Paid Sick Leave Mandate

State lawmakers continue to advance a government “one-size-fits-all” approach to mandating paid sick leave that will increase business costs, cause workplace disruptions and potentially hurt employees instead of help them.

Approved by the Labor Committee, SB-217 requires employers of 25 or more employees to provide paid sick leave at a minimum of one hour for every 40 hours worked, with unlimited and indefinite carryover to future years.

This will particularly hit many service industry employers and seasonal companies — ironically, the ones who can least afford to give significant time off.
According to a recent CBIA membership survey, 87% of employers said government-mandated paid sick leave would harm their businesses.

Companies need the flexibility to determine which time-off policies work best for their workforce. Many businesses, including those that rely on a part-time or a seasonal workforce, would be put at an operational and competitive disadvantage if the proposal were to be enacted.
While praised for how well its employers take care of their employees, Connecticut was also recently ranked last in the U.S. for how its state government affects the business climate, according to Expansion Management magazine.

Proposals such as SB-217 only make the situation worse, especially during an economic downturn so please contact your legislator's and let them know how you feel. If you have any questions please contact Jeff Rouleau at the Chamber. jrouleau@waterburychamber.com or by phone 203-757-0701

HB05588- AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT BOARD.

One of the Chamber's initiatives on our Legislative agenda is to provide additional support to the NRWIB and so far this bill has moved favorably. It passed through the Commerce Committee with a 18-3 vote and has been filed to the Legislative Commissioners office. Obviously we all know how important workforce training is to our region and state so I am pretty sure this bill will move with ease.

HB05883 - AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE SILAS BRONSON LIBRARY, FOR WATERBURY INDUSTRIAL COMMONS, AND AMENDING THE URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL SITE REINVE

This bill, which was raised in the Commerce Committee, will provide 15 million dollars in funding for the Silas Bronson Library in Waterbury as well as 15 million dollars for the clean up and redevelopment of the Waterbury Industrial Commons. Once cleaned up, the Industrial Commons site will become home to the Public Works Department as well as develop 2 large pad sites for future use. If these sites are leased, the city will receive an estimated 1.5 million dollars in rent and save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars when the Public Works Department is moved.

On Tuesday, March 11th, the Mayor, Steve Sasala, Leo Frank and many others went to testify in front of the Commerce Committee for this Bill.

Deadlines have Arrived

The following committees have reached their JF Deadlines which means the committees must report their bills out of their committee. This is when things get interesting and the bills start dying or collecting steam. Keep an eye on the Chamber's Bill tracker to see what is going on with our Bills.


Transportation Committee
Program Review and Investigations Committee
Committee on Aging
Banks Committee
Select Committee on Children
Select Committee on Housing
Public Safety and Security
Committee on Veterans Affairs

Labor Committee considering harmful workers' comp proposals- March 4

The following bills will be up for public hearing in front of the Labor Committee on March 4th. If anyone has an interest in going to the legislative office building please let me know and I could get more information on where to be and what timethe hearing will start.


SB-255: EXPANSION OF DISCRETIONARY BENEFITS

This Bill would increase workers' compensation benefits and costs for employers by increasing the amount of money awarded as discretionary benefits. According to the state’s workers' comp insurance rating bureau, this bill could increase workers’ comp costs for the average employer by more than 50%.


SB-57: EMPLOYER ASSISTANCE WITH WORKERS' COMP FORMS

This bill Requires employers to provide and assist employees with the forms necessary to file a workers' comp claim upon notice of injury. If enacted, this proposal will increase the number of claims filed.


SB-63: POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AS A WORKERS' COMP CLAIM

Allows a mental/emotional disorder related to work with no associated physical injury to be considered a workers' compensation claim. Given the ever-increasing number of mental diagnoses and emotional disorders today, this legislation will significantly increase the number of claims against employers.


SB-64: EXPANSION OF SCARRING BENEFITS

Back again from last year, this bill expands benefits for scars and disfigurement to include scars anywhere on the body, regardless of their impact on earning capacity.


HB-5334: TIMELY MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR INJURED WORKERS

This Bill if passed would Penalize employers for delays in medical treatment for injured workers in instances where the employer challenges a recommendation for medical treatment.