“I don’t believe DPH is recognizing the impact of this bill.”

(From CT News Junkie)

Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, estimated the change could displace as many as 30,000 students who do not have documentation for their vaccinations. 

“I’m really struggling in the fact that I don’t believe DPH is recognizing the impact of this bill, not only for the DPH side but this has a direct and deleterious effect on our education side. So the education costs have to be included in this bill, in my opinion, because it’s not just one, it’s both,” Somers said.

Somers attempted to amend the bill to create a $350 million fund to cover the cost of educating potentially displaced students.

Sen. Cathy Osten, a Sprague Democrat who co-chairs the committee, ruled the amendment out of order.

She said the change was outside the cognizance of the committee because it attempted to add a new program to the bill.

The amendment failed when the committee upheld Osten’s ruling.

https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2021/04/15/religious-exemption-bill-clears-appropriations-committee/