The state’s unfunded pension and healthcare liabilities being charged to UConn and UConn Health is a critical problem. These legacy costs, not created or controlled by UConn or UConn Health, will cost these state institutions a combined total of $283 million in the next three years.

The recent introduction of CT HB 6532 in February 2021: An Act Appropriating State Funds for Mental Health Services and Housing  is greatly appreciated by nurses advocating for better mental services for patients. The bill will allot funds to address the expansion of residential services for young adults, hire additional housing coordinators, and expand respite services, along with other short-term stabilization of patients with mental health issues.

The Connecticut General Assembly is considering legislation – Senate Bill 952 – to ensure deployment of 1,000 megawatts of energy storage capacity by the end of 2030 – enough to power about 1 million homes.
To capture the benefits of energy storage and ensure Connecticut stays on track to meet its 2040 clean energy goals, we believe the pending bill should be modified to accelerate the deployment deadline and require all storage resources be competitively sourced.

Moving individuals into the hotels helped reduce the spread of the coronavirus among those experiencing homelessness, as hotel rooms provided space to distance from others. But, perhaps more importantly, this intervention provided access to privacy and stability that was previously out of reach for many new residents of the hotels, as well as important lessons to inform future housing policy and practice.

The United States incarcerates young people at a rate higher than any other country with about 44,000 youths locked up behind bars. In Connecticut alone, 747 youths are detained awaiting trial, a majority of them minorities. Minors need their own lawyers in this system.

Now is the time for our state to invest in collaborative efforts that bring the education and agriculture sectors together for the benefit of our communities. Support is growing in the state legislature for the CT Grown for CT Kids Program. This bill would fund projects and programs that promote farm to school activities, potentially increasing the economic vitality of local farmers while improving the health and wellness of our children.