April 5, 2023

STATE REPRESENTATIVES NICOLE KLARIDES-DITRIA, DORINDA BORER AND MEMBERS OF WOMEN’S BIPARTISAN CAUCUS UNVEIL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2023 SESSION

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State Representatives Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R-Beacon Falls, Derby, Seymour) and Dorinda Borer (D-West Haven), co-chairs of the Women’s Bipartisan Caucus in the Connecticut General Assembly, unveiled the group’s 2023 legislative priorities during a press conference Wednesday at the State Capitol.

Reps. Klarides-Ditria and Borer were joined by other lawmakers in the Women’s Bipartisan Caucus to discuss the bills they are supporting this session.

“The bipartisan women’s caucus supports varied pieces of legislation because they will provide better and easier access to healthcare, stronger protections for children, seniors and victims of domestic violence, and continue to make investments in our education system that are so vital for Connecticut’s future,” said Rep. Klarides-Ditria. “I want to thank my colleagues for working to craft legislation that positions our state for the future.”

“I am proud to be co-chair of the largest caucus in the Connecticut General Assembly and even prouder of the work we did to reach a consensus on the legislation that we will be supporting during this session,” said Rep. Borer. “We heard from women in our districts and across the state about the issues that affect them most and this well-rounded list of bills is representative of those numerous constituent conversations. These bills also represent the work our caucus has done to make an impact on the lives of women and families on a wide range of issues from domestic violence to education to health care and the workforce.”

The list of bills includes:

HB 6273: Aims to decrease the gender wage gap by requiring employers to disclose salary ranges on public and internal job postings
HB 6569: Requires that a person be not less than eighteen years of age to be eligible to marry
SB 986: Expands maternal healthcare access and affordability in response to pending requests from several hospitals to close labor and delivery facilities
SB 5: Provides greater protections for and enhanced responses to individuals involved in domestic and intimate partner violence
HB 5194: Asks the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity to conduct a study of community-based bereavement and grief counseling organizations and services for children and families and make recommendations for the implementation of a statewide program to deliver such services
HB 5003: Fully funds the Education Cost Sharing program by 2025 while also covering additional costs for high-need students at magnet and charter schools and within the Open Choice initiative
HB 5197: Offers access to emergency contraception from a vending machine
SB 1075: Provides dignity to hospice care patients by allowing them to pass away comfortably in their home
HB 6759: Among other provisions, requires licensed child care centers, School Readiness providers or any child care services provider that accepts state funds for infant toddler, or preschool programs to pay their employees on the OEC Compensation scale
HB 5001: Encourages state agencies to use their funding to reduce waiting lists, establishes an adequate workforce to serve the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) population and asks state agencies to recommend new service eligibility criteria that does not hinge on the results of an IQ test

“Building a bipartisan consensus can be difficult in the Connecticut General Assembly, but the Women’s Bipartisan Caucus is supporting a wide range of legislation that will help women and families across Connecticut in every aspect of their lives,” said Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford).

“The Women’s Bipartisan Caucus continues the important work of effectively moving issues forward in a number of key areas,” said Majority Leader Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford, Manchester). “I am proud of their accomplishments over the years and look forward to seeing many of their priorities cross the finish line this session.”