Bills limiting use of plastic straws and single-use plastic bags also advance.
Jenna Carlesso
Jenna is a reporter on The Connecticut Mirror’s investigative desk. Her reporting on gaps in Connecticut’s elder care system prompted sweeping changes in nursing home and home care policy. Jenna has also covered lapses in long-term care facilities, investigated the impact of cyberattacks on hospitals, and uncovered the questionable dealings of health ministry groups that masquerade as insurance. Her reporting sparked reforms in health care and government oversight, helped erase medical debt for Connecticut residents, and led to the indictments of developers in a major state project. Her work has been recognized by the National Press Foundation and the Association of Health Care Journalists. Before joining CT Mirror, she was a reporter at The Hartford Courant, where she covered government in the capital city with a focus on corruption, theft of taxpayer funds, and ethical violations.
Posted inHealth
CT enters legal tussle over Trump administration’s ‘conscience rule’
The rule allows health care workers to refuse medical treatment to people, even during emergencies, on religious or moral grounds.
Posted inHealth
Lamont backs nursing home rate increases
Three phased-in increases starting in July could avert a threatened strike by nursing home workers.
Posted inHealth
As marijuana legalization falters, supporters eye constitutional amendment
The move, though cumbersome, would put the controversial issue squarely in the hands of voters.
Posted inHealth
House backs ban on deceptive practices at faith-based pregnancy centers
As a constellation of states pass laws to restrict or ban abortion, CT lawmakers took aim Thursday at faith-based centers that deceive women seeking medical assistance for a pregnancy.
Posted inHealth
No vote to end religious vaccine exemptions this year
Lawmakers abandoned their quest this year because they couldn’t reach agreement on what to do with unvaccinated children already in school.
Posted inHealth
Senate approves bill requiring nursing homes to disclose staffing levels
The state Senate has advanced a bill to require nursing homes to disclose every day the number of direct-care staff members assigned to patients.
Posted inHealth
Lawmakers poised to announce plan for repealing religious exemption on vaccines
At issue is whether children already enrolled in school would be “grandfathered in,” meaning the repeal might only affect those looking to attend public school in the future.
Posted inJustice
CT Senate passes bill restricting cooperation with ICE
Connecticut jumped back into the contentious national debate over immigration enforcement as Senate Democrats voted early Wednesday to pass a bill that would further restrict how police and court personnel can work with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants.
Posted inMoney
Lawmakers propose $5 million to boost safety measures at religious institutions
With an arson at a New Haven mosque still fresh in the news, legislators said the state should provide money to protect Connecticut houses of worship.
Posted inHealth
Dozens of vaccine skeptics testify against removal of religious exemption
Dozens of immunization skeptics criticized the last-minute attempt to push through legislation that would dismantle the religious exemption, while hundreds more crowded into hearing rooms to listen to the testimony.
Posted inHealth
Lawmakers set hearing on wiping out religious exemption to vaccines
The hearing on Monday is a possible first step in introducing 11th hour legislation to repeal the religious exemption provision.
Posted inJustice
Senate passes bill toughening penalty for disseminating intimate images, ban on gay panic defense
The penalty for disseminating intimate images without consent would be considerably more severe.
Posted inHealth
Nursing home workers set new strike deadline
Connecticut’s largest health care employee union set a June 3 strike deadline if additional funding for pay raises isn’t added to the state budget.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
House gives final approval to pilot hemp program
Lawmakers gave unanimous approval late Wednesday to a bill authorizing a pilot program for the production and sale of hemp, which the governor pledged to sign into law.