December 10, 2020

Free COVID Testing, My Committee Assignments, and DMV Extensions for Expiring Contracts

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Committee Assignments for the 2021-2022 Legislative Session

I am proud to announce that I have recently been notified by House Republican Leader-elect Vincent Candelora that I have been named an Assistant House Republican Leader. In addition, I have been appointed as the Ranking Member of the Insurance Committee for a second term, which will be my fifth year on the committee. For the second consecutive session I will also be a member of the Appropriations Committee and have been newly appointed to the Judiciary Committee.

To read more on the types of issues each committee handles and my individual assignments click here.

Free COVID-19 Testing in Bristol

For anyone who may be interested, Community Health Center Inc. located at 395 North Main Street in Bristol is offering free walk-up or drive-up COVID-19 testing. You don’t need to have any symptoms or appointment in order to be tested. Testing hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. After being tested, you will receive your results in 3-5 days.

You may be tested as many times as needed and children under the age of 18 may be tested with a parent or guardian consent.

In an effort to save time waiting in line, anyone interested in being tested is encouraged to download and print the registration form found below and bring it with you the day you show up for testing.

To view the registration form, click here.

For more testing related information, click here.

Unemployment Extended Benefits to End Week of Dec. 12

The Department of Labor (DOL) have recently announced they will be “triggering off” the “High Extended Benefits” due to a decline in the state’s unemployment rate the week of December 12,.

According to DOL, “the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) puts the unemployment rate at 6.1%, down from 7.8% in September; however, the state’s economists estimate the real unemployment rate is closer to 11%, down from 12-13% last month.”

The falling unemployment rate pushes the state off the High Extended Benefit period by bringing the three-month average unemployment rate below 8% — a federal threshold that authorizes an additional seven weeks of benefits to unemployment and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants.

To read the release from the Department of Labor, click here.

DMV Extends Deadlines for Expiring Credentials

As a result of COVID-19, the Department of Motor Vehicles have extended deadlines for Connecticut residents with expiring credentials (i.e. licenses, permits, ID cards, registrations, emissions tests, etc.).

Driver’s Licenses, Learner’s Permits and Identity Cards

Driver’s licenses (does not apply to CDL – see below)
Learner’s permits (does not apply to Commercial Learner Permits – see below)
Identity cards

If your license, learner’s permit or identity card expired or will expire from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, IT REMAINS VALID for one (1) year after the expiration date printed on the credential.

If the item will expire between January 1, 2021 and March 31, 2021, IT WILL REMAIN VALID through December 31, 2021.

Commercial Driver’s Licenses

If your commercial driver’s license expired or will expire from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, IT REMAINS VALID for one (1) year after the expiration date printed on the credential.

Commercial Learner’s Permits (CLP)

If your commercial learner’s permit expired or will expire from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, IT REMAINS VALID until December 31, 2020

Vehicle and Boat Registrations, Emissions Tests and Disability Placards

Deadlines have also been extended for the following items:

Disability placards
Motor vehicle and boat registrations
Emissions tests or retests

If the item expired between March 10, 2020 and May 31, 2020, IT REMAINS VALID until November 30, 2020.

If the item expired between June 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020, IT REMAINS VALID until December 31, 2020.

New Residents – For any person who moved to Connecticut after March 10, 2020, the deadline for obtaining a license, registration or emissions inspection in Connecticut will be extended by 180 days.

Suspension Related Matters – Suspensions that take effect between March 10, 2020 and June 30, 2020 will be delayed by 180 days as a result of failure to attend an Operator Retraining or Child Safety Seat Program, or nonpayment of fees due to a returned check or rejected payment.

To read the information provided by the DMV, click here.