General Assembly Raised Bill No. 271 proposes significant amendments to existing labor laws, set to take effect on October 1, 2026. One of the key changes allows unemployed individuals to limit their work availability to part-time if they provide documentation from a "health care provider," which broadens the previous requirement that specified a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse. The bill also clarifies the definition of "health care provider" and outlines criteria for evaluating work availability. Additionally, it introduces provisions that prohibit employers from requiring employees to work more than six days a week and allows employees to file complaints with the Labor Commissioner for wrongful discharge related to this limit.

The bill further addresses the handling of personal information from motor vehicle records, defining "highly restricted personal information" and establishing conditions for its disclosure. It allows for bulk distribution of personal information with express consent and includes provisions for fraud prevention and organ donor registries. The legislation repeals certain sections of the general statutes, including the previous definition of "labor organization," and creates a uniform definition of "health care provider" within unemployment statutes. It also grants the Labor Commissioner authority to negotiate payment compromises from reimbursing employers and transfers enforcement authority for specific statutes to the Labor Department. Overall, Raised Bill No. 271 aims to enhance worker protections and streamline administrative processes while safeguarding personal information.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 31-236, 31-266c, 53-303e