02/27/2024
February 27, 2024 Labor and Public Employees Committee, HB 5271
Public Hearing Testimony of
Danté Bartolomeo
Commissioner
Department of Labor
Labor and Public Employees Committee
February 27, 2024
Good morning Senator Kushner, Representative Sanchez, Senator Sampson, Representative Weir and members of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with testimony regarding HB 5271: AN ACT INCREASING THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION THRESHOLD FOR AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS. My name is Danté Bartolomeo and I am the Commissioner of the CT Department of Labor.
House Bill 5271 amends the Unemployment Compensation Act definition of employment for individuals working in agricultural labor. As a result, the total amount paid to an agricultural employee, before they are covered under the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, would increase from twenty thousand dollars to twenty-five thousand dollars. While I appreciate the potential positive impact that HB 5271 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 covered by the UI law.
By excluding agricultural workers who earn between twenty and twenty-five thousand dollars from UI coverage, a necessary financial safety net is removed for individuals who lose work through no fault of their own. In addition, this has a negative impact on the economy as these UI benefits are typically and immediately returned to the local businesses in the form of purchases of goods and services. Loss of UI benefits will also lead to greater use of other government services.
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. 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. Therefore, 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 testimony.
Connecticut Department of Labor • www.ct.gov/dol
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer