Substitute House Bill No. 6860 proposes to amend Connecticut's existing law to extend the Connecticut Premium Pay program to additional essential workers, specifically those classified under phase 1c of the COVID-19 vaccination program as recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as of February 20, 2021. These workers, known as "1c applicants," are eligible if they worked during the public health emergency from March 10, 2020, to May 7, 2022, are not federal, state, or municipal employees, could not work from home, and meet certain income criteria. The bill also sets a new deadline for 1c applicants to apply for compensation by December 1, 2023, and extends the program's benefit payment deadline to June 30, 2025.

The bill outlines the tiered payment structure for full-time eligible applicants based on income levels, with a cap that disqualifies individuals earning $150,000 or more, and sets a flat rate of $200 for part-time eligible applicants. The fiscal impact statement estimates that extending eligibility to approximately 216,000 private sector workers will cost the state $40 million in payment awards and administrative costs. This is a one-time payment with no ongoing fiscal impact. The application process requires proof of employment and any additional information deemed necessary by the program's administrator.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 31-901
LAB Joint Favorable Substitute: 31-901
File No. 460: 31-901