Researcher: JSB Page 1 5/25/23
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6767 (as amended by House "A")*
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER
PROTECTION'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LICENSING
AND ENFORCEMENT.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
SUMMARY
§ 1 — PRICE SIGNAGE FOR SPECIALTY FUELS
Allows specialty fuel prices to be posted per liter or half-gallon, rather than only per gallon
§ 2 — LEASED FUEL TANK REMOVAL DEADLINE
Sets a 30-day deadline for heating fuel dealers to remove a residential leased fuel tank after
the consumer terminates service
§§ 3-4, 6, 8 & 17 — INQUIRIES ABOUT A CONVICTION AND
CREDENTIALING
Expands the information that people with criminal histories must submit to DCP when
asking if their conviction disqualifies them from obtaining various occupational
credentials
§ 5 — ARCHITECTS WORKING AS INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Specifies the conditions under which an architect working as an interior designer must
comply with continuing education requirements
§ 7 — TRADE LICENSING LAW VIOLATIONS
Increases civil penalties for violations of various licensing laws, including those on
apprentice hiring; gives the DCP commissioner new enforcement options for violations of
apprentice hiring laws
§ 9 — NEW HOME CONST RUCTION CONTRACTORS
Establishes that registrations renewed during the transition year from biennial to annual
credentialing will be effective for 18 months and cost $180
§§ 10-16 — HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTR ACTORS AND
SALESPERSONS
Modifies requirements for getting and maintaining a contractor or salesperson
registration; increases civil penalties for violating related laws
§§ 18 & 19 — HOMEMAKER-COMPANION AGENCIE S
Expands disclosure requirements for homemaker-companion agencies, such as when an
agency changes service rates or ceases operations; requires background checks of certain
prospective agency owners 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 2 5/25/23
§§ 20 & 28-29 — UNTIMELY CREDENTIAL RENEWALS
Revises the process and requirements for renewing a lapsed DCP credential
§ 21 — PENDING ACTIONS AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
ACT
Exempts from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act records related to pending
enforcement actions or investigations
§§ 22 & 23 — FOOD WITH ADDED SULFITING AGENTS
Aligns the state’s Uniform Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act with federal requirements on
sulfiting agents in foods
§§ 24-27 — BEDDING SUPPLY DEALER CREDENT IAL
Eliminates an obsolete license for bedding supply dealers
§§ 30 & 31 — CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AU DIT
REQUIREMENT
Raises the revenue threshold above which a registered charitable organization must submit
to a formal audit, while allowing smaller organizations to instead submit to a CPA’s
financial “review report”
§ 32 — CONSUMER PRIVACY AND SAFEGUARDING
REQUIREMENTS
Makes changes to SB 1058, as amended by Senate Amendment “A,” § 5, further
modifying the penalty and enforcement mechanism for personal information safeguarding
requirements
SUMMARY
This bill makes various changes to the Department of Consumer
Protection’s (DCP) credentialing and enforcement laws, including:
1. expanding the DCP commissioner’s enforcement powers, such as
establishing them specifically for apprentice law violations;
2. standardizing the process for renewing lapsed DCP credentials
and adding requirements for completing required continuing
education;
3. expanding the information that must be submitted to DCP for it
to determine whether a criminal history may preclude
credentialing;
4. setting a deadline for the removal of leased fuel tanks; 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 3 5/25/23
5. requiring homemaker-companion agencies to notify clients and
DCP before making certain changes to, or terminating, services;
6. raising the revenue threshold above which a registered charitable
organization must submit to a formal audit; and
7. modifying the penalty and enforcement mechanism for certain
personal information safeguarding requirements.
*House Amendment “A” (1) modifies the provisions on leased fuel
tank removal and reinstates the current penalty for violations of certain
written contract provisions; (2) modifies the provisions on inquiries
about prior convictions and credentialing, including eliminating a
requirement that applicants pay for the service; (3) clarifies the
homemaker-companion agency provisions, including adding
exceptions to a requirement that clients receive advance notice of
unilateral termination of services and delaying the effective date; (4)
eliminates a provision in the underlying bill giving the DCP
commissioner a broad grant of subpoena power; and (5) adds the
provisions on charitable organizations’ financial statements and
personal information safeguarding requirements.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage , except the provisions on
homemaker-companion agencies are effective October 1, 2023, and
those on data safeguarding are effective July 1, 2023.
§ 1 — PRICE SIGNAGE FOR SPECIALTY FUELS
Allows specialty fuel prices to be posted per liter or half-gallon, rather than only per gallon
The bill allows sellers of specialty engine fuel (e.g., racing fuel and
fuel for agricultural or other off-road applications) to post prices per
half-gallon or liter instead of per gallon, as current law requires. This
authorization only applies if the fuel is not subject to a quality or
usability standard set by the American Society for Testing and Materials
or another national consensus quality or usability standard.
§ 2 — LEASED FUEL TANK REMOVAL DEADLINE
Sets a 30-day deadline for heating fuel dealers to remove a residential leased fuel tank after
the consumer terminates service 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 4 5/25/23
The bill requires heating fuel dealers that lease or lend a heating fuel
tank and associated equipment to a consumer to remove the tank and
equipment from the consumer’s residential premises within 30 days
after the consumer terminates the fuel delivery service. A dealer who
violates this requirement may be subject to a fine of up to $250, payable
through the Centralized Infractions Bureau. A violation is also an unfair
trade practice (see BACKGROUND).
Heating fuel dealers are individuals or companies that sell at retail
heating fuel (i.e., a petroleum-based fuel used primary for residential
heating or domestic hot water) (CGS § 16a-17).
§§ 3-4, 6, 8 & 17 — INQUIRIES ABOUT A CO NVICTION AND
CREDENTIALING
Expands the information that people with criminal histories must submit to DCP when
asking if their conviction disqualifies them from obtaining various occupational
credentials
PA 22-88 created a process for people who were convicted of a crime
to learn if their conviction would disqualify them from getting various
occupational licenses, certificates, and permits. Under current law,
someone making this request must submit (1) details on the conviction
and (2) any required payment (up to $15 per request, which is waivable).
The bill modifies these procedures for the following DCP-credentialed
professions:
1. public accountants (§ 3);
2. architects (§ 4);
3. tradespeople in the following fields: elevator installation, repair,
and maintenance; fire protection sprinkler systems; flat glass
work; gas hearth; heating, piping, and cooling; irrigation;
plumbing and piping; residential stair lift; sheet metal; solar;
swimming pool; and electrical (§ 6);
4. major contractors (§ 8); and
5. public service gas technicians (§ 17). 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 5 5/25/23
Under the bill, someone making a request to determine if a conviction
precludes credentialing must (1) apply on a DCP prescribed form and
(2) agree to a state and national criminal history records check. The bill
maintains current law’s requirement that the person give details on the
conviction but eliminates the requirement that they pay a waivable
processing fee of up to $15. The bill also specifies that the department’s
timeline to respond to requests is triggered by the submission of a
complete application.
§ 5 — ARCHITECTS WOR KING AS INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Specifies the conditions under which an architect working as an interior designer must
comply with continuing education requirements
The bill specifies that licensed architects who complete the required
continuing education (CE) requirements for architects do not need to
complete those for interior design work unless they hold an interior
designer certificate of registration. By law, architects are allowed to use
the title “interior designer” without obtaining the credential (CGS § 20-
377l).
The bill also specifies that if a licensed architect is also a registered
interior designer, then he or she must comply with the CE requirements
for interior designers.
§ 7 — TRADE LICENSING LAW VIOLATIONS
Increases civil penalties for violations of various licensing laws, including those on
apprentice hiring; gives the DCP commissioner new enforcement options for violations of
apprentice hiring laws
Civil Penalties for Violations of Trade Licensing Laws
After notice and a hearing, existing law allows trade examining
boards and the DCP commissioner to impose civil penalties for:
1. engaging in work without the appropriate trade license or
apprentice registration certificate, or with an expired one;
2. willfully employing or supplying for employment an unlicensed
or unregistered person;
3. willfully and falsely pretending to qualify for work that requires 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 6 5/25/23
a trade credential that one does not have; or
4. violating other provisions of the trade licensing laws or
regulations.
Under current law, a first violation subjects the violator to a penalty
of up to $1,000; a second violation to a penalty of up to $1,500; and a
third or subsequent violation occurring less than three years after a
previous violation to a $3,000 penalty. The bill instead sets the
maximum penalty for a violation at $3,000, regardless of if it is a first or
subsequent one. Unchanged by the bill, an improperly registered
apprentice is not penalized for a first offense.
Apprentice Hiring Law Violations
By law, apprentices in certain trades and their employers must
participate in the state Department of Labor’s (DOL) occupational
apprenticeship program (see BACKGROUND). The bill gives the DCP
commissioner new enforcement options for situations in which
employers (1) offer apprenticeships without registering with the DOL’s
apprenticeship program or (2) do not verify that an apprentice is
registered with DOL. Specifically, the bill allows the commissioner to:
1. issue a cease and desist order to a person who advertises, offers,
engages in, or practices the work of an apprenticeship training
program, for the purpose of providing the experience necessary
to obtain a journeyperson’s license, without first registering the
employer and program with DOL;
2. issue a cease and desist order to a registered employer who
employs a person as an apprentice without first verifying that he
or she is registered as an apprentice with DOL; and
3. for either of the above violations, after a hearing, impose a fine of
up to $5,000 per violation.
Under existing law, it is a:
1. Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) violation to fail 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 7 5/25/23
to comply with trade licensing laws, including those on
apprentice hiring (see BACKGROUND) and
2. class B misdemeanor to willfully engage in work that requires an
apprentice registration certificate without one (punishable by up
to six months imprisonment, a $1,000 fine, or both).
The bill also modifies how civil penalties for violations of the
licensing statutes, including the apprentice hiring laws, are applied (see
above).
§ 9 — NEW HOME CONST RUCTION CONTRACTORS
Establishes that registrations renewed during the transition year from biennial to annual
credentialing will be effective for 18 months and cost $180
Under existing law, certain new home construction contractor
registrations are valid for two years and will expire on September 30,
2023. After that, under the provisions of a 2021 law, new home
construction contractor registrations expire on March 31 annually.
The bill establishes that registrations renewed during the transition
year will be effective for 18 months and cost $180 (for one-year
registrations, the fee is $120). Additionally, registrants for the
transitional 18-month license must make a prorated contribution of $360
to the New Home Construction Guaranty Fund (for one -year
registrations, the fee is $240). Lastly, the bill specifies that new home
construction contractors that also do the work of a home improvement
contractor must make a prorated contribution of $150 to the Home
Improvement Guaranty Fund (for one-year registrations, the fee is
$100).
§§ 10-16 — HOME IMPR OVEMENT CONTRACTORS AND
SALESPERSONS
Modifies requirements for getting and maintaining a contractor or salesperson
registration; increases civil penalties for violating related laws
Home Improvement Businesses (§ 12)
The bill specifies a home improvement contractor that is not an
individual can be structured as any business entity; it does not have to
be structured as a corporation. It makes related changes to specify that 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
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a home improvement contractor that is a legal entity must give DCP a
list of its individual owners.
The bill requires a home improvement contractor, structured as a
legal entity, to maintain a list of its employees and contractors, and all
employment documents associated with them, in an auditable format
for at least four taxable years. These businesses must, upon the
commissioner’s or his or her representative’s request, (1) immediately
make the list and documents available for inspection and copying and
(2) produce copies of the list and documents within two business days,
if requested. The documents and copies must be provided in electronic
format unless it is not commercially practical.
Registration Information Provided to DCP (§§ 11 & 13)
The bill requires home improvement contractors to provide (1) an
email address when applying to DCP for a registration and (2) certain
conviction history disclosures, as described below.
The bill also requires a registered home improvement contractor or
salesperson to update, through DCP’s online licensing system and
within 30 days of a change, any application information given as part of
a registration (e.g., contact or insurance information, or criminal
history). If the contractor is a business entity, the bill specifies that this
applies to the criminal histories of the business’s owners.
Disclosing Criminal Convictions (§§ 12-14)
The bill requires home improvement contractors, when applying to
DCP for a registration, to disclose whether they (or an owner in the case
of a business entity) was found guilty or convicted of an act that (1) is a
felony under Connecticut or federal law or (2) was committed in another
jurisdiction but, if committed in Connecticut, would be a felony. By law,
state agencies may only take action related to a credential against a
person found guilty or convicted of a felony if the decision is based on
(1) the conviction’s nature, (2) its relationship to the practitioner’s ability
to perform the occupation’s duties or responsibilities safely or
competently, (3) information about the practitioner’s degree of
rehabilitation, and (4) the time passed since the conviction or release. 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 9 5/25/23
Following a felony conviction of an individual registrant or a
business owner, if the commissioner makes the decision in keeping with
the above four considerations, the bill specifically allows the
commissioner to revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or renew a home
improvement salesperson’s or contractor’s registration; place the
registrant on probation; or issue a letter of reprimand.
Civil Penalties (§ 15)
The bill eliminates current law’s graduated civil penalty scheme and
replaces it with a maximum penalty of $1,500.
By law, after notice and a hearing, the commissioner may impose civil
penalties for:
1. engaging in work that requires a registration without having an
active one,
2. willfully employing or supplying for employment an
unregistered person,
3. willfully and falsely pretending to qualify for work that requires
a registration that one does not have, or
4. violating other provisions of the trade licensing laws or
regulations.
Currently, a first violation subjects the violator to a penalty of up to
$500; a second violation within three years of the first to a penalty of up
to $750; and a third or subsequent violation within three years after a
previous violation to a $1,500 penalty. The bill keeps the maximum
penalty ($1,500) for these violations but applies it to any violation. The
bill also eliminates a provision setting the minimum penalty for a radon
mitigation work related violation at $250.
Technical Changes (§§ 10, 12 & 16)
The bill makes technical and conforming changes.
§§ 18 & 19 — HOMEMAKER-COMPANION AGENCIE S 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
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Expands disclosure requirements for homemaker-companion agencies, such as when an
agency changes service rates or ceases operations; requires background checks of certain
prospective agency owners
Disclosures to Clients (§§ 18 & 19)
The bill adds disclosure requirements for homemaker-companion
agencies. It requires agencies to give at least 60 days’ written notice to a
client or their representative before changing a service rate (unless there
is also a change in the level or type of services). If the disclosure is not
made, the charge is unenforceable. The bill also requires agencies to:
1. disclose in writing to a person scheduled to receive services (or
his or her authorized representative), the full legal name of the
employee who will provide the services, before the employee
enters the client’s home and
2. include in the contract, which by law must be provided within
seven days after beginning services, notice that the agency must
give at least 60 days’ written notice before changing service rates.
Additionally, with exceptions, at least 10 days before a homemaker-
companion agency unilaterally stops providing services to a
Connecticut client, the bill requires the agency to notify the person in
writing, explaining how he or she (1) may transition to alternative care
and (2) will be reimbursed for any prepaid services. The notice must also
have contact information for the person to get more information from
the agency. The bill allows exceptions to this requirement if:
1. the client, his or her authorized representative, or someone else
living with the client or with access to his or her home verbally
or physically abused, threatened, or otherwise mistreated an
agency employee;
2. providing homemaker or companion services would place the
agency at risk of failing to comply with an applicable local, state,
or federal law (e.g., antidiscrimination, employment, health, or
occupational safety laws); or
3. the client failed to pay for homemaker or companion services as 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 11 5/25/23
required under the written contract or service plan.
Consequently, in these circumstances, the agency can stop providing
services without giving the 10 days’ notice the bill otherwise requires.
Sale, Change in Ownership, or Ceasing Operations (§§ 18 & 19)
Existing law requires applicants for a homemaker-companion agency
registration to submit to a state and national criminal history check (CGS
§ 20-672). The bill also generally requires, before any sale or change in
ownership of an agency, each proposed new owner or, if a proposed
new owner is a business entity, the individuals who own the entity, to
submit to state and national criminal history records checks. The bill
exempts a proposed new owner from this requirement if he or she:
1. owns less than 10% of the shares or other equity interests in any
publicly listed or traded homemaker-companion agency and will
not engage in the agency’s day-to-day operations or direct its
management and policies or
2. owns less than 5% of the shares or other equity interests in any
private homemaker-companion agency and will not engage in
the agency’s day-to-day operations or its direct management and
policies.
The bill also makes a background check unnecessary if the
commissioner waives the requirement that a new agency application be
filed under the general registration law, CGS § 20-672.
Under the bill, at least 10 days before a homemaker-companion
agency stops providing all services in Connecticut it must notify DCP in
writing, which must include contact information that it may use to
contact the agency to get more information.
§§ 20 & 28-29 — UNTIMELY CREDENTIAL RENE WALS
Revises the process and requirements for renewing a lapsed DCP credential
The bill revises the process for renewing a DCP credential after the
deadline for doing so has passed by setting a broadly applicable 90-day
threshold for untimely renewals that can be obtained without DCP 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 12 5/25/23
reinstatement.
Under current law, if a person allows a DCP credential to lapse and
the period for automatic reinstatement has ended (or the law did not
specify one), the person can apply to DCP for reinstatement. Generally,
DCP can reinstate the credential (without examination, if applicable)
only if fewer than three years passed since the deadline for automatic
reinstatement. But in the case of licenses specifically, the law does not
have a three-year limit. So, under current law, the department has
discretion to reinstate a lapsed license without examination.
Late Renewals
Under the bill, if a renewal application is submitted within 90 days of
the credential’s expiration, the applicant has to pay existing law’s late
fee (i.e., 10% of the renewal fee, up to $100, but at least $10), but does not
need to apply for reinstatement.
Reinstatement
If more than 90 days (or another period specified in law for automatic
reinstatement) elapse, but fewer than three years, the bill requires an
application for reinstatement. As under existing law, it is within DCP’s
discretion whether to reinstate the credential. The bill eliminates DCP’s
authority to reinstate a license that lapsed for more than three years. It
also specifies that one cannot apply for a new license instead of using
the bill’s reinstatement process in the three-year period during which
the reinstatement process applies.
Under the bill, reinstatement requirements vary depending on
whether the person worked in the field without a required credential.
The bill applies the same free structure as currently applies to
reinstatements but adds continuing education requirements. So, under
the bill:
1. if the applicant did not work, he or she must (a) pay the current
year’s renewal fee for reinstatement and (b) take any continuing
education required for the year of, and the year before, the
reinstatement; and 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 13 5/25/23
2. if the applicant worked, he or she must (a) pay all license and late
fees due for the period in which the credential was lapsed and (b)
show completion of all continuing education required for the
year before reinstatement.
The bill also makes conforming changes in the e-cigarette and vaping
product laws that refer to the late fee (§§ 28-29).
§ 21 — PENDING ACTIONS AND THE FREEDOM OF INFOR MATION
ACT
Exempts from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act records related to pending
enforcement actions or investigations
The bill makes all records, papers, and documents obtained during a
DCP investigation or enforcement action confidential and not subject to
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act until the investigation
or enforcement action is adjudicated or otherwise settled or closed.
§§ 22 & 23 — FOOD WITH ADDED SULFITING AGENTS
Aligns the state’s Uniform Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act with federal requirements on
sulfiting agents in foods
The bill updates the state’s Uniform Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to
conform to federal law and regulations on sulfiting agents in foods (e.g.,
sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfite, or sodium bisulfite). Specifically, it
eliminates a provision specifying that food is adulterated if it has added
sulfiting agents and instead allows for their addition as an “incidental
additive,” as defined and permitted under federal law. Under federal
law, these are generally additives that are present in a food at
insignificant levels and have no technical or functional effect in that
food, such as processing aids.
The bill correspondingly (1) eliminates requirements for warning
consumers that sulfiting agents are present in bulk, unpackaged food
and (2) specifies when manufactures must list the agents as ingredients.
§§ 24-27 — BEDDING SUPPLY DEALER CREDENT IAL
Eliminates an obsolete license for bedding supply dealers
The bill eliminates an obsolete license for supply dealers, which
under current law are people who manufacture, process, package, 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 14 5/25/23
repackage, or otherwise prepare for sale natural or synthetic fibers,
feathers, or other soft material used to manufacture bedding. Bedding
includes mattresses, pillows, quilts, and upholstered furniture used for
sleeping, resting, or reclining. Existing law, unchanged by the bill,
requires a license before operating as a bedding:
1. manufacturer (i.e., someone who makes, prepares for sale, or
imports bedding that contains filling material);
2. importer (i.e., someone who imports bedding from outside the
United States);
3. renovator (i.e., someone who adds new filling material to
bedding for a fee); or
4. secondhand dealer (i.e., someone who sells secondhand
bedding).
§§ 30 & 31 — CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AU DIT
REQUIREMENT
Raises the revenue threshold above which a registered charitable organization must submit
to a formal audit, while allowing smaller organizations to instead submit to a CPA’s
financial “review report”
Currently, under the Connecticut Solicitation of Charitable Funds
Act, charitable organizations with more than $500,000 in annual gross
revenue must include a CPA’s audit report in the annual financial report
they submit as part of the DCP registration process. Under the bill,
beginning with annual reports due after July 1, 2023:
1. organizations with over $1 million in gross revenue must only
attest in their annual report that the organization was subject to
a CPA’s audit and
2. organizations with gross revenues over $500,000 and not
exceeding $1 million can instead attest that they were subject to
a CPA’s financial review report.
§ 32 — CONSUMER PRIV ACY AND SAFEGUARDING
REQUIREMENTS 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
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Makes changes to SB 1058, as amended by Senate Amendment “A,” § 5, further
modifying the penalty and enforcement mechanism for personal information safeguarding
requirements
Existing law requires people in possession of certain types of
personal information to (1) safeguard the data, and computer files and
documents containing it, from misuse by third parties and (2) destroy,
erase, or make the data, computer files, and documents unreadable
before disposing of them. These safeguarding requirements apply to
information associated with a particular individual through one or more
identifiers (e.g., Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, state
identification card numbers, account numbers, debit or credit card
numbers, passport numbers, alien registration numbers, health
insurance identification numbers, or any military identification
information).
The bill changes the penalty and, in some cases, the enforcement
mechanism for these safeguarding requirements. Currently, violators
are subject to a $500 civil penalty for each violation, up to $500,000 for a
single event, and penalties only apply if the violation was intentional.
The bill instead makes a violation an unfair trade practice under
CUTPA. Among other things, CUTPA allows the DCP commissioner to
investigate complaints, issue cease and desist orders, and order
restitution in certain cases. While individuals generally can sue under
CUTPA, the bill specifies that it does not create a private right of action
and disallows individuals and classes from suing under it. Under
CUTPA, courts may issue restraining orders; award actual and punitive
damages, costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees; and impose civil
penalties of up to $5,000 for willful violations and $25,000 for restraining
order violations (CGS § 42-110a et seq., see BACKGROUND).
The bill additionally allows DCP to conduct an administrative
hearing and impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation.
Under current law, DCP enforces safeguarding requirements, unless
the person possessing data is supervised by another state agency under
a license, registration, or certificate. In that case, the other state agency
enforces them. The bill exempts the attorney general’s actions from
these provisions. Additionally, it allows, rather than requires, civil 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 16 5/25/23
penalties to be deposited into the privacy protection guaranty and
enforcement account.
BACKGROUND
Related Bills
sSB 135 (File 95), reported favorably by the General Law Committee,
caps at $100 various annual and bi ennial DCP occupational
credentialing fees for individuals, such as contractors in the trades.
sSB 1025 (File 104), as amended by Senate Amendment “A” and
passed by the Senate, makes various changes to the homemaker-
companion laws, including (1) requiring DCP to revoke a homemaker-
companion agency’s registration if it violates certain statutory
requirements frequently, (2) specifying how agencies may market their
services and requiring them to include certain information in their client
contracts or service plans, and (3) requiring the Office of Policy and
Management to develop a plan to transition oversight of these agencies
to the Department of Public Health.
sSB 1058 (Files 204 and 676), as amended by Senate Amendment “A”
and passed by the Senate, contains identical provisions on charitable
organizations’ financial statements (§§ 16 & 17) and related provisions
on consumer privacy data safeguarding (§ 5).
Connecticut's Apprenticeship Program
States administer apprenticeship programs within a framework set
by federal law. DOL administers Connecticut’s apprenticeship program
through its Office of Apprenticeship Training (OAT). Programs must
meet all the minimum requirements set by OAT, the State Department
of Education, and DCP.
Apprenticeship programs may be sponsored by an employer or a
union-employer joint committee. An employer can sponsor an
apprenticeship program only if it registers with, and is approved by,
DOL. Apprentices register with DOL through approved employers.
When they register, apprentices receive a registration form that contains
the agreement between the employer and apprentice, spelling out each 2023HB-06767-R010823-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JSB Page 17 5/25/23
party’s responsibilities (CGS §§ 31-22m to 31-22v; Conn. Agencies Regs.,
§§ 31-51d-1 to -12).
Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA)
The law prohibits businesses from engaging in unfair and deceptive
acts or practices. CUTPA allows the consumer protection commissioner
to issue regulations defining what is an unfair trade practice, investigate
complaints, issue cease and desist orders, order restitution in cases
involving less than $10,000, enter into consent agreements, ask the
attorney general to seek injunctive relief, and accept voluntary
statements of compliance. It also allows individuals to sue. Courts may
issue restraining orders; award actual and punitive damages, costs, and
reasonable attorney’s fees; and impose civil penalties of up to $5,000 for
willful violations and $25,000 for violation of a restraining order.
COMMITTEE ACTION
General Law Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 22 Nay 0 (03/07/2023)