Update: April 21 8:15 p.m. – State Response to Coronavirus
Friends and Neighbors,
Governor Lamont this evening announced Executive Order 7CC.
The Order makes modifications, clarifications, and expands certain previous orders regarding municipal budget appropriations, including extended time frames for a municipality to collect unpaid taxes.
The Order also modifies statutes requiring in-person appearances in court for certain filings, including filing for a finding of an irretrievable breakdown of marriage, filings of educational support and dissolution of marriage.
During his afternoon press briefing, the governor announced a partnership with Hartford Healthcare and Connecticut-based medical testing company Quest Diagnostics to significantly increase testing for the Covid-19 virus.
To watch the full video of the governor’s afternoon press conference, please click here:
Executive Order No. 7CC enacts the following provisions:
- Applicability of Executive Order No. 7S, Section 7 to additional critical and time-sensitive municipal fiscal actions: Expands Section 7 of Executive Order No. 7S, permitting a municipality’s legislative body and budget-making authority to jointly authorize certain actions by a majority vote of each body to include additional time sensitive and essential actions among which such bodies may authorize.
- Clarification of time periods regarding suspension and modification of non-judicial tax sales pursuant to Executive Order No. 7S, Section 11: Clarifies the calculation of time frames to redeem certain interests in property after a municipality has sold the property to recoup unpaid taxes. Executive Order No. 7S extended those time frames.
- Exclusion of federal stimulus payments in evaluating eligibility for state or local programs financed in whole or in part using state funds: Modifies state statutes to provide that individual stimulus payments under the federal CARES Act will not be counted as income or resources when determining eligibility for state benefits or services.
- Alternative to physical presence in court for finding of irretrievable breakdown of marriage: Modifies state statutes requiring the physical presence in court of a party to a dissolution or legal separation prior to a finding that a marriage has broken down irretrievably to permit the court to accept not-in-person testimony from such parties sufficient to make such finding. However, this does not apply in any case where a restraining order or a protective order between the parties is in effect or an application for such an order is pending before the court.
- Alternative to in-person waiver of right to file motion or petition for educational support: Modifies state statutes requiring a parent to be present in court for the court to make findings sufficient to accept the parent’s waiver of the right or file a motion or petition for educational support to provide that such a waiver may be accepted upon submission of proof deemed sufficient by the court that the parent fully understands the consequences of such a waiver. However, this does not apply in any case where a restraining order or a protective order between the parties is in effect or an application for such an order is pending before the court.
- Alternative to physical appearance of petitioner regarding decree of dissolution after entry of decree of legal separation: Modifies state statutes requiring the presence of the party seeking a decree dissolving a marriage at the time of the entry of such decree and permits the court to make such entry without requiring the presence of the party. However, in any case where a restraining order or a protective order between the parties is in effect or an application for such an order is pending before the court, the presence of the party shall be required.
- Alternative to in-court canvas prior to entrance of final agreement: Modifies state statutes requiring the court to inquire into the financial resources and actual needs of the spouses and their respective fitness to have physical custody or rights of visitation with any minor child prior to entry of a final order of dissolution or approval of a final agreement and permits the court to satisfy the inquiry requirement. However, this does not apply in any case in which a restraining order or a protective order between the parties is in effect or an application for such an order is pending before the court.
- Alternative to physical presence when findings on the record required: Whenever applicable law requires the court to make a specific finding on the record in a proceeding, that requirement is satisfied if the court’s written judgement, order, or memorandum of decision includes such finding except in any case where a restraining order or protective order between the parties is in effect or an application for such an order is pending before the court.
- Revised financial protections for people covered by insurance who receive out-of-network health care services during the public health emergency: Repeals Sections 2(a) and 2(b) of Executive Order No. 7U.
The governor’s full press release can be read here: https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/04-2020/Governor-Lamont-Coronavirus-Update-April-21
The Executive Order can be read here: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/Executive-Orders/Lamont-Executive-Orders/Executive-Order-No-7CC.pdf
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Governor Lamont Announces Hartford HealthCare and Quest Diagnostics to Significantly Increase COVID-19 Testing Capacity in Connecticut
Expansion Will Increase Hartford HealthCare’s Testing Capacity from 500 to 2,500 Tests Per Day in Locations Across Connecticut
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that a new initiative between Hartford HealthCare and Quest Diagnostics, with support from the State of Connecticut, will significantly increase the capacity of COVID-19 testing in the state from 500 tests per day to 2,500.
Hartford HealthCare also plans to increase capacity at existing testing locations in Norwich, Hartford, Torrington, Bridgeport, and New Britain, and is actively investigating new ways to bring testing to traditionally underserved communities. Governor Lamont said the state is endorsing the plan and will provide support wherever it is needed.
More information can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/04-2020/Governor-Lamont-Announces-Hartford-Healthcare-and-Quest-Diagnostics
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Updated Department of Labor Information
The Department of Labor released an update regarding their response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The time frame to process claims is now approximately 3-4 weeks (reduced from a recent peak wait of 6 weeks) due to the unprecedented volume. The agency typically received about 3,000 new claims a week with a peak of under 10,000 per week; since March 13, 2020 it has received more than 386,000 applications – well over two years of application activity in little more than a month.
To reduce the backlog, the agency has shifted staff responsibilities, borrowed former CTDOL staff that have gone to other agencies, brought back retirees, and created multiple automated programs to process both initial and weekly claims.
The update includes important information for claimants, and regarding state and federal program availability.
More information can be found here: https://cdn.cthousegop.com/2020/04/4-20-2020-UI-Update-for-Public-Information.pdf
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Legislative Session Concludes
Legislative leaders today announced that due to the continued threat created by the Covid-19 pandemic, the regular legislative session will conclude without further action before the Constitutional deadline of May 6.
In a joint statement, House Republican Leader Themis Klarides, Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz, Senate President Martin M. Looney, House Majority Leader Matt Ritter, and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said,
“The 2020 regular legislative session will adjourn without any further action, and we are already working on a plan to convene a special session in the coming months to ensure the continuity of government functions and that any necessary legislative action can be taken. Our top priority is the health and safety of the public, and we are committed to continue working in unison to stem this health crisis and do everything possible to protect the Connecticut residents we all represent.”
As of now, there is no definitive date for a special session.
https://www.cthousegop.com/legislative-leaders-say-2020-regular-session-wont-reconvene/
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Partners in the Process
State legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, hear from constituents every day. They can offer valuable insight into how this public health crisis has affected our state, and what people need now and when the state recovery gains momentum. Members of the General Assembly should be true partners in the governor’s process to reopen Connecticut.
On behalf of the House Republican Caucus, Themis Klarides and Vincent Candelora have written to the governor, and Rep. Klarides discussed the topic with the news media today.
The video can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/cthousegop/videos/227687461662620/
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As of 4:00 p.m. tonight – Tuesday, April 21st – the state has diagnosed a total of 20360 cases of Coronavirus. Updated virus totals and Town-by-Town statistics can be accessed here: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus
The total statewide number of COVID-19 associated fatalities is 1423.
Latest COVID-19 Testing Data in Connecticut
Updated 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Total patients who tested positive: 20360
Fairfield County: 8472
Hartford County: 3951
Litchfield County: 643
Middlesex County: 512
New Haven County: 5493
New London County: 369
Tolland County: 305
Windham County: 112
Pending address validation: 503