Legislative Acts Affecting Seniors: More Information

Earlier this month, the State Representative from the 114th Assembly District, which includes Woodbridge, about 'Legislative Acts Affecting Seniors'.  I am running against her in the November election and I applauded her blog post.  My campaign is about getting people more informed and more involved in their communities, including in what is happening up in Hartford.

In this light, I would like to expand upon her blog post.  She mentioned three bills, but did not mention the bill numbers or how to get more information about them.  I did a little research at the Connecticut General Assembly website, and believe I know more about these bills now. 

The first bill mentioned was an Elderly Rental Rebate Program.  I believe this was S.B. 105, AN ACT CONCERNING THE RENTAL REBATE APPLICATION PERIOD.

It was introduced by the Planning and Development committee, where no one voted against the bill.  It had 11 co-sponsors, including Sen. Joe Crisco from Woodbridge.  There was a public hearing on the bill in February, where the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and the Director of Elder Services for the City of New Haven expressed support for the bill.  There was no opposition voiced.

The bill moved to the Appropriations committee where Rep Pat Dillon from New Haven moved the bill and Sen. Bob Duff from Norwalk seconded the motion.  Like with the Planning and Development committee, the bill passed this committee with no opposition.  My opponent sits on the appropriations committee, and with 51 other legislators, voted to support the bill.

The bill was voted on in the Senate with a roll call vote, and all thirty-six State Senators voted in favor of the bill.  The CGA website does not list a vote tally for the House, so I assume it passed by unanimous consent.

The second bill listed, appears to be S.B. 138, AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY "AGING IN PLACE".  This bill was introduced by the Aging Committee.  It had 17 co-sponsors, including Sen. Joe Crisco from Woodbridge.  The bill was moved by Rep. John Frey of Ridgefield and seconded by Senator Edith Prague of Columbia.  Like the first bill, this bill cleared its committee unanimously.  Several people testified in favor of the bill and there was no opposition.

Sen. Prague offered a minor amendment to the bill and it passed both chambers without any opposition.

The third bill appears to be S.B. 139, AN ACT CONCERNING NOTIFICATION OF FINANCIAL STABILITY OF NURSING HOME FACILITIES AND MANAGED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES TO PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS.

It also was introduced by the Aging committee.  Again, Sen. Joe Crisco from Woodbridge was one of the co-sponsors.  This bill had 16 co-sponsors.  Another of the co-sponsors was Sen. Gayle Slossberg from Milford.  With redistricting, Sen. Slossberg's district now includes a southern portion of Woodbridge.  Like the previous bill, this bill also passed Aging with no opposition.  It went to the Public Health Committee where it passed with no opposition.  It then went on to pass both chambers with no opposition.

I applaud the important work that the State Legislature did in passing these bills, and especially Sen. Crisco and Sen. Slossberg in being co-sponsors of these bills.  I hope I will get an opportunity to serve with Sen. Crisco and Sen. Slossberg in co-sponsoring bills that helps our state better serve it's senior citizens.