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OLR Bill Analysis
SB 1312
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
LABOR DEPARTMENT.
SUMMARY
This bill:
1. decreases, from 60 to 40 days after a quarterly statement is
provided, the amount of time an employer has to file a written
protest with the Department of Labor (DOL) on the payment of
unemployment insurance benefits due to fraud or error;
2. changes the unemployed workers’ advocate from a position that
serves at the labor commissioner’s pleasure to a full-time position
in the state employee classified service;
3. requires physicians and advanced practice registered nurses to
report suspected occupational diseases to DOL (the provision is
similar to one previously codified at CGS § 31-40a and repealed
by PA 22-67); and
4. makes a technical change to the labor statutes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2025, for the provisions on an
employer’s protest of an unemployment statement (§ 1) and the
unemployed workers’ advocate position (§ 2), and upon passage for the
reporting requirement (§ 3) and technical change (§ 4).
REPORT OF SUSPECTED OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE
The bill requires physicians and advanced practice registered nurses
to report certain types of occupational illnesses to DOL. This includes
illnesses from exposure to (1) lead, phosphorus, arsenic, brass, wood
alcohol, mercury, or their compounds; (2) anthrax; (3) compressed air;
or (4) any other disease contracted because of the nature of the 2025SB-01312-R000173-BA.DOCX
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occupation of the person.
A physician or advanced practice registered nurse must, within 48
hours of discovering a suspected occupational disease, provide DOL
with a report stating (1) the person’s name, address, and occupation; (2)
the employer’s name, address, and business; (3) the nature of the
disease; and (4) any other information required by DOL. The report is
not admissible in court as evidence for a civil action or a workers’
compensation claim. If the report is not made within the required
timeframe, the labor commissioner may impose a civil penalty of up to
$10 on a physician or advanced practice registered nurse.
The labor commissioner may investigate and make recommendations
on eliminating or preventing reported occupational diseases; and the
information gathered by the commissioner is not admissible in court as
evidence for a civil action or a workers’ compensation claim.
BACKGROUND
Employer Quarterly Unemployment Statements
By law, DOL gives employers quarterly statements that generally
show their charges for unemployment benefits paid to their former
employees. An eligibility issue cannot be reopened based on these
quarterly statements if the employer previously received a notification
about the former employee’s eligibility for benefits and failed to timely
appeal it or the eligibility issue was resolved against the employer.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Labor and Public Employees Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 11 Nay 2 (03/06/2025)