Two new Democrat-backed bills in the state legislature would target transit-related carbon emissions, violence and online harassment.

Senate Democrats announced the bills — Senate Bills 4 and 5 — on Wednesday morning. In the 2021 legislative session, the Connecticut General Assembly passed bills to strengthen the state’s Extreme Risk Protection Order and establish an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Additionally, the Clean Air Act, enacted in 1994, was amended through the federal H.R. 283 to allow for air quality sensors to monitor air pollutants. Now, legislators in Hartford are introducing new policies surrounding gun violence and the environment as New Haven grapples with a rising homicide rate alongside environmental concerns on Long Wharf. 

“The work of combating domestic violence, online harassment, gun violence and climate change cannot be solved in one year or with one piece of legislation,” Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney said at a press conference on Wednesday. “It is the duty of all of us in the General Assembly to attack these societal problems every year by focusing on what works and trying new tactics.” 

Senate Bill 4: tackling climate change through transportation

Senate Bill 4 is focused on increasing the use of electric vehicles in the state, while also modernizing municipal traffic signals. These additions, if passed, will be added to the Connecticut Clean Air Act. The proposed bills come while the state remains “in non-attainment for air quality and not meeting important greenhouse gas emissions goals,” Sen. Christine Cohen, Senate chair of the environment committee noted on Wednesday.

Cohen specifically pointed to increased access to electric vehicles, more access to charging stations and the electrification of medium and heavy-duty vehicles as investments that would have a positive impact on the lives of Connecticut residents.

Connecticut’s 2030 goal is to see a 45 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2001. However, the most recent greenhouse gas emissions inventory shows that emissions in the state are currently increasing. Forty percent of emissions in Connecticut come from the transportation sector, hence why Connecticut legislators are focused on increasing the number of electric vehicles.

“Tackling carbon pollution is the critical issue of our time, and Connecticut cannot achieve its goals without reducing emissions from the Transportation sector,” said Sen. Will Haskell, Senate chair of the transportation committee. “This bill accelerates our transition to electric vehicles, promotes the health of children by investing in electric buses and cuts congestion by modernizing traffic signals. If you breathe air in the state of Connecticut, there’s something in this legislation for you.” 

Senate Bill 4 also proposes the use of electric school buses and electric heavy-duty trucks to help reduce emissions. 

Senate Bill 5: addressing violence and online harassment 

According to the Resource Center on Domestic Violence, between 3.3 million and 10 million children are exposed to adult domestic violence each year. The other bill Senate Democrats introduced on Wednesday, Senate Bill 5, would invest $1.44 million to fund 18 full-time family and child advocates at local nonprofits to assist domestic violence victims until June 2023. Currently, there is no state funding for these roles.

“Sadly, it seems that protecting the victims of domestic violence and legally inhibiting new avenues for domestic violence to occur is an ongoing public policy task here in Connecticut,” Sen. Mae Flexer said. 

The pandemic — and the empty classrooms that came with it — mitigated teachers’ ability to notice behavioral changes that could be related to domestic violence. Online platforms, such as Zoom, were an easy explanation for missing class or any irregularities, explained Looney.

Online harassment is also another priority of Senate Bill 5. Looney cited FBI reports that estimate up to 500,000 sexual predators remain active online, with over 50 percent of victims being between the ages of 12 and 15. 

“The bill will increase funding to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to increase their work in preventing online harassment,” Sen. Looney wrote in a press release.

Having certain restrictions on apps is one way legislators seek to reduce online harassment. Looney noted that requiring dating apps to disclose whether they vet participants or making it illegal to solicit a minor’s contact information are possible app restrictions. Disclosures like this “will help aid users in determining whether they want to use such a platform,” wrote Looney.

Senate Bill 5 also includes provisions to strengthen gun violence prevention efforts. 

“Senate Democrats do a tremendous amount of work to address gun violence on our streets but we know that is only half of the equation,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff at the press conference on Wednesday. He advocated for additional interventions.

Senate Democrats plan to prioritize funding The Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Advisory Committee.

The 2022 Connecticut Legislative Session began on Feb. 9.