Senate Republicans Outline Proposals to Create a Healthy and Safe Connecticut

Proposals Aim to Make Health Care Affordable and Accessible, Improve Child Welfare, and Strengthen Public Safety

Hartford – Today members of the Connecticut Senate Republican Caucus detailed a group of legislative proposals aimed at improving health care and public safety in the state of Connecticut.

The proposals seek to make health care more affordable and accessible, improve child welfare policies to protect and help the most vulnerable, and provide treatment for youthful offenders to help them turn their lives around and discourage dangerous, criminal behavior.

The proposals were outlined today by Senate Republicans as the third group of 2019 legislation the caucus is highlighting to improve Connecticut.

“One of the most pressing issues facing Connecticut residents is the high cost of health care,” said Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano. “Under current federal law, health insurance premiums in Connecticut have skyrocketed to unaffordable rates. Lawmakers need to work together to reduce these costs, just as we’ve worked together to protect insurance coverage for core health services.

“In addition to health care, Connecticut must do more to protect its children, from restricting access to dangerous drugs to strengthening oversight of the state Department of Children and Families. One of the most important responsibilities of government is to make sure all our children can grow up in safe and healthy environments. To that end, we are also proposing the state do more to help youthful offenders get the treatment and support they need to deter criminal behavior and make communities safer.”

Republican proposals highlighted today include the following.

Affordable & Accessible Health Care

S.B. 378 AN ACT PROHIBITING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FROM CHARGING DIFFERENT RATES FOR THE SAME PROCEDURE.

• Would ban health care providers from charging an insurance carrier a different rate for a medical procedure than such provider would charge an individual who is paying out of pocket for the same medical procedure.

S.B. No. 136 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A STATE-OPERATED REINSURANCE PROGRAM AND REQUIRING THAT THIS STATE APPLY FOR A STATE INNOVATION WAIVER.

• Would establish a state-operated reinsurance program and require Connecticut to apply for a state innovation waiver to fund such program.
• Would help lower premiums and create market stability to keep costs down.
• Will enable Connecticut to increase affordable coverage options for residents.

Child Welfare

S.B. 453 AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OMBUDSMAN.

• Would establish an independent ombudsman to provide children in the care and custody of the Department of Children and Families an opportunity to have complaints and grievances heard, reviewed and addressed by an independent overseer.

S.B. 452 AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE STATE OVERSIGHT COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

• Would establish the State Oversight Council on Children and Families in place of the State Advisory Council on Children and Families.
• Would include stakeholders and policy experts that reside outside of DCF and give the council the authority to investigate DCF operations and regularly report on such operations and recommend improvements.

S.B. 618 AN ACT RAISING THE MINIMUM AGE TO PURCHASE ELECTRONIC NICOTINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND VAPOR PRODUCTS.

• Would raise the minimum age to purchase vaping products from 18 to 21 years old.

S.B. 463 AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE EXCESS COST THRESHOLD FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

• Would aid small towns in the financing of special education services by revising reimbursement thresholds.

Public Safety

S.B. 504 AN ACT CONCERNING YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS, TREATMENT AND COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS.

• Would establish a community-based preprosecution program or a diversion program that provides services and resources to rehabilitate and redirect youthful offenders.