SB 91, An Act Enhancing The Investigative Authority Of The Inspector General And Establishing Protected Areas

TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Monday, March 9, 2026

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning SB 91, An Act Enhancing The Investigative Authority Of The Inspector General And Establishing Protected Areas.  CHA appreciates the goals of the bill and has concerns with Section 2, as drafted.

Connecticut hospitals make our state stronger by delivering nationally recognized, world-class care, supporting jobs and economic growth, and serving communities across Connecticut.  Every day, hospitals improve access, affordability, and health equity — providing care to all patients regardless of ability to pay.  At the same time, hospitals invest in their workforce and local communities, even as they navigate significant financial and federal challenges.

SB 91 designates select types of sensitive spaces, including medical care facilities and offices, as “protected areas” to reduce the risk that individuals might be detained for civil immigration enforcement.  These sensitive locations provide essential services and must always be available to all residents regardless of immigration status and without fear.

We appreciate the governor recognizing the need to protect Connecticut hospitals and these other locations to ensure access to healthcare for all Connecticut residents, but the language of the bill is too broad and could interfere with routine policing outside of civil immigration enforcement. 

To focus the bill on the goal of creating safe spaces, we respectfully request the following changes:

• At line 197, delete “civil offense,” which is too broad and could interfere with routine law enforcement activity and assistance and replace it with “civil immigration enforcement.”  In subsection (a) of Section 2 insert the following definition of civil immigration enforcement: “civil immigration enforcement means any and all efforts to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal civil immigration law.”  This change in the definition would meet the goal of the bill in a tailored way but not interfere with activities of routine general police activities that routinely take place everywhere, including within medical facilities. 
• Section 2(a)(5) and Section 2(c) create unnecessary requirements for providers.  These sections identify a “designated individual” who will serve as a point of contact with representatives of a local, state, or federal law enforcement authority.  Further, the proposal charges the “designated individual” to review documentation and make a determination of whether a person is the subject of a judicial warrant, has been convicted of a specified list of felonies, or is identified as a possible match in the federal Terrorist Screening Database or similar database.  The “designated individual” must then make a determination of whether those law enforcement authorities can lawfully detain or arrest said individual within their facilities.
  In most cases, medical offices and most healthcare facilities do not have someone present 24/7 who has the professional or legal expertise to make these determinations in a timely and appropriate manner.  This language is also misaligned with the requirements under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) required of medical providers, which has detailed requirements with respect to patient identification and security, including rules specific to law enforcement activities.  Additionally, SB 91, as written, would be asking the healthcare workforce and clinicians to place themselves in an adversarial situation with armed law enforcement personnel, creating unnecessary risk and disturbances in healthcare facilities.
  To remedy this issue, we would respectfully request that these requirements on those operating the “protected areas” in lines 190-193 and 210-226 be removed, and that the onus on compliance remain entirely with the law enforcement authorities involved.

Thank you for your consideration of our position.  For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.