Page 191
House Bill No. 5506
Public Act No. 22-118 191 of 739
premium pay account at the time of the report. (k) On or before September 1, 2022, and at least quarterly thereafter, the administrator shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor on the financial condition of the Connecticut premium pay account. Such report shall include: (1) An estimate of the account's value as of the date of the report; (2) the effect of scheduled payments on the account's value; (3) an estimate of the monthly administrative costs necessary to operate the program and the account; and (4) any recommendations for legislation to improve the operation or administration of the program and the account. Sec. 144. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) No employer shall: (1) Discharge, or cause to be discharged, or in any manner discipline or discriminate against any employee because the employee has filed an application for premium pay pursuant to section 143 of this act, or (2) deliberately misinform or deliberately dissuade an employee from filing an application for payment from the Connecticut Premium Pay program. (b) Any employee who is so discharged, disciplined or discriminated against or who has been deliberately misinformed or deliberately dissuaded from filing an application for payment from the Connecticut Premium Pay program may bring a civil action in the superior court for the judicial district where the employer has its principal office for the reinstatement to the employee's position of employment, payment of back wages, reestablishment of employee benefits to which the employee would have otherwise been entitled if the employee had not been discriminated against or discharged and any other damages caused by such discrimination or discharge. The superior court may also award punitive damages. Any employee who prevails in such a civil action shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs.