State Capitol Update

The House has unanimously approved a bill addressing nursing home transparency and reporting requirements, expanding supports for people with dementia, and implementing the recommendations of the Homemaker-Companion Agency Task Force.

Among other things, HB 5781 establishes a dementia services coordinator position within the Department of Aging and Disability Services. The bill also requires nursing homes to notify the Long-Term Care ombudsman about an involuntary transfer or discharge on the same day the resident is notified.

The House has given final legislative approval to a bill requiring local emergency operations plans to include a domestic terrorism prevention strategy. By law currently, every town must have a current emergency operations plan approved every two years to be eligible for certain state or federal emergency management benefits. This bill now awaits Governor Lamont’s signature.

Fire Service Day at the Capitol was held this week. I was pleased to meet with firefighters and discuss important bills up for a discussion this session. I asked them questions about PFAS, forever chemicals, not only in foam used to put out fires, but also in their turnout gear. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large, complex group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in consumer products around the world since about the 1950s. Current scientific research suggests that exposure to high levels of certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes.