New year rings in new state laws
Fewer DMV visits, beer tax on the way
Trips to the Department of Motor Vehicles for new licenses will be less frequent, sales taxes on some services will increase, and certain medical tests and devices must be covered by health insurance under some of the new laws that take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations
Lawmakers extended the maximum renewal periods for driver’s licenses and identity cards from six to eight years, and most vehicle registrations from two to three years. Costs for those will increase along with the renewal periods: the fee for an eightyear license will increase to $96, up from the $72 for a sixyear license. Twoyear registration fees for passenger motor vehicles are $80, while threeyear registration fees will cost $120.
Business entity tax eliminated, sales tax expanded
The $250 business entity tax, which companies paid every other year, has ended. That’s expected to save businesses about $25 million per year.
Parking meters and garages, drycleaning and laundry, safety apparel and protection equipment and interior design services will be subject to Connecticut’s 6.35 percent sales tax. Parking rates will rise in some cities, including Danbury and Stamford, due to the new tax.
Health insurance and costs
Health insurers must cover breast ultrasounds and mammograms for women whose doctors have recommended the tests and who are over 40, who have had breast cancer or who have a family history of the disease. Patients can’t be charged copays, deductibles, coinsurance or other outofpocket costs for covered breast cancer tests.
Another new law requires insurers to cover hearing aids for any covered person, without an age limit. Previously, coverage
was only required for children under 13. Policies could also previously limit hearing aid coverage to $1,000 in 24 months; they can now limit coverage to one hearing aid per ear in a twoyear time period.
Shortterm health insurance policies, issued for six or fewer months, cannot contain a preexisting condition provision, under another new law. Previous legislation already prohibited those provisions in other insurance plans.
Boat registration fees
People registering motorboats with the DMV will be charged an annual aquatic invasive species fee. Instate residents will pay $5, and
outofstate watercraft will be charged $20 for the stamp. At least 80 percent of the proceeds from the fees must be used for eradicating aquatic invasive species and cyanobacteria blooms, outreach and education programs about preserving lakes, rivers and ponds, and for making grants to agencies and organizations for research and education on managing lakes, rivers and ponds.
Abandoned property
Judges can now appoint “receivers” to rehab abandoned properties in towns and cities with at least 35,000 residents. Interested receivers, such as owners of adjacent properties or lienholders, can petition the court to appoint a receiver
if the property meets certain conditions, including not having been occupied in the last year and having at least three “problematic building conditions.” After the property has been rehabilitated, the court can approve its sale.
Police training
The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection is required to include techniques for addressing incidents involving people with autism spectrum disorder, nonverbal learning disorder or cognitive impairment in free training for state and local police. Other parts of the law take effect this summer: starting
in July, the Department of Public Health must annually compile a list of available training programs for first responders regarding those disorders and make that list available to ambulance and rescue services and emergency medical services personnel.
Community health worker certification
The Department of Public Health must establish a certification program for community health workers. The role is defined as “a public health outreach professional” who serves as a liaison between individuals and healthcare and social service providers and “increases health knowl
edge and selfsufficiency” through outreach, education and other services.
Taxes on beer sales
Beer manufacturers must pay the state alcoholic beverages tax on beer that they produce and sell for consumption on their premises for amounts over 15 barrels annually. Onsite sales were previously exempt from the $7.20perbarrel tax.
Other changes going into effect this week include rules allowing certain dental hygienists to provide more services under an agreement with a dentist, and the implementation of a public education campaign about paid family and medical leave, which will become available in 2022.