The legislative session wrapped up last week and if you were on the lookout for lots of new employment law-related measures, you were likely to have been disappointed.
Despite serious changes to the state’s non-compete laws being discussed as well as expansion of the state’s paid leave laws having passed a committee, only a handful
If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you know that the budget implementer bill in the state legislature always contains more than just budget items. It’s a “must-pass” bill that normally has items that, for one reason or another, didn’t pass during the regular session but that are important to various legislators.
It
Buried deep in the budget (page 417 of 567) that was passed by the state House last night is this provision:
Sec. 305. (NEW) (Effective from passage) For purposes of this section “covenant not to compete” means any contract or agreement that restricts the right of an individual to provide homemaker, companion or home health
In years past, I’ve looked at my crystal ball, I’ve read the tea leaves and I’ve even examined my Magic 8-Ball sitting in my office. (You never know when you need one.)
I’m out of prediction-making tools.
And indeed, since I started doing this, there are now national lawfirms that are offering up
The Connecticut General Assembly is finalizing its budget implementation bill today and suffice to say that there are more than a few surprises in there. (CT News Junkie first highlighted it in a tweet, it should be noted.)
For employers, buried deep in the bill is Section 422 entitled: “PAID FAMILY AND
UPDATED:
The cuts to the CHRO keep coming.
Governor Malloy this morning released his plan to reduce the size of government — should a deal with the state labor unions not be struck.
The plan calls for the elimination of the CHRO’s Waterbury Office (page 35) and the elimination of other staff positions. All
Governor Malloy released his anticipated budget and the changes to the Department of Labor are modest. You can view the whole report (and the DOL portion beginning at 193) here.
Rather than dissect the whole thing, here are a few things that caught my eye:
At last night’s gubernatorial debate, the issue of potential layoffs of state union workers was a hot topic of conversation. (See CT News Junkie for a more detailed report.) Each candidate indicated that layoffs weren’t ruled out if elected.
That’s all very well and good, but none of them have mentioned how a
Quick update to my post of last Friday regarding the budget implementer bills passed by the legislature.
Yesterday, the Governor signed the largest of the budget implementation bills that covers the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. As a result, the changes I wrote about last week will be put into place.
However, the Governor
In implementing the budget agreement today, the Connecticut General Assembly approved of significant changes for the CHRO – changes that will ultimately lead to the creation of a new Office of Administrative Hearings. The bill now goes to the Governor; her signature is expected.
Here are the highlights, courtesy of the Office of Legislative Research:
Training for CHRO Members
The bill requires each member of Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) to receive at least 10 hours of introductory training within two months of his or her appointment and before voting on any CHRO matter. A member who does not comply with this requirement within six months of his or her appointment is considered to have resigned from the commission. Each year thereafter, the member must receive five hours of follow-up training.
Reduction in Human Rights Referees
The bill reduces the number of human rights referees over the next approximately two years. On the date the bill passes, the number is reduced from seven to five. They serve until (1) the term they were appointed to fill expires or July 1, 2011, whichever is earlier, and (2) a successor is appointed and qualified. The governor fills any vacancies with the advice and consent of the General Assembly to serve until July 1, 2011.
Beginning July 1, 2011, the number of referees is reduced from five to three. Just as under current law, the governor appoints them with the advice and consent of the General Assembly to serve a three-year term.
The governor may remove any of the referees for cause.
Create Task Force for Department of Administrative Hearings
The bill establishes a 24-member task force to develop recommendations for establishing within the CHRO a Division of Administrative Hearings that would conduct impartial hearings on contested cases brought by or before the departments of Children and Families, Transportation, and Motor Vehicles; CHRO; and the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners. Among the people: an attorney selected by the Connecticut Bar Association