Lamont declares state of emergency

The focus at the state Capitol quickly shifted this past week from issues like criminal justice reform and sports betting to dealing with the rapidly spreading coronavirus, which has reached Connecticut and resulted in at least 20 state residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. Gov. Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency and legislative leaders decided to shut the Capitol down for two weeks. Most public schools are also closing for two weeks. Lawmakers are discussing a relief package for residents and businesses impacted by the spread of the virus and the impact it’s having on the state’s economy. funds: A long-delayed $3 billion bond package adopted by the General Assembly Wednesday includes $5 million in state borrowing for efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. The funding, which will need to be approved at a future meeting of the State Bond Commission, is in addition to $7 million in federal aid that the state is receiving. Sen. John Fonfara, a Hartford Democrat, said it was “wise and prudent” to make resources available if the money is needed on an emergency basis. Lawmakers typically adopt a two-year bond package when they vote on the biennial state budget but that didn’t happen last year as the package got delayed by an extended fight over highway tolls. The package also includes hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to cities and towns as well as $5 million in grants to help houses of worship protect themselves against attacks.

Lawmakers considering broad relief package: Legislators are considering a broader coronavirus relief package that could include assistance for businesses and individuals. One concern, Lamont noted, is child care for parents of the hundreds of thousands of students who are sent home as schools across the state close. “If schools are closed down, we’ve got to provide day care or nobody can keep working,” he said. “If you’re an hourly employee and you have to self-quarantine, I’ve got to make sure that we have a way that you can get compensated for that time. I don’t want anybody to have an incentive to stay at work when they should be at home self-quarantined State officials are already allowing businesses to defer payments on existing economic development loans for three months. The state is encouraging those who are out of work due to coronavirus-related issues to apply for unemployment benefits.

Lamont declares state of emergency: Lamont gave himself broad powers to act in the name of public health and specifically to slow the spread of coronavirus Tuesday when he declared a state of emergency. Using those powers, he banned gatherings of more than 250 people and waived a state requirement that public school students attend class for 180 days this year, paving the way for dozens of school districts to shut down without fear of having to make up all the days that were missed. “We don’t do this lightly,” Lamont said in announcing the state of emergency. “We’ve got to be prepared for what is happening.” Another power the decision gives Lamont is the ability to quarantine residents at risk of spreading the virus. Under state statute, lawmakers have 72 hours from the time the emergency is declared to override it, but a bipartisan committee that met at the Capitol Wednesday was on board with the decision.

State blocks utility shut-offs: The state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority issued an emergency order prohibiting the electric, gas and water utilities it oversees from shutting off customers’ services during the duration of Lamont’s state of emergency. Attorney General William Tong had requested a moratorium, saying many state residents were being asked to stay home to slow the spread of coronavirus and for many that means extended time away from work, making it harder to make utility payments. “I want to thank the commissioners and staff at PURA who worked quickly to provide this important relief to Connecticut families,” he said. “People need electricity, heat and water to stay home safely right now.” Customers will still be required to pay what is owed and shut-offs can proceed once the order is lifted, PURA noted. The Metropolitan District, the regional water and sewer authority that serves Greater Hartford, announced a similar moratorium on service disconnections.

Connecticut delegation blasts federal response: The state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation has been highly critical of the Trump administration’s response to coronavirus, saying that not enough is being done to rapidly expand testing so cases of COVID-19 can be identified and the spread of the virus can be slowed. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Friday that he has been “appalled and astonished” by the federal government’s delay in confronting COVID-19 and the lack of a specific nationwide strategy for testing. “There is still a severe shortage of tests all around the nation,” he said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention need to provide more stringent guidelines on social distancing for local governments and private industry, Sen. Chris Murphy warned. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, has pressed federal officials for plans on how children who rely on free and reduced lunches will be fed when schools are out.

Vice President Joe Biden has canceled a planned trip to Connecticut as his presidential campaign curtails events and travel amid the coronavirus outbreak. Biden had been scheduled to attend a private fundraiser in Hartford. Lamont said this week that plans for a larger public event were likely to be scrapped but the Biden campaign pulled the plug on the visit entirely. Last fall, Lamont hosted Biden at a fundraiser at his Greenwich home, raising $450,000 for his campaign. … The state Department of Motor Vehicles is extending license renewal deadlines to reduce large crowds at its branches. The 90-day extension will apply to licenses, learner’s permits and identity cards that expire between March 10 and June 8. The extension does not apply to registration renewals, which can be completed by mail or online. Road tests have been postponed beginning March 16 until further notice. … State courts are curtailing their business in response to coronavirus, postponing all new criminal and civil trials for two weeks. The courts will remain open for essential business including criminal arraignments and hearings on domestic violence and custody matters. Routine appearances for pending cases will be postponed through March 27. Federal courts have continued all civil and criminal jury selection and jury trials through at least April 10 in response to the virus. … State election officials have begun preparing for the potential impact coronavirus could have on Connecticut’s April 28 presidential primaries. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill’s office is talking with local, state and federal leaders on the matter. The issue is complicated in Connecticut, which doesn’t allow for either early voting or no-excuse absentee ballots. State Republican Chairman J.R. Romano has called on the two candidates challenging President Donald Trump in the GOP primary to withdraw so that election can be canceled. … The state attorney general’s office is reminding residents that price gouging is prohibited under the state of emergency declared by Lamont. Connecticut law stipulates that it is illegal to increase the price of any retail item during a state of emergency. The price gouging law does allow for price fluctuation “which occurs during the normal course of business.” Another law specifically prohibits price gouging on items that are determined to be in short supply during a state of emergency. “The Office of the Attorney General will take aggressive action to protect consumers from price gouging and punish unfair profiteering,” Tong said.