State News Archives - Page 58 of 114

State News

CREATIVE COMMUNITY TO PROTECT YOUNG VIEWERS FROM TOBACCO IMAGERY

Oct 6, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Hartford, CT– Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 43 attorneys general in urging the creative community to take action to protect young viewers from tobacco imagery in streamed movies and programs. The California and Nebraska-led coalition directed letters to five creative guilds as part of an ongoing effort to reduce youth exposure to tobacco. Last year, a coalition of 43 attorneys general sent letters urging the streaming industry to limit tobacco imagery in their video content. The creative guilds’ assistance and support is critical to stopping the renormalization and glamorization of tobacco use, especially youth vaping. “We know that the more depictions of smoking young people see, the more likely they are to begin smoking and vaping, jeopardizing their health and well-being,” said Attorney General Tong. “Smoking kills thousands of Americans…

State News

Governor Asks For Disaster Relief

Oct 3, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Members of Connecticut Congressional Delegation today sent a letter to President Donald Trump to urge him to grant Governor Ned Lamont’s request for a major disaster declaration following as a result of the damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaias. “The significant outages and damage caused by the storm placed additional burdens on our state and local agencies, volunteers, and first responders at a time when they continue to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – putting some of our most vulnerable populations at risk. Federal assistance is critically necessary in order to facilitate full recovery from the storm,” wrote the delegation members. The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Representatives…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS BILL TO FACILITATE PROCESSING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS DURING UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION

Oct 3, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont today signed legislation that will provide municipal election officials with the option of having more time to begin the process of verifying absentee ballots that have been received for the upcoming general election. The use of absentee ballots is anticipated to significantly increase for the November 3, 2020 election due do the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The bill the governor signed today allows local election officials to open the outer envelope used in absentee ballots and verify the legitimacy of the inner envelope beginning on Friday, October 30 at 5:00 p.m., rather than 6:00 a.m. on Election Day, as was previously required. The inner envelope, which contains a voter’s submitted ballot, still cannot be opened…

State News

SENATOR APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF TAKE BACK OUR GRID ACT

Oct 2, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

State Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) is applauding the passage of the "Take Back Our Grid Act" following a lengthy discussion on the Senate floor today. Senate Democrats voted to pass the "Take Back Our Grid Act," vital legislation seeking to change how Connecticut's utilities are run. Most importantly, LCO 4202, "An Act Concerning Emergency Response by Electric Distribution Companies and Revising The Regulation of Other Public Utilities," seeks to hold utility companies accountable for their actions and practices, additionally adding further oversight and restitution for customers who suffer extended power outages. "Utility companies such as United Illuminating and Eversource should be held accountable for how they respond to severe power outages across the state," said Sen. Moore. "It's a shame that we did not learn…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF THE STATE’S SHARED WORK PROGRAM TO HELP EMPLOYERS NAVIGATE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PANDEMIC

Sep 30, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

MIDDLETOWN, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that as companies continue navigating the impact of the ongoing, global COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Connecticut will be expanding its Shared Work program, which helps businesses in the state prevent layoffs by allowing them to temporarily reduce employee hours and use partial unemployment benefits to supplement lost wages. The program will be expanded beginning the week of October 5, 2020. To highlight the expansion, the governor today visited Pegasus Manufacturing, a 133-year-old design and engineering firm located in Middletown that is participating in the program, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Labor. He was joined by Labor Deputy Commissioner Daryle Dudzinski and representatives from the company. “COVID-19 is impacting businesses…

State News

Governor Calls Special Session

Sep 28, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

The governor’s special session call includes the consideration of legislation on the following policy areas: 1. Establishing a performance-based regulation to hold the state’s electricity, gas, and water companies accountable for the critical services they provide to customers; 2. Ensuring local officials may administer absentee ballots in a secure and orderly manner during the November 2020 general election; 3. Authorizing school construction projects; 4. Updating the state’s Transfer Act; 5. Aligning Connecticut’s hemp program with federal law and providing opportunities for hemp growers and manufacturers in the state; 6. Updating the state’s environmental justice law to require public notice and community benefit agreements in certain circumstances; 7. Providing greater protection for employees in occupations engaged in construction on certain non-residential building, heavy, or highway works projects in…

State News

Friendly Tax Website

Sep 25, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced the launch of the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) multi-year IT modernization initiative that will improve the customer’s experience and deliver additional, user-friendly features such as mobile device-friendly design, secure web messaging, and advanced tax filing reminders. The launch is highlighted by the new, online tax filing and payment portal called DRS myconneCT. Certain taxes filed by businesses are included in the initial phase, and the program will include all state tax filings made with DRS in future phases. Information about the portal will be included in business.ct.gov, the one-stop-shop for businesses launched in July, and is part of the broader efforts of the Lamont administration to streamline and modernize government…

State News

Election Security

Sep 22, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, DC, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) applauded the House of Representatives’ passage of legislation he introduced in the Senate to improve election security. The Defending the Integrity of Voting Systems Act would make it a federal crime to hack any voting systems used in a federal election and now awaits President Trump’s signature. “As foreign adversaries seek to undermine our democracy, our election systems are in dire need of strong safeguards. Our adversaries have shown a willingness and capability to hack the infrastructure that powers our democracy, however, our laws and enforcement lag far behind this dire threat. This bill provides the Department of Justice with powerful tools to vigorously prosecute and stop malicious hackers. I am grateful to my…

State News

ITT Debt Relief

Sep 21, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong has secured an agreement to obtain $292,874 in debt relief for former ITT Tech students in Connecticut as part of a settlement with 48 attorneys general and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Nationally, the settlement will result in debt relief of about $330 million for former students of the failed for-profit college. The agreement affects about 43,000 loans. The settlement is with PEAKS Trust, a private loan program run by ITT and affiliated with Deutsche Bank entities. ITT filed bankruptcy in 2016 amid investigations by state attorneys general and following action by the U.S. Department of Education to restrict ITT’s access to federal student aid. “This settlement holds PEAKS Trust accountable for its predatory lending…

State News

CT Paid Leave Website

Sep 18, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, in partnership with the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, announced the launch of a new website – CTPaidLeave.org – with the goal of supporting all Connecticut residents to understand their roles, rights, and responsibilities based on the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA). The site is built to provide information for all employers, employees, and healthcare providers to better navigate this new, comprehensive program, administered by the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority. The Connecticut Paid Leave program is set to begin on January 1, 2021, making the new website a vital tool for all impacted employees, employers, sole proprietors and self-employed individuals to understand their roles and responsibilities. Paid Leave program benefits become accessible to…

CREATIVE COMMUNITY TO PROTECT YOUNG VIEWERS FROM TOBACCO IMAGERY

Governor Asks For Disaster Relief

GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS BILL TO FACILITATE PROCESSING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS DURING UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION

SENATOR APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF TAKE BACK OUR GRID ACT

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF THE STATE’S SHARED WORK PROGRAM TO HELP EMPLOYERS NAVIGATE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PANDEMIC

Governor Calls Special Session

Friendly Tax Website

Election Security

ITT Debt Relief

CT Paid Leave Website

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