rr/km 1 Senate May 25, 2021 CONNECTICUT GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE Tuesday, May 25, 2021 The Senate was called to order at 12:57 p.m., the President in the Chair. THE CHAIR: Will the Senate please come to order? Members and guests please rise and direct your attention to Ms. Kathy Zabel of Burlington, who is our repeat guest chaplain to lead us in prayer. Kathy Zabel. ACTING CHAPLAIN KATHY ZABEL: We pray for continued blessings and watchfulness over the concerns of this State. Continue to uphold its officials as well as its citizens in the weeks ahead. THE CHAIR: Thank you so much. And now I'd like to bring Senator Matt Lesser forward to lead us in the pledge. SENATOR LESSER (9TH): I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. THE CHAIR: Thank you, and good afternoon, Senator Duff. SENATOR DUFF (25TH): rr/km 2 Senate May 25, 2021 Good afternoon, Madam President. Madam President, before we begin our business formally, I'd like to yield to Senator Winfield, please. THE CHAIR: Good afternoon, Senator Winfield. Do you accept the yield, sir? SENATOR WINFIELD (10TH): Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, a year ago I think we, as a nation, were confronted with images that made this nation stop. There's been a long-standing conversation in this country about the relationship between police and certain communities, and there's been a lot of discussion about what that relationship is and how we should think about that relationship. But when we saw what we saw a year ago, I think people who never entered this conversation, people who had thought that people were overexaggerating about the things they were talking about, all of us took some time to stop. Our streets, our highways, our grains were filled with people who've never come out to protest on anything that even concerned them. And I think it is appropriate at this point that we take a moment to stop here and remember in a moment of reflection. THE CHAIR: Thank you. Please join our State Senate in a moment of silence to reflect upon this one-year anniversary of the death of Geroge Floyd. Thank you. Good afternoon, Senator Patricia Billie Miller. SENATOR MILLER (27TH): rr/km 3 Senate May 25, 2021 Good afternoon, Madam President. It's good to see you on the dais today. Madam President, this is a point of personal privilege. Stamford lost an angel last week Mr. Dudley Williams. Dudley was a friend of mine but he was also a friend of the people of this state. Dudley has -- you know, we all go through saying that we want to make a difference. Well, he was one of those people who made a difference. He could actually say that he left the world a better place for so many people. He was a mentor to many, he sat on -- he was an elected official twice. He was on the board of ED, he was on the board of Finance, he was on Planning and Develop -- Planning Committee. He also sat on a host of nonprofits. The Y, Urban league. He was definitely, he was definitely a person that we could all remember and be a role model to all of us. And especially to the young men and women who've seen him at the helm of helping individuals. Dudley will truly be missed. I just want to tell a story. In 2016, I became -- I was a substitute teacher. And this young man in the class came up to me, he says, "Hi, I'm Dudley." And he says, "Anything that you want, I can help you." And he was -- I mean, he helped because I was a brand new -- first time substituting. And he was such a young man where he really helped me. And I could see -- once I met his dad 'cause I had met his dad and his mom Juanita James, but I saw where he got that from because he came from a stock of people who believed in not in themselves but in helping others and putting others first. And so, I want to say that Dudley will be truly missed for the things that he's done, for again, not only for the city of Stamford but for the people of this state. Thank you, Madam President. THE CHAIR: rr/km 4 Senate May 25, 2021 Thank you so much, Senator Miller, for those remarks. Senator Duff. SENATOR DUFF (25TH): Thank you, Madam President. I also wanted to rise to reflect on Dudley William's life in Stamford, but not only in Stamford, really in Fairfield County and through the State of Connecticut. I want to align myself with the comments of my good friend and colleague Senator Miller but also mention that Dudley was someone who, as was said, left the world a better place. Never once did he say an unkind word about anybody and never once did anybody say an unkind word about him. He was somebody who just gave, he served, pleasant, always willing to lend a hand. And I didn't even live in the community he lived in but yet his presence was felt really throughout Fairfield County. His wife Juanita James, who runs Fairfield County Community Foundation and does such a wonderful job. The two of them have done really nothing but serve and give back to their communities their lives. So, I just wanted to take a moment as well, and thank my colleague, Senator Miller, for this point in this moment of reflection for Dudley for such a great job. And yield back to my colleague Senator Miller. THE CHAIR: Senator Miller, do you accept the yield? SENATOR MILLER (27TH): Yes, Madam President. And thank you to my colleague. And I would just like if we could have a moment of silence for Dudley Williams. I would appreciate it, Madam President. THE CHAIR: rr/km 5 Senate May 25, 2021 Yes, indeed. And we will now have a moment of silence to reflect on the passing of this wonderful public servant and leader from Stamford. Thank you. Senator Duff. SENATOR DUFF (25TH): Thank you, Madam President. Is there business on the Clerk's desk? THE CHAIR: Mr. Clerk. CLERK: Good afternoon. The Clerk is in possession of Senate Agenda Item No. 1, dated Tuesday, May 25th, 2021. THE CHAIR: Senator Duff. SENATOR DUFF (25TH): Thank you, Madam President. I move all items on Senate Agenda No. 1, dated Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 be act upon as indicated, and that the Agenda be incorporated by reference to the Senate Journal and Senate Transcript. Senate Agenda No. 1 REGULAR SESSION Tuesday, May 25, 2021 SENATE RESOLUTION FAVORABLY REPORTED – to be tabled for the calendar. APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE rr/km 6 Senate May 25, 2021 SR NO. 9 RESOLUTION PROPOSING APPROVAL OF A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION (P- 3B BARGAINING UNIT). MATTER(S) RETURNED FROM COMMITTEE – to be tabled for the calendar. NO NEW FILE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SUBST. SB NO. 356 AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFIT GRANT PROGRAM FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SUBST. SB NO. 1059 AN ACT CONCERNING THE OFFICE OF THE CORRECTION OMBUDS, THE USE OF ISOLATED CONFINEMENT, SECLUSION AND RESTRAINTS, SOCIAL CONTACTS FOR INCARCERATED PERSONS AND TRAINING AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR CORRECTION OFFICERS. EDUCATION COMMITTEE SUBST. SB NO. 288 AN ACT CONCERNING INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS. REPORT(S) RECEIVED – to be referred to committee(s) indicated. Report - University of Connecticut - Connecticut’s Annual Report on Procurement Policies and Procedures for 2020 ending December 31, 2020. (Pursuant to Section 10a-151, 10a-151f to 10a-151i of the Connecticut General Statutes) Date received: May 25, 2021. Referred to the committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement. rr/km 7 Senate May 25, 2021 THE CHAIR: So ordered, sir. SENATOR DUFF (25TH): Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to mark two items to go, please. THE CHAIR: Please proceed, sir. SENATOR DUFF (25TH): Thank you, Madam President. On Calendar page 47, Calendar 267, Senate Bill 658. I'd like to mark that item go. THE CHAIR: So ordered. SENATOR DUFF (25TH): And on Calendar page 26, Calendar 382, House Bill 6389, like to mark that item go. THE CHAIR: And so ordered. Mr. Clerk. CLERK: Page 47 Calendar -- SENATOR DUFF (25TH): Madam President. CLERK: rr/km 8 Senate May 25, 2021 No. 267 -- SENATOR DUFF (25TH): Madam President. I'm sorry. Could we just stand at ease for a moment, please? THE CHAIR: The Senate can stand at ease. Senator Duff. SENATOR DUFF (25TH): Thank you, Madam President. I had stopped the Clerk from calling the first Bill. If you can call the first Bill, and thank you. THE CHAIR: Thank you. Mr. Clerk. CLERK: Page 47, Calendar 267, substitute for Senate Bill No. 658. AN ACT REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO RECALL CERTAIN LAID-OFF WORKERS IN ORDER OF SENIORITY. There are Amendments. THE CHAIR: Good afternoon, Senator Kushner. SENATOR KUSHNER (24TH): Good afternoon, Madam President. Madam President, I move acceptance of the Joint Committee's favorable report and passage of the Bill. THE CHAIR: And the question is on passage, will you remark? SENATOR KUSHNER (24TH): rr/km 9 Senate May 25, 2021 Thank you, Madam President. This is a Bill that really is the outcome of the very difficult circumstances that we have endured since the public health emergency was declared in March of 2020.