By Senator Rob Kane
I encourage my constituents to learn
about as many of our state laws as possible because
every single piece of legislation passed by the General
Assembly in some way affects the quality of life in
Connecticut. That is why over the past several months
I have written quite a lot about many of the new laws
we passed this year.
This week, I would like to take this
opportunity to describe the highlights of some newly
passed laws that affect businesses in Connecticut
and, in some cases, their customers.
Among the new laws I supported is
Public Act 09-18, An Act Concerning Disclosures By
Home Improvement Contractors And New Home Construction
Contractors which requires contractors to include
a disclosure provision in new home and home improvement
construction contracts that includes every corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship,
and any other home improvement or new home construction
contractor in which they were shareholders, members,
partners, or owners within the past five years. Among
other provisions, state law requires new home contractors
to register with the state Department of Consumer
Protection and advise customers to contact the state
agency for their registration and complaint history.
Also, I supported Public Act 09-83,
An Act Increasing The Penalty For Foreign Corporations
And Other Entities That Transact Business Or Conduct
Affairs In This State Without Authority which
increases the penalty the Secretary of the State can
impose on foreign business entities that conduct business
in Connecticut without the required certificate or
registration. The new law increases the penalty from
$165 to $300 per month, or part of a month, these
businesses are in violation. However, the state cannot
impose the penalties if the foreign business entities
obtain the required certificates within 90 days of
starting to transact business in the state.
This year, the General Assembly adopted
Public Act 09-239 An Act Concerning Consumer Privacy
and Identity Theft which broadens the definition
of identity theft, increases the penalty for criminal
impersonation, creates the crime of unlawful possession
of personal access devices, and increases the penalties
when the victims are at least 60 years old. Among
other provisions, this new law allows perpetrators
to be prosecuted where the victim lives, rather than
where the alleged crime was committed; extends the
statute of limitations from two to three years and
specifies that damages include documented lost wages
and financial loss suffered by victims of identity
theft; and requires employers to obtain and retain
employment applications in a secure manner, and to
use reasonable measures to make them unreadable when
disposing of them. I voted in favor of this new law.
I voted in favor of Public Act 09-53,
An Act Concerning Eligibility Requirements For Senior
Citizen Discount Programs that requires disclosure
of the eligibility requirements for any senior discounts
offered by individuals, firms or corporations by posting
signs at the point of display, cash register, or store
entrance.
And, I voted in favor of Public
Act 09-70, An Act Concerning Updates To The Family
And Medical Leave Act that allows employees to
take unpaid family and medical leave to care for immediate
family members or next of kin who are current members
of the military, National Guard or reserves with a
serious injury or illness received in the line of
duty.
As always, I welcome the opportunity
to discuss our new laws. I can be reached at my legislative
office in Hartford at 1-800-842-1421, or via e-mail
to Rob.Kane@cga.ct.gov.
