Bill that changes how inmates are counted heads to governor
May 12, 2021
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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) A bill that would change the way prisoners are counted when Connecticut’s legislative district lines are redrawn heads to Gov. Ned Lamont s desk.
The proposal received final legislative approval in the Democratic controlled House of Representatives on Wednesday, passing 95-49 along party lines.
Currently, those incarcerated in the state are counted as members of the community in which they are imprisoned. Under this bill, they would instead be counted toward the city and town where they lived before entering prison, which advocates contend would be fairer to those communities.
Published May 12. 2021 10:21PM
Associated Press
HARTFORD A bill that would change the way prisoners are counted when Connecticut’s legislative district lines are redrawn heads to Gov. Ned Lamont s desk.
The proposal received final legislative approval in the Democratic controlled House of Representatives on Wednesday, passing 95-49 along party lines.
Currently, those incarcerated in the state are counted as members of the community in which they are imprisoned. Under this bill, they would instead be counted toward the city and town where they lived before entering prison, which advocates contend would be fairer to those communities.
“There are three districts where about 10% of the population is actually made up of incarcerated people from elsewhere in the state,” said Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, who called the legislation “a once in a decade opportunity to make a change for the better in Connecticut.
The state House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill that would require employers to disclose a job’s “wage range” to applicants.
HB 6380 would mandate the disclosure of a position’s expected compensation range by businesses to applicants either upon the applicant’s request or at the time an offer of employment is made, whichever comes first. Employees would have the right to inquire about their position’s wage range annually. The proposal also changes the standard used to determine if an employer is committing gender-based wage discrimination, requiring employees to provide equal pay for comparable work, not just equal work.
More than 57% of Connecticut’s workforce is women and Connecticut lawmakers are looking to make it easier for nursing moms to reenter or stay in the workforce. It’s “well documented there are many benefits to breastfeeding for both the mom and the child,” Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, said. Gilchrest said Connecticut already has a law that requires employers.
Opponents of the legislation said it’s too much to ask of employers.
“My concern to this bill is that I don’t see businesses not providing these already valuable services and so many important accommodations for women,” Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, said.
Mastrofrancesco said it could create an undue hardship for a small business.
“You could be working at a gas station or a little convenience store and you don’t have a private room. They may have to add on an addition to their building,” Mastrofrancesco said.
Mastrofrancesco doesn’t dispute the benefits of breastfeeding.
“While 79% of mothers start out breastfeeding that number drops down to about 50% at six months and then drops down to 25% at 12 months and the statistics are even lower for low-income moms, Rep. Caroline Simmons, D-Stamford, said.