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GT Independence opposes SB 487, warns payroll penalties could destabilize self-direction program
Summary
GT Independence told the committee that SB 487’s proposed penalty structure for payroll errors in Connecticut’s self-direction program contains disproportionate penalties and operational dependencies that could jeopardize timely pay and program stability.
Zepro Barnett, president and COO of GT Independence, outlined operational concerns with Senate Bill 487 during the public hearing, saying the bill’s proposed penalty framework for payroll or administrative failures risks harming the self-direction model that allows participants to hire and manage their own caregivers.
"Issuing timely and accurate payroll is the priority of our organization and our state government partners," Barnett said, and acknowledged a small number of payroll issues can have meaningful impacts. He told the committee the bill’s penalty structure — which Barnett described as including a 50% penalty in the draft — could impose disproportionate sanctions relative to an administrative fee and could disrupt cash flow for workers.
Barnett described GT Independence’s role as a fiscal intermediary that processes payroll, tax filings and vendor transactions for participants who effectively act as employers. He urged the legislature to work with providers, SEIU 1199 (referenced in testimony), and state partners to ensure workers are paid reliably while addressing enforcement concerns.
Barnett said he opposed SB 487 as written but expressed willingness to collaborate on revisions with lawmakers and stakeholders to maintain program stability and protect workers’ pay.
The committee did not take a vote on SB 487 in this hearing; Barnett’s testimony concluded without formal action.
