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SB 348

AN ACT CONCERNING PORTAL-TO-PORTAL WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Herron Gaston and 4 co-sponsors

Expands workers' compensation for Connecticut public works employees to cover travel time from home to job sites, increasing municipal insurance costs while protecting workers injured during work-related commutes.

FILE NO. 352
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Bill Summary · SB 348

Legislative bill overview

SB 348 would extend workers' compensation coverage for Connecticut public works department employees to include "portal-to-portal" time—meaning travel time from their home or designated meeting point to job sites and back. Currently, workers' compensation typically only covers injuries occurring at the actual work location, not during commutes or travel to reach the site.

Why is this important

Public works employees often travel to multiple job sites daily, spending significant time in vehicles and on roads where accidents can occur. This expansion would provide financial protection to workers injured during work-related travel, reducing out-of-pocket costs for families and potentially lowering reliance on other social safety nets when injuries happen during commutes to public works assignments.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost to municipalities: Expanding coverage increases workers' compensation insurance premiums for Connecticut towns and cities, which may strain already tight municipal budgets and require tax increases or service cuts elsewhere
  • Definitional challenges: Determining what qualifies as "portal-to-portal" time (personal errands during commute? stops at home? multi-stop routes?) could create disputes and administrative complexity
  • Precedent concerns: Labor advocates may argue it doesn't go far enough for all workers, while business groups may worry about broader pressure to expand portal-to-portal coverage beyond public works employees

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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