02/28/2023
February 23, 2023 Labor and Public Employees Committee HL HB 5859
Public Hearing Testimony of
Danté Bartolomeo
Commissioner
Department of Labor
Labor and Public Employees Committee
February 23, 2023
Good Morning Senator Kushner, Representative Sanchez, Senator Sampson, Representative Ackert and members of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with written testimony regarding HB 5859: AN ACT CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT OF INDIVIDUALS IN AGRICULTURAL LABOR. My name is Danté Bartolomeo and I am the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor.
Essentially, HB 5859 amends the definition of employment for individuals working in agricultural labor, in the Unemployment Compensation Act, so that the total amount paid to an agricultural employee increase from twenty thousand dollars to twenty-five thousand dollars. While I appreciate the potential positive impact that HB 5859 could have on that industry, the unintended consequence is that it would reduce the protections for the very agricultural employees that have made this industry thrive in our State. I have reservations about this bill as drafted because it may result in fewer employers being subject to and, therefore, fewer employees covered by the Unemployment Insurance (UI) law. I believe that the employer and its employees share the same goal – a vibrant economy. Connecticut’s agricultural industry is thriving, and we all want to continue to support it.
By excluding agricultural workers who would no longer have protections from UI coverage, a necessary financial safety net is removed for individuals who lose work through no fault of their own. This has a negative impact on business as these UI benefits are typically and immediately returned to the local economy in the form of purchases of goods and services. Loss of UI benefits will also lead to greater use of other government services. Rather than exclude workers from UI coverage and protections, it would be my preference that we instead find other innovative ways to support Connecticut’s farmers. The Labor Department remains open to further discussing this bill with its proponents so that we can try to strike a balance between assisting our farmers while still ensuring that their workers will not be adversely impacted.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with this written testimony.
Connecticut Department of Labor • www.ct.gov/dol
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer