Category: State News

Blumenthal announced the legislation today at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo on the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) reintroduced the Extinction Prevention Act, legislation to provide much-needed funding for some of the country’s most imperiled yet vastly underfunded wildlife species, including threatened and endangered North American butterflies, various Pacific Island plants, freshwater mussels, and Southwest desert fish. Blumenthal announced the measure today during an event at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo to mark the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act.

“This legislation recognizes that saving wildlife from extinction requires more than just rhetoric—real resources are essential,” said Blumenthal. “Endangered species and their habitats can be sustained, but only if we back words with action.”

“The biodiversity crisis demands immediate and meaningful action to safeguard wildlife while we still have the chance,” said Grijalva. “Every species, regardless of its popularity or charisma, plays a vital role in the functioning of a natural ecosystem. Democrats secured crucial funding in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act to bolster endangered species recovery and this legislation builds on those investments by ensuring continuous funding to recover some of our nation’s most underappreciated endangered species. As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act this year, we must renew our efforts to protect our unique wildlife heritage and build resilience in the face of climate change. I thank Senator Blumenthal for joining me in this significant endeavor.”

The Extinction Prevention Act addresses the longstanding issue of insufficient funding which has plagued efforts to recover these at-risk species, in some cases, for decades. It authorizes $5 million annually for each species group to fund conservation projects related to:

restoration, protection, and management of ecosystems;

research and monitoring of populations;

development and implementation of management plans;

enforcement and implementation of applicable conservation laws; and

community outreach and education.

Habitat protection for these less charismatic species is chronically underfunded despite them being among the species most at risk of extinction.

North American butterflies—one of the fastest declining groups of all endangered species—have not seen a single species improve among the 39 listed.

The situation is equally dire in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, where nearly 400 plant species are threatened or endangered, representing about 22 percent of all listed species. In Hawaii, over 200 plant species have dwindled to fewer than 50 wild individuals.

Freshwater mussels are currently the most imperiled animal group in the country, with 70 percent of U.S. species at risk of extinction and 38 species already lost.

Southwest desert fish are being threatened by drought and water scarcity, resulting in significant population and habitat reductions. Currently, 42 species are listed as endangered or threatened.

Eligible applicants for funding include relevant states, territories, tribal governments, or any other entities with the expertise required for the conservation of the particular species group.

The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-CNMI), Darren Soto (D-FL), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), and Joe Neguse (D-CO).

“In Hawaii, native plants are crucial to the islands’ history, culture, and environment, which is why our communities prioritize the preservation of our unique biodiversity,” said Hirono. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation to invest in the conservation of some of our nation’s most vulnerable species. It is important that we protect endangered species so they can continue serving important ecological roles for years to come.”

“Scientists in the field are sharing their work and advocating for solutions needed to protect endangered species around the country,” said Merkley. “We must do more to help prevent the extinction of the western monarch and other critically important butterflies crucial to supporting life on earth as we know it. The Extinction Prevention Act supports this work by providing funding to help prevent the disappearance of the species at the highest risk of extinction: North American butterflies, freshwater mussels, desert fish, and Hawaiian plants.”

The legislation is also endorsed by the Endangered Species Coalition and the Center for Biological Diversity.

“Many of the smallest imperiled animals and plants don’t get the funding they need, even if they create tremendous benefits. Freshwater mussels are a great example—providing clean water. It is so appropriate, therefore, that the Extinction Prevention Act is being introduced on Endangered Species Day—a day of celebration for the Act’s many successes. This funding will increase the Act’s successes,” said Leda Huta, Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition, primary sponsor of Endangered Species Day

.

“For 50 years, the Endangered Species Act has saved hundreds of animals and plants from extinction, despite being severely underfunded by Congress,” said Stephanie Kurose, a senior policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Thanks to Rep. Grijalva and Sen. Blumenthal this legislation provides a much-needed lifeline to those species that have slipped through the cracks.”

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National Safe Boating Week is May 20-26, 2023. The Norwalk Police Department Marine Unit would like to remind boaters of several tips before the season starts to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable boating season.

• Wear a life vest and have them readily accessible with enough for everyone on board

• Do not exceed the stated capacity of your boat

• Have a throwable floatation device such as a life vest

• Have at least one fire extinguisher on board, more are required by the Coast Guard for larger vessels

• Clearly display the registration numbers, if it is a canoe or kayak place a sticker with your name and phone number should it break loose and float away. These stickers can be picked up from the Marine Unit.

• Flares and sound signal devices are required

• Have a handheld VHF radio or one installed on the boat

• 911 is the fastest way to summon emergency assistance, this should be followed up with a VHF radio call on channel 16

• Alcohol and boating do not mix, the same DUI rules apply to boating

• Be aware of channel closures and barges for the upcoming Walk Bridge Project

• A required list of items for the length of your boat can be found on the USCG Website The Marine Unit is also holding an expired boating flare takeback program. Expired flares can be turned into the Norwalk Marine Unit from May 20-May 31 at no cost. The Marine Unit is located at 100 Water Street Norwalk.

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Customers on Standard Service Rate to see up to $56 decreaseon total monthly bills

BERLIN, Conn. (May 17, 2023) – As the price of energy continues to trend downward, Eversource today filed a new Standard Service rate with Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) which would go into effect from July 1 to December 31, 2023. This comes after energy prices hit historic highs in New England last year due to natural gas supply constraints related to the continued war in Ukraine and global demand. If approved by PURA, the new rate for residential customers who receive their energy supply from Eversource would change from the current 24.17 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 13.82 cents per kWh, compared to 12.19 cents per kWh last summer. In Connecticut, the energy supply price changes twice a year – January 1 and July 1. Eversource does not earn a profit on the cost of electricity. The company only charges customers what it pays generators for producing the power and there is no markup. A customer’s total bill will depend on how much energy is used, their rate category, and weather conditions.

“The volatility in the energy markets has hit our customers hard in the last year, so we’re pleased to let our customers know about the new rate that will provide some relief in energy prices this summer,” said Eversource President of Electric Operations in Connecticut Steve Sullivan. “It’s important to remember though, on average, Connecticut customers use 35% more electricity during the summer months with air conditioners, fans and other appliances working overtime to keep things cool inside. That’s why we continue to urge everyone to take advantage now of the many energy efficiency and payment programs that we offer – before the hot weather arrives.”

A line item on the delivery side of the bill will also be adjusted beginning July 1. If approved by PURA, the total delivery charge would change from $0.11751 cents per kilowatt-hour to $0.14107 cents per kilowatt-hour and would mean an increase of approximately $16 to customers using the average 700 kwh per month. This increase is primarily due to the expiration of a roughly $12 a month credit on customers’ bills that went into effect in January to ease the burden of high energy costs. All told, Eversource customers signed up for Standard Service and using an average of 700 kWh per month will see an overall decrease of $56, or 22% on their total bill. While the lower supply rate is welcome news, the energy company is also informing customers they should expect continued market volatility and higher supply costs this coming winter.

“The energy market and international factors continue to affect the cost of natural gas and those impacts are still being felt by our Connecticut customers,” added Sullivan. “This is a good time to think about your energy usage and plan for the likely increases we’ll still experience. We’ll continue to let customers know about trends in prices so they have the best information available and can make the best decisions for their energy usage and costs.”

Things customers can do to manage energy usage this summer:

Keep air conditioners set as warm as comfort allows. For every degree higher on the thermostat, the air conditioner will use 1-3% less electricity.

Don’t block air flow. Keep air vents clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains, and rugs.

Operate major appliances during the cooler parts of the day. Energy is conserved by using appliances like clothes washers and dryers early in the morning or late in the evening when there is also less demand on the electric system.

Keep blinds closed when it’s hot out to prevent unwanted heat from entering a home through windows. Using curtains, shades, and blinds can lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.

Switch to ENERGY STAR®-certified LED lights. The energy-efficient bulbs run cooler and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lights.

Set ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise and at a higher speed in the summer to circulate the air more effectively, creating a cooling, wind chill effect. Remember to turn the fan off when leaving the room.

Sign up for a Home Energy SolutionsSM home energy performance assessment. During the visit, a certified technician checks a customer’s home to identify places that can be tightened up to save money and energy. The technician will do on-the-spot improvements like sealing up drafty doors and windows and closing air gaps around pipes and more to help keep the heat out.

To learn about the many energy saving programs available, visit Eversource.com.

Help is available for customers who need it

Eversource encourages customers to enroll in one of its payment plans or assistance programs if they need help with their energy bill.

Budget Billing Plan helps avoid seasonal spikes on your energy bill by letting customers pay a fixed amount each month based on their average annual usage.

The Matching Payment Program reduces past due balances with affordable monthly payments – as low as $50 for electric or gas heating customers who receive public assistance benefits.

The New Start Program forgives overdue balances for electric customers as on-time monthly budget payments are made. (For example. if your budget payment amount is set at $150 per month and your past due balance is $1,200, for every month you make your required $150 payment towards your bill, we will reduce your past-due balance by $100.)

Payment Plans are available to all customers to help pay their past-due balance over a period of time.

Regardless of financial need, customers are eligible for various payment programs and are urged to call Eversource at 800-286-2828 or visit Eversource.com/BillHelp to find the right plan for them and enroll online.

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State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) joined in the bipartisan and unanimous support of a 2023 Senate Democrats’ public policy priority to increase protections for domestic violence victims by expanding GPS monitoring of violent offenders, increasing funding for victim services, and preventing people convicted of certain domestic violence crimes from ever collecting any alimony from their former spouse.

Senate Bill 5, “AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTIONS AGAINST AND RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,” passed the state Senate today on a 36-0 unanimous vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Previously, the bill had received a 37-0 unanimous vote in the Judiciary Committee and a 55-0 unanimous vote in the Appropriations Committee.

“I am proud to support legislation that will bring a sense of security and safety to survivors that may unfortunately live in fear,” said Sen. Gaston. “Strengthening protections for survivors won’t take away the pain they endured, but will help to ease their mind with the knowledge they won’t be met with their abuser again.”

In 2010, the General Assembly passed Public Act 10-144, which established a GPS (Global Positioning System) monitoring pilot program to protect victims in extremely dangerous situations; the pilot program has operated in the Bridgeport, Danielson, and Hartford judicial districts. Senate Bill 5 now expands the GPS monitoring program to cover the entire state.

The GPS expansion is expected to cost $8 million over 2024 and 2025; Democrats have already included the funding in their proposed legislative budget.

Under the program, after a person violates a restraining order or a protective order, a judge will evaluate whether that offender is a high risk, and if so, the domestic violence survivor will have the option of having the offender monitored by GPS. Although Connecticut currently has GPS monitoring for certain domestic violence offenders, as well as for some on parole or on the sex offender registry, this program is different. It provides live monitoring and alert notification for domestic violence survivors.

At the survivor’s discretion, the survivor carries his or her own GPS device, and the offender’s location is constantly monitored to ensure a safe distance is kept from not only the survivor’s home and work, but wherever they go. If ever the offender encroaches near the survivor or a forbidden buffer zone, the monitoring service will notify the survivor and law enforcement.

Senate Bill 5 also provides more than $43 million for victim’s services in Connecticut. The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund relies on fines and fees arising from federal prosecutions, and it is very volatile, peaking at $6.5 billion in 2017 but not rising above $822 million ever since. The VOCA Fund provides a number of services for crime victims, such as domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, human trafficking, child abuse, and families impacted by homicide. In federal fiscal year 2021, VOCA helped 104,366 victims of crimes in Connecticut, and most of the services were provided by community-based nonprofits. To avoid a drop in funding, Senate Bill 5 provides $13.175 million for Fiscal Year 2023 (beginning July 1) and $20 million for Fiscal Year 2024.

Finally, Senate Bill 5 prohibits any alimony by a domestic violence survivor to their spouse or former spouse who is convicted of an attempted murder, class A or B felony sexual assault, or a class A or B felony family violence crime. Current state law leaves it to the discretion of the court (a judge) to determine any alimony award; Senate Bill 5 removes this option from a judge to prevent those convicted of certain crimes from continuing to abuse their victim through the legal system.

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(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, and Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today announced the launch of several new multi-agency state initiatives designed to address educator shortages in Connecticut. The initiatives will support the creation of a new teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, provide more investment to create paraeducator fairs, and expand existing high school “grow-your-own” programs, which recruit and train teachers from within communities where they live and work.

Recent survey data shows a high number of certified educator and paraeducator vacancies in the state, particularly in shortage areas such as special education, math, and science. As of March 2023, school districts reported about 1,300 teaching vacancies and another 1,300 paraeducator vacancies. More than 60% of the vacancies are located in the state’s Alliance Districts. Nearly half of all teaching vacancies are in special education, math, or science, while nearly three-quarters of all paraeducators vacancies are in special education.

“Connecticut has the best educators in the nation and they are the backbone of our education system,” Governor Lamont said. “While we have made some gains recently in teacher hiring, there remains a shortage in many school districts, and it is critically important that we maintain the talent pipeline necessary to address these challenges. The most important education reform is a great teacher in the classroom, and our administration remains committed to fully funding our education system.”

“This investment will expand programs that we know are working to bring educators into classrooms, such as Educators Rising and NexGen Educators,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said. “These initiatives, coupled with new investments to initiate registered apprenticeship programs, will enable us to continue a forward momentum while developing a diverse workforce. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Labor, higher education, and other key partners to ensure program expansion and innovation to meet the staffing needs of Connecticut’s school districts.”

“Registered apprenticeships are a great fit to address worker shortages in industries that depend on a highly skilled workforce,” Commissioner Bartolomeo said. “With classroom training, on the job learning, and experienced mentors, this program can help municipalities throughout the state inspire and support the next generation of educators. Encouraging people to pursue jobs in education will increase the talent and diversity in the hiring pool and get help into classrooms to prevent teacher burn out. I want to thank Governor Lamont for his commitment to education and workforce development and Commissioner Russell-Tucker and the Connecticut State Department of Education team. This is a strong partnership that will bring up new classroom leaders.”

This $3 million initiative – led by the Connecticut State Department of Education and the Connecticut Department of Labor – will double the number of high schools offering programs for aspiring educators and help expand educator diversity. The agencies will also launch a statewide campaign to attract more paraeducators to the classroom, including expanding paraeducator test sites, test preparation programs, job fairs, and recruitment events held in collaboration with the American Job Centers.

The collaboration will:

Create two pilot programs statewide to launch the teacher apprenticeship program, which is designed to reduce financial barriers to becoming an educator. The state will support the pilot districts to create a template to expand the program across Connecticut. The teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program will build off the state’s current teacher residency programs and NextGen Educator program.

Provide seed funding to an additional 18 school districts across the state that are interested in starting an Educators Rising “grow-your-own” high school program, which exposes students to careers in education and feeds into teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education. Currently, 15 school districts offer the Educators Rising program.

Fund a joint Connecticut Department of Labor and Connecticut State Department of Education recruitment campaign to attract more educators and paraeducators to the profession to fill approximately 1,300 job openings statewide. Job fairs will include information about current openings, job requirements, paraeducator test requirements, test preparation assistance, and resume writing and coaching. In addition, resources will be dedicated to expanding paraeducator test sites, subsidizing test preparation programs, and the cost of taking the exams.

This additional investment builds on earlier investments by the Lamont administration, the Connecticut State Department of Education, local school districts, and institutions of higher education to develop, recruit, and retain a diverse educator workforce in Connecticut. Recent data shows those efforts have resulted in increased staffing levels and educator diversity.

Overall, staffing levels increased 4% between the 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 school years. This represents an increase of more than 4,000 full-time equivalent staff in schools and districts across the state. The percentage of educators of color working in schools has increased to 11.2% in 2022-23, up from 8.3% in 2015-2016, adding 1,649 new diverse educators.

Above average increases in staffing levels were observed in the following areas:

General education – paraprofessional instructional assistants (12% increase)

Counselors, social workers, and school psychologists – district central office (13% increase)

Instructional specialists who support teachers – certified (16% increase)

Additional information on this teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program is available online at portal.ct.gov/dol/student-teacher-apprenticeships.

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Sen. Tony Hwang today applauded the Connecticut State Senate’s passage of online and social media data privacy legislation.

The legislation, which now awaits a vote in the House, aims to strengthen Connecticut’s laws to better protect children and people of all ages by maintaining checks and balance against Controllers, a for-profit entity which determines the purpose and means of processing personal data.

“Last year, Connecticut passed nationally recognized internet provider data privacy legislation (Public Act 22-15), and Connecticut must continue to lead the nation in the area of protecting people’s data and online privacy,” Sen. Hwang said. “This is especially crucial when it comes to controversial solutions to protecting our children on the internet and social media. Our children’s safety is paramount. We must strive to be a role model for other states when it comes to social media safety and making the internet safer for children.”

The legislation limits mental health and safety risks that controllers (social networks, and other online services) may pose to some children and teenagers. Last year, California enacted a sweeping online safety law that will require many social networks and other services to install the equivalent of seatbelts and airbags for younger users.

The legislation will:

require social media platforms to remove/unpublish content within 15 days business days after a minor’s or their guardian’s request, and delete content within 45 business days after such request

prohibit controllers of targeted advertising, data sales algorithm profiling

prohibit controllers from collecting a minor’s “precise geolocation data” without disclosure

prohibit controllers from offering direct messaging without having safeguards reasonably necessary to prevent an adult who is not connected to minors from sending an unsolicited message.

The legislation addresses social media data privacy and safety beyond minors, such as:

requiring online dating platforms to create an online safety center which provides an explanation of the mechanism to report unwanted, harmful behavior.

providing safety advice for communicating online and meeting in person

providing a link to Connecticut domestic violence prevention and sexual harassment resources education

providing information on romance scams

creating a policy of handling reports of harassment between users.

Sen. Hwang has been an active participant and contributor in a legislative working group that has focused on policy solutions which strengthen this complex and fast changing area of regulatory law. In 2022, Sen. Hwang voted in favor of legislation aimed to better protect consumers online in Connecticut and provide some of the strongest data privacy protections for consumers in the country. That legislation, which is now law, gave people:

The right to know what data is being collected and to correct what information is collected

The right to delete information that is collected

The right to export his or her own personal data that was collected (“portability”)

The right to opt out of having any data collected

“In bipartisan fashion, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting people’s personal data and protecting consumers and our young people,” Sen. Hwang said. “It is critical that consumers know what information is being collected and how it is being used. Controllers are maximizing their spread and impact by harvesting and selling information that too often is being collected without that person’s knowledge. The state of Connecticut must stay at the forefront of important protections for every person to control and privately maintain their own information and determine who has access and needs to be balanced against Controllers business operation. Most importantly, people should have the right to say ‘NO’, to having their personal information captured or sold.”

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­WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee,and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced the Teacher, Principal and Leader Residency Access Act on Monday to improve access to training for college students who aspire to become teachers and leaders in America’s schools, and help build a diverse pipeline of experienced teachers and school leaders. More than half of all public schools in the U.S. reported being understaffed at the start of the 2022-23 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

This legislation would ensure students participating in teacher and school leader residency programs are eligible for the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program, a campus-based aid program that funds part-time employment opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in need of financial assistance based on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

“Nothing prepares you like on-the-job experience, but college and graduate students who want to work as student teachers aren’t currently eligible for federal work-study compensation. This legislation would get more aspiring educators into the classroom while they’re still pursuing their degree. Expanding access to teacher residency programs like the one we have in Connecticut will help tackle the educator shortage and improve student outcomes,” said Murphy.

“The effects of teacher shortages are devastating: Schools are closing, and America’s kids aren’t getting the education they need to succeed after graduation. Kids deserve to learn from capable teachers, but many young educators don’t get practical experience before they enter the classroom. Louisiana’s future rests on education, and we can improve schools by giving educators access to the training they need,” said Kennedy.

The Connecticut Teacher Residency Program (TRP) provides hands-on training for underemployed or unemployed adults, with residents participating in courses for 18 months and working with a mentor teacher for one school year while receiving pay and benefits. Residents are guaranteed a full-time teaching position upon completion of the program.

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A new study shows Americans lost a record $1.3 billion to romance scams in 2022, up 138% from $547 million in 2021. This marks the largest single-year hike over the past five years.

Connecticut ranks No. 26 with 159 victims losing $7.1 million in 2022. Connecticut has the No. 8 highest average loss per victim at $44,851.

The 10 states that lost the most money were highly populated led by California, Texas, Florida, and New York but it was smaller states that saw the biggest increases in money lost year-over-year led by Arkansas (398% increase), New Mexico (268%), and Maine (216%). Four new states entered the top 10 in 2022 for total money lost — Arizona, Ohio, North Carolina, and Illinois.

Social Catfish, a reverse search technology company, today released a study on the State of Romance Scams in America using FBI’s IC3 and FTC data from 2023, and internal data from 10 million of its users.

5 Key Findings:

1) Most Total Money Lost: California ($158M), Texas ($60.3M), Florida ($53.4M), New York ($33.5M), and Arizona ($25.4M).

2) Highest Average Loss per Victim: California ($72,239), North Dakota ($59,238), New Mexico ($57,001), Wisconsin ($53,309), and Delaware ($46,065).

3) Biggest Increase in Money Lost From 2021 to 2022: Arkansas (398%), New Mexico (269%), Maine (216%), New Hampshire (155%), and West Virginia (135%).

4) Crypto is the No. 1 Payment Method: Accounting for 34% of all money lost in 2022. Bank wire transfers was No. 2 at 27% and gift cards was No. 3 at 7%.

5) Most Common Lie Used by Scammers: Being “sick, hurt or in jail” was the most common lie used in 24% of scams. The No. 2 lie was “I can teach you how to invest” used in 18% of scams.

3 Romance Scams to Avoid in 2023:

1) Celebrity Romance Scam: Scammers are increasingly pretending to be celebrities on social media. One victim sent money to a fake Nicolas Cage and another chose not to send a fraudulent Keanu Reeves $400,000 to help him finance the John Wick movie.

How to Avoid: If a celebrity asks for money, it is a scam. Fake accounts have less followers and strange handles.

2) Cryptocurrency Romance Scams: Fraudsters claim to have gotten rich in crypto and convince the victim to invest with them by downloading an app. While the app even has data showing return on investment, it is all just a scam.

How to Avoid: Never make crypto investments with anyone you have not met.

3) Military Romance scams: Scammers steal military photos and claim to be stationed overseas which is why they cannot meet in person. They ask for money to fly back to the U.S. so they can finally meet and be together.

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