BRISTOL, Conn. — The start of the 2024 Connecticut legislative session is around the corner, and Gov. Ned Lamont has announced its first legislative proposal he will later present to the General Assembly.
This proposal would recommend eliminating licensure application fees, which currently require workers in certain career fields to pay an initial application fee for a license or certificate. This first proposal is part of an overall fiscal year 2025 budget adjustment proposal.
The elimination of these fees would encourage workers to apply for jobs that have a big need to fill openings, the governor said, and that this change would save workers about $3.5 million on an annual basis.
“Right now, there are many job openings in essential fields that employers need to fill, and by eliminating these licensure application fees we can help encourage those who are seeking employment to consider entering a career in these sectors,” Lamont said. “I am hopeful that legislators will agree and vote to approve these fee reductions.”
Here's a breakdown of the proposed changes, according to the governor's office:
- Eliminate the initial application fee for educator certificates. This fee costs $200 and generates about $1,000,000 in annual revenue from the State Department of Education.
- Eliminate the initial application fee for home childcare licenses. Administered by the Office of Early Childhood, the home childcare license fee costs $40 and the initial application fee for staff costs $15. Combined, they generate about $20,000 in annual revenue.
- Eliminate the initial application fee for registered nurse licenses. This fee costs $180 and generates about $2,005,000 in annual revenue from the Department of Public Health.
- Eliminate the initial application fee for practical nurse licenses. This fee costs $150 and generates about $174,300 in annual revenue from the Department of Public Health.
- Eliminate the initial application fee for advanced practice registered nurse licenses. This fee costs $200 and generates about $260,000 in annual revenue from the Department of Public Health.
Lamont is set to deliver his State of the State and Budge Address on Feb. 7 at noon, where he will unveil his whole fiscal year 2025 budget adjustment proposal. He will also discuss other legislative proposals for lawmakers to consider for this legislative session.
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