Measure Protects Nursing Home Residents From Unfair Fees

Connecticut State Senate, Jun 19, 2008

Urges action in the state House of Representatives

State Senator Paul Doyle (D-Wethersfield), chair of General Assembly's Select Committee on Aging, led the Connecticut Senate in approving legislation to protect citizens residing in nursing homes from excessive cable and telephone installation fees.

Under current law, cable and telephone companies and nursing home operators can charge residents of nursing homes additional installation fees if the residents are required to move to another room in the nursing home at the request of the nursing home. This proposal prohibits the telephone and cable companies and the nursing homes from charging such installation fees when a resident moves from one room to another.

"These residents of our nursing homes often live on extremely small monthly checks," said Senator Doyle. "When living in a nursing home, seniors can be forced to spend their limited monies on an installation fee that is not their choice or benefit, and the imposition of such fees is clearly unacceptable and unfair. This legislation protects our nursing home residents from these unfair fees."

The legislation applies to telephone and telecommunications companies, certified telecommunications providers, community antenna television companies, certified competitive video service providers or the holder of a certificate of cable franchise authority. It would go into effect on October 1, 2008.

The Senate approved the measure-Senate Bill 382-unanimously by consent. The measure now moves to the state House of Representatives for consideration. Senator Doyle urged his colleagues in the House to swiftly pass this important legislation.