Senator Tony Hwang Proposes Several Aging Committee Bills – Home Care, Financial Assistance, Caregivers
State Senator Tony Hwang announced today that the Legislature’s Aging Committee has raised the following bills to be considered by the committee.
State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) proposed four bill concepts to the Aging Committee that were raised during Aging Committee meeting. These bills include increased funding for aging-in-place initiatives, expanded eligibility for Alzheimer’s respite care, an income tax deduction for long-term care insurance premiums, and increased financial assistance for grandparents and non-parent relatives raising children. The bills are scheduled for a public hearing on February 14th at 10:30am.
- HB 6170 – AN ACT INCREASING FUNDING FOR AGING IN PLACE INITIATIVES.
- SB 563 – AN ACT CONCERNING AN INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
- HB 6169 – AN ACT INCREASING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER NONPARENT RELATIVES RAISING NEEDY CHILDREN.
- HB 6173 – AN ACT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE RESPITE CARE PROGRAM.
“We need to invest in our caregivers. Many of them are not professionals, and are not being paid for the thousands of hours of personal care they provide every year. People should be allowed to live their later years at home, and not have to move into a retirement home or assisted living center,” said Hwang. “And that option shouldn’t be accompanied by such immense financial pressure. In these times of tough budgets, we still need to prioritize caring for our most vulnerable populations, especially our seniors who have lived, worked, and paid taxes to the state of Connecticut their whole lives.”
As a former Vice-Chair of the Aging Committee, Senator Hwang remains an effective and staunch advocate for senior issues, and is committed to ensuring that Connecticut’s valued seniors have all the resources and support to live their life with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Senator Hwang was one of the most outspoken advocates last year when the budget for the Medicare Savings Program, which helps seniors pay for certain healthcare expenses, was cut in half and helped successfully restore those funds before any damage was done. He was also able to introduce and pass greater protections for seniors inquiring about reverse mortgages, exempt social security income up to $100,000 for joint filers, and bring the estate and gift tax rates to parity with federal law.
“Caring for our loved ones can be incredibly difficult, and we should incentivize and reward those caregivers. If these bills are approved, I strongly believe that they will reduce the financial burden many face when caring for their family, and I am proud to still be leading the charge on these issues.”
All four of the above bills are scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 10:30 AM in Room 1B of the LOB. To submit written testimony, email me at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov and also copy to agetestimony@cga.ct.gov. If you wish to testify in person, please contact our office to coordinate your arrival at the Legislative Office Building at the CT State Capitol (860) 240-8805.
(Watch) Senator Hwang PSA on Veterans Mental Health Resources
On Wednesday, January 30th Sen. Hwang met with Christina Allen and Scott Smith of the Veterans Administration in Connecticut to release a public service announcement about mental health resources and support for Veterans, their families, and caregivers.
24/7 crisis line: 1-800-273-8255, then press 1. (for veterans, family members and their caregivers)
The crisis line can also be found online at www.veteranscrisisline.net.
24/7 psychiatric emergency room at their West Haven Facility
950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven, CT 06516
Senator Tony Hwang Statement on New DECD Commissioner, Partnership with CERC
State Senator Tony Hwang released the following statement in regards to Governor Ned Lamon’ts announcement about the appointments of David Lehman as Chief Economic Advisor and new Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner and partnership with non-profit Connecticut Economic Resource Center led by Jim Smith and Indra Nooyi.
“I applaud Governor Lamont’s innovative thinking and his continued dedication to using public-private partnerships to bring Connecticut into the future. I want to thank Indra Nooyi, Jim Smith, and David Lehman for stepping up to offer their time and talent toward creating a reinvigorated and entrepreneurial economic ecosystem. Economic development is the keystone to putting Connecticut back on track, and this out-of-the-box approach that draws on proven business leaders who have volunteered to help fix our state is a new and excellent way to think about growing our economy,” said Senator Hwang.
David Lehman is a former Goldman Sachs executive who offered his services to Governor Lamont. Lehman has been named the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), and will also serve as Governor Lamont’s Chief Economic Advisor. Indra Nooyi, former Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, and Jim Smith, former Chairman and CEO of Webster Bank, will co-chair the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC), the non-profit, recruitment arm of the public-private Partnership to Advance the Connecticut of Tomorrow (PACT) between CERC and DECD.
“If Connecticut is to retake our place as a leader in this nation, we need to resurrect the entrepreneurial spirit of this state, foster a sustainable business environment and develop the workforce necessary to compliment the businesses that want to be a part of a Connecticut comeback story. This partnership is a great first step in that direction and I look forward to what PACT can accomplish.”
