CT Public Defender New Employee

Members of the public have reported receiving calls, reportedly from the Judicial Branch of the Public Defender’s office, indicating that their loved one is in jail and they need to immediately send cash or provide a credit card number for bail. These calls are scams, so please do not send cash or provide your credit card number or any other personal information. A public defender would never call and ask for money or credit card information. If you receive such a call, contact the State Police in your state.

New Employees

Welcome to the Division of Public Defender Services. In order to facilitate the orientation process, we are providing your orientation and employee information here for you to review prior to your start date. All items with double asterisks ** must be completed. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

Paula Lohr, Acting Director Human Resources	Paula.Lohr@pds.ct.gov 860-509-6431
Paula Lohr, Human Resources Officer	Paula.Lohr@pds.ct.gov 860-509-6431
Susan Soares, Human Resources Assistant	Susan.Soares@pds.ct.gov 860-509-6433
Michele Paquette, Payroll Officer	Michele.Paquette@pds.ct.gov 860-509-6417

EMPLOYMENT

Form	Link
Employee’s Withholding Certificates**	W-4-FORM	CT-W4-FORM
Employment Eligibility Verification Form Please submit one of the documents listed in column A or one each from columns B and C, to establish your identity and employment eligibility**	I-9-FORM
Direct Deposit**	CO-1040-FORM
Employee Contact and Emergency Information**	pdhr-146-FORM
Criminal Convictions/Pending Criminal Proceeding Addendum**	pdhr-138-FORM
AAEO Form**	pdhr-137-FORM
Claim of Prior Service**	pdhr-147-FORM
State Holidays and Check Dates 2024	2024 Calendar
Employee Work Schedule**	pdhr-132-FORM

RETIREMENT

Information about the Tier IV plan was provided in your Welcome Letter. The forms mentioned in your letter are below. These forms can be found at the associated links, simply down load and fill out. You may print out and bring to orientation, or save file and email to Susan.Soares@pds.ct.gov

Form	Link
Prior Military Service	CO-991-FORM
Prior State or Municipal Service	CO-991-FORM
Employment with Other States	CO-991-FORM

Designation Of Retirement Plan Election**	CO-931-FORM
Designation Of Retirement Plan Beneficiary Form For Active/Inactive Members**	CO-999-FORM
Retirement Credit Purchase Request	CO-800-FORM

HEALTH INSURANCE

Information about the State’s health insurance program was provided in your Welcome Letter. More detailed information is provided in State’s Health Care Planner and the Pharmacy Benefits section of the Comptrollers Website. Forms for enrollment in Health Insurance will be completed at orientation. Currently Dental Insurance is provided by Cigna, additional information is provided in the above mentioned State’s Health Care Planner.

Please bring the following to orientation to enroll:
Proof of relationship for each eligible dependent covered including step children:
a) Marriage certificate
b) Long Form Birth certificates of children or
- Documentation of Legal Guardianship
- Adoption Decree
c) Disabled child over age 26 requires above information and completion of insurance carriers medical verification form. If you have

The following information is also available regarding employee health:

Program	Link
Health Navigator Doctors and Providers	CareCompass
Supplemental Benefits Care Compass Navigator	Supplemental Benefits Care Compass

HEALTH ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (HEP)

Information about this program can be found at Health Enhancement Program on the Comptrollers Website.

Form	Link

GROUP LIFE INSURANCE

An explanation of this plan is available in the Group Life Insurance for Employees State of Connecticut. The application for this benefit will be provided at orientation.

SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS

Each of these programs were described in your Welcome Letter. The table below indicates the page where each benefit is explained in the State of Connecticut Supplement Benefits Guide.

Benefit	Link
Deferred Compensation	State of Connecticut Defined Contribution 457 Plan
Dependent Care Assistance Plan	DCAP Fact Sheet State of Connecticut Supplemental Benefits Page 4
Medical Flexible Spending Account	State of Connecticut Supplement Benefits Guide Page 4
Connecticut State Employees Credit Union	Connecticut State Employees Credit Union
Home & Auto via Payroll Deduction	Liberty Mutual Travelers
Short Term Disability Insurance	Colonial Life Lincoln National 866-858-1171
Long Term Disability Insurance	The Hartford 888-723-8583 or 203-634-2829
Voluntary Life Insurance	Unum Life Insurance Company 833-703-1967 Reference Employer Code: 1357722
CHET College Savings Plan	CHET College Savings Plan
Identity Theft Protection	Norton LifeLock

ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES

Policy
Acknowledgement of Employment Policies **	Acknowledgement of Employment Policies-FORM
Administrative Policy #104 Sexual Harassment Public Acts Sexual Harassment Orientation Training CHRO Sexual Harassment Information	Administrative Policy #104 Sexual Harassment Public Acts 19-16 & 19-93 Sexual Harassment Orientation Training-FORM CHRO Online Sexual Harassment Training Required Training
Administrative Policy# 608 Computer Use Sign Off**	State of Connecticut Acceptable Use Policy Use of Computer Equipment and Mobile Devices-FORM
Judicial Branch Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Policy PREA Policy Sign off	pdhr-148-FORM
Mandated Reporter Policy**	pdhr-149-FORM
Mandated Reporter Training**	Mandated Reporter Training Required Training
Attorney Social Worker Confidentiality Statement	Attorney Social Worker Confidentiality Statement
State of Connecticut Ethics Regulations Ethics 101** Memo From Legal Counsel	Public Official & State Employees guide to the Code of Ethics Necessary Expenses and Gifts to the State Guide for Public Official & State Employees Ethics 101 Required Training Click here if you have difficulty printing the certificate. Malpractice Insurance and Ethical Obligations

ORIENTATION MATERIALS

Document

Link

CORE-CT

Welcome to CORE-CT

CORE Time Entry

CORE Codes Brochure

UNION INFORMATION
AFSCME LOCAL 749 represents Investigators and Support Staff. Union Contract can be found at this link: AFSCME Local 749 Collective Bargaining Agreement

AFT Connecticut Judicial Branch represents Social Workers. Union Contract can be found at this link: AFT Professional Judicial Employees

AFSCME Local 381 represents Attorneys with the exception of Public Defenders. Union Contract can be found at this link: Attorneys Collective Bargaining Agreement

Connecticut State Division of Public Defender Services

New Employees