IIAC Newsroom

Mar 01

Legislative Review: February 23, 2022

Jennifer Lindacher on 3/1/2022 2:18 PM

Legislative Mood

Committees are working hard to meet as the deadline to raise concepts is this week. Concepts that have not been raised by this Friday will not move forward in the legislative process as a standalone bill, but could always surface as an amendment or as part of a larger “aircraft carrier" type of bill. With that said, several concepts across several committees have been raised, some already have been heard in public hearings, where they will now get scheduled for a vote in committee.

Although it has not been confirmed, it appears that starting on March 1st, committees may begin meeting in person. According to the Connecticut General Assembly website, some committees have been assigned a meeting room in the Legislative Office Building, where the meetings will also continue to be live streamed for virtual viewing. At this time, it is still unclear when, and if, the building will fully reopen.

Special Election

Retired University of Connecticut administrator William Pizzuto (R), won a special election last night to fill the 71st House District seat consisting of Middlebury and part of Waterbury left vacant by former State Rep. Tony D'Amelio (R). According to final vote counts, Pizzuto won by more than 900 votes receiving a total of 1,430 votes while Democrat John Egan received 511 votes. The seat became vacant at midnight on Dec. 31, 2021, following the resignation of Anthony D'Amelio who decided to spend more time focusing on his restaurant. Once certified, the victory will leave the House with a 96-54 Democratic majority and one vacancy in a district that favors Democrats, the 5th district comprised of Hartford and Windsor. It will be filled by a special election next week.

Aid In Dying

The big issue this week is a bill to allow Aid in Dying for terminally ill patients. Connecticut lawmakers will hear from the public today on this proposal. The legislation, which has come up many times, passed the Public Health Committee last year, the farthest it has ever gone, before failing to advance through the Judiciary Committee. The bill would allow terminally ill patients who are 18 years or older, within six months of death, to get a prescription for medication to help them die. The patient must give both verbal and written consent and two doctors must sign off but are allowed the opportunity to rescind their request if they choose. Opponents of the legislation say palliative care and hospice care are very helpful in giving relief to those at the end of life avoiding Aid in Dying.

Mental Health Bill

Friday, House lawmakers unveiled a bipartisan children's mental health bill. House Bill 5001, an Act Concerning Children's Mental Health, includes initiatives to improve and expand mental health workforce development, services in schools, insurance coverage, resources for behavioral health providers and programs, and systems currently in place. The bill would also provide resources to improve behavioral health workforce development. One of the proposals establishes a student loan forgiveness program for children's mental health workers.

Another sets up a grant program to hire youth psychiatrists and retain child psychiatrists currently employed in the state. Specifics on how much money would be committed to each provision in the bill were still being debated. Lawmakers said they would use public input to shape each initiative. A public hearing is planned for this Friday, February 25th.

DPH Issues Mask Guidance

State agencies released two documents late Friday afternoon advising local education administrators to consider elements like COVID transmission levels and the “risk tolerance" of their districts when crafting mitigation policies in the absence of a state mask mandate. School districts across the state have been anticipating guidance this week from the Departments of Education and Public Health for developing local COVID mitigation strategies in anticipation of the statewide classroom masking policy set to expire on Feb. 28. Both documents are three pages long and neither lays out specific numerical COVID metrics, which towns might use as thresholds to enact specific policies. Guidance on Concepts & Guidance on Transitioning.