Hartford Business Journal

6 Hartford Business Journal • March 14, 2016 www.HartfordBusiness.com HEALTH CARE Lembo backs prescription value-based pricing task force State Comptroller Kevin Lembo has thrown his support behind the creation of a task force to study value-based pricing of prescription drugs. Lembo, who administers state health plans on behalf of 200,000 state and municipal employees, retirees and their dependents, said he has seen the cost of prescription coverage skyrocket, particularly in the form of specialty drugs. He said state and federal intervention is necessary. Value-based pricing matches drug prices to the value the new drug provides in terms of improving patient health, Lembo said, adding it aligns the interest of patients, drug producers and pharmacy benefit managers. The task force proposal has been incorporated into Senate Bill 1001, an Act Concerning Task Forces on Health Care Matters that will also establish stan- dardization of emergency code calls in hospitals. LAW Legislature weighs future of film tax credit Connecticut lawmakers are considering a bill that would incentivize small filmmakers and those that have a larger economic impact in the state. House Bill 5491 aims to expand the types of productions that are eligible for the state's film tax credit program in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017. Specifi- cally, it would make the credit available again to smaller film productions, with at least half of their content produced in state, at least half of their personnel residing in state, and a total production cost of less than $2 million. Budget concerns in 2013 led lawmakers to issue a moratorium on the pro- gram, though certain incentives, such as those for television, remain. Critics of film tax credits in various states have questioned whether their economic benefits are worth the tax expenditures. Several filmmakers testified last week in favor of the bill, arguing it would help keep filmmakers, and the people they employ, in Connecticut. ECONOMY & LABOR ADP: CT added 1,800 jobs in February Net private-sector job growth in February totaled 1,800 in Connecticut, ac- cording to payroll processor ADP. That represented a growth rate of 0.12 percent, slightly behind the New Eng- land average of 0.16 percent. The numbers, which are based on ADP's internal records, show New England added 10,000 jobs last month. Over the past six months it has averaged 9,000 new jobs per month. Nationwide, private-sector employment increased in all four major regions and all nine U.S. Census Bureau divisions during February 2016, according to the monthly ADP Regional Employment Report. CT Walmart workers getting raise Almost 9,000 Walmart workers in Connecticut have something to look for- ward to in their next check: a pay raise. It's part of a national program to raise the Walmart minimum wage to $10 per hour. Walmart said in a statement, the increases are part of the company's two- year, $2.7 billion investment in higher pay, better training, clearer career paths and additional educational opportunities for its workers. All employees hired before Jan. 1 will see their hourly rate increased. Work- ers hired since January will continue to be paid $9 per hour. Associates already earning more than $10 per hour will see their annual pay increase starting in March rather than waiting until their anniversary date. In Connecticut, Walmart has 8,800 employees working at 39 retail outlets. It said in a statement it paid more than $33.9 million in taxes and collected more than $78.2 million in sales taxes in fiscal year 2015. Yard Goats put out help wanted sign The Hartford Yard Goats have put out the help wanted sign. The team and its concessions vendor need to hire up to 300 game-day workers. Positions that need to be filled at Dunkin' Donuts stadium include: ushers, ticket takers, box-office personnel merchandising, housekeeping, grounds crew, concessions, kitchen personnel, and catering. To accomplish that goal, the two entities are having a job fair in Hartford on March 26 at the Wilson-Gray YMCA Youth & Family Center, 444 Albany Ave. Personnel from both the Yard Goats and their food and beverage provider, Professional Sports Cater- ing, will be on hand to speak with, and receive applications from all job-seekers. Barring further delays, the Yard Goats are expected to have their home opener May 31. It has been delayed because of issues with the construction of Dunkin' Donuts stadium just north of downtown Hartford. TECHNOLOGY IT jobs show signs of downward trend The information-technology job market in Connecticut is on a downswing, according to the latest research by the Connecticut Technology Council. The sector saw lackluster job openings in February, CTC said. Employers posted a daily average of 590 job openings on their websites last month. That was 3.5 percent higher than openings listed in January, but 18 percent lower than the 720 openings reported in February 2015. The March 2016 "Skillproof IT Jobs Report" said when compared to the rate of IT job growth seen in early 2014 and 2015, employment prospects are trend- ing downward for IT professionals in the state. Businesses are primarily looking to add software development-skilled staff, with a particular focus on business analysis, SQL, Oracle DBMS and Java expertise. The report also said trends in IT job openings hinge on the performance of large employers that dominate the IT market in the state. If a large technology employer like General Electric leaves the state, it creates a big hole. MANUFACTURING Bob's Discount names Skirvin CEO Michael Skirvin is the new chief executive officer of Manchester retailer Bob's Discount Furniture. Skirvin, president and chief operating officer since 2011, succeeds Ted English, who was CEO for a de- cade. English was named executive chairman and will remain active in the 69-store chain's daily operations, the company said. Before landing at Bob's five years ago, Skirvin held a variety of leadership roles at fashion retailer TJX Cos. (parent to Marshall's and T.J. Maxx), including serving as operations chief of the A.J. Wright store division from 2007 to 2010. During his tenure, English was credited with overseeing the company's expansion from 27 stores in seven states when he joined in 2006 to 69 stores in 12 states across the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest today. Bob's is a portfolio company of Bain Capital Private Equity, which invested in Bob's in 2014. BY THE NUMBERS 1,717 The number of Connecticut single- family home sales recorded in January, which was the highest total in that month since 2007, according to the Warren Group. $230,00 The median sales price for a Connecticut single-family home sold in January. 300 The number of game-day workers the Hartford Yard Goats and its concessions vendor are looking to hire for the minor-league baseball season. $86.3M The combined annual value of 2015 energy savings achieved by businesses, residents and municipalities that used energy efficient programs funded by the state's energy efficiency fund. TOP 5 MOST READ on HartfordBusiness.com ■ Popular bakery plans WH Center location ■ DOT seeks to permanently close Route 2 ramp ■ Yard Goats put out help wanted sign ■ Middletown solar firm tops in New England ■ UIL acquisition brings March treat for ratepayers STAY CONNECTED For breaking and daily Greater Hartford business news go to www.HartfordBusiness.com. HBJ on Twitter: @HartfordBiz HBJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HartfordBiz HBJ on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ the-Hartford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend www.HartfordBusiness.com/subscribe Weekly e-newsletters: CT Green Guide Weekly, CT Health Care Weekly www.HartfordBusiness.com/subscribe WEEK IN REVIEW TOP STORY CT considers legalizing fantasy sports The state legislature's General Law Committee is weighing a bill that gives the Department of Consumer Protection the authority to legalize and regulate daily fantasy sports games in Connecticut. The bill is only a broad outline but it asks that regulations include a specification that daily fantasy sports contests are not games of chance, and that individuals under the age of 21 be restricted from playing. It also requires fantasy game operators to use "truthful advertising" and that procedures be put in place to ensure the game's integrity. There are also demands for consumer-deposit and problem- gambler protections. It's not clear if Connecticut would consider taxing fantasy sports revenues or requiring a permit fee. The bill got a public hearing March 3 and received testimony from a lobbyist from DraftKings (a major fantasy sports site), the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, the Connecticut Lottery Corp., and the Con- necticut Council on Problem Gambling. DraftKings is one of the major U.S. online fantasy sports sites vying for legal recognition in states across the country, including Connecticut. P H O T O | C O N T R I B U T E D Michael Skirvin, chief executive officer, Bob's Discount Furniture

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