Advocacy Center 2024 Legislative Session
State Advocacy
The Connecticut Long Term Care Ombudsman Program wants to make sure that as we enter the 2024 legislative session our legislators, public health officials and key decision makers across the state are able to hear from their constituents regarding issues that matter to them. We have created this web page as a central resource to help streamline that process. We encourage readers to check this page regularly for updates as we try to keep our finger on the pulse of the legislative session and will provide weekly tracking logs of long term care related bills, but also suggest to use the resources listed to make your voices heard. We recommend confirming committee public hearing schedules for key bills related to key topics and taking opportunities to let your legislators know how you think they should vote when it comes to issues that matter most. For a quick summary and overview of the legislative process click here, or find out how a bill becomes a law here in Connecticut. If you want to stay up to date and have updates sent right to your e-mail box, consider signing up for LTCOP Emails!
Connecticut General Assembly Resources
Connecticut General Assembly Main Page Link
Committee Assignments
A full and exhaustive list of all 2024 Legislative Committee Assignments can be found below as well as opportunities to testify based on Committee Public Hearing Agenda's. You also can follow the House/Senate Journals for updates related to bills as they come out.
Contact Info for Key Committees
Find Testimony Opportunities By Following Committee Public Hearing Agendas Page
House/Senate Journal
LTCOP Bill Tracker
- During each legislative session, The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program continues to track and highlight a selection of priority focus bills as they relate to individuals who receive their Long Term Services and Supports in settings such as Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and Residential Care Homes. The Bill Tracker is Updated Weekly and can be Accessed Here.
CGA Website: How to Create Your Own Bill Tracker
Take Action - Speak Up! Contact Your Representative Today
My Representatives Contact Sheet
How to Write an Effective Letter - Template Format
2024 Legislative Session Overview:
The Connecticut Legislative Session for 2024 is an every other year short legislative session and will run from February 7th to May 8th. The Democratic Party controls both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with a majority of 98-53 in the House and 24-12 in the Senate. Governor Lamont released the amended budget proposal and legislative priorities of the governor's office which has a focus on addressing key issues such as economic growth, healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability. Regarding healthcare priorities, the governors proposed budget addressed areas such as oversight of hospitals, nursing homes and pharmaceutical in his spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1, part of the governors proposed budget also includes funding for an additional community ombudsman staff member. The governor's office aims to leverage the state's budget to invest in these areas, ensuring that the legislative actions taken align with the broader goals of improving the quality of life for all Connecticut residents and fostering equitable access to healthcare while working within the budget cap.
Legislative Session 2024 Agenda Summary for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman's Office
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman's Office is committed to enhancing the quality of life and the quality of care for residents in long-term care facilities. To achieve these goals, we propose a comprehensive legislative agenda that addresses critical areas for improvement within the long-term care system. Our agenda focuses on expanding the Ombudsman Program, ensuring adequate staffing levels, updating the approval process for nursing home care, enforcing ownership accountability, instituting acuity-based accountability measures, and standardizing assisted living admission contracts.
The Ombudsman’s office legislative agenda is designed to protect and enhance the welfare of long-term care residents through systemic improvements, increased accountability, and a focus on quality of care. Our aim is to ensure that all residents receive compassionate, competent, and resident-centered care, safeguarding their dignity and rights.
LOOKING BACK - END OF CT LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY 2023
2023 Legislative Session Overview:
The 2023 CT legislative session was a long budget-focused every other year legislative session that started January 4th and ended June 7th. Democrats controlled both the House and Senate by large majorities again this year (98-53 in the House and 24-12 in the Senate). A state budget was approved late session by large bi-partisan majorities in both the House and Senate and signed by Governor Lamont. A large FY 2022-23 state budget surplus and large state rainy day fund cushion, unlike budgets from 4-5+ years ago, were backgrounds to the session along with the fiscal spending cap which legislators saw as limiting more expansive state appropriations. The state budget included tax cuts for the first time in decades in CT, and other bills related to implementation of early voting, greater phased-in income tax exemptions for retirement income, and gun violence reform.
Nursing Homes and Long Term Care
Related to nursing homes and long-term care, there were positive measures passed to require: 1) Greater nursing home transparency for CT Department of Social Service cost reporting to help determine what are real nursing home costs given that may nursing homes have multiple corporate structures and related parties and it can be hard to follow the money; 2) Greater public availability of such DSS reports; 3) More efficient use of state and federal funds by nursing homes; 4) Improved review and requirements for nursing home change of ownership for greater accountability and to keep out bad actors; 5) Greater protections for residents related to nursing home involuntary discharge notices and such notices would be invalid if the nursing home did not provide to LTCOP at the same time as provided to the resident; 6) Many other consumer and resident/family-friendly measures.
On February 10th, the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP), E-Board, Statewide Family Council, and many other advocacy organizations rallied at the Legislative Office Building prior to the public hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 989, a comprehensive nursing home reform bill. The hearing lasted all day and late into the evening. The rally highlighted the very real poor nursing home staffing and care concerns that many residents face. SB 989 would have required increased state nursing home staffing to 4.1 hours per resident per day from the 3.0 current requirement among many measures. A corollary bill SB 1026 would have phased-in CT minimum staffing requirements to 3.6 hours per resident per day and then increase it to 4.1 within a couple years.
Unfortunately, increased nursing home staffing was not approved during the 2023 CT legislative session. Possible reasons: cost, staffing availability, and the hope and backdrop for a first-ever national nursing home minimum staffing requirement which the White House and federal government Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) floated last year at 4.1 hours per resident per day and which CMS/consultants have been reviewing/studying since with key stakeholder input. As of this writing on June 13th, the White House/CMS are expected to announce results of their year-long national minimum staffing review and propose some sort of national minimum staffing measure.
Key Bills Passed During 2023 Legislative Session - By Title and Public Act:To read more about these and other bills go to www.cga.ct.gov and the “quick bill search” link and insert the bill number only.
HB 5004 – An Act Implementing Early Voting, (Generally 14-day early voting period for general elections 7-day early voting for most primaries, and a 4-day early voting period for special elections and presidential preference primaries; starting after 1/1/24; requirements and procedures for early voting included) Public Act 23-5
HJ 1 - Resolution Proposing Constitutional Amendment Allowing for No-Excuse Absentee Voting, GAE, House Adopted, Senate Adopted (Resolution to appear on 2024 general election ballot) H.J. No. 1
HB 5781 - An Act Concerning Notice of Proposed Involuntary Transfer or Discharge of a Nursing Facility Resident, Family Councils in Managed Residential Communities, Coordination of Dementia Services, Nursing Home Transparency and Homemaker-Companion Agencies, (Consolidated these four bills SB 930, SB 1024, HB 6678; SB 1025 into HB 5781; includes nursing home involuntary discharge focus requiring nursing to provide affirmation to LTCOP that discharge notice was provided to resident and invalidates the discharge notice if LTCOP did not receive a copy of the discharge notice at the same time it was issued to the resident; the bill also provides access to the discharge plan for LTCOP staff; includes financial transparency requirements for nursing homes and reduces related party cost reports required to be reported to $30K from $50K; the bill also requires assisted living facilities to encourage and assist in the development of family councils; a dementia services coordinator position is created at the Department of Aging and Disability Services to coordinate state agency dementia programs and services; and it will transfer homemaker-companion agency jurisdiction to DPH from the Department of Consumer Protection and provides for many greater consumer protections Public Act 23-48
HB 6731 - An Act Concerning The Department of Public Health’s Recommendations Regarding Change in Ownership of Health Care Facilities, Public Act 23-122 (Requires greater scrutiny and review of change of ownership for nursing homes with goal to keep out bad actors)
HB 6733 - An Act Concerning The Department of Public Heath’s Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions To The Public Health Statutes, PH, (Includes measure that revises assisted living (AL) definition and allows for end-of-life care at AL; residents do not have to be chronic and stable in this situation as typically required in AL), Public Act 23-31
HB 6741 - Improving the Safety of Health Care Providers and Patients, Special Act 23-29 (Requires DPH to make public announcements against aggressive behavior towards healthcare workers; another section focuses on certain state grant funding availability for building security infrastructure improvements)
HB 6775 - An Act Concerning Mandated Reporters, Public Act 23-168 (Expands abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment mandated reporter list to also include licensed professional counselors; adult probation officers; adult parole officers; physician assistants; dental hygienists; resident service coordinators, clinical care coordinators, and managers employed at housing authorities, or municipal developers operating elderly housing projects)
SB 956 – An Act Requiring Discharge Standards Regarding Follow-Up Appointments and Prescription Medications for Patients Being Discharged From A Hospital or Nursing Home Facility, (This bill requires hospitals and nursing homes to better care coordinate resident needs upon discharge) Public Act 23-39
SB 989 - An Act Concerning Nonprofit Provider Retention of Contract Savings, Community Health Worker Medicaid Reimbursement and Studies of Medicaid Rates of Reimbursement, Nursing Home Transportation and Nursing Home Waiting Lists Public Act 23-186 (certain measures like cost reporting transparency and involuntary discharge notices were included in other bills; there was a strike all amendment and final bill appears to include only resident family transportation and waitlist workgroup measures related to nursing homes – need to confirm with the CT General Assembly; expect a bill name change once bill finalized)
SB 1088 - Financial Exploitation of Senior Citizens, Banking, Public Act 23-161 (greater financial protections for senior citizens and greater responsibility and requirements for financial organizations to help protect seniors)
HB 6941 - The State Budget Bill: An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2025, and Making Appropriations Therefor, and Provisions Related to Revenue and Other Items Implementing the State Budget, Public Act 23-204 (related to long-term care: one section establishes a working group to study nursing home excess bed capacity; another section provides for compensation for family care caregivers in the Medicaid waiver program for personal care attendant support once CMS approves the CT state waiver amendment request; another section would increase funeral assistance support to $1800 for low-income individuals; this bill includes the personal income tax rate reduction and retirement income phased-in exemptions up to certain limits info)
Key 2023 Home and Community-Based (HCBS) Related Bills
HB 6677 - Adult Day Centers -Increase Eligibility, Fee Increase, and Add PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care for Elderly) To Medicaid State Plan, Public Act 23-30;
HB 6767 - DCP’s Recommendations Regarding Licensing and Enforcement, (includes homemaker companion agency consumer protections); Public Act 23-99
HB 6855 – Medicaid – Study Efficacy and Need for Expansion of Such Programs, (wheelchair repair workgroup established), Public Act 23-22
SB 9, ( sections on PCA pathways and medical record request timelines from institution to institution); Public Act 23-97
SB 972 – Crisis Intervention Training for Police Officers and Collaboration Between Police Officers and Social Workers, Public Act 23-104
SB 998 - Establishing Tax Abatement for Certain Conservation Easements, (sections include multiple tenant protections and housing issues; rental regulations, Fair Share, affordable housing, reduces security deposit return timeline); Public Act 23-207
SB 1075 - Hospice and Palliative Care Pilot Program (establishes a hospital at home hospice pilot program) Public Act 23-174
LOOKING BACK - END OF CT LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY 2022
2022 Legislative Session Dates: The Connecticut General Assembly Convened on February 9, 2022, and adjourned on May 4, 2022. The legislators serving in this session took office following the 2020 elections. Democrats won a 24-12 majority in the Senate and a 97-54 majority in the House. The party also controlled the governorship, creating a Democratic state government trifecta. A full and exhaustive list of all 2022 Legislative Committee Assignments can be found here. This was an every other year Short Legislative Session, Both State Chambers, House and Senate, continued to have Large Democratic Majorities with A Democratic Governor, Children’s Mental Health Issues Were Top Priority This Year Compared to Nursing Homes Last Year; There Was a Large State Budget Surplus and Large Rainy Day Fund Versus Budget Challenges A Few Years Ago, There Was Lots of Federal and State Pandemic Support to Nursing Homes, Residents and Staff the Last Couple Years - There Were Positive Legislative Advances on Long Term Care Issues This Legislative Session Though Not the Landmark Advances of Pandemic Legislative Relief seen in 2021. This year we saw measures for greater consumer and resident protection; rights; accountability; Social Work Staffing Clarification; training; and reporting requirements and timelines updates.
Key Bills Passed Including HB 5313, HB 5485, HB 5500, HB 5506, SB 9, SB 173, SB 286, HB 5205, and SB 217 – By Title and Public Act
HB 5313 - Temporary Nursing Services Agencies, Reporting of Involuntary Transfers and Discharges from Nursing Homes and Residential Care Homes, Elder Abuse Training, Legal Rights of Long-Term Care Applicants and A Study of Managed Residential Community Issues, Aging, Public Act 22-57
HB 5485 - Various Revisions To Public Health Statutes, PH, Public Act 22-92 (includes pain management and oral hygiene new required training)
HB 5500 - DPH’s Recommendations Re: Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes, PH, Public Act 22-58
HB 5506 - Act Adjusting The State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2023, Concerning Provisions Related to Revenue, School Construction and Other Items To Implement The State Budget and Authorizing and Adjusting Bonds of the State, Emergency Certification, Public Act 22-118 (includes Community Ombudsman provision)
SB 9 - Additional Adjustments to the State Budget for Biennium Ending June 30, 2023, A Community Ombudsman Program, Certain Municipal-Related Provisions, School Building Projects Grants, and High Deductible Health Plans, APP, Public Act 22-146 (see section 7)
SB 173 - Study of Cost-Feasibility of Permitting Community Spouse of Institutionalized Medicaid Recipient To Retain Maximum Amount of Allowable Assets, Aging, (see section 237 also Community Spouse Protected Amount/HB 5506 Budget Bill Passed), Public Act 22-121
SB 286 - Elder Abuse Reporting Deadlines, Temporary Family Assistance, Certificates of Need for Long-Term Care Facilities and Civil Penalties for Nursing Homes That Fail To Use Rate Increases for Employee Wage Enhancements, Public Act 22-145, (see amendment Sections 504 wage enhancement civil penalties possible and sections 505-508 CON for nursing homes)
HB 5205 - Fair Rent Commissions, HSG, Public Act 22-30 – statute expanded to require more towns above certain population level to have a Fair Rent Commission – greater opportunity for consumer protections to exorbitant rent increases and other landlord measures
SB 217 - Establish A Hate Crimes Investigative Unit Within Division of State Police and Require Development of A Reporting System, Best Practices and A Model Investigation Policy for Law Enforcement Units Regarding Hate Crimes, Public Act 22-9
LOOKING BACK - END CT LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY 2021
The 2021 CT regular legislative session began on January 6th and ended on June 9th, a every other year long legislative session devoted to passage of a two-year budget bill. The session started after months of an ongoing Covid-19 pandemic with its significant hardships and restrictions for nursing home residents, family members, staff, and citizens alike. And just a few weeks after the Covid-19 vaccines started to become available to nursing home residents. A Nursing Home and Assisted Living Oversight Working Group, established in fall 2020 in response to these hardships and including residents, family members, advocates, legislators, providers and others, submitted recommendations to the legislature in early January 2020 and many of these resident and family-friendly legislative recommendations were passed into law this session. The E-Board strongly advocated this session for all nursing home residents including thru remote legislative testimony. A recent article in Kaiser Health News highlights the E-Board role - https://khn.org/news/article/zooming-into-the-statehouse-nursing-home-residents-use-new-digital-skills-to-push-for-changes .
A summary of key nursing home measures passed includes: rights to use technology of resident choice including video cameras with appropriate safeguards, protections and access rights; required resident and family council notification on regulations or legislative proposals impacting long term care facility residents and right to testify remotely as needed; improved DPH minimum required direct care staffing levels and improved social worker and recreation staffing requirements; a personal needs allowance increase from $60/month to $75/month for eligible residents; rights of essential caregivers to visit residents even during certain visit restrictions; required two-month supply of needed nursing home personal protective equipment (PPE); improved infection control staff and other requirements; required staff at least on-call each shift,, to start an IV line; staff required to be educated on best practices to ensure resident social, emotional and mental health needs and addressed thru person-centered care and assure opportunities for social connection and strategies to minimize social isolation; increased dementia special care unit requirements; required support from nursing homes to promote family councils; visitation protocols to be provided in writing and easy to understand format; care plan requirements to include resident visitation and support needs; and DPH required to submit report to the legislature by 1/1/22 regarding state or federal funds that may be available to support infrastructure improvements in nursing homes. Effective bill implementation dates vary. Specific bill information is listed below and residents can go to the CT General Assembly website at www.cga.ct.gov and highlight “quick bill search” and insert the bill number in the search box to get detailed bill info.
Quick Links to Some Key Bills passed from CT 2021 Session
AN ACT CONCERNING ESSENTIAL SUPPORT PERSONS AND A STATE-WIDE VISITATION POLICY FOR RESIDENTS OF LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/PA/PDF/2021PA-00071-R00HB-06634-PA.PDF - Public Act No. 21-71 | Previously H.B. 6634
AN ACT CONCERNING NURSING HOMES AND DEMENTIA SPECIAL CARE UNITS. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00185-R00SB-01030-PA.pdf - Public Act No. 21-185 | Previously S.B. 1030
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE BILLS OF RIGHTS FOR LONGTERM CARE RESIDENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE USE OF RESIDENT TECHNOLOGY FOR VIRTUAL VISITATION AND VIRTUAL MONITORING. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/PA/PDF/2021PA-00055-R00SB-00975-PA.PDF - Public Act No. 21-55 | Previously S.B. 975
Resident Virtual Monitoring Technology Consent Form and Instructions
Roommate Virtual Monitoring Technology Consent Form
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE VOICE OF RESIDENTS AND FAMILY COUNCILS. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/PA/PDF/2021PA-00194-R00SB-00973-PA.PDF - Public Act No. 21-194 | Previously S.B. 973
AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE THIRTIETH, 2023, AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR, AND MAKING DEFICIENCY AND ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE THIRTIETH, 2021. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/SA/PDF/2021SA-00015-R00HB-06689-SA.PDF - Special Act No. 21-15 | Previously House Bill No. 6689
AN ACT CONCERNING PROVISIONS RELATED TO REVENUE AND OTHER ITEMS TO IMPLEMENT THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2023. - (Personal Needs Allowance Addressed In Section 353 and 354) https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/TOB/S/PDF/2021SB-01202-R00-SB.PDF | Previously S.B. 1202
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STATUTES. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/PA/PDF/2021PA-00121-R00HB-06666-PA.PDF - Public Act No. 21-121 | Previously House Bill 6666
AN ACT REQUIRING DRIVERS OF PARATRANSIT VEHICLES TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE, NEGLECT, EXPLOITATION OR ABANDONMENT OF ELDERLY PERSONS. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00122-R00SB-00763-PA.pdf - Public Act 21-122 | Previously S.B. 763
AN ACT CONCERNING SENIOR CENTERS AND SENIOR CRIME PREVENTION EDUCATION. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/Pa/pdf/2021PA-00007-R00SB-00817-PA.PDF - Public Act 21-7 | Previously S.B. 817
AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STATUTES. https://cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00026-R00SB-01083-PA.pdf - Public Act 21-26 | Previously S.B. 1083
AN ACT EQUALIZING COMPREHENSIVE ACCESS TO MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/Pa/pdf/2021PA-00035-R00SB-00001-PA.PDF - Public Act No. 21-35 | Previously S.B. 1
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION ON THE DISPARATE IMPACT OF COVID-19. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/Sa/pdf/2021SA-00037-R00HB-05614-SA.PDF - Special Act 21-37 | Previously H.B. 5614
AN ACT CONCERNING DECLARATIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND CIVIL PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCIES AND THE CREATION OF A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION TO STUDY STATUTES GOVERNING THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH DECLARATIONS. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/Sa/pdf/2021SA-00005-R00HB-05653-SA.PDF - Special Act 21-5 | Previously H.B. 5653
Federal Advocacy
Essential Caregivers Act
H.R.3733: The Essential Caregivers Act
H.R. 3733 Q&A (Claudia Tenney)
H.R. 3733 Q&A (Consumer Voice)
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3733?s=1&r=1
H.R. 3733: The Essential Caregivers Act, led by U.S. Representatives Claudia Tenney and John
B. Larson, allows essential caregivers access to long-term facilities to provide care and support
to a facility resident during any public health emergency. It is vital that we as a society recognize
the critical role that family members play in the care and wellbeing of residents in long-term care
facilities. For more than a year, residents in these facilities were separated from their loved ones
– far too many lost their will to survive, and many others have suffered untold emotional,
psychological, and physical pain as a result of this separation. This bill would ensure that in any
future health emergency under Section 319, designated essential caregivers are always able to
access their loved ones in a manner consistent with all applicable health and safety protocols.
Federal Call to Action (Milbank)
Issue Brief: A Call for Federal Action to Improve Nursing Facilities
Policy Points
- To address longstanding quality concerns and disparities in nursing facilities, CMS should link federal funding to quality improvement and promote value-based payment
- To spur improvement in nursing facilities, CMS should expand its nursing facility guidance and include structural measures like staff turnover in its Medicare and Medicaid certification requirements
Abstract
- Nursing facility (NF) residents’ high infection rates and poor overall care experiences during the COVID-19 public health emergency have reinforced and amplified long-standing concerns about the quality and cost-effectiveness of NF care. In light of documented disparities in access, experience of care, and outcomes, these concerns are especially urgent for residents of color. While the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken some actions to promote a focus on quality, much more should be done to articulate federal policy and to inspire and incentivize improvement. Specifically, CMS should:
- Endorse linkage of any further public health emergency—related funding or other federal financial reimbursement to quality improvement.
- Align Medicare and Medicaid efforts to promote payment policies that are based on risk adjustment for complex care and incorporate value-based payment principles, eliminate unintended consequences of federal policies such as routine approval of nursing home bed taxes, and adopt a common foundation of quality measures.
- Expand existing guidance on rebalancing long-term services and supports.
- Enhance conditions of participation for nursing homes and hospitals by including structural measures such as census and staff turnover.
- Build out existing mechanisms like Care Compare to enhance public transparency, availability, and usability of cost report and ownership information and to provide timely and complete information on NF citations.
LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY
Watch Public Hearing and Committee Meetings Live
CGA Training: How to View Meetings/Hearings Virtually
To watch any public hearing and committee meeting live, visit the main website www.cga.ct.gov and check out the schedule of events / calendar on the front page. Click on the one you'd like to watch as the event occurs.
The General Assembly has established a Youtube channel for each committee (also accessible at cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/broadcastmedia.asp under the "CGA Live Streaming Feeds" heading).
How to Testify Virtually Online
CGA Training: How to Testify Virtually Online
CGA Website: A Guide on How to Contact Legislators and Testify Remotely
What to Expect When Testifying Remotely
Joining the Meeting: When you request to testify on a particular bill, you will be sent a calendar invite with a zoom meeting for the date/time of the event. Then, on the day of the event you will log into and join the zoom meeting and be placed in a holding room, but should still be able to see the meeting taking place. While in this waiting room/holding room. You will be on mute and your camera will not show. As the meeting progresses they will ultimately start accepting testimony from those who are approved and call them name by name to speak. Eventually it will be your turn to testify and they will call your name. When they call your name you will see rotating circle that says "Re-entering the meeting". At that time you should unmute and turn your camera on. You will then be allowed to speak.
How to Start Your Testimony: At the beginning of your testimony you will address the committee. Your testimony should begin with:
"Good afternoon Senator (CHAIR last name) , Representative (CHAIR last name), and distinguished members of the (Name of the Committee) Committee. My name is (your name) and I am here today to testify regarding (BILL NUMBER X) or (BILL NUMBERS X, Y, Z)."
If only testifying on behalf of one bill, say the bill number and full title and then tell your story or why your are for or against the bill. If you are testifying for multiple Bills, you can go through them one at a time by stating the bill number and full title of the bill and then the reasons why you are testifying on behalf of each one individually.
How to End Your Testimony: End by thanking them for hearing you today and let them know you welcome any questions.
*NOTE: Keep in mind each speaker has a total of 3 min to testify, so it is helpful to time and practice your testimony ahead of time so you know you wont be rushed and can get to all of your points during your delivery.
Upcoming Public Hearings
Listed on CGA Calendar of Events Page
The Nursing Home and Assisted Living Oversight Working Group (NHALOWG)
The Nursing Home and Assisted Living Oversight Working Group (NHALOWG) was formed to make recommendations on proposed legislation for the 2021 session addressing lessons learned from COVID-19, based upon the Mathematica final report (A Study of the COVID-19 Outbreak and Response in Connecticut Long-Term Care Facilities) and other related information, concerning:
- Structural challenges in the operation and infrastructure of nursing homes and assisted living facilities; and
- Changes needed to meet the demands of any future pandemic
Connecticut CT-N Network
Election and Absentee Ballot Information
Further Information About the Legislative Process
Take Action - Speak Up! Contact Your Local Representative Today
My Representatives Contact Sheet
How to Write an Effective Letter - Template Format