AARP Connecticut Legislative Wrap-Up

[View in Browser]( [Logo]( AARP Connecticut Advocacy During the 2021 legislative session, the Connecticut General Assembly passed several pieces of legislation that will benefit older adults throughout the state. AARP Connecticut has a full legislative wrap-up available [HERE]( but we also wanted to share two key pieces of legislation that we supported this year. [SB 1030, An Act Concerning Long-Term Care Facilities](. This legislation will implement many of the recommendations of the legislature’s Nursing Home and Assisted Living Oversight Working Groups, which was convened to examine and address issues that emerged in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key provisions of this legislation include: - Enhancing infection control procedures at nursing homes; - Requiring nursing homes to maintain a two-month stockpile of personal protective equipment; - Improving emergency planning in nursing homes and other long-term care settings; - Better addressing the social, emotional, and mental health needs of residents; - Requiring nursing homes to provide at least 3 hours of direct care per resident per day (the current requirement is 1.9 hours per resident per day. AARP Connecticut’s testimony on this bill is available [here](. A white paper on our recommendations for nursing home reform is available [here](. [HB 6526, An Act Concerning Electric Suppliers]( Requested by AARP Connecticut, this legislation had strong bipartisan support in both chambers. The bill (1) deems any contract between an electric supplier and a residential customer that includes variable rates null and void (there are approximately 25,000 grandfathered in variable rate contracts in Connecticut), (2) prohibits supplier contracts with termination fees or early cancellation fees for residential customers, (3) requires the supplier to provide the customer with an estimated average monthly bill when offering a contract, and (4) applies training requirements and certain other provisions to third parties who contract with, or are compensated by, a supplier’s third-party marketer. The bill authorizes the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to condition a supplier’s license on terms PURA determines to be just and reasonable, including proof that the electric supplier’s products are not overpriced or harmful to residential customers, and requires suppliers to get PURA’s approval to transfer or assign customers. AARP Connecticut’s testimony on this bill is available [here.]( Testimony from an AARP Connecticut volunteer is available [here](. A full summary of AARP Connecticut's 2021 advocacy efforts is available [HERE](. The legislature is still finalizing a bipartisan, two-year, $46 billion budget package. We will update our advocacy summary once the Governor has signed the budget implementer. If you are pleased with bipartisan efforts to address issues that matter to older adults in Connecticut, take a moment to say "thank you" to your legislators. [Say Thanks]( [AARP Connecticut Facebook]( [AARP Connecticut Twitter]( [AARP.org]( [Make a Donation]( [AARP Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe from AARP Connecticut]( [Unsubscribe from all AARP e‑mails]( [© 2021]( AARP Connecticut, All Rights Reserved | 21 Oak Street #104, Hartford, Connecticut 06106 US