State Rep. Pam Sawyer has proposed an exception to new legislatively-imposed sick time rules if a business can show the requirement would create “undue hardship.”
Under her amendment to pending legislation, “undue hardship” would mean significant difficulty or expense on the employer when considered in relation to factors such as size of the business, its financial resources, and the nature, structure and demands of its operation.
“Especially in these troubled economic jobs, many companies are barely able to stay open,” said Rep. Sawyer. “Imposing sick time rules from the state legislature could be the final straw for a struggling firm. There should be a waiver or an exception for companies in special circumstances or precarious financial situations.”
The House of Representatives rejected Rep. Sawyer’s proposal but adopted the strict sick time requirements for businesses with 50 or more employees by a vote of 88-58.
The state would be exempt from this onerous measure.
“Because of the huge pressure this paid sick-leave law would add onto businesses during these toughest of times, I voted No on the bill. This just kicks Connecticut businesses in the shins one more time.”
The bill, HB 6187, never came to a vote in the state Senate.
Rep. Pam Sawyer and Governor M. Jodi Rell announced that two additional babies were brought to hospital emergency departments in March and said the law giving parents a safe alternative to abandoning a newborn baby has been very successful in saving the most vulnerable among us. Regrettably, an abandoned baby was found dead May 19 in nearby Rhode Island.
“The Safe Havens Law is accomplishing what we intended,” Governor Rell said. “There is a safe alternative that gives the baby and a new family a wonderful life,” she said.
Two more Safe Havens babies were brought to a Connecticut hospital emergency department in March. That brings to 11 the number of babies age 30 days or younger who have been protected from potential abandonment since the law took effect in 2000. In March, babies were brought to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and Middlesex Hospital. All the Safe Havens babies have either been adopted, are in the process of getting adopted, or are living permanently with family members.
Under the Safe Havens Law, if the baby is 30 days old or younger, the parent can bring the child to any hospital emergency department in Connecticut, and the parent will not face criminal prosecution. The parent is not required to give information, and the baby will be cared for and quickly placed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) with a licensed family that wants to adopt. Despite the law’s existence, four babies have been abandoned – two in 2001 (in Greenwich and Brookfield), another in July 2004 (in Branford) and one in August 2006 (in Groton). All survived.
DCF Commissioner Susan I. Hamilton said the Connecticut experience with the Safe Havens law demonstrates that much of the public is aware of it. But Commissioner Hamilton said the need to re-educate is ongoing.
“Every year there is a new group of youngsters at risk for becoming parents before they are ready and confronting the fearful decision of what to do with a baby they feel they cannot care for,” Commissioner Hamilton said. “Today, we have the strongest possible demonstration of why no baby should ever be abandoned.”
State Representative Pamela Z. Sawyer of Bolton said word of mouth is an important tool for public awareness.
“The Legislature intentionally made this law simple so that there could be no confusion,” Rep. Sawyer said. “People need to talk about it because you never know when the information can save a baby’s life. Each new generation needs to know that there is an option.”
As has been done each year since the law took effect, DCF sent thousands of pamphlets to all 169 Connecticut municipalities and school systems for distribution to middle and high schools.
The emergency room at Saint Francis Hospital received a Safe Haven baby on Christmas Day in 2007.
“We saw firsthand the importance of the Safe Havens Law when a baby girl arrived at our doorstep. We are proud to have provided a ‘safe haven’ for the baby thanks to our experienced team of doctors and nurses who cared for her,” said Christopher M. Dadlez, president and CEO, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
How the Safe Havens Law Works:
Infants 30 days old or younger can be left at Safe Havens (hospital emergency rooms)
The parent will be given a packet about the Department of Children and Families (DCF), which will assume custody of the infant
If the parent changes his or her mind, they should contact DCF and immediately apply to the court for an attorney
Parental rights will be terminated so that the baby can be adopted
Parents who do not harm their infant cannot be criminally charged with abandonment if they use a Safe Haven
A nurse will meet the parent in a private room to obtain medical history, but the parent does not have to answer any questions
During an hours-long debate today the State House of Representatives debated proposed legislation which would place a tremendous burden on all Connecticut businesses and non-profit organizations that employ over fifty people. The bill requires that those full-time and part-time employees be given paid sick time at a rate of one hour for every forty hours worked.”I think the goals of this bill are very admirable, but the stark reality is that passage of this bill will ultimately hurt businesses that are already struggling in a tough economy” said Rep. Rebimbas. “We are the only state in the United States enacting this kind of law. By doing so, this is a disincentive for businesses to relocate to Connecticut as opposed to any other state in the nation.”
Rebimbas noted that right in her district the Naugatuck YMCA, a non-profit organization, would have to raise an additional $6,000 to $8,000 per year through fundraising efforts. “When we are the only state requiring businesses to do this, established businesses may go to other states and it will be very difficult to entice any new businesses to come here,” said Rebimbas.
Rebimbas said she believed the measure was also unfair because it excludes workers of businesses and non-profits that have less than fifty employees as well as employees younger than eighteen years of age. The measure additionally costs $500,000 per year to the state by extending the benefit to workers at the State University System and Regional Community Colleges. It will also have a corresponding impact on municipal governments and state agencies directly related to the cost of sick hours taken by full-time and some part-time employees.
The bill also makes no distinction between businesses that are working with a profit or a loss, or if they are in bankruptcy.
Rebimbas noted that field workers from the Working Families organization have been leafleting her district misrepresenting what the bill does and what its impact on businesses and jobs would be by providing limited information on the bill and its application. “It is because I support the working families in my district that I oppose this measure,” said Rebimbas. If this measures passes some employers may have to downside their companies in order to afford the mandate. They may decide to relocate their businesses out of the state of Connecticut or simply have no incentive to employ more than 50 employees. This is not a hypothetical but a realty for the Naugatuck businesses that I have spoken to directly.”
The measure passed the House by a vote of 88-58 and now goes to the Senate for action there.
HARTFORD – House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., today reaffirmed his caucus’ opposition to raising any taxes and said the revised budget released by Gov. M. Jodi Rell mirrors the Republican plan released April 16 that contained deep spending cuts, preserves municipal and school aid. Read More→
HARTFORD- State Representative Janice R. Giegler, R-138th District with several members of the legislature’s Public Health Committee stood along side advocates of the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut and their support of epilepsy medication notification. Read More→
Photo L-R: Msgr. Blase Gintoli – Our Lady of Assumption, Fairfield; Thomas Browne, Jr.; Fairfield Town Assessor; Tony Hwang, State Rep. 134th; Father Williams F. Carey, St. Agnes, Greenwich; Ralph Bowley, Selectman of Fairfield; Richard Felner, Fairfield Fire Chief
MEMORIAL DAY
By Christina Grace Hwang
Memorial Day Service – Our Lady of Assumption R.C. Church, Fairfield, CT
The crisp, precise calls of the leader
The Knights of Columbus marched proud
And strong through the aisles
The onlookers in the pews stared in amazement
Their purple feathers tossing and turning
The man’s words
Testimonies from one soldier
That told the story of millions of others
His last living letter
His goodbye to wife and family
Memorial Day
The somber tone and mood of the day
Thick with pride and honor in the air
The veterans in remembrance
Filled the seats as a tribute
To all those that didn’t make it
That’s what Memorial Day is all about
To credit all the dead that gave their
Life
To let us all on the home front
Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele, right, congratulates Rep. D’Amelio after presenting him with the Council of Italian-American Organizations’ Cultural Ambassador Award Wednesday, May 27th during Italian Republic Day at the State Capitol. Former state Sen. Biagio “Billy” Ciotto, D-Wethersfield, also received the award.
HARTFORD—More men and women who left high school for service in the armed forces prior to their graduation could soon be eligible for diplomas.
State Rep. Themis Klarides tonight voted for House Bill 6687, An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Education Statutes—a bill that would permit local or regional boards of educations to award diplomas to veterans of the Korean Conflict or the Vietnam Era who didn’t get them as a consequence of their military service.
At present, World War II veterans were the only returning veterans eligible.
Fearing the legislation would get lost among bills on fiscal-themed items, it was Klarides who worked diligently to keep the proposal alive and push it toward a vote.
“Considering the sacrifices these people made, this is the least we could do,” Klarides said. “I hope school boards seek out opportunities give our heroes what they deserve.”
The bill, which passed the House by a 147-0 vote, goes to the senate for consideration.
