Legislative Affairs

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The Legislative Affairs Committee directs the union's legislative agenda, coordinates the union's advocacy campaigns, and works with the union's lobbyist.
Chair: Janet Lanci
Political Director: Bob Fernandez
Meeting Notes:  January 2008


Legislation Update

ARP Disability Insurance; Changing the Funding Mechanism
Status: Thanks to members' e-mails and phone calls, the Appropriations Committee added the necessary funding to the Community College Budget. We may need a push later on in the session to keep it in the budget, so stay tuned!

Description: The state would appropriate $400,000 to the Community College System to pay for Disability Insurance for members in the Alternate Retirement Plan (ARP).
For many years the premiums for ARP disability insurance were being taken from Collective Bargaining funds. When this practice began, 16 years ago, the premiums were a mere $25,000. Since then, premiums have skyrocketed. None of the other public higher education systems fund disability insurance with their Contract funds. We are asking the legislature for a separately-appropriated block grant to cover this expense.
Members in the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) have disability insurance.

Capital Members Sponsor Legislative Breakfast
CCC LobbyingCapital Community College sponsored a successful Legislative Breakfast and Lobby Day, organized by John McNamara. The event gave those from the college the opportunity to discuss their concerns with area legislators.

If your campus would like help in scheduling a time to come to the Capitol, contact 4C's Political Director Bob Fernandez.

SB 308 - An Act Concerning Funding to Increase Full-Time Faculty
Status: The Higher Education Committee has approved this legislation and sent it to the Appropriations Committee for their consideration.

Description: The bill adds funding to the Community College, University of Connecticut, and Connecticut State University systems to be used for the purpose of increasing the number of full-time faculty.  On February 28, 4C's President Steve Cohen appeared before the legislature's Higher Education Committee and spoke in favor of this legislation that would create 95 additional full-time teaching and nonteaching faculty positions at the community colleges. Chancellor Marc Herzog also spoke in favor.