STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Minnie Gonzalez
Serving the 3rd Assembly District
Legislative Office Building, Room 4039
Hartford, CT 06106-1591
Capitol: 800-842-8267
Minnie.Gonzalez@cga.ct.gov
BARBERSHOP APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Barbering was traditionally learned through an apprenticeship, but current statute requires the completion of formal education and training programs to qualify for licensure. These programs can be costly. A new state law we passed this session creates a Labor Department-approved barber apprenticeship program to grant barber licenses to applicants who successfully complete the program and meet other requirements, including 2,000 hours of work experience in approved trade training. This measure will ease prior requirements that made it difficult for aspiring barbers to obtain their licenses.
A SECOND CHANCE SOCIETY
Connecticut’s drug policies have swelled our prisons with nonviolent drug offenders who struggle to reintegrate into society upon release. The Second Chance Society will ensure public safety, save money, and help end the culture of mass incarceration by lowering sentencing for nonviolent offenses. The Second Chance Society will give ex-offenders more opportunity to get back into the workforce – and will also save millions in taxpayer dollars.
REDUCING LENGTHY SENTENCES FOR CRIMES COMMITTED BY A CHILD OR YOUTH
New brain science and sociological studies show that the brains of young people are more susceptible to negative influences than the brains of adults. This has led to recent U.S. and Connecticut Supreme Court decisions limiting the application of adult sentencing rules to juveniles. This law requires criminal courts to consider evidence showing the difference between juvenile and adult brain development when sentencing for certain felonies committed prior to reaching 18 years of age. Parole hearings will now also be offered to those serving sentences of over 10 years after they have served a portion of their sentence. At the hearing, the parole board will consider whether the offender demonstrates the necessary maturity and rehabilitation to qualify for parole release.
PROTECTING OUR SENIORS
This year, we passed more laws to protect our seniors from potential abuse. The Department of Social Services can now petition a probate court to gain access to that person’s home to make an assessment. We also passed laws that will keep nursing home and residential home care residents safer by requiring the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services to notify a resident’s designee of suspected abuse or neglect within 24 hours.
PATIENT-DESIGNATED CAREGIVERS
Some patients end up returning to the hospital soon after discharge because they had not been instructed properly on their follow-up care or were unable to follow instructions. The CARE Act requires a hospital to document a caregiver in the patient’s discharge plan, designated by the patient. They must attempt to notify the caregiver of the patient’s discharge, and to instruct the caregiver on any post-discharge tasks with which the patient will need assistance.