19 New Connecticut Laws in 2016 That May Change Your Life

By RICH SCINTO (Patch Staff)

Many new Connecticut laws went into effect on Jan. 1, 2016.

The majority of state law changes go into effect when a bill is signed, on July 1 or Oct. 1.

One of the most significant changes for consumers was the change in alcohol sale hours. Consumers now have another hour everyday to purchase alcohol at package stores and other off-premise sale locations. Other major changes were included in the state’s liquor laws.

• Related: Connecticut Shakes Up Liquor Laws Again

In total parts of 19 laws will go into effect on Jan. 1.

Below are some of the most significant and interesting changes to laws.

Tax Changes

The New Year will bring some new tax changes.

• Cigarette tax increasing from $3.65 per pack to $3.90 per pack.
• Military Retirement pay is fully exempt from state income tax.
• Marginal income tax rate increases for certain higher income filers.
• Luxury goods tax increasing from 7 to 7.75 percent.
• Mill rate for motor vehicle taxes is capped at 29.36 mills for the 2016 assessment.
• A $20 million cap on the maximum amount of estate tax imposed on the estates of residents and nonresidents who die on or after Jan. 1, 2016. The same cap applies for gift taxes.

Full laws regarding tax changes and budgetary information can be found here and here.

Minimum Wage

The state’s minimum wage will increase from $9.15 to $9.60. It is part of a series of increases that will culminate in a minimum wage of $10.10 on Jan. 1, 2017.

Changes for Police “An Act Concerning Excessive Use of Force”

Grants for body camera purchases for state, university and local police departments go into effect on Jan.1. A number of law enforcement agencies throughout the state have already equipped officers with body cameras or are in the process of implementing policy.

Law enforcement units throughout the state will have to develop and implement guidelines to recruit, retain and promote minority police officers by Jan. 1. Communities with a high concentration of minority residents have to strive to have a department racial and ethnic makeup that resembles the community.

Parts of the law already went into effect, but it’s likely we’ll see their impact in 2016.

• It also prohibits law enforcement units from hiring an officer who was previously dismissed from another unit for malfeasance or serious misconduct or who resigned or retired during investigation for such conduct.
• A police officer’s employer is liable in court or other proceedings if an officer interfering with someone taking a photo or video of an officer or another officer performing duties.
• The chief state’s attorney must appoint a prosecutor from another judicial district for cases involving use of force or use of deadly force by a police officer.

A full summary of recent changes to policies regarding police can be found here.

Health Insurance Changes

A number of changes are in store regarding health insurance.

• All licensed health care providers must determine if a patient is insured before scheduled nonemergency admission.
• Prohibits contracts between providers and carriers from restricting the disclosure of billed or allowed amounts, reimbursement rates or out of pocket costs.
• Carriers must disclose specified information including cost exclusions and restrictions on covered benefits such as prescription drugs.
• Certain health insurance policies must cover mental and nervous conditions.
• Physician group practices that change to a hospital-based facility that would likely include facility fees must notify all treated patients from the previous three years.
• Certain health insurance policies must cover telehealth services to the same extent as in-person visits. Telehealth is the use of communication technologies such as video chat to diagnosis, consult, treat etc. a patient.

Full list of changes here.

Election Changes

A number of Election Day snafus in cities such as Bridgeport and Hartford over the years has prompted lawmakers to consider changes.

Among the changes:

• Any petitioning, write-in and minor party candidates for municipal or district office must live within the district in which they seek to run. This already applies to major party candidates.
• Regional elections monitors are established within each of the state’s nine planning regions to represent, consult with and act on the Secretary of the State’s behalf before and during elections.
• Additional election moderator training classes are required to be offered.
• The Secretary of the State’s authority is expanded and is authorized to issue orders to any registrar of voters or moderator during a municipal, state, federal primary, election re-canvass or duit to correct irregularities.

Full list of state election change policies here.

Other new laws include:

• An Act Concerning Revision to the Criminal Justice Statutes, and Concerning the Psychiatric Security Review Board, Domestic Violence, Condominium Associations and Depositions of Persons Living Out-Of-State.

Summary here.

• An Act Concerning the Adoption of the Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act

Summary here.

• An Act Concerning Persons who Decontaminate Reusable Medical Instruments or Devices.

Summary here.

• An Act Amending the Code Of Ethics for Lobbyists to Redefine “Expenditure” and Raise the Threshold for Lobbyist Registration.

Summary here.

• An Act Concerning the Disclosure of Leases or Contracts with Quasi-Public Agencies and the Names of Securities in Statements of Financial Interest.

Summary here.

• An Act concerning Certain Commercial Fishery Licensure reforms

Summary here.

• An Act Extending to Optometrists the Prohibition of the Setting of Payments by Health Insurers and Other Entities for Non Covered Benefits

Summary here.

• An Act Concerning Probate Court Operations

Summary here.

• An Act Concerning Manufacturer Names, Medwatch Reporting Information and Brand Names of Generic Drug Containers

Summary here.

Full list of laws going into effect here.

Image via jglazer75/Wikipedia.