By State Representative Kaitlyn Shake
Dear Neighbor,
The House was busy in session again this week on Tuesday, May 13th, Wednesday, May 14th, and Thursday, May 15th. The speed of session is picking up, as most days we stay late into the night and pass more legislation each day. In this week’s newsletter, you will find information on several key bills passed this week, resources for Seniors, and local Stratford updates.
If you or your family have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email me or call my office.
On Thursday, I was thrilled to meet and welcome our Connecticut Kid Governor Keudy Martinez and his Kid Cabinet to the CGA.
I had a blast participating in the The 4th Annual Kickball Classic at Dunkin’ Park benefiting the Connecticut Foodshare. The ticket sales and donations make up the thousands of dollars now going towards helping feed those in need. For the first time in the fundraiser’s history, the Democrats beat our colleagues across the aisle! However, we all win when we come together for a good cause. Thank you to all those who donated and came out to cheer us on!
This Tuesday was Puppy Day at the Capitol, and I was so happy to spend some time with the sweetest Husky named Daydream. Thank you to the Connecticut Humane Society for bringing so much joy to the Capitol, promoting animal adoption, and advocating for animal welfare legislation.
Wednesday was AFSCME Council 4 Lobby Day up in Hartford. I had the opportunity to welcome over 100 of their members to the Capitol. Thank you to all our public service workers for keeping Connecticut running!
During Wednesday’s House Session, Representative Martinez and I took a moment to meet with CT Nurses United and AFT-Connecticut members to hear their concerns while they were advocating at the Capitol.
I attended the Childcare Rally on Wednesday at the Capitol alongside many advocates, childcare workers, and my colleagues. Childcare is a necessity for all families across the state, and increasing state funding would allow more families to have access to care.
On Thursday, I visited the Manufacturing Fair for teens, held annually at the Capitol. I talked with Stratford’s local Teamsters 1150 Sikorsky union workers who had a table during the fair, exhibiting Sikorsky’s many opportunities.
During Thursday’s House Session, I spoke with Stratford residents who were at the Capitol to advocate for our community. I appreciate staying engaged with constituents to keep everyone in the loop and involved in the legislative process. Your voices matter!
National Police Week
During National Police Week, we honor the brave men and women in law enforcement here in Stratford and all across Connecticut who put service above self every day. Thank you for your courage, commitment, and sacrifice.
Bills Passed This Week
This week, the House passed many critical bills while in session, including:
Passed House Bill 6849 to make minor and technical revisions to the government administration and elections statutes Passed House Bill 6883 to strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault Passed House Bill 6894 to establish an interagency council on homelessness Passed House Bill 6971 to adopt the Connecticut Uniform Mediation Act Passed House Bill 7009, an act concerning the establishment of the Connecticut State Seal of Civics Education and Engagement Passed House Bill 7201 to permit the Commissioner of Public Health to issue a certificate of authorization for a supplemental paramedic to the UConn emergency medical service organization Passed Senate Bill 1286 to make technical revisions to the education and early childhood statutes Passed House Bill 5012 to prohibit the practice of shark finning Passed House Bill 5013 to prohibit the sale, use and distribution of certain invasive plants in the state Passed House Bill 6248 to restore the population of striped bass in the lower Housatonic River Passed House Bill 6183 to modify the appointment process for the Child Advocate Passed House Bill 6841 to establish a working group to study the state-wide implementation of a universal basic income program Passed House Bill 6857, an act concerning the Attorney General’s recommendations regarding social media and minors Passed House Bill 7053 to establish a working group to develop uniform statutory definitions of “first responder” and “essential worker” Passed House Bill 7056, an act concerning firearm permits and transfers Passed House Bill 7182, an act concerning entertainment event tickets Passed House Bill 7248, an act concerning well water quality Passed House Bill 7158 to coordinate care for students returning to the classroom Passed House Bill 7236, an act concerning trafficking and sexual assault victims Passed Senate Bill 1234 to prohibit libraries in the state from entering into certain contracts or license agreements with publishers of electronic books and digital audiobooks
You can read more about some of these bills below, or click the link for each bill to learn more. These are just some of the many bills passed in the House and Senate this week. For a full list of bills passed during this session, click here.
Fostering Civic Engagement in Our Children
This week, the House passed an education bill that honors civically engaged students, reforms crisis response drills, and much more. HB 7009 establishes the Connecticut State Seal of Civics Education and Engagement, which recognizes graduating high school seniors for their exceptional achievement in civics.
This seal is for students who demonstrate civic engagement in school, through the completion of classes and assessments, and outside of the classroom by participating in community service, student government, and more.
At a time when civic engagement is alarmingly low in our country, this recognition will encourage students to learn more about the way our government works and the role they play in shaping society.
This seal also sends a powerful message that civics isn’t just a class to pass; it’s a way to make a difference and give back to your community.
Another key portion of the bill reforms school crisis response drills.
The tragic reality is that children need to be prepared in case of emergencies. But research has shown that some crisis response drills are ineffective and leave children with lasting anxiety.
HB 7009 establishes new standards for school crisis response drills to continue to protect and prepare students and staff while being sensitive to mental health needs. While schools must be prepared for an emergency, organizers must ensure these drills are conducted effectively and responsibly.
Other key aspects of HB 7009 include:
• Limiting the use of smart devices in school
• Addressing antisemitism in schools
• Providing curriculum on Islamic and Arab Studies
• Allowing districts to decide whether to allow children under the age of 5 to begin kindergarten early
• Raising the standard for when a student in pre-K to grade 2 can get an out-of-school suspension
• Requiring same-day notification of any use of restraint or seclusion of a student.
HB 7009 is an important bill that encourages civic engagement and protects our students’ mental health, and I am proud to cast my vote in support.
Establishing a Homelessness Council
House Democrats voted to improve interagency communication and collaboration on homeless services by establishing an interagency council on homelessness.
This council will bring together representatives from state agencies, nonprofits, public housing authorities, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness to ensure that our state agencies are coordinating and developing long-term solutions.
We are always looking at ways to improve government efficiency and address homelessness head-on.
Strengthening Protections for Survivors
House Democrats took action on Tuesday to strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault by guarding the physical addresses of shelters and group homes from public access and public discussion during agency meetings. Safeguarding these locations is a testament to our unwavering support for survivors.
Protecting Kids on Social Media
The House of Representatives took a step toward addressing the mental health crisis facing Connecticut teens using social media by passing HB 6857 with bipartisan support.
The statistics are stark, frightening and sobering. According to the American Psychological Association, U.S. teens, on average, spend 5 hours a day on the seven most popular social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok. While that’s alarming enough, a majority (60%) of teenage high-frequency social media users who had low parental oversight reported they had poor or very poor mental health.
To keep eyeballs on screens, social media companies have algorithms designed to keep their youngest users glued to their screens, so much so that teens often exhibit addict-like behavior in continuing to use the apps.
To address the issue, HB 6857 requires, among other things, age verification and parental notification methods to protect minors from being targeted with media content based on their personal data, limits on the times when social media platforms can send minors notifications, and social media platforms disclose statistics of their user base.
Connecticut took a major step forward as a national leader with this new effort to rein in big tech’s predatory practices that are reinforcing addictive and harmful choices in minors.
Supporting Public Libraries
Good news for CT libraries! We passed a landmark bill on Thursday that positions the state as a national leader in supporting public libraries facing skyrocketing costs of e-books and digital audiobooks. This legislation stands up for libraries by prohibiting them from entering into or renewing prohibitively expensive contracts and licensing agreements with publishers of digital materials.
This legislation also aims to curb libraries’ unsustainable financial burden while ensuring the public continues to have equitable access to digital content. It does so by barring a number of onerous contract terms that publishers have used to price-gouge libraries on e-books and audiobooks.
Our libraries are the beating heart of our communities. They shouldn’t have to choose between providing the books their patrons want and accepting terms that interfere with their operations or waste taxpayer dollars.
Supporting Victims of Trafficking
House Democrats took action on Thursday by passing legislation that ensures more protection and support for victims of some of the most egregious crimes in our state. The bill prohibits various forms of discrimination based on someone’s status as a sexual assault or human trafficking victim, such as in employment, public accommodations, housing sales or rentals, granting credit, and several other areas. Survivors deserve protection, not discrimination.
Coordinating Care for Students Returning to School
The House passed legislation that intends to develop information sharing between healthcare providers and school staff regarding a safety plan developed following the discharge of a student from an inpatient hospital stay.
The document would be created collaboratively between the health care providers, parent, and patient and would outline coping strategies, activities, and support networks a patient can access to manage a potential mental health crisis should one occur while the student is in school.
The health care provider who prepares a safety plan must review the plan with the minor and securely send the safety plan to the minor’s school nurse or nurse practitioner. The plan can only be sent to the school if the provider obtains written consent from the minor’s parent or legally authorized representative. The information is then sent in a manner that is HIPAA-compliant.
Senior Fraud Awareness
I wanted to share some key resources for Senior Fraud Awareness Day. The programs below are part of Connecticut’s commitment to protecting older adults from fraud and abuse. By staying informed and vigilant, we can work together to protect our seniors!
Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP): Operated by the Department of Aging and Disability Services, SMP helps Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers prevent, detect, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse.
One-on-one counseling to review Medicare notices and billing.
Educational presentations on common types of healthcare fraud.
Assistance in reporting suspected fraud to appropriate authorities.
Senior$afe Program: Managed by the Department of Banking, this program educates financial professionals and the public on recognizing and reporting elder financial exploitation.
Training sessions for financial institutions to spot red flags of fraud.
Consumer education materials on preventing financial abuse.
Elder Justice Hotline: Operated by the Office of the Attorney General in collaboration with the Coalition for Elder Justice in Connecticut, the Elder Justice Hotline provides information, assistance, and justice for older adults facing fraud or abuse.
1-860-808-5555
AARP Fraud Watch Network: This service is available free of charge to AARP members and non-members alike.
Watchdog Alert emails delivering breaking scam information.
Prevention tips based on the latest information from experts.
An interactive map with the latest law enforcement warnings.
Access to a network of people sharing their experiences with scams.
