacher preparation programs or requiring completion of such assessment for professional certification, and any effect on world languages instruction. UConn is not named but the group includes a professor in a teacher preparation program in the state and a dean of a teacher preparation program in the state. It also: repeals an expedited teacher tenure provision for teachers or administrators who were previously tenured in one district and subsequently transfer into a priority school district (§ 2), and allows non-Sheff magnet schools that are not in compliance with the state’s minority student enrollment requirements to continue to be eligible for magnet school operating grants for FYs 20 and 21 if the schools submit a compliance plan to the education commissioner and she approves it (§ 4).

(Effective from passage)

CT HB 7215, PA 19-166 An Act Concerning School Climates. This Act makes numerous changes to the laws related to school bullying and safe school climate. Among other things, this Act establishes a 33-member social and emotional learning and school climate advisory collaborative and tasks it with developing a biennial state-wide school climate survey, model positive school climate policy, and student suicide risk assessment(§§ 1-3). A representative of Neag is named to the Collaborative.

(Effective from passage)

The Act also 1. requires the State Department of Education (SDE), by August 1, 2021, to publish on its website the model policy and school climate survey the collaborative develops (§ 2); 2.modifies the definition of bullying by, among other things, eliminating the requirement that the action occur between students(§ 3); 3.(a) specifies that schools, when they contact parents and guardians whose children have been involved in bullying, must let the parents know the results of the investigation into the incident and (b) requires the schools to also notify the parents or guardians that they may refer to information on the board of education’s website about rights and remedies under school law(§ 3); 4.requires boards of education to publish such information in plain language on their websites by June 30, 2021(§ 4); and 5. requires boards of education, in consultation with the collaborative and SDE, to provide on the department website certain training materials for school administrators regarding bullying prevention and intervention(§ 5).

Effective dates vary

CT HB 7291, PA 19-52 An Act Concerning School Security. This Act requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) to (1) update state school security and safety plan standards, (2) simplify certain school security reporting requirements and school security infrastructure grant applications, and (3) develop criteria to identify qualified school security consultants and limit the existing registry to such individuals only. It also adds related duties for the State Department of Education (SDE) and the School Safety Infrastructure Council.

(Effective from passage)

CT HB 7353, PA 19-184 An Act Concerning the Provision of Special Education. This Act makes changes in education statutes relating to special education and nondiscrimination.

Effective dates vary

CT HB 5002 PA 19-35 An Act Concerning a Green Economy and Environmental Protection. Among other things, This Act requires the Office of Workforce Competitiveness, in consultation with the Office of Higher Education (OHE), the Department of Education (SDE), the Department of Labor (DOL), DEEP, regional workforce development boards, and employers to establish a career ladder for jobs in the green technology industry by January 1, 2020 and update it as needed. Under the Act, the career ladder must list: 1) careers at each level of the green technology industry and the requisite level of education and salary offered for each career; 2) all course, certificate, and degree programs in green jobs offered by technical education and career schools within the Technical Education and Career System and higher education institutions in Connecticut; and 3) green technology industry jobs available in Connecticut.

(Effective from Passage)

CT HB 7194, PA 19-194 An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health's Recommendations Regarding Public Drinking Water. This Act allows public water system public service companies regulated by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to receive grants from the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Public Water System Improvement Program. Current law limits program eligibility to municipal water companies and nonprofit non-community water systems(ie facilities served by their own water supply).Under the Act, the water system may receive a program grant only if (1) it serves at least 25 people or at least 15 year-round service connections, (2) the grant is used for an eligible drinking water project approved for financial assistance under DPH’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Program and (3) DPH consulted with PURA about the grant.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT HB 7152, PA 19-163 An Act Accelerating the Deployment of 5g Wireless Facilities. This Act establishes a Council on 5G Technology and requires that it develop a fee structure to permit 5G providers to use state real property for siting infrastructure. UConn is named to the Council and is required to execute and administer any license agreement with the wireless carrier or permitted entity that submitted the approved request/s.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT HB 7190, PA 19-169

An Act Extending Good Samaritan Protections for Persons or Entities that Include an Opioid Antagonist within a Cabinet Containing an Automatic External Defibrillator. Under certain conditions, this Act grants civil immunity to individuals or entities that provide or maintain an automatic external defibrillator (AED)in a cabinet which also contains an opioid antagonist(e.g., Narcan) used for drug overdoses. Under the Act, they are not liable for ordinary negligence for their acts or omissions in making the opioid antagonist available. The immunity does not apply to gross, willful, or wanton negligence.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT SB 920, PA 19-118 An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health's Recommendations for Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes. Among other things, Sections 5-6 of this Act modify the definition of “multi-care institution” to include hospitals that provide behavioral and other health care services, including methadone and substance use disorder treatments, and requires these hospitals to provide DPH with a list of their satellite units when completing licensure applications.

Section 502 of the Act amends existing state law to permit licensing and inspection of outpatient clinics either every 3 years or, if the clinic received accreditation from its national accrediting organization within the immediately preceding twelve-month period, such licensing and inspection may be required once every four years.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT HB 6540, PA 19-109 An Act Concerning the Prevention of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Under certain conditions, existing law allows physicians and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to examine and treat a minor for HIV or AIDS without the consent of the minor’s parents or guardian. This Act additionally allows physicians and APRNs to provide prophylaxis to minors for HIV without parental or guardian consent, under the same conditions. It defines prophylaxis as the use of medication, other than a vaccine, to prevent disease. Under existing law, the provision of HIV or AIDS treatment to a minor under these circumstances must be kept confidential and not divulged unless the minor consents, including when the provider sends a bill to anyone other than the minor. The Act extends this to HIV prophylaxis, but provides two exceptions to these confidentiality provisions. First, if the minor is age 12 or younger and receiving such prophylaxis or treatment without parental or guardian consent, the Act requires the physician or APRN to report the minor’s name, age, and address to the Department of Children and Families for an investigation of possible abuse or neglect. A similar requirement applies under existing law to report treatment of minors age 12 or younger for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV (CGS § 19a- 216). Second, the Act specifies that physicians or APRNs treating a minor for HIV or AIDS under these circumstances may report to the Department of Public Health (DPH) and local health department as required by the law on DPH’s list of reportable diseases. Lastly, the Act extends to HIV prophylaxis existing law’s provisions that require documentation in the minor’s medical record and that the minor be liable for costs.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT HB 7159, PA 19-191 An Act Addressing Opioid Use. Its purpose is to implement the governor's budget recommendations. This Act makes various changes in the statutes to prevent and treat opioid use disorder. Among other things, it requires higher education institutions, by January 1, 2020, to develop and implement a policy on the availability and use of opioid antagonists by students and employees, and generally notify emergency medical providers when an opioid antagonist is used The policy must be submitted to the Department of Consumer Protection for approval(§ 7).

It also: 1.generally requires pharmacists to offer consultations to all patients when dispensing a prescription, not just Medicaid patients as under current law (§§ 1 & 2); 2. Allows pharmacists to designate a trained pharmacy technician to access the state’s Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS) on their behalf (§ 3); 3 .specifies that prescribing practitioners or their agents are not prohibited from disclosing CPMRS information about pharmacy-or veterinarian-dispensed prescriptions to the Department of Social Services (DSS) to administer medical assistance programs (e.g., Medicaid) (§ 3); 4. Requires drug manufacturers and wholesalers to report to the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) decisions to terminate or refuse an order from a pharmacy or prescribing practitioner for schedule II to V controlled substances (§ 4); 5. Prohibits life insurance and annuity policies or contracts from excluding coverage solely based on an individual having received a prescription for naloxone (an opioid antagonist) (§ 5); 6. Requires prescribing practitioners who prescribe an opioid drug with more than a 12-week supply to establish a treatment agreement with the patient or discuss a care plan for chronic opioid drug use (§ 6); 7. requires the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to review and report on literature about the efficacy of providing home-based treatment and recovery services for opioid use disorder to certain Medicaid beneficiaries (§ 8); 8.generally requires DMHAS-operated or –approved treatment programs to educate patients with opioid use disorder, and their relatives and significant others, on opioid antagonists and how to administer them (§ 9); 9. makes various changes to credentialing of certain emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, such as requiring applicants on or after January 1, 2020, to complete(a) mental health first aid training and(b) national training and examination requirements(§ 10); 10. requires hospitals, starting January 1, 2020, to administer a mental health screening or assessment on patients treated for a nonfatal opioid drug overdoses if it is medically appropriate to do so (§ 11); and 11 .requires DMHAS to study and report on the protocol for police detention of someone suspected of overdosing on an opioid drug and the implications of involuntarily transporting such a person to an emergency department (§ 13).

Effective October 1, 2019

CT HB 7282, PA 19-176, An Act Concerning Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. This Act requires all health care institutions caring for newborn infants to test them for spinal muscular atrophy, unless a parent objects based on religious grounds. It requires the testing to be done as soon as is medically appropriate.

Effective January 1, 2020

CT SB 807, PA 19-56, An Act Concerning the Legislative Commissioners' Recommendations for Revisions to the Public Health Statutes. This Act makes changes to various public health-related statutes. It:1.establishes a dental therapist designation for dental hygienists who meet certain certification, education, clinical training, and examination requirements; requires such therapists to work pursuant to a collaborative agreement with a dentist; and limits their practice to public health settings(§ 501); 2.gives dental assistants more time to pass an infection control examination, and allows for an alternate way to meet the requirement through a competency assessment(§ 13); and 3.adds to the list of procedures that dentists may delegate to expanded function dental assistants(§ 13).

Effective from Passage

CT HB 6088, PA 19-155 An Act Concerning Contracting Health Organizations and Dentists, Dental Plans and Procedures. This Act adds dentists to the statute that currently requires contracting health organizations (CHOs) (i.e. managed care organizations or preferred provider networks) to provide providers with more access to electronic fee and other information. Specifically, it requires CHOs to establish and implement a procedure to provide dentists with internet or other electronic access to the CHO’s fees for current dental terminology (CDT) codes (current law requires that these organizations provide the same access to the CHO’s fees for the current procedural terminology (CPT) codes applicable to each provider's specialty), as well as provide electronic access to the CHO’s policies and procedures regarding payments to providers, providers’ duties and requirements, and inquiries and appeals. The Act also requires, for any policy delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state that provides coverage for inpatient or outpatient dental services only, that the person who issues the policy must provide the insured or a licensed dentist acting on behalf of the insured, upon request, an estimate of reimbursement under the policy with respect to specific dental procedure codes ordered or recommended. The law allows the actual reimbursement to be adjusted based on factors such as the insured's eligibility, plan design, utilization of benefits and the actual claim submitted. The fee schedule for in-network providers under such policies cannot be materially adjusted more than once annually, and specific notices described in the law must be provided to each in-network provider any time a material adjustment is made.

Effective January 1, 2020

CT HB 7303, PA 19-72 An Act Concerning Dental Practitioners. This Act makes various changes to laws on dental professionals. Among other things, it: establishes a one-year clinical residency as a standard requirement for dentist licensure; for dentists completing a practical examination instead of a residency, it eliminates examinations with human subjects by July 1, 2021; allows out-of-state dentists meeting certain standards to become licensed here without examination if they have worked for at least one year before the application, rather than five years as is currently required; specifies when DPH may take disciplinary action against dental therapists; allows dentists and dental hygienists to substitute eight hours of volunteer practice at temporary dental clinics for one hour of continuing education, within certain limits; allows dental hygienists to take impressions of teeth for certain purposes under a dentist’s indirect supervision; requires the Public Health Committee chairpersons to convene a working group to advise the committee on Department of Public Health (DPH) licensure of dental therapists; and allows dentists to administer finger-stick diabetes tests to patients who have increased risk of diabetes but who have not been diagnosed with diabetes.

Effective January 1, 2020, except the dental therapist working group and diabetes testing provisions take effect July 1, 2019.

CT SB 795, 19-113 An Act Concerning the use of Automatic External Defibrillators. This Act extends immunity from civil liability to physicians, dentists, or nurses who operate an automatic external defibrillator (AED) for damages for personal injuries caused by the AED’s malfunctioning, if the malfunctioning constitutes ordinary negligence. The Act applies to (1) physicians and dentists licensed in Connecticut or other states and (2) licensed practical nurses and registered nurses licensed in Connecticut, when any such professionals operate an AED to provide emergency medical or professional assistance. Under certain conditions, existing law provides civil immunity to (1) anyone who operates an AED not in the course of their employment and (2) a person or entity who provides or maintains such a device.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT SB 827, PA 19-115 An Act Concerning Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Training and Best Practices. This Act modifies continuing education requirements for physicians and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Additionally, the Act requires the executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, and Seniors (CWCS) to establish a nine-member working group on Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia. UConn Health is not named to the working group.

Effective dates vary

CT SB 921, PA 19-98 An Act Concerning the Scope of Practice of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. This Act adds advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to various statutes that currently only reference physicians or, in certain cases, other health care providers. In doing so, in some cases the Act grants APRNs the specific authority to perform certain actions that, under current law, are generally reserved for physicians, such as entering into a collaborative drug therapy management agreement with a pharmacist. Among other topics, the Act’s provisions address matters related to insurance, workers’ compensation, and behavioral health. In a few cases, the Act’s provisions apply only to APRNs who are certified as psychiatric mental health providers.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT HB 6522, PA 19-45 An Act Concerning Continuing Medical Education in Screening for Inflammatory Breast Cancer and Gastrointestinal Cancers. As part of existing law’s continuing education requirements, physicians must complete one contact hour of risk management training or education (1) during their first license renewal period in which continuing education is required and (2) at least once every six years after that. This Act allows such training to address screening for inflammatory breast cancer and gastrointestinal cancers, including colon, gastric, pancreatic, and neuroendocrine cancers and other rare gastrointestinal tumors. It applies to license registration periods starting on or after October 1, 2019. Existing law, unchanged by the Act, requires the risk management training to address prescribing controlled substances and pain management.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT HB 6942, PA 19-144 An Act Concerning a Collaborative Relationship Between Physician Assistants and Physicians. This Act clarifies a definition in the physician assistants’ (PA’s) law. Specifically, it defines the PA relationship with a physician as “collaborative” instead of “dependent,” as under current law. Existing law, unchanged by the Act, requires PAs to provide patient care under the supervision, control, responsibility, and direction of a licensed physician.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 394, PA 19-70, An Act Establishing a Council on Protecting Women's Health. This Act establishes a 20-member Council on Protecting Women’s Health to advise the Public Health and Insurance committees on strategies and any necessary legislative changes to ensure that the federal government does not impede the provision of healthcare to women in Connecticut. UConn Health is not named to the Council.

Effective July 1, 2019

Effective dates vary

CT SB 838, PA 19-201 An Act Concerning Vision Plans, Optometrists and Ophthalmologists. This Act concerns certain requirements regarding optometrist and ophthalmologists’ charges.

Effective January 1, 2020

CT HB 5213, PA 19-133 An Act Expanding Required Health Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids. This Act eliminates an age restriction for mandated health insurance coverage for hearing aids, thus requiring certain insurance policies to cover hearing aids for any covered person. In doing so, it codifies the Insurance Department’s Bulletin HC-102, which brought the state hearing aid benefit requirement into compliance with the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). (The ACA generally prohibits age-based discrimination in benefit design.) Current state law requires policies to cover hearing aids only for children under age 13. Under current law, policies may limit hearing aid coverage to $1,000 within a 24-month period. This Act instead allows policies to limit coverage to one hearing aid per ear within a 24-month period.

Effective January 1, 2020

CT HB 5521, PA 19-134 An Act Expanding Required Health Insurance Coverage for Preexisting Conditions. This Act prohibits short-term health insurance policies issued on a nonrenewable basis for a term of six months or less from containing a preexisting condition provision. The law already prohibits other individual and group health insurance policies and HMO contracts from imposing a preexisting condition provision. A preexisting condition provision limits or excludes coverage for preexisting conditions. The Act also redefines the term “preexisting condition provision” to include preexisting conditions whether or not medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received before the coverage effective date. Current law limits the provision to preexisting conditions for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received.

Effective January 1, 2020

Effective from passage

CT SB 26, PA 19-26 An Act Making Permanent the Moratorium on the Approval of Programs at Independent Institutions of Higher Education. Current law exempts, until July 1, 2020, certain independent higher education institutions from requirements related to the Office of Higher Education’s (OHE’s) approval process for new programs and program modifications. The bill makes this exemption permanent.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 72, PA 19-86 An Act Establishing a Tax Credit for Employers that make Payments on Loans Issued to Certain Employees by the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority. This Act establishes a state business tax credit of up to $2,625 per employee for an employer that makes eligible education loan payments on a qualified employee’s behalf.

Effective January 1, 2022

CT SB 81, PA 19-87 An Act Making Certain Institutions of Higher Education and Private Occupational Schools Ineligible for Public Funds and Licensure. Beginning January 1, 2020, this Act imposes disclosure requirements on for-profit colleges and universities and private occupational schools that require students, as a condition of their enrollment, to enter into agreements limiting their right to legal recourse in claims against the institutions. Under the Act, these institutions must disclose the nature and status of certain legal claims against them as part of their applications to the Office of Higher Education (OHE) for licensure, accreditation, or certificates of authorization, as applicable.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 356, PA 19-68 An Act Establishing the Connecticut Apprenticeship and Education Committee. This Act modifies the education commissioner’s committee to coordinate education for public school students on manufacturing careers by renaming the committee the “Connecticut Apprenticeship and Education Committee; broadening the committee’s scope to include insurance, health care, financial technology, biotechnology, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), construction trades, hospitality industries, and other appropriate industries; modifying the committee’s membership; and modifying the information included in the committee’s required annual report and extending the first reporting date to July 1, 2020. UConn is not named to this committee.

Effective from passage

CT SB 607, SA 19-13 An Act Concerning Apprenticeship Pathways to Earning a Bachelor's Degree. This Act requires that the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Department of Labor have develop a plan to offer a route to a bachelor’s degree that includes apprenticeship credits. UConn is not named.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 745, PA 19-7, An Act Requiring a Feasibility Study on the Establishment of an Environmental Agricultural Program at Public Institutions of Higher Education. This Act requires UConn to study the feasibility of establishing an environmental agricultural program at the constituent units within each board's jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, certificate or degree programs related to environmental agriculture, organic agriculture or greenhouse construction. The report is due not later than January 1, 2020.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 750 SA 19-14, An Act Concerning the Prevention and Treatment of Mental Illness at Institutions of Higher Education. This Act establishes a task force to study the policy and procedures regarding the treatment of mental illness at institutions of higher education in the state. The task force shall submit its findings and recommend a state-wide policy to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement and Public Health Committees by January 1, 2020. UConn is not named.

Effective from passage

Effective October 1, 2019

CT SB 1055, PA 19-151, An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study the Juror Selection Process, Providing Access to Certain Records Possessed by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Connecticut Valley Hospital and the Psychiatric Security Review Board and Concerning Sentencing of Persistent Larceny offenders, Nonfinancial Conditions for Pretrial Release and Confidentiality upon Application to a Diversionary Program. Among other things, this Act establishes a task force to study jury selection in the state to determine whether processes currently in place result in a fair cross-section of the community being summoned for jury duty and whether a fair cross-section of the community appear for jury service. The dean of The University of Connecticut School of Law is named to the task force.

Effective from passage

CT HB 7424, PA 19-117 An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June Thirtieth, 2021, and making Appropriations therefor, and Implementing Provisions of the Budget.

Section 147 – CT Open Educational Resource Coordinating Council. Establishes a new CT Open Educational Resource Coordinating Council. Members include among others “one faculty member, one administrator and one staff member from The University of Connecticut.” The Council is charged with (1) identifying high-impact courses for which open educational resources will be developed, converted or adopted; (2) establishing a program of competitive grants for faculty members of institutions of higher education in the state for the development, conversion or adoption of open educational resources for high-impact courses with any funds identified by the council and within available appropriations; (3) accepting, reviewing and approving competitive grant applications; (4) administering a standardized review and approval process for the development, conversion or adoption of open educational resources; and (5) promoting strategies for the production, use and access of open educational resources.

Effective July 1, 2019

Section 207 – LGBTQ Health & Human Services Network. Establishes this Network to “build a safer and healthier environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer persons by (1) conducting a needs analysis, within available appropriations, (2) collecting additional data on the health and human services needs of such persons as necessary, (3) informing state policy through reports submitted at least biennially. The Executive Director of the UConn Rainbow Center is a named member of the Network.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT HB 5002 PA 19-35 An Act Concerning a Green Economy and Environmental Protection. Among other things, this Act requires the Office of Workforce Competitiveness, in consultation with the Office of Higher Education (OHE), the Department of Education (SDE), the Department of Labor (DOL), DEEP, regional workforce development boards, and employers to establish a career ladder for jobs in the green technology industry by January 1, 2020 and update it as needed. Under the Act, the career ladder must list: 1) careers at each level of the green technology industry and the requisite level of education and salary offered for each career; 2) all course, certificate, and degree programs in green jobs offered by technical education and career schools within the Technical Education and Career System and higher education institutions in Connecticut; and 3) green technology industry jobs available in Connecticut.

Effective from Passage

CT HB 5833, PA 19-103 An Act Establishing a Pilot Program for the Expansion of Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Programs. This Act requires the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) to create a program by January 1, 2020, that establishes an advanced manufacturing certificate program in no more than one Connecticut public high school per year. This program must enroll (1) public high school juniors and seniors to simultaneously earn high school and college credits and an advanced manufacturing certificate while enrolled in high school, beginning in fall 2020and each subsequent academic year, and (2) adults to take classes at the high school location during evening and weekend hours to earn an advanced manufacturing certificate, subject to the host board of education’s approval. The Act requires BOR to (1) develop an application process and selection criteria for interested local and regional boards of education and their high schools and (2) explore possible funding mechanisms for the program. Additionally, it prescribes required contents for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between participating boards of education and BOR to govern the program’s operation at the high school locations. The Act also allows BOR to collaborate with an independent institution of higher education to operate the above described advanced manufacturing certificate program in a high school whose board of education applies to participate. By January 1, 2021, BOR must begin reporting annually, in consultation with the president of any independent institution of higher education with which the BOR chooses to collaborate, to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee about this program’s operation and effectiveness, as well as recommendations for its expansion.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT HB 6890, SA 19-23, An Act Requiring a Study of the United States Department of Education's Proposed Regulations Regarding Sexual Misconduct Under Title Ix of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1972. This Act establishes a task force to study the impact on students in the state of proposed federal changes to Title IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1972. Task force members include a Title IX coordinator at a public institution of higher education, a law enforcement officer at an institution of higher education that is certified pursuant to section 7-297d of the general statutes and a student at an institution of higher education.

Effective from Passage

CT HB 7198, PA 19-164 An Act Concerning Social Workers. This Act generally prohibits anyone from using the title “social worker,” or any associated initials, or advertising services as a social worker unless he or she (1) has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); (2) a doctorate in social work; or (3) if educated outside of the U.S. or its territories, completed an education program CSWE deems equivalent. Existing law already prohibits anyone who is unlicensed from using the title of licensed master or clinical social worker or advertising services as such. Among other exemptions, the Act exempts from the prohibition state employees with the title social worker from using the title to describe or perform duties in the course of such employment with the state. Existing law already allows any person employed by the state before October 1, 1996, with the title in the social work series of the classified service to have such a title to describe or perform his or her duties (CGS § 20-195r). Starting October 1, 2019, the bill requires the state, on any posting for a job in the social work series of classified service that does not require a social work license, to specify that the preferred qualification is a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program or a doctorate in social work.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT HB 7253, PA 19-174, An Act Concerning Distance Learning Programs Operated by Institutions of Higher Education Outside of the State. This Act allows out-of-state institutions of higher education that do not participate in a nation-wide, state authorization reciprocity agreement to apply to the office of higher education to operate a distance learning program in the state.

Effective January 1, 2020

CT HB 7257, SA 19-25 An Act Concerning Food-Insecure Students at Public Institutions of Higher Education. The University of Connecticut and the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall each study the policies impacting and data regarding students experiencing food insecurity at the public institutions of higher education under each board's jurisdiction. The report is due February 1, 2020.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 1, PA 19-25, An Act Concerning Paid Family and Medical Leave. This Act creates the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) program to provide wage replacement benefits to certain employees taking leave for reasons allowed under the state's Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which the bill also amends, or the family violence leave law. It provides them with up to 12 weeks of FMLI benefits over a 12-month period. The program also provides two additional weeks of benefits for a serious health condition that results in incapacitation during pregnancy.

Effective on various dates from passage to January 1, 2022

PA 19-25 was amended by the Budget:

CT HB 7424, PA 19-117 An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June Thirtieth, 2021, and making Appropriations therefor, and Implementing Provisions of the Budget.
Summary

§ 232-235: Revises and modifies CT SB 1, PA 19-25, An Act Concerning Paid Family and Medical Leave in a number of ways. This Act specifies that a covered employee’s self-employment income is only included in the employee’s “base weekly earnings” if he or she enrolled in the program. Under PA 19-25, as amended, and unchanged by this Act, a covered employee’s “base weekly earnings” are used to determine the employee’s benefits through the program. This Act similarly specifies that an individual’s “subject earnings” only include his or her self-employment income if he or she has enrolled in the FMLA program. Under PA 19-25, as amended, an individual’s “subject earnings” is used to determine how much an individual must contribute to the FMLI program.

This Act reduces the number of voting board members of the Board of Directors from 15 to 13 by making the state treasurer and comptroller non-voting members and makes changes to their duties and procedures.

PA 19-25 as amended, creates a “non-charge” against an employer's experience rate when an employer lays off an employee due to the return of someone who had been out on bona fide FMLA leave. This Act makes that provision’s effective date January 1, 2022, rather than July 1, 2019.

Effective from passage

CT SB 3, PA 19-16, An Act Combatting Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. This Act makes various changes concerning sexual harassment, sexual assault, discrimination complaints filed with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), and related matters. For example, it: 1. expands requirements for employers to train employees on sexual harassment laws(§ 1); 2.extends the time to file a CHRO complaint alleging employer discrimination, including sexual harassment(§ 6);3.allows courts to order punitive damages in discrimination cases released from CHRO jurisdiction(§ 10); 4.extends the time to file a civil lawsuit related to sexual abuse or related conduct for victims under age 21 (§ 13); and 5. eliminates the criminal statute of limitations for sexual assault crimes against minors and extends it for such crimes against adults (§ 17).

Effective October 1, 2019

Effective July 1, 2019 Section 3

Effective from passage Section 14

SB 1111, PA19-93 An Act Concerning Sexual Harassment And Sexual Assault. This Act makes various changes to SB 3 as amended (hereinafter “SB 3”), such as (1) placing limits on when CHRO designated representatives can enter businesses to ensure compliance with specified laws;(2) reducing certain fine increases;(3) allowing, rather than requiring, CHRO presiding officers to order specified relief after finding a discriminatory employment practice; and (4) adding provisions on magistrates presiding over CHRO hearings in certain situations.

Effective dates vary

CT SB 164, PA 19-17 An Act Concerning Workers' Compensation Benefits for Certain Mental or Emotional Impairments, Mental Health Care for Police Officers and Wellness Training for Police Officers, Parole Officers and Firefighters. This Act allows police officers, parole officers, and firefighters to receive certain workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by their participation in certain “qualifying events.” Such events include seeing, while in the line of duty, a deceased minor, someone’s death, or a traumatic physical injury that results in the loss of a vital body part. Current law generally does not provide workers’ compensation benefits for an employee’s mental or emotional injury unless it arises from the employee’s physical injury or occupational disease.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT HB 5004, PA 19-4, An Act Increasing the Minimum Fair Wage. This Acts increases the state’s minimum hourly wage from its current $10.10 to (1) $11.00 on October 1, 2019; (2) $12.00 on September 1, 2020; (3) $13.00 on August 1, 2021; (4) $14.00 on July 1, 2022; and (5) $15.00 on June 1, 2023. Beginning January 1, 2024, it indexes future annual minimum wage changes to the federal employment cost index (ECI).

Effective October 1, 2019

CT HB 6916, SA 19-10, An Act Establishing a Task force to Study Remedies and Potential Liability for Unreasonably Contested or Delayed Workers' Compensation Claims. This Act establishes a task force to (1) identify the extent of unreasonably contested or delayed workers' compensation claims, (2) study methods to expand remedies regarding potential liability for unreasonably contested or delayed workers' compensation claims, and (3) clarify the law regarding bad faith handling of workers' compensation claims. UConn is not named in the Act as a task force member.

Effective from passage

CT SB 1052 PA 19-76, An Act Expanding Medicaid Coverage of Telehealth Services. This Act states that the Department of Social Services (DSS) commissioner may provide coverage of telehealth services regardless of any state regulations that would otherwise prohibit it. DSS may also implement policies and procedures to carry out the bill’s provisions while adopting them in regulations. The department may do this only if it posts the policies and procedures on the state eRegulations system before adoption.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 706, PA 19-19, An Act Concerning Epinephrine Auto Injectors. This Act allows a prescribing practitioner authorized to prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector to establish a medical protocol with an authorized entity for the authorized entity’s trained employee or agent to administer the medication to provide emergency care to a person experiencing an allergic reaction.

Effective from passage

CT HB 7159, PA 19-191 An Act Addressing Opioid Use This Act makes various changes in the statutes to prevent and treat opioid use disorder. Among other things, it requires higher education institutions, by January 1, 2020, to develop and implement a policy on the availability and use of opioid antagonists by students and employees, and generally notify emergency medical providers when an opioid antagonist is used (§ 7).

It also: 1. generally requires pharmacists to offer consultations to all patients when dispensing a prescription, not just Medicaid patients as under current law (§§ 1 & 2); 2. Allows pharmacists to designate a trained pharmacy technician to access the state’s Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS) on their behalf (§ 3); 3 .specifies that prescribing practitioners or their agents are not prohibited from disclosing CPMRS information about pharmacy-or veterinarian-dispensed prescriptions to the Department of Social Services (DSS) to administer medical assistance programs (e.g., Medicaid) (§ 3); 4. Requires drug manufacturers and wholesalers to report to the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) decisions to terminate or refuse an order from a pharmacy or prescribing practitioner for schedule II to V controlled substances (§ 4); 5. Prohibits life insurance and annuity policies or contracts from excluding coverage solely based on an individual having received a prescription for naloxone (an opioid antagonist) (§ 5); 6. Requires prescribing practitioners who prescribe an opioid drug with more than a 12-week supply to establish a treatment agreement with the patient or discuss a care plan for chronic opioid drug use (§ 6); 7. requires the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to review and report on literature about the efficacy of providing home-based treatment and recovery services for opioid use disorder to certain Medicaid beneficiaries (§ 8); 8.generally requires DMHAS-operated or –approved treatment programs to educate patients with opioid use disorder, and their relatives and significant others, on opioid antagonists and how to administer them (§ 9); 9. makes various changes to credentialing of certain emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, such as requiring applicants on or after January 1, 2020, to complete(a) mental health first aid training and(b) national training and examination requirements(§ 10); 10. requires hospitals, starting January 1, 2020, to administer a mental health screening or assessment on patients treated for a nonfatal opioid drug overdoses if it is medically appropriate to do so (§ 11); and 11 .requires DMHAS to study and report on the protocol for police detention of someone suspected of overdosing on an opioid drug and the implications of involuntarily transporting such a person to an emergency department (§ 13).

Effective October 1, 2019

(Effective October 1, 2019)

(Effective July 1, 2019) Section 3

(Effective from passage) Section 14

Effective dates vary

CT SB 380, PA 19-90, An Act Concerning The Use of Force and Pursuits by Police and Increasing Police Accountability and Transparency. Among other things, Sections 1 & 2 of the Act requires that each law enforcement unit, (including UConn) prepare and submit a use of force report for the preceding calendar year to the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) and establishes a task force to study police transparency and accountability and requires the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) to study and review police officers using firearms during a pursuit. The Act also: (1) makes certain body-worn or dashboard camera recordings disclosable to the public within 96 hours after the incident,(2) narrows the instances deadly force is justified, and (3) generally prohibits a police officer engaged in a pursuit from discharging a firearm into or at a fleeing motor vehicle.

Effective date varies

CT SB 702, PA 19-30, An Act Concerning the Transfer of Law Enforcement Agency Records between Agencies. This Act exempts from liability a law enforcement agency that transfers records to another law enforcement agency from liability if the other agency further discloses such records.

Effective July 1, 2019

Effective from passage

CT SB 796, PA 19-114, An Act Concerning Sexual Assault forensic Examiners. Among other things, this Act reinstates a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner SAFE Advisory Committee terminated in 2013 and requires the committee to recommend to Office of Victim Services’ (OVS) policies and procedures for the SAFE program (§ 1). The Act also: expands the types of health care providers that may become sexual assault forensic examiners and requires them to successfully complete certification requirements implemented by the Chief Court Administrator (§§ 2 & 3);.prohibits anyone from using the title “sexual assault forensic examiner” without having successfully completed the certification requirements (§ 2); modifies the types of health care facilities where sexual assault forensic examinations take place (§§ 2 & 3); specifies that OVS, and not the Department of Public Health (DPH), trains sexual assault forensic examiners and other health care professionals on collecting evidence from adult and adolescent sexual assault victims, which conforms to current practice (§§ 3 & 4); and requires the Chief Court Administrator to prescribe policies and procedures to implement the SAFE program (§ 5).

Effective July 1, 2019

CT SB 1082, PA 19-79 An Act Concerning Funding for Public Safety Answering Points and Incentives for Regionalization and Consolidation Thereof. This Act (1) temporarily modifies the enhanced subsidy payment calculation for regional public safety answering points (PSAPs) serving at least one large municipality and (2) requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) to amend its PSAP subsidy regulations to adopt a formula substantially similar to the one the bill establishes(but does not provide a date by which it must do so). The Act also modifies certain responsibilities of the Division of State-Wide Emergency Telecommunication (DSET), within DESPP, related to DSET’s statewide emergency service telecommunications policy.

Effective from passage

CT SB 1105, PA 19-43 An Act Concerning the Confidentiality of Law Enforcement Records Concerning Victims of Sexual Assault and Family Violence. This Act makes certain victims’ identifying information included in law enforcement investigation and arrest records exempt from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) public disclosure requirements. Current law exempts a law enforcement agency from disclosing a victim’s name and address in any detection or investigation records of the following crimes or attempted crimes: (1) sexual assault; (2) voyeurism; and (3) injury, risk of injury, or impairing morals. The Act expands this disclosure exemption to include victims of family violence or attempted family violence.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT HB 6146, PA 19-105 An Act Concerning the Expansion of Certification Courses in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Education and Training Courses in the Use of Automatic External Defibrillators and the Administration of First Aid. This Act adds to the list of organizations that may certify or train people in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or first aid for various purposes, such as (1) CPR certification required for lifeguards and (2) first aid training required to qualify for immunity under certain provisions of the Good Samaritan statute. It does so by allowing organizations to provide this training or certification if they use guidelines published by the American Heart Association (AHA) and either the American Red Cross (for first aid) or International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (for CPR).

Effective July 1, 2019

CT HB 6754, PA 19-11 An Act Concerning Reimbursement for the Purchase of Body-Worn Electronic Recording Equipment. This Act allows municipalities that purchased body-worn recording equipment during FYs 17 and 18, but paid for the equipment in the first two months of FY 19 (i.e., by August 31, 2018), to qualify for the reimbursement of up to 100%. As under existing law, the reimbursement must be made within available resources. Existing law requires the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), within available resources, to administer a grant program that reimburses municipalities for purchasing body cameras and other law enforcement recording equipment and services. By law, the program may reimburse up to (1) 100% of the costs for eligible purchases made during FYs 17 and 18 and (2) 50% of the costs for such purchases made in FY 19.

Effective July 1, 2019

CT HB 6890, SA 19-23, An Act Requiring a Study of the United States Department of Education's Proposed Regulations Regarding Sexual Misconduct Under Title IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1972. This Act establishes a task force to study the impact on students in the state of proposed federal changes to Title IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1972. Task force members include a Title IX coordinator at a public institution of higher education, a law enforcement officer at an institution of higher education that is certified pursuant to section 7-297d of the general statutes and a student at an institution of higher education.

Effective from Passage

CT HB 7000, PA 19-147, An Act Concerning Training for Certain Public Safety and Emergency Services Personnel. Among other things, this Act requires the UConn Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities to develop a communication aid for certain first responders to use to communicate with individuals with ASD, NLD, or cognitive impairment during emergencies when verbal communication may be hindered or impossible. The center must publish the communication aid on its website by December 1, 2019. The Act also requires the Department of Public Health (DPH), starting by June 30, 2020, and within available appropriations, to annually compile a list of available training programs for certain first responders regarding individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), nonverbal learning disorder (NLD), and cognitive impairment. DPH must make the list available to those first responders annually by July 1. The bill permits DPH to accept private donations for these purposes.

Effective dates vary

CT HB 7141, PA 19-162 An Act Regulating Electric Foot Scooters. This Act defines “electric foot scooters” (e-scooters) and generally gives e-scooter riders the same rights, privileges, and duties as existing law provides for bicycle riders. The Act also (1) generally allows municipalities to regulate e-scooters, to the extent that state law does not conflict with such regulations, and (2) requires the Office of the State Traffic Administration’s (OSTA) regulations to cover e-scooter operation on highways and roads under its jurisdiction. The Act also expands the state’s vulnerable user law to (1) cover instances when a driver causes “substantial bodily harm” to a vulnerable user and (2) make e-scooter riders vulnerable users under the law. Lastly, the Act (1) requires e-scooter riders under age 16 to wear helmets;(2) expands the acceptable helmet standards for bicyclists, electric bicycle (e-bikes) riders, and others; and (3) makes numerous technical and conforming changes related to e-scooters and e-bikes.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT HB 7159, PA 19-191 An Act Addressing Opioid Use. Among other things, this Act requires higher education institutions, by January 1, 2020, to develop and implement a policy on the availability and use of opioid antagonists by students and employees, and generally notify emergency medical providers when an opioid antagonist is used (§ 7).

Effective October 1, 2019

CT HB 7394, PA 19-188 An Act Concerning the Protection of Confidential Communications between a First Responder and a Peer Support Team Member. This Act makes communications between a first responder and a peer support team member confidential with certain exceptions. The confidentiality applies only to communications and records made in the course of a first responder’s participation in a peer support program established by his or her employer. The bill generally prohibits a peer support team member from disclosing any confidential communications or records unless the first responder waives the privilege.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT HB 7396, PA 19-189 An Act Concerning Parity Between Sexual Assault in the Case of a Spousal or Cohabitating Relationship and Other Crimes of Sexual Assault and Concerning the investigation of a Family Violence Crime. This Act repeals the law that specifically criminalizes sexual assault in a spousal or cohabiting relationship but simultaneously subjects married individuals to penalties for other sexual assault offenses. It does so by repealing exemptions for married individuals from the definitions of “sexual intercourse” and “sexual contact” in the sexual offenses statutes.

Effective October 1, 2019

PA 19-3 was amended by the Budget:

§ 152-154: Under PA 19-3, hemp intended to be manufactured as a consumable product must be tested for microbiological contaminants, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and pesticide chemical residue. The act requires DCP to prescribe testing standards in regulations. The Act removes requirement for regulations. Under the Act, as under the act, DCP must prescribe the standards and publish them on the agency’s website. If a hemp sample fails the testing, PA 19-3 requires the manufacturer to dispose of the entire batch from which the sample was taken in accordance with procedures the DCP commissioner adopts in regulations. The Act eliminates the requirement for regulations and instead requires the manufacturer to dispose of the batch in accordance with provisions already outlined in PA 19-3 (i.e., embargo the batch, label it as adulterated, notify DoAg and DCP, and destroy and dispose of the product in a way the DCP commissioner determines).The Act also makes a correction in definitions to accurately reflect the technical name of “THC” as delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol.

Effective from passage

CT HB 7179, PA 19-192 An Act Concerning Crumbling Concrete Foundations. Among other things, this Act establishes a program (administered by Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated) to encourage the development of technologies and techniques regarding the prevention, identification and repair of properties that have, or may suffer from, crumbling foundations due to the presence of pyrrhotite.

Effective dates vary

CT SB 682, PA 10, An Act Establishing a Reward Program for State Employee Reporting of Wasteful Practices. This Act establishes a reward program for state employees who make a suggestion that (1) concerns an alleged gross waste of funds in their employing state agency, (2) is subsequently implemented by the agency, and (3) results in agency cost savings exceeding$10,000. Under the program, each state agency must designate a suggestion coordinator to receive suggestions. Suggestions involving certain matters are ineligible for an award.

Effective October 1, 2019

CT SB 1048, PA 10-102 An Act Concerning the Online Database for State Expenditures. This Act transfers responsibility for maintaining the online databases concerning state expenditures from the Office of Fiscal Analysis to the Office of the Comptroller and to require quasi-public agencies to submit data for posting on said databases.

Effective from passage

CT SB 1103, PA 19-153 An Act Concerning Interagency Data Sharing This Act requires the state’s chief data officer (CDO), in consultation with the attorney general (AG) and executive branch agency legal counsel, to (1) review legal obstacles to sharing executive branch agencies’ inventoried “high value data” among agencies and with the public and (2) annually report recommendations to facilitate data sharing.

Effective from passage

CT SB 861, PA 19-33 An Act Concerning the Definition of "Service In Time of War" and State Residency Requirements for Certain Veterans' Services. This Act extends certain state war service benefits to veterans who served less than 90 days in a period of war they incurred or aggravated an injury in the line of duty that is not a service-connected disability rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (U.S.VA). The Act also removes current law’s two-year state residency eligibility requirement for certain state benefits (e.g., hospital care and funeral expenses) for veterans who did not reside in Connecticut at the time of their enlistment or induction into the armed forces.

Effective October 1, 2019

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