CSU-AAUP at the Legislature

March 24, 2023

CSU-AAUP members have either submitted testimony or testified on the following bills and issues this session. Some of these focused explicitly on our system, while others were issues that were part of the Equity Agenda of the Recovery for All (R4A) coalition, or they were important to the CT AFL-CIO.

Appropriations and Education Committees

CSU-AAUP members testified to fully-fund our pre-K to 12 public schools and spoke about the need to assure that our public schools are fully staffed with teachers, paraprofessionals and counselors (Feb 3, 2023, R4A, HB 5003).

Human Services Committee

CSU-AAUP members testified to expand access to the HUSKY program to all those ineligible due to immigration status (Feb 13, 2023, R4A, HB 6616).

Higher Education and Public Advancement Committee

CSU-AAUP members testified and submitted testimony to extend Health insurance for Retired Part-time Faculty of the Connecticut State University System (Feb 16, 2023, HB 5737).
Numerous CSU-AAUP members testified and submitted testimony on a number of bills that would impact our students, institutions, and system. In all, members spoke to the issue of the unfunded pension liability, the need for childcare centers near our campuses, academic freedom, housing insecurities, healthcare trust fund for part-time faculty members, expanding the PACT program into the CSUs, the inadequacy of the Governor’s Higher Education budget, access to reproductive health care for students, and the percentage of courses taught by part-time faculty in the Community Colleges (March 2, 2023, HB 6564, HB 6565, HB 6770, HB 6773, HB 6774, SB 8, SB 982, SB 1108, SB 1105).

Appropriations Committee

More than two dozen CSU-AAUP members submitted testimony and testified (both remotely and in person) on the Proposed FY 24-25 Budget for Higher Education. Our members (and students) asked that the CSCU system be fully-funded (Feb 15, 2023).
CSU-AAUP members testified to fully fund the Education Cost Sharing formula in our pre-K to 12 public schools, and asked for additional funding for students whose parents are low wage earners, for English language learners, and for students with special needs (Feb 23, 2023, R4A, HB 6659).

Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee

CSU-AAUP members testified and submitted testimony on a bill that would restore fairness to Connecticut’s tax code and help fund essential services (Feb 27, 2023, R4A, HB 5673).

Housing Committee

CSU-AAUP testified and submitted testimony on the Cap the Rent bill and spoke to the need for rent stabilization in Connecticut (Feb 21, 2023, R4A, HB 6588).

Labor and Public Employees Committee

CSU-AAUP members testified and submitted testimony advocating for the establishment of a Full Employment Trust Fund, that would (via the Labor Department) provide opportunity grants for public and nonprofit entities to create jobs and provide training (Feb 23, 2023, SB 151).
CSU-AAUP members and staff testified and submitted testimony in support of a bill that would provide unemployment benefits to part-time faculty members over university breaks (March 2, 2023, HB 6791).
CSU-AAUP members testified and submitted testimony on several Workers’ Rights bills, including the need for predictable scheduling, increasing the subminimum wage for tipped workers, the expansion of paid sick days, and setting minimum standards for Rideshare and Delivery drivers (March 9, 2023, R4A/CT AFL-CIO, HB 6859, SB 1177, SB 1177, SB 1180).