- Connecticut Senate unanimously passes a bill providing COVID-19 relief to small businesses
- Legislation prohibits increases in employer experience ratings based on unemployment claims during the pandemic and also exempts PPE from sales and use taxes
- Another provision requires Connecticut agencies to prepare a federal regulatory analysis for any proposed state regulations
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
The Connecticut Senate has passed a bill providing two measures aimed at helping small businesses to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation also creates a requirement for a more stringent review of proposed state regulations.
The bill passed unanimously. It now goes to the Connecticut House of Representatives.
- One provision of the bill prohibits an increase in employers’ experience ratings as a result of any unemployment claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- This measure applies to any benefits paid to claimants who become unemployed, through no fault of their own, after civil preparedness and public health emergencies were declared in Connecticut on March 10, 2020; these emergency periods have been extended several times and are currently set to expire on July 20
- The legislation also exempts personal protective equipment from the sales and use taxes for small businesses
- A final provision requires Connecticut agencies to prepare a federal regulatory analysis when developing a proposed state regulation, with the analysis to identify the scope and objectives of the proposed regulation, comparable federal regulations, any potential adverse impact on small businesses, and any steps the agencies have taken to address this impact
