Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1534495
HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 21, 2025 9 POLITICS & POLICY benefits and extend them out for that full 10 years (520 weeks)," he said, "rather than having them be cut off and converted to the partial permanent disability once you hit that medical improvement rating." Davis pointed to a report from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), which noted that the court ruling could increase workers' compensation costs in the state by 41%, in part because it would affect more than just future workers' compensation claims. The decision "may also impact existing claims that are open or eligible for reopening," the NCCI report states. "Therefore, an unfunded liability may exist due to the potential for retroactive implications related to additional costs for such claims that were not contemplated in the premiums charged for policies written prior to this court decision." Davis said the concern is that insurance companies have not built the decision into their rates. Since the Supreme Court decision takes effect immediately, he said, "we've already seen situations where settlements have been rescinded and renegotiations have been reopened based off of the ability to get … more years' worth of temporary benefits rather than being switched over to the permanent benefits." 'Biggest misconceptions' Despite that, the attorney who repre- sented Gardner said the results of those cases are not a foregone conclusion. "I think one of the biggest miscon- ceptions is that this is going to lead to an automatic entitlement to 520 weeks of benefits, which is far from the case," said Justin Raymond, an attorney with The Dodd Law Firm in Cheshire. Raymond said it was generally believed that workers who filed claims "were barred from even pursuing this kind of claim," even though that was not true. But, while the judge can use discretion to decide whether to award temporary bene- fits of up to 520 weeks, that doesn't mean it will always happen, he said. "It isn't an automatic entitlement," Raymond said. "The burden still rests with a claimant to prove their case." Regardless, the fact that it's now an option has the business community, municipalities and the legislature scrambling, Davis said. "We're working closely with the Connecticut Conference of Munici- palities (CCM) on a legislative fix, and the state has a huge liability here as well," Davis said. He said CBIA has also had conver- sations with members of the legis- lature's Judiciary Committee, which has already introduced substitute language in a bill intended to resolve the issue of an administrative law judge's discretion. "This is a major issue for employers," Davis said. The Connecticut Supreme Court building in Hartford. PHOTO | RHONDA HEBERT/CT JUDICIAL BRANCH Justin Raymond CT Convention & Sports Bureau on chopping block amid proposed funding cuts Bob Murdock is lobbying for state funding to save the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau. HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER By Harriet Jones hjones@hartfordbusiness.com A small, five-person agency that brings meetings and conventions into Connecticut is lobbying lawmakers to save it from budgetary oblivion. "Our budget is small — a half-mil- lion dollars a year, roughly," said Bob Murdock, the director of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB). "But we bring back nine times that in Connecticut tax revenue within the same year. So, we're really an investment." That's been Murdock's pitch to lawmakers ever since he discovered at the start of the year that his agency was on the chopping block. Gov. Ned Lamont's two-year, $55.2 billion budget proposal removes $500,000 from the state's tourism marketing budget, and the tourism office has decided if lawmakers don't allocate more cash before the end of the session, the Convention & Sports Bureau will go. "Our office continues to value the role of sales organizations like CTCSB," said Anthony Anthony, the state's chief marketing officer, in a statement to the Hartford Business Journal. "With the resources we are given, our focus has shifted to a more efficient and modern- ized marketing strategy. The decision to reallocate funding for CTCSB under a certain budget threshold reflects that strategic change." Multiplier effect CTCSB has been operating in its present form since 2012. It grew out of the old Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau, which existed to attract tourism business to the capital region. Lawmakers and the Depart- ment of Economic and Community Development decided that the concept should be taken statewide. The group works with event planners to pitch them on bringing sports tour- naments, business conventions and even weddings to Connecticut venues. Murdock says the work goes beyond promoting the brand image of the state and into the nitty-gritty of logistics. CTCSB generally takes credit for bringing in between 250 and 260 new events to the state each year. "Our last full year was our best year for the economic impact of those events," he said of fiscal year 2024. "It was over $72 million in economic impact, which, when you look at the tax revenue, ended up being $10.63 of tax revenue for every dollar that the state funded us." For the biggest events, the Bureau will be involved in a formal bidding process in competition with other states. Murdock points to last year's USA Gymnastics Core Hydration Classic, held at the XL Center in Hartford, as one of the most high profile in recent years. It was the final opportunity for the country's leading women's gymnasts to qualify for the U.S. Gymnastics Championship, and beyond that, the summer Olympics. "It was a great event. It was broad- cast live on NBC national TV from Hartford, and it brought in a lot of spectators, a lot of media coverage," he said. Murdock said his work for that event went beyond the logistics just for the competitors and spectators, and into creating surrounding experiences in Hartford, including a Pratt Street block party organized in conjunction with the city of Hartford and Hartford Chamber. Murdock saw it as a way to connect the event to the community and help share revenue with local businesses. Answering the call Murdock has been activating other supporters in his lobbying efforts for his agency. Ginny Kozlowski, executive director of the Connecticut Lodging Association, says many of her members do rely on the Bureau's work. "The challenge is, having the resources to attract that visitor, or putting a bid in for a conference or a sporting event. All of that takes resources. And unless the Convention and Sports Bureau is funded, who is going to fill that gap?" she asked. "It's a piece of business that any of these hotels could not do on their own." Kozlowski said that business travel has still not recovered to pre-COVID levels in terms of its share in the state's tourism activity. And on top of that, she is already seeing the impact of federal budget cuts on meetings and conventions. "Connecticut is a state that has a lot of government business because we have so many businesses connected with the defense industry and our research, particularly around Yale and UConn," she said. "We're already seeing conferences cancel because the funding was from programs that were supported by the federal government." Her message to legislators echoes that of many tourism professionals in the state, who want to frame the state-funded marketing budget as an investment that brings a return. "The state of Connecticut is investing in quantum computing, they're investing in manufacturing, they're investing in insurtech and fintech," she said. "They need to make the investment in tourism." Murdock says for now, he's still booking business, but he's concerned what might happen if his office goes dark in a few months.