2022 Legislative Session Summary

Summary of Legislation

The summaries below outline Public Acts passed during the 2022 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 2022 Legislative Report

CT HB 5295, PA 22-54

An Act Concerning Agriculture Development and Innovation.

Among other things, this Act re-constitutes the Governor’s Council for Agricultural Development. It renames it the Governor’s Council for Agricultural Development and Innovation, places it within the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) for administrative purposes only, changes its membership, and revises its purposes. (Effective dates vary)

Additionally, Section 2 of the Act changes the council’s membership by (1) adding the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) director or his designee as the 16th member and (2) replacing the Milk Promotion Board chairperson with the Farm Bureau’s executive director or designee. It names the CAES director and UConn’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources dean (or their designees) co-vice-chairpersons. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2023, Concerning Provisions Related to Revenue, School Construction and Other Items to Implement the State Budget and Authorizing and Adjusting Bonds of the State.

Section 68 - OFFICE OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES Creates an Office of Aquatic Invasive Species within the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; sets out office responsibilities; requires an office director be hired by September 1, 2022 The Act creates an Office of Aquatic Invasive Species within the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). The CAES board of control must determine the office’s staffing and hire a department head by September 1, 2022. The Act enumerates the office’s responsibilities (see below), including coordinating research efforts for aquatic invasive species (AIS) control and eradication. However, the Act prohibits the office from issuing permits or fines. Office Responsibilities Under the Act, the Office of Aquatic Invasive Species must do the following: 1. coordinate research efforts in the state associated with AIS control and eradication to reduce duplication of efforts and costs; 2. be a repository for statewide data on the health of rivers, lakes, and ponds in relation to the presence of AIS; 3. regularly survey the health and ecological viability of the state waterways in relation to the presence and threat of AIS; 4. educate the public about aquatic invasive plants and steps the public can take to reduce their impact; 5. advise municipalities on AIS management; and 6. be a liaison among organizations and state agencies (such as DEEP, Department of Agriculture, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Connecticut Federation of Lakes and Ponds Associations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, municipal inland wetlands commissions, Connecticut River Conservancy, and councils of governments) for AIS control and eradication issues. The Act requires the office to coordinate its efforts and responsibilities with the state’s Invasive Plants Council. (By law, the Invasive Plants Council, among other things, publishes a list of invasive or potentially invasive plants; researches the control of invasive plants; and educates the public on problems with invasive plants (CGS 22a-381a). (Effective July 1, 2022)

Sections 145 & 146 - CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY PRACTICES This Act Expands the farmland restoration program’s purposes to include climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices; allows DoAg to (1) pay farmers up to 50% of certain grant funds in advance and (2) pay or reimburse certain entities for services designed to increase the number of farmers using climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices. The Act generally expands the farmland restoration program’s purposes to include climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices in farmland restoration plans. The matching grant program, which the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) administers, encourages farmers to restore farmland that has gone out of production. Under the program, the DoAg commissioner may partially reimburse a farmer for the cost to:

develop, implement, and comply with a farm resources management plan or a farmland restoration plan, which the Act renames the farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan, that the DoAg commissioner has approved or
comply with a comprehensive farm nutrient management plan or a farm resources management plan that the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner has approved.

The Act also allows the DoAg commissioner to partially reimburse a farmer for the cost to comply with a farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan that the DEEP commissioner has approved. Additionally, the Act allows the DoAg commissioner to pay up to 50% of the above amounts in advance. It also explicitly allows a farmer to seek this advance payment or reimbursement for farm equipment purchases under a farm resources management or farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan. The Act requires the DoAg commissioner, when making grants to comply with the various plans approved by DEEP, to prioritize capital improvements made under a farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan, in addition to those made under a comprehensive farm nutrient management plan or farm resources management plan as under current law. Under the Act, a “farmland restoration and climate resiliency plan” is a conservation plan (1) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service, (2) of a soil and water conservation district, or (3) that the DoAg commissioner approves. It includes agricultural restoration purposes, which the Act expands to include climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices. Additionally, the Act authorizes the DoAg commissioner to pay or reimburse certain entities (i.e., a municipality, nonprofit organization, soil and water conservation district, or UConn Extension Services) for a variety of services designed to increase the number of farmers implementing climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices developed or prescribed by USDA. In practice, these include activities that store carbon, improve soil health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., cover crops, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, manure management).

(Effective October 1, 2022)

CT SB 20, PA 22-11

An Act Concerning the Name, Image and Likeness of Student Athletes.

This Act eliminates the ban on student athletes using, or consenting to the use of, a higher education institution’s institutional marks (i.e., name, logo, trademarks, mascot, unique colors, copyrights, and other defining insignia) when performing an endorsement contract or employment activity. The Act does not require higher education institutions in the state to allow student athletes to use, or consent to the use of, these marks. But it does require them to adopt at least one policy on their use, as they must already do for endorsement contracts and employment activities. The Act requires that the UConn Board of Trustees and the Board of Regents for Higher Education each prepare a report on the fiscal impact (e.g., a revenue gain or loss, or any costs) to their respective higher education institutions caused by the student athlete policies on endorsement contracts, employment activities, and using institutional marks. They must submit the reports to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee by January 1, 2023. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5269, PA 22-3

An Act Concerning Remote Meetings Under the Freedom of Information Act.

Under the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), public agencies must generally make their meetings, other than executive sessions, open to the public. Current law allows these agencies, until April 30, 2022, to hold meetings that are accessible to the public through electronic equipment (e.g., by telephone, video, or other conferencing platforms) or electronic equipment combined with an in-person meeting (hybrid meetings) (PA 21-2, June Special Session (JSS), § 149). This Act removes the sunset date and allows public agencies to continue holding remote and hybrid meetings, as long as they comply with the requirements under existing law. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5459, PA 22-109

An Act Requiring the Online Posting of Meeting Notices of State Public Agencies.

This Act requires state public agencies, excluding the General Assembly, to post a schedule of their regular meetings for that year on the secretary of the state’s website. Existing law, unchanged by the Act, requires an agency to file the schedule with the secretary by January 31 and post it on the agency’s website. The Act also requires the secretary to post notice of special meetings filed with her by these state public agencies on her website. Under existing law, unchanged by the Act, an agency must (1) post the notice on its own website and (2) file it with the secretary for posting in her office. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HR 17

Resolution Confirming the Nomination of Mark L. Boxer of Glastonbury to Be Reappointed a Member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Connecticut.

CT SR 15

Resolution Confirming the Nomination of Philip E. Rubin of Fairfield to Be Reappointed a Member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Connecticut.

CT SR 16

Resolution Confirming the Nomination of Thomas D. Ritter of Hartford to Be Reappointed a Member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Connecticut.

Bonding

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Section 310 - The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 311 to 316, inclusive, of this act, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate not exceeding $125,800,000. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 311 - The proceeds of the sale of bonds described in sections 310 to 316, inclusive, of this act, to the extent hereinafter stated, shall be used for the purpose of acquiring, by purchase or condemnation, undertaking, constructing, reconstructing, improving or equipping, or purchasing land or buildings or improving sites for the projects hereinafter described, including payment of architectural, engineering, demolition or related costs in connection therewith, or of payment of the cost of long-range capital programming and space utilization studies as hereinafter stated:

(d) For The University of Connecticut Health Center: Deferred maintenance, code compliance and infrastructure improvements, not exceeding $40,000,000.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

(d) For The University of Connecticut Health Center: Deferred maintenance, code compliance and infrastructure improvements, not exceeding $40,000,000.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5044, PA 22-48

An Act Implementing the Governor's Budget Recommendations Regarding the Use of Opioid Litigation Proceeds.

This Act establishes an Opioid Settlement Fund as a separate non-lapsing fund administered by a 37-member Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee with assistance from the Department of Mental Health and Addition Services (DMHAS). Under the Act, the fund must contain moneys the state receives from opioid-related judgments, consent decrees, or settlements finalized on or after July 1, 2021. The moneys must be generally used prospectively and only for specified substance use disorder abatement purposes. This includes opioid abatement research, including developing evidence-based treatment, treatment barriers, nonopioid treatment of chronic pain, and harm reduction supply-side enforcement. If the DMHAS commissioner and the attorney general certify that a judgment’s, consent decree, or settlement’s purpose is inconsistent with the fund’s intent, the Act establishes a process for them to deposit the moneys into an alternative account or fund, which includes, among other things, reporting to the Public Health Committee before doing so.

Among other things, the Act:

generally requires proceeds from any state settlement to be allocated only to municipalities with an agreement to participate in the settlement and adhere its terms;
requires the DMHAS commissioner to obtain the advisory committee’s approval before making or refusing to make fund disbursements;
prohibits the DMHAS commissioner from making fund disbursements unless the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) secretary verifies that the funds appropriated in that fiscal year’s budget for substance use disorder purposes at least equal the total amount appropriated in the prior fiscal year’s budget;
requires the advisory committee to hold quarterly public meetings and specifies that it terminates when all settlement moneys are received and disbursed, unless the state anticipates receiving additional moneys;
specifies that disbursements do not supplant or replace any other funds that would have otherwise been used for the same purposes (e.g., insurance benefits or governmental funding);
requires fund recipients, starting by October 1, 2023, to annually file with the advisory committee a report for the prior fiscal year that details the effectiveness of funded programs, services, supports, or resources;
requires the advisory committee, starting by January 15, 2023, to annually report on the fund to the Appropriations and Public Health committees; and
authorizes the state to fund a trust to provide direct support and services to opioid epidemic survivors and victims, in accordance with the March 11, 2022, settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

CT SB 9, PA 22-146

An Act Concerning Additional Adjustments to the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2023, a Community Ombudsman Program, Certain Municipal-Related Provisions, School Building Project Grants and High-Deductible Health Plans.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

Note: There were no adjustments made to the Block Grant for 2022-2023

	FY 22-23 (Original Appropriation special act 21-15)
University of Connecticut
Operating Expenses	207,784,065
Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy	400,000
Agency Total	208,184,065
University of Connecticut Health Center
Operating Expenses	133,354,285
AHEC	375,832
Agency Total	135,730,117

WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS - ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES	FY 22-23	NEW FY22-23
Workers' Compensation Claims – University of Connecticut	2,271,228
Claims – University of Connecticut Health Center	[2,917,484]	3,460,985

ARPA funds

Section 10 - Section 41 of special act 21-15, as amended by section 306 of public act 21-2 of the June special session and section 3 of special act 22-2, is amended to read as follows. (Effective from passage)

And from SB 9 Section 17 - Section 307 of public act 21-2 of the June special session, as amended by section 11 of house Act 5506 of the current session, as amended by House Amendment Schedule "C", is amended to read as follows (Effective from passage)

The following sums are allocated, in accordance with the provisions of special act 21-1, from the federal funds designated for the state pursuant to the provisions of section 602 of Subtitle M of Title IX of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, as amended from time to time, for the annual periods indicated for the purposes described.

	FY 2022	FY2023
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
Higher Education – UConn	20,000,000	5,000,000
Temporary Support		33,200,000
Social Media Impact Study		500,000
Puerto Rican Studies Initiative UConn Hartford (SB 9)		500,000
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT HEALTH CENTER
Revenue Impact	35,000,000
University of Connecticut Health Center	38,000,000	-
Temporary Support		72,700,000

T1213 Higher Education Mental Health Services 3,000,000 [TO OHE]

T1211 Roberta Willis Need Based Scholarships - $40 million (added $20M)

Section 12 - Section 29 of special act 21-15, as amended by section 308 of public act 21-2 of the June special session, is amended to read as follows (Effective from passage):

The unexpended balances of funds appropriated to the following accounts in section 1 of public act 19-117, as amended by section 7 of public act 19-1 of the December special session, shall not lapse on June 30, 2021,
and such funds shall be transferred and made available as provided in subsection (b) of this section:
(6) (A) Up to $6,087,251 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to The University of Connecticut, for Operating Expenses; (B) Up to $4,900,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and up to $30,200,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to The University of Connecticut Health Center, for Operating Expenses;(C) Up to $250,000 for each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, to The University of Connecticut, for Operating Expenses, for the purposes of The University of Connecticut Vets Program; and(D) Up to $2,500,000 for each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, to The University of Connecticut, for Operating Expenses, for the purposes of the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation; *no change in appropriations from SA 21-15
(24) Up to $250,000 to The University of Connecticut, for Other Expenses, for each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2023, for the costs associated with the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory; * SA 21-15 had money transferred to Dept of Agriculture – this change transfers the money directly to UConn
(58) Up to $7,991,695 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to The University of Connecticut, for Operating Expenses, for costs of the twenty-seventh payroll during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023;
(59) Up to $5,129,011 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to The University of Connecticut Health Center, for Operating Expenses, for costs of the twenty-seventh payroll during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023;
(60) Up to $14,455 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to The University of Connecticut Health Center, for AHEC, for costs of the twenty-seventh payroll
(85) Up to $142,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to The University of Connecticut, for Operating Expenses, to provide funding for training that will result in certification for Green Snow Pro roadside salt applications;
Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any amount transferred pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall not be eligible for fringe benefit recovery by The University of Connecticut, The University of Connecticut Health Center, or Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, from the Comptroller's General Fund fringe benefit accounts.

(Effective from passage)

Section 16 - Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-256 of the general statutes, the sum of $20,000,000 shall be transferred from the resources of the General Fund to The University of Connecticut Health Center Medical Malpractice Trust Fund and credited to such trust fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. THESE FUNDS ARE CHARACTERIZED AS REVENUE DIVERSION FUNDS (Effective from passage)

Section 25 - Up to $500,000 of the amount appropriated to the Department of Social Services, for Medicaid, in section 1 of special act 21-15 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, shall not lapse on June 30, 2022, and shall be transferred to the Judicial Department, for Operating Expenses, and made available during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to support a study of inmate mental health by the Connecticut Sentencing Commission in consultation with the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy. (Effective from passage)

Section 48 - Up to $5,000,000 of the amount appropriated to the State Department of Education, for Magnet Schools, in section 1 of special act 21-15 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, shall not lapse on June 30, 2022, and shall be transferred to The University of Connecticut, for Operating Support, and made available during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to provide temporary operating support. (Effective from passage)

Section 49 - Up to $2,500,000 of the amount appropriated to the State Department of Education, for Open Choice, in section 1 of special act 21-15 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, shall not lapse on June 30, 2022, and shall be transferred to The University of Connecticut, for Operating Support, and made available during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to provide temporary operating support. (Effective from passage)

Section 50 - Up to $4,500,000 of the amount appropriated to the Department of Housing, for Housing Homeless Services, in section 1 of special act 21-15 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, shall not lapse on June 30, 2022, and shall be transferred to The University of Connecticut Health Center, for Operating Support, and made available during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to provide temporary operating support. (Effective from passage)

Section 51 - Up to $3,000,000 of the amount appropriated to the Department of Social Services, for Personal Services, in section 1 of special act 21-15 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, shall not lapse on June 30, 2022, and shall be transferred to The University of Connecticut Health Center, for Operating Support, and made available during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to provide temporary operating support. (Effective from passage)

Section 60 - Carry forward funds – Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy (IMRP) at UConn $50,000. (Effective from passage)

Section 129 - CANNABIS GENERAL FUND ACCOUNTS AND APPROPRIATED FUND This section allows the social equity and innovation account to pay for state agencies’ expenditures related to cannabis. This includes two poison control positions as requested by UConn Health. (Effective from passage)

Section 161 - CANCELLATION OF UNCOLLECTIBLE CLAIMS The Act raises, from $1,000 to $5,000, the maximum uncollectible claim that may be canceled for a state department or agency by the head of the entity. Correspondingly, it raises the minimum threshold for uncollectible claims that may be cancelled by the Office of Policy and Management secretary for any state department or agency. This applies to UConn and UConn Health (non Finance Corp claims)(Effective from passage)

Deficiency Appropriations - FY 22

Sec 301 & Section 305 - (Effective from passage)The following sums are appropriated from the GENERAL FUND for the purposes herein specified for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 (Effective from passage):

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
Operating Expenses	25,050,000

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT HEALTH CENTER
Operating Expenses	24,000,000

Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any amount appropriated in section 301 of this act shall not be eligible for fringe benefit recovery by The University of Connecticut, The University of Connecticut Health Center, or Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, from the Comptroller's General Fund fringe benefit accounts. * It is expected that the FY 22 deficiency funding will cover the SEBAC negotiated increases for non-block granted employees; and per OPM, block granted employees will be covered through the state funded reserve for salary account.

Section 229 - BUDGET RESERVE FUND SURPLUS Prescribes, through FY 23, the order in which the state treasurer must transfer excess BRF funds to reduce the state's unfunded pension liability The law establishes the Budget Reserve Fund (BRF) and authorizes it to hold up to 15% of net general fund appropriations for the current fiscal year. Once the BRF reaches this limit, the law requires the state treasurer to transfer any remaining General Fund surplus, as he determines to be in the state’s best interests, for reducing either the State Employees Retirement Fund's or Teachers' Retirement Fund's unfunded liability by up to 5%. Any amounts that remain after this transfer may be used to make additional payments to either retirement system, as the treasurer determines to be in the state's best interests, or to pay off other forms of outstanding state debt (CGS § 4-30a(c)). (Effective from passage)

Section 309 - Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any amount appropriated in section 305 of this act shall not be eligible for fringe benefit recovery by The University of Connecticut, The University of Connecticut Health Center, or Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, from the Comptroller's General Fund fringe benefit accounts. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5255, PA 22-40

An Act Concerning Recommendations by the Department of Transportation and Various Revisions to the Transportation Statutes.

This Act makes various changes to transportation statues, including these changes to contracting statues:

Sections 5-8 - CONTRACTING CHANGES Makes changes related to representations required in certain contracts:

Nondiscrimination Provisions (§ 5) Existing law generally requires that state contracts, municipal public works contracts, and a quasi-public agency contracts contain a nondiscrimination affirmation provision to certify that the contractor (1) understands the law’s nondiscrimination and affirmative action obligations and (2) will maintain a nondiscrimination policy for the contract’s duration. Under current law, the authorized signatory of the contract must demonstrate his or her understanding of this obligation by either (1) providing an affirmative response in the required online bid or request for proposals or (2) initialing the affirmation provision in the contract. Under the Act, the signatory may also do so by signing the contract.

Consulting Agreements (§ 6) By law, goods and services contracts with a total value of $50,000 or more in a calendar or fiscal year must have a representation as to whether a consulting agreement had been entered into in connection with the contract. The Act eliminates the requirement that it be “sworn as true” to the signatory’s best knowledge and belief, instead requiring it be made to his or her best knowledge and belief. As under existing law, the representation is subject to the penalty of false statement. The Act also makes technical changes related to the information included in applicable consulting agreement representations.

Minor and Conforming Changes (§§ 7 & 8) The Act eliminates a reference to “most qualified or highest ranked” person in a provision about certification requirements for large state contracts. The Act also makes a conforming change related to PA 21-76, which eliminated the false penalty statement for certifications related to contractor investments in Iran.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5453, PA 22-65

An Act Requiring the Online Posting of Certain State Contracts.

This Act requires the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to post on its website any goods or services contract or extension entered into without competitive bidding or competitive negotiation, including through emergency procurement authority. In doing so, it expands upon provisions in current law that require DAS to post on its website information about specified contracts and purchases meeting these criteria. It allows DAS, when posting these contracts, to redact information that is not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT SB 418, PA 22-17

An Act Concerning Wage Theft.

This Act changes the penalties for prevailing wage job contractors and subcontractors that knowingly or willfully fail to pay their workers the required prevailing wage. It requires the labor commissioner to issue a citation to these violators and allows her to impose a $5,000 fine for each violation. Current law requires her to issue fines ranging from $2,500 to $5,000. The Act also changes the penalties that prohibit (debar) a contractor or subcontractor that violated the prevailing wage law from contracting with the state or its municipalities. Generally, it (1) allows the labor commissioner to refer knowing and willful violators for debarment, rather than requiring debarment for a certain period (as current law does), and (2) broadens the debarment penalty to also cover contractors and subcontractors who enter into certain settlements with the commissioner to resolve claims for prevailing wage violations. (Effective July 1, 2023)

CT HB 5124, PA 22-50

An Act Concerning Revisions to Certain Economic and Community Development-Related Statutes.

This Act makes several unrelated changes in economic development-related statutes, including the following: 1. allowing the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) commissioner to contract with nongovernmental entities in carrying out the Small Business Express (EXP) program; 2. allowing DECD to establish two new programs through which the department may distribute certain funding for projects consistent with the purposes of the state’s Economic Action Plan (EAP); 3. requiring the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner to provide members of an advisory working group specified draft regulations for a release-based remediation program before they are adopted, amended, or repealed; and 4. requiring (a) the Office of Workforce Strategy’s chief workforce officer to develop a model student work release policy by July 1, 2023, and (b) all boards of education to adopt it. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5264, PA 22-97

An Act Concerning the Approval of Financial Aid Applications Filed with Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated and Establishing an Attendance Policy for Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated's Board of Directors.

This Act increases, from $150,000 to $500,000, the (1) maximum amount of financial assistance that Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (CI) staff may approve in an individual application if delegated this authority by CI’s board of directors and (2) aggregate 12-month cap on staff-awarded assistance to an applicant. Under the aggregate cap, CI staff cannot approve an application if the amount requested plus the amount of CI assistance received by the applicant in the previous 12 months exceeds this cap (i.e., $500,000 under the act). (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5505, PA 22-4

An Act Concerning Certain Aerospace Manufacturing Projects.

This Act authorizes the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) commissioner to enter into an assistance agreement with an eligible aerospace company that intends to take on a qualifying helicopter production project in Connecticut. The agreement may provide the company with up to $50 million or $75 million in total tax benefits over its term, depending on whether it enters into federal contracts for one or two helicopter programs, respectively. These tax benefits may allow the company to first offset its sales and use tax liability and, if applicable, claim a corporation business tax credit, up to specified limits, for each year from FYs 23 to 32 (referred to as “compliance years” in the Act). (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Section 155 - ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND FUNDING Allows DECD to establish two new programs through which the department may distribute certain funding for projects consistent with the purposes of the state’s Economic Action Plan Current law allows the DECD commissioner, for FYs 22 to 24 and in coordination with the OPM secretary, to use bond funds, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funding, and other available resources to provide the following: 1. up to $100 million in grants for “major projects” consistent with the state’s EAP, which the department may distribute by developing and issuing requests for proposals (RFPs); and 2. matching grants of up to $10 million each for these selected major projects, which the department may distribute through a competitive matching grant program (without specifying whether these grants count towards the $100 million cap). The Act makes changes to the mechanisms described above by which DECD may allocate funding for major projects. (These changes generally conform to the department’s current practices.) Specifically, the Act allows the department to establish the following: 1. an Innovation Corridor program to provide grants for major projects, which replaces the existing RFP process, and 2. the Connecticut Communities Challenge program to provide community development grants, which replaces the existing matching grant program for selected projects. The Act requires the department, under both programs, to develop a competitive application process and criteria consistent with the EAP’s purposes to evaluate applications and select projects for funding. The Act caps the new programs’ combined funding at $200 million, including (1) up to $100 million for grants under the Innovation Corridor program and (2) up to $100 million for grants under the Connecticut Communities Challenge program. As under current law, these grants may be funded through bonds, ARPA funds, and any other available resources. (Effective from
passage)

Section 156 - ALLOWABLE USES OF HISTORIC REHABILITATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM FEES The Act expands the allowable uses of application fees DECD receives through the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program to include funding programs that advance historic preservation in the state. Current law limits the use of these fees solely to program administration costs. (Effective from passage)

Section 158 - STUDY ON EXTENDING R&D TAX CREDIT TO PASS-THROUGH ENTITIES Requires the DECD commissioner to study extending the research and development tax credit to pass-through entities the Act requires the DECD commissioner to (1) study, in consultation with the revenue services commissioner, extending the research and development tax credit to pass-through entities and (2) report on the study to the Commerce Committee by January 1, 2023. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5279, PA 22-100

An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Office of Early Childhood.

This Act makes the following changes in the early childhood education statutes: 1. expands the Early Childhood Cabinet’s membership and changes its attendance and compensation requirements (§ 1); 2. makes a technical change to the criminal history records check system that certain child care providers who accept state child care subsidies must use (§ 2); 3. extends the validity of the early childhood teacher credential issued by the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) to certain people with associate degrees (§ 3); and 4. reduces the number of weeks a child care program must operate to be a “year-round” program, lowering the threshold from 50 to 48 weeks per year and impacting certain OEC program operations (§ 4). (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5466, PA 22-116

An Act Concerning Assorted Revisions and Additions to the Education Statutes.

This Act: (1) requires the Connecticut Prevention Network to develop a report on recovery schools; (2) permits the parent of a student to have access to such student's class rank; (3) delays the reporting date for a special education taskforce; (4) establishes a working group, overseen by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE); (5) requires certain child care contracts to include a provision regarding the income distribution of families enrolled; (5) adds licensed marriage and family therapists to a survey and grant program, which is administered by the Department of Education. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 1, PA 22-80

An Act Concerning Childhood Mental and Physical Health Services in Schools.

Section 15 - MINORITY TEACHER CANDIDATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Requires SDE to administer a new minority teacher candidate scholarship program; authorizes grants of up to $20,000 a year for high school graduates of priority school districts who are enrolled in a teacher preparation program at any four-year institution of higher education. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 16 - MINORITY TEACHER RECRUITMENT This Act renames the minority teacher recruitment (MTR) task force and requires it to conduct a study of existing recruitment and retention programs. Under the Act, the newly named “Task Force to Diversify the Educator Workforce” maintains the same membership and mission as outlined in existing law. Under the Act, the new task force study must (1) evaluate the implementation of minority teacher recruitment and retention programs and state and local efforts and (2) analyze their effectiveness. The Act allows the task force to consult with the State Department of Education (SDE), Minority Teacher Recruitment Policy Oversight Council, and Education Committee co-chairpersons while conducting the study, which it must submit along with recommendations for legislation to the Education Committee by January 1, 2023. (Effective from passage)

Section 23 - TEACHER CERTIFICATION LAW REVIEW This Act requires SDE to review the state’s teacher certification statutes and regulations for obsolete provisions and barriers to entry into the profession, and report to the Education Committee by January 1, 2023. (Effective from passage)

Section 29 - TEACHER SHORTAGE AND RETENTION TASK FORCE The Act creates the state teacher shortage and retention task force and requires it to develop a comprehensive report with recommendations addressing (1) teacher attrition rates and retention, (2) teacher shortages across subject matter disciplines, (3) the impact of retention and shortages on financially distressed school districts, and (4) streamlining teacher certification without diminishing standards or the professional value of a teaching certificate. In developing the report, the task force must (1) address issues relating to equity, diversity, and inclusion and (2) examine strategies other states use to address teacher shortages and to attract and retain teachers. The task force must submit its report to the Education and Children’s committees by January 1, 2024. The task force terminates on that date or when it submits its report, whichever is later.

****one appointed jointly by the Education Committee’s House and Senate ranking members who is a faculty member at a Connecticut higher education institution and has expertise in teacher recruitment strategies and is recommended by the Connecticut chapter of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. (Effective from passage)

CT SB 226, PA 22-38

An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Department of Education.

This Act extends the term of validity for three levels of public school teaching certification (i.e., initial, provisional, and professional) (§§ 1-3); 2. establishes new reporting requirements and deadlines for the State Department of Education (SDE) and the State Education Resource Center’s (SERC’s) collaborative effort to create a model curriculum for grades kindergarten to eight (K-8) §§ 4 & 5); and 3. grants the education commissioner temporary authority to waive provisions or modify requirements in state laws about school feeding programs in response to changes in federal law or federally-issued agency waivers (§§ 6 & 7). (Effective July 1, 2022, except the provisions on feeding programs (§§ 6 & 7) are effective from passage)

CT SB 228, PA 22-125

An Act Concerning the Pipeline for Connecticut’s Future Program and the Provision of Information about the Availability of Technical Education and Career Schools and Regional Agricultural Science and Technology Education Centers.

This Act requires the department of education to administer the pipeline for CT's future program in which the department will assist local and regional boards of education in enhancing existing partnerships or establishing new partnerships with one or more local businesses to offer a pathways program, and to require school counselors to provide information to students in middle school and high school about technical education and career schools and regional agricultural science and technology education centers. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5200, SA 22-8

An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study Hydrogen Power.

This Act establishes a task force to study hydrogen power technology which shall submit its findings and recommendations to the committee of cognizance by January 15, 2023. The president of the University of Connecticut, or the president's designee is a member of the task force. (Effective from passage)** UConn appointments filled as of 6/22.

CT HB 5327, PA 22-55

An Act Concerning Energy Storage Systems and Electric Distribution System Reliability.

This Act sets more requirements for electric distribution companies (EDCs, i.e., Eversource and United Illuminating) seeking to build, own, or operate energy storage systems. (Effective October 1, 2022) It also requires the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to direct the EDCs to submit up to three proposals for an energy storage pilot program. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Sections 164-168 - CLASS II RPS & SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT Starting in 2023, limits the Class II RPS requirement to only Class II renewable energy sources; requires that the penalties for failing to meet the Class II requirement be used to fund a DEEP-administered sustainable materials management program. Class II RPS (§§ 164-166) Under the state’s current RPS law, electric distribution companies (EDCs, i.e., Eversource and United Illuminating) and electric suppliers must get 4% of their energy from either Class I or Class II renewable energy sources. Beginning January 1, 2023, the Act requires the EDCs and suppliers to meet this 4% requirement with only Class II energy sources. By law, unchanged by the Act, the 4% requirement is in addition to the Class I RPS requirement. The Class I RPS is 24% in 2022 and increases annually until it reaches 40% in 2030. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 170 - PURCHASE OF ENERGY PRODUCTION PLANT Authorizes the administrative services commissioner to purchase the energy production plant that produces and provides steam and heated and chilled water for the Capitol Area System (CAS)

Background - The Capitol Area District Heating and Cooling System, referred to as CAS, is a state-owned thermal energy supply system. The system has two closed-loop distribution systems (heated water and chilled water) and a pump house. The loop consists of over three miles of underground piping. CAS supplies heating and cooling services to ten state-owned and five privately owned buildings in the Capitol District. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 10, PA 22-5

An Act Concerning Climate Change Mitigation.

This Act requires the state to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from electricity supplied to electric customers in the state by January 1, 2040. The Act establishes this requirement as an emissions reduction goal under the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 176, PA 22-14

An Act Concerning Clean Energy Tariff Programs.

This Act expands the Non-Residential Energy Solutions (NRES) and the Shared Cleaner Energy Facilities (SCEF) programs. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5165, PA 22-71

An Act Concerning the State Plan of Conservation and Development.

This Act (1) amends the process timeline for the revision and adoption of the state plan of conservation and development, and (2) extend to 2025 the application of the plan intended to cover 2018 to 2023, inclusive. (Effective from passage)

CT HJR 107

Resolution Adopting the State Plan of Conservation and Development, "Conservation and Development Policies: the Plan For Connecticut, 2018-2023".

Adopts the "Conservation and Development Policies: The Plan for Connecticut, 2018-2023", as reported to the General Assembly by the Continuing Legislative Committee on State Planning and Development, as the state plan of conservation and development.

CT SB 4, PA 22-25

An Act Concerning the Connecticut Clean Air Act.

This Act makes various statutory changes and establishes several new programs and initiatives concerning electric vehicle (EV) use and improving air quality by reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Major components include: 1. establishing grant programs for traffic signal modernization, zero-emission school buses, and zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks; 2. allowing the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner to adopt California’s emission standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles; 3. providing property tax exemptions for zero-emission buses and certain EV charging infrastructure; 4. modifying the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) program, including by expanding eligibility, giving priority for incentives to people with low incomes and environmental justice community residents, allowing incentives for electric bicycles, and increasing its funding; and 5. establishing “right to charge” provisions for renters and unit owners in condominiums and common interest communities. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 10, PA 22-5

An Act Concerning Climate Change Mitigation.

CT SB 238, PA 22-143

An Act Concerning Revisions to Certain Environment Related Statutes.

This Act authorizes the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to renew certain lapsed pesticide applicator certifications without reexamination, but with payment of a late fee. Additionally, it authorizes DEEP to register pesticides either on an annual basis or, as under current law, for five-year periods. As DEEP is currently shifting this program to an e-licensing system, this could alter the distribution of revenue on an annual basis but is not anticipated to change the overall amount revenue collected under the program. Lastly, it applies existing penalties for failing to file certain documents under the radiation materials laws. This provision could result in a minimal revenue gain to DEEP to the extent violations occur. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5327, PA 22-55

An Act Concerning Energy Storage Systems and Electric Distribution System Reliability.

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Sections 82-89 - PROVISION OF FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS Requires (1) certain government agencies and public and private organizations, starting July 1, 2023 or September 1, 2023, to provide free menstrual products to the individuals they serve and (2) DPH to set guidelines by July 1, 2022, on how to do this. Other Agencies and Organizations: Under the Act, starting July 1, 2023, certain other agencies and organizations must start providing free menstrual products without stigmatizing the individuals requesting the products, in accordance with the DPH guidelines, as follows: 1. public higher education institutions, in at least one designated and accessible central location on each campus, and they must post notice of the location on their websites; and allows higher ed institutions to accept donations of products. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Sections 164-168 - CLASS II RPS & SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT Starting in 2023, limits the Class II RPS requirement to only Class II renewable energy sources; requires that the penalties for failing to meet the Class II requirement be used to fund a DEEP-administered sustainable materials management program. Class II RPS (§§ 164-166) Under the state’s current RPS law, electric distribution companies (EDCs, i.e., Eversource and United Illuminating) and electric suppliers must get 4% of their energy from either Class I or Class II renewable energy sources. Beginning January 1, 2023, the Act requires the EDCs and suppliers to meet this 4% requirement with only Class II energy sources. By law, unchanged by the Act, the 4% requirement is in addition to the Class I RPS requirement. The Class I RPS is 24% in 2022 and increases annually until it reaches 40% in 2030. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5301, PA 22-101

An Act Concerning In-State Student Status of Veterans, a Postsecondary Prison Education Program Office, the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program, Food Insecure Students and Child Care Centers on or Near College Campuses.

This Act makes various changes in the laws governing workforce development and postsecondary education. This Act establishes a 10-member task force to recommend proposed changes to the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program (§ 3). (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Sections 119 & 120 - EXPANSION OF DEBT-FREE COLLEGE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY Expands the debt-free community college program’s eligibility to qualifying first-time, part-time Connecticut community-technical college students. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 231 - DPH STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM Requires providers participating in DPH’s Student Loan Repayment Program to provide behavioral health services and expands the types of clinicians that the program may recruit – for community based providers/programs. (Effective from passage)

CT SB 1, PA 22-80

An Act Concerning Childhood Mental and Physical Health Services in Schools.

Sec 15 - Requires SDE to administer a new minority teacher candidate scholarship program; authorizes grants of up to $20,000 a year for high school graduates of priority school districts who are enrolled in a teacher preparation program at any four-year institution of higher education. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 103, PA 22-41

An Act Concerning the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority and the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority.

This Act authorizes the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in postsecondary education programs and their parents (i.e., parents, legal guardians, or sponsors). In doing so, it allows these students and parents to take out CHESLA loans and students to receive grants, scholarships, fellowships, or other non-repayable assistance from CHESLA. Under current law, CHESLA can only provide financial assistance to (1) students attending in-state nonprofit higher education institutions, or Connecticut residents attending a U.S. nonprofit higher education institution, and (2) their parents. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5001, PA 22-47

An Act Concerning Children's Mental Health

Section 5 - TELEHEALTH SERVICES BY OUT-OF-STATE SOCIAL WORKERS Allows out-of-state social workers, under certain conditions, to provide telehealth services to residents of other states while the residents are in Connecticut, until July 1, 2024. (Effective from passage)

Section 31 — CERTIFICATE OF NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES (1) Temporarily exempts, from CON requirements, increases in the licensed bed capacity of mental health facilities under certain conditions and (2) requires OHS to report on any recommendations for establishing an expedited CON process for mental health facilities. (Effective from passage)

Sections 47 & 48 — HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL SERVICES Requires certain health insurance policies to cover primary care provider services under a Collaborative Care Model (i.e., the integrated delivery of behavioral health and primary care services by a primary care team). (Effective January 1, 2023)

Sections 55 & 56 — PROHIBITING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN EMERGENCY ACUTE INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES Prohibits prior authorization for acute inpatient psychiatric services provided (1) after an emergency department admission, (2) at an urgent crisis center, or (3) upon referral because the insured poses an imminent danger to themselves or others; requires disclosures that the insured may incur out-of-network costs. (Effective January 1, 2023)

Section 57 — OFFICE OF HEALTH STRATEGY REIMBURSEMENT RATE STUDY Requires OHS to study the rates at which health carriers and third- party administrators in the state reimburse health care providers for physical, mental, and behavioral health benefits and report to the Insurance and Real Estate and Public Health committees by January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024. (Effective from passage)

Section 59 — MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT SYSTEM TO ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION Requires DSS to implement a Medicaid reimbursement system to encourage collaboration between primary care providers and behavioral and mental health providers. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 69 — DPH GRANT TO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Allows DPH, within available resources, to award a $150,000 grant in FY 23 to an instate children’s hospital for coordinating a mental and behavioral health training and consultation program, and requires the hospital to report on the program. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 70 — BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Establishes a Behavioral and Mental Health Policy and Oversight Committee; requires the committee to evaluate and report on various matters related to the mental health system for children and develop a related strategic plan. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5278, PA 22-33

An Act Requiring Express Written Consent to the Intimate Examination of a Patient Who is Under Deep Sedation or Anesthesia or Unconscious.

This Act makes various unrelated changes affecting health care professions and institutions. Principally, it does the following: 1. requires hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities, by January 1, 2023, to develop and implement procedures to obtain, on a written or electronic form, a patient’s express written consent to an “intimate examination” (i.e., pelvic, prostate, or rectal examination) (§ 1); 2. generally, requires hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities to obtain a patient’s separate written consent if a medical student, resident, or fellow performs an intimate examination exclusively for training purposes and not as part of the patient’s clinical care or clinical care team (§ 1); 3. allows physicians’ continuing education in (a) risk management to address screening for endometriosis and (b) cultural competency to address the effects of systemic racism, explicit and implicit bias, racial disparities, and the experiences of transgender and gender diverse people on patient diagnosis, care, and treatment (§ 2); 4. requires UConn Health Center, in consultation with a research laboratory, to develop a plan to establish an endometriosis data and biorepository program and report to the Public Health Committee by January 1, 2023, on the plan and its implementation timeline (§ 3); and 5. modifies the Department of Public Health (DPH) breast and cervical cancer early detection and treatment referral program by, among other things, requiring breast cancer screening to include tomosynthesis, where possible, and adding human papillomavirus (HPV) tests to the program’s services (§ 4). (Effective October 1, 2022, except that the provisions on (1) patient consent for intimate examinations take effect upon passage and (2) the endometriosis data and biorepository program take effect July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5414, PA 22-19

An Act Concerning the Provision of Protections for Persons Receiving and Providing Reproductive Health Care Services in the State and Access to Reproductive Health Care Services in the State.

This Act principally (1) limits the governor’s discretionary extradition authority, (2) establishes a cause of action for persons against whom there is an out of state judgement based on reproductive health care services, and (3) authorizes additional types of health care providers to perform certain abortion services. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5430, PA 22-108

An Act Concerning Opioids.

This Act makes various changes affecting opioid use prevention and treatment. Specifically, it: 1. adds chiropractic and spinal cord stimulation to the list of nonopioid treatment options that must be included on a patient’s treatment agreement or care plan that prescribing practitioners must provide when prescribing opioids for more than 12 weeks (§ 1); 2. removes from the statutory definition of “drug paraphernalia” products used by licensed drug manufacturers or individuals to test a substance before they ingest, inject, or inhale it, (e.g., fentanyl testing strips), as long as they are not using the products to engage in unlicensed manufacturing or distribution of controlled substances (§ 2); 3. allows practitioners authorized to prescribe controlled substances to treat patients by dispensing controlled substances (e.g., methadone) from a mobile unit (§ 3); 4. allows multi-care institutions to provide behavioral health services or substance use disorder treatment services in a mobile narcotic treatment program (§ 4); 5. requires the Department of Mental Health and Addition Services’ (DMHAS) triennial state substance use disorder plan to include department policies, guidelines, and practices to reduce the negative personal and public health impacts of behavior associated with alcohol and drug abuse, including opioid drug abuse (§§ 5 & 6); and6. extends by one year, until January 1, 2023, the date by which DMHAS must establish a pilot program in up to five urban, suburban, and rural communities to serve individuals with opioid use disorder (§ 7). (Effective July 1, 2022 except for §§ 6 & 7 which are effective from passage)

CT HB 5485, PA 22-92

An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes.

This Act makes various, unrelated changes in the public health statutes. Principally, it: 1. makes minor, technical, and conforming changes to replace references to obsolete permits that no longer exist (e.g., bowling establishment permits) with references to the newly structured club permit (§§ 2-4); 2. allows licensed professional counselors and marital and family therapists who are members of specified Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) community support and crisis intervention teams to issue emergency certificates authorizing people with a psychiatric disability to be taken to a general hospital for examination, under certain conditions (§ 6); 3. allows certified individuals to practice auricular acupuncture to treat alcohol and drug abuse under the supervision of a physician assistant (PA), advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), or licensed acupuncturist, instead of only a physician as under current law (§ 10); 4. grants licensed pharmacists the authority under state law to administer the flu vaccine, with parental or guardian consent, to minors age 12 years or older (§ 501); and 5. makes a change to one of the educational criteria to make clinical medical assistants eligible to administer vaccinations under HB 5500, as amended by the House and passed by both chambers (§502). (Effective from passage except that the provisions on pharmacists, §24 take effect July 1, 2022, and §§ 4, 7, 8 & 25 take effect October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5500, PA 22-58

An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health's Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes

This Act makes various unrelated changes to public health statutes including:

Sections 1, 23-30 & 39 - CLINICAL LABORATORIES Adds clinical laboratories to the statutory definition of “health care institution” to reflect current practice and allows the DPH commissioner to waive regulations for these laboratories under limited conditions. (Effective October 1, 2022, except provisions on waivers are effective from passage)

Sections 1 & 42-45 - ALCOHOL OR DRUG TREATMENT FACILITIES Replaces the term “alcohol or drug treatment facility” with “behavioral health facility” in several statutes to reflect current practice. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 6 - CENTRAL SERVICE TECHNICIANS Allows central service technicians to obtain certification as a registered CST from a successor organization to the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 10 - STRIKE CONTINGENCY PLANS Requires health care institutions, when notified that their employees intend to strike, to include a staffing plan as part of the strike contingency plan they must file with DPH; requires Medicaid-certified intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities when submitting strike contingency plans, to submit the same information as nursing homes. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 22 - AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES Expands the statutory definition of “authorized emergency vehicle” to include all authorized EMS vehicles, instead of only ambulances as under current law. (Effective from passage)

Sections 37-38 - STATEWIDE HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE Allows the Office of Health Strategy executive director to implement policies and procedures while adopting regulations to (1) administer the Statewide Health Information Exchange and (2) require certain health care institutions and providers to connect to and participate in the exchange. (Effective from passage)

Section 40 - DOULA ADVISORY COMMITTEE Requires DPH, within available resources, to establish an 18-member Doula Advisory Committee to develop recommendations on (1) doula certification requirements and (2) standards for recognizing training programs that meet the certification requirements. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 48 - RARE DISEASE COUNCIL Establishes a 13-member Connecticut Rare Disease Advisory Council to advise and make recommendations to DPH and other state agencies on the needs of residents living with rare diseases and their caregivers. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 49 - CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Removes the Public Health Committee chairpersons and ranking members, and four members they appoint, from the advisory committee; extends by one year, until January 1, 2024, the date by which the advisory committee must begin annually reporting to the Public Health Committee. (Effective from passage)

Section 50 - HOSPITAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS Makes various changes to the law on hospital community benefit programs, such as requiring them to submit various documents to OHS on a specified schedule and requiring OHS to make the state’s all-payer claims database available to hospitals to help in this process. UConn health is not impacted. (Effective January 1, 2023)

Section 51 - NON-DISCRIMINATION FOR TRANSPLANTS BASED ON DISABILITY This Act generally prohibits deeming someone ineligible to receive an anatomical gift, or organ from a living donor, for transplantation solely because of the person’s physical, mental, or intellectual disability. (Effective from passage)

Sections 52 - INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL SPECIALISTS Makes various changes in requirements for infection prevention and control specialists at nursing homes and dementia special care units, such as (1) limiting the current requirement that they employ a full-time specialist to only those facilities with more than 60 residents and (2) allowing these specialists to provide services at both a nursing home and dementia special care unit or at two nursing homes in some circumstances, with DPH approval. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Sections 56-58 - DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED BODIES Allows the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to take custody and coordinate the disposition of an unclaimed body and requires the funeral director who handles the disposition to contact the social services commissioner for reimbursement of related expenses. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 62 - LEGIONELLA WORKING GROUP Requires the DPH commissioner to convene a working group on legionella prevention and mitigation in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities and report to the Public Health Committee by December 31, 2022, on the working group’s findings and recommendations. (Effective from passage)

Section 63 - POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGISTS Authorizes polysomnographic (sleep) technologists to perform certain oxygen-related patient care activities in hospitals in the same way that existing law allows for designated licensed health care providers and certified ultrasound or nuclear medicine technologists. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 67 - SURGICAL SMOKE EVACUATION POLICIES Requires each licensed hospital and outpatient surgical facility to develop and implement a policy for using a surgical smoke evacuation system to prevent exposure to surgical smoke. UConn Health meets or exceeds this requirement. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Sections 71 & 72 - MANDATED ELDER ABUSE REPORTER TRAINING Modifies provisions in HB 5313, as amended by House “A,” extending by six months until June 30, 2023, the date by which mandated elder abuse reporters must generally complete the DSS elder abuse training program or another DSS-approved program. (Effective from passage)

Section 73 - TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT Starting January 1, 2023, requires health care facilities to consider certain federal technical standards for accessibility of medical diagnostic equipment when purchasing this equipment. (Effective from passage)

Section 75 - MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW COMMITTEE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS Requires DPH’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee to develop educational materials on intimate partner violence and pregnant and postpartum persons with mental health disorders, which DPH must distribute to specified hospitals and health care providers. (Effective from passage)

Section 76 - BIRTHING HOSPITALS PATIENT EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS Requires birthing hospitals (1) starting October 1, 2022, to provide caesarean section patients with written information on the importance of mobility following the procedure and (2) starting January 1, 2023, to provide postpartum patients certain educational materials and establish a patient portal for them to virtually access any educational materials and information provided to the patients during their stay or discharge. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Section 16 - Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-256 of the general statutes, the sum of $20,000,000 shall be transferred from the resources of the General Fund to the University of Connecticut Health Center Medical Malpractice Trust Fund and credited to such trust fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. THESE FUNDS ARE CHARACTERIZED AS REVENUE DIVERSION FUNDS (Effective from passage)

Sections 69-70 - COLLABORATIVE DRUG THERAPY Makes various changes affecting collaborative drug therapy agreements between certain health care practitioners and pharmacists.

The Act:

expands the types of practitioners authorized to enter into these agreements to include any prescribing practitioner or caregiving institution (“providers”), instead of only state-licensed physicians and advanced practice registered nurses;
expands the types of authorized arrangements between pharmacists and providers to include collaborative drug therapy management policies between pharmacists and caregiving institutions, instead of only collaborative drug therapy agreements between pharmacists and prescribing practitioners;
expands pharmacists’ authority under these arrangements to include (a) managing drug therapy for patient populations, instead of only individual patients, (b) managing a therapeutic class of drugs, instead of only specified drugs, and (c) managing prescribed medical devices; and
requires the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) commissioner to amend regulations on pharmacist qualifications and requirements for these arrangements to include competency requirements and requirements for the minimum content of these arrangements.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 124 - Establishes a task force to study and make recommendations concerning certificates of need, which shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations by January 15, 2023. (Effective from passage)

Section 147 - STROKE REGISTRY Requires DPH to maintain and operate a stroke registry and establishes a stroke registry data oversight committee within the Legislative Branch to monitor the registry’s activities The Act requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to maintain and operate a statewide stroke registry. Starting July 1, 2023, stroke centers must submit quarterly data to DPH on stroke care that (1) the commissioner deems necessary to include in the registry and (2) at a minimum, aligns with stroke consensus metrics developed and approved by a nationally-recognized stroke certification body. The Act also requires DPH to apply privacy and security standards for the registry’s data that are consistent with the department’s policies for patient data use. Under the Act, “stroke centers” include comprehensive stroke centers, thrombectomy-capable stroke centers, primary stroke centers, and acute stroke-ready hospitals. (Effective October, 1 2022)

Sections 219-225 - HEALTH BENCHMARKS Requires OHS to establish health care cost growth benchmarks, health care quality benchmarks, and primary care spending targets; allows OHS to identify entities that do not meet these benchmarks or targets. (Effective from passage)

Sections 227 & 228 - CERTIFICATE OF NEED APPLICATION FEE AND TERMINATION OF SERVICES Increases the certificate of need application fee based on a project’s cost; defines “termination of services” to mean ending services for more than 180 days Under the certificate of need (CON) law, health care institutions (e.g., hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, outpatient surgical facilities) must generally receive state approval when establishing new facilities or services, changing ownership, acquiring certain equipment, or terminating services. The Act increases the nonrefundable CON application fee from $500 to a range of $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the proposed project’s cost, as shown in the table below:

CON Application Fees Under the Act

Application Fee	Project Cost
$1,000	Up to $50,000
$2,000	>$50,000 and up to $100,000
$3,000	>$100,000 and up to $500,000
$4,000	>$500,000 and up to $1 million
$5,000	>$1 million and up to $5 million
$8,000	>$5 million and up to $10 million
$10,000	>$10 million

Section 493-496 - CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION REGISTRY AND TRACKING SYSTEM sThis Act replaces DPH’s childhood immunization registry and tracking system (“CIRTS”) with an immunization information system (“CT WiZ”) that provides access to immunization records to all recipients, instead of only children under age six. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 2, PA 22-81

An Act Expanding Preschool and Mental and Behavioral Services for Children.

Among other things, this Act:

Section 31 - HOSPITAL FACILITY FEES FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES Prohibits hospitals from charging a facility fee for telehealth services, whether those services are provided on or off the hospital campus. (Effective from passage)

Sections 32, 34 & 38 - TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF TELEHEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS Extend PA 21-9’s temporary expanded telehealth requirements for the delivery of telehealth services by one year to June 30, 2024, and makes minor changes. (Effective from passage)

Sections 35-37 - TEMPORARY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES Extend PA 21-9’s temporarily expanded insurance coverage requirements and prohibitions for telehealth services by one year to June 30, 2024; clarifies that telehealth excludes audio-only telephone for policies that use a provider network and the telehealth provider is out-of-network; and applies the coverage requirements to high deductible health plans to the extent permitted by federal law. (Effective from passage)

Sections 39 & 40 - PERMANENT INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES Beginning July 1, 2024, following the sunset of the temporary insurance coverage provisions noted above (Sections 35-37), the Act permanently requires certain health insurance policies to cover medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment provided through telehealth to the same extent that they cover those services when provided in person by a health care provider licensed in Connecticut. Current law requires the coverage to the extent the service is covered in person by any provider. The Act applies to fully insured individual and group health insurance policies that cover (1) basic hospital expenses; (2) basic medical-surgical expenses; (3) major medical expenses; or (4) hospital or medical services, including those provided under an HMO plan. (Because of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), state insurance benefit mandates do not apply to self-insured benefit plans.) (Effective July 1, 2024)

Section 41 - TELEHEALTH STUDY This Act requires the OHS executive director to study the provision of, and coverage for, telehealth services in the state. The study must include (1) the feasibility and impact of expanding access to telehealth services, telehealth providers, and coverage for telehealth services in the state beginning July 1, 2024, and (2) any means available to reduce or eliminate obstacles to such services, including, but not limited to, reducing patient costs. The Act requires the OHS executive director, by January 1, 2023, to report its findings to the Public Health, Human Services, and Insurance committees. (Effective from passage)

***OHS has reached out to InCHIP to explore conducting this study

Section 42 - PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT This Act enters Connecticut into the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, which provides a process authorizing psychologists to practice by (1) telehealth and (2) temporary in- person, face-to-face services across state boundaries, without requiring psychologist licensure in each state The Act enters Connecticut into the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). The compact provides a process authorizing psychologists to practice by (1) telehealth (unlimited) and (2) temporary in-person, face-to-face services (30 days per year per state) across state boundaries, without requiring psychologist licensure in each state. A psychologist can apply for authorization for either or both types of interjurisdictional practice under the compact. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5044, PA 22-48

An Act Implementing the Governor's Budget Recommendations Regarding the Use of Opioid Litigation Proceeds.

This Act establishes an Opioid Settlement Fund as a separate non-lapsing fund administered by a 37-member Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee with assistance from the Department of Mental Health and Addition Services (DMHAS). Under the Act, the fund must contain moneys the state receives from opioid-related judgments, consent decrees, or settlements finalized on or after July 1, 2021. The moneys must be generally used prospectively and only for specified substance use disorder abatement purposes. This includes opioid abatement research, including developing evidence-based treatment, treatment barriers, nonopioid treatment of chronic pain, and harm reduction supply-side enforcement. If the DMHAS commissioner and the attorney general certify that a judgment’s, consent decree’s, or settlement’s purpose is inconsistent with the fund’s intent, the Act establishes a process for them to deposit the moneys into an alternative account or fund, which includes, among other things, reporting to the Public Health Committee before doing so.

Among other things, the Act:

generally requires proceeds from any state settlement to be allocated only to municipalities with an agreement to participate in the settlement and adhere its terms;
requires the DMHAS commissioner to obtain the advisory committee’s approval before making or refusing to make fund disbursements;
prohibits the DMHAS commissioner from making fund disbursements unless the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) secretary verifies that the funds appropriated in that fiscal year’s budget for substance use disorder purposes at least equal the total amount appropriated in the prior fiscal year’s budget;
requires the advisory committee to hold quarterly public meetings and specifies that it terminates when all settlement moneys are received and disbursed, unless the state anticipates receiving additional moneys;
specifies that disbursements do not supplant or replace any other funds that would have otherwise been used for the same purposes (e.g., insurance benefits or governmental funding);
requires fund recipients, starting by October 1, 2023, to annually file with the advisory committee a report for the prior fiscal year that details the effectiveness of funded programs, services, supports, or resources;
requires the advisory committee, starting by January 15, 2023, to annually report on the fund to the Appropriations and Public Health committees; and
authorizes the state to fund a trust to provide direct support and services to opioid epidemic survivors and victims, in accordance with the March 11, 2022, settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5278, PA 22-33

An Act Requiring Express Written Consent to the Intimate Examination of a Patient Who is Under Deep Sedation or Anesthesia or Unconscious.

CT HB 5500, PA 22-58

An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health's Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes

This Act makes various unrelated changes to public health statutes including:

Sections 12 & 13 - MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION BY UNLICENSED PERSONNEL Allows a registered nurse to delegate certain medication administration to home health aides and hospice aides who obtain certification from DCF or DDS, in addition to those certified by DPH, as under current law and requires more frequent certification for home health and hospice aides. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 52 - INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL SPECIALISTS Makes various changes in requirements for infection prevention and control specialists at nursing homes and dementia special care units, such as (1) limiting the current requirement that they employ a full-time specialist to only those facilities with more than 60 residents and (2) allowing these specialists to provide services at both a nursing home and dementia special care unit or at two nursing homes in some circumstances, with DPH approval. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Sections 68 & 69 - HIV TESTING This Act generally requires primary care providers and hospital emergency departments to offer HIV testing to patients age 13 or older; requires hospitals to adopt related protocols (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Sections 149-153 - LEAD POISONING PREVENTION AND TREATMENT This Act generally lowers the threshold for blood lead levels in individuals at which DPH and local health departments must take certain actions; requires primary care providers to conduct annual lead testing for certain high-risk children ages 36 to 72 months; requires DSS to seek federal approval to amend the state Medicaid plan to add services to address the health impacts of high childhood blood lead levels in Medicaid-eligible children; and requires the DPH commissioner to convene a working group to recommend necessary legislative changes on various lead poisoning prevention and treatment issues. (All provisions effective January 1, 2023 except working group- section 153, that is effective from passage)

CT SB 457, PA 22-93

An Act Concerning Clinical Medical Assistants.

This Act makes a change to one of the educational criteria to make clinical medical assistants eligible to administer vaccinations under HB 5485, as amended by the House (§ 502) (which amended HB 5500, as amended by the House (§ 47)). Specifically, HB 5485, as amended by the House (§ 502), allows clinical medical assistants meeting specified criteria, education, and training requirements to administer vaccines in any setting other than a hospital if under the supervision, control, and responsibility of a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse. To be eligible to administer vaccines under HB 5485 and HB 5500, a clinical medical assistant generally must have graduated from a postsecondary medical assisting program that meets certain criteria. One option is that the person graduated from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, or another accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Act removes the requirement that the person must have done so on or after January 1, 2023, as under HB 5485. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5001, PA 22-47

An Act Concerning Children's Mental Health

Among other things the Act includes (1) creating a child and adolescent psychiatry working group; (2) creating the Behavioral and Mental Health Policy and Oversight Committee; (3) authorizing the delivery of telehealth services by out-of-state social workers; (4) requiring the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number be printed on middle school, high school, and college and university ID cards; (5) establishing a Youth Service Corp grant program; (6) expanding the scope of the incentive grant program for employers of child psychiatrists to also cover adolescent psychiatrists; and (7) prohibiting prior authorization, limiting cost sharing, and expanding access to services rendered at a DCF-licensed urgent crisis center and acute psychiatric inpatient services resulting from an emergency department admission or certain provider referrals, instead of for all acute psychiatric inpatient services.

Section 2 - EXPEDITED LICENSURE FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS Expands an existing law on expedited licensure for health care providers licensed in other states by eliminating current provisions limiting it only to state residents or spouses of active-duty military members stationed in Connecticut With certain exceptions, existing law generally requires DPH to issue a health care license or other credential to a person who is licensed in another state and meets specified experience and background requirements (e.g., has practiced under their current license for at least four years and has no disciplinary history). This requirement applies to all DPH-credentialed professions. Current law requires that these applicants be state residents, or the spouse of an active-duty service member permanently stationed in Connecticut. The Act removes the residency requirement and instead applies this law to at least active duty military members or their spouses. The Act similarly eliminates a requirement for DPH to require state residents applying for this licensure to pass an examination, or part of one, required of other applicants. It instead gives DPH the discretion to require an examination for any applicants under these provisions. Under current law, this discretionary authority applies to military spouses only. By law, (1) applicants for expedited licensure must pay any credentialing fees required of other applicants and (2) DPH may deny a credential if the commissioner finds it to be in the state’s best interest. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 3 - SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE EXAMINATION ACCOMMODATIONS The Act requires the DPH commissioner to notify every clinical and master social worker licensure applicant that he or she may be eligible for testing accommodations under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act or other accommodations determined by the Association of Social Work Boards, or its successor organization. Under the Act, these accommodations may include (1) using a dictionary while taking the licensure examination or (2) additional time to complete the examination. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 4 - MASTER SOCIAL WORK LICENSE TEMPORARY PERMITS The Act extends, until June 30, 2024, the duration of temporary permits for master social workers from 120 days to one year after attaining a master’s degree. The Act specifies that a temporary permit is not void only because the applicant fails the examination. Starting June 30, 2024, the Act reduces the duration of the temporary permits to 120 days after they are issued and makes them void if the applicant fails the licensure examination. By law, a temporary permit allows licensure applicants who have a master’s degree from a social work program, but have not yet taken the licensure exam, to practice under professional supervision. (Effective from passage)

Section 7 - NEED-BASED ASSISTANCE FOR MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE LICENSURE APPLICANTS Requires DPH, within available appropriations, to establish a need-based program that waives application and licensure fees for certain applicants who will provide children’s mental or behavioral health services. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 38 - CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST GRANT PROGRAM Requires DPH to establish a child and adolescent psychiatrist grant program, providing incentive grants to employers for recruiting, hiring, and retaining these psychiatrists. It requires the commissioner to establish (1) eligibility requirements; (2) priority categories, including nonhospital employers; (3) funding limitations; and (4) the application process. The commissioner, in consultation with OHS, must distribute grant funds equitably with regard to the type and location of employers. Starting by January 1, 2024, the commissioner must annually report to the Public Health Committee on (1) the number and demographics of the employers who applied for and received incentive grants under the program, (2) the recipients’ use of grant funds, and (3) any other information the commissioner considers pertinent. (Effective from passage)

Section 45 - PSYCHOLOGY DOCTORAL STUDENT CLERKSHIP PROGRAM Requires DPH to establish an incentive program to allow two-year license renewal, rather than annual, for four years for psychology doctoral students completing a clerkship at certain DCF-licensed or -operated facilities. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 68 - CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY WORKING GROUP Creates a working group to develop a plan to increase the number of psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship placements in the state. The working group consists of 10 members one who is to be a faculty member from in-state psychiatry residency program and one an in-state practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist. Under the Act, the appointing authorities must make their initial appointments by July 31, 2022, and fill any vacancy. The House speaker and Senate president pro tempore must each select a co-chairperson from among the working group’s members. The chairpersons must schedule the first meeting, which must be held by August 30, 2022. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5414, PA 22-19

An Act Concerning the Provision of Protections for Persons Receiving and Providing Reproductive Health Care Services in the State and Access to Reproductive Health Care Services in the State.

CT HB 5485, PA 22-92

An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes.

CT HB 5500, PA 22-58

An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health's Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes

This Act makes various unrelated changes to public health statutes including:

Sections 14, 16, 17 & 55 - SCOPE OF PRACTICE REVIEW Reduces, by two weeks, the timeframe of certain steps of DPH’s scope of practice review process for health care professions; requires DPH to establish a scope of practice review committee to determine whether it should regulate midwives who are ineligible for nurse- midwife licensure and report its findings to the Public Health Committee. (Effective from passage)

Section 15 - STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR NURSING Expands the duties of the State Board of Examiners for Nursing; requires DPH, instead of the board, to post a list of all approved nursing education programs for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses; and eliminates a requirement that DPH adopt regulations on adult education practical nursing training programs offered in high schools. (Effective from passage)

Section 35 - CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS Establishes minimum and maximum amounts of CE earned online (Effective July 1, 2022)

Sections 47 & 78 - MEDICAL ASSISTANTS ADMINISTERING VACCINES Allows clinical medical assistants meeting specified certification, education, and training requirements to administer vaccines in any setting other than a hospital if acting under the supervision, control, and responsibility of a physician, PA, or APRN. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Section 79 - HEALTH CARE PROVIDER LOAN REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM The Act requires the Office of Higher Education (OHE), by January 1, 2023, to establish a health care provider loan reimbursement program to provide loan reimbursement grants to DPH-licensed health care providers employed full-time as a health care provider in the state. Under the Act, individuals may apply to OHE for the grants at the time and in the manner the executive director prescribes. Eligibility Requirements - It requires the OHE executive director, in consultation with DPH, to develop eligibility requirements for grant recipients, which may include income guidelines. Under the Act, at least 20% of the grants must be awarded to regional community-technical college graduates. The executive director must consider health care workforce shortage areas when developing the eligibility requirements.

Loan Reimbursements - Under the Act, qualified individuals must be reimbursed on an annual basis for qualifying student loan payments in amounts the OHE executive director determines. The Act limits reimbursement to only the loan payments the health care provider made while employed full-time in the state as a health care provider. (Effective from passage)

Section 489 - PROVIDERS AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM ABORTIONS Allows APRNs, nurse-midwives, and PAs to perform aspiration abortions; explicitly authorizes these providers to perform medication abortions, conforming to a 2001 attorney general opinion; makes related changes. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 2, PA 22-81

An Act Expanding Preschool and Mental and Behavioral Services for Children.

Among other things, this Act:

Section 26 - LICENSURE BY RECIPROCITY OR ENDORSEMENT FOR SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS Requires DPH, in consultation with OEC, to develop and implement a plan to establish licensure by reciprocity or endorsement for speech and language pathologists or occupational therapists licensed elsewhere and who intend to provide services under the Birth-to-Three program. (Effective from passage)

Section 42 - PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT Enters Connecticut into the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, which provides a process authorizing psychologists to practice by (1) telehealth and (2) temporary in- person, face-to-face services across state boundaries, without requiring psychologist licensure in each state The Act enters Connecticut into the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). The compact provides a process authorizing psychologists to practice by (1) telehealth (unlimited) and (2) temporary in-person, face-to-face services (30 days per year per state) across state boundaries, without requiring psychologist licensure in each state. A psychologist can apply for authorization for either or both types of interjurisdictional practice under the compact. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 43 - INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT This Act enters Connecticut into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The compact provides an expedited licensure process for physicians seeking to practice in multiple states (including by telehealth). Among other eligibility criteria, a physician must first be licensed in a member state and have never had his or her medical license subjected to disciplinary action. Eligible physicians can complete one application within the compact but receive separate licenses from the states where they will practice. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT SB 251, SA 22-9

An Act Expanding Training Programs for Careers in Health Care.

The Act Requires the Office of Workforce Strategy, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, the Labor Department, the Office of Higher Education, the University of Connecticut, the University of Connecticut Health Center, the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges and the Connecticut Hospital Association, to develop an initiative to address the state's health care workforce shortage, including, but not limited to, behavioral and mental health care workers. Such initiative shall seek to increase the number of health care workers in the state through the offering of expanded and enhanced educational programs at institutions of higher education in the state. (Effective from passage)

CT SB 457, PA 22-93

An Act Concerning Clinical Medical Assistants.

CT SB 358, PA 22-90

An Act Concerning Required Health Insurance Coverage for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility Screening.

This Act expands insurance coverage requirements for mammograms, ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) for breast screenings under certain commercial health insurance policies. It also requires the policies to cover certain procedures related to breast cancer treatment, including breast biopsies; certain prophylactic mastectomies; and breast reconstruction surgery, subject to certain conditions. Additionally, the Act requires these health insurance policies to cover the following services related to the testing and treatment of ovarian cancer: (1) genetic testing, including for breast cancer gene one (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene two (BRCA2), under certain circumstances; (2) post-treatment CA-125 monitoring (i.e., a test measuring the amount of the cancer antigen 125 protein); and (3) routine ovarian cancer screenings, including surveillance tests for certain insureds. (Effective January 1, 2023)

CT HB 5001, PA 22-47

An Act Concerning Children's Mental Health

Section 15 - GRANT FOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY DELIVERY OF STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

The Act requires the Office of Higher Education (OHE) to administer a program to provide grants in FYs 23-25 to public and private higher education institutions to deliver student mental health services on campus. It allows OHE to accept the following funding sources to support the program’s administration: private source or state agency funds and gifts, grants, and donations, including in-kind donations.

Application Process: beginning January 1, 2023, institutions may file grant applications with the OHE executive director when and how he determines. As part of its application, an institution must submit a plan for grant fund spending. Award Process: the Act authorizes OHE’s executive director to determine (1) whether to award grants to applicants and (2) the amount of a recipient’s initial grant award based on its submitted plan. It establishes the following grant amounts for the executive director to award for the duration of the grant program: (1) for FY 23, a commissioner-determined amount; (2) for FY 24, the same amount awarded in FY 23; and (3) for FY 25, 70% of the amount awarded in FY 24. (Presumably, the OHE executive director, not a commissioner, is calculating the FY 23 amount.) Program Tracking: under the Act, grant recipients must file expenditure reports with the OHE executive director as he directs. The Act limits grant recipients’ expenditures to those consistent with the grant spending plan submitted as part of their application. It also prohibits them from using grant funds on operating expenses that existed before they received these funds. Additionally, the Act requires grant recipients to refund to the office (1) any unspent grant amount at the end of the fiscal year when it was awarded and (2) any unspent grant amount under the plan submitted in the grant application. The Act requires each grant recipient to work with the office to develop metrics to annually track and calculate the grant program’s utilization rate, which will measure the program’s success. Recipients must submit these metrics and the utilization rate to OHE each year. Reports to the Legislature: beginning by January 1, 2024, and for the next two years, the Act requires the OHE executive director to report to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee on each grant recipient’s utilization rate. Additionally, the Act requires the executive director to develop recommendations on the following topics and submit them to the same committee by January 1, 2026: (1) whether this grant program should be extended and funded for FY 26 and beyond and (2) the grant award amount under the program. (Effective from passage)

***as of 6/21/22 no further guidance is available on this programming

Sections 29 & 30 - COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY IDENTIFICATION CARDS The Act requires UConn, each of the Connecticut State Universities and regional-technical community colleges, and Charter Oak State College to include the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number on each student identification card. This requirement takes effect once the lifeline has been operational in Connecticut for 366 days. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5301, PA 22-101

This Act makes various changes in the laws governing workforce development and postsecondary education. Principally, it does the following:

entitles veterans living in Connecticut to in-state college tuition rates regardless of their state of residence (§ 1); (Effective July 1, 2022)
reduces the membership of the task force studying the costs and benefits of establishing a postsecondary prison education office (§ 2); (Effective from passage)
establishes a 10-member task force to recommend proposed changes to the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program (§ 3); (Effective from passage) ** UConn requesting appointment on the task force
Sections 4-7 - FOOD-INSECURE STUDENTS AT PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS This Act establishes various requirements to assess and address food insecurity for the state’s public college and university students.

It defines “food insecurity” or “food insecure” as the lack of financial resources needed to consistently access enough food for an active and healthy life.
Specifically, it requires public colleges and universities to do the following:
- Starting by March 1, 2023, public colleges and universities must biennially administer a survey to enrolled students to collect data on student food insecurity and the causes and reasons for it. The survey administered by each public college and university must include questions about a student’s (1) demographic background, including age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, marital status, income, education, and employment; (2) specific barriers to food access; and (3) awareness or use of community or institutional resources to address food insecurity and barriers to accessing these resources.
- Starting by October 1, 2023, public colleges and universities must biennially evaluate their services and programs addressing the needs of food-insecure students and, based on the survey results, amend any existing services and programs or establish a new service or program to address these needs. The services or programs that public colleges and universities establish or modify to address student food insecurity may include the following: 1. giving assistance and support for students to enroll in SNAP or any other state or federal nutrition assistance or financial aid program, including programs for families, if applicable; 2. providing low-cost food or meal plan options on campus; 3. allowing students additional meals through extra card swipes on meal plans; 4. providing financial assistance or other financial student aid; establishing or expanding on-campus food pantries; and 6. starting a fruit and vegetable incentive program or making one available through an agreement with a local nonprofit or government agency.
- Starting by January 1, 2024, public colleges and universities must biennially report to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee on the (a) survey results; (b) food insecurity services and programs offered, including any changes made based on the survey results; and (c) number of students who used the services and programs in the preceding two years; and
- Effective July 1, 2022, each public college and university shall annually notify students about eligibility requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
- Beginning July 1, 2023, and annually afterwards, the Act requires BOR and BOT to consult with the Department of Social Services (DSS) to identify and maximize the number and type of their offered educational programs that would (1) increase a student’s employability and (2) qualify as an employment and training program under SNAP student eligibility requirements. By January 1, 2024, BOR, BOT, and DSS must post and regularly update the list of these identified programs offered at each institution under the boards’ governance on their respective websites.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

requires the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) and the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) to jointly develop a plan to increase the number of childcare facilities on or near each regional community technical college and state university campus (§ 8). (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

CT HJR 16

Resolution Confirming the Decision of the Claims Commissioner Involving Certain Claims Against the State.

This Resolution affirms the decision of the Claims Commissioner, file number 25072, denying the claim of Nouboukpo Gassesse.

CT SB 18, PA 22-16

An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Higher Education Statutes.

This Act requires public Connecticut higher education institutions to adopt a policy requiring new appointed governing board members to complete specified training within a year after their appointment or election to the board. The Act establishes the required instruction and training topics, which include financial, legal and ethical, and institutional operation training topics, among others. By January 1, 2023, each institution must post on its website the training policy and a summary of the instruction and training board members received. Additionally, the Act requires the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) to make the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) central office a separate line item in its consolidated operating budget. It also makes several conforming and technical changes. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 20, PA 22-11

An Act Concerning the Name, Image and Likeness of Student Athletes.

This Act eliminates the ban on student athletes using, or consenting to the use of, a higher education institution’s institutional marks (i.e.,name, logo, trademarks, mascot, unique colors, copyrights, and other defining insignia) when performing an endorsement contract or employment activity. The Act does not require higher education institutions in the state to allow student athletes to use, or consent to the use of, these marks. But it does require them to adopt at least one policy on their use, as they must already do for endorsement contracts and employment activities. The Act requires that the UConn Board of Trustees and the Board of Regents for Higher Education each prepare a report on the fiscal impact (e.g., a revenue gain or loss, or any costs) to their respective higher education institutions caused by the student athlete policies on endorsement contracts, employment activities, and using institutional marks. They must submit the reports to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee by January 1, 2023. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 103, PA 22-41

An Act Concerning the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority and the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority.

CT SB 105, PA 22-123

An Act Concerning Recommendations by the Office of Higher Education and Extending the Time to Conduct a Sexual Misconduct Climate Assessment at Institutions of Higher Education.

This Act makes various changes to the laws governing private occupational schools and higher education institutions overseen by the Office of Higher Education (OHE).

Section 43 - Changes the due date of the sexual misconduct climate assessment survey each institution of higher ed must conduct every two years that collects the data points developed by the Council on Sexual Misconduct Climate Assessments from March 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024. (Effective from passage)

CT SB 251, SA 22-9

An Act Expanding Training Programs for Careers in Health Care.

CT SB 279, PA 22-126

An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Legislative Commissioners' Office Regarding Minor and Technical Changes to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Statutes.

This Act makes a conforming change in the statute establishing the Board of Regents for Higher Education, increasing its total membership count by one to account for the 2021 addition of the Office of Workforce Strategy’s chief workforce officer to the board (§ 2). It also makes conforming changes in laws governing (1) the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority’s (CHESLA) ability to offer education financing assistance (§ 5) and (2) various workforce development statutes (§§ 6-10). Additionally, it makes several grammatical changes to the higher education, education, and workforce development statutes. (Effective from passage except § 5 takes which effect on October 1, 2022

CT SB 407, SA 22-22

An Act Concerning the Development and Implementation of a Post-Covid-19 Women's Return to Work Economic Development Plan.

The Chief Workforce Officer, in consultation with the Department of Economic and Community Development and regional workforce development boards, shall, within available appropriations, develop and implement a Post-COVID-19 Women's Return to Work Economic Development Plan, which may include, but need not be limited to, the establishment of (1) partnerships with institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, professional business associations and child care and transit providers to develop and promote return to work initiatives, paid internships in high-growth industries, job and career fairs, professional mentorships, experiential learning opportunities and educational and employment coaching services for women seeking to return to work after the COVID-19 pandemic; and (2) business incentives to increase apprenticeship and internship opportunities for women. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5250 PA 22-89

An Act Concerning Minor and Technical Changes to the Workers' Compensation Act.

This Act makes minor and technical changes to the workers' compensation act. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5442, SA 22-13

An Act Concerning Unemployment Compensation Experience Rates.

This Act requires the Department of Labor to conduct a study regarding the effects of unemployment insurance experience rate increases on certain businesses and report its findings. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Section 122 - DAS JOBS OPENINGS WEBSITE Requires the DAS website for executive branch job openings to include links to job openings in the judicial and legislative branches and the state higher education system. The Act requires the DAS commissioner, starting by July 1, 2022, to post individual links to the websites showing job openings in the judicial branch, legislative branch, and the constituent units of the state system of higher education. She must do so in a prominent location on the DAS web site where executive branch job openings are posted. If a link to one of the websites is updated after DAS posts it, the applicable branch agency or unit must notify DAS about it and DAS must update the link on its web site. (Effective From passage)

Section 138 - NONUNION RAISES & LUMP SUM PAYMENTS Requires most non-union employees to receive the same pay increases as union employees in FYs 22, 23 & 24; requires legislative employees to receive the same lump sum payments as union employees in FYs 22 & 23. The Act requires each state agency to apply certain terms from the 2022 agreement between the state and the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) to their employees who are not members of a bargaining unit (i.e., nonunion state employees). More specifically state agencies must apply the agreement’s terms for wage increases for:

FY22 (generally, a $2,500 lump sum payment and 2.5% base annual salary increase);
FY 23 (generally, a 2.5% increase plus step increases, annual increments, or their equivalents, and a $1,000 lump sum payment); and
FY 24 (generally, a 2.5% increase plus step increases, annual increments, or their equivalents). The “state agencies” subject to this requirement include any office, department, board, council, commission, institution, constituent unit of the state system of higher education, technical education and career school, or other agency in the executive or judicial branch, but not the legislative branch.

For legislative employees, the Act requires the Office of Legislative Management to apply terms consistent with the 2022 SEBAC agreement’s provisions for lump sum payments for FY 22 ($2,500) and FY 23 ($1,000).

(Effective From passage)

Section 171 & 172 - STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH PLAN DEPENDENT COVERAGE Requires certain health insurance coverage for children, stepchildren, or other dependent children of state or nonstate public employees to continue until at least the end of the calendar year after the earlier of when they (1) obtained coverage through their own employment or (2) turn age 26. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 173. Makes various changes to the statutes governing the Teachers' Retirement System that serve to clarify the administration of benefits or bring the statutes into conformity with federal law and do not result in a fiscal impact. Per the Office of Fiscal Analysis, the language “The University of Connecticut Board of Trustees” was added as the official name for UCONN. The TRB indicated that since qualified employees of UCONN are permitted to participate in the TRS it should have been listed. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 199 - DAS REPORT ON STATE AGENCY VACANCIES AND HIRING Requires DAS to report monthly during FY 23 on the number of vacancies, new hires, and refused employment offers for each state agency The Act requires DAS, by the 15th day of each month during FY 23, to report to the Appropriations Committee on the number of (1) vacant positions in each state agency, (2) people each agency hired during the previous month, and (3) people who refused an employment offer by each agency in the previous month. (Effective from passage)

CT SB 163, PA 22-24

An Act Protecting Employee Freedom of Speech and Conscience.

This Act generally prohibits employers, including the state and its political subdivisions, from disciplining or discharging (i.e., penalizing) an employee or threatening to do so because the employee refused to attend employer-sponsored meetings, listen to speech, or view communications primarily intended to convey the employer’s opinion about religious or political matters (i.e., “captive audience meetings”). The prohibition covers meetings with the employer or its agent, representative, or a designee. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 350, PA 22-128

An Act Establishing Juneteenth Independence Day as a Legal Holiday.

This Act establishes a new legal holiday on June 19^th known as Juneteenth Independence Day. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HR 11

Resolution Proposing Approval of an Agreement Between the State of Connecticut and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC).

CT HR 12

Resolution Proposing Approval of an Agreement Between the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees and the Graduate Employee Union Local 6950- International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (GEU-UAW).

CT SR 12

Resolution Proposing Approval of an Agreement Between the State of Connecticut and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC).

CT SR 13

CT HB 5141, PA 22-51

An Act Concerning the Protection of Certain Fish Species.

This Act prohibits a person from taking or landing, per day, 200 pounds or more of the following bait species: tidewater silverside, Atlantic silverside, sand lance or sand eels, and bay anchovy. Under the Act each violation is a separate infraction. The Act also requires the energy and environmental protection commissioner to make available to the public, free of charge, a printed fishing guide for the 2023 season. (Effective October 1, 2022, except the fishing guide provision is effective from passage.)

CT SB 241, PA 22-144

An Act Concerning Boating Safety.

This Act requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner to establish a schedule of retention fees that lake authorities may keep for issuing fines to people who violate state boating laws. By law, any two or more towns that have a body of state water within their territorial limits may establish a lake authority by ordinance. The lake authority must cooperate with the DEEP commissioner to enforce boating laws on the water (CGS § 7-151a). (Effective October 1, 2022, except the provision on lake authority retention fees is effective July 1, 2022.)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Section 247 - MEDICAID COVERAGE OF NATUROPATH SERVICES Requires the state’s Medicaid program to cover services provided by licensed naturopaths. The Act requires the DSS commissioner to amend the Medicaid state plan by October 1, 2022, to provide Medicaid coverage for services provided by a licensed naturopath. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5001, PA 22-47

An Act Concerning Children's Mental Health

Section 2 - EXPEDITED LICENSURE FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS With certain exceptions, existing law generally requires DPH to issue a health care license or other credential to a person who is licensed in another state and meets specified experience and background requirements (e.g., has practiced under their current license for at least four years and has no disciplinary history). This requirement applies to all DPH-credentialed professions. Current law requires that these applicants be state residents, or the spouse of an active-duty service member permanently stationed in Connecticut. The Act removes the residency requirement and instead applies this law to at least active duty military members or their spouses. The Act similarly eliminates a requirement for DPH to require state residents applying for this licensure to pass an examination, or part of one, required of other applicants. It instead gives DPH the discretion to require an examination for any applicants under these provisions. Under current law, this discretionary authority applies to military spouses only. By law, (1) applicants for expedited licensure must pay any credentialing fees required of other applicants and (2) DPH may deny a credential if the commissioner finds it to be in the state’s best interest. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 3 - SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE EXAMINATION ACCOMMODATIONS. The Act requires the DPH commissioner to notify every clinical and master social worker licensure applicant that he or she may be eligible for testing accommodations under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act or other accommodations determined by the Association of Social Work Boards, or its successor organization. Under the Act, these accommodations may include (1) using a dictionary while taking the licensure examination or (2) additional time to complete the examination. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 9 - WATERBURY FQHC PILOT PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES Establishes a pilot program in Waterbury that allows a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to administer intensive outpatient services for adolescents with mental or behavioral health issues. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 13 - GRANT FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST HIRING The Act requires the State Department of Education (SDE) to administer a program to provide grants in FYs 23-25 to local and regional boards of education for hiring student mental health specialists. It allows SDE to accept the following funding sources to support the program’s administration: private source or state agency funds and gifts, grants, and donations, including in-kind donations. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 14 - GRANT FOR DELIVERY OF STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Requires SDE to administer a grant program for FYs 23-25 to provide funding to boards of education, youth camps, and other summer program operators for delivery of student mental health services. (Effective from passage)

Section 15 - GRANT FOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY DELIVERY OF STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. Requires OHE to administer a grant program for FYs 23-25 to provide funding to public and private colleges and universities for delivery of student mental health services. The Act allows OHE to accept the following funding sources to support the program’s administration: private source or state agency funds and gifts, grants, and donations, including in-kind donations.

***as of 6/15/22 no further guidance is available on this programming

Sections 17 & 18 — REGIONAL STUDENT TRAUMA COORDINATORS Requires each of the state’s six regional educational service centers (RESCs) to hire a regional trauma coordinator to, among other things, develop and implement a trauma informed care training program; requires coordinators to train specialists at the local level to train teachers, administrators, and other staff; requires progress report and a final report to be submitted to the Children’s and Education committees The Act requires, for FYs 23 and 24, each regional education. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Sections 29 & 30 — COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY IDENTIFICATION CARDS The Act requires UConn, each of the Connecticut State Universities and regional-technical community colleges, and Charter Oak State College to include the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number on each student identification card. This requirement takes effect once the lifeline has been operational in Connecticut for 366 days. (Effective October 1, 2022)

Section 33 — PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING TOOL By January 1, 2023, requires DPH to develop or procure a screening tool to help pediatricians and emergency room doctors diagnose mental health, behavioral health, or substance use disorders in children

Section 38 — CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST GRANT PROGRAM Requires DPH to establish a child and adolescent psychiatrist grant program, providing incentive grants to employers for recruiting, hiring, and retaining these psychiatrists. It requires the commissioner to establish (1) eligibility requirements; (2) priority categories, including nonhospital employers; (3) funding limitations; and (4) the application process. The commissioner, in consultation with OHS, must distribute grant funds equitably with regard to the type and location of employers. Starting by January 1, 2024, the commissioner must annually report to the Public Health Committee on (1) the number and demographics of the employers who applied for and received incentive grants under the program, (2) the recipients’ use of grant funds, and (3) any other information the commissioner considers pertinent. (Effective from passage)

Sections 47 & 48 - HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL SERVICES Requires certain health insurance policies to cover primary care provider services under a Collaborative Care Model (i.e., the integrated delivery of behavioral health and primary care services by a primary care team). (Effective January 1, 2023)

Sections 55 & 56 - PROHIBITING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN EMERGENCY ACUTE INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES Prohibits prior authorization for acute inpatient psychiatric services provided (1) after an emergency department admission, (2) at an urgent crisis center, or (3) upon referral because the insured poses an imminent danger to themselves or others; requires disclosures that the insured may incur out-of-network costs. (Effective January 1, 2023)

Section 57 - OFFICE OF HEALTH STRATEGY REIMBURSEMENT RATE STUDY Requires OHS to study the rates at which health carriers and TPAs in the state reimburse health care providers for physical, mental, and behavioral health benefits and report to the Insurance and Real Estate and Public Health committees by January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024. (Effective from passage)

Section 59 - MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT SYSTEM TO ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION Requires DSS to implement a Medicaid reimbursement system to encourage collaboration between primary care providers and behavioral and mental health providers. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 69 - DPH GRANT TO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Allows DPH, within available resources, to award a $150,000 grant in FY 23 to an instate children’s hospital for coordinating a mental and behavioral health training and consultation program, and requires the hospital to report on the program. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 70 - BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Establishes a Behavioral and Mental Health Policy and Oversight Committee; requires the committee to evaluate and report on various matters related to the mental health system for children and develop a related strategic plan. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5044, PA 22-48

An Act Implementing the Governor's Budget Recommendations Regarding the Use of Opioid Litigation Proceeds.

This Act establishes an Opioid Settlement Fund as a separate non-lapsing fund administered by a 37-member Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee with assistance from the Department of Mental Health and Addition Services (DMHAS). Under the Act, the fund must contain moneys the state receives from opioid-related judgments, consent decrees, or settlements finalized on or after July 1, 2021. The moneys must be generally used prospectively and only for specified substance use disorder abatement purposes. This includes opioid abatement research, including developing evidence-based treatment, treatment barriers, nonopioid treatment of chronic pain, and harm reduction supply-side enforcement. If the DMHAS commissioner and the attorney general certify that a judgment’s, consent decree’s, or settlement’s purpose is inconsistent with the fund’s intent, the Act establishes a process for them to deposit the moneys into an alternative account or fund, which includes, among other things, reporting to the Public Health Committee before doing so.

Among other things, the Act:

generally requires proceeds from any state settlement to be allocated only to municipalities with an agreement to participate in the settlement and adhere its terms;
requires the DMHAS commissioner to obtain the advisory committee’s approval before making or refusing to make fund disbursements;
prohibits the DMHAS commissioner from making fund disbursements unless the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) secretary verifies that the funds appropriated in that fiscal year’s budget for substance use disorder purposes at least equal the total amount appropriated in the prior fiscal year’s budget;
requires the advisory committee to hold quarterly public meetings and specifies that it terminates when all settlement moneys are received and disbursed, unless the state anticipates receiving additional moneys;
specifies that disbursements do not supplant or replace any other funds that would have otherwise been used for the same purposes (e.g., insurance benefits or governmental funding);
requires fund recipients, starting by October 1, 2023, to annually file with the advisory committee a report for the prior fiscal year that details the effectiveness of funded programs, services, supports, or resources;
requires the advisory committee, starting by January 15, 2023, to annually report on the fund to the Appropriations and Public Health committees; and
authorizes the state to fund a trust to provide direct support and services to opioid epidemic survivors and victims, in accordance with the March 11, 2022, settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5420, PA 22-64

An Act Concerning Mental Health Needs of and Services for Police Officers, Certain Requirements Regarding Police Training and Certain Reports.

This Act makes several changes affecting law enforcement and related agencies, including the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST), mainly about mental health (for both police officers and those with whom they interact).

Generally, it:

extends existing employment protections to certain police officers who seek or receive mental health care services after undergoing a required behavioral health assessment (§ 1);
eliminates police basic and review training on handling incidents involving a person affected with a serious mental illness and replaces it with training on interacting with people who (a) have mental or physical disabilities or (b) are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind (§§ 2 & 7);
sets up a task force to study law enforcement officers’ mental health needs (§ 3);
by January 1, 2023, requires UConn’s Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy, in consultation with the United Way of Connecticut, to submit a report to the Public Safety and Security Committee that includes a study of a representative sample of 911 calls and analyzes the percentage of the calls that would be more appropriately directed to the 2-1-1 Infoline program (which the United Way of Connecticut operates) (§ 4);
requires a report on the use of online or remote technology by POST for police officer training after initial certification (§ 5); and
requires the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to report to the legislature about the Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery project‘s status (§ 6).

(Effective from passage, except the repeal of the current training on handling incidents involving an individual affected with a serious mental illness is effective October 1, 2023)

CT HB 5500, PA 22-58

An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health's Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes

This Act makes various unrelated changes to public health statutes including:

Section 35 - CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS Establishes minimum and maximum amounts of CE earned online. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Sections 64-66 - SUICIDE ADVISORY BOARD Renames and expands the scope of DCF’s Youth Suicide Advisory Board, revises its membership and procedures, and specifically allows physicians’ continuing medical education in behavioral health to include suicide prevention training. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 1, PA 22-80

An Act Concerning Childhood Mental and Physical Health Services in Schools.

Section 29 - TEACHER SHORTAGE AND RETENTION TASK FORCE This Act creates the state teacher shortage and retention task force and requires it to develop a comprehensive report with recommendations addressing (1) teacher attrition rates and retention, (2) teacher shortages across subject matter disciplines, (3) the impact of retention and shortages on financially distressed school districts, and (4) streamlining teacher certification without diminishing standards or the professional value of a teaching certificate. In developing the report, the task force must (1) address issues relating to equity, diversity, and inclusion and (2) examine strategies other states use to address teacher shortages and to attract and retain teachers. The task force must submit its report to the Education and Children’s committees by January 1, 2024. The task force terminates on that date or when it submits its report, whichever is later.

CT SB 2, PA 22-81

An Act Expanding Preschool and Mental and Behavioral Services for Children.

Among other things, this Act:

Section 1 - DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (DMHAS) MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES The Act requires, for FY 23 and each year after, DMHAS to make mobile crisis response services available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 2 - SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF MENTAL HEALTH FUND The Act creates a “Social Determinants of Mental Health Fund” as a separate, non lapsing General Fund account that must contain any money the law requires to be deposited into it. The DCF commissioner (1) must use the funds to make grant to families to help them cover the cost of mental health services and treatment for their children and (2) may accept federal funds or private grants or gifts to do so. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 5 - PIPELINE FOR CONNECTICUT'S FUTURE PROGRAM Requires SDE, collaborating with DOL, to administer the Pipeline for Connecticut’s Future Program Current law allows local or regional boards of education to set up a “Pipeline for Connecticut’s Future” program with local business to create onsite student training opportunities for course credit.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 6 UCONN STUDY SOCIAL MEDIA AND TELEPHONE IMPACT The Act requires UConn’s Neag School of Education to (1) study and evaluate the impact of social media and mobile telephone usage on a student’s mental health from kindergarten through grade 12, and (2) by January 1, 2024, report its findings and any recommendations to the Children and Public Health committees. Under the Act, the study must include how it impacts the student’s educational experience and the school’s climate. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 17 - DPH PILOT PROGRAM EXPANDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN BY PEDIATRIC CARE PROVIDERS By July 1, 2023, the Act requires the DPH commissioner, in consultation with the DSS commissioner, to establish a pilot grant program to expand behavioral health care offered to children by pediatric care providers in private practices. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Sections. 18-20 - SAFE STORAGE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND CANNABIS Requires (1) DCP, by December 1, 2022, to develop documents on the safe storage and disposal of opioid drugs and cannabis and cannabis products and, by December 15, 2022, post the documents on the department’s website; and (2) pharmacies, cannabis retailers, and hybrid retailers, by January 1, 2023, to post notices about these documents on their premises. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 24 - TASK FORCE TO STUDY CHILDREN’S NEEDS PA 21-46 (§ 30) established a 25-member task force to study the (1) comprehensive needs of children in the state and (2) extent to which the needs are being met by educators, community members, and local and state agencies. The task force submitted its findings to the Children’s Committee in December of 2021 and terminated on January 1, 2022. This Act reconvenes the task force to continue to study children’s needs and tasks them with the same responsibilities as before, and additionally requires them to provide recommendations to meet the demand for infant and toddler care in the state by (1) increasing access to and enrollment in child care centers, group child care homes, and family child care homes; and (2) identifying resources to assist child care facilities in meeting demand. (Effective from passage)

Section 25 - MEDICAID STATE PLAN EXPANSION Expands the Medicaid state plan to include services provided by certain associate licensed behavioral health clinicians under an enrolled independent licensed behavioral health clinician’s supervision. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 28 - DPH PRIMARY CARE DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAM Requires community-based primary care services providers to provide, or arrange access to, behavioral health services; makes certain mental health professionals eligible for the state loan repayment program; for FY 23, requires DPH to use at least $1.6 million of the funds appropriated for the state loan repayment program for repayments for physicians. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Section 29 - PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT WORKING GROUP The Act requires the DPH commissioner, by January 1, 2023, to convene a working group to advise her on ways to enhance physician recruitment in the state. The group must report its findings to the commissioner and the Public Health Committee by January 1, 2024. (Effective July 1, 2022)

Sections 39 & 40 -PERMANENT INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES Beginning July 1, 2024, following the sunset of the temporary insurance coverage provisions noted above (Sections 35-37), the Act permanently requires certain health insurance policies to cover medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment provided through telehealth to the same extent that they cover those services when provided in person by a health care provider licensed in Connecticut. Current law requires the coverage to the extent the service is covered in person by any provider. The Act applies to fully insured individual and group health insurance policies that cover (1) basic hospital expenses; (2) basic medical-surgical expenses; (3) major medical expenses; or (4) hospital or medical services, including those provided under an HMO plan. (Because of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), state insurance benefit mandates do not apply to self-insured benefit plans.) (Effective July 1, 2024)

Section 41- TELEHEALTH STUDY The Act requires the OHS executive director to study the provision of, and coverage for, telehealth services in the state. The study must include (1) the feasibility and impact of expanding access to telehealth services, telehealth providers, and coverage for telehealth services in the state beginning July 1, 2024, and (2) any means available to reduce or eliminate obstacles to such services, including, but not limited to, reducing patient costs. The Act requires the OHS executive director, by January 1, 2023, to report its findings to the Public Health, Human Services, and Insurance committees. (Effective from passage)

***OHS has reached out to UConn’s InCHIP to explore conducting this study

CT HB 5047, SA 22-1

An Act Concerning the Extension of Certain Executive Orders and Department of Public Health Authority.

This Act extends certain executive orders related to public health and the pandemic. (Effective from passage)

CT HJR 1

Resolution Declaring the Continuation of the Public Health and Civil Preparedness Emergencies in the State.

This Act extended the public health emergency and civil preparedness emergency through June 30, 2022.

CT SB 493, SA 22-3

An Act Extending the Provisions of Certain Executive Orders.

This Act allows the Governor to extend certain executive orders through June 30, 2022, it codifies current practice. (Effective from passage)

CT HB 5044, PA 22-48

An Act Implementing the Governor's Budget Recommendations Regarding the Use of Opioid Litigation Proceeds.

This Act establishes an Opioid Settlement Fund as a separate non-lapsing fund administered by a 37-member Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee with assistance from the Department of Mental Health and Addition Services (DMHAS). Under the Act, the fund must contain moneys the state receives from opioid-related judgments, consent decrees, or settlements finalized on or after July 1, 2021. The moneys must be generally used prospectively and only for specified substance use disorder abatement purposes. This includes opioid abatement research, including developing evidence-based treatment, treatment barriers, nonopioid treatment of chronic pain, and harm reduction supply-side enforcement. If the DMHAS commissioner and the attorney general certify that a judgment’s, consent decree’s, or settlement’s purpose is inconsistent with the fund’s intent, the Act establishes a process for them to deposit the moneys into an alternative account or fund, which includes, among other things, reporting to the Public Health Committee before doing so.

Among other things, the Act:

generally requires proceeds from any state settlement to be allocated only to municipalities with an agreement to participate in the settlement and adhere its terms;
requires the DMHAS commissioner to obtain the advisory committee’s approval before making or refusing to make fund disbursements;
prohibits the DMHAS commissioner from making fund disbursements unless the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) secretary verifies that the funds appropriated in that fiscal year’s budget for substance use disorder purposes at least equal the total amount appropriated in the prior fiscal year’s budget;
requires the advisory committee to hold quarterly public meetings and specifies that it terminates when all settlement moneys are received and disbursed, unless the state anticipates receiving additional moneys;
specifies that disbursements do not supplant or replace any other funds that would have otherwise been used for the same purposes (e.g., insurance benefits or governmental funding);
requires fund recipients, starting by October 1, 2023, to annually file with the advisory committee a report for the prior fiscal year that details the effectiveness of funded programs, services, supports, or resources;
requires the advisory committee, starting by January 15, 2023, to annually report on the fund to the Appropriations and Public Health committees; and
authorizes the state to fund a trust to provide direct support and services to opioid epidemic survivors and victims, in accordance with the March 11, 2022, settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Sections 69-70 - COLLABORATIVE DRUG THERAPY Makes various changes affecting collaborative drug therapy agreements between certain health care practitioners and pharmacists.

The Act:

expands the types of practitioners authorized to enter into these agreements to include any prescribing practitioner or caregiving institution (“providers”), instead of only state-licensed physicians and advanced practice registered nurses;
expands the types of authorized arrangements between pharmacists and providers to include collaborative drug therapy management policies between pharmacists and caregiving institutions, instead of only collaborative drug therapy agreements between pharmacists and prescribing practitioners;
expands pharmacists’ authority under these arrangements to include (a) managing drug therapy for patient populations, instead of only individual patients, (b) managing a therapeutic class of drugs, instead of only specified drugs, and (c) managing prescribed medical devices; and
requires the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) commissioner to amend regulations on pharmacist qualifications and requirements for these arrangements to include competency requirements and requirements for the minimum content of these arrangements.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5430, PA 22-108

An Act Concerning Opioids.

CT HB 5288, SA 22-7

An Act Creating a Task Force to Examine the Motor Vehicle Accident Report Form Used by Law Enforcement Officers.

This Act establishes a task force to study the motor vehicle accident report form. The task force shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Public Safety and Security Committee by January 1, 2023. Among others, the task force includes: five appointed by the Commissioner of Transportation, or the commissioner's designee, one of whom is an employee of the Highway Safety Office within the Department of Transportation, one of whom is an employee of the Bureau of Engineering and Construction within the department and one of whom is a professor employed by an institution of higher education in this state who specializes in transportation related research. (Effective from passage)**UConn has requested an appointment to the Task Force.

CT HB 5349, PA 22-61

An Act Concerning the Timely Reporting by the Police of a Death.

This Act generally requires peace officers (i.e., law enforcement officers) to notify a deceased person’s next of kin (i.e., spouse, adult child, parent, adult sibling, or grandparent) about the deceased’s death as soon as practicable, but within 24 hours after identifying the deceased. The Act also requires the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to investigate any failure to report a death as required by the Act. It allows OIG to make recommendations to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) or to the employing agency to discipline an officer or his or her supervisor. (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5372, PA 22-114

An Act Concerning Periodic Behavioral Health Assessments, Police Officer Recruitment, School Resource Officers, Reporting of Violations to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, Investigations by the Inspector General and Minimum Standards and Practices for the Administration, Management and Operation of Law Enforcement Units.

This Act makes various changes in the laws governing law enforcement units. Specifically, it does the following:

allows licensed clinical social workers, in addition to psychiatrists and psychologists, to conduct the behavioral health assessments of police officers required under existing law (§ 1);
expands the requirements for law enforcement unit guidelines on minority police officer recruitment, retention, and promotion to include, among other things, the goal of achieving ideological diversity, in addition to racial, gender, and ethnic diversity, within law enforcement units and community involvement (§ 2);
requires the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) to select an institute of higher learning to (a) study school resources officers’ role and impact on students with disabilities and (b) report its findings to the Judiciary Committee by December 1, 2022 (§ 3);
requires (a) law enforcement units to report to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) instances where police officers commit certain prohibited actions (e.g., excessive force or failure to intervene) and (b) the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to investigate law enforcement units who fail to report and submit its findings to the governor and Judiciary Committee (§§4 & 5); and 5. adds two members to the Correction Advisory Committee established in SB 459, as amended by Senate “A”, and passed by both chambers.

(effective October 1, 2022, except the provisions on the (1) school resource officer study and Correction Advisory Committee membership take effect upon passage and (2) social worker behavioral health assessment take effect July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5420, PA 22-64

An Act Concerning Mental Health Needs of and Services for Police Officers, Certain Requirements Regarding Police Training and Certain Reports.

Generally, it:

extends existing employment protections to certain police officers who seek or receive mental health care services after undergoing a required behavioral health assessment (§ 1);
eliminates police basic and review training on handling incidents involving a person affected with a serious mental illness and replaces it with training on interacting with people who (a) have mental or physical disabilities or (b) are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind (§§ 2 & 7);
sets up a task force to study law enforcement officers’ mental health needs (§ 3);
by January 1, 2023, requires UConn’s Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy, in consultation with the United Way of Connecticut, to submit a report to the Public Safety and Security Committee that includes a study of a representative sample of 911 calls and analyzes the percentage of the calls that would be more appropriately directed to the 2-1-1 Infoline program (which the United Way of Connecticut operates) (§ 4);
requires a report on the use of online or remote technology by POST for police officer training after initial certification (§ 5); and
requires the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to report to the legislature about the Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery project‘s status (§ 6).

(Effective from passage, except the repeal of the current training on handling incidents involving an individual affected with a serious mental illness is effective October 1, 2023)

CT HB 5500, PA 22-58

An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health's Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes

This Act makes various unrelated changes to public health statutes including:

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Section 136 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WORKING GROUP The Act requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) commissioner, in collaboration with the Department of Social Services (DSS) commissioner, to establish a working group on emergency medical services (EMS). The group must examine (1) Medicaid and private commercial EMS rates; (2) the EMS workforce; and (3) the provision of these services, including the adoption of mobile-integrated health care, and the provision of EMS in other states. The working group must include the DPH and DSS commissioners or their designees and representatives of (1) volunteer EMS providers, (2) municipal or other nonprofit agencies that provide EMS, (3) hospital based EMS providers, and (4) for-profit EMS providers. The group may also include emergency physicians, other emergency care providers, and representatives of (1) hospitals, (2) long-term care providers, and (3) health carriers. The Act requires the DPH commissioner to convene the working group’s first meeting by September 1, 2022. By January 1, 2023, the DPH commissioner, in consultation with the DSS commissioner, must report to the Public Health Committee with recommendations on the group’s findings and recommendations for improvements to the provision of EMS in the state and proposed actions to create an effective and sustainable EMS system over a long-term period. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT SB 133, PA 22-66

An Act Allowing Police Officers to Wear Religious Head Coverings as Part of a Police Uniform.

This Act requires each law enforcement unit, by October 1, 2022, to adopt or amend a policy to allow its police officers to wear religious head coverings that correspond to their religious beliefs while on duty and wearing a uniform or other authorized attire, except where the unit requires its officers to use tight-fitting protective headgear. (Effective from Passage)

CT SB 135, PA 22-119

An Act Concerning Accreditation Standards for Law Enforcement Units.

This Act makes several changes to the minimum standards and practices for administering and managing law enforcement units, including eliminating a requirement that units obtain and maintain accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) by 2025. Instead, by 2026, units must either (1) be certified as meeting the requirements for three state-accreditation tiers developed by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) or (2) meet a higher level of accreditation standards developed by CALEA. The Act also requires that the minimum standards and practices include compliance with specific POST guidance on reporting procedures for police officer certificate suspension, cancellation, or revocation (i.e., POST General Notice 20-09). Under the Act, if a law enforcement unit fails to comply with the guidance, then POST may revoke the unit’s certificate of compliance with the appropriate state- accreditation tier or tiers. Lastly, the Act makes several conforming changes, including to the law on POST’s authority and a prohibition on civil actions against a law enforcement unit for damages from failing to obtain and maintain the required certification or accreditation. (Effective from passage)

CT SB 217, PA 22-9

An Act Establishing a Hate Crimes Investigative Unit Within the Division of State Police And Requiring Development of a Reporting System, Best Practices And a Model Investigation Policy For Law Enforcement Units Regarding Hate Crimes.

This Act requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) commissioner to establish, within the State Police, a Hate Crimes Investigative Unit. It makes the unit responsible for (1) working to prevent and detect certain crimes that are generally based on a bigotry or bias against a race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression (i.e., hate crimes) and (2) compiling, monitoring, analyzing, and sharing data about them. Specifically, the Act applies to hate crimes involving deprivation of rights, desecration of property, ridiculing, threatening, stalking, and intimidation. These provisions replace current law’s requirements that the State Police, generally, monitor, record, and classify all crimes motivated by bigotry or bias. The Act also broadens reporting of bigotry- or bias-motivated crimes by local law enforcement entities. Current law requires them to monitor, record, classify, and report intimidation crimes motivated by bigotry or bias to the State Police. Under the Act, they, along with other state and tribal law enforcement, must instead (1) report on the broader list of crimes covered by the Act and (2) do so using a standardized form or other reporting system created by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST). The Act also requires POST to develop related best practices and other administrative materials to help share information. Lastly, the Act requires the head of the Hate Crimes Investigative Unit to serve as a member of the State-Wide Hate Crimes Advisory Council, whose membership the Act expands to include this position. (Effective July 1, 2022, except the provision eliminating the current responsibilities of the State Police and local law enforcement to monitor and record certain bigotry- or bias-motivated crimes is effective January 1, 2023)

CT SB 389, PA 22-132

An Act Concerning Traffic Mitigation.

By January 1, 2023, this Act requires the Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation (DOT), to develop a traffic incident management (TIM) training curriculum for police officers. The curriculum must (1) align with the Federal Highway Administration’s training and (2) provide for a systematic, planned, and coordinated approach to detect, respond, and clear traffic incidents to restore traffic capacity safely and efficiently. (Effective From passage)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Section 81 - COMMISSION ON COMMUNITY GUN VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION Establishes a Commission on Community Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention within DPH for administrative purposes only to advise the commissioner on programs and strategies to reduce the state’s community gun violence; requires the commission to annually report its activities to the Public Health Committee starting by January 1, 2023. The Act establishes a 23-member Commission on Community Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention to advise the DPH commissioner on developing evidence-based, evidenced-informed, community centric gun programs and strategies to reduce community gun violence in the state. Membership specifically includes the following appointments: “Two appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a member of the faculty at an academic institution and have experience in gun violence prevention and one of whom is an advocate for survivors violent crime.”

The commission is within DPH for administrative purposes only. Under the Act, the commission must advise DPH on developing criteria for grant opportunities that arise through the department’s community gun violence intervention and prevention program established under the Act. (Effective From passage)** UConn’s Advancing, Research, Methods and Scholarship in Gun Injury Prevention Center (ARMS ) has requested an appointment to the Commission

CT HB 5044, PA 22-48

An Act Implementing the Governor's Budget Recommendations Regarding the Use of Opioid Litigation Proceeds.

This Act establishes an Opioid Settlement Fund as a separate non-lapsing fund administered by a 37-member Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee with assistance from the Department of Mental Health and Addition Services (DMHAS). Under the Act, the fund must contain moneys the state receives from opioid-related judgments, consent decrees, or settlements finalized on or after July 1, 2021. The moneys must be generally used prospectively and only for specified substance use disorder abatement purposes. This includes opioid abatement research, including developing evidence-based treatment, treatment barriers, nonopioid treatment of chronic pain, and harm reduction supply-side enforcement. If the DMHAS commissioner and the attorney general certify that a judgment’s, consent decree’s, or settlement’s purpose is inconsistent with the fund’s intent, the Act establishes a process for them to deposit the moneys into an alternative account or fund, which includes, among other things, reporting to the Public Health Committee before doing so.

Among other things, the Act:

generally requires proceeds from any state settlement to be allocated only to municipalities with an agreement to participate in the settlement and adhere its terms;
requires the DMHAS commissioner to obtain the advisory committee’s approval before making or refusing to make fund disbursements;
prohibits the DMHAS commissioner from making fund disbursements unless the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) secretary verifies that the funds appropriated in that fiscal year’s budget for substance use disorder purposes at least equal the total amount appropriated in the prior fiscal year’s budget;
requires the advisory committee to hold quarterly public meetings and specifies that it terminates when all settlement moneys are received and disbursed, unless the state anticipates receiving additional moneys;
specifies that disbursements do not supplant or replace any other funds that would have otherwise been used for the same purposes (e.g., insurance benefits or governmental funding);
requires fund recipients, starting by October 1, 2023, to annually file with the advisory committee a report for the prior fiscal year that details the effectiveness of funded programs, services, supports, or resources;
requires the advisory committee, starting by January 15, 2023, to annually report on the fund to the Appropriations and Public Health committees; and
authorizes the state to fund a trust to provide direct support and services to opioid epidemic survivors and victims, in accordance with the March 11, 2022, settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family.

(Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5230, PA 22-31

An Act Concerning Standards for Interpreters for Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing Persons.

This Act makes several changes related to interpreters registered with the Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS). (Effective October 1, 2022)

CT HB 5459, PA 22-109

An Act Requiring the Online Posting of Meeting Notices of State Public Agencies.

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

CT SB 164, PA 22-112

An Act Concerning State Agency Compliance with Probate Court Orders.

This Act generally requires each state agency that is a party to a probate court proceeding to recognize and apply any probate court order, denial, or decree issued on or after October 1, 2022. This applies (1) to the extent allowed by federal law and (2) as long as the probate court has the statutory jurisdiction to issue the order, denial, or decree. Under the Act, a “state agency” refers to an agency as defined in the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act (UAPA). (Effective October 1, 2022, except the DSS data compilation and reporting provisions take effect upon passage)

CT HB 5506, PA 22-118

Sections 139 & 140 - SALT APPLICATOR TRAINING AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATOR REGISTRATION PROGRAM

Section 12 (85) Allocates up to $142,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to The University of Connecticut, for Operating Expenses, to provide funding for training that will result in certification for Green SnowPro roadside salt applications;

Requires DEEP and DOT to work with UConn to conduct training for roadside salt applicators and report to the legislature on the training program; establishes a registration program within DEEP for commercial salt applicators who take the program

Roadside Salt Applicator Training

The Act requires the DEEP and DOT commissioners to work with UConn’s Training and Technical Assistance Center (T2 Center) to conduct training for state, municipal, and private roadside applicators that relies on the Connecticut Best Management Practices “Green Snow Pro: Sustainable Winter Operations” guide for municipalities. The program must include (1) instruction on each topic in the guide and (2) additional resources for each topic. Under the Act, either DEEP and DOT personnel or UConn’s T2 Center personnel must provide the training. They must hold at least one training session in each county.

The Act also requires DEEP and DOT to provide information about the training to the regional councils of governments. They must submit a report to the Environment and Transportation committees within one year after the program begins on (1) how many applicators received the training, (2) goals for the program’s future, and (3) recommendations for proposed legislation to reduce sodium chloride’s effects on private wells and public drinking water supplies.

Commercial Applicator Registration Program

The Act establishes a salt applicator registration program within DEEP, which the commissioner must administer and enforce within available resources.

Under the Act, commercial applicators may annually register with DEEP and certify that they (1) received the roadside applicator training conducted by DEEP, DOT, and UConn, and any other training DEEP requires by regulations (see below) and (2) comply with the regulation’s policies and goals about applying salt. A “commercial applicator” is anyone who applies, or supervises others applying, salt or salt alternatives on roadways, parking lots, or sidewalks for winter maintenance. It excludes municipal, state, and state political subdivision employees.

Under the Act, a business that employs multiple commercial applicators may make an organization certification for its owner or chief supervisor and applicators employed by the business. A business with an organizational certification must (1) ensure that all applicators operating under it receive the required training and (2) keep records on behalf of all of its applicators.

Application Form. The Act requires the DEEP commissioner to develop the registration application form, which must include the following information:

applicant’s full name and address;
name and address for a Connecticut-domiciled person who is authorized to accept legal service and notices on the applicant’s behalf;
type of apparatus used to apply salt or salt alternative, whether liquid or dry; and
4. any other information she deems necessary.

Required Regulations. The Act also requires the DEEP commissioner to adopt implementing regulations, which must, at a minimum, include provisions that do the following:

establish policies and goals for applying salt,
receive and allocate federal grants and other funds or gifts to carry out the program,
provide the types and frequency of training programs required for registration,
establish commercial applicator registration procedures, and
establish recordkeeping requirements for applicators to maintain registration.

Violations and Registration Revocation. The Act authorizes the commissioner to issue orders, including cease and desist orders, to anyone who violates the Act’s salt applicator registration program provisions or regulations. Orders are effective immediately upon issuance. The commissioner may revoke a violator’s registration after notice and hearing pursuant to the state’s Uniform Administrative Procedure Act.

(Effective October 1, 2022, except the registration program provision is effective upon passage)

CT SB 215, PA 22-46

An Act Concerning Engineering, Maintainer and Open Positions at the Department of Transportation.

This Act requires the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) commissioner and the Department of Transportation (DOT) commissioner to take certain actions related to recruiting and hiring engineers, engineer interns, and maintainers. The Act requires the DAS commissioner to recruit interns for the summer worker professional engineer job classification for DOT when the DOT commissioner requests she do so. Both commissioners must promote recruitment at public and independent institutions of higher education. Starting July 1, 2023, the Act also requires the DAS commissioner to annually increase the pay rate for this job classification by any percentage increase in the national consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the previous 12-month period. From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, the Act requires the DAS commissioner to engage in the ongoing successive recruitment of entry- level engineering and maintainer one positions and transportation maintainer two positions on DOT’s behalf. It also requires DOT to (1) establish the duration of the application period for each recruitment and (2) make an employment offer or reject a candidate within 120 days after receiving a candidate’s application for these positions. Lastly, the Act allows the DOT commissioner to consider a candidate’s application for another open position at the department without requiring the candidate to submit another application, as long as the candidate meets the minimum experience and training qualifications. (Effective July 1, 2022)

CT HB 5301, PA 22-101

This Act makes various changes in the laws governing workforce development and postsecondary education. Among other things, this Act entitles veterans living in Connecticut to in-state college tuition rates regardless of their state of residence (§ 1). (Effective July 1, 2022)

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