Category: State News

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that pursuant to the ratification of the agreement his administration reached with the Connecticut State Police (NP-1) Union, the administration has transmitted the contracts and accompanying details to the Connecticut General Assembly for its consideration. This contract is for the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2026, covering wages, benefits, and working conditions.

“Our Connecticut State Police are among the finest members of law enforcement in the nation and they deserve to be recognized for their integrity, commitment to service, and the sacrifices they and their families make,” Governor Lamont said. “This new contract provides financial and other incentives for the retention and recruitment of the best troopers and candidates. I am eternally grateful for the work the men and women of the Connecticut State Police do each day to keep our residents safe, exemplifying the highest professional standards.”

The wage contracts were tentatively agreed upon in early December and were ratified by the respective unions last week. By statute, the contracts now go before the state legislature for review and approval.

The wage package of the agreement includes general wage increases of 2.5%, a step movement that is identical to the SEBAC 2022 pattern agreed to with the State Employees Bargaining Coalition, and a lump sum bonus of $3,500. The fourth year of the contract will have a wage re-opener for compensation.

This agreement increases the base pay for trooper trainees so that they are competitive with municipalities and other states, and includes a higher rate for existing law enforcement professionals who are hired by the State Police and attend the Connecticut Police Academy. These two measures are designed to increase the number of trooper trainees in each class that Governor Lamont has already funded and committed to hiring.

Additionally, the agreement adds a wellness stipend for all NP-1 members, recognizes those members who have attained bachelor’s or advanced degrees, and increases funding for college tuition reimbursement. The goal is to further incentivize the members to pursue educational opportunities and to recognize the need for the continued wellness of law enforcement professionals.

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Connecticut State Police New Year’s Holiday Traffic Stats 12/30/2022 -12/31/2022

The following are the New Year’s holiday traffic statistics from Friday, 12/30/2022, at 12:01 AM to Saturday 12/31/22, at 8:00 AM:

Total Calls for Service – 1,717

Speeding Violations – 152

Seatbelt Violations – 5

DUI Arrests – 9

Accidents – 93

With Injury – 6

Fatalities – 0

Serious Injury – 0

Motorist Assists – 130

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(MIDDLETOWN, CT – December 29, 2022) – With New Year’s Eve just days away, Connecticut State Troopers are preparing for roadway enforcement to keep drivers and passengers safe on a busy travel night.

As always, drivers are asked to ditch the distractions and plan their trips with safety in mind. Traffic is consistently heavy during the week between Christmas and New Year’s and 2022 will be no different.

In order to keep passengers and themselves safe, drivers are asked to drive the speed limit, buckle up, use signals when turning or changing lanes and ditch the cell phones. Of course, drivers should never consume alcoholic beverages or drugs that diminish one’s driving abilities (including those legally prescribed) before

getting behind the wheel.

“It is vital to everyone’s safety that operators follow traffic laws in order to keep roadways clear of hazards. We count on the motoring public to have their vehicles road-ready prior to leaving home and to ditch distractions once they are behind the wheel,” noted Colonel Stavros Mellekas, commanding officer of the Connecticut State Police. “Keep an eye on weather, as conditions in our state tend to change quickly this time of year.”

“Roving Trooper patrols will continue this week and into New Year’s Eve weekend to focus on those who may be operating under the influence. Once again, I ask citizens of Connecticut to be our partners in public safety during this busy week and always,” Colonel Mellekas said. “Please celebrate responsibly and plan ahead for a safe and sober ride after the confetti has fallen. Let’s work together to ring in a safe and healthy 2023.”

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(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has renewed a declaration that will enable Connecticut to continue receiving federal support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This federal support provides funds for supplemental food benefits for households in need and non-congregate housing for individuals experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence. The declaration will continue through June 28, 2023, or until the federal public health emergency ends, whichever is earlier.

This declaration is an extension of the one he issued in June, which is set to expire on December 28, 2022. The governor reiterated, as he did in June, that he will not issue any emergency executive orders under this declaration. The purpose of the declaration is to ensure that state agencies continue to have access to available federal funds.

“We need this declaration in place, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to access the federal support necessary for emergency food benefits and housing services that other states across the country are continuing to receive as a result of the pandemic,” Governor Lamont said. “By issuing this declaration, we are ensuring that this added support can continue for at least several more months.”

Having this declaration in place since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled the approximately 224,285 Connecticut households that are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – formerly known as food stamps – to receive an additional $929.1 million in emergency benefits that they otherwise would have been ineligible to collect. On average, these households are receiving an additional $156.44 per month in emergency benefits.

Additionally, this declaration has enabled the state to access the funds needed to place 6,970 individuals experiencing homelessness and several hundred survivors of domestic violence into non-congregate housing throughout the duration of the pandemic. Non-congregate housing is a location where each individual or household has living space that offers some level of privacy, such as hotels, motels, or dormitories. To date, the state has received $15.89 million in federal reimbursements for this purpose and is expecting to receive an additional $20.7 million for its continuation.

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The following are the 2022 Connecticut State Police Christmas holiday traffic statistics from Friday, 12/23/2022, at 12:00 AM to Sunday 12/25/22, at 8:00 AM:

Calls for service: 2,897

Motorist Assists: 175

Speeding Citations: 43

DUI arrests: 9

Motor vehicle accidents: 171

Serious: 1

Fatal: 2

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HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont announced the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) will allow all participating households that heat with deliverable fuels such as home heating oil to receive an additional crisis assistance benefit worth $430 this winter season, above the amount they were already able to receive.

Earlier today, Congress approved the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which includes an additional $1 billion for the national Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that will provide Connecticut with an estimated $20 million in additional funding for CEAP.

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CEAP is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) in partnership with the state’s community action agencies and is normally funded entirely through LIHEAP. In November, with federal funding anticipated to fall short of projected need, Governor Lamont and the state legislature allocated $30 million of ARPA State Recovery Funding to the program in order to help mitigate the impact of unusually high energy prices, support growth in program enrollment due to increased demand and streamlined service delivery, and ensure low-income Connecticut residents have the assistance they need to stay warm this winter. Connecticut’s federal delegation also recognized that need and worked to ensure that additional federal funding was made available to support state residents. Under the provisions of the November law, the ARPA funding the state has committed will be expended after the federal funding is exhausted.

“This additional federal support for our energy assistance program and the funding the state has allocated will help provide added heating assistance to households this winter season,” Governor Lamont said. “I urge residents who may need assistance to consider applying for this program to get them through the winter months. I am grateful to Connecticut’s Congressional delegation for securing additional federal funds for this fiscal year.”

Coupled with the existing basic benefit and crisis assistance benefits, the additional $430 benefit means families heating with deliverable fuels like heating oil and propane can now access up to $2,320 per household to help pay their heating bills. Total benefits for deliverable fuel households now range from $1,110 to $2,320, up from $680 to $1,890 or by as much as 63% for certain households.

“The Department of Social Services is dedicated to ensuring that Connecticut families have access to state services that support their basic needs,” DSS Commissioner Deidre Gifford said. “Right now, there is an urgent need to help our state residents with the high costs of fuel and we are proud to be able to deliver additional benefits to help address that need. The additional federal funding will go directly to reducing the energy cost burden of families struggling with high bills and help ensure that they can stay warm this winter.”

Interested households should apply online at ct.gov/heatinghelp or contact their local community action agency. Households can find their local community action agency and other services on the ct.gov/heatinghelp website. Additional assistance is available by calling 2-1-1.

The following are the Connecticut State Police-2021 Christmas holiday traffic statistics from Friday,

12/23/2021, at 12:00 AM to Saturday 12/24/21, at 8:00 AM:

Calls for Service: 1932

Speeding Violations: 23

DUI Arrests: 3

Accidents Investigated: 119

With Reported Injuries: 9

Serious Injuries: 1

Fatalities: 2

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Applications for Operation Fuel, which provides emergency energy and utility assistance to Connecticut households facing financial challenges, are now open and available at www.operationfuel.org. Applicants can receive grants of up to $1,000 to heating customers earning up to the state median income, which is currently $66,270 for individuals and $127,443 for households of four. Applicants can visit www.operationfuel.org/gethelp/ for aid, with applications available online or in-person at a fuel bank partnering with Operation Fuel. The program’s website says that applicants should gather proof of the last four weeks of income for all household members, the name of their fuel vendors for deliverable fuel customers, or their utility bill and payment history for electric/gas/water customers.

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(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that based on a weather forecast indicating that Connecticut may experience below-zero wind chills over the weekend, he will be activating the state’s severe cold weather protocol beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23, 2022, and remaining in effect through 12:00 p.m. on Monday, December 26, 2022. This is the first time the protocol is being enacted during the 2022-2023 winter season.

The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold conditions, which could be life threatening if exposed to the elements for extended periods of time. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies and municipalities to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to make sure that anyone in need can receive shelter from the outdoors, including transportation to shelters.

Anyone in need is urged to call 2-1-1 to get connected to these services. Safety measures have been enacted at shelters and warming centers throughout Connecticut to adhere to the needs of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have an interesting set of weather conditions coming to our area over the next several days, first with a storm on Friday during the daytime that has the potential for heavy rain and very strong wind gusts, and then that will be followed by plummeting temperatures that night and remaining throughout the Christmas weekend, particularly during the evening hours,” Governor Lamont said. “This is the first time this season that we will have a stretch of frigid temperatures this low, and we want to remind everyone that shelters are available throughout Connecticut. Anyone in need can call 2-1-1 to get connected to a nearby location, and they can even provide transportation if necessary.”

The following actions are implemented while the protocol is enacted:

• The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security activates its WebEOC communications network, which is an internet-based system that enables local, regional, and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions. The system is used to monitor capacity at shelters across the state, enabling 2-1-1 to act as a clearinghouse to assist in finding shelter space for those who need it. Local officials, working through WebEOC, can alert 2-1-1 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers.
• The Connecticut Department of Social Services, Connecticut Department of Housing, and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services coordinate with 2-1-1 and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, along with community-based providers, to provide transportation for people seeking shelter

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