Category: State News

#CTStateParks– Here is a brief list of parks closed today due to parking lots filled to capacity.  Here is a list from CTState Parks Twitter page.   Was the prepaid parking through DMV such a great idea?

 

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that he is ordering an independent, third-party review to be conducted of the preparation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic inside of Connecticut’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The review will incorporate a top-to-bottom analysis of all elements of the pandemic and how it was addressed in these facilities, which were disproportionately impacted by the virus. The governor said he wants the analysis completed before the start of autumn in order to prepare for a potential second wave of the virus.

 

“Our state took proactive and innovative steps to address the outbreak in our long-term care facilities, but we must take steps to better understand how prepared the system was, and then review the steps that were taken once the virus was clearly present across the state,” Governor Lamont said. “As we prepare for the possibility of a second wave, we must be proactive in analyzing what occurred, what needs to be improved, and how we can ensure the quality and safety of facilities that some of our most vulnerable residents call home.”

 

The Lamont administration will soon solicit proposals from third-party experts to conduct the review. Before it begins, the administration plans to collaborate with legislative leaders to develop a scope that ensures the review provides the state with meaningful information that can best improve the safety of patients and staff in these facilities. The awarded independent expert will be directed to work widely across state government and include input from the legislative and executive branches, as well as key stakeholders, such as the operators of long-term care facilities, the unions that represent the staff who work in these facilities, patients, health experts, and others.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on all elements of Connecticut’s health care infrastructure, but no sector had more direct and tragic consequences than the nursing homes and assisted living facilities. To date, Connecticut’s nursing homes have experienced over 2,500 resident deaths and more than 8,500 cases in a population of just over 21,000. More than 60 percent of total deaths in Connecticut have been among residents of nursing homes.

 

The Connecticut Department of Public Health, under the direction of Governor Lamont, took several aggressive steps to contain these outbreaks, including:

 

• Becoming one of the first states to discontinue visitation in early March;
• Establishing dedicated COVID-recovery facilities to prevent COVID-positive patients from re-entering nursing homes;
• Greatly enhancing inspection and monitoring of infection control practices by leveraging the Connecticut National Guard;
• Delivering millions of units of personal protective equipment (PPE) through the state’s mutual aid program;
• Providing a $125 million financial aid package for nursing homes to support staff payment, infection control, PPE costs, and other pandemic-related expenses; and
• Establishing a new category of worker, the Temporary Nurse Aide, to assist with staffing shortages.

 

In May and June, Connecticut facilitated testing of every nursing home resident who had not previously tested positive. Governor Lamont also signed an executive order  requiring the staff at all nursing homes, managed residential communities, and assisted living facilities to be tested for COVID-19 every week for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency.

 

 

“We must take this opportunity to learn from the pandemic and the experience of our nursing homes to ensure we are using the best available science and quality improvement techniques to protect these residents,” Dr. Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the Department of Public Health, said. “We must study the epidemiology, protocols, staffing, and overall preparedness of all our facilities to provide clarity and understanding of what happened over the course of this pandemic.”

 

The solicitation of proposals for an outside expert to conduct the review will be released in the next several days.

 

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#WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) co-sponsored the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, the first-ever bold, comprehensive approach to hold police accountable, change the culture of law enforcement and build trust between law enforcement and our communities, introduced by U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Karen Bass (D-CA) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY).

“This sweeping, far-reaching reform in police practices and training is long overdue. Revamping police training, new methods for screening prospective officers, eliminating chokeholds as a practice, and imposing individual accountability to officers who break the law are among the necessary changes offered in this impactful legislation,” said Blumenthal. “We need both Republicans and Democrats to come together to support this legislation, which should have been done years ago. As we listen to the national calls for racial justice it is time that we seize this moment to implement real, comprehensive change.”

“The policing reforms introduced this week are bold and comprehensive, and they shouldn’t be controversial. Black Americans are simply asking for the same basic rights and due process when it comes to policing as every other American,” said Murphy. “Nothing in this act will make it harder for a good cop to do their job. All we are asking for here is true accountability for the minority of officers who abuse their power and single out people of color for abuse and harassment.”

The Justice in Policing Act of 2020:

• Prohibits federal, state, and local law enforcement from racial, religious and discriminatory profiling, and mandates training on racial, religious, and discriminatory profiling for all law enforcement.

• Bans chokeholds, carotid holds and no-knock warrants at the federal level and limits the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement.

• Mandates the use of dashboard cameras and body cameras for federal offices and requires state and local law enforcement to use existing federal funds to ensure the use of police body cameras.

• Establishes a National Police Misconduct Registry to prevent problematic officers who are fired or leave on agency from moving to another jurisdiction without any accountability.

• Amends federal criminal statute from “willfulness” to a “recklessness” standard to successfully identify and prosecute police misconduct.

• Reforms qualified immunity so that individuals are not barred from recovering damages when police violate their constitutional rights.

• Establishes public safety innovation grants for community-based organizations to create local commissions and task forces to help communities to re-imagine and develop concrete, just and equitable public safety approaches.

• Creates law enforcement development and training programs to develop best practices and requires the creation of law enforcement accreditation standard recommendations based on President Obama’s Taskforce on 21st Century policing.

• Requires state and local law enforcement agencies to report use of force data, disaggregated by race, sex, disability, religion, age.

• Improves the use of pattern and practice investigations at the federal level by granting the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division subpoena power and creates a grant program for state attorneys general to develop authority to conduct independent investigations into problematic police departments.

• Establishes a Department of Justice task force to coordinate the investigation, prosecution and enforcement efforts of federal, state and local governments in cases related to law enforcement misconduct.

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WASHINGTON, DC – While the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that the president signed into law last week ensured that the Treasury Department had the authority to send automatic direct cash assistance to Social Security beneficiaries regardless of whether they file taxes or not, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released contradictory guidance earlier this week stating that Social Security beneficiaries would need to file tax returns in order to receive direct payments.

U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined a group of 41 senators in expressing alarm over this guidance and calling for the Treasury Department and Social Security Administration to ensure that all Social Security beneficiaries will automatically receive the direct assistance included in the CARES Act without having to file tax returns.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection, which is responsible for oversight of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), released the following statement in response to President Trump’s proposed Executive Order targeting online political speech:

“This Executive Order is egregiously excessive with clearly malevolent intent to suppress free speech. It is a blatant attempt to use the full power of the United States government to force private companies to lie for him.”

 

“Whatever the criticisms I may have of current law, Trump’s demagogic meat-ax Executive Order is exactly wrong. This Executive Order is an authoritarian attack against freedom of expression and accountability. It provides no relief to the countless children, victims of human trafficking, and others who have suffered real harms by Big Tech. I am appalled by the President’s attempts to suborn the Federal Trade Commission into his condemnable campaigns when the FTC should be protecting Americans from rampant fraud, scams, and price gouging during a national emergency. President Trump is trying to wield the immense power of the federal governmental as a sledgehammer against the truth. It should be condemned by anyone who believes in the Constitution.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined by Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced the NICS Data Integrity Act, a bill that would allow the FBI to maintain gun-purchase records until background checks are complete. Under current law, the FBI is required to purge incomplete background checks from its systems if they are not finalized within 88 days, a practice that often results in guns being sold without finished background checks. The bill also requires the FBI to search the National Data Exchange (N-DEx) database, an information-sharing system used by criminal justice agencies, for all background checks. Currently the FBI can only search N-DEx if a background check is delayed.

“This bill is really basic,” said Blumenthal. “This legislation just prevents a background check from being deleted if it takes too long. The vast majority of background checks are completed in mere moments. This legislation closes a loophole that allows the checks that take longer from being wiped completely. If you support keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people, there is simply no reason to oppose it.”

 

“It’s absurd that incomplete background check records are literally destroyed if they’re not finished within 88 days,” said Murphy. “Most NICS checks are completed in a matter of seconds, but the handful that require more time and research to determine whether the person is prohibited by law from purchasing a firearm should have the time they need. This is not controversial: over 90% of Americans believe you should have to pass a background check before getting a gun. There’s no reason NICS examiners shouldn’t keep working on incomplete applications until they know for sure they’re not prohibited by law from buying a gun, which is what the NICS Data Integrity Act would require. This is an obvious fix to a loophole in the law that will keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people and save more lives from senseless violence.”

 

There has been a surge in gun sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York Times reported that approximately 2 million guns were purchased in March, the second highest monthly total ever. The recent spike in gun sales means more background checks need to be completed by an already overburdened system and may not be done in the allotted 88 days.

According to an internal FBI report, the agency was required to purge more than 1.1 million incomplete background checks between January 2014 and July 2019 due to the current law. The FBI estimated that at least 3,960 guns were obtained illegally in 2018 due to delayed background checks. However, since the data was purged, there is no way to know exactly how many gun sales should have been blocked.

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a group of ten Senators introducing the Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants During the COVID-19 Crisis Act, legislation that would provide student debt relief to public health workers, police officers, and others who dedicate their careers to public service. Many of these public servants have been playing a central role in helping communities across the country respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“For all who are risking lives and making untold sacrifices, what better way of saying thanks than to relieve the crushing weight of student debt,” said Blumenthal. “This step, expanding opportunities to alleviate financially crippling burdens, is a win-win for them and our nation. These public servants have earned every dime of this recognition.”

 

The bill expands the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLFP) to provide meaningful student debt relief to those in public service. It would eliminate uncertainty for borrowers, and further incentivize public service by allowing borrowers to receive forgiveness for their loans in qualifying intervals. It also provides support for public servants and frontline workers whose employment may have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

“One way we can support our nation’s most dedicated public servants, many of whom are on the front lines of this crisis, is by strengthening the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program,” said Warren. “We owe it to our nurses, teachers, first responders, and other public servants to get them the student loan forgiveness Congress promised them.”

 

“We want to help people who dedicate themselves to public service—like teachers, police officers and public health workers in Minnesota and states across the country—by expanding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program,” said Smith. “Our legislation would help provide student debt relief to these workers, and focuses on supporting public servants and frontline workers whose employment may have been affected by the pandemic.”

 

“No individual willing to serve their community in a public service career should be held back from their calling due to the high cost of paying off their student loans,” said Cardin. “This legislation reinforces our commitment to those front-line public service employees, as well as ensuring that they will be held harmless if laid off by an employer as a result of COVID-19 related revenue losses.”

 

“A powerful way for us to show our gratitude to the public servants on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis is to provide them much needed relief from student debt,” said Markey. “This legislation is a powerful signal that public service is rewarding in terms of contribution to our country and loan forgiveness. I am proud to join Senator Blumenthal and my colleagues in introducing this important bill.”

 

“Now more than ever, we’re seeing just how much we rely on the work of first responders, police officers and health care workers,” said Feinstein. “Supporting these and other public servants by bolstering the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is a commonsense measure that will make a real financial difference for thousands of people. We also must ensure that any public servant who loses their job due to the pandemic will still qualify for loan forgiveness while the pandemic continues and be able to continue receiving credit once they return to work. I’m proud to join my colleagues on this bill.”

 

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Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais and Economic Development Commissioner David Lehman today reminded businesses of the importance of checking to make sure their insurance coverage accurately reflects any changed circumstances as they move to comply with Governor Ned Lamont’s reopening guidelines.

“The pandemic has already caused undue hardship to families and businesses and further risk to public health and to businesses should be kept to a minimum,” said Commissioner Mais. “Business owners should verify that the coverage they have is still right for them, and that they are prepared both for reopening and for hazards like the upcoming hurricane season.”

​“The Governor and Reopen Connecticut are instituting a thoughtful reopening schedule with the safety and security of the public, said DECD Commissioner Lehman. “I’d like to thank all the businesses and their employees who are working so hard during this extremely difficult economic time. We are all committed to safely reopen all businesses as soon as possible.”

The Department strongly encourages businesses or residents who have questions or concerns regarding their insurance coverage during the phased reopening of businesses to reach out to their insurance agent, broker, or carrier.

The first phase of the State’s scheduled reopening begins on May 20. Reopen Connecticut and the DECD have released Guidance and a list of the types of businesses eligible to reopen on May 20. Please note: All businesses subject to these guidelines are required to self-certify at the Business Reopening and Recovery Center for the State of Connecticut prior to opening May 20th. The certification system is available online.

 

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#Hartford, CT – Attorney General William Tong led a coalition of 18 attorneys general filing a friend of the court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit defending due process rights of immigrant detainees who have been unlawfully denied bond.

The brief supports the petitioners in Pereira Brito v. Barr, who sued the Board of Immigration Appeals to block unlawful bond hearing procedures that have resulted in the indefinite detention of many immigrants with no meaningful legal recourse. A Massachusetts District Court in 2019 found the BIA policy violated the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act and entered a permanent injunction. The attorneys general urge the appeals court to uphold that decision.

The petitioners represent a class of immigrants in contested removal proceedings who do not have serious criminal histories. While federal law states that each detainee is entitled to an individualized bond hearing before an immigration judge, many have been denied release even though they present no flight risk or threat to the community.

The unlawful Board of Immigration Appeals policy places the burden of proof on the individual detainees to show they are not a risk, rather than requiring the government to show evidence of such risk. With many lacking legal representations, few immigrant detainees are able to successfully overcome this unconstitutional barrier and as a result remain detained indefinitely, separated from their families and employment.

“If the government wants to detain someone and separate them from their family and employment, the government needs clear and convincing evidence that a person is either dangerous or a flight risk. That’s not what is happening in our immigration courts, and that is inflicting permanent trauma on families across Connecticut and nationwide. The district court rightly blocked the BIA’s unconstitutional violation of due process, and the appellate court should uphold the decision,” said Attorney General Tong.

The attorneys general from California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington joined the coalition led by Connecticut and Massachusetts.

 

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2020-05-18@1:30pm–#Hartford CT– Governor Lamont is now planning on opening the hair salons in early June as oppose to the May 20th scheduled opening.

 

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